Shadows Bear No Names (The Blackened Prophecy Book 1) (31 page)

Chapter FORTY-FOUR

LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS

Reverend Marcus leaned on the table, inspecting the markings on the three Arinar
they had. Neither the old expert nor the technical team could find anything that suggested tampering or a trap on the third stone and Admiral Conway decided to go forth with the work on the stones.

Brother Cavil paced around the meeting room, murmuring to himself the teachings of his father, earning himself an angry stare whenever he remembered something wrong, blushing like a timid child. Ray thought it also had something to do with Cavil losing his focus whenever he passed the decorative plant in the room, trying to control his urge to prune the thing.

“So, Ga’an, you said the Baeal said something about coming home when you were fighting them,” he turned to face the tall alien.

“That is correct, priest,” Ga’an nodded.

“Admiral Conway said the same thing,” Brother Cavil stopped and scratched his head. “I cannot explain the time factor, but I believe Baeal are of Earth origin.”

Ray rolled his eyes. “How so? After all, we didn’t see them trying to protect a planet that
very much
looked like Earth.”

“Stop your sarcasm and bear with me for a moment, son. Well, first of all, we know for a fact Ga’an’s people were on Earth before us,” Brother Cavil said, earning a confirming nod from the tall Ancient. “Second, we know of some ancient writings found on Earth and around in our galaxy that predate the human race.”

“And Ga’an said there were old relics found in excavations before their time,” Sarah jumped in. “Did Baeal leave those artifacts behind?”

“It is probable,” Brother Cavil answered. “I am no expert on geology or biology, but the planet is billions of years old. The earliest species we count as the origin of homo family is about two million years old and the oldest connection we can tie them to is like, what, ninety million years?”

“That Baeal told Ray this plane was untouched. So, doesn’t that mean they were never here before?” Sarah reasoned.

Brother Cavil shrugged. “I cannot explain that, but the Baeal are plane dwellers, they come and go. Perhaps they were here at some point, prospecting for a new home.”

“Don’t you think by now someone would have figured out that the history of our planet was wrong?” Sarah asked, folding her arms.

“Who knows.” Brother Cavil shrugged. “We are talking about a species that believed the Earth was flat not too long ago. In any case, even if they are not originally from Earth, they were there at some time or perhaps, it was their home in an alternate reality.”

“Alternate reality?” Ray raised an eyebrow.

Brother Cavil shrugged. “I am a priest, not a scientist. You should ask one of the science types on board the ship.”

“Okay, I remember this,” Sarah said, narrowing her eyes. “Something called a mega verse. No, wait,” she hummed a moment, “a multiverse!”

“Well, either science or mythology.” Ray looked out the observation window in the meeting room they’d holed up in after the incident on the bridge with fake Matthews. “That’s a debate for academics, assuming there will be some left after this.” He watched the white and blue waves of light passing as the super-dreadnought travelled in hyperspace.

“My ignorant children”—Reverend Marcus looked up from the old magnifying lens he’d pulled from one of his pouches—“these writings are older than my friend Ga’an here. That, I can confirm.”

“Anything useful besides their age?” Ray asked.

“They all say the same thing,” Reverend Marcus said, scowling. “The Lohil will complete the circle and activate the lock. The dialect is somewhat different from the usual Nucteel language, but I am quite certain of my translation.”

“Talk about being cryptic,” Sarah yawned. “Anyway, I’ll take a nap, it’s been hours since we last slept. Captain Samir’s team will go after the Arinar on Earth. Admiral Conway asked me to join them when we complete the jump.”

Ray looked disapproving.

“What, Ray? I want to be useful. You guys are doing what you have to do here. I’m trained to use weapons and know enough protocol to follow orders. I’ll be fine.”

Ray took a deep breath. “You’re right. Go on, rest.”

“Let me know when you’ve found something,” she touched Ray’s arm and smiled, leaving the room.

Brother Cavil winked both his eyes at Ray, grinning, watching Sarah leave.

“What!” Ray frowned.

“Nothing,” the old man giggled.

“The Mara’tthane is destroyed,” Ga’an said, not understanding—or ignoring—their exchange. “Perhaps the lock will not work.”

“Maybe,” Ray nodded, ignoring the still-grinning priest. “Still, we need to try. Perhaps the other stones will do something useful.”

“It may be so, Raymond Harris,” the tall alien didn’t sound too confident of victory. “Admiral Conway requested my presence on the bridge.” He saluted the old men and Ray, taking his leave.

Their debate about how to activate the stones in unison continued for another hour or so, only coming to a stop after Reverend Marcus mumbled something about his favorite soup.

“All right, you two stay here,” Ray stood up, stretching his aching muscles. “I’ll bring some food. We could all use a break anyway.”

He left the room, saluting the two guards at the door and made his way for the cafeteria two decks below. He’d been ignoring the kitchen on their level since the elder man tried to
educate
the cook with garden thyme. One of the guards—Private Meadows—escorted him. After Commander Matthews turning an imposter of the original, a Cosmon Brotherhood saboteur caught on board and the possibility of an intruder coming on board with CTC
Birdie
, Admiral Conway had assigned permanent escorts to the group. Especially Ray. Not that Ray fooled himself even for a second that he or the young woman accompanying him would be able to stop Agent Caius killing them both. Still, it was somewhat of a relief to know you had someone watching your back.

“Any news of the search?” Ray asked the private.

“No, sir,” Private Meadows said. “They’re still continuing the sweep. It’s a big ship and that assassin of yours is a capable one from what you told us.”

“You have no idea.”
It is a huge ship
, Ray frowned. The super-dreadnought was over eight thousand meters in length with close to twenty thousand personnel. It was worse than searching for a needle in a haystack. The ship was a maze and someone with Agent Caius’ abilities could easily hide indefinitely.

“They say you are a freighter captain, sir?” Private Meadows said as they walked with a relaxed pace for the food court.

“I was,” Ray smiled. “My ship crashed and here I am.”

“How did you become a captain?”

“Well…” Ray stopped for a moment, thinking what to say. “I was having issues at home and eventually the wife decided to leave me. So, I enlisted for the longer trade routes, started living on board.”

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude, sir.” Private Meadows apologized clumsily.

“No need, Meadows. Please drop the ‘sir’ though, it’s stressing me out. Just Ray.”

“All right, Ray. Titles and ranks are our daily life on board.”

“I can guess,” Ray nodded in agreement as the two arrived at the buffet. He filled a couple of trays with fruit and mashed potatoes, served near synthetic meat. There was an extra pot at the end of the line, serving
the
soup. It was quickly becoming a famous dish on board the ship, either because it tasted good or because Reverend Marcus created a scene about it whenever he could.

“Why did she leave?” Meadows asked, filling her own tray.

Ray sighed. “Truth is, we lost our son in an accident and things went downhill from there. I started drinking, and well…I drove the wife and the daughter away. We got divorced and Elaine, my daughter, refused to see me anymore, saying I let her and the mother down when they needed me most.”

“I’m so sorry,” Meadows babbled. “Did you?”

“I guess so. Every time I looked into their eyes, I saw my son. It was unbearable and I chose the quickest path.”

“Running away.”

Ray nodded.

“You seem to be in peace with this.”

“I’m not. It’s just…” Ray stopped, realizing how easily he’d opened up to Meadows. “I think I accept it now. You can’t hide your head in the sand. Life is still around you and it likes to throw new challenges at you.”

“Like aliens destroying planets and assassins trying to kill you?”

Ray smiled. “Something like that. How about you?”

“I’m hoping to transfer to Carlson Academy after my field duty,” Private Meadows said, seeming happy about the subject, as they climbed the stairs with trays in their hands. “My fiancé’s an instructor there and we’re hoping to get married next summer.”

“You don’t look like the settling in type.”

The girl smiled. “I’m into action but the pay is good at Carlson and Melissa wants to have a baby. We’ll apply for adoption when I get my transfer orders.”

“Do you want to have a baby?”

“Maybe.” She looked down at her tray. “I mean, I’m still a rookie and Carlson may provide a career jump. The baby and the family also sound nice. I admit the idea of being a mother terrifies me. But Melissa believes we’ll be at least adequate parents.”

They turned the corner. Meadows kept speaking but Ray didn’t hear her. He threw his tray aside and rushed to the soldier on the floor. Ray checked his pulse but the way the soldier’s neck was twisted, he was long gone.

Private Meadows cursed behind him, dropping her own tray and reaching for her weapon. “This is Meadows,” she yapped, touching her communicator, her voice trembling. “We need a medic and a security—”

“Hush!” Ray raised his finger to his mouth, telling her to keep it down, and opened the door of the room slowly.

He saw Brother Cavil near the observation window, holding Reverend Marcus in his arms, staring into nothingness. The elderly man had a nasty gunshot wound right under the heart, his robe dark around the puncture. Blood trailed on the floor and had pooled red a few meters from where they sat. Brother Cavil’s hands were soaked, his face losing its color.

Private Meadows went in first and Ray took another step after her. Then he felt the cold touch of metal on the back of his head, “By the…” He and the rookie private stopped where they were.

“Move into the room,” spoke the familiar voice of Agent Caius, pushing Ray forward, besides Private Meadows.

When Ray passed through the doorway and stopped near the private, Caius hit Private Meadows fiercely in the back of her head. The rookie soldier’s eyes rolled out and she fell hard to the floor. Agent Caius pushed Ray forward, near Brother Cavil, poking the laying private with his foot.

“You have been quite a nuisance Mr. Harris,” the dark figure turned to face Ray. “You were supposed to die in that crash.”

“Believe me, you’re not the first to say it.” Ray sighed, looking at Reverend Marcus. “You just don’t quit, do you?”

“You do not need to concern yourself with such details,” the assassin replied. He looked at the three Arinar sitting on the table. “Good.”

“Why?” Brother Cavil spoke suddenly; his eyes were reddened with dry tears and the veins of his neck tensed. He gently lowered Reverend Marcus’ body and yelled, “Why!” Cavil’s mouth was bloody and so was his robe as he struggled up. Before Brother Cavil could stand, Caius reached him in a flash and hit him hard with the grip of his weapon. Cavil slumped.

“You animal!” Ray stepped forward but stopped short when Caius pointed his gun.

“No time for emotional outbursts.”

“The old man’s right. You’re an animal.” Ray winced, looking at Reverend Marcus. “What did you want with an old reverend and a priest?”

“Nothing. Those two are strong in spirit,” Agent Caius said admiringly. “However, one must know when to quit. You are supposed to be dead. I have no intention of killing anyone else if I have a choice.”

“And a reverend of eighty-something and a harmless priest didn’t leave you a choice. Bastard.” Ray couldn’t hide his disgust. Even if it was the end of the world, he wanted to see Caius suffer before his own demise.

Caius looked at Reverend Marcus’ body for a moment, then back to Ray. “Goodbye, Mr. Harris.”

Private Meadows jumped the dark figure, grappling for his gun. Shocked, the sudden struggle off-balanced the assassin and he uncontrollably pulled the trigger. A ricochet hit the observation glass right above the passed-out priest and, even though the glass was unscratched, security protocol alarms rang on the passenger deck.

With the momentary distraction Ray dashed forward to join the fight, grabbing Caius’s arm, but the man was strong as a bull. He felt an electrical surge on the man’s arm, raising the hairs on his own. A moment later, Ray found himself flying toward the other end of the room, hitting his head hard on the wall.

Private Meadows was still fighting but losing consciousness, her eyes rolling back from a powerful strike. Caius used his augmented arms as a Taser, shocking his opponents as they touched him, pushing them away. The girl struggled out of survival instinct now, not letting go of the killing machine.

Ray pressed himself up with his hands and the world around him swirled. He shook his head a few times, which only made things worse. The only thing he could hear was a constant ringing sound.
Is that a…telephone?

Caius focused on the young private. She looked battered, her nose bleeding like a faucet but the girl had the soul of a warrior. She kicked and scratched, yelled and cursed—babbling rather than words, but she was holding.

Private Meadows tried to punch the dark figure the way they’d probably taught her in the military academy but Agent Caius caught her fist midair and twisted her arm painfully. The young private screamed in agony and fell on her knees. Conventional hand-to-hand moves meant nothing against the assassin’s years of training and extreme nano-augmentations. The agent pushed the woman away violently with his left foot and turned to face Ray.

Ray didn’t know what to do and he reached for the closest Arinar on the table, Serhmana, and swung it as hard as he could. He didn’t expect the shockwave the moment he touched the stone. A red light came out of the stone, surrounding his arms. The stone met Caius’s face and threw the agent into the air, breaking through the door and flying into the corridor. Ray heard, no, he
felt
a sense of glory as the stone met with Caius’ cold face.