The Arrival (9 page)

The second man walked up to Evaran and bowed. In a thick eastern-European accent, he said, “My name is Mikhail.” He glanced back at the first man. “We didn’t know it was you.”

Evaran tilted his head. “How do you know me?”

Mikhail nodded. “You’re Evaran. Lord Noskov is on his way up now.”

Evaran narrowed his eyes. “You are a Daedrould.”

Mikhail sucked in his lips and swayed his head. “Yes, but … you should really talk to Lord Noskov. He’ll be here momentarily.”

“Very well.”

After a few minutes, Lord Noskov arrived wearing black pants, black shoes, and a black vest with a white shirt underneath. A cape with a black exterior and red interior fluttered behind him. A collar extended up and out behind his head. He had short jet-black hair and pale skin, with blackened eyes that glistened in the moonlight. He walked up to Evaran and nodded. “Evaran.”

“I do not believe we have met,” said Evaran.

Lord Noskov placed his hands together and rested them on his lips. He studied Evaran for a moment. “This must be early in your personal time stream then.”

“You have met a future version of myself in Earth’s past if you know of me and I do not know of you.”

“Yes. I’ll need to be careful as to what I say, lest it influence your future. Even telling you that might have an impact.”

Evaran’s eyes narrowed. “You are a Daedrould, but I am unfamiliar with your strain. What name do the humans give you?”

Lord Noskov wrinkled his eyebrows. “Ohh … this is very early in your time stream then. Very interesting. They call us vampires, but we aren’t quite what they depict in human media.”

Evaran looked around. “I am curious, why do you hide from the humans?”

“They simply outnumber us,” said Lord Noskov. “We don’t replenish our ranks quickly, and humans are rapidly advancing technologically due to the efforts … of others,” he said, waving a hand dismissively in the air. “You will know all about that soon enough.” He glanced around the sky above Evaran. “Where’s V?”

“I do not know a V.”

Lord Noskov sighed and rubbed his forehead. “This is always rough. What unfortunate set of events has led you to my base?”

“Interesting,” said Evaran with narrowed eyes. “I am looking for two human males brought here.”

Lord Noskov snorted. “We don’t deal in human trafficking, if that’s what you’re claiming.”

Evaran tapped at his ARI and then gestured at U4, who had been out of range.

U4 flew a bit out and then projected a hologram of the group of men with Robert and Jake. She then flew forward with the projection under her, showing their eventual entry into the house. Once U4 got to the house, she flew back and hovered by Evaran.

Lord Noskov pointed at U4. “So … who’s that?”

“Statement. I am a utility artificial intelligence, version four. My shortened name is U4.”

Lord Noskov cocked his head at Evaran. “Exactly how long have you been on Earth?”

“About three months.”

Lord Noskov’s eyes widened. “Oh … I didn’t know it was
that
early. Great. I messed up. Forget you ever heard me mention V.” He shook his head and sighed. “Anyways, I’m not sure where U4 got those images, but I assure you that I have no idea of when that occurred.”

“Analysis. Wednesday at 1:14 a.m.”

“This last Wednesday?”

Evaran tilted his head. “Yes. I was stealthed in my ship and watched it occur.”

Lord Noskov rubbed his temples. “The Torvatta. Go figure.” He turned toward Mikhail. “Who was on guard duty that night?”

Mikhail pointed to the first man that had come out of the house. “Alexsei and Nikolai.”

Lord Noskov faced Alexsei. He gritted his teeth. “Explain.”

Alexsei swallowed hard. “It was just a small group of us. We took a black market bounty for some alien slaver named Greecho. You know, side money. We needed a ship to get them there, so … used one of our scout ships.”

“You know black market bounties are prohibited, especially ones dealing in humans, correct? And you used one of our ships as well?” said Lord Noskov.

Alexsei hunched his shoulders and nodded.

Lord Noskov shook his head. “New bloods. They will be dealt with later.” He faced Evaran. “Well, it seems they would be with this Greecho person now. I suppose you’re going to go after him.”

Evaran nodded. “Of course. Was the location logged?”

Lord Noskov gestured at Mikhail. “Locate that data.”

Mikhail nodded as he tapped at his tablet.

Evaran rubbed his chin. “Hmm. I have read this is a protected planet. How are alien slavers coming here?”

“I have heard that there is a transport ship that a Kreagan border outpost lets slip by.”

“I am aware of that. However, how are they able to land here on Earth undetected?”

Lord Noskov smirked. “The Helians let them in. That is the extent of their arrangement, though. Once inside the solar system, they escort them in. Heard the Seceltor Empire and the Helians don’t get along well, but business is business.”

Evaran tilted his head. “I see. If that Kreagan outpost was exposed, that shipping lane could be shut down and halt these slaving runs.”

“Maybe. I try to avoid dealing with aliens in general,” said Lord Noskov. He extended a hand out. “No offense, of course. However, it is in my best interests to be aware of what is happening on and around Earth.”

“I understand.”

Mikhail handed the tablet to Lord Noskov. “Located the base. The logs show it to be in the Appalachian Mountains.”

Lord Noskov scanned the tablet and then handed it to Evaran. “I know you will want to use your card on this for more detailed information.”

Evaran eyed Lord Noskov. “You know a great deal about me. We must have had some interaction together in the Earth’s past.”

Lord Noskov snorted. “That’s putting it mildly. Every nonhuman power group has some idea about you, although I personally know more than most. That is a casualty of you being a time traveler.”

“I see,” said Evaran. He placed his UIC on the tablet and, after a few moments, had extracted the location and limited information it had on Greecho’s base. He handed the tablet back to Lord Noskov.

“The base looks to be entrenched and heavily defended from a cursory scan, not like that will be an issue for you, but still noteworthy,” said Lord Noskov.

Evaran nodded. “Noted. Thank you for the information. You have been most helpful.”

“Well. Since this is so early for you, how about you remember that in any future meetings, including ones in the past.”

Evaran studied Lord Noskov for a moment and then wheeled around to head back to the Torvatta.

Evaran studied the front right screen, which had a wire-frame view of the base inside the top of the mountain. The only part exposed was a set of three circular landing pads that jutted out from a large ledge over a steep slope. In front of them was a set of closed high-tech hangar-bay doors. The Torvatta hovered out of range of the base atop the Appalachian Mountains, but close enough to see the landing pads out the front screen.

“Query. Where do you want the Torvatta?”

Evaran rubbed his chin. “Land on the leftmost pad. I will then infiltrate their base.”

“Analysis. Lord Noskov mentioned heavy defenses. We will be detected and infiltration will be difficult.”

Evaran shook his head. “Not with the Torvatta stealthed. I will need you to stay here.”

U4 tilted her head at Evaran. “Analysis. You believe Lord Noskov’s mention of the name V refers to my successor in your future time stream.”

“I do not wish to deal with this right now,” said Evaran, fidgeting in his seat.

“Analysis. Your conclusion for me to stay here is illogical. Not all options have been explored.”

Evaran pursed his lips. “Just trust me on this. I can handle whatever comes my way like I always have.”

“Affirmative,” said U4. She turned and interacted with the console.

The Torvatta moved forward and landed on the leftmost landing pad.

Evaran stood up and checked his utility belt. After exiting the Torvatta, he crept up the walkway from the landing pad to the ledge. He froze when the doors slid open. Greecho, along with four other men and a host of silver-and-red-plated humanoid robots, walked out with weapons trained on him. Jake stood next to Greecho, with a yellow one-piece suit and a collar around his neck. Greecho held a chain that connected to the collar.

“Well … was wondering when you’d get here,” said Greecho. “Didn’t see your ship, but you’re standing on pressure-sensitive paneling. Not too smart. I also know it was you who took Kathy.”

Evaran backed up a bit and activated his left forearm shield. “She is free from you.”

“Not for long,” said Greecho. He raised a finger. “Oh, don’t worry. Jake didn’t give up that information willingly.”

Jake looked up with a bruised face and marks on the side of his head.

“You have hurt Jake,” said Evaran with narrowed eyes.

“Let’s just say in the Seceltor Empire, we have a way of retrieving memories. Quite painful from what I hear,” said Greecho. He yanked the chain, causing Jake to stumble. “And quite embarrassing sometimes too.” The men around him laughed. He pulled out a device and pressed a button on it. Eight rods extended up on the sides of the landing pad, surrounding the Torvatta. They then shot a purple beam at it. “Your ship is going nowhere.”

Evaran glanced at the Torvatta and then at Greecho. “Give me Jake and surrender, and this can end peacefully. I would normally let you go, but you have been made priority.”

“Priority? This ain’t a business meeting, and you’re in no position to be making demands,” said Greecho. He wagged a finger at Evaran. “You know, I looked you up. Not a lot of information on you out there, but you’re some type of cosmic pain in the ass, from what I gather. You’re also part of a bounty from someone in the Kreagan Star Empire. A bounty that has piqued
my
interest.”

“So you are refusing to hand over Jake and come peacefully?”

“Counterproposal. You come peacefully, and I go get Kathy,” said Greecho. He glanced at his men. “And then we might be honorary Kreagan Star Empire citizens. Heard they have a planet of human refugees we could lay low in.” The men around him nodded and smirked.

“I see,” said Evaran. He grabbed his utility handle and extended it into a baton. He pointed it to the side of Greecho opposite Jake.
Boom!
White concentric circles emanated from it, sending Greecho and his men tumbling back. Greecho dropped Jake’s chain and the device he had been holding. The robots not in the blast periphery began firing at Evaran. He raised his shield to block the incoming fire.

Jake grabbed the device Greecho had dropped and threw it at Evaran.

Evaran ran forward and caught it. He placed it on the ground with his UIC on top of it while blocking incoming laser fire. After he interacted with his ARI, the beams holding the Torvatta dissipated. He placed the UIC back on his belt.
Boom!
A sweep of his baton sent Greecho and his men tumbling again and this time the robots as well. He waved for Jake to move toward him.

Greecho and his men struggled to get back up while Jake ran forward. When they were standing, they began unloading on Evaran, pushing him back with each successive barrage.

Jake ran past Evaran and toward the Torvatta when weapon fire hit Jake in the back. He sprawled forward and stopped moving. U4 ran out of the Torvatta in body mode and scooped up Jake while taking direct weapon fire. Evaran tried to provide cover, but the spread of Greecho’s men was too wide for him to block all the angles. U4 ran toward the Torvatta, and as she neared it, she tossed Jake forward into the ship before crumpling to the ground.

Evaran snapped his head toward U4 and began walking slowly back toward her while keeping his shield in front of him. Greecho signaled to one of his men, who ran to a console on the side of the hangar-bay doors. The man reached it and punched a few buttons on it in quick succession. The landing pad groaned, then flipped down, causing the Torvatta and U4 to slide off toward the mountain base.

Evaran gritted his teeth as he turned and ran to the edge. He took one last look at Greecho and his men as they advanced and then dove off the edge. As he fell, he flicked a button on his utility handle, causing the baton end to turn golden. He aimed it at U4, whose body was accelerating toward the ground. A golden beam shot out of the baton, and when it hit her, it flattened out. He pressed another button on his utility handle, which pulled him down toward U4. When he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and then fired upward at an angle, connecting with the steep mountain wall. He swung in toward the side, planting his feet firmly when he made contact. The impact caused a loud crunching noise to echo out. Random weapon fire flew around him but was too far away to be effective. Looking down, he could see the Torvatta had already touched down. In one quick motion, he angled the baton to fire another beam to be his anchor and then descended. After a few minutes of descending, he reached the ground.

“Analysis. Systems failing.”

“Conserve your energy,” said Evaran as he raced into the Torvatta, which had settled on the ground. Jake lay crumpled just inside the entrance, and with one scoop, Evaran had picked him up and ran into the medical lab. He placed Jake on one slab and U4 on another.