Atlas: Infinity Verge Trilogy: Book II (32 page)

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Authors: DJ Morand

BOOK: Atlas: Infinity Verge Trilogy: Book II

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“Hey,” Abel became defensive. “I was in a hurry to get off that rock and you were in trouble!”

“Speaking of which,” Echo changed the subject. “I specifically told you not to come for me.”

“So you’re saying I should have left you to die on that planet? With all those EXOs about?”

“No,” Echo conceded. “I’m grateful you came for me.””

Echo lowered her head. She could not help but think about her crew, her friends. She remembered Six’s sacrifice for her. Echo didn’t want to think about that. Those thoughts led back to the image of her swinging Six’s sword down like an executioner’s axe. Her mind filled with visions of blood, visceral, and her pained cries of rage. Echo knew she had been killing a monster, but the image of it was more than she wanted to relive.

Abel saw the look on Echo’s face and he stood up and went to her. Again, he put his hand on her chin and lifted her eyes to him, “Whatever you had to do,” he said. ““You did to survive. It’s best not to dwell on it.”

Echo nodded, but said nothing. The intercom flared to life. A series of squawks and beeps interspersed with the sound of a man’s voice.

“Captain Cain,” the voice came over the intercom.

“What the flak?” Abel began accessing his WritCom trying to override the signal. He received several lockout error messages.

“Captain Cain,” the voice said again. “So good of you to stop here, before involving others.”

“ADM,” Abel barked. “Shut down the comms! I’m locked out!””

“Recusant Response: I am unable to comply with your request sir,” ADM’s voice had taken on a tone of regret.. “The Systems are under remote control.”

“Flak!” Abel cursed. “Tee, start an active system scan! I need to know what we’re looking at! Now.”

“There is no need to curse Captain Cain,” the voice continued. “You are about to be boarded. I expect that you will come quietly, or--””

Abel interrupted, “Or what!?”

Abel motioned to his crew to gear up and prepare for a fight. Artemis adjusted the plasma pistol at his belt. Echo nodded to Abel indicating she was ready.

“Or we will be forced to destroy your vessel and everyone on board,” the voice finished.

“Who are you?” Abel barked.

“I am the Prime,” it said.

“The EXO Prime is dead!” Echo cried.

“Yes, Alek Vale is dead,” the Prime agreed. “However, the essence that is the EXO Prime lives on. It has forever been the intention of the Vald to create a supreme intelligence, a Prime if you will.”

“What does the Prime want with me?” Abel asked.

“You are the key,” the Prime said.

Abel and Echo looked at each other. Echo shook her head and mouthed no. Abel hung his head again. He adjusted the plasma pistols on his hip, “I am not coming peacefully,” Abel growled. ““What makes you think you can defeat us so easily?”

“Recusant Response: He had hijacked my code utilizing a backdoor built into all Quintarran nanites. I can be utilized to destroy the Atlas with little help from the Vald warship.”

“Flak!” Abel cursed. He addressed the Vald commander, “What guarantee do I have you won’t hurt those aboard my ship!?” Abel said.

“Abel no!” Echo put her hands on his shoulders.

“None other than my word,” the Prime said.

“Starboard docking ring, seven minutes,” Abel bit off the words.

“Agreed,” the Prime said and ended the communication.

“ADM,” Abel barked. “Lock down all comms. Tee help him out and find that flakking backdoor and nail it shut!”

“Confirmation: Affirmative Captain,” ADM said.

“On it,” Tee grimaced.

Echo took Abel’s face in her hands and stared hard into his eyes, “You can’t do this!”

“I have to,” Abel gently took her hands. “If I don’t we’’re all dead. Get to Eden, rally the people. Use the module in the cargo hold, it has gremlins, of a sort. They’re self-replicating. They can rebuild the derelict ships on the surface. The Vald aren’t going to stop. Your grandfather will be there, he will help you.”

Echo nodded and bit her bottom lip. She grabbed his face and kissed him passionately. She pushed her body against his and refused to let him go. After a long passionate moment she took a step back and grinned at the look on his face. Abel was surprised and completely flush.

“Also,” he said. “You’re not the only one.””

“What!?” Echo growled.

Abel burst out laughing, “Not the only half-Quintarran!” He explained pointing at Thomas Tee.

Echo nodded. She turned to look at the half-Quintarran comms specialist. She could see the subtle hint of blue in his skin and she smiled. Tee grew nervous and his eyes darted about. Echo saw the look and felt ashamed. People stared at her all the time and she recognized the same panic on Tee’ face again under her scrutiny.

Twice in the matter of minutes E, she chided.

“I’m sorry Tee,” she said. “We’’ll talk later.”

That seemed to ease his mind. She turned back to Abel, “You’ve been dropping secrets on me today,” she said exasperated.

“Sorry,” Abel said sheepishly.

“Don’t be,” Echo said. “I needed to know. By the way, who is Adam?””

“A D M,” Abel corrected. “He is an Automated Defense Matrix, I designed him … based on Zee’s nanite patterns.”

“I see. So he is an AI?” Echo asked.

“More than an AI,” Abel tried to explain. “He is Zee, in a way. The logical processes of Zee anyway. I built him from the scraps of Zee’’s nanite signature in my blood.”

“No one has ever done anything like that,” Echo said.

A loud clang indicated that the ship had been docked with. Abel turned to look towards the starboard docking ring, “they’re here.” He said. ““Don’t fight, get to Eden. Find Admiral Zed and repair the fleet.”

Echo nodded. “Don’t die.”

Abel smiled, “Who me?”

“Yes, I need you …” she let it hang.

“ADM, lock down navigation to Eden. My authorization, the Atlas is grounded until the ships on Eden are repaired and ready for a fight,” Abel said.

Echo punched him in the arm, “You son of a …”

“I had to,” Abel explained. “You would have come after me.”

“Damn right I would have!”

“See,” he said. Abel handed her a small device, it looked to be no bigger than a Writcom. “Use it to track me, it has my nanite signature. When you have a fleet, come and get me.”

Abel turned and left the command deck, “Don’t fight,” he called back.

34:
EPILOGUE

Eden - Independent ATLAS-V Class Gunship: Atlas

2973 ESD - Sunday, June 27th 06:00 hours

The Atlas reached Eden under backup power. The repairs needed were more extensive than Abel had realized. Echo tried as hard as she could, but she did not have Abel’s expertise when it came to machines.

ADM provided as much instruction as he was able to, but Echo did not trust the AI. Abel had said ADM was Zee, but she did not see it. The computer program was pure logic and a bit of quirky rebelliousness. That was not precisely how she remembered Zee. The kindness of the Quintarran was missing entirely.

Still, the AI had been a great help in restoring enough power for the Atlas to reach warp again. The second jump a few days later took them just inside the space near Eden. As he had said, Admiral Zed was waiting for them with a small part of the EFNF fleet. The Atlas docked with the Rear Admiral’’s ship, the Lady Luck and Echo met the only family she had left.

It was an emotional reunion for them both, but more so for Echo. Her experience was fueled by the emotion of losing her crew, Six, and Abel. The Rear Admiral - her grandfather - understood and allowed her space. The Atlas was repaired aboard the Lady Luck while Zed, Echo, Tee, and Artemis left in a shuttle bound for Eden. Echo had found the module Abel told her about and with Zed’s assistance they loaded it onto the shuttle.

Echo knew that Abel would not be safe unless she could complete her mission. She had not been lying when she said she needed him and she was sure he had not been lying either. Despite their differences, Abel and Echo were a team. Echo was determined to prove herself a valuable member of that duo.

The only thing she worried about now were the people of Eden and how they were going to receive a half-Quintarran. Especially, one who claimed she was there to save them. She kept the thought of Abel in her mind. His words to her and the emotion he showed would have to be enough to keep her going, he needed her.

Abel, Echo, and the crew of the Atlas will return in Book Three of the Infinity Verge Series: Ursidae

ATLAS-V: Aluminium-Titanium Laser Assisted Superluminal Vessel

EFNF: Exodus Fleet Naval Force

ESD: Earth Standard Date, replaces AD.

Ex/Exed: The act of being killed or transformed into an EXO

Flak: A generic curse used for numerous situations.

Glitched: Someone driven mad or acting irrationally due to nanite implants.

Husk: A person without Nanites

SATYR Suit: Survival Assault Tactical Yield Robotics Suit: Mechanical armor designed for close combat, needed to properly pilot a RAVEN vessel.

TP-D: Titanium Plated Destroyer

URSA GS: Ultra-capacitor Radiographic Strategic Assault Gunship

Vulture BAA-C: Board and Assault Courier, commonly referred to as Vulture Backs.