Viper (Second Wave Book 1)

by Mikayla Lane

  “I understand your fear and concern. I hope to alleviate some of that for you.” The combination of Abexis’ voice suddenly speaking along with Lara’s voice was a little startling to everyone in the room. The way her eyes pulsed with the golden flecks only added to their uneasiness.

  Lara felt all that energy that Abexis had collected walking through the crowd and felt him slowly disperse it back out into the room. She watched as it spread through those in the room before seeping through the door and into the crowd of people outside.

  She felt almost detached, as everyone seemed to relax a little. Walking to the table, Lara pulled out a chair that was close and sat down. Within moments, Viper was beside her along with Dread. Drago, David and Ratoka spread out on either side while Grai sat down directly in front of her flanked by Ivint and Reven.

  Lara turned to Amun, who was scanning David for changes. “You will find that there is a marginal increase in his brain connections and his base knowledge. No harm has been done to him.”

  The dual voice of Lara/Abexis, was odd enough that Amun began a scan on Lara as well. Their beasts could not communicate when the host was speaking, only one could be in control of the body at a time. With Lara, her beast had equal control of her; Amun had never seen or heard of anything like it.

  “The doctor is wondering how it is that we have dual control of the host body, where only one of you can be in control of yours at a time. Therein lies the entire difference between our species.” Lara and Abexis said, capturing the undivided attention of everyone in the room.

  “In the early days of our species, we began with our hosts in a similar way as your own beast bond. However, our hosts were unique in their evolution, and it enabled us to evolve rapidly with them, becoming the first of what is known as the beast species. Prime.” Lara/Abexis said, pausing for a moment when they sensed Traze was going to say something.

  “Yo forest ninja, ya think you can tone down the creep factor here? Those of us, ya know, who’ve been SHOT by you are frightened enough already.” Traze said, his voice a mixture of his normal sarcasm and true fear.

  “I swear to…” David began before Lara/Abexis cut him off.

  “Child, you have much to learn, and you cannot do so with your mouth in constant motion. Be silent, listen and learn.” Lara’s hand made a gentle sweeping motion and she, and Abexis made no effort to hide the trail of golden energy that went from her hand into Traze’s mouth.

  “What did you do to him?” Grai demanded as he launched himself to his feet, ready to defend his brother.

  Lara merely sent the same energy to Grai and watched as he slowly sat down. The moment he was seated, Lara held her hand back out, and it was as if she called the energy back from him like a vacuum.

  “That is what I did to him. Do you understand?” Lara/Abexis asked the stunned Grai.

  Grai took immediate stock of himself, shocked at how easily the energy had calmed him, but had completely cleared his mind at the same time. It was like the energy had focused him on understanding what was being said, rather than the questions and emotions running through him.

  It hadn’t been the least bit unpleasant or intrusive, which had really surprised him. Even his beast, Death, felt a surprising expansion of his own energy and power. Knowing his brother and his tendency to cause chaos with his mouth, he could think of worse things to keep him calm while they figured out what was going on.

  “You will remove it when we’re done?” Grai asked, not wanting his brother to be like this permanently.

  “Of course. I only seek to help him calm his mind enough to learn so he can be less afraid.” Lara/Abexis answered honestly, allowing those in the room to feel it in her energy.

  “Then please, continue.” Grai said, confident his brother was in no danger. His curiosity overrode his own fear at the power of the woman and beast in front of him.

  “When our hosts realized that our planet was to be destroyed by a prophesied event that could not be prevented, they escaped to space with as many of us as they could. However, they could not save us all. Those of us, who remained were tasked with seeding other worlds where we could be of service to our hosts.”

  “The remnants of our planet, with my brethren hibernating inside, were scattered through space and time. Eventually, the fragments impacted your worlds, and your three clans were created, as well as the clans on other worlds. I can feel their presence.”

  Since the room was completely silent and everyone was listening intently, Lara/Abexis continued. “The time of the Prophecy of the Ocarion has come. The conversion taking place on the planet as the energy shifts is allowing the mutations necessary in the humans for my brethren to arise.”

  “As you know, the humans are not compatible with the beast species because their brains have not evolved enough to sustain one. The conversion occurring is helping to correct this anomaly.”

  “The lost are being affected first as their memories are expanding their minds as they are returned to them. That, along with the conversion is speeding up the transition for them.” Lara/Abexis paused when they sensed Grai had a question.

  “What exactly is your purpose in this prophecy? What do you want of the hosts?” Grai asked, creeped out that Lara/Abexis had stopped talking and had turned to him as if knowing he’d had a question.

  “We are Crainea peh Magorn. Keepers of Light. We are the guardians of the Light Bringers.” Lara/Abexis stated to the surprise of Ratoka and the Tezarian’s.

  “There is no mention of the Crainea peh Magorn, in the Prophecy of the Ocarion.” Ratoka said, struggling to understand.

  “When the Ocarion spoke to my brethren before the destruction of my world, he foresaw a great evil overtaking this world. A terrible leader, one of beast, would know of the conversion and the inevitable evolution of the humans. One who would attempt to prevent it from happening for his own evil purposes. It is because of that leader that we were kept from the written word of the Ocarion.”

  “Even now, I can hear the screams of the light bringers being captured by this evil in an attempt to snuff out the light. He seeks to prevent the humans from the transition necessary for their own continued existence. You know well of this enemy to my brethren and the light bringers.” Lara/Abexis said, never taking their golden gaze from Grai.

  “My brother, Dagog.” Grai said, his heart breaking that his own brother was so evil that he was part of a prophecy.

  “Yes and just as he is part of the true prophecy, so are you Grai T’Alq, and each of your brothers. Do not look so surprised when you are well aware that your own son is a conductor, who is even now, as we speak, calling the lost souls to this world.” Lara/Abexis said to the surprise of everyone. They continued while everyone remained silent.

  “Even now, this place you built for all of our brethren, is fulfilling the prophecy by calling the hosts close to this location to come here. To me. To all of you. Their people.”

  “Do you really think the Ocarion, the emissary of the God of Gods, allowed this to happen by chance? That all of you were brought to this planet at this time by accident?”

  Just when Grai thought, he might have figured it out, the dual being floored him again. At least this time he felt better knowing that everyone else was just as stunned.

  “Look around you. My brethren among you are of the gifted humans necessary for the survival of the Valendran people. My brethren among you are of the lost souls of the Zendarian, Tezarian and Valendran people. My brethren among you are of the light bringers necessary for you to win the war against your brother and bring about the evolution of an entire planet.”

  “Do you think it an accident that my brethren are part of every being on this planet that you need for the coming war?”

  The question startled those who were already reeling from the connections that were finally coming together in their minds. It explained so much about why they were all here, how they all came together at this particular place and time and why.

  “
What is your role in this? As guardians?” Grai asked, still worried for his mate and the other Prime hosts.

  “When our numbers increase, we will send out a call to others at greater distances. Those who can come, will come to us. It will be the task of the Tezarian’s and the laustio, our hunters, to find those of us who are incapable of coming on their own.”

  “The rest of us will remain to assist with the transitions of the humans with our brethren and lend our energy and protection to the light bringers and conductors until the conversion is complete.” Lara/Abexis said honestly.

  “What about after the conversion is complete?” Ivint asked, still reeling from finding the missing piece to the puzzle in his mind.

  “Our duty is to work with our brethren to assist the humans in adjusting to their evolutionary leap. The same way others before us have assisted them in their growth. While we are assisting the humans that remain after the war to come, we will also be aiding the evolution of your own beasts.” The last was met with several gasps of surprise.

  “How can you do that?” Amun asked, hanging on every word the dual being spoke. His curiosity from a scientific standpoint was on fire as his fingers flew across his scanner monitoring every change in Lara’s brain as she and the beast spoke together.

  “The device you hold will be able to show you exactly how, as we do it. Just as you are watching the changes now. The same energy used to put your beasts to slumber, or keep you silent and absorbing information…” Lara/Abexis said turning to Traze, who was staring silently at her, before continuing. “Can be used to expand and evolve your beast in the same way my brethren are becoming aware in the humans.”

  “Wait, how can you do that? It would demand an increase in the physical size of the beast. There is not enough room for that in the cranial cavity.” Amun said, switching to a different shot of Lara’s brain.

  “The size doesn’t matter as the bonding required allows us to expand into the surrounding cells and expanded connections in the brain. It is why we have dual control at all times. There is nothing that prevents me from protecting my host at any moment.”

  “At the same time, my host has complete control of my power at the call of her will. It is a complete symbiosis that allows the expansion of our combined energy and power. Your scans will show that symbiosis.” Lara/Abexis explained to the curious doctor.

  Amun put Lara’s brain scan on the screen behind the conference room table. He mechanically walked to the screen and pointed out the more than obvious area of Lara’s brain where the physical beast resided and the large area that surrounded it that was lit up in a stunning bright blue, while the rest of her brain remained neutral beige colors.

  “I think I understand.” Amun said, staring at the image on the large screen along with everyone else.

  “Why only the Tezarian’s and the laustio to find those who can’t come?” Reven asked curiously, wondering why he didn’t mention the Valendran’s or Zendarian’s.

  “The Tezarian’s have a unique connection with the energy of this planet. The laustio will be able to use that connection and expand it in a wide area that will draw both of them to any brethren in that area. Where they can alleviate the reason they could not come on their own and bring them here.” Lara/Abexis replied easily.

  Grai snorted in stunned disbelief. “If you are correct, then your brethren that can’t get here are being held by my brother’s people, government entities controlled by my brother or evil bastards in it for the fun of whacking off someone’s head in the name of my father.”

  “You will need more than a Tezarian warrior and a potentially untrained human carrying a laustio beast to get them all back safely.” Grai said, incredulous over the suggestion that their people be put in such danger.

  The echoing chuckle of Lara/Abexis still creeped out the best of them even though none tried to show it. It only made Lara and Abexis laugh a little harder. If their voice could freak out the tough warriors and leaders around her, then the power they could wield would definitely scare the hell out of them.

  The ability to use the Tezarian connection with the planet and its energy would heighten their abilities exponentially. However, telling them that would not ease the minds of the nervous people around her.

  “I can assure you that there is no intention to allow any of our brethren or those under our protection to be harmed. I had assumed that we would be able to count upon the assistance of your people.”

  “Our goals here are the same. Although your focus is to defeat your brother and the remnants of your father’s empire, our focus is on protecting as many humans as we can so that they can go through the conversion. It is imperative that they evolve, if they are to survive.”

  “That, of course, doesn’t include the tens of thousands of humans around the world that are mates, lost souls and brethren to all of us, that need to be brought home. To us.” Lara/Abexis told Grai, emphasizing the fact that those the Primes were seeking were also the same people that they were seeking for their own reasons as well.

  The room was silent while everyone considered the Prime’s words. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Prime was correct. They were searching for the same people and fighting the same enemy.

  Viper kept his hands in a white knuckled grip on the arms of his chair. There was something about hearing Lara’s voice speaking along with the Primes that sent chills up his spine. A niggling of a memory tickled at the back of his mind, driving him crazy as, he tried to remember what it was.

  His raging emotions certainly weren’t helping his memory or focus. He vacillated between pride, fear, happiness and concern for his mate.

  “The ancient ones. That is what you were called.” Ratoka said, excited that he remembered. His mind was already running through everything he could remember about the ancient ones.

  Lara/Abexis tilted her head to the side and smiled at the spiritual leader. “Among our brethren, I was one of those referred to as an ancient one.”

  Ratoka sucked in a breath at the admission, while Grai and the others looked at him to say whatever it was that he had figured out.

  “The legends…” Ratoka said looking intently at Grai with a huge grin on his face.

  Grai was seriously confused, his mind trying to think of anything he might have heard regarding ancient ones. His frustration only grew as he continued to draw a blank.

  “We have a few on Valendra about the Ancient Ones. The original thirteen beasts created by the God of Gods as his Guardians of Knowledge or Justice, I believe.” Ivint said, racking his brain for more information.

  “Weren’t each of them a Guardian of something… with the ability to harness that particular energy? Guardian of Justice could mete out Justice at his call. The one of Knowledge could gather and impart knowledge." Reven said, speaking his thoughts out loud.

  “No one ever knew for sure what they were capable of or what capacity they served for the God of Gods. All that remained of the time of their reign, when the original worlds were formed, were the legends on the worlds they helped begin.”

  “They were never seen or heard from since time began for our worlds. Archeologists from all of the original worlds are still trying to piece together what happened through the ruins and artifacts still being recovered.” Ratoka said, looking at Lara/Abexis with more curiosity and excitement than fear.

  “The humans have uncovered similar structures and artifacts on this world as well. I can feel the call of the energy still remaining in the earth and stone.” Lara/Abexis said, closing her eyes as they recalled the experience.

  Grai’s mind whirled with the information, his memory finally uncovering bits and pieces of stories he had heard growing up under his father’s tutelage. The brutal Relian leader, Kalai T’Alq had prided himself on raping worlds of their knowledge and legacies before destroying them.

  “By the Gods… what does Dagog know that we do not? There is a reason why he is targeting each of our people. It’s not just revenge and
to keep them from us. He knows you are here. I was so stupid! I thought this was their typical agenda for this world, but there is something else going on.”

  “There is something on this world that Dagog wants, something he thinks will give him power or an advantage. It’s the only thing that would motivate him. Tell us what the hell is really going on.” Grai said, turning furious eyes on Lara/Abexis.

  The entity was being vague and hiding information from them, and he wouldn’t tolerate it. His family, his people and his friends were involved, and he refused to deal with this Prime without more information about it. Legends and myth were not going to be good enough. He wanted clear answers and now.

  “I cannot speak of the will of the One God. I can say that your brother appears to be searching for our people to prevent our numbers from increasing in order to disrupt the conversion.” When it appeared that Grai would interrupt, Lara/Abexis continued.

  “He may also be searching for the Dacardia peh Grascad, Relics of Grascad. There is no translation for the word Grascad in any known language because it is the language of the One God and not meant to be understood.”

  “The relics are each imbued with different powers gifted to this world by the One God to help them survive these times and make the evolutionary changes necessary for their species to survive. The relics were brought by the emissaries and scattered throughout the world. To be hidden until they were needed.”

  “The clues to their whereabouts were given to the humans through the words of the emissaries and written in their languages in order to be passed down. As the generations evolved and the world moved closer to the conversion, the humans would learn to decipher the old texts and learn what to do with the relics. It is the same as it was on each of your worlds before your conversions.” Lara/Abexis explained.

  Grai’s mind whirled with the information. It made sense now. The secret programs that his father had been involved in that he would never let Grai be a part of. He must have shared that information only with his brother, Dagog.