Breaking Gods (3 page)

Her attendants smiled at her and steered her out of the building where they had dressed her and onto a flat platform that rose in the air to cruise toward the palace. It was easy to spot the palace; it was the only advanced building visible.

She had no idea how much time had passed since they landed, but she was preparing for battle. Whatever she was here for, she was about to do it. She wasn’t letting him get her into bed. She wasn’t that kind of alien.

Lieta looked around and she noticed a gathering crowd. Apparently, they had been notified that she was coming.

The platform landed and the women with her knelt as they faced their god.

The women hissed, “Kneel.”

Lieta stepped forward. “I will not kneel.”

The crowd murmured as she broke protocol.

The god narrowed his gaze. “Kneel.”

She felt the air buffet her, pressing on her shoulders, forcing her down.

Lieta floated up against his pressure, and she raised her hands. “I will not kneel.”

The sky darkened and the wind stirred the air as moisture churned.

“I am a god, and you will kneel to me!” Lightning cracked around his hands, and he thrust them forward, firing at her.

She was done. She moved toward him and caught the energy, turning it back on him as she skimmed across the divide between them. With a snap, she encased him and the lightning in a force field and cut off his air.

She watched him suffocate and turned toward the attendants who were looking on in horror. “Yes?”

“Are you a god?”

She winced. She drew on the sonic talent so her voice boomed over the crowd. “No. I am a woman of power and I have come to reclaim this man. He is no more a god than I am and his will has twisted your society. I order you to tear this palace apart, to free the slaves and to resume your lives with his presence here as the measure of an evil being who came to rule you. Make him a creature of myth and legend and live in your reality.”

Lieta wrapped the body in bands of power and felt the pulse inside. He was still alive.

The flight was short. She managed to find the shuttle again, and with the god in her grip, she simply glared at the guards who stared at her. “He is going home.”

Once inside the ship, she dropped her cargo on the floor. “Do you have anything to tie him with?”

The guard watching the two specialists jumped and his jaw dropped as he looked from the god on the floor to the woman who was standing with her foot on his chest. She sighed and sent a light zap of electricity through him, causing him to stiffen and crumple.

Heirak got up from his seat and lifted the guard, taking him outside the ship. When he returned, he opened a cupboard, removed a column of something shiny and wrapped it around the head and neck of the deity on the ground. The man under her foot shuddered.

“What was that?”

Lieta brushed her hands along her thighs and watched as Heirak heaved the deity onto the medical bed before wrapping him tightly to it with that substance.

“It is called null film. It was designed to transport talents to prison stations.”

“Where are we taking him?”

“Janial station. He has been tried in absentia for enslaving a primitive race. We have social repair specialists in the population already. They will assess the damage and determine the sentence. His guilt is not in debate.”

She smiled. “And then you take me home.”

He gave her a look that spoke volumes. “Correct. We will take you home.”

Lieta folded out the jump seat in medical. “I will stay here for the flight. If he wakes, I don’t want him panicking and hurting himself.”

Specialist Heirak gave her an odd look and then nodded. He headed for the control deck, and minutes later, they were lifting off.

She swayed as they parted from the atmosphere. The man on the bed moaned and twitched. Lieta stood up the moment they were stable and she crooned to sooth him.

It took an hour, but he opened his eyes and fought his restraints. The null film flexed but didn’t break. “Where am I?”

“You are on a ship and heading for prison, my friend.” She couldn’t help but feel something when he was near her.

“What happened?”

“I pulled rank on god.” She smiled. “You ran into someone you couldn’t control or intimidate. Now, you are going to spend time in confinement.”

He scowled. “So, you have power as well? I thought I was the only one.”

“Where I come from, you would have had your ass handed to you the moment you tried to pull any of that holy crap. If what I read is correct, you will meet a few other talents in the prison.”

He groaned and she could feel him trying to exert his energy.

“That isn’t wise. What is your name, by the way?”

“Muraz of the Kianhar. I would bow, but it seems I am bound.”

“Oh, and you will remain so, Muraz.” She turned away.

“Wait. I have never seen a woman like you.”

“As far as I know, there isn’t one. When I was made, someone killed the mould.” She was shocked. She never just blurted that out. She backed away and sat down.

He tried to look at her but his head was restrained. “Come back where I can see you.” His voice had turned low and husky.

“No. I am fine here. I have had a trying day.”

To her surprise, he chuckled. “You and me both.”

She paused and then giggles broke free before they turned into wild laughter. It really had been a trying day.

It felt surreal to return home with her ridiculous costume in her bag where a regular boring gown used to be.

She felt a surge of relief when she walked through the rear entrance of the abbey.

When she stepped out of the tunnels and into the square, everyone froze for a moment before they surged around her, hugging her and congratulating her on her successful return.

Specialist Valuu stepped up and shook her hand. “Curator, your skills have given me very big shoes to fill.”

“Since everyone seems hale and hearty, I am guessing that you did just fine. Your partners are waiting in the shuttle, but they are tucked into their dinner so there is no hurry.”

Valuu grinned. “Speaking of which, you must be hungry. Venila has been working on her cooking, so this could be an interesting evening.”

“I think this is my biggest challenge so far. Shall we?”

The community gathered around her and she sat in the dining hall, in the place she always occupied. The stew was a little…unusually seasoned, but she could eat it.

Sister Esrai smiled. “Mother and Father wish to see you as soon as you eat.”

Valuu shook her head. “No matter how politely I asked, I was never allowed to meet them.”

Lieta patted her hand. “They pick the time, the place and what they will tell you. If I go on another assignment and you return to fill in, they will evaluate whether you are ready to meet them. Eventually, you will meet them.”

“Can you at least tell me about them?”

Lieta smiled, “They simply are what they are. When you see them, you will know what I am talking about.”

“I look forward to it.”

Lieta chuckled. “It shows what you know.”

She took off her shoes and paced down the pathway to the stone seat. Her skin wooded over and Mother and Father appeared.

“Hello, Mother and Father.”

“Lieta, our dearest one. How was your adventure?” The rough bark of their hands held hers.

“I was responsible for knocking a civilization back to the bronze age, and I met a man I couldn’t look away from and made sure he was locked away. It was a pretty good adventure, but there are some regrets.”

“Like what?”

“I finally met a man that I actually could see myself with and he was an ego maniac who enslaved a people.”

“Is that all?”

Shock was a polite word for what was running through Lieta’s mind. “All?”

“Enslaving a people is easy. You could have done it yourself. What was he doing with his power?”

“Trying to breed. From the records available, he never managed to have offspring.”

“Then consider his actions the work of a desperate man. He was alone and he didn’t want to die that way. He tried to create his own world, his own family.” Mother and Father smiled. “Perhaps it is time to tell you of my own people. We seeded ourselves throughout the known worlds and many that were unknown. We chose our planets with care and put down roots. When the time was right, we looked at the existing population and we made our own children to match it. Those children went out and found partners who bore the next generation. It continued down the line until the thread of our blood ran thin in thousands, but in some, it began to weave back together again.”

“You never told me that before.”

“You never needed to know that you are descended from beings of power, beings of wild energy and us. We are your ultimate progenitors and we are very proud.” Mother and Father caressed her face with small tendrils of vines.

“Will you tell me why my mother died?”

“Her mate wanted the child but your mother was powerful and his people feared it. They struck him down and chased her while she was near to term. She ran for weeks before she gave birth and she was nearly to safety when they struck her down as well.”

“Who took her while I watched?”

“We are not sure, but your description is of a group called the Watchers. I have never met one, but they match the mode and description that you shared with us.”

She sighed. “How can I learn more of them?”

Mother and Father shrugged. It was amazing; Lieta had never seen that particular move from her guardian before.

“I suppose that you can seek them out amongst the stars, but we have no way of getting you there.” Mother and Father gave her an innocent look.

Smiling with a wry twist to her lips, Lieta said, “Then I shall have to work here in harmony until the Citadel calls again.”

“Can you do it with calm? Can you wait with patience?”

She squeezed Mother and Father’s hands. “Do you know who you are dealing with?”

“Not all of you, you constantly surprise us, Lieta.”

“I am glad. Life gets very long if there are no surprises.”

Mother and Father drew her close for a hug. “You have no idea.”

They both chuckled, and when Lieta left Mother and Father, she was at peace. A footstep in the chapel hall near her reminded her to shed the bark so that when Specialist Valuu rounded the corner she was back to her normal appearance.

“Did you meet with them?” Valuu was curious.

“Yes. They were happy I am back and appreciated your efforts.” She linked arms with Valuu and drew her away from the chapel and back to the dining hall.

Valuu sighed. “I suppose if I return I will have another opportunity to meet them.”

“I suppose you will. Find me another god to remove and you might have the chance.”

“Don’t tempt me. Venila’s ex did make an attempt on the abbey, but I was able to turn him back. I think the next time he comes, he will be bringing a group. He seems tired of trying to do it for his own dignity; there is desperation in his words and movements.”

“I stand warned. Frankly, I am a little more eager for a fight than I should be. The god didn’t put up the fight I was hoping for.”

Valuu chuckled. “I think I understand why you were never inducted into the abbey. You have a line of energy that runs through you. You need to put yourself in harm’s way, to be between the innocent and the attackers. The others have commented on it over the last few days.”

“Yes. I suppose I do. I protect what is mine and this abbey is mine. It is the only home I have known and I will not see those within it harmed.” Lieta shrugged.

“It is a good quest to keep them safe, but I will endeavour to seek out others that need your touch, if only to earn myself an audience with Mother and Father.”

Lieta sat with her and sipped at her tea while they discussed Darhil and the man who was controlling it. When Valuu’s robes chirped insistently, she gave a wry look and sighed. “My time here is at an end for now. I wish you well, Lieta.”

“And you as well, Specialist. Your protection was welcome.”

She got to her feet and escorted Valuu back to the shuttle. Once they were all inside, she flew back to the abbey. She wanted to be back in her own bed.

* * * *

Specialist Heirak looked through the viewer and he cleared his throat. “Ukiss, did you know she could fly?”

“No; no, I did not. It seems she isn’t restricted to the mimicry of skills.”

Valuu came into the cockpit and she strapped in. “I don’t think she has to be in the presence of an active talent to use their skills. I think she can keep them and use them when she likes.”

“Was that what you surmised or what you saw?”

Valuu shrugged. “It was what the locals told me. They have seen her use a multitude of skills in response to an attack, without the original owners of those skills being present.”

“Interesting. Do you think we will have an occasion to return?” Ukiss asked her over his shoulder.

“With the intel we received before we left, this was not the only occasion where a talent was using their powers to subvert the will of a population. I am fairly positive that we will be calling on Lieta again.”

Heirak scowled. “I don’t know if that is a good idea. She had a lot of sympathy for Muraz of Darhil. I could almost see a connection between them.”

Ukiss nodded. “There may have been. The power signatures are similar, as are those who have begun to surface in control of countries and entire worlds. It was like they all activated at the same time. Whether it is genetics or energy, something connects them.”

Valuu shook her head. “Whatever it is, Lieta is stronger and has a selfless energy that makes her approachable. She also doesn’t have an avaricious bone in her body. She wants what is best for those around her and she defends and doesn’t prey on the weak.”

Heirak chose his words with care. “Perhaps that is how they gain the loyalty of those around them. Nothing is more powerful than a charismatic leader with a loyal core of followers.”

Valuu shook her head in denial. “Lieta will not be a god, nor will she be a leader. She is content in the role of protector, but the stars help anyone who attacks those in her care. I am fairly sure that she would turn them inside out without another thought.”