Universe in Flames 3: Destination Oblivion

by Christian Kallias

  “Enough, you two! Aphroditis, please help me get Sarah back. I will do whatever you want me to after that; and Argos, stop antagonizing us all the time. We get it. You’re in control now, so we’ll do as you say. Enough with the threats.”

  Argos grimaced but then smiled. “Sounds good to me. Now let’s go down there at once. We’ve lost enough time as it is.”

  Aphroditis took a step forward. “Can I please have a moment alone with Chase?”

  “Sure. Meet me on board the Dark Star when you’re done. Don’t be long.”

  Chase shot a look of disdain at Argos but nodded nonetheless.

  When Argos left the bridge, Aphroditis came near Chase and took him in her arms.

  “What’s that for?”

  “This might be the last time I see you.”

  “No, no way. Nothing will stop me from seeing and holding Sarah in my arms. This alone will keep me alive.”

  “You don’t know what awaits you down there. I . . . I wish there was another way, with all my heart.”

  “Whatever it is I’ll prevail.”

  “I wish I could say I hope so, but I’m no longer sure the trajectory we’re on is the right one . . .”

  “I understand. Thank you for helping me do this, Aphroditis. I’ll never forget it.”

  A tear ran down her face. She wiped it away and nodded.

  “I should go.”

  “Wait!”

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “Take this.” She took a hidden amulet from under her beautiful, white, silky clothing and hung it around Chase’s neck. “You will need this.”

  “What is it?” Chase looked at the pendant. It was a beautiful pearly white, light as a feather, and in its center shone a glowing green stone.

  “It’s for luck. Don’t lose it. It will also help me see everything you see and feel what you feel.”

  “Is that wise? Don’t you already hold these powers?”

  “No. I see possible futures. That is my power. But I don’t see everything. We can also communicate with this. All you need to do is talk to me in your mind, and I will answer you.”

  “Handy. Is this what you used to first contact me?”

  “No, that’s an entirely different technology. Be wary of some side effects, though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The amulet tends to have a mind of its own. While it is very powerful, it can sometimes show you things when you least expect it.”

  “Is this what allows you to see the future?”

  “It’s only part of it, Chase. It allows me to channel my visions with more control. When I wear it I am more focused than without, but my visions happen nonetheless.”

  “Isn’t it dangerous for me to take this into battle?” Chase grabbed it and was about to remove it from his neck.

  She put her hands on his and lowered them gently.

  “Keep it. I have a feeling it’s very important for you to have it for your trial down there.” She hid the pendant under his dark and dusty clothes.

  “Alright, thank you. I promise to get it back to you,” said Chase with a smile.

  “Go now, and please be careful.”

  “I will. See you soon.”

  Chase left the bridge without another word and Aphroditis sat in his chair, pensive.

  Father, forgive me.

  “He’s not going to be happy about this, that’s for sure.” That was Ares’ voice.

  “Ares, you’re here?”

  “I’m pretty much everywhere I want to be at once, now. I seem to be able to travel great distances almost instantly.”

  “I’m so sorry you had to give your life.”

  “There was no other way. As for Zeus, he will never forgive us for our actions. You know that, right?”

  “I know, but we have to trust that Chase will prevail.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I like Chase. He means well. What awaits him down there?”

  “The worst, most vile and powerful creature of all time.”

  “A Titan then?”

  Aphroditis didn’t need to answer and simply closed her eyes in response.

  CHAPTER

  XIX

  On board the Cronos, Saroudis entered the admiral’s ready room. She keyed a few commands into her console and every system in the room shut down.

  “What’s that all about?”

  “What we need to discuss is for us and us alone.”

  “I’m not sure I like where this is going.”

  “I don’t either. We simply have to take every precaution. The entity could be listening in. We can’t afford that.”

  “What’s the status on that?”

  “Spiros is making progress on multiple fronts, but for now we have to play along with Gaia’s wishes.”

  “I see. I still think we should shut it down. God knows when it will decide to act. It could happen at a moment when we can’t afford it.”

  “I know that very well, Adonis, believe me.”

  “Where are we on the reconstruction of Earth’s cities?”

  “It’s ongoing, but the entity only allowed us to use half of the droids force. It’s using the other half and building others at an alarming rate.”

  “For what purpose?”

  “It’s building a shield around Earth, to prevent what the planet just suffered from happening again.”

  “Shouldn’t we be building that shield?”

  “Yes we should, but we would never reach that level of efficiency. Nor would we have redirected so many resources towards achieving that goal so fast. Not with all the work we have building new ships, repairing damage and building new satellites. There’s too much to do at once. Gaia is focusing on one task alone, and with its incredible computing capability it’s going at least ten times faster than we would.”

  “Well, besides the fact that she could also be building an army to use against us at the same time, at least the shield is a good idea.”

  “She?”

  “It, whatever! Don’t give it a name if you don’t want me to call her a she.”

  “Point taken. Still it or she is alive and sentient, so it doesn’t really matter what we call it.”

  “Yeah. Sentient or not, this is a threat. We can’t just live under her rule like this, not for long.”

  “I know, but right now at least it doesn’t seem intent on wiping us out.”

  “It may just be buying time until it feels it can defend itself.”

  “And that’s why we’re working day and night on a way to neutralize it. We already have a plan, should it come to that.”

  Adonis exhaled in a way that left no room for doubt about his frustration.

  “What is it?”

  “It never seems to stop, that’s what it is.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ever since the Obsidian nearly wiped us out, we’ve been on the run, hiding, fighting for our lives. There never seems to be a moment to catch our breath. It’s starting to take a toll on me.”

  “I know how you feel. Now, on to less pleasant things.”

  Saroudis grinned. “The Iron Fire incident?”

  “Yes, the incident, as you say. This time your precious Chase went too far.”

  “You pushed him into an impossible position.”

  “Not if he followed orders.”

  “That’s easy to say from your point of view. Try putting yourself in his shoes.”

  “That’s not how the chain of command works.”

  “I know, and I know you like things done a certain way.”

  “These are rules we’ve established because they work. I don’t do it because I like it.”

  “Nonetheless, I think if we had done everything by the book since the initial Obsidian attack, we’d be all dead by now.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “That the chain of command is important, but sometimes rules need to be broken. Or, at the very least, bent.”

  “I can’t believe what I’m heari
ng. Especially coming from you.”

  “Well, I’m sorry, Admiral, but even though I don’t condone what Chase has done, I understand why he is doing it. If I had the chance to save any member of my family . . .” But then he stopped short and tears formed in his eyes. “I . . . I would give everything to have been given the opportunity to save them. I can’t blame Chase for doing the same for Sarah and his unborn child.”

  “Admiral, is it? Fair enough. You’re a soldier, you have orders, you follow them. That’s how we work, and without this all we get is chaos. And I’m dearly sorry for your personal loss, but never forget we are in the same boat. I lost everyone I cared about also.”

  “And that’s why I don’t understand this resentment you harbor towards Chase. All he has done is try to save lives up until now.”

  “What about Tokyo?”

  “Alright, Tokyo is something that shouldn’t have happened. But if it saves the rest of the planet, then that’s unfortunate collateral damage. But let’s not forget that he saved this planet before. More than once. There wouldn’t be a Tokyo without Chase.”

  “That’s where we disagree, I guess. That doesn’t give him the right to be judge, jury and executioner.”

  “Argos went to the surface first. Chase just followed.”

  “This is pointless. We will never agree on this front. Chase is an insubordinate hot head who doesn’t think before he acts, yet you take his side. Why?”

  “He is also my friend.”

  “I thought I was your friend,” said the admiral, with unmistakable sadness in her voice.

  “You are. I don’t like being between the two of you. I care for both of you on different levels.”

  “I see. You understand I can never reinstate his commission if he ever returns?”

  “Understand, yes, but I will never forgive you if you don’t.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “What the hell are you saying, Adonis?”

  “It’s best if you address me by my rank, Admiral. And I’m saying that if you are not prepared to at least give Chase the benefit of the doubt, then be prepared to receive my resignation.”

  “You can’t be serious Ad—” She caught herself. “Commodore Saroudis.”

  “I’m dead serious. In fact, I’m requesting permission to go after Chase and his friends.”

  She looked into his eyes for a very long time, trying to decide what had just happened and how it had gone so wrong so quickly.

  “Request denied.”

  “One of your officers is with him. Don’t you care about her wellbeing?”

  “That’s neither here nor there. Commander Steriopoulou was poisoned by Chase.”

  “That’s nonsense!”

  “She was the most obedient officer I ever worked with until we found you on Droxia.”

  Saroudis hit the desk with his fist, unable to control his anger. “Was? Really! You’re already counting her as dead because she isn’t your property anymore? Is that what this is all about, Admiral? You being in command, things being done your way? If that’s what we stand for now, I’m not sure I want to be part of it! I’m going after Chase. You can shoot at the Destiny if you want me to, but I’m done with this shit.”

  “Commodore Saroudis! That’s enough! I’ll give you one and one chance only to reconsider and apologize for this gross display of insubordination! Don’t throw your career away for this!”

  He smiled. “So you show your real colors now.”

  “And you do the same.”

  “That’s not true. I’m being true to myself, and if you also are, then I have greatly misjudged you. To think I could even see a fu—” He stopped short. “Never mind that. You are the admiral. Do what you have to do.”

  “Sorry to interrupt,” said a voice coming from all around them.

  Admiral Thassos jumped out of her chair. “Who is this? Identify yourself!”

  “My name is Ares and I’m sick and tired of hearing you two argue while your officers, your friends, are fighting for their lives.”

  “This doesn’t concern you. You have no jurisdiction in our affairs,” said the admiral.”

  “Be that as it may, now is not the time for this. Are you really willing to risk everything and everyone on the planet below, as well as everywhere else in the galaxy, because you disagree with one another? Are your pride, your ego, your principles, really worth billions of lives?”

  There was silence.

  “Right, Chase can be a pain in the ass. I know firsthand how arrogant, defiant and quick to act he can be. But for fuck’s sake, his heart is in the right place at least. He sees beyond the shackles of protocol and rules. All he cares about is life. Ask yourself this question: do you?”

  “How dare you insinuate that I don’t think of the lives of everyone in the Alliance?” The admiral fumed.

  “Simple. You were about to arrest him because he didn’t agree with you, preventing him from saving his family for reasons you understand very well. But your stubbornness for doing things by the book blinds you from seeing things straight. As for your, Saroudis, ever heard the word ‘diplomacy’?”

  Neither knew what to answer, stunned by what was unfolding.

  “You have an entity down there that tells you it is Earth itself, and after all the pain and suffering its inhabitant have caused it over the last centuries, it’s still willing to negotiate with you, against its better judgment. It has plenty of reasons to eradicate the humans, and you both know it! But look in the mirror. You can’t even act like human beings amongst yourselves! Sometimes I wonder why we bother, really!”

  Thassos let herself fall back on her chair. But it was Saroudis who spoke first. “I’m sorry. I . . . Ares is right. We should try to help each other, not fight.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. I’m used to doing things a certain way.”

  “And that’s understandable, but the universe is in trouble right now. It may be a good time to start looking at the problem from a different point of view,” said Ares, appearing before them as a golden aura, shining warm and peaceful light upon them.

  The apparition had a calming effect on both of them.

  “Please understand your efforts to build a new Earth Alliance are just incredible. Don’t let personal disagreements get in the way of that. We will all need this Alliance. It’s the only way you can hope to survive, and surely you can feel that within you.”

  “I did not expect Olympians to lose their temper like that,” said Saroudis, still not sure that what was unfolding was real.

  “You’re not dreaming, Saroudis. I’m real.”

  “You look so different from Aphroditis.”

  “That’s because I’m dead.”

  They both looked stunned.

  “Long story, and not important right now. There are enough problems in the universe and on the surface of the planet below, so please stop this. Help your friends. They need you now, more than ever.”

  Admiral Thassos looked at Saroudis for a moment. “You can take the Destiny and as large an escort as you need for your support mission.”

  “Thank you, Adm—Ally. I’m sorry for my outburst”

  “As am I, Adonis. Let it be a lesson for both of us.”

  “Agreed.”

  She stood to face Ares’ bright, golden energy. “Thank you, Ares. I must admit I had trouble believing in the Olympians and their motives, but you sure know how to make an entrance.”

  “Aphroditis and I are not in agreement with the rest of my people, but that’s another story. I feel Chase might need my help shortly, so I’m going to have to leave now. Thank you for listening.”

  She nodded. “Bye for now.”

  And then the golden reflections cast on her skin by Ares’ aura faded away.

  * * *

  Argos and Chase landed on the surface of the planet aboard the Dark Star. They exited the vessel and walked towards a giant construction made of dark, grey, tall walls in the distance.

  “We’ll only have one shot at this,”
said Argos.

  “Then let’s make it count!”

  “That’s the spirit. Just like old times.”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  They arrived at a gate. A hologram appeared, projecting some symbols Chase couldn’t read. Argos took a small, spherical device and threw it in the air, where it hovered.

  “Aphroditis is up.”

  Chase preferred not to reveal for the moment that he could speak to her anytime, so he placed the call.

  “Can you decipher this for us?” he asked.

  “It’s written in old Olympian. It says: Only through the powers of the elements can you hope to defeat the Titan.”

  “What’s a Titan?” asked Chase.

  “You’ll see soon enough,” said Argos. “Let’s go. This is bullshit. We just need to destroy it.”

  “It must be a clue, and since you were defeated the last time, you may want to listen to the clue and see how it applies.”

  “Sheer force always does the job in my experience.”

  “Like when I kicked your ass twice?”

  Argos shot him an evil look.

  “You kinda walked into that one.”

  “Perhaps. Shall we go get what we came for?” said Argos impatiently.

  As they advanced towards the gate, it opened to reveal a long, tall corridor, illuminated by blue-flamed torches on the walls. After a minute of walking they arrived at another door. More glyphs were engraved on the right side of the wall.

  “Aphroditis?”

  “It says: Point of no return. If you value your life, turn back now.”

  “Sound advice. Too bad it’s not an option today,” said Chase

  “Let’s go, already. There’s a beast behind these doors. We just defeat it and you’ll have your precious Sarah back in your arms in no time.”

  “If we survive this.”

  “Neither of us has any choice but to survive and prevail.”

  They stepped forward and the door disappeared as if it wasn’t there in the first place. They entered the arena. Its sheer size was impressive. The walls were as tall as some of the highest skyscrapers on Earth. A thin layer of fog lay on the ground. Chase saw the four different altars. One by the entrance, one at the other end of the gigantic arena and two near each of the walls, about halfway down the length of the arena.