Scorched Earth: (The Human Chronicles Saga Book #16)

by T. R. Harris

  Synnoc bristled at the charge raised by some that the Juireans were much like the Sol-Kor in this regard. The Juireans were nothing like the flesh-eaters, he argued. The Sol-Kor were mindless drones, birthed from a single mother and with only the quest for food to drive them. The Juireans—although employing a very efficient and practical procreation program—were individuals born from individual females. They came from only the finest male stock, and as such the Juireans were a race of superior beings, intelligent, strong and courageous. The Sol-Kor were barely above insects, not capable of creativity or innovation. If it hadn’t been for the inventions of the mutant Panur, they would never have advanced to the point of threatening other universes.

  With regards to the Sol-Kor, Synnoc knew Adam Cain and his Humans had not defeated them. All they did was cut off their access to the Juirean galaxy and help rebellious races in the flesh-eaters’ universe to rise against them. As a result, the flesh-eaters were simply too pre-occupied to be a threat for the time being. But that could change.

  Even still, Cain did manage to turn Panur away from the Sol-Kor. If not, then the mutant genius would have simply rebuilt what had been destroyed and the invading horde would have returned. Synnoc didn’t assign any special gratitude for what Cain had done. It was a matter of timing and fortunate consequence, and not some great plan on the Human’s part. Luck—to Synnoc—was not to be rewarded or honored, since it could not be counted on consistently, no matter what fantastic mythologies revolved around the fortunate Human.

  Chapter 31

  Flashlight beams began to pick reflections off of something shiny ahead. Adam and Riyad approached carefully until reaching another grate covering the exit to the tunnel. They were at the security vault, where seventeen years earlier, their fateful pod journey had begun.

  While aiming their lights into the room beyond the grate, the pair saw very little they recognized. Where once there was the pod room, dining area, comm center, meeting rooms and more, all that was left was a large circular room, fading off into the murky distance. Everything else had been swept away by powerful torrents of rushing water.

  On the floor outside the tunnel, Adam noticed hundreds of footprints, now faded and covered in a generous layer of dust. No one had been down here in a very long time.

  The two men turned their attention to the bars of their cage. They were shiny, showing no signs of rust, which meant alloys of some kind, possibly Juirean steel. They braced themselves against the wall of the tunnel and placed booted feet against the bars. They pressed, grunting occasionally from the effort until a separation was created large enough for them to crawl through. They left the bars bent; this was their only way out at this point.

  Cradling M-101’s in their arms, Adam and Riyad moved cautiously into the vast room. The security vault had been divided into three sections, with one huge central room. At first glance it looked as though the water had rushed through the middle of the complex, bursting through the main door and into the catacombs beyond. The other two sections, one to each side, appeared to have escaped relatively undamaged. Adam and Riyad moved to their right.

  This area showed signs of recent visitation, with dozens—perhaps hundreds—of crates and boxes stacked haphazardly about. There were also old chairs, dust-covered desks, file cabinets and discarded computer monitors, everything one would expect to find when new equipment was brought in to replace the old. The vault had become a huge storage room.

  In one of the rooms, Adam spotted something new. They stepped inside to examine the huge, fifteen-foot-high by thirty-foot-long box of dials and electrical connections.

  “It’s some form of back-up generator,” Adam told Riyad. He reached out with his ATD and scanned the object. Most of it was dormant, yet a few of the components were operating in standby mode. Within his mind, Adam followed the main power lines out the room, to where they split off in multiple directions. A few moments later, he had more information.

  “There are three main back-ups for the building, two on site and another one about ten miles away. Everything appears be in threes; three generators with three redundant connectors each.”

  “Could you disable them if necessary?” Riyad asked.

  “This one, possibly, and maybe the one at the other side of the building. Not sure about the one off-site. Just don’t expect me to do anything in hurry. These things are pretty complicated.”

  This was Adam’s second artificial telepathy device; the first he’d given to Panur so he could build his trans-dimensional portal detector. Since Adam wasn’t the type to sit around trying learn all its subtle uses and manipulations, he was still a rookie at its operation. In fact, he would go days without even thinking of the implant. He could do the basics, but Arieel—who had been fitted with her device when she was five and trained on it every day to adulthood, had much more skill with the interface. She had also surrendered her Gift to Panur and was now device-less. As far as Adam knew, he was the only creature in the galaxy who possessed a Formilian brain interface unit.

  The two Humans continued through the hazy darkness until they came to the main entrance/exit to the security vault. The two-foot thick metal door had been replaced with a set of standard-hinged rectangular doors. It was easy to see where new concrete had been poured to form the frame for the doors. There was an electronic lock on the door.

  Adam scanned it with his ATD; this was something he could do with relative ease. He severed the locking controls and the doors were free to open.

  He shook his head, a movement Riyad noticed.

  “Problem?”

  “No, just something weird. A kind of echo in my mind.”

  “What kind of echo?”

  “Like if you hear a ringing in your ears when everything is really quiet.”

  “Could the mane-heads be scanning for your ATD?”

  “I don’t think so. This was something strange. Let me scan around and see if I pick up anything unusual.”

  A couple of minutes went by before Adam reported his findings.

  “There’s a shitload of electronics operating, just what you would expect in a building this large. I’m picking up plenty of flash weapon power packs, but none close by. Maybe the echo was from all electricity concentrated in one place. I’ll be fine. Let’s move on. I’m anxious to see what they have down here.”

  ********

  During his earlier stay on Juir, Adam had researched the massive pyramid building—the original—and found its history to be fascinating.

  The structure was built over the site of the first landing of an alien spacecraft on the planet. That small, gangly-looking vehicle—similar in shape and design to the Lunar Landing Module from the Apollo moon landings—had been sent to Juir four thousand years ago by the neighboring Klin, one of six other advanced civilizations in the Cluster. What would become the Malor-Hydon Tower began as a simple cover over the spacecraft to protect it from the elements. Later, as more pilgrims came to view the craft, additional walls and barriers were constructed to help protect it and to channel visitors past in a more orderly fashion.

  As the Juireans began to build their stellar empire, they staged elaborate ceremonies and presentations on the mountaintop and around the spacecraft. A large amphitheater was built around the lander, along with a cover for the crowds.

  Years later, others buildings were constructed around the site and it was decided that the first-landing memorial should to have one of its own. This structure was a rectangular-shaped building—like all the others—with the distinction of having the top floor serve as a three-hundred-sixty-degree glassed-in observation deck. Visiting dignitaries were in awe of the view, which included the lights of Juir City far below, as well as snow-capped mountains to the north and west and the Southern Sea to the south.

  As the centuries passed, urban sprawl took over area surrounding the monument building. Taller structures rose up around it, requiring additions to the building, with the goal to always have the observation deck be the high
est point on the mountain.

  A thousand years after its inception, some frustrated Council Elder ordered that all the surrounding buildings be removed, and that a new and final structure be built on the site. A pyramid was selected as the design, with the great observation deck placed at the very top. Nothing in the surrounding area was to be taller than a fifth the height of the pyramid, and when completed, it stood a thousand feet high, giving it—according to Adam’s research—twice the footprint and height of the Great Pyramid of Giza on Earth.

  By this time, the Juirean Empire had spread across half the galaxy, and it became a rite of passage for every Juirean to make a pilgrimage to the building to observe the First-Contact Memorial. The entire lower section of the pyramid was a large open chamber with the memorial resting at the center. With so many coming to see it, separate entrances were created, along with wide catwalks and circular balconies, where the fateful could be channeled. At the height of the empire, a hundred thousand Juireans per day filtered through the building.

  Years later, the observation room at the top of the pyramid was shut off from visitors and converted into the Pinnacle Room, to be used exclusively by the Elders for important state business.

  The new Malor-Hydon pyramid was built on the foundation of the old one, with the only surviving remnant being the catacombs carved into the basalt and granite of the mountain.

  The First-Contact vehicle was destroyed in the Kracori attack, after which the Juireans conducted a futile search for Hydon’s stone-encrusted escape pod to serve as a weak substitute. Adam didn’t know what—if anything—now sat in the huge exhibition chamber. The Juireans didn’t make pilgrimages here any longer. There were too few of them left to bother.

  ********

  Riyad moved through the open door and into a wide lobby outside the vault. There were lights on, but only a few. There was evidence most of this area had been rebuilt after the geyser erupted from the vault, and farther along, they could see more lights, in corridors more frequently traveled.

  They were twelve stories below the surface, in an area of passageways and rooms filling the space between the deeply-embedded support legs for the pyramid. As in most huge buildings, the less-important people dwelled at the lower levels, while the VIPs labored higher up. In the catacombs, the lowest of the low had their offices, including where the prisoners were housed. It would only make sense.

  They turned a corner and spotted a lone Juirean with yellow hair—a Tech—walking away from them while reading a datapad in his hands. Adam motioned for Riyad to lag behind as backup, before he moved off to confront the alien.

  Adam moved softly yet swiftly, using his years of training to sneak up behind the Juirean. He did everything right.

  Regardless, the target stopped and turned unexpectedly.

  Both creatures eyed each other, deciding what to do. The Juirean saw a much smaller creature dressed in a black, helmet-less environment suit and holding a strange looking weapon. Adam saw a seven-foot tall alien, unarmed and with a datapad in his hands.

  Both creatures rushed the other.

  It was a good bet the Juirean had never collided with a Human before. His expression said it all, as Adam won the war of mass and shoved the creature backwards and off his feet. He landed hard on his back with Adam straddling him, the barrel of the M-101 pressed against the greenish skin of the Juirean’s left cheek.

  “Keep quiet or I’ll blow your head clean off your shoulders. Nod if you understand?”

  The creature nodded while glaring at Adam. He wasn’t scared, rather frustrated with himself for being thrown to the floor by such a small being.

  “What are you doing down here?” Adam asked.

  “I do routine environmental systems monitoring. What are you doing here?”

  “I’ll ask the questions,” Adam said, pressing the barrel of the weapon a little harder against the alien for emphasis. “Where are the prison cells located?”

  “Prison cells…on this level? There are none.”

  “On which level?”

  “There are no prison facilities.” The alien’s eyes grew large as understanding came to him. “Security holding? Do you mean security holding?”

  “Yes.”

  “They are five levels above.” The alien glanced past the two Humans and the deserted hall behind them. “I welcome the prospect of you and your companion attempting to reach them. They are well-guarded.”

  “Do you recognize our race?”

  “Yes, you are Humans. I have only seen you in images, yet now I can associate your smell with your pictures. Both are disgustingly foul.”

  “Quite the mouthy little son-of-a-bitch, isn’t he?” Riyad said.

  “How do we reach the security level?”

  “By going up.”

  “And a smart-ass, too. Just kill him and let’s get going.” Riyad moved past Adam to scout the hallway farther along.

  “Kill me? Why?”

  “Because—” Adam flipped his weapon around and drove the stock end into the skull of the alien—“I can.” He climbed to his feet. “There have to be elevators along here somewhere, and hopefully the accompanying stairwells.”

  “I’ve noticed you’ve been saying hopefully a lot more these days,” Riyad pointed out.

  “It’s another way of saying the situation is fluid, requiring mission modification contingent upon circumstances in the field.”

  “You mean we’re playing it by ear?”

  “Now you’ve got it. Take the lead, Mister Tarazi. Let’s find a way…up.”

  ********

  A bank of elevators—along with a doorway to the stairs—was located a hundred feet down the corridor. Elevators were always a crap shoot; one never knew what would be waiting when the doors slid open. Stairs, on the other hand, were manageable and less traveled. The Humans entered the doorway next to the elevators and began a methodical climb floor by floor, on maximum guard along the way.

  They made it up the five flights without incident. At the exit door, Adam knelt down and cracked it open a hair. It was clear down the corridor in that direction. Next, he withdrew a small mirror on an articulated handle from a pocket in his environment suit and placed it around the door jamb, looking in the other direction.

  He couldn’t see much. His view was blocked by the khaki-colored pant leg of the Juirean standing next to the door. Adam angled the mirror upward, turning the already towering alien into a giant. He got a better view; the Juirean Guard was talking with two others. The hallway beyond looked clear.

  Adam pulled back and quietly shut the door. He held up three fingers and then motioned with his thumb at the wall he was leaning against.

  Riyad raised his eyebrows. “Right here?” he whispered.

  Adam nodded. “We need one alive,” he said to Riyad. The two men switched their M-101’s to standard mode, meaning bullets racing down the suppressed barrel. The flash option would have lit up the corridor for fifty yards or more. Two muted puffs wouldn’t attract too much attention—hopefully.

  The plan: Riyad would open the door as Adam pulled the first Juirean into the stairwell, just before placing two quick shots center-mass into the other two. He would then pull the bodies out of the hallway before too much blood could spill. It would take all of three seconds, at the most. That was the plan.

  The door was pulled open; Adam was out in a flash, grabbing the first alien by his belt and yanking him through the doorway. The pop-pop of the ‘101 sounded like one shot, coming so close to each other as they did.

  Adam caught one falling Juirean and threw him into the doorway. He took the second one by the collar and placed him on top of the other. Then he bent over and shoved both bodies through the doorway. A quick glance outside showed a thin trail of smudged blood leading into the stairwell.

  Riyad had the live Juirean pressed against a side wall, the barrel of his weapon aimed at the creature’s chest. Spying a pocket on the alien’s shirt, Adam reached out and tore off a generous port
ion of cloth. The Juirean—as well as Riyad—was surprised.

  “Mind of I borrow this?” Adam asked with a grin. He scooted out the doorway again and came back a few seconds later with a blood-soaked cloth. He looked at Riyad. “Made a bloody mess, I did, I say,” Adam said in his best British accent.

  Riyad had disarmed the Guard and now both Humans turned their attention to their captive.

  “Is this the floor with the security cells?” Adam growled in a whisper.

  “I will not tell you—”

  Adam leaned in and clamped a hand over the alien’s mouth, while also withdrawing a KA-BAR combat knife from his utility belt. Without hesitation, he pressed the black blade into the leg of the Juirean. The creature moaned and struggled to cry out, grimacing from the intense pain. Adam withdrew the knife and placed the bloody edge against the Guard’s neck.

  “I’ll ask you again, is this the floor with the security cells?”

  The alien’s eyes were slits as squinted against the pain. He nodded.

  “Do you have two females down here, one Human, the other Formilian?”

  The Guard shook his head.

  “They’re not here?”

  He shook his head again.

  “What the hell does that mean?” Riyad asked. “Are they here or not?”

  Adam pulled his hand away from the Juirean’s mouth. “The Human, not the Formilian,” the Juirean groaned.

  “The Human is here, but not the other one?”

  The alien nodded.

  Now Riyad leaned forward, pressing the barrel of his weapon against the alien’s forehead. Even through the pain, the Juirean’s eyes grew wide.

  “Where is she?”

  The alien shook his head again.

  Riyad backed away. “Cut him again, Adam.”