Survivor Planet III (11 page)

“But that's impossible. I felt you. You took control of me and I was able to fight Baynar easily.”

Ayres took my hand. “I'm glad you were able to fight him. Looks like you did a good job of it. If feeling me there gave you confidence, then so be it. But don't undermine yourself, either. You trained hard on Taseeus.”

My head flicked in Lissa's direction. “Don't tell that skank where we're hiding out! She'll betray us all.”

Lissa had the decency to flush with shame. Surprisingly, it was Kenix who came to her defense. “Amanda, I discovered Lissa in Graneden. It was she who approached me, with Oro.”

“Oro? He's just as much a deceiver as she is,” I snapped. “What the hell were you doing in my town?”

“You'd mentioned it to me, and when I was allowed to return to Earth I decided to go there…since you couldn't.”

If that was her twisted way of honoring me she was crazier than I had been. “So, lucky you. You get to return to Earth with your evil sidekick. Congrats on winning the game by the way,” I sneered at her.

“I'm sorry. I never meant to betray you and Ayres. And Oro and I didn't stay together. He remained on Calixtus. He only found me when he became worried for my safety. I know you're pissed, but you can freak out on me later,” Lissa said.

“No, I can freak out on you right now.”

I began to stalk toward her but Kenix put himself between us. “She's right. There are bigger issues that need our attention,” he informed me.

“What issues?”

“The fate of Earth,” Ayres said.

I turned around and faced him. “What do you mean? What's happened?”

“Nothing yet,” Kenix informed me. “But apparently Calixtus has big plans.”

“What kind of plans?” Something niggled at the corner of my memory. Something Baynar had been bleating about.

“Destruction of the Human race,” Lissa informed me. “Oro heard about it and came to warn me. It was just dumb luck we happened to run into Kenix—Oro recognized him.” She gave me a direct look from behind Kenix. “And yes, we told him everything.”

She meant how she had lied to Ayres and me about Oro's death during the game, and how she waited until our guard was down before stabbing Ayres, almost killing him. The thought of it made me seethe.

“Oro returned to Calixtus to see if he can learn anything else,” Kenix said.

This was all too much. “Wait a minute! All this information came from Oro? He's full of shit! No doubt he has an agenda. He probably told you his bullshit story to make you think he's pro-Earth. He's not. He's most likely plotting right now to sell you to the highest bidder. You're a wanted felon on Calixtus, you know?” How dense could he be?

“Do you take me for a complete idiot?” He held up a hand. “Don't answer that. I'm not just going on Oro's word. I have my sources as well, and the information has been confirmed.”

“What information? Tell me what's going on.” Did I have to pry it out of him with a crowbar?

Ayres filled me in. “The council has voted in favor of playing a game of a different sort on Earth. Most of the population will be destroyed. In the end only the strongest will be standing. They want Earth back to the way it was in the beginning, when they controlled everything. They want a return of the games there.”

“What? But why? They still take what they need from us,” I demanded.

“Human's have become a liability,” Kenix informed me. “The Akkadians show great interest in them, and frankly, dealing with those slimy alien bastards is more effort than it's worth. The council feels it's best to wipe the slate clean, and to maintain a stronger presence on Earth.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Never did I imagine that Calixtus would sink so low as to wipe out billions of innocent people. It wasn't Earth's fault. “Is there nothing we can do?”

“Yes. There's hope,” Lourde pointed at Baynar. “Believe it or not, he's against the council in this regard.”

“Baynar wants us saved?” So that was what he'd meant. All of us stared at the man lying on the floor.

“Is he breathing?” Lissa asked.

“Shit!” Lourde and Ayres said at once.

Ayres knelt down and slowly turned Baynar over.

“He has to be all right, I didn't hurt him that much. Unless somehow the transport did something to…” My words of speculation and deniability froze in my throat.

It hadn't been the transport or the beating I'd dished out that had killed him. That much was obvious.

It was the dagger protruding from his chest that had done the job.

“This might pose a problem,” Lourde pointed out the obvious.

“Now what do we do?” The fear in Lissa's voice matched the fear creeping up my spine.

“I didn't mean for it to happen,” I said. “He jumped at me, trying to get the coin, right before we transported here.”

“What's done is done,” Ayres said. “I can't say that I'm sorry.”

Neither could I. Not really. It's precisely what we'd come here to accomplish.

“Earth is finished without him,” Lissa cried, as panic overwhelmed her.

“Relax you dumb bitch,” I snapped. “No one knows he's dead but us.”

“You're correct,” Lourde said. “And as long as he remains only missing, the council can't take any action. Hopefully.”

“That's where you're wrong,” Kenix informed him. “From what I've heard, the council has slowly allowed information to leak out to the populace about what they propose for Earth. Excitement is growing and my sources tell me the anticipation might be even greater than for the tournament here.”

“Of course it is, the bloodthirsty savages,” I snapped. Then I remembered the three men in the room were Roamyn. “Present company excluded.”

Ayres' grin showed strain. “It's okay. You're right.”

“They want to begin the Earth games as soon as the one here is over,” Lissa said.

“Will they even play the game here now if Baynarius is missing?” Lourde pondered aloud.

“I think they may take advantage of the situation and view Baynar's disappearance as capitulation. He's not here to put a stop to it,” Ayres said.

Vaguely, in the back of my mind, I wondered what would become of Lara and Cade? Would he send her home to Earth if she were to face such challenges? I hoped not. “Why don't we take the Akkadian ships and land them at strategic places on Earth? Places where they can't be covered up. We can generate enough attention and when all the cameras are on us we'll inform the world of the danger. We can prepare then and even strike back. We may not win but at least it'll give us a fighting chance,” I suggested.

“It'll ignite mass panic, even if they do take you seriously,” Lourde informed me. “Most Humans have lived in denial for years about life on other planets.”

“I'm afraid I agree with him,” Ayres said.

This was so frustrating! Humans were sitting ducks waiting to face mass execution for the entertainment of an alien planet and we could do nothing. If only we were less appealing to Calixtus.

“Your device transported two people,” Kenix said to Lourde. “Maybe we could use it to evacuate as many people as possible.

Lourde ran a hand over his face. “It'd take time, and materials to create so many coins—we'd need far more than one. Plus there'd be the problem of where to move everyone. We'd have to supply food and shelter. The coin can only move people and thankfully their clothing, but it won't move beds and blankets, or tents, or gardens…” His voice trailed off listing the futility of such an undertaking.

“So we can't warn them, we can't move them, we can't save them,” I said.
Unless…
“What if we could give them a champion?”

Lissa snorted. “Yeah, where's the Avengers when you need them?”

Instead of upbraiding her I gave her words consideration. “They're not real. But we are.”

“What are you getting at?” Ayres cocked an eyebrow and stared at me speculatively.

“With Lourde's brilliant mind I'm sure he can find a way to hack into prime newscasts and warn them. Then, we can fly to Earth and try and prevent the attack. With Lourde's devices and our stockpile of arms I'm sure we can make an impression.”

“It's a suicide mission,” Lissa informed me.

I drilled her with a glare. “You have a lot to make up for. If you're still too chicken shit to stand up and do what's right, then stay here.”

She sputtered a bit but closed her mouth and fixed her eyes on the ground.

Lourde moved toward the table loaded with high-tech devices and began to fiddle around. “It won't take much to hack into Earth's satellites and connect with their media servers. We can implement a live feed that will broadcast all over Earth simultaneously.” He nodded at Ayres and me. “You two, figure out what you want to say. Make it believable. It won't take Calixtus long to figure out what we're doing and shut us down. I'll try to prevent it but they might track the signal right to us. Then it's game on.”

Ayres grabbed the duffle bags stashed around the room and tossed them into the middle of the floor. “Pack everything we're not using. We'll pile it into two ships. After the broadcast we'll head directly to Earth. I'll pack up the arms.”

“Wait,” I said, as Ayres went to leave. “We have more ships. Why not use all of them?”

“At most we could man three with Kenix, Lourde and myself piloting. I think it may be best to stay together. Dividing us could lead to too many problems.”

“And I think more would be better,” I contradicted him. “It'll take a while for Calixtus to send ships to Earth. We'll be on the ground preparing for them well before they arrive. If anything, we may need the ships we bring to save as many people as possible.” I hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Ayres ran an agitated hand over his shaved head. “I see your point. But we still only have three pilots.”

“There's another one circling Taleon aboard the Lariton right now.”

I could tell he understood my meaning almost immediately. “No. Too risky. We don't know where his loyalties lie.”

“I think I got a pretty good feel for him. I trust him. Besides, you know him as well. What kind of man did you take him for?”

“An honorable one. But it's been a while since I've….”

“I think Amanda's right,” Kenix interrupted. “If we can get another warrior on our side it could make a difference.”

“How much time we got?” Ayres asked Lourde.

“Not long. Just make it quick,” he replied, keeping his eyes on his task. “Kenix, I need you to keep fishing for a signal while I set these two up.”

“I can go in alone,” I assured them. “That leaves Ayres free to pack up and make sure the ships are ready.”

Ayres shook his head. “No way. I can't send you in there defenseless.”

His overprotection of me was becoming tiresome. “I'll be fine. I handled Baynar on my own.”

He pondered me for a moment before he sighed. “Fine. But I'll be watching you closely. Any signs of distress and I'll be there.”

I smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “I know you will.” I lay down on the table and let Lourde prepare me.

Ayres busied Kenix and Lissa with packing up the bags while I zoned out and began to drift. Vaguely I could hear Lourde directing me.

“I'm only sinking you half-way, Amanda, which will allow you more control. We're not as concerned with discovery at this point, so it won't be a complete transference with Lara. You'll retain your individuality, but you must wrestle her for control. She'll fight you.

She could try.
But knowing what was at stake, I wasn't about to let her win.

Everything was cold metal. And bars.

I became aware I was curled up on the floor in a thick rough blanket that scratched at my skin. The floor was clean and bare and looked to be made of concrete. The imposing steel door of the cell sported a barred window in the top of it. I was naked beneath the blanket.

Talk about freaking déjà vu.

I scrambled up and looked out the window into the cell block beyond my door. In the back of my mind I could hear Lara's voice but I ignored it. This may be her body, but I'd taken complete control. We had work to do. I began to pace, which I found helped me to focus.

If I recalled my time in this ship before the games, a cyborg dude should be arriving—if he hadn't already—to ascertain I was still a virgin. Then I'd be taken to stand before the council and display my goods. The only thing was that Baynar wouldn't be there to approve or disapprove my participation in the game.

Before I had time to speculate the implications of this turn of events, the trod of heavy steps in the corridor gained my attention. Not sure of who or what to expect, or even if they were coming for me, I backed against the far wall and pulled the blanket secure around my shoulders.

As luck would have it, someone began fiddling with the lock to my cell. A moment later the door swung open and Cade stepped in. “Good, you're up,” he said in way of greeting. “Sorry about the accommodations, but it's regulation. We were supposed to appear before council shortly but they've asked for a delay. I have the feeling something's going on, but I'm not privy to that information—not since I've become a contender.”

So I guess I'd already passed the V test. “Cade,” I said, trying to stop his barrage of words and gain his attention.

He walked over to me and took me into his arms. It felt more like a comforting gesture than a sexual one. “I know. I'm sorry. It'll be over soon, I promise.”

I braced my hands against his chest, still keeping the blanket in my grip. “Cade! You need to listen to me. This is important and I don't have a lot of time.”