The Beginning of the End (Universe in Flames Book 4) (5 page)

“I wish I could say soon. But I’m just realizing the real battle has yet to begin.”

“I don’t think I have the strength for that one. Perhaps I should resign.”

“It’s your right to do so and nobody will think less of you if you do. But I won’t lie to you, we’d be losing one of our best wing commanders.”

She attempted a smile. “Look at me rambling when you must feel responsible for the current situation.”

This stung his heart. She noticed. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Please forgive me, Chase.”

“You don’t need to apologize. You haven’t said anything I didn’t know or acknowledge myself.”

“Yet it was unfair saying it out loud.”

“Think nothing of it. I’m more worried about how you feel at the moment.”

“I’ll be fine. Perhaps it’s just the lack of sleep. I can’t remember the last time I slept soundly for an entire night.”

“I can help you with that.”

“How?”

“Well, I can easily put you to sleep. The more my telekinetic and telepathic powers grow, the more I understand how the different regions of our brains work.”

“That’s handy. I might actually take you up on that once we get back to Earth, if you can spare the time.”

“For you I’ll make the time.”

She shot him that same look of affection she had given him when they were closer back at the academy. But it made Chase slightly uncomfortable now.

“Thank you, Chase.”

“Anytime, buddy.”

“Buddy?”

“Well . . .”

“Say no more.”

Chase bit his lip. That hadn’t been very tactful. He knew from her call right after the fifth fleet had rejoined the Earth Alliance that she still had latent feelings for him.

Then again, his mind was filled with so many questions, so much anxiety about what was to come next, that he hadn’t stopped once to think how others felt about the situation, or even the feelings they might have towards him. Was he being selfish? Clearly the last few months had taken a toll on his friend and he hadn’t noticed.

Daniel was looking at the two of them strangely. That’s when Chase realized that he liked Fillio.

He sent him a telepathic message.
Come and keep her company, will you? She really needs someone to talk to and I can think of nobody better than you.

His expression changed and he smiled as he approached them.

“I got to check on a few things,” said Chase, aware how obvious he was being.

But it didn’t seem to bother Fillio. “Alright, thanks for the talk, Chase.”

“Anytime.”

Daniel sat next to Fillio and a few minutes later he had managed to put a smile back on her face, and even to make her laugh.

Ryonna sat next to Chase. “I’m not the right person for fixing this jump engine.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine, Ryonna. How are you? Besides the repairs, I mean?”

“Better than you, obviously.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you forgotten how empathic we Droxians are? You’re broadcasting your emotions at the moment. They seem to be all over the place. Plus, after all this time I like to think I’m starting to get to know you.”

“Right. I’m okay. Just overwhelmed by it all.”

“I think that’s the general consensus at the moment.”

Ryonna gazed over at Daniel and Fillio when she saw Chase doing so.

“They’re cute together. They’d make a nice couple.”

“I agree. I can sense his love for her.”

“Yeah, me too. I’m not sure how she feels about him, though.”

Chase wasn’t either. Did she still have residual feelings toward him, which could prevent her from seeing Daniel in the same light as he was seeing her?

His train of thought was interrupted when the speakers came to life. It was Keera. “Chase, get up here, stat!”

“Now what?” said Chase, running towards the cockpit.

Onboard the Zarlack destroyer, Miseo stood at the viewport on the bridge as the ship exited hyperspace.

“Scan the area for any energy signatures,” said the Fury to nobody in particular.

“A medium-sized craft’s signature has been detected on long range sensors.”

“Vector the ship towards it, and as soon as we’re in range, fire with maximum firepower.”

“Shouldn’t we try to capture them?” said someone on the bridge.

Miseo looked at the crew. “Who said that?”

A Zarlack got up from his console and took a step forward. “I did . . . Master.”

“Why do you think we should capture them?”

“From the sensor data we have on the ship, it seems badly damaged. They are basically disabled. Perhaps their passengers could be of more use to the Fury alive than dead.”

“What’s your name?”

“First Officer Zin’Dran, Master.”

“Are you aware of the concept of an order, First Officer?”

“Of course, Master, and I apologize if I—”

He was cut short when he started levitating towards the Fury. He flailed his limbs, trying in vain to get back to the ground.

“Please, Master, I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

Miseo looked at the officer and his eyes glowed with an intense, bright-red hue.

“I don’t know how Argos did things around here, but I think a little demonstration couldn’t hurt.”

A wave of energy shot upwards from Miseo’s feet and sent his short hair dancing atop his scalp, as his aura shined brightly on the bridge, giving every console and bulkhead around him a red tinge.

The officer, realizing his life was about to end, flailed his limbs and tail even more, but soon he felt an invisible force applying pressure on every one of his muscles, restricting his every move. He tried to speak, to implore the Fury for mercy, but his wind pipes refused to obey him. Soon his floating body was mere feet away from the Fury.

Another officer rose from his console and intervened. “Please, Master, spare his life!”

Miseo’s ruby stare adjusted and looked at the second lizard man. He released his telekinetic grasp and First Officer Zin’Dran fell to the ground in front of Miseo.

“What is it to you?” asked Miseo, his hair still flowing upwards.

“Thank you, Master. Please don’t kill my brother. He meant no disrespect.”

“You’re welcome,” said Miseo with an evil smirk, as he waved his hand in multiple directions so quickly it blurred.

The newly standing officer’s eyes froze in place as multiple rays of thin, red light drew all over his body. Miseo closed his fist and each light-divided body part separated from the others and levitated in the air for a second, as if by magic, before falling one after the other on the ground with gruesome, splashy sounds.

“Nooooooo!” shouted First Officer Zin’Dran at the horrifying scene that claimed the life of his brother. Rage overtook him. Sharp claws erupted from his fingers and he launched himself towards Miseo.

But he never landed his blow. Miseo impacted his rib cage with an open palm and the Zarlack’s body froze in midair, paralyzed.

Miseo started laughing. “Insects should never try to rebel against their masters. Every one of you, I suggest you look and learn.”

Red light bled out of each of Zin’Dran’s facial orifices. His skin burned and smoke rose from his body. His skin cracked and more red light bled through. Flames erupted from the hundred cracks in his body as he screeched in pain, while being burned alive from the inside out.

“As fun as this distraction has been . . .” added Miseo.

With a slight nudge of his mind he sent the still burning body flying over the bridge stations for every member of the crew to witness the gut-wrenching scene. Utter terror could be read in everyone’s eyes. Soon first officer Zin’Dran’s body had been burned to a crisp. Miseo then snapped his fingers and whatever was left of the Zarlack’s body exploded, spilling hot ash everywhere on the bridge.

“Does anyone else have a suggestion? Now would be the time to speak.”

After a few seconds of silence, Miseo turned his back to his slave crew and resumed looking at the stars through the bridge’s viewport.

“Now, will someone please enter an intercept course.”

“Course set, weapons to maximum,” said another Zarlack officer, his voice trembling.

“About freaking time. Fire plasma canons the second we’re in range.”

*   *   *

Chase rushed into the cockpit. “What is it?”

“We’ve got an incoming Zarlack destroyer on an approach vector.”

“Evasive maneuvers?”

“Already pushing the sub-light engines beyond their limits. Not sure how long they’ll keep up with this treatment in our current state. Any luck with the jump engines?”

“Ryonna said there’re too many power nodes fried. She’s trying to build a bypass but she needs more time.”

“Time is the one resource we don’t have right now.”

“How long until the destroyer gets a firing solution?”

“Less than a minute.”

“Dammit!”

“I don’t see how we’re getting out of this one.”

Sarah, who had stayed silent until now, looked at Chase. “Chase, if we don’t make it—”

“We’re gonna make it. We didn’t go through all of this to die here.”

“Please, let me speak.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you for coming to get me. That’s all I wanted to say.”

Chase didn’t know how to answer; his mind was racing, trying to find a solution to their current predicament. He felt as if his mind was overheating from running multiple scenarios, none of which provided even a shadow of a solution.

“I have an idea. Turn the ship around. Face them head on.”

“What?” exclaimed Keera. “Are you nuts? If we do that they’ll have a firing solution on us in less than ten seconds.”

“Whether we do that or wait another minute won’t change anything, but I’d rather have a line of sight for what I’m gonna do next.”

“Would you mind cueing us in?”

“No time. Please turn the ship about, now.”

“I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”

“We’re about to find out.”

“Would you rather take the helm?”

“No, that’s fine. Just plot an intercept course with the Zarlack destroyer. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Keera shot a dubious and fearful look towards Sarah, who just shrugged in response.

The
Valken
’s controls beeped frantically.

“They’ve targeted us,” said Keera, “so whatever you’re gonna do . . .”

“Not yet.”

Keera didn’t know what was more terrifying: the fact that they were mere seconds away from being obliterated by the incoming destroyer or the calm in Chase’s voice.

Another set of more ominous beeps resonated in the
Valken
’s cockpit.

“They’re firing plasma guns. Whatever shields we have left won’t stop this attack. Not that my full shields would have anyway. Not if these readings are correct.”

But Chase didn’t answer. Instead he extended his hand forward.

“Chase, what are you doing?” asked Sarah.

Yes, what
are
you doing?
asked Ares inside Chase’s mind.

No choice, Ares, I gotta do
something, answered Chase telepathically.

This will not end up pretty.

That’s kind of the idea here.

You could just as well destroy this ship with that move and you know it.

Don’t really have any choice now, do I?

Two gigantic red plasma shots were approaching the ship fast. The enemy had not withheld anything; they had fired the most powerful weapon at their disposal. Whoever was on that ship clearly wanted them dead with the first volley.

But then something happened. The plasma shots compressed onto themselves and stopped advancing just a few hundred yards from the
Valken
, illuminating everything red in the cockpit. They kept compressing themselves, their length collapsing as they grew in size. Lightning burst around them. Soon both shots had merged into a giant plasma fireball with lightning bursting all around it.

“What the hell?” said Keera. “Are you doing this?”

She turned around to look at Chase when he didn’t answer and saw him engulfed in a purple aura of flowing energy. Every muscle in his body flexed and trembled, his teeth clenched and a little blood teared from one of his eyes.

Her look turned from stunned to terrified. “Oh gods! I’ll take that as a yes.”

Chase unleashed a terrifying, animalistic growl that made both Keera and Sarah jump off their seats, just as the rest of the crew entered the cockpit to see the scene unfold.

“What is this?” asked Daniel, not believing or understanding what he was looking at.

Chase’s growl intensified, his aura grew stronger and brighter and his muscles grew in size. The ship trembled so much a whole new set of alarms resounded around them. Sparks flew from the ceiling when Chase’s aura expanded to engulf almost half the cockpit.

Chase!
shouted Ares.
Don’t drain all your energy or you will die!

I need more . . .

Stop this now, I beg you!

I c-c-can’t. I’m almost there. Just . . . a . . . little . . . more . . .

The now huge plasma fireball shook heavily for a second and then shot back at impossible speed towards the Zarlack’s destroyer. It created a powerful shockwave at its point of departure which impacted the
Valken
’s already feeble shields, they managed to diffuse most of the energy of the wave before giving out. The now going-in-reverse plasma fireball struck the Zarlack’s destroyer, punching through its shields and plating as if they weren’t there.

A powerful explosion exposed many of the ship’s levels to space. Flames spewed. Metal debris was thrown into space, as were many crewmen from the decompressed levels. The Zarlack destroyer didn’t explode but it was greatly damaged, most of its systems disabled on the spot.

“What
was
that?” asked Daniel, not believing his eyes.

Chase’s aura vanished all at once.

“Wow, good job, Chase!” Daniel cheered.

Chase stood still, his arm still in front of him, but he didn’t answer.

“Are you alright?” inquired Ryonna.

Chase fell to his knees, a blank stare in his eyes as more blood flowed from them. He collapsed to the ground face first.

“Oh my god, no! Chase!” shouted Sarah, who jumped out of her chair and reached his side. She turned him over and shook him, trying to wake him up, but he had lost all color.

“Please, anyone, help! I don’t think he’s breathing.”

Daniel jumped next to Sarah. He couldn’t feel a pulse on Chase’s jugular. His eyes filled with fear.

Keera went to the back of the cockpit and looked through her stuff, throwing everything from each drawer and cupboard she opened at a mad pace. “Keep him breathing while I look for my resuscitation kit.”

Sarah gave Chase mouth to mouth while Daniel applied heart compressions. Tar’Lock clicked nervously and passed out. Ryonna and Fillio joined Keera in her search for the medical device.

“Dammit! Where is it?”

Sarah kept giving Chase mouth to mouth while her eyes filled with tears.

“Stay with us, buddy,” said Daniel as he continued his cardiac compressions.

Then Sarah felt something burn inside her. Her round belly felt hot and the warmth expanded all over her body.

“Sarah!” shouted Ryonna, her eyes wide open. “What’s happening in your belly?”

She looked down and saw a shining, bright, golden aura bursting out of her. A bright, golden energy expanded from her belly and went towards Chase’s inanimate body. It looked like a bright and shining golden umbilical cord. After a few seconds it detached from Sarah’s body and was absorbed by Chase’s.

Chase’s eyes shot open and he gasped for air. Everyone exhaled heavily, relieved to see their friend come back to life.

Sarah grabbed Chase and held him tightly against her still trembling body, her tears flowing like rivers on her delicate cheeks.

“You scared the shit out of me. Don’t ever do that again!”

“Sorry, I . . . I had to do something.”

She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

Ryonna let herself fall against the nearest bulkhead, while Fillio attended to Tar’Lock, slapping him gently awake.

Daniel’s mouth was open and he was breathing rapidly, still shaken.

“Anyone have any explanation for what happened here?”

No one answered.

Then a golden sphere of energy appeared in the middle of the group and took human shape.