Saint (Gateway Series Book 2) (23 page)

“Just go!” replied Stone, who looked up and took aim at a Guardsman distracted by the Scapi’s brave action.

He fired and the Guardsman fell but a salvo of gunfire drove him to take cover behind the access. Looking on, he watched as TC slowly made his way to Orion and covered her as she rushed across the brow and dove into the pit.

The thunderous sound of TC’s heavy machine gun suddenly fell silent as a single round passed just over his makeshift shield and tore into the top of his head.

“Damn it,” cursed Stone as he grabbed a handhold at
Hydra
’s access and dove into the pit.

Hitting the ground, Stone broke into a sprint as he rushed to the opposite side of
Hydra
. When he arrived Orion was standing at a small access.

“TC?” she asked.

Stone shook his head.

“That fucking big blue bastard,” cursed Orion as she punched the access panel repeatedly.

“We’ve got to go,” said Stone as he placed his hand on Orion’s shoulder.

Orion exhaled heavily and nodded. Stone stepped into the access, followed by Orion.

“We’ve got to hurry. They’ll be right behind us,” said Orion.

Stone reached for a grenade he had taken from one of the guards. “This will slow them down.” Orion pulled the pin and placed the lever against the panel.

“Good,” replied Orion. “We’ll travel down this passage a few meters then it branches off in several directions. We can leave a few more surprises for them there.”

“After that?” asked Stone.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve had to make a quick getaway on Port Royal, Stone.”

***

Astra stood at her private landing bay near her personal entrance to the Forum with General Vispa standing at her side.

“They should be here any moment, ProConsul,” said Vispa.

Astra let out a sigh. The only time she had to wait was for the Xen or the Dorans.

“What is the status of that religious nut in the Echo system?” she asked.

“Major General Mellius and Vice Admiral Tharus with three battle groups and 15,000 troops will be in system in a few days. They will use the orbital destroyers to set up perimeters around the capitals and troop concentration areas and then send in attack craft and ground troops to destroy any resistance.”

“Excellent,” replied Astra. “That self-righteous prick will see what true power is.”

“Of course, ProConsul,” agreed Vispa.

“I want every soldier killed and the rest of his followers rounded up into camps.” She paused and turned toward Vispa. “And General Vispa, I want his head delivered to me in a box.”

“Of course, ProConsul.”

“I am serious, General,” she added, afraid he hadn’t understood her actual desire. “I want it delivered in a box of Perillian wood, engraved in gold with my family crest on the cover.”             

“Yes, ProConsul,” replied Vispa, “it will be done.”

“And inform Mellius if he can’t deliver this lunatic’s head, I will have his.” Knowing she had made her point, Astra turned back toward the landing dock as a heavily armored shuttle, with Doran military markings, drifted into position.

“Protocol, gentlemen,” said Astra quietly but sternly as she looked straight ahead. “Do not embarrass me.”

The ship locked into its berth with a metallic thud and the shuttle doors opened. Astra inhaled and forced a smile to her face as Dorans, the first in over a century, set foot on Humani soil. Two guards exited. They wore what appeared to be armored uniforms and exoskeletons to make up for their gaunt builds. Each wore a grayish metal helmet that covered their face and a heavily shaded shield over their eyes, which were illuminated with a slight bluish hue. They mechanically marched into position just outside the access door.

Holding her smile, Astra’s eyes opened slightly wider as a massive, humanoid-shaped metallic form rumbled outside of the access. Standing almost two and half meters tall, the thick machine robotically trudged into position a few meters from the access. Coming to an abrupt halt, the mechanized warrior pivoted from left to right and began to hum mechanically as it continuously scanned for threats. Following the mech came two thin, ashen-skinned warriors standing at least two meters tall. While their legs displayed similar armored exoskeletons as the others, their torsos were covered with a plated armored tunic and shoulder pads. Underneath the tunic was a heavy padded shirt, which seemed to replace the more rigid exoskeleton of the others. Over their shoulders they carried a type of rifle unknown to Astra and at each warriors’ side was a curved blade half a meter in length. The warrior to Astra’s right activated a switch on his helmet, which covered his lower jaw, and spoke.

“Astra Varus of the Family Varus, ProConsul of the Humani Senate and leader of the Republic, I, Captain Navar, officer of the Doran Imperial Guard, have the honor of presenting Lord General Zorlar, head of the Yellow River Clan, cousin to King Vali of the Doran Southern Multi-polis, and combined leader of the Doran Humani Expeditionary Group.”

As the warrior spoke, another tall figure emerged from the shuttle. He was dressed similarly to Captain Navar but wore a long sword around his waist in addition to the short sword and was cloaked in a dark blue cape connected around his neck by what looked like wolf’s hide.

Astra looked toward General Vispa out of the corner of her eye in a silent warning of the repercussions of failure.

General Vispa stood taller. “Greetings, Captain Navar. I, General Vispa of the Family Vispa and Chief Military Council to the ProConsul welcome the arrival of Lord General Zorlar and introduce the leader of the Senate and Defender of the Republic, ProConsul Astra Varus of the Family Varus.”

Astra let out a slight exhale of contentment with Vispa’s successful introduction.

“Lord General Zorlar.” She smiled. “I am honored with your presence.” She waited silently for the response.

“ProConsul Varus,” replied Zorlar with what Astra thought was a hint of a scowl. “I hope to serve you well and bring honor to both your family and my clan, and in doing so, honor the Emperor.”

Astra bowed her head slightly as the Lord General walked toward her. As he came to a stop, she stood erect, straining her neck slightly to look up toward Zorlar. She maintained her smile. “Please, Lord General, follow me to your chambers and we shall discuss your duties.”

“Thank you, ProConsul, but no,” replied Zorlar flatly. “I will not require chambers. I will remain with my ship except for official duties requiring my presence on this…on your planet.”

“Very well, Lord General,” replied Astra, almost choking on the words. Astra felt if she had to work any harder to maintain her smile, her skin would crack. She now despised the Dorans almost as much as the Xen. “Perhaps—”

“As my duties have been assigned to me by the Emperor through King Vali, I will assess and support your command staff and, if I feel necessary, proceed to the Foxtrot system and relieve your troops so they may support other Humani efforts.”

“Do not speak to the ProConsul in this manner!” demanded General Vispa as he stepped toward Zorlar.

Astra saw the two officers beside Zorlar place their hands on their swords and in the background she saw the mech quickly twist its torso toward the group as two gatling guns extended from its arms and began to spin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of her Praetorians take a defensive posture.

“Gentlemen,” she said softly as she placed her hand on Vispa’s chest to gently push him away. “Perhaps Lord General Zorlar and I should speak alone for a while.” As she spoke, Astra burned her gaze into Vispa.

“Yes, ProConsul.” Vispa relented and stepped back as the Doran guards relaxed their stance and the massive mechanized warrior retracted its weapons.

Astra extended her hand toward the entrance and continued. “Lord General, allow me to show you to the rooms we have reserved for your use…if you so wish.”

Zorlar looked down toward her with an expressionless face and nodded in acknowledgment. Astra motioned for the two to step away from the group, leaving the Praetorians and Vispa to stare awkwardly at the Zorlar’s troops.

“Your General Vispa seems impulsive, ProConsul, a trait we had heard was common in your species.”

Astra wanted so badly to reach up and slap the Doran across the face. But she couldn’t reach it and that wouldn’t solve her problem. She would have to be patient. “Yes, Lord General,” she replied. “Although impulsiveness can be useful in subordinates, true leaders must exhibit sound judgment. Judgment and a sense of one’s place in the hierarchy of things.” She looked up to see Zorlar’s tight expression loosen ever so slightly. “It is important for the leaders of my civilization to feel pride in their status so that the social order can be maintained. Unfortunately, they sometimes forget we are just one ally.” She paused “A new ally compared to your Doran civilization, within the greater Xen Empire.” She stopped to give Zorlar an ever-so-slight bow of her head. “I have not forgotten.”

“Of course,” replied Zorlar. “And I fully plan to support you in the Foxtrot system, but I must first stay long enough to ensure my vessels’ communications systems are fully integrated with yours, that both the Humani and Doran fire control systems are integrated so as to not identify one another as foes, and to allow a few weeks of joint training so that our battle groups may operate together.”

“Understandable, Lord General,” she replied. “I just need to—”

“You clearly understand politics,” interrupted Zorlar, “and whether you like it or not, you also understand your place in the Empire. I will make the final decision as to the deployment of my ships and men but in public, I will not challenge your authority directly. Unless I find it necessary.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Lord General,” she replied with another bow of her head to feign respect and hide her grimaced scowl at his audacity.

Chapter 17

“One hundred,” Martin said out loud as she hung from a pipe in her cell and pulled her knees to her chest for another repetition. Over the last few days the meds provided by Dan-Lee had worked wonders for her, and Martin was well on her way back to fighting shape. She let her legs drop again. Steadying her legs and extending them parallel to the floor, she pulled her body toward the ceiling until her chin touched the pipe. Dull pain still pulsated from her elbow, but she could handle that. “One—”

“Looking good” came a voice from the cell entrance. “You seem to be healing up nicely.”

Martin glanced toward the entrance but continued her workout. It was Dan-Lee. “Come in and I’ll show you how well I’m healed,” she replied. “Two.”

“Are you always so quick to invite men into your room?” quipped Dan-Lee.

“Three,” she counted out loud, trying to ignore the remark. But she couldn’t. As she continued her workout, she spoke. “Men, yes. But I’ll make an exception for you. And I promise it’ll be a night you’ll never forget…because you’ll need to eat through a straw after.” She pulled her torso toward the ceiling again. “Sev-en.”

“So brash and confident,” he replied. “You Elite Guard are like spoiled children. Perhaps you need a good spanking.”

Martin dropped to the floor and looked into Dan-Lee’s eyes. “I’m bored with this. Just come in so I can shut your mouth.”

“Not yet,” he replied. “But we should talk.”

“About?”

“Come closer.”

Martin slowly walked over to the entrance and gripped the bars with her hands. She tensed her body—if this jackass gave her a chance she would make him pay.

But he didn’t. He stood just out of arms’ reach outside her cell.

“What?” asked Martin.

“We are on the same side, Paladin.”

Martin laughed. Given her new knowledge about her civilization’s greatest lie, the concept of a side meant nothing to her. “And what side’s that?”

“I am an agent of the ProConsul.”

“Sure,” replied Martin as the right side of her mouth curled in skepticism. “You look it.”

“If I looked like a Humani spy, I wouldn’t be very good at my job, now would I?”

Martin started to put the small pieces of information together. His skill. The amber-yellowish eyes. And his contempt for the Elite Guard. “You’re Phelian,” she declared.              

Martin quickly recalled her history. The Phel inhabited the planet that became Charlie 5 after the Accords created the Neutral Quadrant. Fierce but primitive warriors, the Phel offered their young to the ProConsul Gaius Craxi generations ago to be trained by the Praetorians and Humani Intelligence as mercenaries and assassins. That all changed about thirty years ago when ProConsul Tradar Epialius learned the Phelian chieftain had been speaking with Terillian agents. Afraid they would switch sides, the ProConsul ordered the destruction of the Phel warrior order. The resultant war of attrition between the Phel and the Elite Guard ended a few years before Martin joined the guard in what was believed to be the eradication of the Phelian warrior class, but as a young lieutenant, she had come face-to-face with a few of these master killers.

“I thought you were all dead,” she replied matter-of-factly. “I thought the last of you died on Golf 2…by my hand.”

“So you were the one,” he replied coldly. “Well, a few have survived…no thanks to the Elite Guard.”

Martin was puzzled. “If you’re Phel, then why the hell are you working for the ProConsul?” She wanted to find out more but didn’t want to give away what she had recently learned. If she played the loyal Humani soldier, he might actually help her escape.

“My hatred for the Guard has nothing to do with filling my pockets.”

Not only is this guy a jerk
, thought Martin,
he has no honor either
. But he could be useful. “Then why are you here?”

“I was hired when the ProConsul came up with this plan to ‘create’ this religion to gain more slaves for the Xen and her private army.”

“Create? You’re telling me all of this shit is Astra Varus’s handiwork?” And Martin thought it was impossible for her to hate the ProConsul more than she already did.

“That was the original plan. I was hired to work my way into the higher order if I could and keep an eye on the Saint, otherwise known as Tali Vena.”

“Who?”

“Exactly. He was some con-man the Association hired and trained with the ProConsul’s blessing. He was given a ton of cash, some preliminary ‘followers’ like myself, and a doctrine thought to be good to win over the hearts of disenchanted populations in the Dark Zone.”

“So this Word fanaticism—it’s all bullshit?”

“Not to the followers. They are drinking in this collective community, reward in the afterlife stuff…but then the Saint started believing too.”

“What?”

“The power, the hundreds of thousands—maybe millions—of followers, the constant spouting of doctrine—it went to his head. It’s not hard to believe when you hear the same story day after day.”

“No shit,” replied Martin, almost giving herself away. She released her grip and took a step away from the bars. “Is there any truth left in the galaxy?” she mumbled aloud.

“Truth?” laughed Dan-Lee. “Truth is the near extinction of my people, the subjugation of millions by the Humani and Terillians in the name of their self-righteous causes, it’s the desperation of people stuck in the middle in the Dark Zone. Truth is pain, suffering, loneliness, and death. Nobody wants to know the truth; that’s why lies are so much easier to accept.”

“I just—”

“Maybe you’re not the typical Guardsman,” Dan-Lee inquired. “For several reasons.”

Martin was afraid she was giving herself away. She had always sucked at keeping her emotions in check, but she would have to reign herself in. She stepped back toward the bars. “I am anything but typical,” she smiled confidently.

“I bet you are,” returned Dan-Lee.

“Maybe someday you’ll find out,” she replied with a deceptive smile meant to make Dan-Lee wonder just what she meant. “But for now, how are you going to get me out of here?”

“I think you know as well as me that Astra Varus won’t take the Saint’s betrayal lying down.”

“No shit,” she replied.

Dan-Lee motioned toward Rebecca’s cell, where the envoy was sleeping. “I sent a low frequency coded message when our lost little dove over there was captured. That message should have reached the ProConsul a few weeks ago, along with the distress signal from the ship that brought you likely sent before it was destroyed. My guess is Humani troops will be crawling all over this place within a week at the latest.”

Martin knew he was right. That is, unless Astra Varus decided to just nuke the place and find another source for her human chattel.

“What’s the plan?” she asked.

“Things will get hectic when the Humani arrive. When that happens, I’m going to release you and we are going to take out the beloved, all-powerful Saint.”

Martin considered her options. She could work with Dan-Lee to kill the Saint. Even though it was what Astra Varus wanted, the Saint deserved a bullet as much as anyone else on her list.

“And after that?” she asked.

“I get my money and you get another promotion and praise from your precious Senate and ProConsul.”

The thought of praise from the pack of liars leading her planet made her stomach churn, but she played along. If another award put her face to face with Astra Varus again one last time…“I’m in,” she replied.

“Of course you are,” said Dan-Lee.

“You just worry about yourself.”

“Oh, I never worry about myself…” She saw and felt him look over her body in that all-too-familiar way. “But I’ll definitely be watching your back.” He smiled.

She smiled back. “Once we take care of the Saint, we’ve got some unfinished business.”

“Looking forward to it,” Dan-Lee replied with a wink.

“You shouldn’t.”

“See you later, Paladin” He laughed as he turned to walk away.

“You can count on it,” replied Martin as she raised her middle finger to his turned back. “Dick.”

Martin quickly spun around from the entrance to her cell as if it would make Dan-Lee’s lascivious, arrogant attitude disappear. She was frustrated, anxious, and to her own disgust, slightly excited by her encounter with the Phelian mercenary.

“What an asshole,” she said aloud as she shook her head and jumped back up to grab the pipe and continue her workout. Pulling her body toward the pipe, she focused on the strain in her muscles and the pain in her elbow; it was easier to take than the emotional pain she felt. “One—”