1
NOBLE’S EYES WERE WILD WITH DELIRIOUS FURY. THE MEDICAL TECH’S GAZE darted towards Noble and back to the hologram readout. “Look at his vitals, I don’t dare up the dosage.”
“Do it!” said Dr Mons.
With hesitant steps, the assistant walked to the bio mainframe and pulled a lever attached to a unit containing different fluids. Through a clear tube, a viscous pale-yellow concoction of sedatives traveled from the mainframe into Noble’s body. The room of techs watched on silent tenterhooks.
Noble’s entire body fell limp in an instant as the sedation hit his system. The hologram displaying his vitals showed his brain activity and heart returning to stable levels. The new assistant closed his eyes and exhaled. The rest of the techs went back to their previous tasks. Dr Mons turned his attention to the assistant. “Now that he is stable, we must continue to phase two.”
A chrysalis of thin fibrous strings began to web across Noble’s body. Every inch became covered in the membrane. The main doors to the medical bay opened. Cassius entered, his eyes immediately gravitating towards Noble. He watched in his usual stoic manner as his superior was being attended to. He moved to Dr Mons’s side. “He’s alive.”
Dr Mons nodded his head. “He is… just.” Cassius and the doctor watched Noble disappear beneath the slimy, tight casing.
“Have all the files pertaining to these procedures been sent to the Motherworld?” asked Cassius.
Dr Mons turned to face him. “Once we brought him back… we received a communique from the Motherworld with a list of bio-enhancements…” He walked towards the bio mainframe with multiple monitors. Cassius followed him and noticed the techs trying not to glance at Cassius, who would be in charge if any of this went wrong.
Dr Mons pointed to one of the screens. “I thought it was a mistake. We were lucky he was alive at all. No way he could survive the trauma associated with changing his biology on a molecular level. I protested and was told… ‘If he dies, he dies.’ I don’t know who he angered at home, but this order came from the highest levels.”
Cassius’s eyes darted from scanning the document from the Motherworld back to the doctor. “Yet, he survived.” He then glanced back at Noble. He wondered if he had sided with the wrong admiral. Was his loyalty misplaced with the wrong man? One thing he did know: if Noble wronged or challenged Balisarius, they would both be considered expendable. Perhaps another plan, in place for himself, would have to be conceived.
“Yes… he did. I don’t know whose bad side he is on, but this order came from the highest levels. It is not for me to question,” said Dr Mons.
“Call me when he is ready.”
The doctor nodded and Cassius returned to commanding the ship.
* * *
Cassius walked closer to Noble just as his eyes began to flutter. He smacked his lips. The casing around his face and neck had already been removed. He winced as he swallowed hard. His eyes opened to narrow slits before squinting at Cassius. He opened his mouth to speak but no words emerged. Cassius turned to Dr Mons, who nodded. Cassius leaned his ear closer to Noble’s lips.
“…Cassius. Cassius,
where am I?” he whispered in a hoarse voice.
Cassius moved away from Noble. “You’re aboard your ship, sir, The King’s Gaze. We have been holding in orbit around Gondival hoping for your recovery, sir. And thank God our prayers have been answered.”
Noble stared at Cassius. “If I had died, the ship would have been yours, Cassius.”
Cassius did not respond or show the slightest emotion. It might have been his, but there would have been a lot to answer for to the Motherworld. “Sir… I’m just happy you’re alive and we eagerly await your return to command.”
Noble’s eyes searched the room before meeting Cassius’s gaze again. “Is that so… Well then Cassius, listen to me… Veldt. She’s on Veldt,” he said in a whisper through clenched teeth.
Cassius’s brow furrowed. He had an inkling, but had learned long ago to let Noble lead. Sometimes it was better to act like you knew nothing to get precisely the information you wanted. “Who is?”
Noble attempted to lift his head and his eyes narrowed again, this time with an angry glare. “The Scargiver. The hated other. She’s on Veldt. Set a course for Veldt.”
“What about Devra Bloodaxe? The mission is not complete. I know we will be asked about the rebels and we need a satisfactory answer.”
“Secondary. They are weak on their own. She won’t stand a chance now. And when I have Arthelais in my grasp… No one will care she hasn’t been captured yet.”
Noble shook his head and blinked before he fell back on the platform. He stared at the ceiling without saying another word.
Cassius gave him a salute. “Yes, Admiral. It will be done.”
He turned to the doctor and gave him a short nod, then walked back to the main deck to set their course and ensure their plan on Veldt was still in place. Before beginning his transmission to Veldt, while straightening his uniform, an officer paused the comms to start the hologram. “Do you think it’s wise to tell them we are still on course?”
Cassius pushed the officer’s hand away from the hologram pad, and made a point to keep eye contact. “We need the girl, and we need the harvest. Both await us on Veldt. No matter what fight they offer, both will be taken.”
The officer saluted Cassius and left. Cassius paused in front of the hologram. For the first time, he felt his loyalty to Noble waver. He knew exactly who Noble was and what motivated him. It had taken years for him to know how to handle that man. But if Noble went down, then so would Cassius. He could see this had become personal. That was usually when matters became reckless and messy. He had seen many in the Imperium rise then fall because they became too willing to think they were above their station by taking liberties.
Balisarius made Noble seem like a wet nurse. Noble was not someone he was willing to die for. And these rebels made him pause. He’d watched them fight against great odds on Gondival. Two separate groups of rebels joined for one cause, to attempt to stand against the Imperium. The plan was meant to be perfect, yet Noble found himself defeated, and only one Bloodaxe was dead. They had proved they were willing to die for a united cause, and each other. This bond was greater than the Imperium, and that was dangerous.
2
KORA AND THE BAND OF WEARY BUT UNSCATHED WARRIORS MADE THE EASY journey from the lush forested mountains and into the tucked-away valley towards the village. Kora and Gunnar glanced at each other when they reached the edge of the dirt road leading into the outskirts of the village. They expected it to be bustling in activity, but it was the opposite. The village was quiet, seemingly desolate. No one worked in the fields or outside. All the uraki had to be in the stables because they too were absent. Kora turned to Gunnar with one hand on her hip, close to her weapon. Her body and face straightened with tension upon this odd sight. She shifted from calm and relief from making it back in one piece after fighting Noble to high alert. In a way, she was more comfortable in this tense state. “No one is in the fields.”
Gunnar shook his head and scanned the village, paying attention to every detail. “Look. Smoke from the longhouse. The hearths are lit. Let’s find out what’s going on.”
Gunnar and Kora picked up their pace towards the stone bridge as they approached the longhouse, hoping to find out where everyone was. As they got closer, Den and Hagen stood next to the village bell. Den had his eyes only on Kora, giving her a welcoming smile while Hagen waved them over. Gunnar glanced over to Kora, who seemed to relax upon seeing familiar faces. Hagen had a wide grin as he studied the warriors individually. They stopped at the posts to dismount and tie up the uraki.
“We watched your descent down the eastern slope. I am Hagen.” His eyes softened as he said this and looked at Kora with genuine joy. Hagen approached the warriors with Den next to him. “This is Den. We welcome you to our humble village. You must be tired and hungry.”
Titus held up his flask. “And thirsty.”
Hagen nodded and clapped his hands together. “We have prepared food and drink for you in the longhouse.” Gunnar slapped Hagen on the shoulder with a large smile then turned to the warriors. “Come on, you’ll see what great hosts my people can be.”
Hagen, Gunnar, and Den turned to walk into the longhouse. The rest of the warriors followed, with Kora staying behind the crowd. “Kora!” a voice shouted.
Kora saw Sam and smiled. She appeared well. The young woman waved to her then turned to run in the direction of the granary. Kora’s gaze moved to the towering mountains. It was nice to feel rooted to the ground again in a place of such beauty. She inhaled deeply before turning to join the rest in the longhouse.
* * *
Sam ran into the granary, out of breath and rosy cheeked. “They’ve come back!” She stood in front of him, smiling and buzzing with excitement.
Aris rose from the barrel he sat on, fixing and cleaning weapons. This news made him equally excited. “How do they look?”
“Strong. I guess how warriors should look. I knew Kora would make it back. We have real fighters joining us.”
Aris’s initial excitement died down when he thought about the practical. “How many of them?”
“Six… with Kora and Gunnar.”
He shook his head, appearing crushed by the number, and looked around the granary that still stored Imperium equipment. “Six? Then it won’t matter how strong they look.”
Sam’s face dropped.
“Oh.”
Aris walked towards Sam and reached for both her hands when a series of loud beeps rang out. It was his superiors reaching out via the comms link. His eyes darted around frantically. “Hide! You can’t be seen.”
Sam nodded and ducked behind stacked crates. Satisfied she was out of sight, he rushed to the hologram. Before answering, he ran his fingers through his hair and made sure his uniform appeared tidy. He swiped the plate to receive the transmission. A familiar face appeared. “Commander Cassius,” said Aris as he saluted.
“Soldier. All is as it should be, I trust?”
“Yes, sir. All is on target.”
Cassius never surprised Aris with how difficult he was to read. The man was a master at never betraying his thoughts or emotions. He stared at Aris with a short pause. “Nothing out of the ordinary?”
Aris matched his stoic expression. “No, sir.”
“Very well. Ensure the harvest is brought in as planned and ready for our arrival in five days’ time.” Cassius ended the transmission abruptly after saying this.
Aris stared at the space which Cassius just inhabited then slowly turned towards Sam’s hiding space. “You can come out now.”
Sam rose to her feet with caution. Her face no longer showed disappointment. There was worry mixed with terror at the memory of the violence they had experienced at the hands of the soldiers. ...
We hope you are enjoying the book so far. To continue reading...
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Please log in to recommend or discuss...
