The baby looked at Kevin. Her bright green eyes told him that she was thankful as well. He reached out with his finger. The baby grabbed it and smiled, babbling and spitting like six-month-old babies do. Kevin laughed. He had a soft spot for babies and this baby was exceptionally cute. “She likes you,” said Sarah.
The smile on Kevin’s face grew bigger. This was what they were fighting for. Families. Children. The future of humanity. He then turned his attention away from the baby. “I am just glad my son could help you, Sarah … you and Malory.”
Sarah averted her chocolate eyes for a few seconds and sadness seemed to sweep across her face. “M-my husband was killed in the initial attacks. Malory and I were lucky to escape. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost her too.”
Kevin cradled Malory’s head in his hand and said, “I am so sorry, Sarah.”
Sarah nodded as a small tear dropped from her eye and then looked back up into his. “It’s okay. I know we’ll see my husband again.”
Kevin nodded. He knew that she would see her husband again as well, just as he would see Adam again. He leaned in and gently kissed Sarah on the cheek and then moved in and smiled at Malory. He was about to lean in and kiss the baby on the forehead when she cooed and spit right on his face.
Sarah began laugh, as did he. “Well, aren’t you a little spunky one.”
Malory gave him a toothless smile as he leaned in and finally landed a kiss on her forehead. Turning back to the baby’s mother, he said, “Take care, Sarah, and take care of this beautiful baby girl.”
“I will, and again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Kevin watched as Sarah began making her way down the hill toward the base. Malory continued to stare at him over her mother’s shoulder. He waved good-bye. The baby then raised her chubby little hand and waved good-bye in return. A wave of warmth and hope immediately entered his body. It was almost as if baby Malory could sense his grief. There was nothing like the innocence and beauty of a baby to bring hope and joy back to a person.
He could not contain his smile as he turned and began making his way toward Adrian. Adrian’s eyes were red from the funeral as he stood talking with John. John turned and looked at Kevin as he approached. He noticed that John’s eyes weren’t red from tears of grief. In fact, they almost seemed joyful. For an instant, Kevin resented the fact that the ancient apostle didn’t grieve for his son, but then he remembered that John had a deeper understanding of death. He could tell that John empathized with him. In truth, Kevin knew that John probably had the ability to see the spirits that had passed on from their mortal state and probably saw Adam here at his own funeral. A quick twinkle in the eye of the ancient apostle of Jesus Christ told Kevin that it was true.
John smiled at him. “I’ll leave you two alone,” he said, placing his hand on Kevin’s shoulder and then began to walk away.
Kevin turned to Adrian and was about to speak when a young soldier, who had just jogged up the hill, interrupted them. The soldier was gasping for breath and said, “Gen-General, sir.”
“What is it?” Adrian asked.
“Sir, we’ve found a functional Gnol transport.”
* * * * *
Underground Rebel Base. Terrest . . .
The holographic image of Gnolom’s terrain was impeccable, down to the last detail from Celeste’s amazing memory. Skip stared at it in anger and frustration, though, as he leaned against a bank of computers in the command center of the underground rebel base on Terrest. His eyes scanned across the rest of the rebel command. Jake and Celeste stood next to one another over the hologram that expanded the entire diameter of the holographic table in the center of the room. General Hauler stood across from them along with Sean Gibson, Peter Sanchez, and Skyler Green. Directly adjacent from them stood Commander Nateal Runa, Kylee Palmer, and Nichelle Kreuk.
“Would you care to join us, Colonel?”
Skip’s attention flickered back to General Hauler, who was staring at him. He pulled himself away from the computer banks, putting on his most pleasant face, and made his way to the holograph. But he knew that was useless, as everyone in the room knew about his disappointment in not going after the golden tablet in Koroan Chast’s possession. He took a deep breath after stopping across the table from Runa, Kylee, and Nichelle. Despite his feelings, he knew that he had to cooperate. After all, he was a good soldier, and good soldiers followed orders.
He glanced at General Hauler. The general recognized his indignation and then turned to Commander Nateal Runa. “Continue, Commander.”
Runa pointed his laser light at the center of the image. “This area here is where the holographic signature is originating from.” Focusing the pointer on a mountain peak, he continued. “This mountain right here will be our focal point. The signature is emanating from somewhere around this point, which is ironic because this peak is the legendary Mount Resumpsi.”
“Ironic, how?” Jake asked.
Nichelle chimed in before Runa could respond. “Mount Resumpsi is a mountain peak of legend in the Gnol culture. As the story goes, this is the famous mountain peak where Coen Chast received ancient knowledge from the gods over six thousand years ago. In addition to his newfound knowledge, he was also blessed with near immortality, receiving the very abilities we Gnols now possess. But this is the stuff of legend. No written records have been discovered to verify this story. It’s just a story told to children and passed down from generation to generation.”
Skip, who had been barely listening, was now attentive. He jerked his head up and looked right at Celeste. “Chast?”
Celeste nodded. “Yes. According to this legend, the chosen one would descend from the Chast family. This is how my father was able to sell himself as the savior of Gnolom. After he and Nichelle’s father came back from that hunting party where they discovered the goddess of light, both of them were able to use their telekinetic and telepathic abilities so much more than any other Gnol on the planet. Most Gnols, including myself, could communicate telepathically up to a certain point, and we had limited use of our telekinetic abilities. Granted with practice and focus, we have improved. But no other Gnol has been able to focus his or her abilities like my father has. Something happened there, near Mount Resumpsi,” Celeste said, pointing at the holographic image of the mount.
“So what you’re sayin’ is that legend is true?” Skyler questioned.
“It may very well be,” answered Celeste.
“Yes,” Nichelle agreed. “My father was a little more liberal about his discovery than Koroan was with Celeste. When he trusted me, he told me that it was near Mount Resumpsi where they encountered the goddess of light.”
“You mean the hologram of Maggie,” Sean intervened.
Nichelle nodded. “Yes. My father told me that they discovered the true goddess of Gnolom. In fact, our ancient scriptures contain a verse, which states, ‘blessed is he who shall unite two worlds and two peoples.’ My f—”
Skip held up his hand to stop Nichelle. “Wait a minute. That is the same verse that was inscribed under the painting in the temple near Talead,” he said, beginning to realize that this mission to Gnolom might shed more light on the ancient temple he had become so enamored with.
“You think there’s a connection, Skip?” General Hauler asked, with a small grin telling Skip that was why he was going on this trip to the Gnol home world.
“There may be,” Skip replied.
Before Nichelle could go on, Celeste chimed in, “But my mother, the night she died, she told us, Nichelle, that our fathers changed that scripture to make it look like my father was the chosen one.”
“Well, they would not have had to change too much, Celeste,” Commander Runa replied. “I mean, both of your fathers came back with so much more power than the rest of us, and using the ancient legend of Coen Chast, it would have been and was obviously very easy for them to convince the rest of us that Koroan Chast was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the chosen one.”
Celeste agreed, nodding her head.
“Do you think that Koroan and Vlamer found something else near Mount Resumpsi besides Mars I?” Skip asked Runa.
“It’s possible,” Runa replied.
Skip finally allowed a small grin to curve along his lips. He looked back at the hologram, staring at the legendary mount. “So, General, when do we leave?”
“I’ve scheduled the departure two days from today, after Jake and Celeste’s wedding.”
A smile as big as one he had ever seen formed along Jake’s mouth, as Celeste wrapped her arm around his and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Before Skip turned back to look at the hologram again, the loud speaker within the command center sprang to life. “General Hauler.”
General Hauler, obviously annoyed, replied, “I told you that we didn’t want to be disturbed, Corporal.”
“I know, sir. But this is urgent.”
“What is it?”
“We have just received word that the pyramid near Talead has been completely destroyed.”
A pang of anguish and sorrow flooded through Skip. “What? When?”
“Just a few hours ago, sir.”
Without a word, Skip spun on his heels and began sprinting for the exit.
General Hauler called out after him, “Where are you going, Colonel?”
Skip skidded to a halt and turned around just as the door slid open. “I need to talk to Colonel Merrok. He needs to come with us on this mission!”
All Skip could hear as he took off out through the door of the command center was General Hauler’s agitated voice yelling after him, something about it being a cold day in Hell before he would ever allow Sage Merrok to accompany them on their mission.
* * * * *
Scott Air Force Base. Earth . . .
She was so beautiful. Even though her blue eyes were filled with grief after losing her little brother, they still sparkled with a brightness and strength that gave Christopher Peterson the kind of butterflies one only experiences in the beginning stages of love. Was he in love? He didn’t know. But this woman who stood in front of him, staring at him with the same look on her face, enchanted him. Despite his growing love for her, he knew where this conversation was going and he didn’t like it.
“Tell me again why you have to leave, Ashley.”
Ashley’s tear-filled eyes stared into his. They seemed to be pleading with him to understand. “I can’t leave my dad alone. I’m all he has.”
Chris bit down on his lip. Sure, he had dated a lot, but the woman standing before him was different. She was so innocent, yet strong and brave at the same time. He knew that she was right, and he also knew that he would have to let her go. But he didn’t want to. The world was falling apart. As far as he knew, his own family was gone. And even though he hadn’t known her that long, she was all he had.
Ashley tilted her head and looked at him, seeming to sympathize with what he was feeling. “I’m sorry, Chris,” she said, grabbing his hand.
He squeezed her hand and put the best smile on his face that he could muster. “I-it’s okay. I know that you need to go.” He paused as a feeling swept through his soul. It was an odd feeling, one he rarely felt, but the emotion was strong and comforting, almost as if it was telling him what to say next. “I understand, Ashley. Your father needs you right now. But know that if you ever return to Earth, I will be here waiting because I know that I will be seeing you again. For some reason, I have a feeling that you are going to need my help again.”
Ashley flashed her trademark smile. Light seemed to glint off her perfectly aligned white teeth as she stood up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss upon Chris’s own lips. He pulled her in tightly and passionately kissed her back.
As they continued to kiss, they heard a man clear his throat. Not again, Chris thought as he quickly pulled away, standing at attention.
Kevin Palmer stood a few feet behind his daughter. Only this time he didn’t have a look of an overprotective father. Instead, he had a smile on his face, seemingly amused to be catching the two in a kissing embrace once again.
“Uh … sorry, sir,” Chris sputtered.
Kevin chuckled, easing the tension as he stepped toward the blushing colonel. “It’s okay, Chris. Any man who would be willing to give up the highest award given to him in the United States military is an okay man in my book,” he said, extending his hand.
Chris smiled shyly, accepting the handshake. “Thank you, sir.”
Kevin nodded and then turned to his daughter. “I’ll leave you two alone, but I just wanted to tell you, Ashley, that they have found a functional Gnol transport. We leave for Terrest in two days.”
* * * * *
Koroan’s Palace. City of Chast, Terrest . . .
Koroan paced back and forth in his office within the thirty-fourth floor of his palace. Despite the satisfaction of destroying the heathen temple of the Terrestrians, he was fuming. He had just learned that Dorange Gar had failed in his mission to conquer Earth, and in a few seconds, he would be meeting with his pitiful excuse for a general who had just arrived from Earth with what remained of his forces.
He furrowed his eyebrows in anger as he stopped pacing and peered out the window, which gave him a wondrous view over his magnificent city. Terrest’s sun was just beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the city. The sunlight reflected off of the crystal glass of the majestic towers and buildings that he designed. It was a beautiful sight. But Koroan didn’t have time for beauty. Everything he had worked so hard for was beginning to fall apart. And for the first time since he had conquered Terrest, he began to question even his own decisions. Had he spread his forces too thin between Earth and Terrest? The goddess had made it abundantly clear that capturing Earth was vital to the plan. The two golden tablets he already had in his possession wouldn’t be complete without the one from Earth.
But he should have known better than to trust Dorange to secure Earth. This was his third and final failure. It was his general’s job to wipe out any remaining resistance on the planet and to establish working slave camps. Once that had been accomplished, Koroan would then return to Earth to search for the tablet, just as his dark master had commanded him to do so.
The signal indicating that someone was at his office door buzzed. Outrage began to pulsate through Koroan’s veins. “Come!” he bellowed, still staring out of the window.
He heard the door slide open and the shuffling of feet as his guest entered his office. “M-My Lord,” Dorange said with despair in his voice.
Without turning around and with his hands still behind his back, Koroan mentally locked onto Dorange’s body, paralyzing his muscles so he couldn’t use his own abilities to defend himself. A hateful smile began to spread along Koroan’s lips as he levitated his general toward him. Dorange Gar was about to die.
Koroan turned and met Dorange’s terrified eyes, which were frozen in the air directly above his desk. “You have failed me too many times, Dorange.”
The defeated general lowered his eyes in shame. “I am sor—”
“Enough of your apologies, you sorry excuse for a general! I gave you another chance. How difficult of a task is it to conquer a planet filled with pitiful humans?”
“M-My Lord. My forces were spread too thin. I—”
Without warning, Koroan backhanded Dorange across the face. Blood spattered out of the general’s mouth, the blow nearly knocking him out.
“No more excuses, Dorange! I told you when I gave you the honor of conquering Earth, that you would not be able to bear the consequences if you failed.”
Dorange lowered his head. Blood dripped onto the solid oak desk underneath him. He seemed to be waiting for the deathblow that Koroan had promised to give him. Koroan hesitated a few seconds. He wasn’t about to let his general off that easy.
Moving his way around his desk, Koroan moved Dorange from his frozen position to a spot just above the plush maroon carpeted floor and dropped him. Dorange
landed face first on the floor, but he was now free from the paralyzing grip of his master. Staggering to his knees, Dorange looked up. The look on his face sickened Koroan. The look was like a beaten dog, begging for mercy from his master. “Explain to me, Dorange, how humans could nearly decimate an entire fleet?”
His general lowered his head again in silence.
“Tell me!” roared Koroan.
Dorange’s voice quivered as he replied, “M-my Lord, it was an act of God.”
Rage erupted out of Koroan like searing magma exploding from a volcano. “God! You dare refer to that false idol in my presence! You fool! You know who the true god of the galaxy is … and his savior!”
Koroan raised his fist and violently thrust it downward toward Dorange’s face. Dorange raised his arms for protection. “He has abilities like ours!” Dorange bawled in defense.
The deathblow stopped within inches of Dorange’s face. “What? … Who?”
Lowering his arms slowly, Dorange stammered, “H-his name is John. The goddess visited me just before I attacked and told me that I need to take this John prisoner. To get him off of Earth.”
“The goddess visited you?” Koroan asked, taking a step backward. His rage was beginning to subside. He wondered why his goddess would visit an inept servant of his, let alone give him knowledge about a man Koroan didn’t even know existed.
“Yes … she did, my Lord.”
The wrath returned to Koroan’s eyes as he bore into his general, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him into the air. “You lie! You will say anything to save your pathetic life!” He then loosened his grip around Dorange’s throat, allowing him to respond.
“N-No, my Lord. It is true. The Gnols that returned with me will verify this. Th-this John not only has the abilities we possess, he also has powers beyond our imagination. H-he was able to usher in a meteor storm that directly targeted my troops and ships.”
Koroan wasn’t convinced. The goddess of light wouldn’t hide anything from him. He was her chosen one and told him everything. This angered Koroan even more. Burrowing his fiery gaze into Dorange, he began to squeeze the life out of his useless general.
Worlds Without End: Aftermath (Book 2) Page 28