Scorched Earth: (The Human Chronicles Saga Book #16) (31 page)

“I have not seen him. I doubt it. This creature has come to save her mother from my vengeance.”

“But the chemical?”

“She must be frozen so she cannot exert her powers. She knows I have seen her—and the others. Have the Guards take caution. She is very dangerous.”

“Yes, my Lord. I will send more and better-prepared Guards.”

“Good. And as you do that, send fifty to the floor below the Pinnacle Room, as well. Let no one approach without notifying me, and that applies to the Elites as well.”

Acus nodded. He understood.

Chapter 35

 “Let me do it, Lila,” said Adam Cain. “I enjoy killing aliens, especially Juireans.”

“As you wish, father.”

Through his ATD, Adam identified two of the flash weapons the Juireans in the corridor were holding, one to each side of the door. He then severed the firing controls and activated the power packs. A faint, yet intensifying whine could be heard outside the room, followed by a pair of loud, rumbling explosions in stereo.

Adam looked to Riyad and smiled. “
Now
we can go.”

The door slid open on its own and a cloud of white, acrid smoke poured in. The hallway was a mess, with burning furniture and charred carpeting. Dead or dying Juireans lay everywhere, many writhing and moaning from their injuries. As the eight people from the room weaved their way through the carnage, Adam, Riyad—and especially Sherri—made a point to place a single slug from their M-101’s into the heads or chests of the survivors. There were probably a hundred thousand Juireans in the building, but this was a start.

“I have disabled all the video devices on this floor,” said Lila. She took the lead, serving as a shield against any incoming flash bolts. To the mutant, the pure plasma from the weapons was like candy. Being hit by more than a few also made her skin glow hot and bright.

“Look at this,” Riyad said, holding up a canister with a nozzle attached. He had taken it from the hands of a dead Juirean Guard.

“Liquid nitrogen or oxygen,” Adam said. “Looks like they know how to defend against Lila. Wonder how they learned that?”

“Prowably from Benefis,” Sherri said. “They took em away right after we wanded. He saw what we did against J’nae.”

“We have to be careful. Can’t let anything happen to my little girl.”

“I can protect myself,” Lila said defiantly.

“I know, Lila, but my job as a father is to look after you.”

She smiled. “Then I welcome all you can do.”

Adam knew Lila was toying with him. There wasn’t much he could do that Lila couldn’t for herself.

“All right, here’s the plan,” Adam said, stepping into his leadership role. “Lila and I are going after Synnoc. Riyad, you take the rest of them down to the vault room. Get them out through the pod tunnel. We’ll meet up with you as soon as we can.”

To his shock, everyone in the party stopped what they were doing and stared at him.

“No fucking way!” said Sherri.

“Not going to happen, my friend,” said Riyad

“Formilians do not run from a fight,” said Trimen.

Adam raised his hand. “Our mission is to save people, not to get us all killed.”

“So you’re going with Lila and leave the rest of us to fend for ourselves?” said Riyad. “Seems to me we’d have a better chance of surviving if we stuck with her.”

Adam pursed his lips out of frustration. “Fine, then we all get out. Screw Synnoc. He’ll get his in the end.”

“That’s not what we’re saying,” Riyad continued. “We all want Synnoc dead. If anyone goes after him, we go—as a team—and with Lila in the lead.”

Adam looked at the faces around him. Sherri smiled—and then grimaced. She pointed up with her right index finger.

“He wikes to hang out in the Pinwicle Womb,” Sherri said.

Adam’s shoulders slumped.
Of course he would. It’s only at the very top of the damn building. A long climb and even a longer one down.

“Fine, have it your way.” He reached into his backpack and handed Trimen and the other three Formilians MK-17 flash weapons and two power packs each—including Arieel. “Set them on level-two, that’ll kill a Juirean.”

He looked at his team. They were anxious enough. “Most of us here, with the exception of Sherri, Arieel and Riyad, have either superpowers or ATDs—interface devices, so stay close and listen to instructions. With fast enough reactions, we can disable MK and Xan-fi weapons, but if there’s too many of them, some may slip by. This is a huge building with a lot of hostiles, although I’m sure the last thing Synnoc expects is that we’re going after him. Lila, we’ll take the stairwell. If you’ll do the honors…”

********

The Malor-Hydon Building was sixty-four Juirean stories tall. A Juirean story was around fourteen feet. They started on the twentieth.

Juirean gravity was very near that of Formil, so Trimen, Arieel and the other two of their race had no problem climbing the stairs. Adam and Riyad took the steps three at a time, while Lila was already two stories ahead and scouting the way.

It was Sherri who was the problem. She hadn’t taken any hits to the body, but her head was another matter. Adam suspected she had a pretty nasty concussion, and as she exerted herself climbing the stairs, she became more dizzy and disoriented. Adam fell back from the group and helped her along.

“Leave me,” she said. “Pick me up on the bay back.”

Adam smiled. “Hey, you’re talking better.”

“Still berts like hell.”

“C’mon, I’ll help you. I’ve come too far to leave you behind now.”

Her eyes suddenly glassed over. “Thank you, Adam.”

“You’d do the same for me. In fact, you probably have.”

A tap came from above. Adam and Sherri stopped and crouched. Moments later, the puff-puff of an M-101 was heard. Adam helped Sherri scramble up a flight of stairs.

Riyad was standing over a dead Juirean, his weapon still aimed at the creature. “He came through the doorway right in the middle of us.”

Lila came down the stairs. “There are many more ahead, coming down the stairs. A systematic search is being conducted for us.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Adam said. “A building this size has to have more than one set of stairs.” He scanned the room outside the stairwell with his ATD. “Security cameras in the corridor.”

“I will disable them,” said Lila.

“It might be wise to disable those on a number of other floors above and below us,’ said Trimen. “That way the searchers will not be able to isolate the floor we are on.”

“Great idea, buddy,” Adam said. “Lila?”

“Already done.”

“All right, follow me.”

Adam led them out from the stairwell and into a utilitarian corridor lined with doors spaced very far apart. The rooms beyond the doors had to be large, yet no one was on the floor. At least not until an elevator door ten feet away began to open….

Chapter 36

Sub-conference room six was located near the center of the great pyramid, yet far below the traditional meeting rooms of the Elites. It was for overflow and meetings between staff. Typically, the Elites traveled the building with two loyal Guards. They were there for more than simple protection, but as advisors and communication conduits. To have one of these important leaders journey the corridors unescorted was highly unusual. Thus they traveled to the clandestine meeting by stairwell and deserted passageways. All eight of the remaining Elites made it to the room without alarm, to be joined there by four others, two Overlords of legal expertise and two with military experience—and all loyal to the Council.

“Why have you brought us here, Malens?” asked his distant relative Cyros.

“I wish to play a recording and receive your opinion—all your opinions—on its contents.”

He nodded to one of the Overlords and a screen on an adjoining wall came to life. For several minutes, the Elites sat in silence, watching and listening to the surveillance record of what had taken place at the Military Command Center four days prior, and the subsequent melt-down of Elder Synnoc li Qriss. At the end, there was a long moment of silence before Cyros spoke again.

“Master Malens, I have no knowledge of Fleet Marshal Kradis being arrested, or any appeal to the Council for adjudication.”

There were several murmurs around the table as all the Elites agreed.

“That is because Kradis is either being held in silent confinement, or he is dead.”

Now the murmurs became more vocal and the attendees more agitated.

“He would not do such a thing, and to his friend Kradis,” said another of the Elites.

“It is done, Master Havorn. I have researched it. After a confidant of mine made a copy of this recording, the original was destroyed by order of the Elder. He wishes no record of his actions, including the arrest of Kradis.”

 “Pardon me, my Lords,” said one of the non-Elites in the room.

“Please Lord Gasin, your contribution is vital to our proceedings,” said Malens.

“Thank you, my Lord. The Elder has the right to appoint his own Fleet Marshal. It has become tradition that any such appointment be approved by the full Council, yet that is not required. His demotion of Lord Kradis, and his subsequent confinement—if that is what has happened—is also within his rights. However, to keep this confinement from the Council is not permitted. Ranking Juireans have rights to defense. This has been denied in the case of the former Fleet Marshal.”

“Appreciated,” said Malens. “That is my thinking as well.” He took a moment to scan the faces of those at the table. Most were elderly, yet all of sound mind. There was no shame in Juirean society to relinquish a chair when faculties became impaired. “My fellow Elites, I wish to point out some very troubling facts surrounding our current Elder, of which this recording is only the most recent. First, I go back to the time of the Great Exodus. Immediately upon becoming Elder, he ordered our people to partake in physical mating practices. As we all know, that policy proved to be disastrous. Five years later, and following many protests, he abandoned the policy, yet without a transition period. That also proved to be disruptive. Further, I offer his weak and misguided management of the Sol-Kor conflict, where he allowed the Humans to assume the lead and receive all the glory. Because of that, the Expansion has begun to crumble, as members lose confidence in our strength and leadership. Now I add this baseless and costly war with the Humans and their Union. This was promulgated on the death of a
single
Overlord by the notorious Adam Cain. This event—although tragic—was cause for protest, not war. Now we have suffered humiliating defeats, both in the Kidis Frontier and now at our very front door. You all know of the defeat of our fleet near Handic-non—”

“My Lord, that battle is being classified as a stalemate by Master Synnoc,” said Havorn.

“That is because the number of remaining vessels has come out to be about even. What he fails to tell us is that we had numerical supremacy going into the battle. We suffered far more loses than did the Union forces. Not only that, but his reckless removal of all defensive units between the battle scene and Juir has placed our homeworld once again in jeopardy.”

“That status is changing, my Lord,” said one of the other Overlords.

“Yes, we have five hundred ships stationed throughout the Alliance Cluster, and many more now racing ahead of the Human fleet to get here. But the point is this should never have been allowed to happen. Master Synnoc cleared the way to allow said terrorist Adam Cain free access to Juir, so he could play some game with our most dangerous and accomplished adversary. My friends, taken together, are these the acts of a sane and competent leader?”

“This is dangerous talk, Malens,” said Cyros. He looked around the room, taking special note of the ceiling.

“The room has been cleared of scanning devices, Master Cyros.”

“He will undoubtedly learn that the Council Elite has met without his presence or invitation.”

“I realize that,” said Malens. “But these are dangerous times.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “We must come to a decision. It will be a difficult, yet one that will determine the fate not only of the Expansion but of the Juirean race as well. Do we allow Elder Synnoc to continue…or do we not?”

********

Adam and his team pressed against the wall before retreating around a nearby corner. A single Juirean stepped from the elevator, then turned to speak amicably to the others in the car. He was smiling as the door slid shut.

Then the alien did something completely unexpected. He turned away from Adam and the others and sprinted down the corridor. Where was he going in such a hurry?

“Follow me,” he said to the group. “Something’s not right.”

The wide and well-lit hallway was empty…except for the running Juirean. The tall alien barely stopped at a door before opening it and disappearing inside.

Adam and his team were there a moment later. He listened through the door; there were animated voices coming from inside. He scanned the room for flash weapons, and detecting none—only electronic signatures from lights, computers and communicators—he made a decision.

“We’re going in. There are no weapons inside. Riyad, Sherri, we go in together. Lila, you have my six.”

“Your six what?”

“Sorry. You bring up the rear.”

“Ah, a military term. I shall have to research that more for later use. I do not like to be uninformed.”

Adam smiled. That was about the only thing she didn’t know.

Adam put his hand in the door slot and it slid open.

The three Human entered in a spread formation, Adam in the center, Riyad and Sherri moving left and right. What they found inside made their jaws drop.

Adam knew the Elites, not personally, but by sight. The brilliant white hair and pale blue gowns, adorned by gold sashes, was the first give-away. They sat staring at the Humans from around long table, along with a pair of white-haired Master-Overlords and two regular blue-hairs sitting at one end.

The breathless messenger was standing next one of the Elites.

After only split second, Adam and the rest of the team rushed to the table and surrounded it, weapons ready.

“I recognize you,” said the Elite with the messenger next to him. “You are Adam Cain. And you are the prisoner Sherri Valentine, along with the Formilian Arieel Bol.” He looked at Riyad. “I do not recognize you.”

“I’m Riyad Tarazi. Perhaps the name rings a bell?”

“Vaguely. What are you doing here? This is a private meeting.”

Adam raised his eyebrows. “Eh, if you hadn’t noticed, we’re at war, and we’re, like, the enemy. Where’s Synnoc?”

There was an awkward silence on the part of the Juireans. Adam saw the guilt on the green alien faces. He smiled. “So, we have a little coup being planned here, don’t we? Where do I sign up?”

The white-haired Juirean sighed and slumped in his chair. “So will you kill us now, Adam Cain?”

“We have a saying where I come from.
‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’
If your plan is to depose Synnoc, we’re all for it.”

“Forgive me, father,” said Lila. Adam froze. “There are searchers moving along the corridor. They are four rooms away, armed with flash weapons.”

“They will report us to Synnoc!” exclaimed one of the other Elites.

Adam looked around for a place to hide. There was another side room with a small glass window. It would be tight, but they had no option. He wasn’t ready to start the fighting, not just yet.

“Everyone…in there, hurry!”

There was a mad rush of aliens and Humans as twenty-one bodies crammed into a room measuring approximately ten by ten. It was actually rather humorous, as the seven-to-eight foot tall Juireans towered over the shorter Humans and Formilians. Adam ended up with his nose stuck in the chest of one of the Overlords, where he discovered, to his chagrin, that Juireans did not use deodorant. He looked up at the alien and grinned. The Juirean did not smile back.

Mentally, Lila turned off all the lights in the room, only a second before the door to the huge conference room opened. Adam could detect the Guard’s flash weapon. The creature stepped a few feet into the room, hesitated, and then left. At least twenty other energy signatures registered in Adam’s mind as they moved down the corridor, pausing at each of the adjoining doorways.

The door to the small room opened and bodies poured out.

An white-haired Juirean stepped up to Adam. “I am Vice-Elder Malens, and yes, we have been meeting to discuss the matter of Elder Synnoc, yet that is a Juirean matter, not a Human matter—or Formilian.”

“Unfortunately, your buddy Synnoc has made it our concern, as well. If you do act and take him out, what do you intend to do about this trumped up war of his?”

“
You
precipitated the war with the killing of an Overlord.”

“I didn’t kill him. Synnoc had the ship’s captain do it as a way of blaming me and the Humans. He wanted this war and now he’s got it. In fact, he’s about to lose it.”

The Juirean pursed his thin lips and looked at a few of the other Elites gathered around. “I had my suspicions. He was too quick to take up arms against the Union for such a minor act.”

“Are you trusting the words of the terrorist Adam Cain?” asked another of the Elites.

“What he says makes more sense than how Synnoc has reacted to the event. Do you doubt that the Elder would be beyond such an act, knowing as we do now the demise of Fleet Admiral Kradis?”

Malens looked down at Adam. “I am afraid we may be powerless at this point to stop him. As you have seen, he is already looking for us. With his current state of mind, he will accuse us of colluding with the enemy and promoting a revolt against his rule.”