The Forever Quest (The Forever Series Book 4) Read online

  I had a pretty good idea where they were holding Kayla. I ran that direction, holding my pets out front of me in case anyone thought to challenge me along the way.

  I knew I couldn’t release the falzorn in a room where Kayla was strapped down. I couldn’t figure how matters would go down when I found her, but the idea of throwing them at Varrank was tempting.

  Of course, he’d be alerted that a madman with horrible snakes was on the loose, so I wouldn’t have the element of surprise. Or wait, I could enlist surprise. I’d seen the schematics for the ventilation system. It was the one thing that wasn’t redundantly compartmentalized. If I put the falzorn in there, the entire facility would be as unsafe as the business end of a flame thrower. Plus, while the chance of a snake dropping into any lap was slim, not knowing would go a long way in encouraging all present to vacate the premises. It would really inconvenience you know who.

  I did it. I found a main access screen on the floor I thought Kayla was held on and shoved the lot of them as far back as my probes could reach. For safety sake, I then elevated myself off the floor well clear of any air vents. If they rushed back in my direction, I wanted to be flat against the ceiling. I waited a few minutes. None appeared. I dropped to the floor and started running.

  I was wondering how I was going to alert Varrank about my subterfuge. No point boobytrapping the building if no one knew about it. Then I heard the answer to my prayers. Loud screams of primal terror echoed down the halls from two sides of me. I guess the little fellows split up. Within seconds, the screams more than doubled, and I heard feet pounding on the floors above me. People were running to get out of the building. I imagined just how angry Varrank would be at his employees. No holiday party for them this year.

  The panic became so widespread that people flew past me in the halls and took no notice. Even flocks of guards ran by without slowing. I was a good saboteur. I found the room where Kayla might have been. The door was wide open. Thank you, squirmy snakes. I peeked in. There she was. Varrank wasn’t kidding about her being strapped to the table while he in possession of all her clothes. I took a mental picture. Then I took a few real ones with my flash memory card. Oh yeah, baby.

  I stepped into the room, rifle first. It was empty but for her.

  “Jon, thank God. What’s happening? The guards started running from the room. Varrank ran after them screaming, but he never came back.”

  I released the restraints, arms then legs. She hit the floor. I tried to focus on her not having done that.

  “Here,” I handed her my shirt. I’d started loosening it when I saw she was alone. “This too.” I handed her my jumpsuit. There I was, a mighty warrior, in my skivvies. Oh well. She didn’t have a camera in her head.

  “Thanks,” she said as she hurriedly put them on. “Where’s Karnean?”

  “No idea.”

  I really didn’t know.

  “How are we going to find him?”

  “No idea. The computers are still down, so we can’t use them.”

  “Well we’re not leaving without him.”

  “Kayla, you know we have to. He’d kill us both if we delayed to save him.”

  “Fine, you leave. I’m not.” She stepped cautiously to the doorway. “What scared everyone so badly that they’d risk Varrank’s wrath?”

  “Have you ever heard of falzorn?”

  “No. What are they?”

  “The cure for loyalty. Let’s scram.”

  I explained briefly what they were as I led her down the hall toward the main entrance.

  “If you even think you see one, let me know.”

  “You’ll hear the scream loud and clear,” she replied.

  A well-dressed woman ran toward us, terror etched on her face. I grabbed her as she passed and pressed her against the wall.

  “Let go of me, you maniac. There are two falzorn chasing me.” She kicked at my shins and slapped at my face.

  I held her with my right hand and set my left probe next to her neck. From Kayla’s angle, she couldn’t see me deploy them a few millimeters. Where is the other male prisoner?

  Her name was Donyonna. Twenty-eight, secretary to aide of Varrank. Embezzled significant amounts over the last two years. Slept with anyone and everyone to get ahead. Born locally. Level 5 detention, room AA27. I sucked a map from her head and released her. She flew away without so much as a look back.

  “She told me where Karnean is. Come on.”

  As we started to run, she called out to me. “I didn’t hear her say a word.”

  “She was quiet. Hard to hear her between all her kicking and slapping, I guess.”

  Kayla didn’t question me any longer. I doubt she believed me, but she was beginning to simply accept I was full of surprises. A riddle wrapped in a mystery in a box labeled as handsome.

  We arrived at AA27. It was locked. I shot the mechanism out with my gun and kicked it in. Karnean leap from his bed ready to fight, then ran to Kayla when he recognized us.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, stroking his hair.

  “Fine. What’s happening? All the yelling and random shooting I hear?”

  She said nothing. She just turned her head toward me.

  “What?” I said, placing a hand on my chest.

  “Say no more,” responded Karnean. “More Jon magic.”

  I threw him my rifle. “You’ll need this. Let’s go.”

  I led us into the hall and trotted toward the entrance. I was pissed that I was leaving without the intelligence I wanted, but I was leaving alive. Well, so far.

  The computers were down, so I couldn’t access them. The main files were housed centrally somewhere, but I couldn’t be sure where. If I could physically remove a main data cache, it might have the information I wanted. But I couldn’t very well carry the entire thing out the front door. I wasn’t about to wait around for repairs to be complete.

  Hey, Al could wait around. Yeah. If I could sneak him into the system, the worst that would happen was that they’d find him and lock him out. But, if he hid until the system was up, he might just be able to hack it. That was worth a shot.

  Al, I’m going to power up a computer node controlled by one of Varrank’s AIs. Interface with it and see if you can hide there until you can hack the system. Is that possible?

  I’m not sure, but there’s no harm in trying, right?

  No.

  I stopped at the next computer I saw unguarded. I activated the AI, interfaced Al, and shut the node down.

  We exited the entrance we’d originally come through. I pointed us to the nearest vehicle. We climbed in, and I pretended to turn the key, using instead my probes to fire it up. I hit the gas, or whatever it was powered by, and we flew toward the main gates. They were closed. I wasn’t sure the car was big enough to crash through, but it was our only choice. If we stayed inside the palace grounds, they’d capture us and kill us quickly.

  Okay, I did cheat a little. We’re talking Jon here. I barked for Karnean to fire at the barrier. He leaned out the window and opened fire. The closer the car came, the more damaged he inflicted.

  I yelled for him to get back in, and we hit the gate’s metal bars. The car slowed worrisomely, then broke through. Luckily it wasn’t until then that some of the guards fired on us. I guess they felt safe enough to do their jobs. Fortunately, it was too little, too late. A few bolts rattled off the car, but no real damage was done. I sped toward the port. I didn’t know if Varrank was going to let us reach our ship. He owned the city. Hell, he owned the planet. I decided that it was too risky to do the predictable.

  I told Al to land in an open area I’d seen my first day wandering Monzos. It would take him ten or fifteen minutes to get there, so I had time to hope we weren’t picked up. That’s when the first fighter swooped overhead and opened fire. We were between a few tall buildings, so his rounds hit the walls, rubble raining down on us.

  Al, fire on that ship!

  As he started his next run at us, he burst into flames. />
  “I’m not saying a thing,” Karnean said from the passenger seat. “Not one word.”

  I spun the wheel to keep us as covered as possible. Two other ships buzzed overhead, but they never had a chance to strafe us. Al took them out without my asking. Good AI. As we rocketed through an intersection, two motorcycles leaped on our tail. They had mounted machine guns that fired as soon as the drivers had them pointed toward us.

  “Get down,” shouted Karnean, as he leaned out the window and began firing. He rapidly took out one, which slid in front of the other, causing him to veer. The driver quickly recovered and was drawing a bead on us. I slammed on the brakes. Kaboom! He hit us at sixty kilometers per hour. The bike struck the back bumper and ricocheted to the side. The driver had a superior experience. He vanished for a moment, then reappeared, flying in front of us. He looked like Superman, well, for a few seconds he did. When he arced downward and hit the street, he looked like super-nothing.

  I headed toward the burned-out warehouse where Shearwater would land. I accelerated to the car’s modest top speed.

  “The ship’s the other direction,” snarled Karnean.

  Dude, I just saved your bacon. Could you lighten up and cut me some slack?

  “I know,” I replied instead. “Too risky.”

  “Too risky?” he shouted, angling the rifle in my direction. “How else are we going to escape? Turn around.” He started to aim the gun at the side of my head.

  “No.” Kayla ordered, as she snatched the weapon out of her brother’s hands. “Shut up and enjoy the ride.” I looked back at her in the rearview mirror.

  She winked at me and sat back.

  Karnean spun on his sister. “Give me that gun. That’s a direct order.”

  “Put a sock in it, big brother,” she responded.

  “Put a sock in it? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “No idea, but I heard Jon say it to one of the crew. I think it applies here.”

  “Trust me, Karnean. I have a plan,” I said.

  “You had one that nearly got us all killed.” At least he wasn’t screaming any longer.

  I put a finger up. “The key word there is almost.”

  “Where are we going?” he asked conversationally.

  “Somewhere we’ll be completely safe. Trust me.”

  “Do I have a choice?” he asked.

  “No. Good point.” I winked in the mirror to Kayla.

  As I neared the open area, Shearwater angled overhead and rotated to land.

  “What the hell is that?” said Karnean. “It can’t be Varrank’s. I’ve never seen anything like her.”

  “That’s my ship.”

  As soon as I said it, I turned to stare at him. I so wanted to see the look on his face. I wasn’t disappointed, not one little bit. He melted into his seat and slumped lower until his chin was on his chest. “Your ship? You…you have a ship…here? You…”

  “All in good time, brother,” said Kayla from the back. “We will understand all in good time.”

  SEVENTEEN

  After we cleared the door at the top of the ramp, I told Al to close it and put up a membrane. I leaned back on the closed hatch door.

  “I’m getting tired of adventures. I think I’m too old.”

  Kayla stepped over to me and planted a big kiss on my lips. “How old are you?” She asked with a coy smile.

  “Older than I look. Older than I should rightly be.” I pointed to my lips. “Does that answer earn me another kiss?”

  “No,” she spun and walked to a chair. “That was for saving my life. Any more affection you’ll have to earn based on your future performance.”

  I turned to Karnean and opened my arms. “Next.”

  “Hardly,” he replied, swatting the back of his hand at me. Once seated, he said, “I’ll express my gratitude from this safe distance.” He circled his hand around the room. “Touching moment, here, but shouldn’t we be blasting off in a vain attempt to outrun Varrank’s powerful fleet? Hmm?”

  “We couldn’t be safer if we were in our mother’s arms. I haven’t decided if we’ll orbit a while or stay put to prove that we can. I enjoy pissing off Varrank.

  “Not a wise pleasure, my friend,” responded Karnean.

  “We’re friends now? Wow, I’m touched.”

  He smirked. “For the time being, yes. Who knows what the future holds?”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “But how can we be safe? Varrank will have an armored division here in a few minutes, not to mention a sky swarming with fighters,” said Kayla.

  “Remember my desire that you trust me?”

  “That’s a lot of trust,” she said.

  “No worries,” I replied. “The ship has an impenetrable force field.”

  “There is no such thing,” scoffed Karnean. “Pure science fiction. Trust me. If one existed, I’d have it.”

  “I think I’ll make believers out of you in a few minutes.” I called over my shoulder. “Al, better take us up to a hundred kilometers. We’ll have maneuvering room if it turns out we need it.”

  “Who are you speaking to?” asked a confused Kayla.

  “My ship’s AI, Al.”

  “Your AI—” The engines interrupted her as they fired. “I guess your AI can fly on its own. Wow.”

  In a few minutes, Al spoke overhead. “One hundred kilometers, Captain.”

  “Membrane up, and hold our position.”

  “Aye.”

  Almost at once, he spoke again. “Captain, nuclear tipped missiles inbound. ETA forty-five seconds.”

  “Jon, we better start running fast. And what the hell is an ETA?” Karnean was on his feet.

  “Estimated time of arrival, ETA. We’re fine. Hey, anyone want something to drink? You guys hungry?”

  “I trust you didn’t work that hard to escape just to get us vaporized. I’ll have something with alcohol. Anything with alcohol,” said a tense Kayla.

  My kind of girl. Beer under pressure.

  Karnean shook me off. He had a very ill look on his face. Green around the gills, I do believe.

  “Al, give me a countdown.”

  “Eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Impact.”

  The view screen flashed brightly. That was it. Not even a rumble aboard.

  “See, I told you. Nothing to worry about. Kayla, this is my own brew. It’s called beer.” I handed her a glass and toasted. “To new adventures.”

  “That’s not even remotely possible,” said Karnean, appearing more ill by the minute. “Well beyond impossible.”

  I stared at the screen. “Yet there you have it. Lucky for us, it isn’t impossible—just unlikely.”

  “How?” he said weakly.

  “I told you. The ship has a force field. Before you say they are mythical beasties, please look out the window at the at the nuclear fireball. Al, anything else headed our way?”

  “No. They don’t love us enough to even send flowers.”

  “I like your AI more than ours,” said Kayla cheerfully. “Hey, Al, I’m Kayla. Nice to meet you.” She raised her glass to salute him.

  “Can it be that after all these years, my pilot has finally found a woman of insight and keen perception?” That Al, what a joker.

  “Al, keep me posted. Otherwise, take a nap or something.”

  “Dismissed like yesterday’s news holo. Oh, the indignity.”

  “Karnean, we gotta get one like that,” Kayla said energetically to her fading brother.

  “Kar, if you’re going to hurl, please use a trashcan or the head,” I called over to him.

  “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

  “If you puke it, you clean it. Hey, I need to do a system check. I haven’t been onboard for almost four years. You two make yourselves comfortable. There are sleeping quarters down that passage.” I pointed. “Take your pick. Each one has its own head, err, bathroom. Mess is that way. If you need help, call for Al.”

  With that, I left to visually sca
n the ship, especially the engine room. Al could keep the ship running for years, but there were some actions even he couldn’t perform.

  An hour later, I was satisfied the ship was fine and located my passengers in the mess. Kayla was eating a hefty plate of Mexican food. Karnean was nursing a cup of tea.

  “This stuff is great,” Kayla said, pointing to her plate with her fork. “Where did you find it?”

  “It’s a favorite of mine too. It’s from my home planet—or was.”

  “Was what?” she asked confused. “They stopped making it?”

  “No, the planet’s gone. Got run over by a gas giant.”

  “That sucks,” she said as she was about to put some more chile relleno in her mouth.

  “Yeah, it did.”

  “So are you planning to tell us the truth about yourself, or are we just supposed to worship you unquestioningly?” Karnean asked.

  “That’s not a nice attitude toward the man who saved us. Try, for once in your life, to be civil and grateful.”

  “Sorry, you’re right. Please forgive me, Jon. That was uncalled for.”

  “No prob. I’ll let you in on what I can, but I’m on a mission. I’ll tell you in advance that I won’t fill you in on everything. Okay?”

  They said that was perfectly understandable.

  I told them about the destruction of Earth, a vague idea of the human migration, and sketchy outlines about Shearwater and her capabilities. I let them know why I allowed myself to be shanghaied. Kayla took that part in stride. I could tell Karnean was sick about being duped and about the way he’d treated me. I didn’t mention a thing about androids, cubes, or the superraces I’d met. All in good time.

  “You are kidding me. You sacrificed almost ten years of your life to journey to Deerkon and back on the off chance you’d learn more about what a couple slave traders said? You’re the most giving and loyal person I’ve ever met by a factor of a hundred,” said Kayla. She whacked her brother in the shoulder. “Are you taking notes, Mr. Center of the Universe?”

  “I’m a bit awed myself,” Karnean said. “I assume you could have commandeered Desolation at any point, yet you put up with my petty abuse. Why?”

  “The stakes are that high. I wanted to be able to do what I just did. It was worth it. Plus, I gotta tell you, you’re a softy compared to some commanders I’ve had.” I couldn’t help reflecting on the long dead General Saunders. That man was tough. He’d have ground Karnean to a dog food in less than a week. Funny. That was the first time I thought of Saunders in over a century.