“You’ll be locked in there as well, and the Therak’tow won’t know your friends from foes. One way or another, your friends would die.”
William didn’t respond and simply stood there, fists clenched tightly.
“I’ll make you a deal you won’t want to refuse. You aid in the destruction of the Septunians, and we’ll send all of you back to your dimension. It will be as if none of this ever happened.”
“You have no such power. You think I’m stupid enough to play your games.”
“We don’t, but the humans do. Before my body was taken, I was a lead engineer on the Time Stream Extractor. You have my word, Dante. Your mind is racing with all the potential this escape gives you. Agree, and we can set this into motion.”
His mind made up, William succumbed to the pressure and relaxed his fist. “I have no other choice. I accept your terms.”
“Then go, my puppet. Grant me the power I so desire,” the spirit said with a blood-curdling laugh as William approached the medical center.
The door slid open automatically, revealing the pearl-white walls and a vaulted ceiling. Red circles intersected with one another to form an outline with the Septune station; in the middle was an “S” in a bold, black paint. Medical beds, equipment, and holographic technology were all neatly arranged in the sterile environment. As William began to explore, a sense of dread enveloped him, causing spouts of paranoia; the spirit was dead silent and offered no input. He heard a faint noise on the floor below him and proceeded down the stairs with caution. A set of bright lights flickered on the ceiling above. With only a thought, a red energy blade formed from his gauntlet, shining menacingly among the sterile hospital. Silently, he eased his back against the wall and saw two people run down the hall.
William followed them into a small room with rows of pods lying horizontally like the ones at the mountain. He stopped at the doorway, watching as a woman and Teracian turned around to meet his gaze. Time stood still as they all froze.
“Will?” said Anya with a whisper. “No, you’re not William anymore. Azek why is he here? Azek, I need your help.”
It pained William to see her act this way towards him and was slowly crushing his heart.
“Anya, get behind me.”
“Anya, it’s me,” said William as he tried to reach out.
“I don’t believe you. You aren’t hurting Brenda.”
“Brenda? What happened?”
“How dare you feign ignorance, you leech. I’ll cut you down for the sake of her.”
“Anya, this isn’t a good idea. Not here.”
“No, Azek, I’m done running. I’m tired of feeling helpless. Don’t think for a second I can’t defend myself,” she said, raising the gauntlet in front of her. A powerful green wave formed in her palm and expanded to a shotgun. William waited, feeling immense pain as his own girlfriend held a gun to his head. Dazshra made no move and stayed silent. He felt a trace of the spirit deep down in his stomach.
He put his hands in front of him and tried to reason with the Teracian. “Azek, this is no trick. It’s really me. Let Cody out, and I’ll prove it.”
“Anya, don’t listen to him. I can sense Dazshra’s presence all over his body. He’s in control.”
William’s attention snapped to one of the healing pods as a hand reached over the side. Her voice was weak and faint, as she spoke. “Anya. Anya, is something wrong? I hear Will.”
Feeling a cascade of emotions, William searched around for any clues to the location of the station teleporter. He had to escape from this dire situation before the spirit revealed itself.
“Is that Brenda? Anya, what happened to her? What-”
With a sudden change in tone, Anya went still, and a strangely robotic voice spoke from her lips.
SCANNING FOR HOSTILE THREATS. SCANNING SPECIMEN. WILLIAM DANTE. THREAT DETECTED. PROCEEDING WITH ADVANCEMENT. RESOLVING BIOLOGICAL LIMITATION...COMPLETE.
Anya’s voice returned to normal, but her eyes were now glowing blue. She ran at William full speed and fired the gun straight at him. Barely dodging, William jolted to the right as Azek stood in disbelief, guarding Brenda’s pod. More gunfire came his way, and a bullet grazed his arm. She ran towards him again, and the gun changed to a sickle with a sharp edge. He dodged again, watching as the blade missed and sliced down the wall. A red knife exploded in his palm just in time for him to deflect another strike.
“Anya, stop this. I’m not Dazshra. It’s William.”
“You’re just a parasite leeching off his body.”
“Please, snap out of it!”
The blade changed suddenly and a sword as large as a claymore smashed into the wall, causing William to collapse in front of her. Anya’s chest heaved up and down as she prepared to strike again, but a loud scream halted her advance.
“Stop this! Anya put the sword down and come to reason. This is William! Don’t you see what you’re doing?”
Anya turned around and watched as Brenda climbed out of the pod, blood dripping on the floor. William saw her hesitate and look back at him. Azek’zander raced over and helped the girl back inside. William thought about accepting his death by her hands but knew Dazshra would just bring him back.
He cautiously walked over to Anya and placed his hand on her shoulder. In that instant, he felt the spirit start to push back, but he was stronger. The sword in her hand disintegrated as she fell onto his chest.
“It’s really you. After all this time you’re still you. I…I,” she said, backing away from him.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. What did they do to you?” he said, seeing the blue light in her eyes.
“You don’t remember? You threw me off the mountain. You killed me, William,” she said with anger building in her eyes.
All at once, the images started to pour in. William’s head pounded with pressure as he began to remember the snowy mountain range. The grip he had on her neck was fierce. She squirmed and cried out, but no one was able to help her. The unconscious body of the Teracian laid against a scorched rock; Brenda, a bloody mess left in the grass. The rage in his eyes punctured all hope of empathy. The last memory that entered his skull was laughing as the most important person in his life tumbled down the mountainside.
“Dazshra! You vile, sadistic creature. Get out of my head!”
“You want them to die that much? Test me one more time, and you will kill her a second time. I can sense the energy up the stairs. Move,” thought Dazshra.
“William, where are you going? William, he’s still inside, isn’t he?” said Anya as he ran towards the stairs.
Cries and screams for him to return bombarded him with every passing second. William turned down the hall and frantically searched for the transporter. He ripped open a heavy metal door, listening as it creaked. Behind it stood a working portal with the words “Septune” on the front of the glass.
“How do I work this thing?”
“Walk in and press the flashing button. There’s only one destination. Sever the wires right before you push it so they can’t follow you. I can feel my power calling out to me,” said Dazshra
The machine opened as he walked towards it. Sweat poured off his face, and his lungs found the air hard to breathe. The doors closed and a flashing button appeared on the translucent glass. He hovered his finger over it, but couldn’t press it. The others rounded the corner and faced him.
“William, why can’t you stay? We can help you. We need you here. Brenda is dying, William.”
She ran to him and placed her hands on the glass with a flushed face full of despair.
“I’m sorry. I have no other choice. Get somewhere safe before it’s too late.”
The wires inside the machine sparked as he ripped them out. Their hands met on the glass, but he felt as if they were touching. I’ll return for you. I promise.
William pressed the button, and his reality changed. The teleportation chamber opened, and an error message appeared, shutting it down. He st
epped out and saw the bustling station filled with thousands of people. His heart leaped out of his chest when a large transport ship flew past with its thrusters blazing; a silver hawk emblem with the words “Septune: Gilbert” was painted on the front. A tall African-American man stepped out. With a friendly smile, the man waved to a group of people as they walked towards him. William, keenly aware of how much his gauntlet stood out, tried not to draw attention to himself.
“There’s a guard barracks just beyond that ship. You can grab a coat to wear.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“Isabella and I frequented this area when I was still human. Enough talk or they will sense me. Move while you have the chance.”
William looked for an easy way out and ran towards the edge of the wall surrounding the military complex. Heavily armed soldiers patrolled the area. He kept his right side away from the crowd, shaking as he nervously tried to avoid confrontation. Several Septunians gave him strange glances, and many stopped to stare. The door to the barracks was unguarded, and he walked around to an adjacent window behind. Inside, a tall woman with a cream-colored jacket faced away from the outside. Her hair was tied in a bun, and her professional appearance made her seem of import. William heard someone approach him as he spun around.
“Hey, you there. Do you have clearance to be here?”
The guard cautiously put his hand on the plasma pistol on his hip and repeated himself. William stood in fear, trying to come up with a plan.
“Yea, it’s right here in my pocket.”
As the soldier dropped his guard, William grabbed hold of his neck and produced a bolt of electricity from the gauntlet. With a zap, he dropped him to the ground. The woman in the barracks stirred and shut down the computer.
“Is anyone there? What just happened?”
With haste, he picked up the soldier and dragged his body away from the door, leaving him against the wall. The Septunian exited the building and went around back. I have no choice but to subdue her too.
Her face went pale white as she saw William next to the army personnel’s body. She covered her mouth and looked for a way to run back, but he was on her before she could fight back. As much as it pained him, he produced a gun and held it to her head.
“Listen. I’m not here to hurt you. If you take me to Actavian’s quarters, I won’t harm you, understand?”
William saw a nametag on her vest that designated her a high-ranking medical supervisor. Dr. Janice Geier. He smiled as something in his mind began to tear and snap.
“Janice Geier. You can get me to where I need to go, correct?”
He could feel her shaking as she nodded her head up and down. The smell of the energy pistol assaulted his nose, and he lowered it to her back. For him, there was no turning back now. Whoever waited beyond death would have to judge him for his actions.
William carefully directed her towards the other side of the small barracks and past the front door. No one else saw them enter. Weapons, tools, and munitions were stacked on each wall of the building. To his right was a large holographic monitor and a closed off operating room. The smell of coffee relaxed him, allowing his guard to ease.
“You-you haven’t done this before have you? I can tell by the way you move. Your muscles are tense. Please, can we just talk this through?” said Dr. Geier.
Stricken with indecisiveness, he started to panic. Taking a deep breath, he let the gun fall to his side. She turned to face him. He could see the recognition in her eyes. She didn’t run, nor did her appearance give off fear.
“William Dante. We thought you lost to the abyss of that monster and here you are. I assume Dazshra is dormant?”
“He can’t risk taking control without his full power. The lives of my friends are in danger.”
“The spirit must be desperate to send you in here without his help. What is it he wants from Actavian’s module?”
Deep in the recesses of his mind, a fire blazed brighter, signaling the ever-growing threat of retaliation. William thought carefully and chose to say nothing. Something inside of him was taking hold, and his intentions changed almost instantly. He raised the plasma pistol, pointing it at her head. Her eyes went wide with surprise as her breathing changed.
“Take me to Actavian’s chamber. If you make a word, I’ll kill you.”
Dr. Geier stared at him with fear almost like she couldn’t move. The doorway suddenly opened, and there stood the Septune Commander, Harvey Gilbert. He dropped his coffee cup and swiftly grabbed his pistol as glass broke on the steel floor. His hand moved to his jacket, pressing a tiny button. It beeped, signaling a silent alarm. William grabbed onto the doctor and produced a long knife from the swirling mass of souls in his palm; a small trickle of blood fell from her neck. Little by little, the darkness inside the gauntlet started to leak like frost onto the floor. His eyes grew black, and his hand started to shake.
“It seems this approach won’t do at all. Drop the gun, or I slit her throat.”
The crowds of soldiers and military personnel soon had the building surrounded, and more were arriving through the teleportation chambers outside the compound. Commander Gilbert lowered his gun to the ground.
“Dr. Alabaster, you don’t want to do this. We can help you.”
“You got it wrong, William Dante and I’ve come to plant the seeds of extinction,” he said as a hammer materialized in his hand. With the weapon in hand, William smashed it on the support beam in the center and at the outer wall. In a rush, the surrounding soldiers ran away from the building; many were crushed by the falling debris. Commander Gilbert called in for more reinforcements on the radio and chased after William. In a dead run, the crazed student bolted out of the central Sun core of the Septune Station and onto the street. The enormous strength and power flooding through his body allowed him to carry the screaming doctor with ease.
“Where is he? Where’s Actavian?”
“The Mars Sphere, but you’ll never get there.”
“We’ll see about that,” he said with a roar, dodging civilians as he entered one of the many districts surrounding the Sun core module. The station began to enter lockdown, sealing off all exits. William, too far gone, tried to perform a shift, but only got so far. Like a broken mirror, his mind started to fracture. Masses of people backed away as he stopped to look around. Soldiers approached him with guns at the ready. A military hovership landed in a courtyard. Harvey Gilbert jumped out, along with 20 other elite soldiers. They moved into position, blocking his path to the electric shuttle system just ahead. With long legs, dozens of towering Sentinels grouped around him. He tried to escape, but his every movement was being tracked by guided missile turrets attached to platforms rising from the concrete below him. Backed into a corner, he had nowhere to go.
Eighteen
Sunset off the Forlorn Coast
Hundreds of red and pink birds outstretched their wings and flew through the sky above the Awakened Ocean. Their feathers, razor sharp and hot to the touch, scorched the cold air circulating on the nearby hills. Schools of exotic fish swam in its emerald oceans; not one touched by the conflict brewing far above them. Miles and miles above in the sky hovered a monolith that appeared invisible with only flickering lights and bright ships buzzing around it. Like a beehive, the space station stood as a beacon of danger and power. Allen, renewed and full of energy, let go of the grand crystal. The sleeping land around them remained tranquil as the sun kissed the darkening horizon. He held his hand in the air and saw a vibrant blue crystal in the palm of the gauntlet. The stone was a perfect sphere just as beautiful as the white moon. To his surprise, his body felt stronger and his mind more alert and precise.
The small group watched as both he and Trevor walked away from the glowing rock towards them. Kaczmari, in a meditative state, commended them on their progress. The authority of Dazshra and his Therak’tow could now be challenged. I wonder what my parents and family would think if they knew we were now this planet’s only hope aga
inst a race of pseudo-humans? These Septunians, mostly integrated with augmentations and medical devices, have their vitals, blood pressure, and hydration all regulated by a system designed to keep them alive for hundreds of years; their synthetic eyes portray a look as empty as glass. With a single thought, a flame erupted in his hand and flickered with an orange glow.
“Allen, that is magnificent. How do you two feel?” Taiyah thought, watching as they met them near the river that flowed from the lake to the north.
“This feels…”
“This feels amazing. I feel like I could level a mountain. I’ve never felt so alive,” Trevor said interrupting Allen. His blond hair brushed against his shoulders as he flexed his muscles in front of them. Veins stuck out as he condensed his arms across his chest.
“Well, don’t let it go to your head. Have the muscles in your brain gotten any bigger?” said Allen with an outstretched smile.
“Very amusing, man. I gotta admit that you look pretty good yourself. Wanna see who’s stronger?”
“Both of you need to respect this power and your enhancements. Allen has already discovered what he can do, but I want both of you to hold out your hand,” thought Kaczmari.
Following her instructions, Allen and Trevor extended their hands out into the open, expecting something to happen.
“Now, with this power, you can generate weapons and tools of your choice with a single thought. When the crystal becomes a part of you, it spreads its energy throughout your body and mind. You are now stronger, faster, and more mindful. Concentrate and produce a human sword. Everyone stand back.”
Instantly, a broadsword and katana appeared in Trevor and Allen’s hand and pulsated with energy. Trevor swung it around in the air, causing Allen to step back. Quickly, he met his friend’s blade. A spark rolled off into the air. The two smiled and met the others challenge. Trevor gripped the broadsword and lifted it, winking as he brought it down to meet the katana. Allen swiftly retaliated and grinding the blade along the broadsword until a shower of sparks flew in the air. With a rapid swing, the katana missed its target as Trevor rolled out of the way. A new weapon materialized as he produced a mighty javelin. He threw it towards Allen, only to have it hit the ground beside him.
The Gauntlet of Possession (The Teracian Chronicles Book 1) Page 22