Hallowed Nebula Read online

  She considered herself thankful that the Imperial prison guards gave her blankets to keep herself warm, they couldn’t have the one human prisoner aboard go into hypothermia on her way to her execution. She winced at that thought. The Empire never held trials, you were guilty until proven guilty on the day of your beheading.

  The slave collar wrapped around her neck only added to her thoughts of hopelessness as it worked to suppress her psionic abilities and the HNI stuck in her head. There was no way to call for help, no way to let her family, Avearan, or her instructors back on Titan know that she wasn’t coming back, ever. Resisting the urge to break down and cry took a lot, but she had to do it, the icebox-like prison cell she was jammed in would make her tears freeze to her face.

  She felt the aftereffects of what she assumed was a space bridge jump a day or two after her imprisonment. Hashmedai guards periodically came to her cell, eying her lying on the floor. None of them explained what crimes she committed, then again, none of them spoke English.

  The next day she was gifted with a cellmate, it made listening to the cries of other prisoners being beaten and raped less terrifying as there was someone to talk to. Her cellmate was a Hashmedai man, tall and lanky, white hair and blue skin and spoke English very well. He claimed to have been a smuggler, and that this wasn’t his first time being sent to the Paryo execution grounds where the Emperor and Empress stood watch, hoping you’d beg for mercy so they could deny it. A sense of hope warmed her cold depressed mind. Her cellmate had escaped before, and the smile spread across his face suggested he planned to do it again, and maybe, just maybe, take her along for the ride too.

  Hours passed, or was it days? It was hard to tell as her HNI continued to feed her error messages thanks to the slave collar. Counting sleeps was pointless, especially when she heard the sounds of an inmate stop screaming from their rape. There was always a thought that one of the guards would turn to the girl of French-Canadian descent next. No such thing ever did come about, prison guards didn’t like human girls apparently.

  Her cellmate awoke her one day, shaking her shivering body. He said he was ready to put his escape plan into action now the ship had entered the Uemaesce system, the location of Paryo; the homeworld and capital of the Hashmedai Empire. He shouted something in Hashmedai, getting the attention of the guards. Two brawny Imperial guards arrived, grinning at her cellmate, baring their vampire-like fangs in the process.

  After two minutes of yelling, the two guards dragged her cellmate away by the arms. All part of the plan, she assumed, whatever his plan was. He never did let her in on those details. When the guards dragged his halved body, smearing a wide ribbon of red across the frost-covered floors, she was glad he didn’t, because whatever it was, it didn’t work this time.

  They left her cellmate’s upper body in one corner, and the lower in the other, then pointed at them then pointed at her. She got the message, no funny stuff and made a mental note not to piss anyone off going forward.

  A whole day went by without any meals. The guards probably wanted to see her lose it and eat the remains of her cellmate. If she had the will left to continue living, she might have. She prayed to God for help, and then prayed to the three Radiance Gods and hoped one of the two prayers she made would be answered. Funny thing was, she was never a religious person to start with but, at that point, she was willing to accept any faith that would get her out of this mess.

  She felt vibrations tremble across the frost-covered metallic floor she slept on. Entering the atmosphere of Paryo she assumed. The vibrations continued, growing more intense then alarms began to blare. Prison guards scurried about with a sound of panic in their Hashmedai voices. A large blast rocked the entire ship; it gave her the willpower needed to stand and ignore the hunger pains.

  Something was afoot, something the operators of the ship weren’t expecting.

  Power was cut and the raging sounds of a battle played out, a symphony of guns, plasma rifles, and swords clashing against personal shields and flesh of any person that lost their shield. The force fields keeping prisoners in place faded; it was met with cries of hope from all imamates and they rose to start a riot. This is it, she thought. One of the prayers was answered miraculously.

  Lisette went to make her move, planning to walk behind the rioting prisoners as they hijacked the ship, hoping they’d by now know the human woman with them was on their side. The rioting prisoners walked into a short-lived revolt, all falling to the floor in a bloody storm caused by magnetic rifles. Their dismembered bodies fell into a sea of blood before Lisette.

  That’s when Lisette remembered the mental note she had made, not to cause any trouble. On second thought, I’ll stay in my cell.

  Before she tiptoed back to project the false image, she wasn’t a supporter of the riots, a group of men and women approached her. Some were psionic, others held Radiance magnetic rifles, all were members of the five Radiance races.

  A Javnis man approached her, his gold-colored scales on his lizard body were obscured by his cloak until he lowered it. He had two eyes, unlike the four his species normally had. The other two were stitched shut. He spoke to his followers in their language. She couldn’t understand any of it, or why they spared her out of everyone on the ship.

  There was, however, one word he muttered that Lisette understood.

  “Nephilim.”

  And that word was seemingly directed to her in the creepiest way imaginable when they grabbed her. Lisette wished she was still en route to death row at that point.

  Her horrific screams were heard throughout the ship, stopping at its hulls. Her screams for help went unheard across the stars, and unheard across . . .

  The Splintered Galaxy.

  1 Karklosea

  Radiance Council Delegation Chambers

  Veromacon, Aervounis, Luminous System

  October 30, 2118, 01:13 SST (Sol Standard Time)

  “Now, shall we proceed?”

  “After you, Councilman.”

  Ure Karklosea sidestepped, allowing Ure Hanei, the Radiance council Linl representative, to exit the elevator first. She followed him. Karklosea and Hanei had arrived at the central government building in the city, finishing the lengthy elevator ride up to the council delegation chamber. The two walked across the immaculately polished, tiled floors and past various plants found in the jungles of Aervounis.

  Hanei and Karklosea were members of the same species, Linl, who bore a resemblance to humans for reasons the galaxy, to this day, could not figure out. She checked her blonde hair, tied into a single and thick braid running down her armored back, was to dress code. She was a Templar now, one escorting the most powerful Linl man in the galaxy. She had to maintain the serious look.

  A young woman approached the two when they neared the chamber doors, a human-looking Linl just like them. The woman’s appearance was young, eighteen, if that, though, with gene therapy, one couldn’t tell. She could have been several thousand years old like Karklosea, and nobody would tell.

  The woman’s skin was a dark tan, a common sight amongst the people living on Aervounis, thanks to the sunlight. If Karklosea were to guess, the woman’s favorite color was black, as all her cosmetics were of that color, even her lips.

  “Councilman!” the woman said eagerly, running her fingers through her deep-red hair.

  “We have an urgent matter to attend to,” Karklosea said, her armored, gloved hand pushing the redheaded woman aside. “Please hold onto your questions until we are finished.”

  “Just one quick question, please, I beg you,” the redheaded woman said.

  “I’m sorry—”

  “Let her speak,” Hanei cut in with a smile, facing the redheaded woman. “What do you wish to ask?”

  The redheaded woman’s eyes narrowed, and a cold grin appeared on her face. “Are you a believer?” she asked the two.

  “What sort of question is that?” Karklosea snorted. “Councilman, please, we are late.”

  “You are
not believers?” the redheaded woman said, her voice full of hope.

  Karklosea was confused at her questions, and the twisting of Hanei lips suggested he was as well. “As in believers of the word of the Gods?” Karklosea said. “Of course we are!”

  The redheaded woman nodded and then asked Hanei. “And you?”

  “Yes, we are believers, to answer your question,” he said.

  “Ah, I see,” the redheaded woman said, then bowed before allowing the two to pass. “I wish you well.”

  Karklosea completed her task, escorting Councilman Hanei to the rest of the Radiance council. The elected representatives of the five races that made up the Radiance Union sat at their designated chairs before the long rectangular table at the end of the chamber. Behind them stood their personal psionic assistants, and ahead was the entrance to the delegation chambers, with four rangers standing guard, and Karklosea.

  The benefit of being asked to escort a council representative to their meetings was you got to stand in the chamber when the doors shut and learn of laws that will be born or retired or political decisions and where their effects could be felt across the galaxy. The Radiance Union, after all, was the oldest and largest galactic nation, and the primary reason why the Hashmedai Empire and the United Nations of Earth were spacefaring galaxy societies today.

  The council representatives were quick to start their debate, one that was deemed of high importance. The one Hanei spoke of prior to arriving, and the reason he went to pray to the Gods beforehand.

  “As you all are aware, the Terran Legion is another threat to our people,” Ary Ienthei, the Aryile representative, said.

  Za Iey’liwea, the Rabuabin representative nodded in agreement, the jewelry on her ram-like horns jingled. “Indeed, humans that want to enslave nonhuman life.”

  “Or wipe them out,” said Gab Marchei, the Vorcambreum representative, his dwarflike body reclined on a chair that was higher than the rest to compensate for the short height of his species.

  “They don’t have the power for that,” Hanei spoke.

  “Not any more thanks to Captain Foster,” Mil Zealoei, the Javnis representative, chimed in, his four lizard eyes showing signs of fatigue. He must have had a long night.

  “Still, I am not convinced she eliminated all their members,” Marchei said. “As we speak, the humans are interrogating everyone that was part of the fleet the Terrans manipulated into following them.”

  “Exactly, the humans fear more Terrans are lurking in the shadows,” Ienthei said. “Furthermore, our Whisper agents, spying on the humans, have reported that a number of arrests have been made. There are indeed more Terrans out there, most likely plotting revenge.”

  “Which brings us to our next problem, the Terrans had plans to draw us into their conflict,” Marchei said.

  “But were unsuccessful,” said Hanei.

  “Is that so?” Marchei’s tiny dwarflike hands waved before him. In its wake, a holographic screen appeared showing recorded footage of the Johannes Kepler in a battle against ships of human design. “The Kepler, a joint Radiance and UNE project I might add, engaged in direct combat with the fleet at Taxah.”

  “Yes, we know that,” Hanei said. “They defeated the Terrans.”

  “Not all the ships there were loyal to the Terrans,” Marchei said. “At the time this video was recorded, the Kepler, while under command of Saressea, opened fire and destroyed a number of UNE fighters, fighters whose pilots were confirmed to be loyal to the UNE, not the Terrans. Human lives were lost at the order of our liaison officer.”

  “She didn’t have a choice,” Hanei said.

  “She did have a choice not to kill UNE loyal humans,” Marchei said. “The families of those slain humans want justice and have pressured the UNE government to launch an inquiry.”

  Zealoei’s lizard body and four eyes remained still, taking in the looped footage of the Kepler. “And the Terrans?” he asked.

  “It will only be a matter of time, according to our contacts, before they use this as propaganda to support their cause,” Marchei said.

  “I can see it now, ‘more human lives killed by aliens,’” Ienthei said.

  “This could draw us into the conflict,” Zealoei said. “We need to end this quickly. We cannot afford direct military conflict with the humans.”

  “Despite the loss from the dragons, our navy still rivals theirs and the Empire,” Hanei said.

  “Our reinforcements have yet to arrive and won’t be here for another three or four months,” Ienthei said. “Meanwhile, the humans, thanks to their wormhole network, have refortified Earth and have several new ships under construction. All we have to replenish our losses are the secondhand defense drones we purchased from Earth.”

  Zealoei faced his fellow council representatives. “If the humans wanted to, they could easily take Aervounis, the dragon attacks have left us nearly defenseless.”

  “Agreed,” Iey’liwea’s feline ears began to stiffen with anger. “I, for one, will be extremely agitated to know my great-grandchild will be forced to speak fucking English and Chinese should we lose a conflict with humans, Terran or Earth loyal.”

  “The Empire is already distancing themselves from the humans because of this,” Marchei said. “As much as we prayed for the day when the humans and Hashmedai returned to hating each other, this is not the way it should go. Humans need to view us as allies, not as another threat.”

  “Have we forgotten about the dragons?” Hanei asked. “Shouldn’t we stick to helping each other defeat our common foe?”

  “All the more reason why we should take action,” Marchei said, crossing his arms, and leaning back on his chair. “I vote we have Saressea arrested, and her command dissolved. Let’s show the UNE and Terrans we do not support the actions she took in the Taxah sector.”

  Ienthei grinned, his flawless and flat herbivore teeth beamed. “This could help strengthen our relationship with the humans.”

  “And with that, force the Empire to reconsider distancing themselves, forcing this alliance against the dragons to stand strong,” Marchei added.

  Karklosea watched as the five debated, consulting with other Radiance politicians across the Union via their personal psionics relaying those messages telepathically. She wished she had the time to make a prayer to Livie. Whatever the council voted on, it was either going to strengthen the Union or plunge it into further chaos, this time with Earth, as if the dragons weren’t enough.

  Saressea was part of Foster’s team too. Removing her may hinder their mission to find and make peace with the Draconians or conduct reconnaissance and tell the galaxy exactly what they needed to do to prepare for all-out war.

  The council went to reveal their votes. Karklosea watched intently.

  “The Aryile vote yes.”

  “The Vorcambreum agrees.”

  “As do the Rabuabin.”

  “The Javnis agrees as well.”

  “The Linl do not,” Hanei said grimly, not that it mattered, three votes of yes sealed the deal, and at four? He may as well have stayed in the temple praying. Who knows, perhaps the Gods would have put far more of an effort to sway the council to vote otherwise.

  “Then it is decided,” Ienthei said. “Let us send a ship to the Kepler; they should be back in Earth controlled space now, yes?”

  “Even better,” Iey’liwea said after she brought up a holo screen and reviewed its contents. “The Kepler is coming to us.”

  “Oh?”

  Iey’liwea continued. Karklosea imagined that Iey’liwea’s feline tail not visible to her was probably wagging with excitement. “They requested permission to enter the wormhole; they have an urgent matter here in the Union. And Saressea has a security concern she wishes to share with us in private.”

  “Praise the Gods,” Marchei said jubilantly. “Let this be proof they do listen. They are hand delivering Saressea to us! We don’t need to send ships!”

  “Now,” Zealoei said, changing the subject. “Fo
r our next topic—”

  The Javnis representative’s words were silenced by the sudden and unexpected sound of the doors to the chambers sliding open. They were supposed to be shut and locked, and in the case of a mistake being made, the rangers inside were supposed to spring to action.

  They didn’t, only Karklosea stood on edge, her hand reaching for her redeemer sword as an uninvited guest entered.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Marchei bellowed to the front.

  The rangers didn’t answer, more like they ignored the words and demands from the council. Karklosea marched to the door, her senses, sharpened by years of fighting the Hashmedai and Celestial Order, told her something wasn’t right. The redheaded young woman from earlier entered. The rangers allowed it and allowed her to step way too close to the visibly concerned five at their large desk.

  “Please, I have just a simple question to ask,” the redheaded woman asked with her hands behind her back.

  “You!” Iey’liwea retorted standing up from her seat and jamming her finger at the girl. “Leave now or I’ll have you arrested for interrupting the council!”

  Karklosea neared the redheaded woman, looking back periodically at the four guards, trying to figure out what was going on within their helmets obscuring their faces.

  “Please, leave now, if you wish to speak with us, do it after we are finished,” Zealoei said. “And guards? Why did you let her in?”

  “This was not my doing,” Karklosea said as she reached to grab the woman by her arm. “However, that is a good question, why did you let her in?” she asked the four rangers standing idle.

  Karklosea tugged on her arm. The woman refused to move. She pulled again with more force, not too much, however, her suit gave her enough strength to rip heavy objects apart if she wanted to. The woman was forcibly yanked back half a meter, but still remained facing the council with defiance in her composure.