Authors: Kyle Pratt
Metal tore and
screeched as Surfeit sliced through the thin dome, smashed the sensor dish, and
continued through the hull below. The bridge contorted as Justin slammed into
his harness.
Justin looked where
Jon should have been.
He never tightened his harness
. Slowly his eyes
swept forward along the ruined bridge. Crumpled at the forward end of the
compartment he found Jon. Blood covered his face and much of his uniform.
He’s
dead
. He reached for the gun in the compartment beside the chair. “I won’t
be taken alive.”
The image of a jump
point formed in his mind as Mara, Naomi and a multitude of other Titans reached
out to him and said, “Thank you.”
Then Naomi’s voice
embraced him.
Be strong. I’ll come for you.
In his mind, Justin
saw Exodus shoot across the event horizon and disappear.
A whoosh of air
swept past. Darkness engulfed him.
*
*
*
Justin struggled
against the black shadows. He fought toward consciousness, aware on an
instinctual level that he needed to wake up. Gradually he became aware that his
eyes were open. Light and dark mixed with sound in a confusing montage.
A booming,
insincere, voice proclaimed, “One of our guests awakes. Our party shall soon
begin.”
A murmur of excited
voices reached Justin’s ears as two blurs moved against the hazy background of
his vision. He squinted and moved his head from side to side. Slowly one
blur resolved into a man—a handsome man, about his age, with pink hair and
wearing a purple and scarlet robe.
“How do you feel?
Are you comfortable?”
A woman with blue
hair stepped in his view. “You said he was scary. He doesn’t look
frightening.
Handsome, yes, but not scary.”
“He is very
dangerous. Go sit down, dear. The feast will begin in a moment.” He made
a shooing motion.
The woman walked
away in a huff as Justin looked about. He was lying on a couch in a large room.
Behind the young man were about a dozen people dressed in wild colors and
styles, reclining at couches arranged in a “U” shape before him. The clothing,
make up, hair colors, and styles were so strange to him that it was hard to
tell the men from the women. Both were more flamboyant than anything he had
experienced. Beyond the colorful people the room extended into darkness.
Painfully Justin
pushed himself to a seated position. It was then he noticed clothing had been
changed and he now wore a white robe. “Who are you?” he asked while
checking the many scrapes and bruises about his torso and limbs.
“I am
Remee
, First Consul to Lord
Enki
,
Nephilim
of this ship.
Weeks ago, the
thought of falling into the hands of the Titans caused him dread. Now his
greatest wish was to be back with them as fear of what the
Nephilim
would do mushroomed within him.
He licked his
parched lips with a dry tongue. “How long have I been unconscious?”
“About
a standard day.”
“Could I get some
water?”
“Lord
Enki
has forbidden nourishment for both of you.”
Three thoughts raced
through Justin’s mind. First, he was to be starved, probably before something
worse was done to him. Next, he wondered where Jon was and lastly, could they
get out of this place?
Slowly he looked
over those in the room with him. None appeared to be soldiers or even armed.
Most were young, about his age or a bit older, but they looked plump and
pampered. Their bodies were soft with no tone to their muscles.
If I have to fight my way out of here it shouldn’t be a problem.
As he
scanned those around him with his eyes, he noticed Jon, also wearing a white
robe and lying on the next couch to his left.
Jon! Wake up!
His eyelids shot
open and without moving his head, he looked about.
Where are we?
“Ah, our other guest
has awakened. Let the celebration begin!”
We’re on the
Nephilim
temple ship.
Becca
?
Did the Exodus get
away?
“Yes.” Justin sent
the mental images of the jump to his friend’s mind.
Jon smiled.
Servants entered and
set tables before every guest, but not for the two prisoners.
How did we get here?
Why are we still alive?
Jon asked.
I really thought you
were dead. I’m not sure what happened, but I think the Surfeit
bridge
lost pressure. We passed out, but they got to us
before we died.
Jon rubbed his side
carefully, and then winced.
I’m sorry. I know we
didn’t want to be captured. I guess I failed.
Failed to kill us
both?
Jon
smiled.
I know you tried.
The servants
returned with dozens of plates, bowls and trays filled with, strange meat
dishes, soups, fruits and salads of every description. Wines, and other drinks,
in a wide variety of colors, were brought in. When the servants completed their
task and departed, the tables were filled to overflowing.
Jon looked about.
I take it the food and drink are not for us.
I think we’re going
to have to fight them for it.
Jon looked at others
in the room and smiled.
Nice dinner they provided for us.
“You two are talking
with one another?”
Remee
twirled his fingers beside
his head. “That famed Titan psychic ability. Am I right?”
Justin stared at
him.
“We are not fools.
We know what you are.”
Justin remained
silent.
Looking at both of
them he said, “Do you deny it?”
Jon stayed still and
mute
, but Justin stood, stepped forward, and reached
for a pitcher of water.
A blue flash lit the
room accompanied by the sound of arcing electricity. Justin stumbled back and
fell on the couch shaking his hand and cursing. He looked down where a blister
had already formed.
Remee
smiled. “Did I
forget to mention the restraining field around each of you? I do apologize.”
Justin started to
reach out with his mind to strangle
Remee
, as he had
Ferren
, but realized it would accomplish little. He could
kill
Remee
, but he would still be inside the
restraining field.
Remee
turned, “Bring on
the musicians and dancers.”
For what seemed like
hours, the festivities continued. Justin and Jon were pointed at, stared at and
talked about, but never addressed directly.
Someone clumsily
spilled a drink on the table next to Jon.
I’d fight them all for a glass
of water
.
Justin’s stomach
grumbled.
Or some food.
The field
prevented them from getting to the food, but not the smells, or the satisfied
thoughts of the dinners, from reaching them.
What do you think
they are doing?
Trying
to weaken us with the smells and mental sensations from food and drink.
For
what?
Justin shrugged.
Perhaps for an interrogation.
Several hours later
Remee
stepped to the center of the room and announced, “Our
party must now conclude.” Turning to Justin and Jon he said, “We bid you
goodbye.”
Within minutes the
two were alone, able to talk to each other, but unable to leave. Justin was
about to fall asleep when a voice boomed from everywhere.
“I am
Enki
, Lord of the Earth. I will speak with you now.”
Jon shot to his
feet, fists at the ready.
Justin rose and
looked about.
Out of the darkness
at the far end of the room emerged an old man in purple robes. He looked at
them with haughty eyes.
Justin smirked in
surprise.
This is the
Nephilim
.
Even as the
thought crossed his mind, a cold breeze seemed to pass through him. He shivered
and looked about, aware that other minds seemed to swim unseen in the air and
linger close to the old man who called himself
Enki
.
“It has been many
years since a Titan has stood before me.”
Enki
smiled. “Now I have two.” He walked past Justin, examining him like a trinket
in the market. He stepped toward Jon, but paused and looked back at Justin. For
a moment, a slight hint of confusion and concern crossed his face. Then he
turned and proceeded to Jon.
“I have the power of
life and death over you. You can die a slow lingering death within this
restraining field or enjoy the favor of those who are willing to serve me.”
The spirit of the
enemy fills this one. We cannot use him.
Unless he renounces
his faith.
Stabbing at the
ground he announced, “Kneel before your master and live.”
Justin looked about
the room.
Whose voices am I hearing?
Jon looked at
Justin. Fear filled his eyes.
The Prophet warns us about them. We’re in the
presence of fallen spirits.
Beings that rebelled against God
before the creation of the universe.
Jon’s eyes swept the room. “I
serve the God of the Prophet, not you.”
In unison the voice
declared.
Dispose of him.
In a matter-of-fact
voice
Enki
said, “Then you shall die.”
Jon locked eyes with
Justin.
Be strong.
The floor seemed to
turn to water under Jon and, like a rock, he disappeared into it.
Waves of pain from
Jon surged over Justin’s mind for a moment and then there was nothing. “What
did you do to my friend?”
The unseen presence
that clung close to
Enki
now dispersed around the
room and declared with a thousand voices,
He is dead.
Enki
turned slowly
toward him. “Your friend is dead.”
Justin was shocked
at the callous words from both the man and the voices that echoed from every
corner of the room. Dread and sorrow filled him as he stumbled back onto the
couch. His head slumped.
Justin looked up as
Enki
stepped closer.
The unseen voices
declared,
We
have fought this one long ago.
How can it be? We watched him die.
The young man
watched as the old man’s face turned from harsh to questioning.
A multitude of
voices
spoke,
overlapped each other.
There
are rules in this universe that even the foe must obey. Kill him. Kill him now!
For just a moment
alarm showed on
Enki
face.
No!
A powerful new
voice declared.
Recall that other time and place where we plotted to kill
the Messenger. Remember how that was used against us. I shall not be
tricked again. Make him hear what we propose.
Enki
stood before him,
just beyond the restraining field. “Perhaps now you will listen to what
we offer.”
Thirst.
The voices declared.
“Are you thirsty?”
The old man retrieved a glass of water from the nearby table.
Justin’s throat was
parched, but he shook his head.
“Water is such a
simple, easy gift to give.”
Enki
drank the water
slowly then tossed the glass aside. “I can give you water, but I offer you so
much more. Anything you can imagine I can give you.”
Justin smiled
inwardly
.
A ticket out of here.
“I offer what most
people only dream of. Do you know what that is?”
Your
defeat?
Justin shook his head again.
A thousand voices
from around the room shouted in unison,
Power.
“Power.”
Enki
smiled. “I can give you that.”
Dread, bordering on
panic, filled Justin. All he wanted was to get away from
Enki
and the unseen voices, but he was sure that the offer
of power did not include the power to leave.
“I offer you
worlds. They are mine to give.” Out of the darkness at the far end
of the room came thousands of yellow, red, blue, and white points of light
formed into a giant, floating, star map.