Grounding Gracus (First Wave Book 6) (26 page)

He walked inside and was a little stunned at the transformation in the place. The entire living room had been transformed into a command center. The furniture had all been pushed to the outside perimeter of the large room and there was now a conference table in the center of it, surrounded by chairs. A 3D image of the entire mountain range was displayed on the table.

The large screen TV, hanging above the fireplace was projecting a close up image of the cave entrance they had entered and the small hybrid team posted outside of it.

Rebecca looked around the room in amazement. She was still in shock over the ride in the UFO and this room didn’t do much to help her mind comprehend everything she was seeing. She watched curiously as a heavily pregnant Tricia moved through the people in the room towards her, towing an adorable but tired-looking Tristan behind her.

Rebecca hugged Tricia close for a moment before Tricia pulled away and looked at Rebecca with tears shining in her eyes. “I am so glad you are alright,” Tricia said.

Rebecca looked around. “Where’s Grai?” she asked, wanting to smack the big man for not telling her about this alien and hybrid crap a long time ago.

Tricia shook her head. “They are holding him and his team, hostage inside the cave. Another one of our hybrids, True Demetrios, is also missing inside,” Tricia said, still holding one of Rebecca’s hands.

Rebecca was stunned. “Is this what Tara meant by the men starting a war?” she asked, turning to Gracus.

Tricia sucked in a breath. “They are planning for war? What did you hear? Tell us everything!” Grai’s mate begged, pulling Rebecca and Gracus towards the table.

*****

Grai had no sooner noticed an odd smell in the cave when he and his men began dropping to the floor, passed out. He’d come to, moments ago, and found himself secured to a chair in a dark room. The darkness was so thick, even his enhanced vision could not detect anything around him.

He chuckled to himself and leaned his head back, taking stock of his body to see if he sustained any injuries. He had just finished realizing that he was perfectly fine, other than the restraints, when the door opened. Grai turned his head from the blinding light streaming through the door and looked up as the door closed and a more muted light remained on in the room.

If he wasn’t so pissed off, Grai would have been impressed by the pair of large men standing in front of him. One of which, he had no doubt at all, was Fiorn Erikson. The other man, who was a much younger, but perfect copy of Fiorn, was obviously his son.

Grai studied the two men as they studied him, each one looking for strengths and weaknesses as they assessed one another. Grai chuckled when Fiorn and his son began walking in different directions around him. Not to study him, but to intimidate.

“What do you find so funny, mutant?” Fiorn growled, his fists flexing as he held them behind his back.

Grai looked up into the man’s one blue eye, the other covered by a large black patch. “You think to intimidate me with childish tactics. I have to admit, I expected better than this of you, old man. I’m a little disappointed by the legend,” Grai said honestly.

Both men stopped walking around him and Fiorn moved to stand in front of Grai, leaning down, his face inches from Grai’s. “I couldn’t care less what you think of me, mutant,” Fiorn said with a snarl.

Grai chuckled again. “You can call me childish names all you want, it doesn’t change the fact that my mother was a victim of the Relians, captured from your planet at a time when you were supposed to be the
Supreme Guardian
of the place.
Your
failure to protect your people is the reason I exist. But, if you were really interested in the truth about me, I wouldn’t be restrained, now would I?” Grai said, knowing he was right and mocking Fiorn’s inability to protect his mother, so long ago.

Grai could feel the hatred pouring off of Fiorn in waves and he knew it had as much to do with his Valendran blood as it did his Relian. And he really didn’t care. He’d had enough of this pompous ass.

Fiorn laughed bitterly. “As if I would believe the words of a creature that comes from the two greatest lying species there are! Do you really think I give a damn that you are part Valendran?” Fiorn asked, laughing again.

Grai remained silent, knowing a response wasn’t necessary and that the blowhard was getting ready to vent. He was right.

Fiorn snorted. “The Valendrans are not much different. Hell, look around you, fool! I’m here because they left me here! They left all of us here to die because they are cowards! They have no honor!” Fiorn said, his anger turning his face red.

Grai rolled his head back dramatically. “Oh Wah! Wah, wah, wah. Grow the fuck up old man! Shit happens, in case you hadn’t figured that out yet! They made a damn mistake. So you intend to what? Kill them? To get even? Don’t you think your people and mine have better shit to do on this planet than that? Ever hear of a Dark Prime? Play with that bastard for a while and then we can talk about someone with real issues,” Grai said contemptuously.

Grai didn’t feel the least bit sorry for Fiorn. But, he did notice the look that passed between Fiorn and his son when he mentioned the Dark Prime.
Obviously, this fool didn’t know everything,
Grai thought with a grin.

Fiorn leaned down, face level with Grai, drawing his attention from his thoughts. “Mock me, mutant. Go ahead. I’m not the one in chains, that will die soon,” Fiorn said, his hatred causing him to tremble.

Grai laughed. “All you’ve done is pull my people from important missions, in order to deal with you and an ancient temper tantrum,” Grai said as he turned to look at the son, standing by the door.

Grai ignored the blustering old man and spoke to the son. “You really think this is the way to go? Cause from where I’m sitting, at least I can say I had the balls to walk away from my unreasonable bastard of a father. Hell, I was the one who killed him. Maybe you should think about this before innocent people get hurt over an ancient, emotional boo boo,” Grai said, noting the flare in Fiorn’s son’s eyes as he spoke.
Yeah, someone has daddy issues
, Grai thought, filing that away for later.

Fiorn’s fist flew out and connected with Grai’s face, jerking his head to the side. “Keep it up, mutant and I’ll vent all that emotional boo boo baggage on your face. Before I kill you!” Fiorn said, his face turning a bright red in his fury.

Grai casually looked around the old man until he could see his son and said, “He’s looking a little rough, maybe you should take him to MedLab? Because, I can’t imagine that any sane man would want to instigate a war among our people! To what end?”

Grai noted that the son looked away from him before Fiorn blocked the man from Grai’s view. “Instigate a war? You want to see an act of war you pathetic, mutant whelp? I’ll show you one,” the large man said, before his equally large fist connected with the side of Grai’s face again.

Grai ignored the blood exploding from his lip as he held his head high, refusing to give this man the satisfaction of breaking him. The man faced him again, his one eye glaring at him with a hatred Grai hadn’t seen since he’d last been ordered to his father’s side.

Grai didn’t flinch as Fiorn leaned down and spat, “You have no idea what we’re capable of and what we’re doing here. And you, are of no consequence. To anyone. Not anymore. And neither is anyone allied with you.”

Grai would have liked to have seen the look on the son’s face when Fiorn had said that. It would have given him a lot more insight into the dynamic going on here. Unfortunately, the large man made sure to stay in front of him. It didn’t matter, though, because Grai realized that the man in charge, Fiorn Erikson, was certifiably insane. He had to be in order to be willing to start a war that would have no winner and many losers. Including, the human race.

Grai decided to try another tactic, hoping something might click with the son since he had no hope of getting through to the father.

“So, we pit my hybrids against your hybrids and what? Make them kill their own? To what end? So, you can say you beat the Valendrans? Why now? You’ve known we were here, why kill them now? Because, we found a cave?” Grai asked.

Fiorn stalked around him again, giving Grai another chance to study the son. “Why now?” Fiorn yelled. “Because, I’m tired of dealing with the interference of you and the Valendrans, in my plans. And because you were dumb enough to knock on my front door and hand yourself over to me.”

Grai chuckled again. “You’re such a fool, old man. Because, if you think the hybrids will just start killing each other, you’re dumber than you look,” Grai said mockingly.

Fiorn punched him in the face again and Grai just grinned as the man spit and raged. “You have no idea what my people are trained to do! You’re the fool! And soon, you will be a dead fool!”

Grai looked up and stared into the blue eyes of Fiorn’s son as he spoke, “The conversion is coming, the humans and our own people are in danger. And the Prime have come, bringing with them a creature more dangerous than my father ever hoped to be. If you don’t stop this, everyone will die, because we are all that stands between the Dark Prime and the human race. That will be your legacy. World killers.”

Grai saw a brief flash in the eyes of Fiorn’s son before a series of powerful blows by Fiorn forced him into unconsciousness.

Epilogue

Rebecca looked around the room in amazement, unable to believe that there were so many others out in the world that were like her. She’d met Jax, who could talk to animals, crafters, psychics, fire starters, healers… her mind swam with it all.

What had surprised her the most was the feeling of family… like she belonged. Everyone she met, had treated her like a long lost friend, greeting her with hugs and welcoming words. And amazingly, they did all of it while preparing for war. Against their own kind, to get their own back. That part, just made no sense to her.

She and Gracus had told Tricia and the others everything that had happened the second they got to the cave. Even how Tara had helped them escape and had told them cryptically how there were others like her, who didn’t agree with what her commanders were doing.

That information had surprised everyone, but really didn’t do anything to change what was going on right now. She had asked, more than once, what she could do to help and Tricia had told her there was nothing she could do. So, she attempted to stay out of the way of all the people who were running around the place.

Gracus on the other hand, had walked up to Ivint, Scaden and Reven to report for duty. “Sirs, I’m ready for duty if you can get me a lift to the Adaria,” Gracus said.

He was a little surprised when the three men just stared at one another. He looked to Scaden who ran a hand through his hair before speaking.

“Yeah, Gracus… well there’s quite a few reasons for it… and not all of it has to do with your multiple vehicle crashes here on the planet, or the two flat spins you took during a drop… or even the accidental drug overdose…,” Scaden said, trying to find the words.

“You’re grounded, boy,” Reven said bluntly.

Gracus’s mouth dropped open in stunned shock. He’d never thought to hear those words until he was an old man. Not while he was in the early stages of his career! What the hell!

“Sir…,” Gracus began, looking at Ivint for why he was being grounded.

Ivint cut him off. “Don’t stress it, son. We have other plans for you. You will understand the reasoning later, but it is not something we will go over right now. What we need now, is more important than you being on that ship,” Ivint said, looking around to make sure they weren’t overheard.

Gracus looked curiously at Scaden and said through their private path on the Shengari’, “What’s going on?”

Scaden shook his head and answered, “We’re not saying anything through the Shengari’ either, in case Tricia or David has learned how to listen in like Lara does.”

Gracus nodded his head, understanding the secrecy the men were employing around the others. He could definitely get on board with it too. He was just as sick as the other men at the thought of what Tricia, Jax and David were planning to do. By themselves, with only the hybrids. And he knew damn well that Grai would kill them all for letting his pregnant mate put herself in any kind of danger. Gracus would feel the same way if it was Rebecca over there plotting with Jax and David.

He looked up as Rebecca walked over to him and he put his arm around her, holding her close as she looked up at him. “I feel so helpless and useless standing here doing nothing. I wish we could help,” she admitted quietly.

Ivint Torenson looked around the room, noting everything that was happening and who was doing what, developing his own plans as things progressed. He looked over at Gracus and Rebecca. “Don’t worry, the rest of us will be just as busy, the moment they leave,” he said cryptically.

*****

Tricia leaned over the table and pointed at the map with one hand while she rubbed her back with the other. Damn, if her feet hadn’t picked a bad time to swell, while the back spasms ran wild. She felt Tristan’s hand on her back and immediately the spasms stopped.

She leaned down to kiss her tired son. “Thank you, baby,” she said as she brushed his bangs out of his eyes.

When he started grunting at her and pointing to the table, Tricia laughed and stood. “I get it, I get it. We can cuddle later, after we get daddy.” She couldn’t agree with him more.

Gibly was walking on the table and pointed to the trail to the cave entrance. “They knew we were there. The energy told them,” Gibly said warningly.

That got Tricia’s attention. “So, that means we can use the same energy against them,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.

David turned to her, trying to figure out where she was going with this. “How do you mean?”

Tricia looked between David and Jax. “You felt it when we got here. The closer we are to the ley line, the more power I can feel rushing through me. And the baby feels it too,” she said, rubbing her anxious daughter.

David was still confused, even though he could also feel the energy rushing through his body. “But, how do we use it against them, if they’re using it to?”

Tricia sighed and shook her head. “I honestly don’t know yet. But, I’m going to find out when I get to that cave entrance. Are you guys ready?” she asked a stunned David and Jax.

David was getting ready to freak out when Tricia held up her hand. “Don’t even try it. Any of you,” she said as she looked around at the stunned and silent room.

When Ivint looked to speak she pinched her fingers together and his lips sealed against his will, as she faced the room. “I will not hear anything other than an affirmative response to what I ask and I’m not asking for anyone’s opinion. You can help me, or stand aside, but I will do what I have to do to get him back. To get them all back. And if you’d rather be the one to face my hormonal wrath, instead of the idiots holding my mate… then try me,” Tricia said.

When the room was still silent, of their own free will, Tricia leaned down to kiss her son. “Hey my little warrior. I need you to stay here while I go get…,” Tricia began, but Tristan began to freak out on her.

He bucked wildly back and forth against the chair, rocking so hard that Tricia was afraid he was going to hurt himself, and screaming and grunting the whole time as he pointed back and forth between him and his mother.

Tricia held him close as he calmed a little and Gibly walked over to her on the table top and grinned. “The little warrior wants to go,” Gibly said.

Tricia looked at the cat in surprise before she looked at her small, but very brave boy. “Oh baby… your daddy would be so proud of you. But, you need…,” Tricia began, but Tristan threw another fit.

Gibly chuckled while Tricia threw him a frustrated glare and tried to calm the boy again. It only made Gibly laugh harder. “If you want to take the energy from them, you must take the warrior,” Gibly said.

“What the hell does that mean?” David asked, getting frustrated over the situation.

Gibly sat at the end of the table, near Tristan and Tricia and smiled at the boy. “In the other realms, where the child lives, within his own mind, he is a king,” Gibly said, as if proud of the boy.

Tricia looked at the cat like he’d lost his mind. “But, in this one, he’s a small boy, who could get hurt just climbing the trail!”

Gibly cocked his head to the side and looked at Tricia curiously. “You see only the boy, trying to learn this world, while he exists in others. You need to try and see the warrior that thrives in those worlds, who is looking for a way to make you understand how to help him thrive in this one,” Gibly said, almost chastising her.

Jax snorted. “Damn Gibly, could you be any more vague!”

Ivint finally spoke up, “Alright, don’t you think this has gone far enough when you’re thinking of taking a five year old boy into a war?”

The room again erupted into verbal chaos, the shouting and opinions flying around the room in a heated rush as each side wanted their opinion heard on the matter. In the end… it didn’t matter. By the time everyone cooled down, it was too late.

*****

Tricia huffed up the last few steps of the trail and leaned forward to rest her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Damn, if the walk didn’t feel like it broke her back. And her feet!
Hell, those things were so big they could fit in clown shoes,
she thought with a sigh as she straightened up and took Tristan’s hand as Gibly trotted up to the entrance.  

Tricia walked right up to the hybrid’s that were currently guarding the cave entrance and immediately silenced and immobilized them, not in the damn mood for more protests. Instead, she walked around the entrance with Tristan, feeling the ebb and flow of the energy lines that were intersecting the area. The strands were much heavier and thicker here. Some strange… foreign. Others were more familiar. As if the strands to more than one place were using the same energy line.

Gibly smiled and said, “Now you understand.”

Tricia smiled at her son. “You knew didn’t you?” she asked, already knowing the answer before he nodded his head vigorously and grunted at the entrance.

Tricia stood and faced the cave entrance as she felt the disturbance in the air around them and looked up. From the other side of the mountain came ships. Ships that didn’t belong to their people. Tricia knew as she turned to see her own fighters descending from the sky behind her, that she would have one chance. One chance to save them all, or die with her son trying.

Tricia looked down at her little warrior, took his hand and whispered, “I love you, baby.”

Tristan, looked away from his mother, his free hand gesticulating wildly in the air, creating golden swirls of energy that stayed suspended for a few seconds before disappearing.

The little boy’s body began to vibrate as his hand began to move so quickly that Tricia was having a hard time following it. Moments later, he jerked away from his mother, ran to the entrance and placed his palms on the mountain.

Tricia began running to him as the rock began to crumble around his little hands and the mountain began to shake beneath their feet. It stopped the moment Tristan pulled his hands from the mountain, leaving the door open.

The little boy climbed over the pile of rocks and debris in front of the door and walked calmly inside the cave, his right hand furiously drawing symbols in the air as he walked, the lights coming on inside as he did. As Tricia, Gibly and a dozen Sibiox followed the boy inside, she heard a large crack and rumble from behind her. They broke into a run as the rock crumbled beneath their feet.

*****

Within the depths of that mountain, a very special, and powerful little boy, was proving why it was never a good idea to make assumptions about people, when you have no idea just what they may be capable of.