Nathan Hystad - The Survivors - Books 1-3

“Peacefully? Look at this!” I yelled, ripping the cloth from around her head. She stared upward with bright red eyes. The sky crackled, wind angrily blowing dust around the pyramids.

“I’m sorry,” she said, voice smaller than I’d heard it yet.

“For what? For taking our water to expand your fleet, so you can do this to another world?” I was shouting now, tears flowing down my dusty face.

She looked down, abashed. “I heard you were barbarians. No better than a Tarkan from the outer reaches. When I gave my support, I thought we were doing the universe a favor. You killed the Kraski and most of the Deltra,” she said, as if this were a good enough reason for what her people had done.

“They tried to kill us first. The damn Kraski were on the run from you! It all starts with you! You’re a discredit to the universe, and the Theos would be ashamed.” I wasn’t sure why I said their ancient race’s name, but it seemed to strike a chord.

Her tense posture loosened. “You’re probably right. But all my family has done is solidify our standing in the pecking order. It’s kill or be killed.”

“I understand that more than you know.” And I did.

Minutes ticked by in silence before a boxy ship lowered from above, blue thrusters pointing at the earth as it flew down before stopping a couple hundred yards from our position. The Empress was holding the girl now, and I pointed my rifle at them.

“Leonard, take the girl,” I said firmly. He hesitated. “Take the damn girl!” He rushed over and set a hand on her small shoulder. “Get your pistol out.”

He looked back at me, a grim expression on his chubby face. I hated to force his hand on this, but he wanted to be in the middle of it, so this was it.

A large Bhlat warrior stepped out, oversized gun in hand. He wore an EVA suit, the air probably nearly unbreathable for them as well. I could feel the thin air making my head light. Mix in the lack of sleep, and I worried I wouldn’t be on two feet for long.

He motioned for us to come closer, and we walked toward him, the Bhlat woman and child between us and the ship.

The Empress said a few words in Bhlat and he nodded, lowering the gun. We entered the ship, but my finger didn’t leave the trigger for a second.

We entered the rough-looking fifty-foot ship through a side ramp, and I got stared down by a few hulking armored soldiers, each kneeling as the Empress stepped on board. It looked to be a drop ship of some sort, and I wondered how many of these they usually used on an invasion. Or did they just steal the resources from space, defending the miners when needed? It was dimly lit, and we stayed in the bay, weapons and cold metal seats with belts lining the walls.

No one spoke until we’d been inside for five minutes or so.

“Dean Parker, we can still make our deal.” The Empress turned her head and spoke softly into my ear.

“Mary,” was all I said back.

“If this was your mate, then I’m truly sorry. I lost a mate once, far too young. Linna there is all I have left of him.” She nodded to the little one, scared to death under Leonard’s light grip.

“What do you know of the Gatekeepers?” I asked before thinking.

She stiffened. “Why do you use that name?”

“Answer the question.”

“The Theos left us. Yes, we once walked worlds with them. It is said that the first Bhlat were found by them on a distant planet. One day they left, and rumors said they were seen on countless worlds sporadically over the next century or so. We never knew what they were doing, but the name Gatekeeper made it back to us eventually. That you ask me about it now is of extreme interest to me.”

“Why?”

“Because you speak of things long lost and forbidden to our people. That you do so at such a tumultuous time for your people brings great importance to the portent it bears.”

“For someone who hasn’t met a human before today, you sure have a way with our words.” This from Leonard. His voice was light, his hand still shaking, but not nearly as much as it had been. His gaze lifted from us to the large guards across from us.

“I can share thousands of languages with you if you so desire. It is but a simple procedure, mastered centuries ago by our scientists,” the Empress said, and I wasn’t sure if she was trying to impress us or distract us.

“Enough about that. That’s all you know about the Gatekeepers?” I asked, anger still thick on my tongue.

“Yes. I have no reason to deceive you.”

“Why is it forbidden to speak of the Theos?” I asked, curious, recalling the Bhlat on the street, worried they would be overheard using the name.

“The Theos abandoned the universe. Many beings out there think they are gods, that they created all.”

“And you? What do you believe?” I asked.

She looked at me sidelong from her spot to my left, where I still aimed my gun at her. “I believe they were a wise race, far beyond our scope of understanding. They grew bored and left us all behind. The universe is a large place, one where they may still be hiding.”

“Maybe they aren’t hiding, just living their lives out in peace,” I said.

“Peace. That is such a powerful world, but rarely one anyone takes at face value.”

“Will we make this deal?” I asked, trying to read her expression. Her deep red eyes danced while staying still.

“We will.”

“Will you keep doing this to other worlds?”

“We will.”

“Why?” I asked, my lips sticking together as I moved my mouth.

“My world’s water is contaminated. We are many, billions upon billions, and water becomes the most important resource in the universe.”

I thought back to exiting the forest on the way to the Bhlat city, and how life crept away from the snaking river we’d passed.

“What about the metals?” I asked, knowing they weren’t just mining water on Earth.

“If we’re taking water, why not take every resource we can? It would be foolish.”

Kareem’s face floated to the forefront of my mind. Change the universe.

“Empress, what if I had a solution to your resource problem? What if I offered you coordinates to places out there that you could colonize with fresh water, and metals unheard of? Would you be willing to stop invading? Stop killing innocents for your own sake? Would you work with me, and change…” I cut myself off, not wanting to make it too cheesy. “Change the future?”

Her red eyes twitched, and a wet line streamed down her cheek. She glanced to her daughter, who looked back with wide eyes at her mother. “I would.”

If she was acting, I was buying it, but I had to proceed with caution. The ship jostled and landed, presumably inside the Bhlat ship where my friends were being kept. Mary. I had to end this all and see her one more time. I felt like screaming in anguish for my lost love. It was my fault. If only I’d brought her with me to get the Empress, none of this would have happened. She’d still be at my side. I was so selfish, and I’d never live it down.

The doors whistled open, jarring me from my own thoughts. We started to walk forward; the Empress turned to me and said, “Dean Parker, we will give in to your terms. Let me speak with Blel, and you will be allowed to leave with your…” She cut herself off, remembering my mate. “You will be allowed to leave and evacuate your planet.”

The guards went first, and when no one was looking, I slipped the Relocator out and saved our current location into it. A quick escape might be necessary, and I wasn’t taking any chances.

Leonard went in front of me, still holding the little Bhlat girl near him. We exited the ship, and the Empress called out in her native language as a large group of Bhlat warriors lined the immense open hangar we’d landed in.