Promises & Prophecies Read online

  That would have worked fine if not for the pod taking the brunt of the atmospheric impact. This resulted in the rock at the back end not sheering off from the pod. This caused the stone covering the thrusters to stay in place. The altimeter began to flash yellow as the pod came crashing toward the surface. The noise level in the cramped cabin rose with the chafing of the atmosphere and all warning indicators buzzing.

  "WHAT HAPPENS IF WE ACTIVATE THE THRUSTERS WITH THE ROCK STILL COVERING THEM?" Jaiden asked.

  Sosimo had two guesses.

  "EITHER THE BLAST SIMPLY BLOWS THE ROCK AWAY, OR IT MAKES THE ENGINE FEEDBACK ON ITSELF AND BLOWS US UP IN AN INSTANT," he shouted to be heard over the sound.

  Deciding that hitting the ground at that speed left you just as dead as exploding, Sosimo chose to risk it and activated the engines. They sputtered for half a moment, then burst through the rock and flared to life. Pulling on the controls, Sosimo altered their course and brought the ship into a better approach. Setting them down in a field outside of the city, the pair believed they were able to land unnoticed. As they exited the craft, Sosimo instructed Jaiden to grab some nearby brush to try and conceal the pod while he put on the last bit of mopba fruit to make his Ramillie disguise complete.

  "Captain, I'm curious. Once we get the prism, how are we going to get back off the planet and rendezvous with the Fortune?"

  "I'll... come up with something," Sosimo promised, and Jaiden had full confidence that he would.

  Donning the cloaks that Sosimo brought, their clothes fit in well with the Ramillie populace. Sosimo, with his purple contacts and white skin, appeared a Ramillie if no one took too close of a look. With his hood up he ensured no one would be able to check. Walking behind his captain and keeping his gaze down, Jaiden appeared a submissive slave and so was virtually invisible to the Ramillie passing by them. Late in the afternoon, they at last found the central museum of antiquities and located an ancient statue of Xerxes the Deceiver. Sosimo stared up at the immense statue and smiled greedily as he beheld the two crystalline eyes of the idol.

  "And one to spare," he whispered to himself. "We need to find somewhere to hide until tonight when they're closed," he whispered to Jaiden.

  "But where?" Jaiden asked. "This place has security cameras everywhere."

  "Not everywhere," Sosimo remarked.

  Late that night, a tile in the ceiling of one of the restrooms began to move, and two pirates dropped to the floor.

  Barely cracking the restroom door, Sosimo checked to see if the coast was clear. Detecting no one, he motioned for his young companion to follow him. Stealthily easing their way toward the main hall, they reached a large intersection and paused. Jaiden tapped his captain on the shoulder to get his attention.

  Turning to Jaiden, the younger man pointed to the ceiling across the hall where there was an oscillating camera. Sosimo nodded then waited for the camera to swing their way. As it started to turn the other direction, he signaled Jaiden to stay close, and they kept pace just behind where the camera was facing until they were directly underneath it. In the camera's blind spot, they waited for it to begin turning back the other direction then hurried the rest of the way across the hall and around a corner. Reaching the area with the Xerxes statue, Sosimo pointed to his eyes then to Jaiden then down the hall. Understanding he was to keep watch, Jaiden quietly made his way to the corner to see if any security guards may be on the way. Turning back to Sosimo he gave him a thumbs up. The pirate smiled then stepped over the roping surrounding the display. Climbing up the giant statue, he reached for one of the crystal eyes but found it firmly in place. Tugging harder, he remained unsuccessful. Pulling with all his might, he was unable to budge the coveted disc, or even get a good grip on it. The dense, thick stone of idol perfectly encased what Sosimo so much desired.

  Refusing to give up, he smiled as a thought came to him. Using his real hand, he activated a few controls on his artificial appendage, and one of the fingertips opened up as out extended a short, telescoping section. Aiming it at the area surrounding the eye, Sosimo engaged his droid arm and a small cutting laser activated. Carefully he sliced away the stone, at last dislodging the prism then proceeded to do the same thing to the other eye. Mission accomplished he eased back to the ground and held the two prisms against each other and was immensely relieved they were identical. Placing them into an inside pocket of his cloak, he hurried to where Jaiden was watching.

  "Got 'em," he whispered.

  "Great," Jaiden answered quietly. All we have to do now is get out of here."

  Carefully making their way through the facility, they came across a display of canisters with a strange glowing substance inside them. Each canister was about the size of a tall glass. Noticing them, Sosimo smiled roguishly. Pushing up his sleeve, he then tapped on some of the controls of his artificial forearm then pointed his wrist at the canisters. After a few seconds, he withdrew his arm and checked the scan's reading. Each container held a variety of the rare element fytridium.

  "Yes, that will do nicely," he chirped then signaled for Jaiden to stop.

  Sosimo nimbly lifted one of the fytridium canisters from the pedestal and told Jaiden to take it. Not knowing what the contents were, Jaiden assumed they must either be valuable to sell or somehow assisted in finding The Vault. It didn't really make a difference, and figured now was no time to ask for an explanation... neither was later or really ever.

  With a large window on the ground level they could use to escape, they started making their way toward it. Using his artificial hand to cut a large hole in one of the tall windows, the two pirates exited the museum and made their way to the city spaceport where they managed to sneak onto a transport set to launch late that morning.

  When the sun rose and the museum re-opened, it didn't take long before the theft was noticed. Immediately, security forces were called to the scene, the missing items noted. Sosimo and Jaiden would have gotten away with it if not for two witnesses who came forward perfectly describing the people they saw fleeing the scene who went in the direction of the spaceport. The witnesses claimed they could identify the burglars if they saw them and so accompanied the security forces.

  The Ramillie were far more efficient than Sosimo hoped, and if they tracked down the transport before they launched, it would ruin everything. Fortunately, the transport ship in question lifted off ten minutes before security arrived.

  Unwilling to merely let the criminals get away because they left the surface, those following the crooks boarded one of the security patrol ships and raced after them. Having passed the sentry patrols, the transport ship was fast approaching the edge of the system when the security patrol ship intercepted them. While the patrol craft was only scout-sized and dwarfed by the large public transport vessel, the transport's captain came to a stop without resistance. Scanning the transport, the security forces detected what they were looking for and boarded the ship. All but the pilot and witnesses boarded the transport as red-armored troops made quick progress toward the cabin with the stolen object. Following their portable scanner readings, the security officers forced the door open to one of the cabins where they found the stolen canister and two very shocked people.

  CHAPTER 15

  "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." – Matthew 10:32

  Deep in the underground prison of the Ramillie capital world, Kohath, the sound of turning gears alerted the captives that the heavy door of their cell was creaking open. Pushed inside was a man that was nearly three meters tall, with bulging muscles and dark gray skin. The newcomer was adorned in a heavy covering of fabric with intricate markings of some alien script. His full beard, extending to his upper chest, sported braids on each side of center. With narrowed eyes, he glared back at the Ramillie, each of them cautiously keeping their weapons trained on the hulking man. Helmeted, the guards’ expressions were inscrutable. Pulling a lever, one of the Ramillie caused the thick door to
reverse and come slamming down hard. After a quick moment, a hollow thunk from inside the barrier let everyone know it was relocked.

  Everyone gave the newcomer a wide berth. Clearly angry the man turned to glare at the other prisoners. At last, someone stepped forward.

  "The enemy is out there, Friend, not in here. You're from the Nine Worlds of the Vanir, aren't you?"

  "You know my worlds?" the surprised man replied in a deep baritone voice.

  "I visited once... long ago. I'm Merrick."

  "I am Birger of Jötnar. Why have they brought us here? Are we slave labor?"

  "You're not here because you're a slave," Quisling explained. "There are billions of slaves in the Hegemony. The only reason you end up here is either because you're of special interest or you're an Elderite.

  "I follow the Narrow Path," the near giant said.

  "There can be no worse offense than that inside The Cloud," Quisling replied.

  "Wait," Birger said in suspicion. "How do you know so much?"

  "Because... I was once the keeper of this prison."

  "You? The keeper?" Birger questioned. "Then how did you end up as a prisoner? What, did you not kill enough Elderites?!"

  "Worse than that... I became one of them."

  "How?" Merrick prompted.

  "Because there was something different about the Elderites than the other prisoners. I ran this facility for years. As the keeper, I often walked the halls to make my inspections. There would be cries from one cell, screams from another, shouts of anger or despair, you grow used to them, numb to the sounds. One day I heard something I never heard here before... singing. At first, I thought it was the 'woe is me' type song, but it wasn't. It was joyous. I didn't understand. I listened to the words, they were of forgiveness, and redemption and the price paid by The Manifestation. There were only two men in that cell. In my office I used to use the security cameras to listen to their conversations and prayers. They spoke of such love by the Elder, of his son Elkanah, and how he gave his life for all to wash away the errors of any who will receive Him. So, one day I did. I bowed my head in that office and called upon Elkanah and became one of His followers. I knew I had to get those men out of here, and that very night put them on a prison transport ship bound for a prison outpost where the keeper owes me a favor. I contacted him, and he arranged for their records to be lost, and they were freed. From then on, I did all I could to help the Elderites escape, but one day a copy of the Codex was found in my office, I was brought up on charges I could either deny the Codex and the Elder or be convicted as an enemy of the state. It would have been simple, but I could not deny the one who gave all for me and confessed the Elder as my God. Normally they would execute me, but because of my position, they wanted to make an example out of me, so, I'm here… but only for a few more days."

  "Why only a few more days?" questioned Birger.

  "Because of the gladiatorial games. In the next round we face the hybrids."

  "Hybrids?" Merrick questioned.

  "Unholy creations," Quisling answered as his face contorted from the grotesque thought. T'lec surgeons place human minds into various creatures.

  "Whose minds are in those creatures? Prisoners like us?" Birger asked.

  "Sometimes. Others are volunteers."

  "Volunteers?" Birger blurted in shock. "Who would possibly volunteer for such mutilation?"

  "It's quite the fashion," Quisling replied. "Animal implants have been around for thousands of years, but it's only in the last century or two that the full transplants were capable. There's always been an element of society that used implants to enhance some sense or ability, but for the most part, it was shunned. However, attitudes have changed in the past two hundred years. Nowadays, many say they were meant to be in another body, whether that is the body of some clone they design from the gene up, or some creature is up to them. All is accepted in The Cloud. More and more of our people are 'enhanced' or walking around in bodies entirely constructed in a lab. The T'lec can transplant a human organ simply enough, but the drugs they have to use to get a body to accept an animal implant or do an entire brain transfer always causes sterility. The news sources aren't reporting it, but I've seen high-level reports where population levels are decreasing on at least a dozen worlds. Unless the trend is reversed, it could wipe out entire continents as surely as a plague."

  "It's unnatural," Birger derided, "and unholy."

  "Once the law forbade it," Quisling added, "but now it is not only allowed but celebrated. Those who undergo the procedures are seen as brave. They're always portrayed as enlightened and speaking against it is illegal. In our schools, the children are taught, and even encouraged, to choose a species that best suits them whether that be human or not."

  "I've heard of this," Merrick added. "The idea of being born in the wrong body is creeping into societies throughout the galaxy. These creations are perversions of what the Elder designed. It's a rejection of Him and the way He has set the universe in order. This isn't the first time such technology has developed. It's an old trap of the Dridmor – a way to destroy more lives. I've seen what happens to worlds where this takes root. First, it's concealed in the fringe of society then becomes more prevalent yet mocked. Eventually, it grows to be accepted then celebrated, encouraged and at last some make it mandatory. In the end, it destroys entire worlds. The societies descend into chaos and usually fade entirely from existence. It's the cycle of destruction, and all because of rejection of the Elder and His way."

  "Maybe that's why the Ramillie have the Elderties face the hybrids in the arena," Birger proposed.

  "Probably," Merrick offered, "and all the more reason for us to escape."

  "Whatever we try we better do it quickly," Birger reckoned.

  "Why is that?"

  "Because on the transport ship I arrived on there was also some creatures they were shipping in, and I bet I know what they are for. I only saw images on the security camera display, but they were big. I'd say at least half my size."

  "What were they?" Merrick asked in trepidation.

  "Spiders."

  Birger was correct, and as they spoke, human minds were being surgically placed into twenty of the giant, multi-eyed and legged creatures. Vicious mandibles protruded from each mouth sporting twin upper and lower fangs that would inject a paralyzing enzyme into victims. Once encased in cocoon webs, the prey was later eaten alive by other beasts while conscious but unable to move.

  CHAPTER 16

  "...with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go." - Proverbs 22:24

  Detecting the stolen canister of fytridium aboard an escaping transport ship, Ramillie security enforces managed to stop the ship just before it left the system. Bursting into the cabin where the fytridium readings emanated, the enforcers leveled their weapons at the two men there.

  "We have them," came the voice of an enforcer over the speaker on the patrol ship. "Get the witnesses. See if they can positively identify them."

  With the pilot of the security patrol ship calling them, the witnesses entered the cockpit. Looking at the captured men on the screen, Sosimo nodded that was them then used his metallic hand to hit the pilot in the back of the head, which knocked him out. Having snuck onto the transport and planted the fytridium canister in one of the cabins the night before, he and Jaiden then returned to the museum. There they waited until security showed up and offered to ID the criminals. Instead of trying to slip past sentry patrol ships, they were now escorted by one. In addition, the enforcers were courteous enough to take them to the system's edge.

  "Put him in an escape tube and launch it," Sosimo instructed Jaiden.

  Pulling the unconscious pilot out of his seat, Sosimo sat and familiarized himself with the controls. Disengaging the boarding tube, Sosimo then powered the engine and began vectoring the patrol ship around in a wide arc.

  Jaiden lowered the unconscious Ramillie off of his shoulders and to the floor. With barely enough room for one person, Jaiden
had to stuff the man into the tiny pod then launched it. By the time he returned to the cockpit, Sosimo had removed his mopba fruit makeup and was powering the scout ship's weapons. Taking position in the co-pilot's chair, Jaiden was concerned.

  "You're not going to destroy the transport, are you?" he asked.

  "Nah, but I can't have them telling everyone about us either, now can I?"

  With that, he hit a button sending multiple bursts of red energy at the transport's engines and communication array. Rendering the transport mute and cripple, Sosimo changed heading to meet the Fortune.

  Sosimo, quite pleased with himself, smiled broadly.

  "Ya know, this little system patrol ship could come in real handy," he said as he ran his hands over the sleek control console.

  Jaiden shook his head in... in he didn't know what. Unsure if it was disbelief, shock, admiration or something else, Jaiden was awed by the pirate. Sosimo started in a hollowed-out rock to get a prism and in less than twelve hours had snuck his way onto a Ramillie core world, stolen what he wanted, and made off with one of their police ships. Jaiden was about to say something to compliment his captain's genius, but when he turned, he noticed Sosimo holding the two prisms to his eyes and making a silly face impersonating Xerxes. Seeing this, Jaiden decided to keep quiet, shaking his head again. Breaking the silence was a quick-repeating, shrill chirp from one of the consoles. Jaiden hit a switch, silencing the warning as he checked the readout and reported.

  "Ship decloaking directly ahead!"

  Shimmering into view was a green-plated ship with a prominent yellow star symbol displayed on the main hull.

  "Crimson," Sosimo grumbled in distaste.

  Bringing the stolen patrol craft to a halt, it held position while facing the Hateeg vessel.

  "The Fame is hailing us," Jaiden reported.