Annals of the Keepers - Deception Read online

  ANNALS

  OF THE

  KEEPERS

  CHRISTIAAN C. HILE

  &

  BENJAMIN J. HALKETT

  Book Two

  Deception

  Prologue

  After the retaking of Earth and the Sol System by the Ordinance Forces, Commander Shenta Parejas holds Humanity’s future together while opposing forces look to tear mankind apart.

  The Kryth Mahr Domain has not forgotten about the demeaning loss to their reborn adversary, Humans. Lintorth Sol will stop at nothing to gain all knowledge about this race that brought disgrace upon his beloved empire and his honored family name.

  The Reavers must recover from a lost mission and heavy casualties. Kason Bender faces trial for his actions at the conference which led to the death of his dear friend and mentor, Keeper Alon Renske.

  One dust, one star. The mysterious Gashnee prophecies have linked both Human and Kryth alike to each other’s past. They will hunt for the Gashnee’s secrets, which will not only bring them into battle; but, may very well drag the whole galaxy into war. Soon, their pasts will collide with devastating consequences.

  The Annals continue…

  DATA CELL 1

  The moon was just a shell of its former self. Gone was the previous sphere, replaced now with a deformed, oblong object. The abnormal rock had holes and open-ended caverns strewn across its topography. It had been mined to the point of becoming unrecognizable.

  Orbiting the mined mass was an old and rusted mining platform. It was once used to crush, filter, and sort the precious ores torn from the moon’s surface by giant machinery, now absent from the cratered landscape. Long ore-chutes angled away from the aging structure. Each one had once awaited cargo haulers as they had loaded the mined product aboard to be taken to market. What now docked at two of the six converted ports were Kryth Exendoth destroyers.

  The inside of the platform matched its exterior, in dire need of maintenance. Most of the light that streamed inside came through gouged openings in the structure’s plating, allowing the system’s star rays to enter. The hallways and rooms were a wasteland of lifelessness. On occasion, a piece of floating debris would disrupt the rust-coated walls.

  A shallow noise emanated from deep within the dead structure. The bowls of the complex began to moan and come alive, as if a dormant hibernating beast awoke from its slumber.

  A cavernous, circular, sealed room opened up within the platform’s center. Steam rose from the bottom of a huge shaft, wafting upward around dangling chains. Below, various metal cages and prison cells lined the floor of the chamber.

  A Human scream pierced the silence, bouncing off the hull of the circular room, reverberating and mingling with the steamed air. The long chains from the ceiling ran down the center to a yellow sludge pit near the bottom, the fluid bubbling and oozing over the sides.

  Coming out of the goo was a figure wrapped in thick chains. The metal links clanked together as they raised the large form from the muck.

  It was Ramek.

  “Move him over the floor,” the Comondon’s deep voice rumbled.

  The Comondons were not listed in the Domain as a truly intelligent race. Although bipedal and sentient, the Kryth used them as muscle around their territories. The bovine creature with reptilian skin dwarfed his assistant as he ordered their captive to the floor, “Drop him.”

  His small Tiwil lackey, a rodent-like creature, sat up on a corroded console. “Gladly, Mortok.” He pulled a lever, ratcheting gears high above the room.

  The chains holding Ramek’s naked body released and rolled out, dropping him to the metal floor.

  Ramek let out a grunt, spasming in pain.

  The one called Mortok approached, “You tough, much tougher than others of your kind.” The creature motioned towards some smaller cages, which held Human remains from the shuttle crash and then to the arms and head stacked on a table next to his ratty assistant. “Now, what we do next with you?” the bull-torturer asked.

  The Tiwil hopped up onto a table and scampered across to the other end of the room. “Here! Here!” the little, excited creature squeaked, pointing to a boulder in the corner of the room.

  The Comondon turned from Ramek and walked over to the large rock, harrumphing, “Slagworms will work.”

  “Let me! Let me!” the Tiwil asked with jubilance.

  Mortok snorted his acceptance. His rodent lackey grabbed a pair of large pinchers and approached the rock. The pinchers reached out to a slug-like creature attached to the boulder. The body of this parasitic organism was about a foot long with camouflaged skin, blending into the rocky surroundings. Its head was round and flat with a diameter larger than its body.

  The pinchers snagged it.

  The slagworm let out a hiss at being wrenched loose from the rock. When the head came off the rock, particles broke off, filtering down to the floor. A circular cut-out was left in the wall where the creature’s mouth had been.

  The Tiwil approached Ramek’s prone body with parasite in tow. The little rodent looked up to Mortok for direction.

  “Place over his heart,” the bull snorted.

  The mouth of the slagworm was round with multiple rows of jagged teeth; each tooth receded into the center toward a beak-like orifice.

  The Tiwil placed the worm on Ramek's chest.

  The creature hissed again and withered as it began to bite into Ramek’s flesh.

  Ramek arched his back in pain, screaming as blood coated around the worm’s mouth before pouring off and down the side of his body.

  “Get other one,” said the Comondon.

  The rodent ran back to the rock, grapping a second slagworm. He approached. “Where this one go?”

  “Place on forehead.”

  Just as the rodent reached to place the worm, a bang sounded and a rusted door whined open against the hull to the room.

  In stepped Sontar Jal.

  “I see I have interrupted your work.” Sontar sneered at the sight of the slagworm.

  “Not done. You come too soon,” the Comondon replied.

  Two other Kryth soldiers followed Sontar into the cavern. They moved around the cages and over to where Ramek lay, “I have come for any intel you may have–” Sontar stopped mid-sentence to look at the slug on Ramek’s bloody chest, “Any intel you have garnered from our guest here.”

  “I have little information. He is hard one. We break him and he heals. I want to see how he heals.”

  “No. I want him alive. His internal biology specifics can wait. I need his knowledge of his race and their whereabouts and I need it now!” Sontar demanded.

  Mortok reached down and snatched the second worm from the Tiwil’s grasp, “I use this to take answers. He will tell me what I want to know soon,” the bull snorted.

  Slagworms were a nasty parasite. Although typically feeding off mineral deposits and smaller vermin that lived in porous rock, the acid in their saliva attacked certain enzymes and acted similar to a narcotic agent, inducing the afflicted into a semiconscious state and removing any conscious suppression. The victim was left in a stupor and would answer any question without even realizing it. The only thing the slagworm venom did not inhibit was pain.

  Sontar turned at the sight of the mucus running out the flared nostrils of the towering beast before he spoke, “I want what you have now. I will return in several cycles for the rest, and to take him. Gain the knowledge by that time and your reward doubles. Fail, and that slagworm will be placed on your head instead.”

  “I gain what you seek,” Mortok grunted.

  “Good. I will leave you to your work.”

  Sontar flinc
hed at the sight of the Tiwil who was now on a crate next to him. The rodent was feeling Sontar’s white cape with its clawed hands. Sontar pulled the cape from the creature’s grasp with disgust, “I will leave a regiment of soldiers and a destroyer at this facility until my return.”

  “Why?” Mortok asked.

  “You do not ask why. You just do as I say.” Sontar spun and exited the shafted room. The soldiers backed outside and closed the door behind them.

  ∞∞∞

  Sontar and his men walked down the dim corridor towards the docking bay.

  “Team Leader Vran, I want guards posted at that door at all times,” Sontar said as the Kryth team leader approached his side as they walked. He continued, “I also want those other two Comondons watched. I do not trust them.”

  The group of four Kryth walked by the other Comondons working on a generator. The beasts snorted as the Kryth officers passed without paying them much attention.

  The Kryth team leader glanced back to meet the gaze of one of the bulls, “What of Mortok?” he asked Sontar.

  “I trust him the least. I want a guard to keep an eye on him until my return.”

  “And the regiment in the hangar bay? What shall I do with them?”

  Sontar stopped in his tracks to face the team leader. “I want them for extra security. You can never be too careful around these beasts.”

  The team leader looked perplexed from Sontar’s comment about being safe amongst Comondons. He pushed, “Excuse me, General. My men are quite capable of handling three Comondons.” He paused. “Should I be concerned with anything else?”

  Sontar smiled. “No. Nothing more than mere precautions.” Sontar continued walking towards the hangar bay. “And, Vran, make sure your men watch this bay entrance and that docking port.”

  The team leader queried with an eyebrow raised, “Just mere precautions, General?”

  “Yes, just mere precautions.”

  “I see. My men and I will do as you ask.”

  “That is all I require. Now,” Sontar approached an open docking door posted by two guards as he continued, “I will leave you and return in several cycles. I expect that information from the Human before then.” Sontar finished, entering the docking corridor, but stopped short of the entrance. He turned back toward the team leader, “One other thing, Team Leader Vran. Have most of your men here to watch the docking bay and keep a close eye on the Comondons.” Sontar smiled, turning away as the door closed behind him.

  The team leader was bewildered by his general’s triple order to watch the hangar. He understood the first time about keeping an eye on the bay. The third command to watch the port made him ponder.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he returned back into the hangar, stopping a moment to glance at both docking bay doors he and his men were now ordered to watch.

  He walked over to one and checked the security release.

  The Kryth peered out the small window in the door. There was nothing out there except the other docked destroyer and a field of stars.

  He backed away, looking at the door with suspicion. Shrugging his shoulders one last time, he walked away.

  DATA CELL 2

  One of the Exendoth destroyers departed from the mining platform, veering around a massive asteroid and heading out of the system.

  Sontar Jal sat on the bridge of his ship, staring at the blinking light in front of him. The light was readying a transmission from Dranneous Kor and Sontar was not too happy, for he knew who was on the other end.

  The computer beeped, and the monitor came to life.

  “Well, well, I was wrong. I was certain the image on my screen was going to be that of your spy. You bestow such an honor with your personal calling.” A sinister smile came across Sontar before continuing, “Lintorth Sar, is it?”

  Lintorth’s face showed no expression from Sontar’s taunt.

  Sontar did not cease his provoking. “The Chamber Lore did elect to strip you of your honored family name of Sol, did they not? I am so sorry I could not have been there for the ballot.” Sontar was enjoying his improved position over his brother.

  “Names matter not, Sontar, it is what we do that marks us.”

  Sontar laughed, “Interesting for you to say, Lintorth, considering what you have done of late. I am marked quite well then, in your presence.”

  “Where’s the Human?”

  “Ah, he gets right to the point.”

  “You are playing a dangerous game here, Sontar.”

  Sontar kicked his legs up onto the console. Relaxed, he interlaced his hands on his chest, “Oh, dear brother, you are so desperate. You are racing to garner position, but you have already lost ground, continuing to be a step behind me, as always. How desperate are you, Lintorth?”

  “You have no appreciation for the capabilities of these Humans. We cannot delay. We need every bit of information to help us track them down. We need it now!” Lintorth snapped.

  “Well, well.” Sontar removed his legs from the console and leaned in close to his monitor, “Desperation drips from your lips, Lintorth. I can hear it in your voice. I can almost smell it on your breath from here. How it must bother you in having me best you so.”

  “It bothers me that you, as an amateur, believe getting intelligence is worth doing, but not worth doing properly.”

  Sontar let out a stomach-turning laugh, “You have not done any better. Have you tracked them down? Do you know where they are?” Sontar paused to give Lintorth time to answer before continuing with his question, “Well, do you? Again, nothing but silence from you.”

  “We have no time for this, Sontar. Time is against us and we must pool our resources together. This is not about position. What position will either of us have without a Domain to give it?”

  “You were always the sly one, Lintorth. If it makes you more secure, then I suppose I could assist you.” Sontar smiled. “We have not gained any knowledge of the Humans’ whereabouts. We have armor and some of the tech they employ, but the Human prisoner has not given any real information.” Sontar looked curiously at Lintorth, wanting to turn the questioning. He was done helping. “But, you, my brother, what have you found? I have given my share, now it is your turn. Do you not have your spy, Voskal Lat, tracking them down as we speak?”

  “We have. . .” Lintorth pondered his next words. “We have located two possible systems they could be in. Tolarus and Kentabak Four.”

  Sontar peaked in interest. “The Tolarus System is near the Montis Rift Nebula and is uninhabitable due to the Monx Black Hole. It is a dying system.” Sontar continued, smiling, “But, the Kentabak System; now, that is interesting. It is a mining trade conglomerate near the outer portion of the system around the asteroid belt there, if I am not mistaken. That system is where they are, no doubt. What is your plan of attack, brother?”

  “There is none.”

  “What? Why so slow to react, mighty warrior of the Domain?”

  “Hardly. We are probing now to determine if the Humans are there. Unlike you, Sontar, I do not jump on feeble, premature intelligence.”

  “There is one system to search. Kentabak Four! It is obvious. The other is falling towards a black hole. It is handed right to you and still you do nothing.”

  “Our time is short here, brother. We must get the Human soldier’s tech back to Dranneous immediately. In time, we will locate the system where they hide.”

  Sontar stood and laughed aloud once more. “I follow my orders from the Si Lord. I will decide when I take the Human and the evidence back to Dranneous. Not you.”

  Lintorth, smirked, replying, “As you wish, brother. I will leave you to your ways. Keep a close eye on those Comondons.”

  The monitor went out just as Sontar seethed with anger, lashing out at his chair and hitting the backrest.

  “We will see who is in favor, brother. You will be one step behind me, as always.”

  Sontar spun and exited the command bridge.

  ∞∞∞

  Lintor
th turned in his chair within his personal quarters onboard the battleship, the Zalmon.

  An image on another monitor smiled back at him.

  “Well, Voskal, now you see what I have to put up with,” Lintorth said.

  Voskal Lat snickered, “Better you than me. I would have shut the transmission down long before you did.”

  “Sometimes you just have to give Sontar a few more minutes of jabbering before he opens up and reveals himself.”

  “Do you think he has obtained any insight from the Human?”

  Lintorth stood from his seat and paced the room in thought. “No. I believe what he said. He would have been on Dranneous crawling up the ankles of the Si at the slightest information on the Humans. I shall leave Sontar to Sontar. We have pressing matters of our own.”

  Lintorth moved back to the monitor. “What is the progress on the Human system, my friend?”

  “Our first two probes went offline. The third operated for a few moments before we lost contact with it, but we did get something.”

  Lintorth sat back down. “Please tell.”

  “The first thing we noticed was the data our sensors were reading regarding the system itself. The black hole we thought was at the center of this system does not actually exist.” Voskal had Lintorth’s full attention with this comment. He continued, “You see, it has always been a system to avoid, as the main shipping lane in this sector was far outside the system. No one has ever ventured close enough to the developing black hole, until today.”

  “Get on with it. I know the sector and system in question,” Lintorth’s impatient voice gestured.

  “Well, as the probes approached, the data we have known for all these mons was accurate until we crossed over into the inner system, where this black hole was supposed to be forming. You see, it was a ruse; false data. Some type of sensor distortion being given off from within the center of the system. Our probes crossed this barrier and showed it to be an illusion. The black hole does not exist, but the Humans do.”