Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga) (39 page)

Mimi cleared her throat and held out her hand. “Out with it Sam!”

Without complaining, Grandpa Sam reached in his pocket, took out the communicator and handed it to her. “The government turned over control of the base to you and approved the construction of the complex. But Jason thirty-eight billion credits?”

“I won’t skim on the complex Grandfather. The fate of human kind is in our hands and we need the best facilities possible. Remember these will also be the same facilities used when we go interstellar. And don’t worry, with the new gadgets we are patenting from our allies we will be able to pay every cent back.”

“That’s another thing I am worried about. Don’t you think you are going overboard with your personal finances. I mean how much money does one person need?”

“Grandfather this money I am earning belongs to every member of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Families, if we ever find them. I am only managing it and investing it. I talked to Mimi about it and she agrees I should be the one who handles everything until my daughter is able to do so. Nobody in the family can do what I can do and even in my diminished condition now I am still earning money through my experience in playing the market.”

“I still don’t understand how you do it.” Grandfather Sam complained.

“I tried to explain it to Moerin before but she does not understand the human economy enough to comprehend what I am talking about. Irma is pretty good at it but not as accurate as I am. Let me put it this was. White Industries Inc. runs a daily surplus, even with what I am spending on various projects, of around fifty million credits.

“How in the spirits did you manage that? Grandfather gasped.

“We now own four manufacturing companies who are producing the gadgets the Barmins are developing and turning over to us. The patents belong to us and the Barmins but they do not know what to do with money. They have never needed it so all of their profits go into an account which provides every member of the race with their daily necessities. The devices we are building are selling faster than we can build them. We have projected increases of profits to be one hundred times what we are now doing in just six months.”

“All of this is giving me a headache. I agree with Mimi, you have everything under control. Let’s get to the wedding.”

I waved to Grandfather Sam that he should stay behind. When we were alone I asked. “Have you heard anything about Katie yet?”

He sighed and nodded his head. “You are not going to like this...”

“What’s happened?” I knew I would dread what was coming next.”

“We are convinced she was taken by the enemy.”

“What do you mean taken?”

“She was seen in Hannover last week and a member of the Second Family reported the sighting to me...”

I knew he was drawing this out longer then was needed. “Sam...”

I think I shocked him. I had never called him his first name in my entire life. “Son, she is a Death Walker now.”

The blood rushed from my head and I had all I could do to remain upright. My grandfather helped me to a chair and rushed to get a simulative drink for me. “I thought she was able to resist being taken.”

“The rest of us believed it too. We will try to get her back Grandson. I promise you that.” He said when he had returned with a drink for me. I downed it without a word.

“We should postpone the wedding.”

“Nonsense, you know yourself that Katie wants this wedding to go forward.”

I went through all the conversations we had ever had in my mind and knew that what my grandfather was saying was right. I sighed, stood up and straightened my tie. “Of course you are right. Let’s go”

We both went out and got into the van I leased for my wedding. Once inside I made sure Mia and everyone else were belted in before I started the van. I put it in reverse to back out of our parking space. I glanced in the mirror and noticed a jeep full of uniformed strike force troops pulling up behind us. I looked forward and saw the same. “Grandfather?”

“Don’t worry son. Blackthorn insisted on this. With me being the Defense Secretary and you being the head of Opfree, they insist on constant security whenever we move in public.” Grandfather informed me.

“Oh, Ok but I don’t have to like this. If they get in the way of the ceremony, I will not protect them from my future wife or future mother-in-law, I replied with a grin on my face.

“I think Blackthorn is aware of this.” Grandpa Sam replied. “I think Mimi would have a go at them too, but I am surprised you haven’t noticed them before.”

“Oh I have noticed them, especially that garlic eating idiot at the south side of the yard. I am just happy Irma hasn’t not spotted them or she would have gone ballistic. I am going to have to talk with Nathan about this.”

“Nathan accepted the offer you made?”

“Yes, he just needs a month to wrap up thing with Paneuro. Then he will be reporting in to Opfree’s temporary Headquarters to lay out the training and buildup plan for the strike force. I am giving him full control over the training and will only assist in the buildup plans.” I stopped at the railroad tracks because the gate was down indicating that a train was coming. The men from the front jeep jumped out and fanned out around the van. When I looked in the mirror I noticed the men from the jeep behind doing the same

“Sound choice Jason. I approve. I knew you were the man for the job.” Grandfather rolled down the window and spoke in a low voice to the man outside the window. He rolled the window back up and said in a low tone. “Jason did you follow my directions when I told you which van to lease?”

“Yes Grandfather, right down to the rocket resistant plated glass.”

“Don’t be alarmed, but the gate should not be down right now. There is no scheduled train for this time”

“Mimi,” I said in a low tone. “Begin merge now.”

“But, Jason?” she began.

“Now please. Grandfather slide in after her.” I felt with my mind where I instinctively knew was the proper place. Mimi’s familiar touch at the edge of my mind and slid her into proper alignment with my mind. I nodded to my grandfather who scowled at me but did as I asked. When the merge was complete I reached out for Irma’s mind and directed her to join us. Startled, she did as asked and when she was in place I touched Grandmother Cara’s mind. With five merged minds I was able to reach out and scan the area for enemy presence. Not finding anything, I scanned for normal human minds and began reading them. Everything was coming back now and it was sharp and in focus.

I felt them coming from over one thousand yards off. I planted the information in the squad-leaders head and they fanned out in that direction. Returning back to the oncoming attackers I tasked my merged mind into six individual tasks and touched the nerve in each of their bodies effectively freezing them in place. Thus immobilized, the advancing squad was able to remove their explosives and weapons and restrain them

That complete I directed the disbanding of the merge. I opened the window and ordered.” Call into the base and get someone to come and get these guys. I have a wedding to attend and I do not want to be late.” I opened the door and got out of the van to see who we had captured.

“Jason!” Grandfathers voice was stern. “Back in the van! Let the guards handle this!”

“Daddy!” Mia’s mental voice was strong in my mind. She slipped into a merge with my mind easier than I had ever seen anyone. I panicked when I realized she had taken the focus.

“Mia no!” I scrambled to try to take the focus but she was too powerful for me. “Momma, Bad!”

I could see her coming now. She followed the railroad tracks like a hobo trying to jump into a boxcar. I could see the evil glow in her eyes and the sneer on her face. The first bolt of energy she hurled at me bounced off a shield so strong that it startled me.

“Katie!” I screamed uselessly to try to get her attention. All I could feel was the coldness of a Death Walker.

Mia was in full control of the merger now. “Momma NO!” I could hear her screeching in the background. I reached out my hand and squeezed it like I was putting someone in a choke hold.

Katie was lifted off the ground and I could hear her gagging.

I turned my head tears streaming from my eyes, “Mia for gods sakes that’s your mother!!”

“Momma bad Daddy! Momma bad!” I could feel Katie’s life slipping out of her body.

Just before the Death Walker slipped from Katie’s mind I heard. “Tremble under the power of Klnet!” I even saw the command he gave to rupture every neuron in my first wife’s brain.

“Nooooooooooooooooo!” I fell to my knees in agony at what I had just witnessed. I knew without a doubt that there was no saving Katie.

Someone put Mia into my arms and Irma was suddenly there. I held both of them close, promising myself that even if I had to go to the ends of the universe. Not one of those alien assholes were going to survive my wrath.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

At this time I would like to thank the members of my family who have assisted me in the creation of this book. To Michelle and Irma who read the book and made sure the story was captivating. To the rest of my family who encouraged me to continue even when I did not feel like doing so. My friends who are the rest of my beta readers. Jennifer, and Jessica. Mirren Hogan my Editor. Tammy the illustrator of the book cover and all of my future works. And finally to my son Patrick who will always have a piece of his father to look at even after he is gone.

Connect with Me Online:

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Scheduled for Release in late 2013

Sample Chapters From Book Two in the Saga

Walk of the Enchantress

CIRCLE OF HERITAGE SERIES

LAWRENCE W. NASON JR.

Published by Lawrence Nason Jr.

Copyright 2013 Lawrence Nason Jr.

All rights reserved.

Chapter 1 - Out of the Darkness

I am lost. I find myself in an infinitely long corridor wandering from door to door searching for the way to escape. My memories haunt me. When I reach that one door where I am absolutely sure what I will find behind it. I pause at the door. Frightened beyond description that if I open the door the nightmare will start again. My hair, when I reach up has a greasy feeling to it. I cringe away from the feeling. I search in vain for the place I can become clean again, but I cannot find it.

I hear a voice, but I don’t know from where it comes. These non directional sounds and voices taunt me with a familiarity I almost know. But as soon as I think I know what they are, it slips away from me again. Time has no meaning to me here. Have I just arrived or have I been here locked in this place for centuries. Periodically I can see flashes of before that escape from the one room I keep locked by my own will.

Ugly flashes of violence surge up from below me and threaten to yank me out of the existence I find myself in. Sometimes I am too weak to suppress this evil and it comes back to torment me for what seems to be endless hours. I see a door being kicked open. I see a strange form coming at me and I say to myself. “Jason will protect me.” I think to myself and ask myself who is this person and why did he leave me. I look past the shadowy figure to the open door and see a form laying prone on the floor. It seems someone has spilled a sort of fluid on the form and it slowly is expanding in a pool on the flat surface below it.

I switch my gaze between this shadow figure approaching me and the figure laying prone on the floor several times before my eyes lock on the prone form. The prone figure seems to shift from the shadows and takes a form which strikes terror straight into my soul. Anxiety creeps up my back as I recognize just who it is on the floor. My mother lays there with her lifeblood seeping from her body. I reach beneath me and clutch for the one thing that brings me comfort as I realize what is going on. He is coming back for me and he is going to do what he did before.

“Momma.” The plea escapes from my lips almost in reflex. “Please help me Momma.”

My mind seems to shift and I grasp for familiar memories. Terror filled memories of hurtful arguments and painful beatings administered by the man who I called father. Then the man who was my father is no longer there. There is another who does the same things and worse. I remember trying to tell my brother Jason what was happening and being unable to articulate what the man was doing. I really did not understand it myself. On that day where it happened for the last time was the day I saw my momma on the floor prone. I saw her with her last strength trying to reach out and stop the man from getting to me. I witnessed the last savage slash which effectively pinned her to the floor. There was nobody there to protect me from him. I had something that would protect me, my brother had given me something. But I could not remember what it was. Franticly, as the figure approached me, I struggled to find the protection I knew I had.

I reached my hand under my pillow as the images sharpened to clarity. “The knife!” I whispered to myself. “Jason left me a knife!” I could see the figure clearly now and recognized who it was. Roger was coming after me. He had hurt momma, who only wanted to protect me. Now he wants to hurt me in the same way. I saw him drop something on the floor. My gaze automatically followed the object as it falls to the floor of my bedroom. Somehow light flashed off it and it fell with and almost surreal slowness to the floor. I crawled back on the bed and felt my back pressed against the wall as Roger approached me. He begins to unbuckle his belt. Suddenly my mind was clear and I knew what I had to do. I gripped the knife with the cutting edge facing upward. As he lunged for me I struck and felt as the knife entered his body just above the open belt buckle. With all the strength I could muster I pressed upwards.

The blood rushed to my head as I noted the inhuman screams that seemed to bounce around the room. Suddenly as the realization hit me what had happened, my panic filled screams joined his. Blissful darkness over took me. I found myself again in the long corridor standing outside of the door I kept locked because something terrible was behind it.