“You want this over quickly,” Admiral Vise’s commander lamented watching each of their vessel formations recoil from the violent weapon emissions. “You’ll shatter that little world into pebbles.”
“Eighty seconds to impact—” the weapons officer reported with no emotion at all within his voice.
“I’ve destroyed eight Yin worlds, commander. You don’t mess around with these. You strike first and ask questions later.”
The commander nodded.
The eyes of everyone standing within the Holy of Holies were fixed on the near light-speed plasmatic bolt that shot quickly toward their homeworld. Rase took a step toward his younger brother; wrapping his arm around him, the end of their existence now immanent.
Carson might have noticed the exchange of warmth between the two brothers Ra, but his gaze was fixed on the two Yin gods, his mind seamlessly linked with theirs over the continuum.
Half a lunar orbit away from the small blue world a tiny, yard-wide, twenty-sided geometric object looking like black glass appeared out of nothing. Ornate runes of an unknown language glowed to life on the shiny flat surfaces of the multi-sided globe. Less than a mile away another object appeared as the one geometric globe now became two. Then there were four; and then eight and then sixteen and then thirty-two. With each passing second each of the objects replicated itself, again and again over and over, spreading out like a sheet, with each new black orb glowing to life, linked to the unseen dark matter from which it had suddenly been formed.
The still replicating orbs spun to reveal a new glowing symbol that now intensified, glowing aggressively bright white in defiance of the braided plasmatic sun-blast that grew brighter and brighter with each passing second as it sped toward them.
Above the orbs dark energy had already invisibly amassed. The now translucent barrier spread quickly and rapidly before the solar flare-like bolt.
“What is that? Commander!?” Admiral Vise raised his brow at his second in command.
“A shield perhaps?”
“Shields are not black,” the Admiral retorted tightly. “It’s veiling their world as if from the sun.”
“It’s spreading quickly, Admiral.” A science officer studied his instruments trying to get an analysis of some kind about the construct, but his sensors were not delivering any readings that were of value. “Some kind of energy barrier, Admiral. Passive is telling us it’s there, but active scans are getting—nothing. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“It’s growing—and quickly.” The admiral’s commander pointed toward their visual screens.
“Impact to barrier in forty seconds—” the emotionless weapons officer announced.
“Admiral, in forty seconds that barrier will cover most of this hemisphere.”
“I can see that, commander.” The admiral observed, obviously annoyed but also genuinely intrigued at the same time. A planetary barrier was a megastructure enjoyed by only select worlds within the Imperium. He’d underestimated these separatists. They had hidden their defenses well.
“Thirty seconds to barrier impact—” the officer continued to emotionlessly announce.
The eyes of Dane and Rase opened widely as both watched the barrier quickly unfold, its strongest area positioned at the zero-point of impact where the first of the hundred-mile wide beams of destructive hell would eminently strike. Seconds before impact the orbs spun in unison, energizing new glyphs that imbued the barrier with new and vibrant retributive energy!
Gage watched Jin closely, his mind linked with the rest over their continuum. He pulled Savanna close with Kirin next to him on their sanctuary’s engineering platform. Trac looked on as well as the massive magnum core gradually began to illuminate brighter and brighter with every cylinder now glowing softly to life with unknown peta-joules of power draining off to feed the hunger of their ancient defense shield.
Cali drew close to Joshuah; his eyes had taken on a pupil-less glow.
The first of the hot plasmatic bolts of unholy hell struck and splashed against the retributive barrier like an explosive sun, as if tens of thousands of nuclear bombs had just ignited—all at once—against something wholly unnatural that resisted the intense onslaught of furious damnation. Moment after moment, one stream after another of the hyper-intense plasma fed into the explosive eruption igniting against the barrier, then washing over it quickly filling the still spreading barrier as if it were a new sun dome coming into existence.
In the still dark, early morning of cities below, the night sky suddenly dawned, looking as if a new spreading star had somehow glowed to life many times larger than the half moon above them. Too bright to look at, an all too bright day lit the night hemisphere.
As wave after wave of the massive solar-flare-like plasma blasts struck and flowed out against the unyielding barrier, much of their destructive energy waned, drawn away, absorbed by now countless dark energy conduits all too eager to consume the massive positive plasma blast, drinking away its power like a thirsty desert in need of life-giving water.
Admiral Vise looked on, listening intently while his legendary crew communicated back and forth attempting to discern how the sudden barrier had all but magically appeared out of nothing and was now withstanding the intensity of their most intense doomsday bombardment. No Yin world had ever presented him with such a defense. Then again, he knew, this was no ordinary Yin world.
“Commander?” the admiral inquired.
“Inexplicable at this point, Admiral. We simply do not have enough information about this barrier. We’re hitting them with the fleet’s most aggressive weapon. That world should be fracturing into shards right now. We couldn’t repel this kind of assault.”
“You’re right, commander. We couldn’t.”
“Orders, Admiral?” the commander asked.
The seasoned admiral looked at the tiny blue world still softly aglow in the light of its sun, as if mocking him with its continued existence under the continuous bombardments of his multiple planet destroyers.
“This is getting us nowhere. Stand down, commander. Cease fire and take the fleet back out of range of their weapons.”
The commander repeated the order to his officers quickly, relieved that they’d soon be out of range of the tiny blue world’s defensive assault.
Rase and Dane looked on as the last of the plasma blasts struck the barrier and the white-hot energy faded into cold dark space, with only a small ripple of solar wind now evident in its wake.
Smiles erupted and nods now infected the gods standing within the Holy of Holies. Jerrod kissed the Goddess of War quickly, passionately on the lips, his smile uncontrollable. Dane gripped his brother’s palm in his own, both sharing the sign of gratefulness between the two of them.
All of them watched as the massive gunships broke their tight formations within the advance fleet and began retreating against the tower barrage that continued to take out their vessels, even in retreat.
“What will they do now?” Carson addressed the two princes.
Dane looked at Rase.
Rase noted the respectful silence his younger brother was giving him.
Rase’s eyes met with the youth called Carson. Rase nodded. “I don’t pretend to be a seasoned commander, young Carson. But if I were to guess, you have just deeply unsettled the admirals of our Father’s First Fleet. All of us should be quite dead and dying on a world self-destructing at this very moment.”
“Yet we are still here.”
“Unbelievably. Yes. Your world was supposed have little to no defenses. Like the other Yin homeworlds.”
“I see.”
“Were I in your position, now would not be a time to withhold my wrath.”
“We are not wrathful people, Prince Rase.”
“And that is why the Yin were able to be so easily exterminated.” He frowned.
“Your admirals already respect our firepower, Prince Rase. I do not think we need to put it on display over and over again.”
/> “Kari,” Carson turned his attention to her, “deliver a message to their command ship in avatar. Inform them that if they approach our world again, we will wipe their fleet from existence.”
Kari’s eyes suddenly lit with psionic fire as her skin took on a golden glow.
“Their fleets are trapped here, Carson. Where are they going to run to?” Jerrod asked. They can’t really leave the cloud without getting blown to bits.”
“They can if we escort them.”
“You’re going to put a Reborn on a million vessels filled with people who hate us?”
Carson frowned. And then agreed. “Good point, Jerrod.”
“That’s what protects you?” Rase asked, looking at his brother. “So that’s how you did it. The Yin weapons won’t fire on a vessel harboring a Reborn. Ingenious.”
“It wasn’t exactly my idea, brother.” Dane admitted. “I only learned that such a thing was even possible this day myself.”
“Young Carson,” Rase began, “at this moment my brother and I should be dead. Betrayed by the very Emperor who gave us life and position. Were I to have a fleet at my command it would be yours. I am in your service, that is, if you so desire.”
Carson looked a little astonished at the Ra prince.
“Indeed, Carson.” Dane agreed. “The only difference between my brother and I is that I have fleets of my own with crews loyal to me and me alone. My father would have murdered me here as well. I am in your debt. However, brother,” Dane turned to address Rase, “do not abdicate your position within the family. You are still a prince and you are still my brother. I need your experience and you need my resources. Perhaps together, all of us can stand against our father and bring our homeworld back to the peace and prosperity it once had.”
Epilogue
S o now you know my story, some of it anyway. It is more than most people realize, probably a lot more than you should know. Yes, I’m one of the Masters. The son of a family that secretly left the Separatists eons ago. The truth is, Thea really is my older sister. She used to be Invictus. But she evolved. Eventually Ethan and I will become just like her as well. But for now, it’s just me and the Atlantica, floating out here close to the moon waiting, so I can tail Dane and Rase back to Orion.
I don’t even know where Ethan and Thea are at the moment. I guess they’re happy being together. I wish Ethan was as happy being around me. I wish he were here right now. I wish I knew were the Paradisus was right now as well. I want to see my son. I want to hold him. I hope Sofia is taking good care of him. I wonder if his eyes will be purple, like mine. I just need to get back to the Paradisus. Before Brenda really decides to leave—for good.
Looking at the Earth from here is a bit strange, a half-blue marble reflecting in the sun. It’s a little numbing to think that it almost wasn’t. I’m rather impressed with the Kir mage’s barrier. That was a helluva a trick. But they’re going to need a lot more of those from their bag of tricks if they’re going to survive the Imperium.
I honestly don’t envy the gods—not at all. Earth’s governments are a mess right now. Religions are trying to keep the faithful in line while spinning the events of our vessels as something Jesus, Muhammad and the Prophets foretold. Hell, I don’t know. They had the Books of God, so, maybe they did, in a roundabout way.
In any event the gods are not that well liked right now. Their blood is all but poison; and most people don’t like the idea of anyone walking around with our enhanced genetics. It makes them feel inferior. Less capable. Even stupid. They say we’re just too beautiful; that it’s not fair that some people should be so beautiful and others not. They need to take it up with Nature; I didn’t write the genetica.
All of the governments have been rounding us up now; not just our people, but whole families. If they find anyone enhanced, they place all of them within one of their ‘quarantine communities’. I was in those places once. It’s not really a place you want to get stuck in. They didn’t nickname those places ‘Auschwitz’ for nothing.
Looks like the barrier is coming down now; vanishing back into the dark matter that it came from. I guess Dane and Rase will be back aboard their vessels soon.
I suddenly realize that Ethan is now back aboard the Atlantica. Wow. I kick my feet off the console and stand up as he walks onto our small bridge toward me. He gives me the warmest hug. I guess he can feel my melancholy streak right now. I frown and smile at the same time as he hugs me. Then I feel his warm lips on mine. I sigh as we pull away. He doesn’t say a word but his feelings are all over within me, just the way I like them to be. He pulls away and then kicks back into his pilot’s chair next to mine, grinning at me. He feels really glad to see me—seeing him again really lifts my spirits.
“You okay?” he asks telepathically, not moving his lips.
“Sure. I just missed you.” I think my eyes are starting to mist.
“Sorry I was gone so long. I missed you too.”
I want to think that he’s just being nice, that he would rather have stayed with Thea longer if he could have. But I can feel him deeply inside. He really wants to be here—with me. He didn’t have to come back at all. He could have stayed with Thea. I guess a part of Ethan will always belong to Thea. That’s fine. Still, I can feel it within him, there’s a bigger part of Ethan that belongs to me. And for that, I will be eternally, forever, grateful.
Milieu
As the Awakened Series has grown, I have been made aware by many readers than there are a lot of people moving and interacting within story. Names and people become forgotten as the series is released. To refresh memories, I’ve included this list of the cast within the Awakened milieu thus far …
Kent Levi—First appears in Book I. Newblood god. On his way to becoming a Sentinel Master. Limited psionic ability unless he’s touching you; then you can kiss your ass goodbye.
Lisa Kyle Levi—First appears in Book I. Newblood goddess. Wife of Kent Levi. Like her husband Kent, she has an unusually deep psionic ability even she isn’t aware of yet. Also a Fate.
Admiral Mitchell Dark—First Appears in Book I. Natural demigod military leader and spy for the Dominion. Also de facto leader of the Dark Clan. Married to Kari, Goddess of War and Dominion Apostle.
Brenda—First appears in Book I. A mysterious but powerful goddess with a knack for stealing tech.
Mr. Harlan—First appears in Book I. Chief of Staff for the President.
Frank—First appears in Book I. Secretary of Dept. of Homeland Security. We only ever know his first name.
The President—First appears in Book I. We know his first name is “Brett”.
Brad (and team)—First appears in Book I. Head of a contract assassin team.
Rowan—First appears in Book I. Demigod bounty hunter; unofficially the “Assassin of the Gods”. Rowan has apparently known Brenda for a very long time and they are odd friends. As a gifted individual, Rowan’s skill at tracking down and murdering the gods has been uncanny.
Perry—First appears in Book I. Demigod working undercover for the Dark Clan.
Sevrin Dark—First appears in Book I. Natural demigod and much older relative of Admiral Dark.
Daniel Hawk—First appears in Book I. Human and former love interest of Lisa Kyle before she met Kent.
Cheyenne Hawk—First appears in Book I. Human and younger “twin-looking” sister of Daniel Hawk.
Henry—First appears in Book I. The mysterious recluse, Henry only seems to pop up at times when people are in their deepest need.
Sen and Arica Steele—First mentioned in Book I. Natural god and goddess parents of Rion Steele.
Rion Steele—First appears in Book II. Son of Sen and Arica Steel. A very young Sentinel Master.
Rigel—First appears in Book I. One of the old gods and director of global operations for the Seven.
Jerrod Sharp—First appears in Book II. Newblood god. Jerrod appeared very “bright” to other empaths even as a Human. Awakened by Kari Connor Dark, he is found to be on
e of the newblood sun gods.
Kari Connor Dark—First appears in Book II. Demigoddess who is resurrected by Jerrod as the Goddess of War. Also the wife of Mitchell Dark.
Keith Connor—First appears in Book II. Demigod brother of Kari.
Eric Wu—First appears in Book II. Dominion Apostle and partner of Keith Connor.
Julia Dark—First appears in Book II. Natural demigoddess and head of security for the Dominion. Sister of Admiral Mitchell Dark, and sometime-lover of Kari Connor Dark.
Gregory Carson—First appears in Book II. An awakened demigod during America’s Civil War, Carson is now the head of the Dominion. Awakened in his mid-teens, Carson is the youngest looking of all the halfbloods, but he is a century and a half old.
Dr. Lucas—First appears in Book II. Originally an administrator within the Dominion hospital system, Lucas discovers the Awakened and awakens himself with the blood of Jerrod with some astonishing results.
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