The hatch bubbled, and Theclu’ont stepped through. His elongated blue face peeled back in the Tueg approximation of a smile, his pointed teeth bared, and electric ripples of light around his eyes gave Qent’chilu hope.
“You have news?”
Theclu’ont bowed gracefully, one webbed hand resting at his side so as to not present a threat. The other carried a rectangular parcel of good size below a single handle. “Indeed, Majesty.”
Theclu’ont moved to a small table and set the parcel down, bowing again with his hands open to reveal no threat. “Our team in Paris was successful at gathering a unique piece of intelligence. It will take some time to work appropriately, but we believe a solution will be easy to create. The Styrahi already use a similar system to transfer information contained in these units, and humans are capable of carrying a device that can assist with this transfer. Our target possessed such a device.”
Qent’chilu’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand, Theclu’ont. What is this device, and how can it be useful?”
“Humans use only a primary brain, Majesty. Their information can be accessed remotely through protocol technology. The Styrahi actively pass memories from generation to generation with something similar. We aim to use this technology for our own gain.”
Theclu’ont opened the parcel and revealed a large, clear vessel filled with a thick, transparent fluid. Inside the jar floated a human head with a small metallic object dangling from the tissue behind one ear. Tueg legend said that the dead carried all things from their life with them into the afterlife.
As Theclu’ont turned the jar, Qent’chilu recognized the face within and smiled. In this case, the former chairman of the Terran Council was indeed dead. However, Penelope Neige’s secrets were there for the taking. He clapped a clawed hand on Theclu’ont’s shoulder and huffed in joy.
Afterword
As this novel’s prequel, Sleeper Protocol, rolled to publication, my family lost a special man and a true guiding light. The day Red Adept Publishing sent the first version of Sleeper Protocol’s cover was the day before I acted as the Presiding Officer at the funeral, with military honors, for my grandfather-in-law. We shared a special bond, as we’d served in the U.S. Army’s 87th Division almost fifty years apart. I miss him and this book is especially dedicated to his memory with love.
Sergeant Donald L. Yerkes
World War II Veteran
October 22, 1922 – August 25, 2015
Acknowledgements
Including this section and not thanking my amazing team would be a huge mistake, so I wanted to put them first – as they’ve done for me on so many occasions. My first readers: Pete Aldin, Josh Bennett, Mary Early, Courtney Farrell, Mia Kleve, and Diana Wagner Williams are an incredible group of friends who weren’t afraid to call me on anything that didn’t work. I am so privileged to have you in my corner. Thank you all for your time and efforts. I have to give a special thanks to my friend and brother-in-arms Bryan Shrank for his insight, tactical guidance, and counsel as I wrote this novel.
As a writer, you dream of having great editors. For this novel, the entire band was back together. Once again, my content editor was the amazing Alyssa Hall. Her insight and love of these characters helped to hone a tighter, thrilling story at every turn. Alyssa is never afraid of sharing ideas and telling me “no” when necessary. Most importantly, that this book even exists is directly because of a suggestion she made during our final edits on Sleeper Protocol in 2015. Thank you, Alyssa, for your continued support and guidance.
The other half of my editing team, Sarah Carleton, again made a real difference in this book just as she did with Sleeper Protocol. Having complete faith and trust in an editor to know the voice of the characters is something very rare. Thank you, Sarah, for making this book even better with every suggestion and question that pushed me harder.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Lynn McNamee and the amazing staff at Red Adept Publishing, who do so much for their authors and go the extra mile for every book they publish. I’m truly honored to be a part of the RAP Team. Thank you for having me, and I look forward to staying here as long as you’ll have me! I’d like to send a very special thanks to Streetlight Graphics for bringing my rough idea for a cover to such vibrant life.
And as always, to my family: thank you for believing in me during my late-night writing sessions and giving me a chance to wake up slightly later in the morning when necessary. Your love and encouragement keep me there at my desk telling the stories I want to tell.
Dear Reader,
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About the Author
Kevin Ikenberry still wants to be an astronaut. A retired Army officer, Kevin’s professional career, both in and out of uniform, has revolved around the exploration and understanding of space. He continues to work with space every day. Kevin’s debut novel, Sleeper Protocol, was hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “an emotionally powerful debut.” Kevin is an active member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and is presently at work on the next book in The Protocol War Series. He can be found online at www.kevinikenberry.com
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Did you love Vendetta Protocol? Then you should read Pale Highway by Nicholas Conley!
Gabriel Schist is spending his remaining years at Bright New Day, a nursing home. He once won the Nobel Prize for inventing a vaccine for AIDS. But now, he has Alzheimer’s, and his mind is slowly slipping away.
When one of the residents comes down with a horrific virus, Gabriel realizes that he is the only one who can find a cure. Encouraged by Victor, an odd stranger, he convinces the administrator to allow him to study the virus. Soon, reality begins to shift, and Gabriel’s hallucinations interfere with his work.
As the death count mounts, Gabriel is in a race against the clock and his own mind. Can he find a cure before his brain deteriorates past the point of no return?
Also by Kevin Ikenberry
The Protocol War
Sleeper Protocol
Vendetta Protocol
Vendetta Protocol Page 36