Rise of the Ultra Fury (Universe in Flames Book 5)

by Christian Kallias

  The vision vanished and Sarah was back on the floor in her quarters on board the Hope.

  The pain in her belly was gone. She got up and let herself fall on her bed, exhausted, emptied of all energy, but at least hopeful that Chase wouldn’t succumb to his wounds. She hoped these visions of the future were accurate.

  A bright golden light shone inside her room and she sat up.

  Ares appeared nearby. Chase lay on the ground next to him. He was still bleeding from his wound and looked dead already.

  “Oh my god!” she exclaimed as she jumped out of bed.

  She slid onto the ground next to Chase and kissed him.

  He felt cold and so did she. What if she was wrong? What if only by sacrificing Chris could Chase survive?

  “Quick, Sarah!” said Ares, “please tell me there’s a cryostasis chamber on board the Hope.”

  “Medbay two,” she answered.

  Ares teleported out of the room and Sarah’s hands were no longer holding Chase’s body.

  A rush of adrenaline returned strength to her exhausted body as she ran out of her quarters.

  “Medical emergency in medbay two!”

  C H A P T E R

  II

  When Sarah arrived in medbay two, Chase was already in the cryostasis pod. He looked in really bad shape.

  “Is he still alive?”

  “Barely,” answered Ares.

  “Ares, I don’t know how to tell you this.”

  “Say it anyway.”

  “Chris showed me two possible futures.”

  “How?”

  “He has some sort of pre-cog ability but used my own dormant Fury power or cells to amplify it. I don’t really understand it.”

  There was a brief silence. “What did you see?”

  “I’ve seen a future where Chris sacrifices his life to heal Chase. Chase defeats the Furies in this timeline, but everyone else, myself included, dies.”

  “I see. And the other one?”

  “I can’t say for sure if we defeat the Furies or if we survive, but my gut feeling tells me that this is the future we must go towards. I’ve told Chris not to sacrifice himself.”

  “Are you sure this is wise?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m willing to trust my instinct on this one.”

  “Don’t you think you may be letting your emotions guide this decision?”

  Was she? Perhaps, but a future where Chase ended up alone and stripped of everything and everyone he loved was not fair.

  “I wish I could say it isn’t the case, but I think there’s another way to save Chase. I saw him in the second timeline as well, so there must be a way to save him without Chris having to sacrifice himself.”

  “I think there is. I need to see someone about it. Don’t let anyone remove Chase from cryostasis until I come back with the cure.”

  “Cure?”

  “There’s one Olympian that can do something for him. I tried to revive him on Droxia but he’s too far gone for my powers. I think only Asclepius can save him now.”

  “Do you know where to find him?”

  Ares shook his head. “No. But I know someone who might be able to help us.”

  “Very well. Do what you have to do, Ares. You’re Chase’s only hope now.”

  “I’ll keep you informed, Sarah. I’ll do everything to bring him back, I promise.”

  “I know you will, but before you go . . .”

  “Yes?”

  “In the future where Chris doesn’t give his life to save Chase, I saw Argos, and . . .”

  “And what?”

  “I can’t be one hundred percent sure but he seemed to be fighting alongside us.”

  “Then I think your instincts can be trusted.”

  “Mind explaining how this makes any sense?”

  “When Argos was about to kill Chase, I managed to invade his consciousness and steer the attack far enough from Chase’s heart so it wouldn’t kill him.”

  “Couldn’t you just have prevented it altogether?”

  “No. Miseo would then have made sure to finish Chase off. It was the only way.”

  “But what does that have to do with my instincts?”

  “When I took partial possession of Argos’ mind, I felt conflict in him. He is questioning his allegiance to the Furies. They clearly haven’t been the allies he expected. I felt in him a lot of hate towards them.”

  “I can’t believe I’m about to propose this, not after all he made me go through, but should we try to turn him?”

  “I think it’s worth a try. I doubt the supreme commander will be happy that he failed to destroy Droxia and the entire fleet in orbit. In fact, he might even kill him for his failures.”

  “Kill him? Wouldn’t that be extreme? He did bring them back, after all.”

  “Perhaps, but that’s one of the fears I sensed in him. I’m also not sure we’ll get to Asclepios without a fight.”

  “Fight against whom?”

  “Best case scenario, a lower Olympian.”

  “And worst case?”

  “Zeus.”

  “Can Argos take on Zeus?”

  “I seriously doubt it. Perhaps both Argos and Chase.”

  “But that still doesn’t help us. We can’t seriously consider attacking the head of the Olympians.”

  “I’m not saying we should, but my . . . my father is stubborn. We may have no choice.”

  “We have to try to get Argos on our side, then. I hate the guy, probably as much as Chase does, but if he can be of some help, even temporarily, we should exploit that.”

  “Very well. I’ll get the information I need from Athena first, and if Argos’ help is required, then I’ll try to sway him to our side.”

  “I don’t even want to know how this conversation will go.”

  “Well, I can be very persuasive.”

  “Something tells me you’ll have to be.”

  Ares nodded. “I should go now.”

  “Good luck, Ares.”

  “To us all.”

  * * *

  On board the Dark Star, Argos thought about what had just happened. Was Chase about to die? He was alive when they left. Barely.

  What troubled Argos, though, was why he even cared. He should focus on what to do next. Clearly he hadn’t succeeded entirely in his mission, and because of that there would be hell to pay. Of that he was pretty certain. In fact, he might need to find a way to ditch Miseo before they arrived back on Erevos.

  Miseo kept staring at him.

  “Anything I can do for you, Miseo?”

  “I’m just trying to understand how we failed our mission.”

  “Do you really think we did? Chase—” Argos corrected himself, “Laiyos is dead, most of the ships in orbit of Droxia have been destroyed, and more than seventy percent of the population killed. Not bad for a day’s work.”

  “I think you underestimate how my father sees success.”

  “No, I got a good glimpse of that when I freed our people from the dimensional prison you were all trapped in.”

  “That is nothing compared to what awaits us back home.”

  “Us?”

  “I’ve failed as well, haven’t I?”

  “Not from where I’m sitting, but I can see why your father would think so.”

  “In fact, I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to return with me.”

  What the hell? What is he implying?

  “Mind repeating that?”

  “I think my father will execute you on the spot for this. I know I will be reprimanded as well, but I’m his son, so that will play in my favor. But you? He was extremely displeased with you already, and I think this time he might want to make an example of you.”

  “Why do you care? I thought you were mad at me for intervening in your fight against Laiyos.”

  “I was. I guess I still am. But I’m a practical person. One day I think your services might be required again, but for the time being it might be better if my father think
s you didn’t survive the fight. I’ll pin it on your brother.”

  “What do you mean ‘one day?’”

  “Can you assure me that what I’m about to say is never repeated?”

  I didn’t expect the brat to trust me. I guess he feels the need to share with me. That’s good. I might get everything I need right now.

  “Absolutely.”

  “My father is . . . insane.”

  “I don’t think that’s a secret,” said Argos with a chuckle.

  Miseo shot him a deadly look. “While I appreciate you’re trying to diffuse the tension with humor, I don’t think you understand what I’m trying to tell you.”

  “Very well then, enlighten me.”

  “My father has a mental issue. He used to be a very strict but just leader. But over the years, he grew more impulsive and began to act rashly. The way he treated you for refusing to fire on your brother’s ship is a perfect example. While he would normally reprimand anyone who defied him or refused a direct order, he came pretty close to killing you that day. I’m sure you noticed.”

  “Yeah. Another second or two would have claimed my life.”

  “That’s the kind of temper tantrum I’ve witnessed for quite a while now. He has killed many apt Furies for less.”

  Then Miseo does want to overthrow his father.

  “What do you propose to do about it?”

  “I don’t know yet, but perhaps a change of leadership will be required at one point.”

  “You’d take command?”

  “If that’s what’s needed, yes.”

  “How would that work? Somehow I don’t see your father listening to reason.”

  “He won’t. If I deem that his decisions are no longer in the best interests of our people, then I’ll have to seize power. Whether I like it or not.”

  “If that situation arose, do you think you could defeat your father?”

  “Alone, I’m not sure. With some help, perhaps.”

  What if he’s testing me?

  “You would need powerful warriors. The kind we’ve just killed.”

  “I know. But your brother would never have agreed to help us. I saw it in his eyes.”

  “You’re right.”

  “But perhaps you will?”

  “I’m honored you’d think of me. But we both know I’m nowhere near as powerful as my brother was.”

  “I can help you in that regard. You simply need the right training. Since you both share the same genes, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to reach the same level as Laiyos. One day.”

  That really played on Argos’ ego. He wanted nothing more than to become as powerful as Chase; more powerful, even. But he still didn’t know if Miseo was testing his allegiance to his father with flattery. This could all be an elaborate deception.

  “I sure would love to be more powerful.”

  Miseo looked into Argos’ eyes. “You will be, when the time is right. For the moment it’s best if my father thinks you both died on Droxia. Do you have a ship? Or a base of operation? Preferably a secret one. Somewhere my father wouldn’t look.”

  I think he is testing me.

  “Why would I have a secret base?”

  “Why wouldn’t you? After what my father did to you I think if you had ships or locations unknown to him, you’d keep them to yourself, as a backup plan, should things turn sour.”

  Argos was getting tired of this dance. He needed to know where Miseo was going with all of this.

  “Are you really interested in having me as a future ally against your father? Or are you just trying to see if I can be trusted, so that you can write my death warrant yourself, perhaps as a way to avoid the consequences of our failures today?”

  “You’re a smart Fury. I like that. I could go either way, depending on how motivated you are. It seems you are willing to do what needs to be done, though, should our people need new leadership.”

  Hell yeah I’m prepared, except I will be the one taking power.

  “I am.”

  “Then give me a location where I can drop you. There’s no need to tell me what it is. I don’t care. We’ll soon have an entire armada of Fury destroyers, so the Zarlack ships, even those behemoth-class ones, will soon be nothing but obsolete relics.”

  Argos entered coordinates on his holo-display console. “These will do.”

  Miseo entered the new coordinates into the Dark Star’s navigational computer.

  Now Argos gazed at Miseo for a while.

  “Anything on your mind, Argos?”

  “I was just wondering how powerful these Fury destroyers are.”

  “You’ll see soon enough. I’ve no doubt that once I get back to Erevos I’ll be assigned command of the Crimson Shadow. I’m sure my father will want me to either finish off Droxia or crush the Alliance at home, on Earth.”

  “Earth is protected by a very powerful planetary shield, as you know.”

  “Yes, it was in your report. But that’s a perfect way to gauge our advanced weaponry. Plus, whatever they have in orbit we can obliterate.”

  “With only one ship?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll take some of the Zarlack forces along. Perhaps the Crimson Shadow can handle the fleet on its own, but I prefer going at it with logic and a balanced fleet.”

  “That’s how I would do it.”

  “And yet we only took four destroyers to Droxia, and lost them all.”

  Of course you had to remind me of that.

  “I didn’t anticipate they would find a way to destroy all the graviton devices.”

  “Yes, you failed to anticipate that. Don’t get me wrong. Your plan was very good. But you should have packed more forces, at least as a contingency plan.”

  Argos wanted to defend himself but decided against it. His ego was hurt, but he knew that Miseo, at least on that point, was right.

  “I agree. I let my pride get the better of me, a mistake I won’t soon repeat.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. I need smart allies, not overconfident egomaniacs.”

  Argos was again hurt, but he knew better than to show it. Instead he just nodded in agreement.

  “We should be at the coordinates you’ve provided in less than an hour.”

  “Very well.”

  * * *

  Ares arrived at Athena’s palace and lost no time taking human shape.

  “Ares? This is a surprise,” said Athena, even before he had finished materializing into his golden humanoid form.

  Athena was sitting on the throne of her palace, as usual, while sipping wine.

  “Hello, Athena.”

  “I didn’t expect to see you back here so soon, but it’s good to see you again.”

  “Good to see you too. I need some information, though.”

  “Yes. I’m sure you didn’t come back just for my winning personality.”

  Ares smiled.

  “So, Ares, what is it you need to know?”

  “I need to locate Asclepios.”

  “If he’s still alive.”

  “Why wouldn’t he be?”

  “Well, the story is that Asclepios brought too many people back to life with no regards for consequences. This angered Hades greatly and he commanded that Father have him killed.”

  “Nobody commands Father to do anything. Do you think he killed him?”

  There was a pause. “No. If anything, he would keep him alive for the day he would need to be resurrected himself.”

  “Sounds like Father alright, making someone disappear and have him locked out for his own purposes.”

  “Indeed. Truth be told I might have done the same myself.”

  “Any idea where I can find him?”

  “No, not really, but you should ask Apollo. He might know.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  “Simple. I’m almost certain that if Father didn’t do his own dirty work, he asked Apollo. Apollo was against executing Asclepios, and we both know Father is careful about pushing his
favorite son.”

  “Is it due to fear or simply respect for when we saved Olympus together? We wouldn’t be here today if Apollo and I didn’t risk everything to stop the Titan attacks on our world.”

  “This may be true, but since then Apollo desires Zeus’ position as our leader.”

  “This may actually play in my favor. Where can I find him?”

  “You know very well where. Keep your friend close but your enemies closer.”

  “At Zeus’ palace then?”

  Athena took a sip of her drink before answering. “Yes, wherever Zeus is, Apollo won’t be far behind.”

  “I would have liked avoiding talking to Father just yet.”

  “Then don’t. Your new form allows you to use stealth. You don’t need to take that glowing gold human form. We both know you just enjoy doing it. Or perhaps you miss your corporeal days. But it’s not required for you to interact with any of us.”

  “Yet you’ve sensed me when I was invisible. What makes you think Zeus won’t?”

  “You made no effort to hide the fact you wanted to talk to me, and I sensed your presence even before you started speaking. It might also have helped that you were here only a few hours ago. But I think it’s mostly that I’m so bored lately; any stimuli, any vibrations in my palace, even sub-atomic, I think I will feel.”

  Ares really didn’t relish the idea of going anywhere near Zeus. But if that was what he needed to do to save Chase, then that’s where he would go.

  “Why don’t you join me?” said Ares.

  “I’m not that bored.”

  “I think you are. You just don’t want to appear as a defector.”

  “Can you blame me? I am powerful. As I remember, I even kicked your ass a couple of times in the past. But even so I know better than to incur Daddy’s rage.”

  That brought old memories to the surface of Ares’ mind. But those were other times. He was a very different Olympian back then. Still, she had bested him on both occasions.

  “I’m sure I deserved that ass-kicking back then.”

  Athena laughed out loud, almost spilling her red, mind-numbing liquid. “You really have changed, brother. I like the new you.”

  Ares bowed.

  “Tell you what, bro, when you have a majority of Olympians in order, then you’ll have my vote as well. I don’t need the aggravation of openly defying Zeus at the moment. Though I admit the thought does stir my curiosity even now. But I haven’t won pretty much all my feuds, wars or arguments by being impulsive. I use my head and I always play winning odds.”