Into the Fire Part II: To End All Wars (Universe in Flames Book 10)

by Christian Kallias

  “Yanis has been working on preparing all of that. It should be installed soon now that we know it’s safe to use. But, before we proceed further, I’d like you to submit to a full body scan. The doc is expecting you in the med-bay.”

  Argos grimaced as he didn’t think it was necessary, but complied anyway. “Very well.”

  “Mind if I come with you?” proposed Chris.

  “Of course not.”

  Argos and Chris left the cargo bay.

  “What now?” asked Chase.

  “Now we wait for the results, equip the room with everything you may need, and then you can all start using it for your training.”

  Gaia ran into Chase as he was leaving the cargo bay.

  “Hey, Gaia, it’s good to see you again,” said Chase. “Are you alright?”

  “It’s good to see you too, Chase. I’m still very anxious about Spiros. I hope Argos can help.”

  “My brother will make sure you get him back in one piece. He’s not gonna let you down. Plus, he already set aside some time in the chamber to repair him, that way you’ll get Spiros back in a matter of hours.”

  “Cedric told me about that, which is wonderful. Will you give Argos my thanks?

  “Sure, I’ll let him know; I’m sure he’ll appreciate it. I met with Keera earlier, shortly after you all landed on the Victory. I understand the both of you have been through hell and back these last few days. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you.”

  “Even you can’t be everywhere at once, Chase. We did try to contact the Alliance, but almost nothing seemed to go our way. I’m just glad the probe we sent with our message reached Emperor Altair. If it hadn’t, I feel we may never have gotten out of that predicament alive.”

  Chase pondered Gaia’s words for a moment. Even with all his powers and abilities, he knew very well that he had to accept that he couldn’t fix everything, no matter how strongly he felt.

  After their utter defeat against Spectre Arakan, he knew full well that all he could hope for was to give it his best and hope things would turn out okay.

  “I’m glad you’re back. How do you feel? Last time I saw you, you were in bad shape. I must admit it’s also a surprise seeing you in a human body, no offense.”

  “None taken; it’s a little strange for me, too. These bodies are so frail compared to my old avatars. But they have other advantages. I also feel disconnected from Earth now that I don’t have a subspace link with any technology. It’s a strange feeling, and I sometimes feel utterly alone because of it, but I guess that’s what it is to be human, right?”

  Chase couldn’t exactly answer that one. Thanks to his Fury powers, he almost always felt connected to his loved ones emotionally, one way or another. But he did remember the time before he acquired his powers, so he could somewhat relate.

  “Yes, I guess it is. Any other side effects of having a flesh and blood body?”

  “I’m having some nasty headaches, and they seem to be getting worse.”

  “Did the doc examine you?”

  “Yes, I’m coming from med-bay now. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find anything wrong, and since I have ancient tech in my skull that has become my primary brain so to speak, it’s difficult for the doc to know what the cause of my headaches is. Heck, we don’t even know much of anything about the tech ourselves. He didn’t find anything wrong with me on the biological level, which is good news.”

  “It is, but that must be frustrating for you, and I’m sorry you are in pain because of it. If it’s too painful at times, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have no idea if my healing powers can help, but it’s worth a try.”

  “Thank you, Chase. That’s very generous of you, and if it gets bad, I’ll be sure to come and visit you.”

  Chase also knew that the piece of machinery inside Gaia’s head could hold valuable information on creating better tech for the Earth Alliance, and while he didn’t know how to approach the subject, he had to try.

  “I don’t know how to ask you this, but—”

  “You can ask me anything. Don’t worry about the implications.”

  “Since your matrix is residing inside that tech now, I was curious if maybe you tried to get access to data outside of your matrix. If that’s even possible.”

  “I have asked myself that same question, and since I don’t have any wireless connection with the outside anymore, it’s completely possible that I can’t access it even if I wanted to. Though, I’ve been wondering if the headaches could be related to that. The more I try to get outside of my usual thinking patterns, the more often and stronger they seem to get. Or maybe it’s just pure coincidence.”

  That seemed unlikely to Chase. But he hated asking this of Gaia, especially after everything she and Spiros had been through. However, the potential for finding a blink drive, or any tech that could give them the edge before the last battle, was too critical to ignore.

  “I do hate asking you this…”

  “That’s alright, Chase. I owe you that much, and I promise you that I’ll try whatever you need. I know that buried deep in my head, right this moment, could hide a tech that would give you and the Alliance the edge you need. I’ll keep pushing and trying to see if I can access any data, that is if there is any present in there. After all, my matrix was vast, and it’s possible it erased whatever secrets the sphere held.”

  I sure hope not, thought Chase.

  “Thank you, Gaia.”

  14

  Chase dodged Sarah’s first fireball and deflected the next one, sending it back to her with a flick of his wrist. She blocked her own attack and re-assimilated its energy. But, by then, Chase was upon her, kicking her in the shoulder and sending her spinning wildly in the air.

  She stabilized herself before landing and stood ready to block his next combo.

  “Don’t hold back on me!” she protested. “Just give it all you’ve got. We’re only at a pathetic setting of seventy gravities because the computer thinks I can’t take more than that.”

  “The idea is for us to train, not for me to send you into the regen tank.”

  “Perhaps I need to get my butt royally kicked a few times.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Yes it does, if you think about it; you seem to be more powerful after every close call you’ve had with death. Maybe I need that to close the gap between us.”

  “Give yourself a break, you are progressing nicely. We’ve only been at this for three weeks, and I can tell you’ve gotten a much better grasp on your powers during that time.”

  Sarah frowned.

  “What is it?” asked Chase.

  “Maybe I should train with Chris.”

  “He’s training with Argos. Once we’re done with our month-long session, I’m sure he’ll be happy to train with you as well.”

  “Fat chance.”

  “What’s really bothering you?”

  “You’re not training as efficiently as you could because you’re stuck with me. Chris wants to train with his uncle, and I’m sure you’d rather train with him too.”

  “That’s nonsense.”

  “Chase, in the three weeks that we’ve been training, not once have you turned into an Ultra Fury. You’re not pushing yourself, which was the whole point. In fact, I think you shouldn’t just train with Argos but face both your brother and your son at the same time. I’m just slowing you down, and you’re too nice to say anything.”

  Chase swore in his head. Sarah was right, and the thought had crossed his mind, but he was still hoping that in the next few months Sarah would close some of the gap regarding her power. He didn’t know if she had enough Fury genes to ever be an Ultra Fury herself. In fact, he feared the lack of Olympian genes could very well be the missing element since only Fury genes were transferred to her during her pregnancy.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself. And I’m still getting plenty of training done.”

  “See, now you’re patronizing me.”

  Chase sighe
d.

  “Okay, what do you want me to tell you?”

  “The cold hard truth; you owe me that much.”

  Chase’s face twitched. “Alright. I wish the gravity were at a higher setting, but it’s getting stronger every day, and we literally have years we can use to do this. You may not feel it yet, but you’re closing the gap already; you’re certainly getting more powerful faster than I did when I trained with Gaia’s bots. I just think you’ve put too many expectations on yourself. You can’t possibly hope to catch up with us when you were the last of us to develop your abilities. And I should point out that when that happened, you saved all our lives, Zeus’ included.”

  “Some good that did him.”

  Chase frowned. “That’s not fair, and I hate myself enough already for letting Olympus be destroyed and not being able to save my grandfather from his fate.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring back old memories.”

  “Yet you dismissed the fact that in that moment, your power was unbelievable.”

  “Why do you think that is, though?”

  “What? That you’re dismissing your powers?”

  Sarah shook her head.

  “No, Chase. Why was my power so great, and why can’t I access it now? I can tell you that unlike when these powers first surfaced, I’m no longer afraid of them. In fact, I’ve embraced them, and I want nothing more than total mastery over them; so why is it not working?”

  “I’m not sure why. I think your powers manifested because of the dangers we were facing, and you acted on survival instinct and the will to protect your family.”

  “Then what we’re doing here is useless.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because you’re not willing to get physical with me.”

  Chase pointed at Sarah’s black eye as well as multiple bruises on her limbs.

  “I haven’t exactly been going easy on you.”

  “But you’ve never put my life in danger, either.”

  “You know very well I can’t do that.”

  “Even if your reluctance to do so costs us the ultimate victory?”

  Chase threw his hands up and walked toward the exit.

  Sarah bit her lip. “Don’t go, Chase; I’m sorry.”

  But Chase kept walking and exited the time chamber.

  Daniel was on his morning run when he passed through the observation deck and saw Chase looking at the stars through the large viewport. He stopped and walked toward Chase.

  “Hey, Chase. I’m surprised to see you here,” said Daniel, breathing heavily from his interrupted exercise. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the chamber or did you guys change your schedule?”

  “I needed some air. Sarah and I are fighting lately; I just don’t know what to do anymore. It feels like no matter what I say or do, we end up at each other’s throats.”

  Daniel came next to his best friend and patted his back.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. This whole war is messing with our heads, I guess.”

  “It’s not been the easiest of years, that’s for sure. I’m just worried that…”

  But Chase let the words hang.

  “Worried that what?”

  “Never mind.”

  “No, Chase; tell me. If you can’t tell me, whom can you tell? And when you’re worried, I get worried; in fact, I think everyone does.”

  “I have that gut feeling lately, about everything that’s ahead of us, and I don’t like it.”

  “You’ll need to be more precise than that; I have no idea what you’re trying to tell me.”

  “Like this is never gonna end.”

  “What? This war?”

  “Conflict in general. Arakan is finally dead, and he’s already been replaced by someone a hundred times more powerful; what if that someone is replaced by an even bigger enemy. When does it end? When can we just start enjoying normal lives?”

  “When was your life ever normal, Chase?”

  “Touché. But you know what I mean.”

  Daniel nodded. “I do. And I wish I had an answer for you, but truth be told, I’m just taking it one day at a time, and I think most of us do. I once was making plans in my head, but well, the future never unfolds how one imagines it, does it?”

  Chase knew very well Daniel was talking about plans his dear friend must have made in his mind when he envisioned a future with Fillio. A future that was stolen from him. What would Chase do if his future were stolen? How would he react? He preferred not to think about it; things were complicated enough as it was.

  “To get back to your problems,” continued Daniel, “have you considered asking Sarah to marry you?”

  Chase’s eyes shot wide open in surprise.

  “Of course, but where did that come from?”

  “I think you need to do it before we go into the final battle. It doesn’t have to be a large ceremony; you can have a quiet ceremony with just a few friends, but make your union official. You never know what tomorrow will bring, and at the moment, we have some respite. I know you guys are training and all, but take a few hours off, just enjoy yourselves. Heck, even have it in the time chamber; you could have a closed-quarters ceremony, take a day or even more, celebrate, laugh, dance, empty your heads for just a little while. I think it would do you good.”

  “Marriage is the last thing on my mind right now.”

  “Ok; then let me ask you, if this was your last day, wouldn’t you regret not being married to Sarah? Wouldn’t it bother you?”

  “When you put it like that…”

  “Just have the wedding, Chase.”

  “Even if I wanted to, all we’ve done is fight lately; it doesn’t seem appropriate.”

  “Then perhaps that’s one of the reasons.”

  “I seriously doubt it. Sarah is as aware of the war and the price we may have to pay to win it. We’ve discussed getting married when all of this is over.”

  “Except neither of you can guarantee that you’ll still be alive at the end of all this. I know that’s probably the last thing you want to hear right now, but…think about it.”

  Daniel clapped Chase on the back. “I’m gonna take a quick sonic shower; I’m due on the bridge in fifteen. Chin up, Chase, and next time you’re out of the chamber come and find me, I miss spending time with you.”

  “Alright. Me too, buddy.”

  Argos unleashed a cascade of powerful fireballs toward his nephew, but Chris managed to dodge them all while still gaining ground, hoping to use the element of surprise to get a series of punches past Argos.

  But when Chris was upon him, Argos turned into an Ultra Fury and smashed Chris with a powerful jab that sent him tumbling and crashing for yards.

  He got back up and caressed his bruised cheek and spat some blood on the ground.

  “Ouch. I didn’t see that one coming.”

  “That’s because you’re not focused enough. I can tell your mind is elsewhere. What’s going on?”

  “I just wondered why we are already training. My parents left their time slot a lot sooner than we had planned. And I can feel tension, and even resentment, in Mom.”

  “I think we all have a lot on our plates at the moment. But that’s why it’s vital we stay focused and get stronger. Only if we grow our power exponentially do we stand a chance at taking out the Spectre.”

  “I know that, but I don’t like it when there’s tension between them, you know.”

  Argos had felt it too. There was trouble in paradise, and he had tried to ask Chase about it before they entered the time chamber, but Chase didn’t want to talk about it.

  “Your parents are adults, and they’ll figure it out on their own. We’re not doing them any favors by letting their problems impact our training time.”

  “I get that,” said Chris before looking toward the pod that encased the body of Spiros. “How long will he be like that? I heard Gaia has literally been camping outside the time chamber.”

  “I’ll check him and see how much long
er he needs before his clone body is fully repaired. He’s lucky they put him in a suspended animation pod to transport him here, though. I fear if they had waited another day, he would have been beyond my help. Here’s the deal, I’ll spend a few more hours monitoring him and making the final adjustments, but you have to keep training on your own for a while, okay?”

  “Sure; I’ll boost the gravity to its max and do some katas. How does that sound?”

  “Good; and try and stay focused on your task, okay?”

  Chris saluted. “Yes, sir!”

  “Very funny, Brat!”

  Gaia was pacing in the cargo bay for what felt like an eternity. It had been hours already since Argos brought Spiros to the chamber. It was three in the morning onboard the Victory, and even Kvasir, who tended to burn the midnight oil, had left to get some rest.

  She tried telling herself that she would see Spiros much sooner than she would normally have, thanks to the new technology. Still, that didn’t lower her anxiety one bit. She was going mad in her head waiting to see the man she loved so much. Argos had guaranteed that he would fix him and that he would make a full recovery, but Gaia simply couldn’t take Argos at his word. She knew Argos would do anything to save him, but with the lack of luck they had experienced on their perilous mission, Gaia couldn’t help but feel that something could still go wrong.

  Part of her was worried that being inside the chamber while his body was being repaired would trigger a side effect Argos couldn’t have anticipated. A noise brought Gaia out of her musings, and her heart skipped a beat as the inner doors of the airlock split open, filling the cargo bay with bright light.

  It took a good three seconds until the blurry shadow, set against an impossibly white light source, emerged from the ethereal, divine-looking glow. These three seconds felt like an eternity.

  Spiros stood in the airlock, waiting for the time dilation adjustment cycle to finish. His eyes fixed upon hers, a wide smile spread across his face. He looked so much younger than the man she had fallen in love with, but then again, he was way cuter now.