Cronus

by K. A. Finn

  'What?' he asks again.

  'You can't really blame me, can you? You're a bit of a legend among us not-so-squeaky-clean folk. We've heard a great deal about you.'

  Gryffin swallows deeply and considers trying to break the restraints. The strange little woman is eyeing him like he's a piece of meat.

  'Evie Dixon, will you leave him alone! Can't you see you're scaring the hell out of him?'

  Evie turns to face an equally strange looking man. 'Felix, don't think I won't kick you off the station if you don't watch your tongue.'

  'Yeah, yeah. You should know by now I rarely listen to a word coming out of your mouth. So young man, I'm Felix Dixon, and you've met my delightful wife.' Felix ignores the glare thrown in his direction.

  'Where's my ship?'

  'In our hangar of course.'

  'I want to talk to Desyl. Now!'

  'Please.' Evie shakes a finger at him. 'Manners cost nothing, lad. To be honest, I think we could all do with a chat. You're not meant to be awake yet.'

  'What?'

  She rubs her jaw. 'Interesting. Is your limited vocabulary a result of your modifications?'

  Felix pushes his wife aside. 'Ignore her. What she meant to say is that we were pumping you full of sedative. It's supposed to keep you unconscious until we switch it off. Somehow, you managed to wake up in spite of all that. Twice. We figured with most of your implants off-line they wouldn’t be able to neutralise the sedative we were giving you. Seems we were wrong. Or maybe it was the equipment we were using?' he mutters to himself, looking at the line of machines against the back wall, then back at Gryffin.

  'Typical unreliable Foundation technology. I'm including you in that comment. It's a bloody miracle you've lasted as long as you have with all those Foundation parts on you. Have to say you surprised me by coming around so fast. You were dead.'

  'I was what?'

  'Dead, Captain. As in not alive. You've caused a few raised eyebrows by recovering as fast as you have.'

  'Is there something wrong with me?'

  'Guess that depends on your definition of wrong. There's quite a bit about you that's wrong.'

  'Felix!'

  'What? You're not going to tell me what they did to him is right.'

  'That's not what he's asking, you bumbling oaf.'

  'Fine. Leaving aside the fact you're a Foundation cyborg, then no. From what I can tell, your implants were well and truly destroying what's left of your body. Once we took them off-line, the rejuvenation pod was able to work wonders for you. Brought you back sooner than planned. Thought you'd be out of it for a few days at least. You're one tough cookie.'

  'What?'

  Felix shakes his head as he checks one of the screens. 'Never mind. So how are you feeling?'

  'I want Desyl. Now.'

  'What about Terra?' the woman asks. 'I'm sure she'd love to see you.'

  'I don't want Terra. Just Desyl.'

  Evie and Felix raise their eyebrows, but don't push him. Less than a minute later Desyl hurries into the room looking a little out of breath. He stands beside Gryffin's bed and straighten his shoulders. 'Sir.'

  'Where the fuck are we?'

  'On the Dixon space station, sir.'

  'And Ultar?'

  'Lost, sir.'

  Gryffin clenches his jaw to stop himself from roaring at Desyl. Instead he manages to grind out a single word without taking Desyl's head off. 'How?'

  'There were too many, sir. We had to—'

  'Did Ares leave Ultar while the Foundation were still attacking? Did my ship run from a fight?'

  'The colony was lost. Roman and Lucan... they were—'

  'Damn it, Desyl! The Ultarans pay us to protect them. You were ordered to get Ares in the air and protect the colony. I didn’t say you should run. Who gave the order to leave the Sector?'

  'Sir, you were—'

  'Who gave the fucking order!'

  'Your father. Roman left a standing order. If the Foundation showed up we were to get you off the surface and away from them. No questions.'

  'Are you fucking serious?'

  'His main concern was making sure you were safe.'

  He laughs harshly. 'You need to figure out where your loyalties lie, Desyl. You want to be on Ares under my command you damn well better start acting like it.'

  Desyl opens his mouth to reply but closes it again as he looks at the ground. 'Yes, sir.'

  'You put his orders before mine. I don't accept disobedience from my crew, Desyl. You know that.'

  'I was under orders—'

  'Yes you damn well were. Mine! I'll deal with you disobeying my orders when this is done. Until then you're still part of the crew. But trust me, if we were in the Outer Sector you'd be off the ship. Sayber and Klay betrayed me. Thought I could count on you.'

  Desyl's face turn a sickly grey and he drops his eyes to the floor as his shoulders sag. 'Sir, I—''

  'Can you get these fucking restraints off me?'

  'I can't, sir. They want to run more tests to make sure everything is working as it should. They found a transmitter embedded in you.'

  'The Foundation know I'm here?'

  Desyl nods. 'We presume so, sir. They sent some ships to investigate. The station's been moved for safety. With any luck it's thrown them off the scent.'

  'And I'm clear now?'

  'Heath— sorry, Dixon's head of security, he found the transmitter in the obsolete mod behind your ear. As much as they'd take great pleasure crushing it to dust it has to stay where it is.'

  Gryffin grimaces. 'Attached to something vital?'

  'Your brain. It wouldn't be you if it was easy. The additional mod Felix added in front of your ear should block any transmissions that might try to escape.'

  Gryffin doesn't respond, just stares at nothing in particular at the foot of his bed.

  ‘Sir... I have something I need to tell you.’

  Gryffin turns to look at him again. ‘What?’

  ‘Sir. It’s Lucan. He was killed when he was bringing you out of the tunnels.’

  Gryffin stares at Desyl for a few minutes, unable to get any words out. Losing Lucan is like losing a member of his command crew. He had never worked closely with the Nomad. Lucan had been put on Ultar to help Aleena and keep an eye on things for Gryffin. The only real contact they had were the weekly reports Lucan sent him. But over the last few weeks, Lucan had been a regular visitor to his cell, keeping him company when others had to work on Ares. He was a damn good Nomad.

  Gryffin looks at the foot of his bed and finally speaks. 'Dismissed.'

  'But, sir—'

  'I said you're dismissed!' Desyl nods once before leaving Gryffin and his foul mood to glare at the ceiling.

  He wants out of the restraints and off this ship, but, as usual, he's not the one making the decisions. What the hell is the point in him being the captain if his own crew don't have the courtesy of obeying him?

  Ares has never run from a fight. Not once. Outnumbered. Out gunned. Damaged. It didn't matter. She fought. It's what they do. Running like a group of cowards, letting the Foundation take Ultar just to save his life is inexcusable. He's fucking furious at each and every Nomad on Ares. They let him down. Let the Ultarans down. Let the Nomad down.

  Ultar was so much more than just a colony. It was the one place besides Ares that felt like a home to him. The Ultarans may be safe, and he’s grateful for that, but knowing the Foundation have the colony is seriously pissing him off. Ultar was a refuge. It was something he had clashed with Aleena about too many times to count.

  She had never refused a plea for help. Never turned away any travellers in need of a new life. It was like the heart of the Sector and now it’s overrun with Foundation cyborgs.

  And there's not a damn thing he can do about it. Restrained to a bed on a strange ship with a Nomad team watching him and being stared at by unknown personnel is humiliating and frustrating the hell out of him. The wires connected to his ocular implant are itching the side of his f
ace, but that's just another thing he can't control. Commander of a fleet but he can't scratch his own face.

  He closes his eye and tries to ignore the infuriating itching as he lets the anger build. Better than thinking about Roman and Lucan.

  20

  DIXON SPACE STATION

  Bray sits down on his bunk and turns the chip over in his hand. All the data from the Scientist's personal files is on that chip. The computer had been found in the hold of Alpha - the same computer he had fought with Garvan to take when they first arrived on Earth. 'I'll get you out, Garvan. You have my word.'

  He doubts there'll be any schematics or medical reports in the files. The Foundation would have made sure all that data was part of the encrypted information on the main server. The smaller unit probably just held personal files and records the Scientist made.

  Even so, there might be something of use to him. Something to help him deal with what's been done to him. Maybe he entered data from other subjects and what they experienced from the same procedures? Bray doesn't know what he's looking for. He just knows he needs something to help explain what the hell is going on with his own implants before he loses his mind.

  He's just grateful the Scientist was more interested in torturing people than encrypting his data. Bray drops the chip onto the desk and glares at it. The last time he accessed a file relating to the project, it literally turned his stomach. The images of his brother being tortured still haunt his dreams to this day. He doesn't have a choice but to watch it. If there's something on it that can shed light on what's happening to him, to Gryffin, he needs to watch it.

  Bray scrubs his hand over his face then slips the chip in the unit and opens the file. He stares in surprise at the rows and rows of files. Information from each of the test subjects is carefully catalogued and filed away in order of subject number. He scrolls down to the bottom and his mouth goes dry.

  He thought Gryffin being number thirty-five was bad enough, but according to the screen, there are another two hundred and thirty-one, and that was just up until the Scientists death. There's no telling how many the Foundation Council have added to the list.

  He jumps when there's a knock on the door. 'Yeah?'

  The door slides aside and his cousin Erin arrives. 'I've been let out for some fresh air. Well, air from a different ventilation unit. Fancy getting something to eat?'

  Bray forces a smile on his face and shakes his head. 'Maybe later.'

  She frowns at the data on the screen in front of him. 'Oh Bray. What are you doing?'

  'I need to see what's in these files, Erin. There's something wrong with my implant. Maybe this happened to another subject or maybe he mentions a solution.'

  'Or maybe you're just going to open the door to something you won't be able to close again. You sure you want to go there?'

  He shrugs. 'To be honest, I'm not sure of anything. Whatever is in this data could help me figure out what's going on with my implants. I have to look.'

  Erin pulls up a chair and tucks in beside him at the desk.

  'What are you doing?'

  'You really think I'm going to let you look at that alone?'

  'I need to look at his files. You know that right?'

  Erin nods. 'If you find anything that can help you and Daegan it'll be worth it. '

  'I’ve seen a few of these. They’re disturbing, Erin. I mean really fucking disturbing. The bastard filmed everything. '

  She nods again and clasps her hands together on the desk. ‘I understand. Let's get this over with.’

  Bray doesn't argue. She's right. Ignoring the other test subject folders, he moves back up the screen to Gryffin's file. Dozens of video files fill the screen, but Bray focuses on the test data. If there's something of use, it will probably be there. Gryffin's original eyepiece was similar in design to his one.

  He opens the very first file and scans through the data. Finding nothing of use, he moves on to the next, and the next. File number four changes things for him. Halfway down the page, he sees something that turns his stomach. His name.

  'Does that say what I think it does?' Erin asks.

  Bray nods. 'Subject still refusing to cooperate,' Bray reads. 'This one is...' He takes a breath and swallows. ''This one is Roman's son so it is vital he suffers more than the others.' Bray rubs a hand over his face. 'Sick bastard,' he mutters under his breath. 'I know Maggie had another son. Will use his half-brother, Brayden, as incentive to comply.'

  'So the Scientist knew that Daegan was Roman's son?' Erin asks.

  Bray nods. 'Apparently, Daegan was targeted because he was Roman's son. The Scientist told Roman when we were in the New Colony a few months ago. He wanted payback so he thought torturing Daegan would hurt Roman. Sick fuck.'

  'But he didn't tell the Foundation? Why not?'

  'I'm guessing he didn't want to risk losing him. If the Foundation knew how out of control he was, they might have shut down the project. Who knows.'

  He moves on to the next file. 'Initial results promising. See video file number seven.'

  Erin takes his hand and squeezes it. 'Bray, you don't have to watch that.'

  Bray clicks on the file. The video shows his brother chained to the wall with the familiar collar around his neck, but unlike the other video he watched a few months ago, he's relatively unhurt in this one. It must be an earlier file. Bray is instantly struck by how together Gryffin appears. His dirty cheeks are tear streaked but he faces the Scientist straight on. As soon as the man approaches, Gryffin gets to his feet and glares at him. Even at that young age, the determination and strength are clear to see.

  The Scientist stops in front of Gryffin and rests his hands on his hips. 'Well Thirty-Five, are you going to cooperate today?'

  'My name is Daegan.'

  The Scientist sighs and shakes his head. 'Let's try that again. You are Thirty-Five.'

  Instead of responding, his brother spits on the Scientist, earning him a sharp slap to the face. 'Listen to me. You can fight as long as you want but it will not change a thing. Your mother and father sold you to me. Both you and your brother, Brayden. I paid a fair price for you both.'

  Gryffin's head whips up and his blue eyes darken. 'Bray's here?'

  The Scientist laughs. 'Of course he is. Your parents left both of you with me. I was hoping to spare him some of this, but if you're not going to cooperate, I have no choice but to use him instead.' The Scientist turns and walks away.

  'Wait!'

  Bray shakes his head as the Scientist stops and slowly turns around. 'Daegan, what the hell are you doing?' Bray mutters under his breath.

  The Scientist tilts his head to the side. 'Excuse me?'

  'Leave him alone.'

  'Why should I? Are you going to cooperate?'

  Gryffin nods. 'Just leave him alone.'

  The Scientist smiles and Bray wants to punch the grin from his face. 'So, what is your name?' the Scientist asks.

  Gryffin pauses long enough to throw an impressive glare at his captor. 'Thirty-Five.'

  Bray shouts and shoves the unit onto the bed. He gets to his feet and prowls in front of the window. He pushes his hands through his hair, grabbing two fistfuls and tugging hard as he kicks the set of drawers beside him.

  'Bray! Calm down.'

  He's too angry to listen to anything Erin says. Instead of calming down, Bray shouts and drives his fist against the metal wall. Erin tries to reason with him, but he's lost to the rage. Lost to the knowledge that the brother he spent a lifetime hating actually gave himself up to save him.

  The Scientist's face appears on the wall in front of him and he attacks. His fist slams against the wall again and again, tearing skin and breaking bones.

  He is roughly hauled away from the wall by two sets of hands. Heath wraps his arms around his chest, pinning his arms to his side as Morgan holds his head firmly in his calloused hands.

  Morgan tries to get Bray to look at him but he keeps turning his face away. He just wants them all to leave him
the hell alone.

  'Bray! Look at me!' Morgan painfully grabs his chin and forces his head up. 'You're scaring the hell out of me, boy. What's wrong? Talk to me.'

  'He said they had me too.'

  Morgan frowns then follows Erin's nod to the video on the screen. 'The Scientist told Daegan they captured Bray too,' she explains.

  Bray tries to break free, but Heath firmly holds his arms to his side. 'He wasn't doing what he was told so the Scientist said he'd hurt me instead. The bastard tricked him. He stopped fighting, Morgan. Gryffin just let him do it.'

  'Bray—'

  'He was hurt because of me, Morgan! It's my fault!'

  Morgan shakes his head. 'Stop it! Don't you dare say that, Brayden. What happened to Daegan had absolutely nothing to do with you or with him. You were both kids and had no control over it.'

  The energy seems to drain out of Bray. His struggles die away and he slumps against Heath. Morgan nods and Heath slowly releases Bray before leaving the room.

  Bray sinks to the ground and pulls his legs up to his chest. 'I hated Daegan.' Bray laughs abruptly. 'I hated him for leaving.' He sniffs and wipes the unwanted tears from his face with the back of his hand. 'What the hell is wrong with me, Morgan?'

  Morgan's knees pop as he joins his nephew on the ground and stretches his legs out in front of him. 'Your brother disappeared when you were a kid. You were bound to be angry. Hell, I was angry.'

  'You were?'

  Morgan nods. 'Of course. Anger is a natural reaction to losing someone. I was angry that a ten-year-old had been taken from his family. Angry that he wasn't going to be able to grow up with you. Angry that his disappearance had then taken my sister and her husband from your life. Angry that you were left an orphan.' Morgan clenches his fists. 'After hearing what happened to the two of you, I'm bloody furious. And I mean that literally. I want blood, Bray.'

  'Get in line.'

  'So, you said you hated him. Past tense. You feel differently now?'

  Bray purses his lips and nods once. 'He did what a big brother should do. He wanted to protect me.' Bray snorts. 'I hated him for turning his back on me, as irrational as that was, but he did the opposite. He thought he was saving me. It's so bloody unfair. I just got him back and now...'