Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension (38 page)

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December 20, 2012 - 11:00 PM

Mt. Shasta California

Abandoned Mine Shaft

“
That’s it. Power’s off.
Let’s move.” Simone pulled off the alien headset and tucked it into
her pocket. Standing at the top of the supposedly abandoned mine
shaft were fourteen Cadre, Caleb and Simone. The Cadre stood in
pairs of two and carried six closed containers that housed Tesla’s
earthquake device.

Simone walked over to the control panel
that operated the elevator, and placed the PDA-like device Xavier
had given her over the top of it. The device immediately locked
onto the panel and began making a low humming noise. Ten seconds
later it beeped and the elevator gate unlocked.

“
How easy would our jobs
have been, last lifetime, with one of those things?” Caleb shook
his head and Simone chuckled. Caleb pulled back the gate when the
elevator arrived and stepped in the elevator after Simone. The rest
of the Cadre crowded in with them.

“
Time to see if these
invisibility devices really work.” Simone pressed the button on her
device, and the rest of the team did the same. For whatever reason,
once they were invisible together, they could still see each other.
Simone hadn’t bothered to have Xavier explain it to her; she didn’t
particularly care why, so long as they just worked. There was no
button to press inside the elevator. Once they closed the gate, it
began descending on its own.

“
How many lifetimes do you
think we’ve done things like this?” Simone asked Caleb as she
tucked the PDA back into her pocket.

Caleb grinned lightly. “Probably all of
them. It’s what we do, babe.”

The Cadre “Oorahed” and Simone laughed
at their agreement. She set the timer on her watch, since their
thermoptic devices worked in ten minute intervals.

Caleb bent slightly to murmur in her
ear, “If I don’t get to tell you this later, you look really hot in
black fatigues.”

Barely restraining a smile, Simone kept
her eyes forward as the elevator shaft kept descending. “You should
see what I’ve got on underneath it.”

The Cadre “Oorahed” again.

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December 20, 2012 - 11:11 PM

Piedras Negras

Mayan Ruins

“
Never mind where they came
from, what the hell is that?!” The Scientists and their Cadre were
crowded around the opening that led underneath the ruins, when what
appeared to be a small army of PLFs appeared. But Abe wasn’t
talking about the PLFs. He was pointing at the Igigi that circled
the sky above them.

“
Forget about that. You’ve
got to get down there. We’ll hold them off.” Robert snapped open
the case, and pulled out the crystal, handing it to
Grams.

“
I’m with you, Robert.” Abe
slapped a fresh magazine into his assault rifle.

Derek and Shirley blinked over at him.
“But Abe—”

“
Do you know how long it’s
been since I got to play military?” Abe cut off Shirley’s protest.
“Stop arguing. Get moving.”

Shirley swallowed hard, leaned over,
and kissed his cheek. Then she scrambled over to her grandmother.
They were all suited up and ready to go below. Grams secured the
golden rod to her waist, doubled checked her rope, and went down
first.

“
Hurry!” Robert shouted at
them, as one of the remaining Cadre tossed a grenade.

“
Please, be careful.” Derek
clasped Abe on the shoulder.

“
Yeah, you, too.” Abe
squeezed his arm, then gave him a little shove. “Haul
ass.”

“
C’mon, Derek!” Shirley
yelled just before she rappelled down after her
grandmother.

Derek jumped as the dirt around his
feet exploded in small bursts because of the gunfire crashing into
it. Shoving his spelunking helmet on, he secured the rope around
his waist, tied the knot, and then disappeared into the
unknown.

§

December 20, 2012 - 11:11 PM

Washington, DC

The White House

Enlil’s claws ripped open the skin on
Michael’s beautiful face, staining it with blood. Before the wounds
could heal, Enlil swiped his other in the same manner, then kicked
him so hard that Michael went crashing back into a wall of the
White House. Roaring with bloodlust, Enlil gave him no reprieve and
charged. Michael shook his head once, saw Enlil coming, and surged
to his feet, flying out to meet him. The two crashed together and
Michael took Enlil to the ground, the impact dragging up the earth
underneath them. Holding Enlil down with his forearm against the
reptile’s throat, Michael shoved the blade of his sword into
Enlil’s side, a deadly place for an Anunnaki to get injured because
of the close proximity to his vital organs. Enlil’s roar could be
heard in Maryland.

Michael twisted the weapon, closing
Enlil’s wound around it and preventing him from healing it. A
second sound of fierce pain and harsh defiance exploded from Enlil,
and his clawed hands made their marks on Michael’s arms, spilling
the Angel’s blood, as he slowly stopped fighting, his head dropping
back into the dirt.

Breathing heavily, Michael stood up,
looking down at Enlil sadly. “I am sorry. Return to the source,
brother,” he whispered.

“
Michael!”

Michael turned, and a smile slid over
his battle weary face when he saw Gabriel. He took a step in his
partner’s direction and suddenly halted. His eyes widened. A sudden
flutter of white feathers, now stained with drops of crimson, fell
to the ground. A clawed hand slithered over Michael's shoulder.
Enlil yanked him backward, shoving the Angel’s own sword through
his body. “You…will come…with me…” Enlil hissed viciously. He fell
to his knees before Michael did, and slumped over a second later,
this time gone.

Gabriel was at Michael’s side in an
instant, catching the Archangel’s body before he collapsed to the
ground. Michael simply smiled up at him, lifting his hand, and
touched Gabriel's cheek. It fell back onto his stained breastplate
a second later, when a soul decided it was time to return
home.

Gabriel drew his hand gently over
Michael’s face, closing his eyes. The remaining Angels formed a
circle around them, dropping to one knee in silent prayer for a
quick journey home. Enki walked slowly over to them.

Tears in his eyes, Gabriel looked up at
Enki. “We have done all we can do.”

Enki slowly nodded. “There is one last
task I must ask of you.”

Chapter 22

“
The difficulties of life
are intended to make us better, not bitter.”

-Author Unknown

December 20, 2012 - 11:44 PM

Mid Way City

Kinsley, Kansas

That’s the last one.” Ten dead station
guards littered the area. The device used to burrow three miles
into the earth, had burned the walls to glass. A sign hung from the
ceiling, written in Sumerian that informed the employees of their
current location and subsequent destination. In front of the parked
train, a giant steel door blocked the path to the next station. The
Cadre took positions along the perimeter, while Simone finished
arming Tesla’s device.

“
Nothing to it.” Caleb
winked at Simone as she finished.

That was when everything went
wrong.

Bursts of pale pink light appeared on
the floor around them. A second later Olivia appeared, joined by a
dozen PLFs flanking her. They wore their own thermoptic devices,
too, because Simone was positive that Olivia saw her. There was no
other reason for the cold, heartless smile that spread over
Olivia’s mouth and flamed to life in her eyes.

“
Simone, get on the train!”
Caleb shouted, shoving her behind him as the gunfire began to erupt
around them.

For Simone, the world slowed down, and
everything became surreal. She sprinted to the train, keeping her
body low. From the corner of her eye, she could see Caleb’s arm
jerking with the recoil of his gun every time he pulled the
trigger, remaining in front of her, shielding her as they ran. Her
foot passed the train door’s threshold, when she saw Caleb stumble.
He smacked into the side of the train and he sank to his knees, his
black fatigues staining with the dark color of his blood. She
couldn’t even scream his name, because Olivia was advancing,
shooting at her. Time sped up again for Simone as the doorway above
her head sparked because of the bullet that crashed into it. The
next grazed her arm, ripping open a small piece of her skin and
causing a stinging pain that infuriated Simone more than it hurt
her. Olivia’s next shot clicked empty, and Simone reached to pull
her own gun, but Olivia crashed into her, screaming in murderous
fury.

Simone stumbled back into the train and
slammed into the wall, her back hitting the button to make the
train doors slide closed. Olivia punched Simone in the mouth, and
Simone’s head jerked back, the coppery taste of blood flowing over
her tongue. Hissing in fury, Simone jammed her fingers into the V
at Olivia’s throat. As soon as she started choking, Simone rammed
her knee into Olivia’s stomach, and then snatched her by the hair,
yanking her cousin’s head back.

“
Did you shoot him!?” Simone
screamed it into her face, and slapped Olivia before she could
answer. “Did you?!”

Olivia recoiled at the slap, but set
her cruel eyes on Simone and croaked out, “I was aiming for you.
But he’ll do for now.”

The rage that tore through Simone
nearly blinded her. She reared back her fist, but Olivia batted it
away and grabbed Simone’s face, shoving her head back into the
wall. Simone’s vision swam, and Olivia reached down for the gun at
Simone’s waist. Feeling Olivia’s intent, Simone snatched her cousin
by the throat, the tips of her fingers digging in a claw-like grip,
choking her, and Olivia brought her opposite hand up, grabbing at
Simone’s wrist. Just as Olivia pulled the gun free, Simone slapped
her fingers around Olivia’s forearm, her muscles straining and
burning as they fought for control.

*Suddenly, the train doors were shoved
open and a single shot rang out. Olivia’s eyes widened. Her grip
slackened. Simone jerked her gaze over Olivia’s shoulder and saw
Caleb leaning heavily on the door with his sidearm braced in his
trembling hands. A hint of a smile lifted the corner of Simone's
mouth, vanishing as she glared at her cousin. "Didn't see that
coming, did you?" She punched Olivia in the jaw, and watched her
crumble to the ground with no small amount of satisfaction. Simone
kicked the gun out of Olivia’s hand and gave a small cry as Caleb's
knees buckled. Rushing to his side, Simone caught him around the
waist and fell with him.

It had taken a lot of sheer, stubborn,
determination for Caleb to find the strength to hold the weight of
his gun up as long as he did. Now that he was completely certain
Simone was all right he felt his strength give. A little smile
touched Caleb’s lips and he pressed his head against her shoulder.
"I knew you had it covered. I just wanted to shoot her
back."

Simone laughed, but her voice was thick
with tears. "My hero," she murmured, stroking his cheek. "My big
damn hero." The front of her shirt was wet with blood; Caleb's
blood. Clenching her jaw, Simone opened up the front of his
fatigues. She did not recognize the severity of his injuries, but
Liliana did. Panic clawed at her chest. "Caleb. Stay with
me."

"It’s…it’s okay babe. You knew it was
going to happen like this. Dejavu, huh?" Caleb tilted his head back
to look up at her. "Spend…spend our next lifetime with
me."

Knowing didn't make it easier. Having
lived through it once, as Liliana and Kyle, didn't make it any
easier, either. With tears streaming down her cheeks, Simone pulled
him into her lap and kissed him. "And the one after that, and the
one after that. You can't get away from me."

Caleb slowly smiled. "Good answer."
With some effort, Caleb lifted his hand, touching her face, his
thumb catching her tears. "I love you."

A sob fell from Simone's trembling
mouth. She clutched Caleb's hand and turned her face into his
touch, pressing kiss after kiss against his palm. "I love you,
too." She kissed his knuckles and, lastly, his lips. "Always," she
whispered. "Always."

What more did a man need to hear? To
feel, before he left a lifetime? Nothing, Caleb thought.
Absolutely, nothing. He finally let his lids close, keeping the
picture of her in his mind’s eye. He guided Simone back to his
mouth, one more time. For Caleb, it was the perfect way to take
your last breath.

Simone felt him go, but she wasn't
ready for him to leave. Closing her eyes against the flood of
heartache, she pressed her forehead to Caleb’s, gripping him
tighter to her and released a soundless sob.

“
Madame President? Madame
President I’m so sorry but we’ve got to go.” A cadre touched her
shoulder. There were six of them left.

Simone swallowed hard and kissed Caleb
again, gently. It took her another moment to let him go. “Bring
him.” She told the solider.

“
Yes ma’am.” The Cadre
hoisted Caleb up, bringing him onto the train. Simone yanked out
the Cadre’s sidearm, and stalked back to Olivia. She used her foot
to turn her cousin’s body over. Olivia was still alive, though
dying in slow agony because of where Caleb’s bullet had struck. The
pain she was in was clear on Olivia’s now pale face, but just as
fierce was the look of hatred that she gave Simone.