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Publisher’s Note:
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author’s imagination.
Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is coincidental.
Solstice Publishing - www.solsticepublishing.com
Copyright 2015
The Last Revenge
By
Nathaniel Danes
The Last Hero Series Book 2
Dedication
To my wife. My best friend, lover, mother of my child, and partner in life.
Prologue
Nathan York had managed to survive twenty-five years in the dangerous world of United Earth Systems’ Internal Security, in part by convincing everyone around him that he had no fear. This was a lie, although one he’d become quite skilled at pulling off.
As the elevator plunged deeper and deeper into the crust of a planet only referred to as P-1425X, he found it increasingly difficult to pretend he wasn’t claustrophobic.
A bead of sweat released from behind his ear. Fortunately, it was the ear opposite his escort. He remained still.
Mercifully, the small box touched down with a thud. The doors slid open to reveal an awe-inspiring chamber of massive scale. He stepped out smoothly, glancing around to pretend he was unimpressed by the room carved from solid rock over four kilometers below the surface.
Inside, he was dumbstruck.
The race capable of constructing this dome of space, five by three kilometers with a three-hundred-meter-high ceiling, possessed an understanding of engineering far in excess of humanity’s. It was an engineering feat thousands of years old.
The marvel didn’t impress him. What it represented did. The chamber’s construction took great knowledge and to him knowledge was power. Power was the only thing he respected.
“Most people get off the elevator and have to pick their jaw off the floor,” his escort, Research Assistant Natalie Woods, said.
He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a tough man to impress.”
“I see. Well, if you follow me, I’ll take you to Dr. Parker’s office. Maybe she can find a way to impress you.”
He followed, tiny pebbles crackling under their feet. Staying a few paces back, he examined the young woman’s shapely figure and long black hair. The formfitting overalls hugged her curves in all the right ways. He admired her carefully, already planning his conquest. If she noticed his gaze, she’d know his feelings, his intentions. That was unacceptable.
Knowledge is power.
To him, there were no simple matters in life. Every endeavor, from maintaining the peace between the nations on Earth and the colonies, to sex, was a game. Every game’s winner is determined by advantages, and he preferred to have all the advantages.
She stopped outside a plain square building, one of many. “The doctor is in here. She’s expecting you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Woods.” He smiled softly.
“No problem, Dr. Stone,” she replied, addressing him by his cover identity. “Let me know if there is anything I can do to aid your work.” She brushed her hair behind an ear and returned the smile. “I’ll be seeing you around.”
He pretended to thumb through a file as he surreptitiously watched her stroll away. She glanced back with a wide grin that quickly turned into a frown. He allowed himself a sinister smile once she looked away.
He had the advantage.
Inside, several lab techs hovered over work stations. His trained eye quickly found his target. “Hello, Dr. Parker.”
An aging woman, using a handheld scanner to study a chuck of silver metal, looked up. “Dr. Stone, I presume.”
“That’s me.”
Parker handed the artifact to a lab tech. “Here, continue the scans while I welcome our visitor. Please follow me, Dr. Stone.”
Entering through a side door, the pair went into her barren office. Bland furniture and a picture of the doctor with a trio of young children decorated the room. She reached under her desk to press a button.
“We can talk freely now, Mr. York.”
He ran his fingers across a chair before sitting. “How have things been going lately, Caroline?”
“Splendid. There isn’t a day we don’t learn something new here.”
He crossed his legs and arms. “Well, Caroline, you and I both know that if that were the case, the Director wouldn’t have had me travel halfway across the universe to kick your operation in the ass.”
Leaning over the desk, she countered, “We are making progress. Steady progress every day.”
“Steady isn’t fast enough. The Director wants results and wants them yesterday. You’ve been here for eighteen months. Can you point to a single tangible improvement in our field capabilities from your research?”
She went to speak, but he waved off her words. “No. The answer to the question is no.”
“Mr. York, I understand your frustration. I do believe, however, that you and the Director fail to appreciate how delicate this work is. We are dealing with alien technology. Ancient and advanced beyond anything we’ve seen before. Moving too fast could destroy whatever it is we hope to discover.”
“The Director didn’t ascend to his position by allowing excuses in place of results.” His eyes narrowed. “You can consider yourself on notice.”
She swallowed gently and her skin tone paled by a small fraction. So minor was her reaction to the warning that only a trained eye could catch it.
A trained eye did.
I have you.
Her back stiffened. “I may have something. Something big to report soon.”
“What would that be?”
Scrolling on a sheet of e-paper, she selected a file and passed it across the desk, “As you know, we’ve found very few intact items in this chamber. Something happened here that caused a fair amount of destruction...”
He ignored the document. “Spare me the repeat of information I’m already aware of.”
Leaning forward, she stared into his cold eyes and she pushed back. “Did you know we discovered another chamber below this one? It’s sealed and undisturbed.”
“No.” His eyes bulged, a rare betrayal of emotion. He kicked himself for the slip immediately.
Her weathered face grinned.
“When can you access the room?” he asked.
“We just discovered this chamber a few days ago. We will begin digging tomorrow. From there, it’s difficult to predict a timetable. I assure you we will move as fast as possible.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re right.” He rose from his chair. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m tired and would like to settle into my room.”
“Of course. Let me call Natalie over here and she can show you to your quarters.”
“Thank you.” He smiled wide, like a lizard licking its chops.
Chapter One
Bloodlust Bond
A cold heavy spring rain pelted Trent as he silently stood over his daughter’s fresh grave. His Legion blacks were soaked as he stared at the headstone, paying no attention to the miserable weather. In fact, he rather preferred the dark clouds overhead. They fit the mood his soul wallowed in.
It had been three days since he discover
ed the war with the Bearcats was based on a clever Kitright lie. For three days, now, he’d floated through life in a state of deep depression.
He took a small amount of comfort in the beautiful landscape surrounding the grave. Well-kept grass, gently rolling hills, a scattering of oak trees, and flower beds created a peaceful scene.
The funeral had ended thirty minutes ago. The final words by the reverend were like a starter’s pistol, signaling to mourners that it was okay to rush to escape the rain. Save for a similarly-drenched Amanda standing guard, he was alone.
Others had found saying good-bye easier. Why shouldn’t they? Anna’s death had been expected for some time, providing ample opportunity to wrap up loose ends. His service in the Legion had taken away a lifetime with Anna, only allowing him a few pitiful minutes at the end. A sorry exchange.
“I’m sorry, Anna,” he said to the cold slab of gray granite. “You were an innocent casualty of this Godforsaken war. I always thought our shared sacrifice at least meant something. Now...I know it was all for a lie.”
He took a knee, not caring it sat in a muddy puddle. Gripping the headstone with both hands, he lowered his forehead onto the hard surface.
Cold. So cold. Just like my heart.
“I promised your mother long ago I’d make those responsible for this war pay. I now make the same promise to you. The target has changed, but the result will be no different. A river of blood will flow from the Kitright home world across the stars to this very spot.”
Rising, he patted the top of the stone as he had done so many times to Anna herself. He closed his eyes to imagine that curly-haired bundle of childish energy and curiosity. A fresh tear ran down his cheek; she now only lived in his mind and heart.
Making an about-face, he walked toward Amanda. Even soaking wet with her blonde hair tucked under her black cap, she looked lovely.
He tried hiding his pain with a grim look of determination draped across his face. It was good enough to fool most people, but not Amanda. In her eyes, he saw she understood that the veneer of bravado concealed a mountain of pain.
She wrapped her arms around him, the soft embrace eased his aching soul.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She pulled back, keeping ahold of his shoulders. “Whatever for?”
He took her face into his hands. “You deserve better.” Her brown, almond-shaped eyes gazed back at him. “You deserve to have a life, a real life of your own. Back on Earth’s Fist, I said our war was over, that we could settle down. Things have changed, though. I can’t quit the fight and I don’t know when I’ll be able to. You should...”
She pulled his hands down, gripping them hard. “Stop. Don’t say it. You have nothing to apologize to me for. I’m not going anywhere. You’re my family now, my life. If you can’t quit the fight, then I can’t quit the fight.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I can’t offer anything but death, blood, metal, and the coldness of space.”
The rain poured down even harder. Lighting flashed off in the distance, a moment later thunder washed over them.
“Don’t forget.” Her eyes tightened to slits. “Yours is not the only life stolen by the Kitrights. I want my pound of flesh, too.”
Their shared rage, their bloodlust bond, made him love her even more.
He kissed her on the forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She jerked to rigid attention. “Now, Colonel, what’s next?”
“We get Hido. Together we’ll collect the evidence we need to convince our governments to unite against the real enemy.”
“How do we do that?”
A lightning flash illuminated his face, highlighting an evil grin. “We’re arranging a little meeting between him and the Kitright Ambassador.” The thunder clack punctuated his point as if heaven itself voiced its approval.
Chapter Two
The Meeting
“I want to reiterate that I believe this proposed operation is reckless and insane. We are risking everything on the word of an enemy prisoner,” General David Wills said, standing out of his chair, fists planted on the table’s surface.
Trent remained seated at the glossy black conference table, paying only marginal attention to the tall general towering over him. This familiar meeting room buried deep under the Pentagon held bitter memories for him. It was where he had learned the details of the Big Red and Black Marble missions. For a moment, he lost himself in the past as Wills continued.
“If the Kitright discover what we’ve done, we’ll turn this into a two-front war. One of those fronts knows the location of Earth.” He stared down at Trent. “Colonel Maxwell’s plan places the entire human race in jeopardy.”
The direct reference pulled him back into the discussion. “General, I seriously doubt that my proposal would have made it this far if the Office of Supreme Command didn’t already have suspicions.” He locked eyes with Supreme Commander Jane Walker.
General Wills’ eyes shot toward her.
“The Colonel is right,” she said. Supreme Commander Jane Walker was a Fleet officer. Despite her age of ninety-five, the nanos in her blood and effects of relativity made her appear as a good-looking woman in her late thirties. Not a hint of gray marred her jet black hair, tightly wrapped in a bun.
Wills fell back into his chair. “What exactly does that mean, Supreme Commander? Are you saying there is other evidence that the Kitright arranged this whole war?”
She leaned forward. “What I’m about to tell you is classified as a Galactic Secret. Any mention of it outside this room will be considered treason.”
Trent straightened. Wills went slack.
She continued, “Computer, access the Judas files.”
“Security access code required,” the sexless computer voice demanded. Silently she typed her code and allowed the computer to scan her DNA.
“Code accepted. Galactic Secret protocol initiated. All meeting attendees must enter their security codes. Discloser of the following information to any personal lacking Galactic Secret level security clearance is grounds for court-martial.”
The holo displays in front of each chair showed a pair of ships floating in the void of space. A million stars sparkled in the background. Trent recognized the discus design of the Bearcat ship instantly. The other vessel’s spherical shape was clearly a Kitright ship.
The room sucked in a collective gasp.
“How did you get this?” Wills asked.
“This image is fifteen years old.” She stood, crossing her arms behind her. “We had a Discovery drone on passive surveillance to monitor an astronomical event. Its low power output enabled it to evade detection and capture this meeting by pure chance.”
“What’s that?” Trent asked, pointing at a small craft that emerged from the Kitright ship.
“That is a shuttle. It will dock with the Bearcat and an hour later, it will return to its mother ship.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Trent saw the color abandon General Wills’ face. The holo stirred far less emotion within himself. He believed Hido and had already experienced his own rage at the revelation.
“Computer, end file.” The holograms blipped out of existence. “By itself, this evidence isn’t enough to warrant action. Until now, we’ve never been able to corroborate it. Given the prisoner’s unsolicited reaction to the picture of the Kitright Ambassador and his testimony, Supreme Command feels the colonel’s proposal is necessary.”
Wills pleaded, “But it could trigger another war.”
Trent turned toward him. “General, you fail to realize that we’re already at war with the Kitright.”
Walker sat down but remained stiff. “General Wills, the decision has been made.” She looked directly at Trent. “Colonel, is your team ready?”
“I’ve mobilized my most trusted troops. They’ve been with me since Big Red, and I trust them completely. We’re ready.”
Leaning forward, she placed her hands on the smooth surface. “Then you
’re a go.”
***
Trent left the infamous conference room, hoping he’d never find reason to visit it again. An elevator took him down an additional dozen levels. These recently dug out sections had been added for the war. Each generation, man’s wars grow deadlier, forcing command to bury their secrets ever deeper.
A pair of battlesuited guards, weapons ready, greeted him at the bottom. Active camouflage made them barely visible. He tracked their movements by following the edges of the distortion. A flash of his pass satisfied the ghostly guards, who lowered their rifles.
The clean, featureless walls left no hint to where doors might lay. He knew exactly where to go, however, thanks to upgraded neural nanos that gently led him to the secret room.
At the designated door, he opened it with a thought-click.
Cool. I could get used to this.
In the room, he found five chairs. Three of them were already occupied by the mission’s personnel.
Major Nina Jones, a British Army officer in a former life and the tallest woman he’d ever met, sat closest to the door. Her muscular physique served her well on the Legion’s first missions.
Sergeant Stan Gabriel occupied another seat; he’d served in the old U. S. Army Rangers with Trent. In fact, he bore some responsibility for Trent being here. After getting shot in the ass in South Africa, Trent rescued him under heavy fire. The act resulted in a Medal of Honor for Trent, the last in history. Minor celebrity followed, leading directly to command of the first Legion mission to Big Red.
Sergeant Amanda Roth rounded out the team. Gabriel and Jones knew of their relationship, despite the two lovers’ professionalism in public. The illegal affair was a quiet, open secret among brothers-in-arms.
The trio sprung to attention.
“At ease. Have a sit.”
Jones put elbows to knees. “So, Colonel...what is this all about? I had to skip a date to be here.”
“A date?” Gabriel jibed.
“You don’t have to sound so shocked, Sergeant,” Jones countered with a smile.
The Last Revenge (The Last Hero Trilogy Book 2) Page 1