“Can you stand?” Connor said.
“I think so. You’ll need to help me,” she said as she struggled to balance herself. She used the central console as support and placed her hand on it, sending a wave of particles across the room. Every step she took resulted in similar waves.
“These people, these Septunians, want nothing more than to watch this world come to ruin like their once precious Earth. They lie, cheat, steal, and manipulate everyone around them, including you three. No matter what they claim, our kind will never change, and these Teracians don’t deserve to be brought down with them, even though they caused this to happen to me. That man you see over there is the real Actavian; a pathetic husk of a human that once had direction and convictions.”
“How do we know we can trust anything you say? Who are you?” said Allen.
“My name is Dr. Connor Alabaster, the soul forced to occupy both gauntlets you see before you. Unfortunately, you’ve already met my other half. What little I could offer as far as apologies couldn’t make a dent in your hearts. This is my daughter, Isabella. You know her better as Janice Geier, a quiet and nervous medical doctor. We are the Septunians dirty little secret, among other things. When we first landed on this planet, we were told stories of a new beginning for humanity; a fresh start where we wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes. Peaceful coexistence, Actavian called it. Not once did he mention the Quantum Infinity until much later. I was such a fool to believe in him.”
He walked over to the computer in the corner of the room and brought up a report. It started to play, and they all watched the events of the past on a large screen. A man stood next to a construction yard, watching the glorious station lift off the ground for the first time. The video kept playing as Connor spoke to them.
“The year was 2230 when the man you see before you took control of the world. Offering a global alliance and worldwide peace through a military force that oversaw all the countries on the planet. This prolonged harmony brought with it a new age of humanity where we started to excel in every area of science, economics, and much more. Then came the limitation. The population continued to grow as the average age increased past 300. Earth started to run out of resources; with that came heightened conflict and eventually wars. We were back to square one, you could say. A global decree limited the birth rate to one child per family. To keep this short, things were fine up until 2535, when the Delta plague hit. People blamed a growing resistance for its release, but it was Actavian’s regime that implemented it. Over 9 billion people lost their lives during the next 65 years. Resources were running out, and Actavian’s hold on the planet had crumbled. His only hope to sustain his power was what scientists were calling the Quantum Infinity; a massive amount of energy that could bend reality and life on the molecular level to the user’s will. The Quantum War lasted 100 years before the planet was decimated. It started and ended with William Dante’s Delta Survivors and Actavian’s private military.”
“That can’t be possible,” said Anya.
“Because this isn’t the same universe. They pulled you all from a separate reality and brought you here. The William Dante in this universe is an entirely different person.”
“Are versions of the rest of us in this universe as well?” said Allen.
“Yes, but they didn’t leave Earth. They most likely died from the fallout centuries ago. There was a theory that Allen and William made it aboard the ship, but those are just stories. That’s enough ancient history for now. This station may not last much longer if the Larak’tow breakthrough.”
Noticing the body of the young major and their friend, Anya covered her mouth. “Please tell me you didn’t kill Commander Sorehn?”
“He tried to subdue me, but I only rendered him unable to fight by disabling his body’s muscular augmentations. Take him with you if you prefer. Once we destroy these gauntlets, Dazshra will become harmless and can be dealt with accordingly.”
“Is there a chance we could return to our Earth? Is all of this going to happen in our timeline too?” said Trevor as the station continued to withstand the attacks.
“There is a very high chance that you four can return home. The condition of this world will only happen if you let it happen. In this universe, you all had a hand in sculpting the world like it is. Maybe in your world circumstance will be differnent. I’ll agree to give you what’s left of your friend and his body back. I only required one of these androids. Transferring memory and consciousness is a complicated procedure, but I believe if we can get out of here we can…”
Connor grabbed his head and gripped onto it as the searing pain surfaced once again. He fell to his knees and started to grind his teeth. Blood ran from his head as he sunk his nails into his scalp.
“Father, what’s happening? Please, let me help you.”
He suddenly lashed out at her. “Once we’re free of this place, the Septunians will die like the dogs they are.”
As the two entities bounced around in his mind, the three students took aim and prepared for Dazshra’s attack. The man let go of his head, and a crazed look replaced the agony on his face.
“Hello, friends. Anya, you look lovely today. I see Brenda couldn’t make it. That bitch doesn’t belong here anyway.”
“What the fuck have you done to him?” said Anya with a scream.
“You scream at me again, and I’ll impale that pretty little body of yours.”
Allen shifted in front of her.
“I see now what’s been going on here. That Teracian whore not good enough for you, Allen? You have to steal my property from me too?”
With tears forming in her angry blue eyes, “Why are you talking like this Will? What’s happened to you?”
With a sudden ferocity, William sent out a wave of energy, knocking them onto the floor. He was on Allen instantly. A black knife materialized from the gauntlet. Allen had little time to react and countered the blade. Trevor jumped up and tackled him, but was slammed down to the floor before he could make a mark. Anya hesitated as he circled around to her. She dropped her guard as William changed his tone.
“Anya, it’s gonna be alright. It’s me, William. That locket around your neck is beautiful. I only wish your mom could see it on you now.”
He approached her and saw that her emotions were running wild. Her skin trembled to his touch. He had her right where he wanted her. Gripping her neck, he ripped the family heirloom off. The sharp point pricked his hand as he threw it across the room. She trembled in front of him. With a swift punch, she fell to the ground.
“Don’t tell me this is all you guys have. Who knew I was surrounded by such weak friends.”
Raising both of his hands into the air, a fury of black tentacle-like arms came from his body. They oozed with black ink that covered the floor. Before he poised the sharp tendrils to strike, a plasma beam hit him in the back and exploded on impact. Five more collided into William from a tall man with a clean-shaven face. The bright red scar across his face ended on his cheek. Around him was a burned phantom suit with scratches and missing pieces of armor. It held on by a thread.
“That’s enough. I won’t let you hurt anyone else as long as I’m alive.”
“Akira, you’re safe,” Isabella said as she ran to her husband and hugged him deeply, “The spirit’s consumed him. Please, you have to save my father.”
“You don’t know how hard it was being near you, knowing that you weren’t yourself. I’ve missed you.” He said, embracing her. “You three. Get Isabella out of here and return to the ship.”
“We’re not leaving him. Too much time’s been spent trying to get him back,” said Allen as he steadied himself.
Raising his voice, “Don’t’ you fools see what’s going on? There’s no stopping him now that he has the other gauntlet. We can only hope to contain him like we did before. Get out of here now!”
A blast consumed the northern wall of the Mars sphere as a group of ravenous beasts entered the room. Hunched over and toweri
ng above them, they shook their heads with fatigue and looked around the module. Everyone stood silently as the war-torn bodies of the Larak’tow marched around the chamber. William stirred and got up. One approached him and roared with a high pitch wail. Behind them, a squad of soldiers rushed in with black suits and plasma shields surrounding their bodies. One of them lowered his helmet and yelled an order.
“Fire at their bellies!”
A barrage of plasma bullets collided with the Larok’tow as they charged after the squad, ripping a soldier off her feet and into the air. With a mighty slam, they smashed her body to the floor. Everyone retreated back to the other side, save for William, who smiled at the carnage in front of him.
“Major Fawley, bring in the Plasmacide Cannon.”
“Yes, sir, Supreme Commander Miller.”
The soldier left and returned with a monstrous weapon on his shoulder. It charged in seconds and shot a red liquid at the Larak’tow. “Direct hit and Ostermeyer said it wouldn’t work,” said the major, laughing as the cannon recharged.
They stopped dead in their tracks as the corrosive fluid was absorbed into their thick hides. The battle was over as their skin melted off into a pool of blood. Falling to the floor, they disintegrated into a steaming puddle.
Miller stepped over the puddle, making sure not to touch the burning remains. Standing in awe, William watched as the ground steamed. A small chip was placed on his neck by Major Fawley, and he collapsed to the floor.
“Well, that takes care of that. Dr. Geier, please come with me. You’re needed back at Saturn.
“Stay away from me,” she said.
Etzel protected her, watching as Miller got within inches of his face.
“Inquisitor, this wasn’t part of the plan. Isabella will be put back to sleep. Round up what remains of Allen and his group and detain them.”
Connor, regaining control of his body, watched from the ground, helpless to intervene.
“Stop this, Miller. Haven’t Isabella and I suffered enough?”
Miller pulled out a pistol and shot him in the head. The bullet seared him with pain, making it hard not to pass out.
Uncertain of what do to, Anya and the rest of her friends stayed quiet.
Raising his arm to his face, a small light flickered on, “Attention Septunian Fleet and its citizens. I, your Supreme Commander Kreg Miller, have killed the threat known as Dazshra and saved the station from certain destruction. The remaining Teracian forces will be dealt with in due time. Please remain in your homes until further notice.”
The squad of soldiers picked up Sorehn and walked him outside of the sphere. A seasoned medical transport hovered near the cavity in the wall. Trevor resisted, and they detained him without mercy, kicking him to the floor.
“Major Fawley, please return with the rest of my squad to the Earth sphere for the address to the public. No formal trial will be necessary for William Dante.”
Fawley saluted and dragged the unconscious body of Commander Sorehn onto the ship, leaving Miller alone with the rest.
The ship blasted off, and the room returned to silence. Miller looked at each of them and then to Etzel. He reloaded his pistol and handed it to him.
“These three are allied with the Teracians. We can’t have an uprising when we take full control of the planet. Kill them all.”
Connor watched Etzel point the gun directly at Allen’s face. Anya yelled for the inquisitor to stop, but he didn’t seem to listen. He pulled out another pistol from his pocket and pushed it into her skull.
“I might just save this one for my own amusement. Better kill the other one.”
He switched his aim to Trevor and prepared to fire. A single shot went off, and the Supreme Commander fell to the floor. The bullet entered and exited the side of his head, but he was still alive. With his last dying breath, he pointed the gun at Isabella and fired.
“See you in Hell, Akira. I doubt your bitch will join you.”
Something snapped in William’s mind. No longer was Connor able to keep the rage at bay, and his vision turned red. With a yell of agony, Etzel ran to Isabella and held her in his arms. She coughed, and blood left her lips. Her eyes became swollen and tears formed in her ducts.
“Akira, please don’t leave me. I’m scared.”
“I’ll never leave you. Never.”
“Is my father alright? He’s waiting for me to return to him. Everyone is waiting for me to return. I hope they aren’t disappointed.”
“No, of course not. Everyone’s glad you could make it. Your father is fine,” he said, lying.
“That’s good. Akira. I…I…”
For a brief moment, Connor Alabaster gained his mind back and was able to crawl to her. He wiped the blood away from his head and knelt down next to his daughter. Her body was still, and the blood that ran down her stomach continued to pour.
“This isn’t happening. She finally comes back into our world, and this is what happens. She didn’t deserve this.”
“I promise you this, Connor. No matter what happens to you, I will use everything in my power to avenge her and restore your mind.”
“That’s noble of you, Akira. I wouldn’t worry about me at the moment. I can’t hold him back any longer. You’re all in danger.”
With that, Connor was gone; buried in the dark recesses of William’s mind as corruption consumed him. Etzel hurried over to Trevor and broke the cuffs off his wrists. He took out his plasma rifle and had them back away, watching William’s body convulse and stammer out of control. The black swelling mass of tendrils and dripping slime leaked out of his back and grew larger as the seconds ticked away.
“We need to reach William before he’s lost to us. Remove those gauntlets any way necessary, and we might break the hold.”
Observing William, they all generated weapons and Etzel released a plasma barrier around them. With a sudden fit of rage, electricity circulated from William’s arms and scattered all around the ceiling; the Mars sphere became pitch black, and the only sound in their ears was heavy, disorganized breathing. With a click, the red energy lights turned on and bathed them in a menacing glow. Muttering like a maniac, Dazshra gained control.
“Isabella. Isabella. Isabella, they took you from me. Isabella, you can’t be gone. No. No. No. You four did this. Isabella, you four right there. You did this. You did this, and now you’ll pay!”
With breakneck speed, he sprinted at them and shot wave after wave of energy, bouncing it off the shield, but destroying all the equipment nearby. With blades in each hand, he sliced at Allen and then at Trevor. Both times, they reflected his attack; only barely.
Gonna kill them all. Isabella isn’t dead. She can’t be dead. Gonna kill them. Gonna kill them. Gonna rip their hearts out!
“Anya, watch out,” said Trevor as Dazshra kicked her to the ground and stabbed the knife into her armor. Energy traveled up the knife and set his gauntlet ablaze. The suit’s defense system stopped any further assaults and only hurt him as he attempted to break through. She swung a hammer at him, and he jumped out of the way. Trevor followed with an energy blast. He heaved with adrenaline as his body started to heat up. Screaming into the air, a thick splatter of the ink-like substance coated the armored vessel in the center of the room, and he continued to vomit the substance. They all shielded their eyes as the Septune’s A.I, Krysanthe, emerged in front of them.
“Anomaly detected attempting to harm the Omega Android. Module defense systems online.”
Dazshra struck her, and she fell to the floor like a flood of sparks. Reappearing again, she activated the security system with turrets coming out of the wall. The lights returned on with a blinding intensity, and they began to fire on all of them.
Trevor jumped back behind the shield, letting it absorb the laser fire. Dazshra slid under a table and ran along the wall. Black tentacles latched onto each turret and destroyed them all at once. Sparks and fire crept down and set the oak desk on fire. Forcing them to scatter, the plasma shie
ld disintegrated.
They all tried to stay together, but Dazshra separated them. Fighting them all at once, he materialized two axes from both gauntlets and swung them. Etzel intervened and shot plasma bullets at the fiend.
You’re done, Etzel.
He came at the inquisitor and pounded all the black arms into him at once. The armored man hit against the wall and yelled out in pain. Distracting the monster, Trevor materialized an energy ball and chucked it his way. Dazshra, angry and confused, turned around, leaving Etzel to crawl away. Trevor and Anya got in front of Allen as Dazshra jumped at them. Allen lunged forward, and his sword scratched a section of Trevor’s armor.
“Sorry. Anya, behind you.”
Anya ducked and missed an ax swing to the head. “William, stop this. Come back to us. This isn’t you. You’re letting it control you. Come back to us before it’s too late.”
With a side kick, Anya and Trevor tripped and fell to the floor. Gripping his arm, Dazshra dragged Allen to the wall and prepared to strike. With quick thinking, Allen held out his hand and closed his eyes. As the ax blade hit him, it disappeared, and the gauntlet in the spirit’s left hand cracked down the middle. He dropped Allen and shrieked as he held onto his arm.
“What did you do? How is this possible?”
With insanity peaking in his eyes, Dazshra rushed at him again but was stopped in midair. Allen, with his arm outstretched, closed his eyes and time stood still.
“Leave him!”
Through a flicker across space and time, Allen’s gauntlet turned dark purple, and William began to scream. With a single hand motion, Dazshra was pulled out of William and swirled in the air as a gray ball of gas. William fell to the floor and coughed up blood. His chest started to heave as he looked up at them. Allen held his stance and kept Dazshra at bay.
“Allen, I can’t take this anymore. Get these gauntlets off of me. Anya, please help me.”
“Allen, how did you do that?” said Anya.
“I don’t have time to explain. Teleport him out of here.”
“Right.”
The Gauntlet of Possession (The Teracian Chronicles Book 1) Page 26