Keep Your Friends Close

by N. D. Roberts

  Keep Your Friends Close

  The Kurtherian Endgame™ - Out Of Time Book One

  ND Roberts

  Michael Anderle

  This book is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2019 N.D. Roberts and Michael Anderle

  Cover by Andrew Dobell, www.creativeedgestudios.co.uk

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  Interior Images by Eric Quigley

  Interior Images © LMBPN Publishing

  This book is a Michael Anderle Production

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact support@lmbpn.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, September, 2019

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-64202-446-3

  Print ISBN: 978-1-64202-447-0

  The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2015-2019 by Michael T. Anderle and LMBPN Publishing.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Author Notes - N.D. Roberts

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Books By Michael Anderle

  Connect with Michael Anderle

  Keep Your Friends Close Team

  Thanks to our Beta Readers:

  Diane Velasquez, Dorene Johnson, USNR, and Timothy Cox

  Thanks to the JIT Readers

  Dave Hicks

  Dorothy Lloyd

  Misty Roa

  Peter Manis

  John Ashmore

  Deb Mader

  Micky Cocker

  Diane L. Smith

  Jeff Eaton

  James Caplan

  Larry Omans

  Jackey Hankard-Brodie

  If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know!

  Editor

  Lynne Stiegler

  Dedication

  For the children we all are in our hearts.

  — Nat

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  —Michael

  1

  Devon, The Hexagon, Private Elevator

  “There’s a vault down here, and a lab? When was all of this even built?” K’aia shifted her weight onto her back legs and craned around Michael’s shoulders to get a view of the elevator panel.

  Her expression grew more suspicious at the lack of buttons to press. “There’s no indication in the security manual that the floor we’re going to exists.”

  “Take it easy, K’aia,” Michael cautioned gently. “This part of the Hexagon is completely isolated from network command and CEREBRO.”

  “ADAM is the only digital entity with access besides Eve,” Bethany Anne confirmed. She chuckled at the young Yollin’s gaping mandibles. “All the better to hide you all from those who wouldn’t think twice about using you four to get to us.”

  “Some of whom include Tu’Reigd’s family,” Michael reminded them. “Do not forget that. The only thing that swayed us from choosing the High Tortuga base was that the vault is comparably secure.”

  Bethany Anne nodded in agreement. “More, if you consider all the extras we had Eve put in. There is nothing more precious to us than you,” she told all four solemnly. “We would go to any lengths to keep you safe while we fight for Qu’Baka’s freedom.”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes reflexively. “We should be going with you, not hiding in an underground cell.”

  Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. “It’s hardly a cell. You will be in the gameworld, which, and please correct me if I’m wrong, is your favorite place to be.”

  Gabriel shrugged, his disappointment clear in his posture. “In my downtime, yeah. There’s only so far Vid-doc training goes. We’ll still have to spend time syncing our bodies with our neurological gains when we get out.”

  Michael understood his son’s disappointment. “Wait until you get into the training program before you decide where you would rather be. Alexis, you especially will be intrigued by the mechanics of the gameworld.” He smiled at his daughter’s interested expression, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Your curiosity about the nano-curtain technology is about to be satisfied.”

  Alexis smiled pensively. “I appreciate that, Dad. But I don’t have to like that you and Mom sprang this on us with no warning.” The unexpected family dinner after the gala had distracted her and Gabriel both, and this morning their mother was walking an emotional tightrope that she and her brother were in perfect agreement they had no wish to trip. “You could tell us what scenario we’re heading into.”

  Bethany Anne lifted her hands. “There wasn’t much time to get everything ready. Eve has prepared a briefing for you.”

  Alexis shared a furtive glance with Gabriel, then aired her concern. “Is this our punishment for trashing the Izanami?”

  Michael smiled, placing a hand on each of the twins’ shoulders. “The punishment for hijacking your mother’s favorite ship and crashing it is that the two of you will remain here instead of accompanying us to Qu’Baka as planned.”

  Gabriel folded his arms and leaned against the wall in sullen silence.

  Bethany Anne’s tolerance for sulking usually ran in the minus. This was different. “ADAM, stop the elevator.” She took Gabriel’s shoulder and turned him to face her. “Dammit, when are you going to stop getting taller? Listen carefully. This started out as an object lesson, but not because we were angry with you.”

  She looked Alexis and Gabriel in the eyes. “You’re not little kids anymore. I get that. But you are not adults. Far from it. You could have been killed just feet from my position, and there would have been nothing I could do to save you.”

  “You were trapped inside that factory!” Gabriel found the denial leaving his mouth before he knew it was coming.

  Alexis was quick to agree. “I’m sorry, Mom, but what were we supposed to do?”

  Bethany Anne held up a finger to cut off the twins’ protests. “You were supposed to remain on Devon like your father and I told you to. Hmmm?” Her face softened slightly at their hangdog expressions. “I know you acted, thinking you had to save me. It was noble, and I’m proud of you for having the courage. But it wasn’t necessary. You are not ready to be out there with us, and we nearly lost Izanami because of it.”

  Neither of them could argue with that.

  “I want us all to be crystal-clear on this.” Bethany Anne waved a finger to include K’aia. “This is the conclusion of your education. It’s not a game. You are not being distracted while we ‘take care of the adult stuff.’ We are providing the four of you the opportunity to live. To grow, and make choices of your own. That’s something we and Mahi’ believe has been denied to y
ou all because of your status as our children.”

  “This is your chance to make those choices without the consequences affecting the lives of millions,” Michael clarified. “That’s a luxury few in your position are afforded. ADAM, let’s get this over with.”

  K’aia gazed up wistfully when the elevator started moving again. “I’m not destined to lead anyone, thankfully, but that’s life. You go where it takes you, even if that’s into a freaking video game for the next six years.”

  “We would not separate the four of you for any amount of time,” Michael told her. “It is already hard enough to leave you behind.”

  Alexis almost broke into sobs at the uncharacteristic display of emotion from her father, but she kept her peace. Separation was difficult for all of them as a family, but when their parents had a war to win, there was no justification for making it worse.

  Still, Alexis was in an elevator she hadn’t known existed, heading deeper below the Hexagon than she had known was possible. She felt like a little girl on her first day at school, which made the realization that the next time she used this elevator, she would be an adult woman all the more jarring. When they got out of the Vid-docs, the fight for Qu’Baka would be over, and Trey would leave to rule his people.

  Gabriel reached out over their mental link to comfort Alexis, his own grumbles seeming somewhat shallow to him after brushing up against his sister’s turmoil. It’s only a few years in game-time. We know we’re coming home at the end, and by then, there won’t be any reason for us to stay back when Mom and Dad go out to fight.

  Alexis smiled, appreciating his effort. I know, but Trey’s our friend. I feel like we should be doing more to help him get his home back.

  I’m pretty sure we’re gonna find out Trey feels the same way when we get to the vault, Gabriel assured her. He supposed some might think it a curse to know how others were feeling, but he considered it a blessing to have the ability to brighten his sister’s perspective with a thought. This is what we’ve got to work with, and we have to at least try to be okay with it.

  I know, Alexis conceded. Suck it up; you’re right. Mom’s not finding this easy at all. We can’t make it worse for her.

  Bethany Anne wasn’t blind to the mixed emotions coming from Alexis and Gabriel. She pulled them to her and pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads in turn. “I’m going to miss you both. I know it won’t be as long for us as it will be for you, but you can message us as much as you want.”

  “What about the time dilation?” K’aia asked. “Won’t that mean a crap-ton of messages every time you check? How about real-time interactions like vid-calls?”

  “Eve fixed the dilation problem ages ago.” Alexis wrapped her arms around Bethany Anne and squeezed. “I’m going to miss you, Mom.” She let go and turned to hug Michael. “I’m going to miss you too, Dad. It feels like we’re leaving home.”

  Michael cleared his throat, suddenly finding it difficult to speak around the lump that had formed there at the thought of his children living their own lives, separate from him and Bethany Anne. “In a way, I suppose you are. It is natural for a person coming of age to strive for room to grow.”

  Bethany Anne held back her tears. She wiped her eyes with a sniff. “Your father is right. It’s time for us to let go and allow you to find out for yourselves what you want from life.”

  Alexis dived into Bethany Anne’s arms, unable to bear seeing her mother caught between pride and the pain of parting. “I’m going to write and call every day if we can. I promise.”

  The elevator came to a stop, much to everybody’s relief.

  Michael exchanged wry glances with Bethany Anne as the door opened. “Consider this an adventure out of time,” he told them as the door opened. “We’ll be right here waiting for you.”

  They left the elevator and headed for where Trey was waiting in the corridor. For all his six feet of wiry muscle, he still managed to broadcast his nervousness.

  It was a sentiment shared by all four of them.

  They followed in a half-daze while the adults talked and walked them through the vault to the Vid-doc chamber in the back.

  Alexis inspected the equipment she was shown without taking any of it in. She would remember it all later, when her emotions had settled. At that moment, her mind was on what the next six years would hold for her and the others.

  The goodbyes were over all too quickly, as was Eve’s briefing before their immersion. All four could have been watching an episode of Devon’s Defenders for all they retained of it.

  Alexis blinked away sudden tears when it was time to get into the Vid-docs. She smiled when she felt K’aia’s hand touch her shoulder.

  K’aia nodded toward the Vid-doc shaped for her four-legged body. “See you in there.”

  Trey hugged his mother, taking in every detail of her face to make sure he didn’t forget what she looked like. “I will make you proud, I swear it.”

  “I am already proud of you,” Mahi’ replied. Her voice was scratchy with emotion. “Be safe, my son.”

  Alexis swallowed her emotions and dashed between Bethany Anne and Michael for one last hug. “I'm going to miss you. I’ll call as soon as we can.”

  Gabriel waited for Alexis to say goodbye to their father and mother before going to them. He met his mother’s dark, sad eyes and found it impossible to say the actual word. He hugged Bethany Anne quickly. “See you in six years. Good luck on Qu’Baka.”

  K’aia waited for the others to say their farewells before shaking the adults’ hands and wishing them luck with the battle ahead. “I’d better be going with you for the next one,” she joked before climbing into her Vid-doc.

  Bethany Anne spoke some final words of wisdom as they got settled on the neural mats.

  “This is the first step of the rest of your lives. When I was young, people left home and had their coming of age out in the world. Some went to college, and others joined the military. Some found the path less traveled and got lost to find themselves. We can’t give you that and keep you safe from our enemies. ”

  She blinked away tears as the Vid-doc lids closed on her children. “This is your world to claim. Make the most of it.”

  Bethany Anne’s words echoed as their minds were transferred to the gameworld.

  All at once, their avatars manifested, suspended in...

  Nothing.

  Alexis wrinkled her nose at the conclusion her senses came to. “Well, there can’t just be nothing. There must be something.”

  Gabriel waved his hand in front of his face. “We’re here. That’s not ‘nothing.’” He tried all the usual ways to interact with the gameworld. “Mom and Dad weren’t kidding about us being on our own. I can’t find any menus.”

  K’aia grunted in consternation. “There’s no up or down! Your menus can wait. Where’s the gravity?”

  Trey growled in alarm at the way his fur floated up to stand on end. “Why isn’t Eve here? She should be here, right?”

  Gabriel was wondering the same thing. “Some light would be stellar, for a start.”

  The empty space beneath their feet became solid the same instant the space above them revealed its endless layers of sparkling stars.

  The starlight spilled over a Salvadorian landscape, revealing the ground beneath the platforms they each stood on to be no more than a translucent two-dimensional line grid hovering on an improbable axis in the space between galaxies.

  Alexis knelt to investigate what held their platforms a breath above the shimmering lines, then got to her feet, her curiosity piqued by finding nothing to connect any of their platforms to the extraordinary grid. “Don’t move,” she warned the others. “There’s no saying we can’t die here, and that looks like the kind of death you’d want to avoid.” She glanced at the churning event horizon ringing the black hole at one end of the grid and shuddered.

  Very astute, Alexis, Eve’s voice came from all around them. But the game has not yet begun, and you cannot die here.

&nb
sp; They froze on the spot, searching for the source of Eve’s voice—and hopefully some guidance on beginning the program.

  Look up, Eve told them not unkindly.

  She laughed at the reaction when all four looked up and saw her smiling at them out of the stars.

  Alexis forgot about the impossible physics; her attention was on the display in the inky darkness above. “Oh, my…”

  “The stars,” Trey breathed. “They look just like Eve!”

  The twinkling points of light glowed increasingly brighter as they rearranged themselves and formed Eve’s avatar.

  Trey threw up an arm just before the starlight became too much for his unenhanced eyes to take.

  The Eve-made-of-starlight dimmed a few million lumens as she glided gracefully from the heavens to float in front of the platforms.

  K’aia threw a skeptical glare Eve’s way. “Okay, what’s going on? Why are we here?”

  “Where is here?” Trey added. “It doesn’t look anything like I expected.”

  Eve smiled serenely. “All in good time.”

  Alexis threw up a hand to indicate their surroundings. “Eve, you have to tell us something. Your briefing gave us barely anything to go on, except that we’re supposed to have this realer-than-reality experience. Standing around on the Y-axis isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence for me.”