“Right. I guess I should be going now.”
He walked back toward the door when she grabbed his hand.
“Please, don’t go yet.”
When he turned around she undid her towel and let it fall to the floor. She approached him and they kissed passionately. Soon they were on her bed and she helped him get undressed.
5
Argos received an incoming transmission from Miseo.
Calling to gloat about destroying a measly cargo ship with one of my destroyers, no doubt.
“Argos here, what can I do for you— ? What shall I call you? Master?”
“None of that with me. My dad loves his titles. I have no time for nonsense like this. Miseo will do. I just had a very interesting encounter with your twin brother. He managed to disable and eventually doom the destroyer I had borrowed from you.”
Borrowed, right!
“I tried telling you my brother was resourceful.”
“Indeed, and I’m starting to think we should have listened to you. He displayed a level of power I was not expecting. I would like to discuss the issue with you in more detail.”
And now you need my help, again. How typical.
“Sure, whatever you need.”
“I’ll be landing on your ship shortly.”
“Looking forward to your arrival, Miseo.”
“Miseo out.”
If you think you and I are going to be friends, you’ve got another thing coming.
Argos felt anger rise in him. The Furies’ return hadn’t worked at all how he imagined it would. In his head, he had envisioned not only a hero’s welcome but also an instant place of power within the Fury ranks. He was the only reason they weren’t still prisoners outside space and time, after all. A fact that Supreme Commander Arakan, and his son, to a lesser degree perhaps, seemed to have conveniently forgotten.
Argos looked at the stars from his ready room on his flagship destroyer. He noticed the low-level hum emanating from the machine in which Aphroditis stood, barely breathing. The blank stare in her all-white eyes made her look like a ghost of her own self. Argos almost felt pity for her, though he quickly brushed that pathetic display of sentimentality aside. The Olympians deserved everything they got, and he looked forward to the day the Furies would rid them from the universe. He had no doubt that was Arakan’s plan as well. After all, they had been instrumental in trapping the Furies in an alternate dimension. If they managed it once, they could most certainly do it again, a fact he was sure Arakan knew.
There were some beeps, and a tactical holo-screen popped up. It took Argos out of his pensive state. The fleet he had sent to the nearest world rich in quadrinium had arrived. He watched the battle unfold. This particular world was no match for the Zarlack’s advanced technology. In less than twenty minutes the world’s defenses had been taken care of. Argos grew bored and turned off the holo-screen. There was no challenge in the mission he had been assigned, but only the results mattered. If he dreamt to gain a position of power within the Fury ranks, he would have to do their grind work for a while. That last thought didn’t help his feelings of anger one bit.
When Argos heard a hiss from the jar next to him, he opened the lid and let the Kyrian snake bite him on the arm. He closed his eyes as the venom ran through his veins, and soon all his worries faded away.
Chase entered the Destiny’s captain’s ready room.
“Ahh, Chase, please come in.”
“Commodore, it’s good to see you. Impeccable timing as always.”
“You can thank Ares for that. I fear that if he hadn’t intervened I would have resigned my commission.”
“Really? Why?”
“I simply couldn’t take the rigidity of the admiral. She didn’t want to see reason, past rules and regulations.”
Chase couldn’t help but crack a laugh.
“What’s so funny, Chase?”
“Nothing. It’s just I think I’m rubbing off on you.”
Saroudis smiled. “You have that effect on people, but you can be a real pain in the butt too. I’m sure you know that.”
“I know. And my impulsivity can also have dire consequences, as I’m learning right now.”
“About that . . . After my debrief with Sarah, I got the feeling this wasn’t the happy reunion you were hoping for.”
“You can say that again, but I understand her.”
“It’s a double-edged sword, Chase. On the one hand your act was driven by love, and I’m sure deep down she knows that. But it’s frightening to her to know how far you’re willing to go for her. Personally I think Argos would have found a way to make it happen one way or the other. And if I had your powers and was given the opportunity to save my own family, I would have done the same as you did.”
“Even if by doing so you’d be dooming the universe, and most likely your own lives in the process?”
“We can’t make decisions based on what could happen, Chase. For one thing, the universe hasn’t fallen yet. Sure, the Fury resurgence is going to make things a lot more difficult, but what’s to say it’s not necessary? The Olympians were unwise to trap them instead of annihilating them when they had the chance.”
“You seem pretty caught up with the latest events.”
“Ares also made a visit before I started my debriefs with the rest of the crew. He thought a little more context would help.”
“I realize now how blinded I was by hatred and desire for revenge. All I wanted to do was kill Argos, and when I learned Sarah was still alive, saving her became my only target. I didn’t stop once to think of the consequences, even when Aphroditis and Ares both tried to warn me.”
“Yet in your place I think I would have done the same thing.”
“It’s good to hear. I wish Sarah would see it that way as well.”
“You need to give her time. It’s very different from her perspective. Had she been asked before, she would have rather sacrificed herself, which is understandable if the Furies lay siege and annihilate our universe. And that’s what she fears most: to have been a pawn used to bring about the destruction of all life. That must be an unbearable load to deal with.”
“I won’t let it happen. I will stop the Furies.”
“We will, Chase, all of us together.”
“Right. If I’ve learned something in the last few days it’s that I can count on all my friends.”
“As we can count on you. It goes both ways.”
“Thanks, Adonis.”
“You’re welcome, son. I’m sure Sarah will understand in time, but right now she’s just been hit with the enormity of it all.”
“Speaking of which, should we formulate a battle plan? I think we should go on the offensive while the Furies aren’t fully armed and ready.”
“Do we know they aren’t?”
“If they had a fleet ready it would have been detected when we were in orbit. Too bad the Iron Fire has been destroyed. Its sensor logs could have given us a clearer picture of what’s happening on the surface of Erevos.”
“That’s the name of their planet?”
Chase nodded. “It is indeed. As you know, the computer core memory of each AI computer on board Alliance ships is encased in a very resilient nanotube casing, doubled with a self-powered force field. There’s a good chance it survived. Perhaps we can recover it. With a cloaked StarFury, that could be attempted. Should we go now?”
Saroudis looked pensive.
“Negative, Chase. While I agree the information could be very valuable, right now we need to get back to Earth. They need to know the Furies are back and we need to prepare accordingly.”
“I agree, but how?”
“I don’t really know. More defensive measures, trying to grow the Alliance by recruiting more currently independent races from every sector, look for the Olympians.”
“You’re not serious?”
“Why not?”
“From what I’ve gathered, Zeus wants nothing to do with us primitive beings.”
“Aphroditis told me the same thing, but we have to try.”
“What about finding other ancients?”
“I’ve tried asking her about that. She didn’t say anything about it, but I felt she was evading my questions on the subject.”
“Any idea why?”
“None, but my instinct tells me that other Earth mythologies must have a link with other ancient races out there. We should investigate that, at least.”
“I agree. We need more allies.”
“You seem tired, Chase.”
“I am.”
“Try to get some rest. We’ll have plenty of time for planning our next moves when we get back to Earth.”
“Right. Won’t I be considered a traitor by the admiral, though?”
“I’m hoping not. At least, not if I have anything to say about it. But I think Ares’ intervention might have softened Admiral Thassos’ view of the situation.”
“And yet the first thing you’ll announce is that I helped bring the Furies, the cruelest and most dangerous foe this universe has ever known, back into play.”
“Right, well, I will do my best to protect you from that. Perhaps she doesn’t need to know it was your direct actions that led to that.”
“Not sure lying to her is a good strategy either. Secrets tend to get into the open one way or another.”
“I know. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“Which will basically be tomorrow,” said Chase with a wide smile.
“So let’s agree not to worry today?”
“Deal.”
“Now go get some rest, Lieutenant Commander. That’s an order.”
“Very well, Commodore, as you command.”
Chase walked back toward his quarters on the Destiny. He wanted to go see Sarah but his instinct told him it was too soon. As the commodore had suggested, he should probably just give her some space and time to process it all. He felt knackered anyway, so when he arrived in his quarters he let himself drop into his bed. Except his head never touched his pillow.
Chase landed on some soft, blue grass in the middle of the night, on a planet he didn’t recognize. That sent some light, cyan fluff flying all around and soon green, glowing fireflies came and grabbed the soft fluffy material his falling on the ground had sent flying upward.
“Now what!” said Chase out loud.
Then he saw a beautiful, blue-green ringed planet in the sky above him, with an asteroid field in front of it. Multiple light sources approached the planet. Soon what he could only surmise were ships started firing on the planet. First, small, orange-red dots appeared on its surface. Quickly they grew in size and number. Chase felt very uncomfortable witnessing the attack without being able to do anything about it. But he didn’t even know where he was.
“You’re on the third moon of planet Tyronis. It’s under attack as we speak by Argos’ Zarlack forces.”
“Hello, Ares. You couldn’t have just appeared in my quarters?”
“Wouldn’t have had the same impact as showing it to you now, would it?”
“I guess not. What am I supposed to do about it though?”
“Nothing. This world is already lost. There’s nothing we can do about it. Many other small and beautiful worlds and systems like this one will fall in the coming weeks. It’s unavoidable.”
“If you want to say I told you so, be my guest.”
“That’s not why I’m showing you this.”
“Then why?”
“We need to be aware of what Argos is doing and see how we can stop him.”
“He tried to spare me.”
“What? When?”
“When we left Erevos.”
“Yet the Iron Fire was destroyed.”
“By the Furies’ weapons on the surface, not by his destroyers.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Chase?”
“I think there is doubt in him. I’m no longer convinced he is fully evil.”
“I’m not sure I can give him the benefit of the doubt. With him having killed me and doomed my sister to eternal imprisonment.”
“We’ll get Aphroditis out of there, I promise you.”
“Chase, please don’t promise things you can’t guarantee delivering.”
“Okay, let me rephrase that: I will do whatever is in my power to save her. Better?”
“Yes. And I thank you for it. Still, Argos has to be dealt with, and I must say I’m surprised you are considering any other action but retribution.”
“True. I still feel like killing him, but he could have finished us off easily, and he didn’t.”
“He had given you his word.”
“Yes, and he tried to keep it.”
“I still don’t see what it changes in the larger scale of things.”
“I don’t know, but it bugs me. And my instinct is telling me that there is still good somewhere in him. I did feel a lot of fear emanating from him when we last met.”
“Well, for the time being I think it’s safe to say he remains our enemy.”
“I have no doubts about that either, don’t worry, Ares. What is it you wanted to talk about?”
“Argos’ first target, Tyronis, is located near Erevos, and its asteroid field is rich in many valuable resources, including, but not only, quadrinium.”
“So?”
“So, I think it’s clear the Furies are in dire need of resources. They will need them to rebuild their fleet.”
“Rebuild?”
“In the final days of the war, the coalition of worlds that defeated their armies destroyed their fleet. It had been a terrible battle that lasted for days. It took the combined forces of hundreds of worlds and thousands of ships to win that battle.”
“So they are rebuilding it?”
“That would be my guess.”
“That means we have a short time-window to make sure this never happens.”
“I think so.”
“If you have to guess, how long do we have?”
“Weeks I’d say. A few months at the most.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Anything.”
“Are there any other ancients around?”
“I suppose so.”
“Saroudis said he felt Aphroditis deflected the question when he asked her.”
“Since the Fury War, Olympians have cut all ties with the other ancient races. Now I’m thinking their ill-advised decision to not finish them off is perhaps the reason behind this.”
“That would make sense. Who are the most powerful ones you know of?”
There was silence.
“What is it, Ares? Why don’t you want to answer?”
“I’m not sure it’s even a good idea to mention any names.”
“And yet you will. We are past the time for petty, ancient rivalry.”
“There’s one race that has a technological advantage we could use. But they are not keen on other races, and they definitely don’t want to hear of the Olympians ever again.”
“Will you tell me their names, already?”
“The Asgardians.”
“Thank you. Wait, Asgard? Why does that name ring a bell?”
“Because Earth has them in their mythologies as well.”
“The reason being?”
“After we left Earth and guided you to create the Alliance, they took over the protection of the planet briefly. There was a void to be filled, deity-wise, and so they filled it.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“No, not necessarily, but they are a warrior race. They live to do battle. They even teach that dying on the battlefield is a glorious thing. That they should feel proud to end up in Valhalla, their word for heaven.”
“Ryonna would sure like them.”
“Yes, I bet she would. The Droxians’ strong sense of honor resembles that of the Asgardians.”
“Where can we find them?”
“I have no idea, Chase. You’ll have to answer
that question on your own. But understand one thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“If you strike an alliance with them, you can forever say goodbye to allying yourself with the rest of the Olympians.”
“I thought there was no way Zeus would even consider such a thing.”
“Yesterday perhaps. Today I wouldn’t completely strike it out.”
“Why? What has changed?”
“The Furies are back, that’s what has changed. I bet they haven’t forgotten who trapped them outside time and space. You can bet your ass they will want to exterminate whatever is left of our ranks.”
“Then we may have a way to convince Zeus?”
“Except, you’re also the one responsible for bringing them back. So I guess it’s not going to be an easy sell, no matter how you present it. But if you find the Asgardians and ally yourself with them, Zeus will not want to hear a word of what you have to say.”
“Damn your godly pride. Now is the time to forget about these old feuds and rebuild the biggest alliance possible.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, Chase. I’m just warning you it won’t be as simple as that.”
“I’m beginning to get the gist of that. So basically I either choose to contact the Olympians or the Asgardians?”
“Yes.”
“And you don’t know where the latter are. Do you know where Olympians are?”
There was another silence.
“You do. Well, I guess a visit to Zeus should be in order soon.”
“I’ll guide you there when the time comes. For the moment you need to rest and try to mend your relationship with Sarah.”
“What does Sarah have to do with any of it?”
“I’m sure that just like me you felt how powerful Chris already is. He may still have a role to play, and therefore Sarah, whether she wants it or not, is an important part of what’s to come.”
“I’m really getting tired of this destiny crap. My son will be too young to wage war, and I sure hope we defeat the Furies long before he can talk.”
“I wish I could say this is possible, but the fact of the matter is I have no idea what the future holds, the only one who did is . . .”
“Yeah, I know, she is now Argos’ prisoner, thanks to me. I did get a glimpse of her power when she gave me that amulet.”
Universe in Flames – Ultimate 10 Book Box Set: An Epic Space Opera Adventure Page 121