“Did you hear a damn word I just said, Commander?”
Dax looked for his lawyer. She seemed in shock.
Have they passed sentence already? Dax swallowed hard. It’s to be death, then!
Major Kincaid forced a smile.
What the hell is there to smile about?
“Commander Zen Dax,” Finnean said. “On the charges of recklessly endangering the crew of Valiant, the blame is laid squarely at Valiant’s captain, Hannibal Grint. To clarify the judgment of this court martial, I hereby declare you are free man.”
“I-I’m a--”
“Go, Commander,” Finnean said and smiled. “Take a vacation and expect new orders within seventy two hours.”
Major Kincaid took his arm and led him from the court. She surreptitiously passed to him a note of paper.
When no one seemed to be looking, he unfolded it and read:
Meet us in the V.I.P. visitor lounge. F & C.
“Where’s the V.I.P. lounge?”
Kincaid pointed to the last steel door down a long white marble corridor.
He began walking down the corridor of statues of war heroes and quickly accelerated into a full sprint.
***
Admiral Finnean retired to his private office. He told his secretary he didn’t wish to be disturbed for any reason. He locked the door and placed a call on the Q-NET holograph. A grey static ball appeared in the center of the room. It resolved into the image of woman.
She stood with her back to Finnean and gazed out a vast window looking out to planet Mars.
“It’s done,” Finnean said.
Kraannex CEO Coda Raze turned to face Finnean.
“Is there anything else?”
Finnean swallowed hard.
“Zen Dax is dangerous to our plans.”
“True.”
“Might I suggest an accident?”
“Zen Dax is a hero to the people of Earth. We cannot touch him. Besides, we got what we wanted.” Coda Raze pointed to Mars.
“Allowing Dax to go unpunished maybe unwise if--”
“If what?”
“Forgive me, Coda, but what if the Vanguard return?”
“I’ve done a deal with the Vanguard that will ensure our survival, and theirs.”
“What deal?”
Coda smiled enigmatically, but said nothing. Finally, she said, “I’m sure I don’t want to take up too much of your time, Admiral.”
“Of those mentioned in the prophecy of seven, only Zen Dax and Fyre Von Rha are accounted for.”
“I shall issue a secret termination order on the remaining five. Seek them out.”
“They are likely killed in the battle of Nightwing.”
“Be sure.”
“One last thing,” Finnean said. “All life-pods from USF Valiant are accounted for. Your daughter, Oksana was not one of the survivors. Officially, she’s listed as missing. Unofficially, well, you have my sincere condolences. Her loss will be felt heavily by the fleet as I’m sure it will be by yourself.”
Coda nodded. “Thank you, Finnean,” she said. “Oksana’s fiancé, Alex, is most accommodating to my loss in this time of grief and sadness.”
Alex walked into the camera’s view. He placed a hand on Coda’s hip and kissed her lips, long and hard. Finally, he broke away and turned to Finnean.
“Anything else, Admiral?”
Good God, they planned this outcome all along...
Finnean swallowed hard. “That’s all, Mr President. How is Ex-President Arc?”
“My mother enjoys a well-earned early retirement, Admiral. Let us hope hers is not the only sudden exit from senior public life.”
Finnean felt the warning twist like a knife in his guts. He felt nauseated. “Indeed, and congratulations on your presidency.”
He hit the disconnect button and their images dissolved. He hit the intercom button.
“Find Zen Dax. Now.”
***
The door to the VIP lounge slid away as Dax approached. Fyre turned to face him.
He had no more fight left in him. He needed Fyre and Cadell in his arms. He knew without their strength he was a hollow man. He knew he’d never let them go.
But as he approached she looked over his shoulder and shook her head.
In the corner of his eye a shadow stepped out from behind a statue. By the time he spun around to face the shadow and instinctively adopted a defensive stance, the shadow leapt at him. With all the power and ferocity, and savage efficiency of a skilled killer, the shadow knocked Dax to the cold, hard floor.
A single blow froze Dax’s response. He felt a sharp pinprick break the skin on his neck. A drug from the point of a dagger conquered his nervous system.
Unable to move his limbs, Dax stared up into the luminescent fury that was Sol Morlok’s eyes.
“I shall take your son, Zen Dax,” Morlok said. “You will never see him, or his mother again.”
Dax’s tongue felt limp and useless. His eyes screamed. “Why?”
“The prophecy of the three, Zen Dax,” Sol said. “It is foretold your two sons shall rule the universe. And now, they shall rule in my name.”
As Dax lay paralyzed and convulsing across the cold marble floor, he fought the agonizing grief of seeing Fyre leave with Sol Morlok and his son.
In the dying echoes of Cadell’s crying, Dax raged with one furious vow.
Whatever it takes. I swear this to you, Cadell. I will find you. Save you. Avenge you.
THE END
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Valiant (Jurassic War Universe Book 1) Page 49