by T. R. Harris
The Cain Legacy
The Human Chronicles Saga
# 18
an Adam Cain adventure
by
T.R. Harris
Copyright 2017 by T.R. Harris
All rights reserved, without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanically, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. **
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Novels by T.R. Harris
The Human Chronicles Saga
The Fringe Worlds
Alien Assassin
The War of Pawns
The Tactics of Revenge
The Legend of Earth
Cain’s Crusaders
The Apex Predator
A Galaxy to Conquer
The Masters of War
Prelude to War
The Unreachable Stars
When Earth Reigned Supreme
A Clash of Aliens
Battlelines
The Copernicus Deception
Scorched Earth
Alien Games
The Cain Legacy
Jason King – Agent to the Stars Series
The Enclaves of Sylox
Treasure of the Galactic Lights
The Drone Wars Series
Day of the Drone
In collaboration with George Wier…
The Liberation Series
Captains Malicious
Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“Of course it’s a wave; an oscillating wave with splintered modulation. That’s how the beam can affect a variety of species.”
“But why would you not—”
“Let me stop you there,” Panur interrupted. “You are attempting to modify my design based on your primitive understanding of physics and engineering. Even the mindless Sol-Kor could build suppressor platforms…because they didn’t question my plans. They simply followed directions.”
“Yet the power source delivery can cause splintering—”
“That’s covered on page nine-eighty-four, halfway down. All you need to do is read it.”
Adam raised his eyebrows. The mutant Panur was speaking to the engineers on Formil over a CW comm link while staring at the bulkhead in the Najmah Fayd’s pilothouse, yet still he could recall the exact location in his three-thousand-plus page set of plans where the splintering effect was addressed.
“The frequency modulation is a question—”
“Refer to addendum fourteen. It details how to build the modulation unit. It’s all there…as it has been from the beginning.”
“We understand that,” said the engineer. “However, the requirements—”
A loud squeal erupted from the speakers, followed by silence. Panur turned to Adam, his face displaying the frustration that had been building over the past twenty minutes of the link. His emotional state was exacerbated by the almost continuous series of communications the mutant had endured over the past two weeks with the scientists back on Formil.
“These are rumored to the brightest beings in your galaxy,” Panur barked at Adam. “I welcome this second disruption of the CW link.”
“The second?” Adam asked.
“Yes, there was a similar interruption three days ago—” Panur’s eyes grew large.
Adam was in the pilot seat, waiting patiently for the mutant to continue. Riyad was on the bridge as well. The two Humans shared a knowing glance, enjoying the frustration the often-pompous immortal mutant alien genius was experiencing.
“The last event was three days, nine minutes ago, to be precise,” Panur announced. “The prior interference was only a scrambling of the wormhole. This latest disruption caused a complete break.”
The tone of Panur’s statement made Adam take notice. He knew continuous-wormhole communication linked together two points in space by way of a microscopic wormhole. Such links were capable of sustaining integrity for just over an hour before the natural gravitational influences in the galaxy caused the points to fall out of alignment. Other than that, there was very little that could break an established link.
“What do you think caused it?” Adam asked.
“A gravitational wave of incredible strength, and this latest event was stronger than it was three days ago.”
Adam sat up straighter. “The Nuoreans?”
“The mid-point generators take three days to charge.”
“Why haven’t we seen this effect before?”
“Two reasons,” Panur began. “The original entry point was located far from the main part of the galaxy. And two, we were not within a CW link at the time we were close enough to notice the phenomenon.”
“That means—”
“We are close to their new entry point into the Milky Way.”
Riyad sent a star map to the forward viewscreen. They were just entering the Kidis Frontier after two weeks of travel from Formil—which was another point of contention for Panur. The journey to the planet Incus was taking twice as long as necessary, especially in his trans-dimensional starship. But CW links couldn’t be established between dimensions, so the ship had to stay in the Milky Way and under normal drive for the duration of the trip, just so the workers on Formil could subject the mutant to their constant barrage of inane questions. Incus was still two weeks out, if they maintained this schedule.
“The new entry point would be along the outskirts of the galaxy,” Riyad pointed out. “And if you follow how they did it in the Radis Spur it’ll be close to a projection from one of the major arms.”
Panur studied the map. “The gravity wave is created by the surge of incoming space as the continuum returns to normal. To work properly, the entry point needs to be away from any major gravity source at this end. I’ll analyze the strength of the wave and determine the direction, but from my initial estimates I would place the entry point at the edge of the Anxel Prominence.”
“Where’s that?” Adam asked. Although he’d spent a lot of time in space over the past twenty years, it was impossible for him to know every part of the galaxy. Who did—besides Panur?
The mutant tapped a keyboard at his station. A circle appeared at the outer edge of the Orion Arm, near the border of the Kidis spur.
“That’s pretty close to Earth,” Adam said.
“Yes, relatively; however it’s closer to Incus.”
“A coincidence?”
“Unknown.”
“We need to investigate,” Riyad declared. “The Formilians will need a definite location once the platforms are operational.”
“I will relay the information and let others investigate. I’m already far behind schedule in my quest to find Lila.”
Riyad shook his head. “The platforms are nearly complete, and if you’re right about this gravity wave thing, then the Nuoreans are already bringing in new units from Andromeda. We can’t waste time.”
“They may be testing the link,” Panur countered. “There is no evidence of warships coming through.”
“That’s why we need to investigate.” There was a moment of quiet on the bridge before Riyad finished his statement. “It’s on our way to Incus.”
Panur scrunched up his face. “At this rate we will never begin our search for Lila!” he growled. The CW link chirped; the mutant glared at the screen with fire in his eyes. The wave had passed the Najmah Fayd and now the engineers on Formil were calling back.
“I will not deviate, yet you may if you wish,” Panur said to Riyad. “Take the shuttle. Your journey is six days out.”
Riyad looked at Adam, not quite sure what to do next. “You coming?” he asked.
Adam shook his head. “I think I’ll stay with Panur. You can take Sherri and Copernicus. Just be careful.”
“Can I take one of the mutants?”
“Panur’s going to Incus, so that only leaves J’nae,” Adam pointed out. “Do you really want that?”
Riyad wrinkled his nose. “I see your point. Okay, I’ll take the two love-birds.”
Sherri Valentine was Riyad’s ex-wife from a marriage that had lasted all of four months. Even so, the two were good friends and worked well together. The variable in the equation was Copernicus Smith, Sherri’s latest love interest. Adam hadn’t noticed any resentment on Riyad’s part since the affair became public; in fact it was Adam who was having a harder time coping than Riyad. There was a natural competitiveness between the two Alpha-males, and not only with regards to Sherri, but everything else. Adam would welcome the reprieve for a few days.
“We’ll meet up on Incus,” he said. “Just get in and out quickly and quietly. There’s nothing you can do against the Nuor alone. Leave that to others.”
“That’s my intent.”
“I’ll plot the course in the shuttle’s nav computer,” Panur said. “Yet be forewarned: I do not intend to spend much time on Incus. Either you meet us there or else we’ll leave you behind.”
Riyad nodded at the short, gray alien and smiled. “Yes, Panur, I’ll be careful. And thanks for your concern and vote of confidence.”
“Sarcasm, as only a Human can deliver: blatant and transparent. Now leave, I have more important things to do than deal with your insecurities.”
Chapter 2
Third Cadre Spec-One Azon (1901) Kallen-Noc studied the alien groveling before him. The creature was nervous and reeked of fear, hardly the image of the invincible player the Humans were rumored to be. This was the twelfth test subject the Cadre had examined. All prior subjects had died, and now there were only four left on Nuor.
The first Humans had simply been stabbed, sliced or broken, to verify their ability to die as normal beings. The Cadre had been cavalier with their earlier tests, expecting to inflict more damage to the subjects before they expired. Yet most died from single wounds, resulting in a faster reduction in the prisoner population than expected.
These initial results conflicted with the abundance of video evidence the Nuor had on the creature known as Adam Cain. In the alien’s immunity challenge with Master-Lead Daric (411) Kallen-Noc, the Human had been stabbed several times, yet showed no signs of injury. He also displayed supernatural ability of movement and evasion, as well as strength unexplained.
The video of the event resulted in a special unit of the Third Cadre being assigned the task of analyzing the Human enigma. As individuals, each Cadre member was an exceptional player of almost unnatural ability. Yet instead of partaking in individual challenges, they worked as a team, tasked with the evaluation of races that defied classification.
As a race, the Nuor practiced the art of Sandica—ritualized combat—for the acquisition of victory points, be they blood points without death, or immunity challenges against alien species which were always to the death. However, the Nuor were not without common sense. Occasionally they came upon races too dangerous to allow challenges, alien beings whose very existence could threaten the Nuorean race. These were classified as Jundac species.
The Cadre evaluated these potential threats, either on a technological or biological level, and helped render the final verdict. The options were stark: live or die, there was no other choice with regard to the Jundac.
Even before making the jump to their neighboring galaxy, the Nuor anticipated encountering such species. There had been a few in their home galaxy, which resulted in hard lessons learned and the initial formation of the Cadre. Now there was a process in place for dealing with such anomalies.
Yet the Humans were different from any potential Jundac race yet encountered. After intensive study, it was confirmed the race as a whole were exceptional players, but not supernaturally so. And their level of skill came in such variety that it was hard to assign challenge-factors, either as a race or individually. The trained players—the ones the Humans called warriors—were extremely challenging, even for the highest-rated Nuor. Yet for those untrained, it was almost embarrassing meeting them in immunity challenges.
And now Azon (1901) was quickly running out of test subjects, having failed to find even one who was a worthy opponent—and none even remotely close to the skills and abilities assigned to Adam Cain.
Perhaps that is what made the Human so special—he was one-of-a-kind—an oddity of nature. In fact, Adam Cain could be a mutant.
But now Azon had to deal with the Human before him, the physically undefined creature emitting waves of fear into the small test arena.
“What is your name?” Azon asked.
The Human nearly fainted when the Spec-One spoke, but then he gathered his composure. “I…I’m Phil Emerson.”
“And what is your life-skill?”
“My life-skill…I don’t understand?”
“What is your function within your society?”
“Oh…I’m a salesman, a territory director. I sell shoes.”
“Shoes?”
“Yes.” The Human pointed to Azon’s foot coverings. “Shoes. My company specializes not only in Human footwear, but we can make them for just about any species—any species that has feet, of course.” The Human bared his teeth at the Nuorean player, yet Azon sensed no threat. Humans were one of those races that displayed a wide array of expressions on their faces, often resulting in confusing interpretation. Azon had already noted this in his file.
“Have you combat training?”
“Heavens no!” The alien appeared to be proud of the statement, which Azon had trouble accepting. “I’m just a merchant, looking to make a living. The company I work for was late in reaching into space after the whole aliens-in-the-galaxy revelation about twenty years ago. But in order to compete, we had to open our markets to other worlds. I was on my way to the Canis system when you intercepted my ship. Honestly, I’m not a threat, to you or anyone. There’s no need for you do anything to me. I’ll tell you anything you want to know, whatever value that can have.”
Azon was frustrated. This Human was turning out to be like all the others that had been brought to Nuor for study, useless in the evaluation of the race. To date, Azon had yet to find one with combat training. There had been two out of the prior eleven who did put up a fight at the end, but that was more out of desperation in the face of certain death than anything else. They were dispatched after only the slightest disruption.
This current Human—this Phil Emerson—would be no different. He would die without revealing anything substantial…unless Azon used a different tact….
“Have you heard
of a Human labeled Adam Cain?”
The alien’s eyes grew wide. “Adam Cain? Of course, who hasn’t?”
“Out of all the billions of Humans, you have heard of this single individual?”
“Well, he is famous.”
“For what contributions?”
The fat alien hesitated, the fear even more prominent this close to the creature.
“Speak freely. All I seek is information.” Later, Azon would seek flesh.
“Don’t take this wrong, but he’s famous for killing…aliens.”
“So he is a skillful player—a warrior?”
“Yeah, like the best ever. He’s saved the planet Earth and the Human race several times over, almost single-handedly, as well as the galaxy, too…if you believe what’s in the movies and books.”
“Is he a super-being, possessing abilities beyond those of normal Humans?”
“You mean like Superman? Hell no, nothing like that. As far as I know he’s just one badass sonofabitch.”
Azon recoiled. “That did not translate properly.”
“He’s just normal, as far as I know,” the Human clarified. “He’s just really good at what he does. Of course, they do tend to exaggerate in the movies; however, he did just kick the ass of the Juireans—again. That I know for sure.”
“The Juireans you refer to are the leaders of the largest and oldest stellar empire in the Kac—in the Milky Way?”
“That’s them. About a year ago, Cain blew up most of their military command, along with a shitload of their rulers.”
“This one creature?”
“He does have Riyad Tarazi helping…and Sherri Valentine now and then. That Sherri’s really hot—but not like the alien Arieel Bol. Damn!”
“Please moderate your language to a more easily-decipherable level. All the beings you just mentioned are in my files. Yet referring again to Adam Cain, you believe him to have no unnatural abilities, nothing different from other Humans?”
“Not that I know of, but like I said most of what I’ve learned about him has been from the movies. I’ve never seen him in person.”
Azon was amazed by the myriad of expressions the face of Phil Emerson was capable of displaying. It was quite remarkable, and would naturally lead to misinterpretations by the uninformed. Yet as confusing as his expressions may be, Azon sensed the Human was not trying to deceive.