Universe in Flames 3: Destination Oblivion (23 page)

“If that was his
plan then they wouldn’t have left. They would have destroyed you and us in the
process.”

“What you say makes
sense. I am still afraid of Furies.”

“So am I. But may
I propose we work together to defend ourselves from Argos?”

“Explain.”

“I would like us
to reconstruct the satellites that were lost in the last battle, and also
devise a full, planetary shield to protect against any Zarlack ship that wants
to blow itself up on the surface of the planet. Now that we know they can do
this, there could already be more ships on their way to do just that.”

“WHAT!”

Crap
. Spiros cursed himself.

“I don’t think that’s
the case, but what I propose will nullify their advantage. We make an
impenetrable shield around the Earth. To protect not only ourselves but you as
well. How does that sound?”

“I like this
idea.”

“Good. So how
does this work? You let us construct what we need?”

“No, I will make
the shield, and I alone will control it.”

Spiros knew what
that meant: that the entity would be able to decide when to use it, and could
very well let humans die first in the next attack, and then raise the shields.
She could also separate the planet from the ships in orbit by having the shield
on all the time.

“Do we have a
deal?” Gaia insisted.

“Yes. I propose
you use some of my research. I can be of great help.”

“I know. Here is
what I propose, based on your research and some modifications of my own.”

The entity
projected holographic schematics, very detailed ones, of a planetary shield for
Earth. Spiros looked at them and was amazed how advanced the design seemed. Highly
redundant, too.

“Wow, this is
good.”

“I learned from
the best.”

“Did you just pay
me a compliment?”

“I guess I did.”

“Well thanks. But
you’re selling yourself short. This is way more advanced than anything I had in
mind initially.”

“Perhaps there is
something good to come out of our new partnership.”

“Yes, so it would
seem. How should we proceed?”

“I will build it.
There are enough resources, enough drones. I already have control of them so I
will leave fifty percent of the workforce for the rescue and rebuilding
efforts. The rest I will use to build a larger workforce and start building
this shield.”

“What about the
satellites?”

“I’ve already
uploaded another set of schematics onto your personal computer. I will let you
assemble this particular shield and give you control of it. That way you can
prove to me that you intend to protect me when the time comes. And if you fail
to do so, I will protect Earth with the other shield.”

“Sounds fair. Thanks.”

“There is a
warning attached, though.”

“Alright
. . . Which is?”

The sky turned
red and dark clouds covered it almost instantly.

“If you betray
me, if you try to attack me, or if you fail in showing your good will to
protect this world, I will destroy you all.”

Spiros didn’t
really know if it was the threat itself or the total calm with which these
words were uttered that scared him the most. But he believed the entity one
hundred percent, and that terrified him. He did the best he could to hide his
fear.

“I understand.”

“I’m glad. You are
right to fear me.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Now go. I’ll
summon you if we need to communicate more.”

“Alright. Thank you
for trying this partnership.”

The communication
ended abruptly and Spiros felt a sharp pain in his right temple. He stepped
down from the platform and went back to the lab.

“How did it go?”
asked Cedric.

“We really need
to get ahead of this, and fast, but I think I bought us some more time.”

*  
*   *

The
Valken
approached the
Destiny
and was hailed.

“This is
Commodore Saroudis.”

“Hi, Commodore,
we’re coming aboard for the debrief slash dinner.”

“Right. You’re clear
to land. See you soon.”

“See you soon.
Tharaleos out.”

“Do we really
have time for dinner? Sure, I haven’t eaten anything good in a while, but can
we really afford the time?” asked Keera.

“We’re not going
to dinner.”

“So why are
landing on the
Destiny
?”

“To steal as much
quadrinium as we need for the jump back.”

“Won’t that get
you in trouble?”

“No more than
we’re already in. It’s not like we have any choice.”

“What do you want
me to do?”

“Just stay with
the ship. I’ll go with Tar’Lock to get the quadrinium and we’ll be on our way
within minutes.”

“If all goes
well.”

“It will. I know
exactly what to do.”

“Alright. Good
luck.”

Daniel nodded and
jumped out of his chair and entered the next room. “Tar’Lock, you’re with me.”

“What’s going on,
Daniel? Why haven’t we jumped yet,” asked Ryonna.

“We need
quadrinium. We’re landing on the
Destiny
now. Let’s go steal some.”

“Wow, when did
this escalate to piracy?” asked Fillio.

“Look, we only
need a little, and if we ask nicely the commodore will know we’re up to
something.”

“He’s not going
to like this, and I can tell you it will be our asses when we get back.
Saroudis might be an understanding commanding officer, but Admiral Thassos runs
a tight fleet. We’re toast.”

“You can still
stay on board
Destiny
and keep your wings. In fact, all of you can
decide not to follow my lead on this one. I won’t think less of you.”

“Chase is my
friend as well, so I’m in. Bye bye, Earth Alliance.”

“And I owe Chase
my life and the life of my son. I’m coming.” Ryonna didn’t hesitate.

“That’s nice of
you, but depending on how all of this goes, he might be branded a traitor’s
son. So not sure how good this will be for his career in the Droxian military.”

“The actions of
the parents bear no consequences in our culture.”

“As you wish.”

“What about you,
Daniel?” inquired Ryonna. “Are you willing to sacrifice your position as wing
commander for this?”

“For Chase? Absolutely.”

“He might not
need our help. We’re nothing but bugs compared to his own powers,” said Ryonna,
feeling uneasy admitting this.

“Be that as it
may. He may or may not need our help, but I’m not letting him walk into danger
alone. Not this time.”

Tar’Lock took a
step forward. “What’s the plan, Daniel?”

“Let’s play a
little game of misdirection, shall we?”

Daniel explained
his plan and soon they were on their way.

*  
*   *

Chase went to the
mess hall for something to eat. He hadn’t eaten any of his favorite dishes for
a long time. He synthesized a double pepperoni pizza. His taste buds relished
the almost forgotten sensation.

“Boy, I could
live on pizza.”

“You know this is
trouble, don’t you?” he heard in his mind.

“Hello, Ares.”

“Chase, it’s not
too late to change your mind.”

“There’s no way
to change it now, and I think you know exactly what I feel.”

“Be that as it
may, have you stopped to think what it is that Argos could get his hands on?”

“Do you know what
it is?”

“No, but I can
only surmise it will give him an advantage to win this war.”

“I won’t let
him.”

“That arrogance
again. Blinded by your emotions. When it’s not rage or hatred, it’s love. I
don’t know which is worse.”

“Always the
cynic.”

“I’m not being
cynical and you know it. You have no idea whether by helping your evil brother
you might not doom every other life in the universe.”

“I have thought
of it.”

“And yet you
accept this as a possibility.”

“You wouldn’t
understand.”

“I do understand.
I love Aphroditis, and I gave my life for hers.”

“And I’m willing
to give mine for Sarah’s. How is that different?”

“It wouldn’t be,
except you’re not just placing your own fate in the balance here, but the
entire universe.”

“Remember that
I’m the one supposed to protect it? I haven’t forgotten what your sister told
me at the beginning of all of this. Perhaps this is how things must play out. Perhaps
that’s the plan.”

“I hope you’re
right.”

“Well, we’ll know
soon enough. But look at it this way, my friend: if I don’t do this and let
Sarah die, I will no longer be able to protect anyone. I will probably just
want to crawl into the deepest hole and die. How does that help anyone
exactly?”

“Difficult to
argue with that logic, I’ll grant you that. Did you just call me friend?”

“I guess I did,”
said Chase, taking another huge bite of pizza with a big smirk on his face.

“Hungry, are we?”

“Famished. This last
fight took a lot out of me, but I’m already regaining my powers. I can feel
it.”

“Good. I’ll be
along for the ride, in case you need my help.”

“Thanks, but
shouldn’t you just go through the Styx?”

“Should, yes; but
right now I must see how this plays out.”

“Alright. Glad you’re
with us, Ares.”

“Chase!” Ares sounded
alarmed.

“What?”

“I sense
something wrong with Aphroditis. Please go to her side at once!”

Chase discarded
the pizza slice in his hand, jumped out of his chair and ran.

*  
*   *

While she was
sleeping, Aphroditis entered a trance and started levitating above the sofa in
the captain’s ready room.

She floated in a
large, round arena with very tall, dark walls made from massive blocks of
stones. The place looked ancient. Some runes in four different colors glowed on
the walls, and while she thought they looked Olympian, they were too blurry for
her to read. Blue, red, green and white, each above altars with matching colors;
and hovering above those, glowing spheres of energy.

Then she heard a
growl. It froze her blood. The growl was so powerful, so intense, it made
everything tremble. And soon the ground shook. It felt like footsteps, but she
could only see a shadow walking, with red, glowing eyes. The creature was
almost as tall as the impossibly high walls.

She felt a sense
of dread and great danger.

As the creature
advanced towards her it blackened the faint sunlight and engulfed the arena in
darkness. Only the runes and energy spheres provided faint lighting.

Then everything
changed. She was sucked into space and saw stars and entire systems pass by at
such velocity it made her sick to the stomach. When she finally stopped she
stood in an empty part of space, though she could see dual stars shining far
away.

She felt as
though she knew this place, but it was the first time she’d been here. An
ominous humming overtook her senses. It felt as if the universe around her was
in a state of flux, trembling, shaking. Something big was about to happen.

A planet started
materializing in the void before her eyes. At first it appeared blurry and felt
like an after vision, like a mirage. But as time passed it became clearer and
clearer. The parts of it engulfed in the darkness revealed points of light in
close proximity. There was life on this planet; many cities in fact.

Without warning
the gravity of the newly appeared celestial body attracted her to the surface.
She tried to fight the forces that brought her towards the planet at impossible
velocity, but was powerless to do anything about it. She passed into the
atmosphere and her body fell faster and faster. She couldn’t see anything. A
red, foggy haze was all around her. Soon the vista changed, and she realized she
had passed through a thick layer of red clouds. The ground came at her so fast
she felt compelled to close her eyes right before impact.

 But there was no
boom, no crash, and no pain. She dared open her eyes and she was standing on
the surface of this world. This planet that seemed not to exist just a minute
ago. Strong winds sent dark, red sand into her face. It was so coarse, and the
wind so wild, it produced hundreds of small cuts on the surface of her skin.