The Guardian (Coranite Chronicles) (32 page)

“You think someone ordered him to do this?” asked Kite.

“Precisely,” said Sorren. “As evidence of this, they sent me a letter. A warning.” Sorren took out the letter and tossed it to Kite. “I didn’t want to worry you with trivial things. But since you’re dying to know, who am I to stop you?”

Kite read the letter. “This is definitely a threat. But what’s this…alliance?”

“No doubt, the Immortal Alliance,” said Sorren gravely.

Kite appeared to be deep in thought. “Immortal Alliance? Just a name, or is it really an alliance of immortals?”

“It is really an alliance of immortals.”

“So you’re saying there are
more
of them? Ladestorm wasn’t alone?”

“That’s correct,” said Sorren. “A lot more.”

Kite gulped and sank down in his seat, looking absolutely petrified.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” Sorren assured him. “Immortals are pretty much human…with a long life span, incredible strength, supernatural powers, and really durable—if not near invincible—bodies.”

“That’s enough reason to be afraid,” said Kite. “One is enough to make my knees knock. And there are more?” He then said, “Since you’re
the
Judge that started it all, that means you’re immortal too, right? Is your transformation…controllable?”

“Transformation?” Sorren sounded puzzled. “Oh, you’re talking about what happened to Ladestorm. Ladestorm was special. Immortals are not all the same. Some have supernatural powers and abilities, like transformation. And those with transformation can control it. It’s not like they’ll stare at the moon, lose their minds, and go on a rampage. As for me, I’m nothing special anyway. So you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’m pretty much human.”

Kite exhaled. “That’s a relief. Wait, you’re an immortal, but you’re helping me?”

“Not every immortal is part of the alliance,” Sorren replied. “About…eight or nine hundred years ago they tried to get me to join. But I declined.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why would you decline?”

“Are you really asking me that?” Sorren laughed. “Would you have joined?”

Kite shrugged. “I mean, if I were immortal, I think it’d be tempting to join. When I think about immortals I wonder…do they have families? Do they have lives? Can they live like us? Maybe they need some sort of…social gathering to stay sane.”

“Apparently it doesn’t help…because they’re all insane,” said Sorren. “Immortals may be strong physically, but they are weak in so many other ways.” He snatched the letter out of Kite’s hands and pointed to it. “Don’t you see what they’re doing? They are the ones that started this war. I’ve heard rumors about this. Ladestorm proved those rumors true.”

“What rumors?” asked Kite.

“Supposedly, the Immortal Alliance has taken over most of the leadership of the Federation’s government and military. They are in control. That would explain why this war started so easily and why they’re watching us. They know you want to put a stop to this war. And I don’t think they’re willing to just let us ruin their plans.”

Kite felt the blood drain from his face. “The Federation is controlled by immortals? Is this true? This is worse than I thought! What can we do?”

“I don’t know,” said Sorren. “Let’s just stick to the plan. And do what we can.”

CHAPTER 26

Spirit Assassin

The pod arrived at the entrance of the military base. Giant emblems of the different branches of military decorated the wall. Several guards watched over the front door. A large security bot patrolled close by. Sorren and Kite climbed out of the pod and approached the entrance.

A guard stopped them. “What business do you have here, gentlemen?”

“I’m here to see Admiral Williams,” said Kite. He gestured toward Sorren. “This man is my bodyguard.”

“Hold on a minute.” The guard lifted his arm. On his forearm he had a long device strapped on. “Please press your finger against the small pad.” Kite did so.

A holographic screen sprang up from the device, displaying hundreds of lines of information on Kite.

The guard read off some data, “Captain Kite Ruthers. Captain of the
Hercules
. Recently declared MIA by his crew while investigating a distress call.” He grinned. “Welcome back, Captain.”

“Glad to be back.”

“Looks like you are on Admiral Williams’ list.”

Kite nodded. “Are we good to go?”

“Sure, sure,” said the guard amiably. He inputted a code in the keypad next to door to open it. “Go on down. He is currently in a meeting on sub level 511.”

There were many large tubes lined up across the four walls of the main lobby. These tubes were connected to the floor and each one had a large opening in front.

Sorren stepped inside one of the tubes, and Kite walked inside another. Sorren lifted up his foot. The floor was covered in a dark blue liquid several inches high. The liquid didn’t stick to his shoes, but it all felt very weird to be sloshing his feet on the elevator.

Kite looked at him through the glass. “Remember which floor?”

“Sub level 511,” said Sorren flatly.

“Destination accepted,” said the computer. “Please remain still.”

A cold chill swept across his legs. Sorren gazed at the floor. The blue liquid had hardened around his feet. He tried to move but was stuck in place.

“You are now headed for sub level 511,” said the computer.

Sorren felt the floor drop suddenly. The main lobby disappeared before his eyes. Hundreds of floors flashed before him. It was all a blur. He looked down at his feet. The hardened blue substance was keeping him down to the floor. Even though it was incredibly fast, it definitely felt safer than the elevator ride he took on his trip to the core of the planet.

The ride lasted only a matter of seconds.

“You can now leave the elevator,” said the computer. “Please watch your step.”

Pulling his feet out of the slime, Sorren stepped out of the tube. Kite arrived shortly after.

Kite led the way to the front desk.

The receptionist asked them, “Hello, what can I do for you today?”

“I’m here to see Admiral Williams,” said Kite.

“He’s in a meeting right now,” she said.

“So I’ve heard.”

“It might be a while before it is over. You can wait for him in the other conference room.” She turned and pointed down the hall on the right. “You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks.”

Kite and Sorren proceeded down the hall.

While they walked, all they heard was the sound of their own footsteps. They didn’t see anyone else around. They passed by some open doors. Sorren peered through each one. The lights were on in these offices, but he did not see a single person.

Full of suspicion, Sorren stopped and glanced back.

Kite asked, “What is it?”

The receptionist was no longer at her desk.

“Something’s off,” said Sorren. “Where did the woman go?”

Kite had an expression of amusement. “Bathroom? Kitchen? Personal phone call? There are plenty of reasons people disappear in a hurry.”

“What about everyone else?”

Kite shrugged. “I don’t come down here often. Maybe they all went to a meeting.”

Sorren said nothing more.

Kite smirked. “What’s wrong?”

“You don’t find this odd? Silence…is always something to be wary of.”

“Wary of what? The security here is incredibly tight. You may not see them, but there are guards
everywhere
. If you’re worried about immortals ambushing us—”

Sorren said, “You only say that…because you can’t sense it.”

Kite raised a brow. “Sense what?”

“I still don’t know exactly what it is. I sense something in the air.”

Kite rolled his eyes. “Right…”

The door of the conference room was closed. There was a sign by the door covered by a sheet of cloth.

Kite reached for the blue panel just above the sign. Sorren quickly grabbed his wrist before it made contact with the panel and yanked it away.

“Wait,” said Sorren.

“What now?” Kite grunted.

“How many conference rooms would you need on a floor?”

“What?”

“The woman at the desk. She said this was the other conference room. Are there other conference rooms?”

Kite rubbed his forehead. “Must you really be
this
paranoid? Look, even if there were immortals in this building, there’s no way they would make a scene here. Their plan is to be discreet, right? That’s why they’ve been doing all these conspiracies and plots. Murdering someone in a military base is not discreet. This place is constantly under surveillance. Nothing happens without the Federation noticing.”

“You are so confident in the Federation’s abilities,” said Sorren. “But I am not that naïve. There are ways to sneak through this place without being seen. The Federation’s eyes are not perfect. And there are ways to kill a person in plain sight…without anyone noticing.”

Kite chuckled. “Sorry, aren’t you a little too old for fairy tales?”

Kite placed his hand on the panel.

The computer’s voice came from above and said, “Welcome, Captain Kite Ruthers.”

The door slid open. Sorren gazed through the doorway. The lights were off. The room was pitch black. Sorren slowly reached behind his head, groping for the hilt of his sword. There was nothing behind his back. Then he remembered he had lost his sword when he had fought the berserker.

A chill ran down his spine. It just wasn’t the same without a sword.

“And what do you suppose this is?” Sorren asked. “Power issues?”

“Look, how many times do I have to tell you? There’s nothing strange going on—”

Many shadows moved forward. The lights came on. Then they heard a loud shout.

“SURPRISE!”

Kite blinked at the crowd. The conference room was packed with people wearing party hats. Balloons and confetti littered the floor. A bright, huge banner was strung across the ceiling. It read:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sorren raised a brow. “Much less sinister than I anticipated.”

“What’s…going on here?” Kite stared at the cheery faces hemming them in.

“Ah! Ah, ah! There you are!” The tall and old Admiral Williams bumped his way through the crowd. He threw an arm over Kite’s shoulder, greeting him with a warm hug. “Kite, my boy! Took your sweet time, did you? How is it? Did you like the surprise?”

“Er—you know, it’s not my birthday,” Kite said.

The admiral patted him heartily on the back. “Of course it isn’t. It’s mine!”

Kite still looked confused. “Then why the surprise?”

Admiral Williams grinned. “Thousands of years of birthday parties thrown for millions of people and how many of them are really surprises, hmm? One would think the best way to throw a surprise party is to keep the element of surprise. That’s why I figured…why not turn things around?”

“But it doesn’t make sense—”

The admiral’s eyes brightened. “But it does make a surprise.” He passed Kite a slice of a pizza with a candle on top. “Here, have a slice of my birthday pizza. I would’ve gotten a cake, but your visit was unexpected. Appreciated all the same.”

“Admiral, I think you’re mistaken. I didn’t come here to—”

“Drop the formalities, Kite! This is a birthday party! We celebrate, laugh and have a good time! You can’t have a good time if you worry about every little nagging thing.”

“Yes, Uncle. But what I wanted to say was—”

“Hold that thought,” said Admiral Williams, holding up his hand. “I’ll be right back. Gotta finish a meeting. I left in a hurry when I heard you were here.” He whispered, “They still think I’m in the bathroom.”

“But…” Kite broke off as Admiral Williams shuffled into the corridor.

Sorren leaned against the wall, his eyes wandering across the room. He studied the faces of the people. It looked like they were having a good time. He kept his eyes focused on the people who walked around. The room was large, but it was filled with people. Everyone was rubbing shoulders by the tables.

Kite handed him a glass of punch. “Might as well enjoy the wait.”

“Mmm.”

“Mmm, what?”

“Someone’s watching us.” Sorren took a sip of the drink.

“And you’re watching everybody else,” said Kite. “That’s what happens in a crowded room. You have to be watching something.”

“Now that the admiral is gone, I feel they’re going to strike. This is the opportune moment. I recommend we leave, for safety reasons.”

Kite sighed. “I still don’t believe in sensing imaginary killing intent. But what difference does it make if we leave? Wouldn’t it be safer here?”

“No,” said Sorren. “It’s too crowded here. We could be killed and nobody would know—until it’s too late.”