Nemesis 1: Revenge Is Best Served Hot (3 page)

Grant looked up and said, “We’re not.”

“How old are you?”

Cinny smiled, “We’re not related but we were born the same day. The temple confirmed it.”

Whippet’s eyes narrowed, “How old are you?”

Grant shrugged, “We turned eighteen six months ago.”

Whippet’s eyes went wide and both of them saw his fear. Whippet grabbed the rope around his neck and pulled on it as he started moving out of the chair. He was stopped by a blaster barrel stuck in his mouth. Grant said, “Don’t even think about it!” Whippet was breathing fast and was close to hyperventilating.

Cinny leaned forward and grabbed his small shoulders, “Slow down! We’re not going to harm you!”

Whippet forced himself to breathe slower and he fell back in the chair. After a few moments Cinny said, “What about our age frightens you so much?”

Whippet looked up at them and said, “The warship they were building.”

Grant said, “Yes, what about it?”

“Tom told me it had been completed. The only thing it needed was for the ones genetically produced to pilot it to come of age. He said a male and a female child were developed to activate it.” Whippet shook his head, “He said that the babies must have died with the planet. Without them, the ship would never come alive.” The Werstag looked at them, “You two are the most dangerous beings in the universe. You have to be the pilots of that ship!”

C
inny looked at Grant and then turned to Whippet, “Relax, we’re not who you think.”

“Then who are you?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I spent time with Tom and, though he was sick, his reflexes, speed, agility, and strength were nowhere close to what you’ve demonstrated. You are different from the other members of your species.”

Cinny stared at Whippet and then looked at Grant. She turned back to Whippet and said, “We weren’t always like this.”

Whippet’s eyes narrowed, “What do you mean?”

“We were delivered to a Choten-Zan temple as babies. The priests there developed our physical abilities.”

“No one is allowed inside a Choten-Zan temple.”

Grant said, “We were.”

“Why?” The two looked at each other and Whippet saw they didn’t know. “Didn’t you ever ask them who brought you there and why they took you in?”

Grant sighed, “No, I guess we didn’t. We were so happy to get out that we didn’t hang around to ask anything.”

“Where did you get this ship and armor you wear? The Choten-Zan are not exactly friendly with technology.”

Grant looked at Cinny and she said, “They held the ship for us until we came of age. The armor was on the ship when we boarded. We’ve been learning how to use it for four weeks.”

“Doesn’t that strike you as beyond odd?” Whippet stared at their confusion and suddenly realized that the two humans were little more than inexperienced children. Whippet said, “They didn’t give you everything.” They turned and looked at him. “If someone delivered you there, then they would have left something to tell you who you are.”

Grant looked at Cinny, “He’s right.”

“Do you really think he withheld something?”

Grant looked at Whippet, “Where is this all powerful warship you’re talking about.”

Whippet shook his head, “Tom says it was removed from Earth and anchored in subspace.”

Grant shook his head, “Nothing can remain in subspace.”

“Tom was of the opinion that the ship was put there while the pilots were being prepared to take control. I don’t know if any of this is true, but Tom really believed it.”

Cinny looked at Grant, “What about Iggy?”

Grant shook his head, “Not now. We’ll take a look at that later.”

Whippet said, “Who is Iggy?”

Grant shook his head, “It is more like what is Iggy. However, I think a trip back to the temple is in order.”

Cinny tilted her head, “Are you sure you want to go there?”

Whippet saw the smile on Grant’s face and felt his fear rekindle, “Oh yes!”

Cinny turned to Whippet, “Where would you like us to drop you off?”

Whippet had control of his emotions and said, “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to hang around until you find out about yourselves. Besides, I suspect those beings in the yellow armor now have a bounty out for me as well. They saw me with you when you escaped.”

“You cannot go to the temple with us.”

“I don’t want to. However, if you’re who I suspect you are, I’ll probably be safer with you than away from you.”

Grant shook his head, “We’ve been attacked everywhere we’ve gone by that yellow civilization. It isn’t safe around us.”

“Have they managed to stop you?”

“Well, no.”

“Then allow me to stay here. The rope is your guarantee I’ll behave.”

The two looked at each other and after a moment Cinny looked up, “Can you prevent him from doing any damage in our absence?”

“I can.”

Cinny looked at Grant and saw him nod. “Ok, welcome aboard.”

Whippet looked up and said, “Where do you come from?”

The voice said, “I am a ship’s shuttle assigned to the Earth Ship, Orion’s Sword.”

Cinny and Grant looked at Whippet who said, “Tom told me that the ultimate weapon was named Orion’s Sword. You are who I think you are and it appears that yellow civilization knows you’re alive. They’re going to do everything in their power to prevent you from finding that ship.”

Grant stared at Whippet and smiled, “If you think of any more questions, please feel free to ask them.”

Cinny smiled, “But first, the temple.”

Grant nodded and looked up, “Take us to the Choten-Zan.” Whippet looked out the forward view port and saw the star drive field form around the ship.

• • •

The green world appeared below them as Grant and Cinny stood up. Whippet said, “I have one more question before you go.” They turned and looked at him and Cinny nodded. Whippet looked up and said, “Do you have any information in your memory banks about a planet called Earth?”

“Information is present but can only be released by inserting the key into the main console.”

Whippet looked at them, “I suspect you’re going to be looking for some kind of key.”

Grant walked over to the main console and saw a small black metal cover on the left side. He lifted it and saw a hole with a hexagonal shape. He turned to Cinny and nodded toward the door. Cinny looked over her shoulder, “Try not to blow anything up. I’ve turned off the distance control on your rope.”

Whippet smiled, “You kids go and have a good time. I’ll babysit the ship.”

Grant shook his head as he went through the door.

• • •

Grant and Cinny arrived in the massive garden outside the main entrance to the Choten-Zan Temple they had been brought to as babies. They stepped off the scooter and heard, “You will leave now and not return.”

They looked at the huge door leading into the temple and saw a seven-foot tall, green colored being standing at the top of the steps. Grant’s eyes narrowed, “We will leave the moment you give us what you withheld from us when we left, Pazan.”

“You will leave now.”

Grant walked up the steps and Cinny followed him up the steps watching the six priests standing behind him. “You withheld an object that was left for us by the one that brought us here. Give it to us and we will comply with your wish.”

Grant and Cinny knew the Choten-Zan were masters at hiding their emotions but both of them saw the slight pale area beside Pazan’s nose. They knew they were right. Grant arrived at the top step and said, “You can’t hide what you’ve done. You’ve given yourself away and you will give us what belongs to us.”

“Our contract with you ended when you left. You have no further rights here.”

“The contract was not fulfilled. You did not give us what was left for us. You will deliver it to us now!”

Panzan’s mouth became a sneer and he said, “Or you’ll do what?”

Grant stared at the giant Choten-Zan Priest and said, “I’ll remove something that belongs to you.” Panzan stared at the two in silence. Grant took a breath and said, “Have it your way. I am going to the central prayer room and I’m going to fire a blaster into the painting hanging over the altar.” Grant stepped around Panzan and the tall Priest reached for him.

In an instant, Cinny had a blaster shoved against his mouth, “You were once one of our trainers, Panzan. Matter of fact, you were probably the best of all those that worked with us.” Cinny’s eyes narrowed, “However, the last two years of our training, the trainers became the trainees. You cannot prevent us from doing what we choose to do.” The Six priests froze behind Panzan as Grant walked through the door. They knew either one of the small humans could remove all of them with little effort. “You can make this easy by giving us what belongs to us.”

Panzan stood there and saw Grant disappear through the door. He suddenly ran into the door with Cinny moving right beside him with her blaster trained on him.

• • •

Grant entered the Central Prayer Room and raised his blaster. Fifteen novice priests were praying in front of a large painting and they heard the commotion from the door. They stood up and saw the former trainee raise a blaster and point it at the painting on the wall. They rushed up in front of it and put their bodies between Grant and the altar. Two priests ran out of the Prayer Room screaming. Grant smiled and said, “I really don’t want to kill any of you but I will burn you to carry out my intention.”

Panzan came running in and rushed full speed toward Grant. Cinny said, “Crap!” She put her blaster away and grabbed one of Pazan’s arms and flipped him on his back and stepped on his neck. “He will do it, Pazan. Just give us what is ours.”

“Never!”

Suddenly the Prayer Room was rocked with a loud voice, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!” Everyone looked at the rear entrance and saw the High Priest rush into the room. The ten foot tall Choten-Zan moved in front of the painting as Grant and Cinny put their blasters away and bowed their heads. The High Priest looked at Pazan on the floor and yelled, “WHAT IS GOING ON!?!”

Pazan went to his knees and lowered his head, “Holiness, I ordered these two to leave and they refused to follow my instructions.”

The High Priest looked at the two small humans standing with bowed heads and said, “Is this true!?!”

Grant kept his head down and said, “Pazan withheld an object that belongs to us when we left the Temple, Holiness. He refuses to give it to us.”

The High Priest looked at Pazan, “Is this true?” Pazan kept his head down and remained silent. “I ASKED IF THIS IS TRUE. DID YOU WITHHOLD THEIR PROPERTY?”

Pazan said, quietly, “Holiness, we cannot allow it to fall into their hands.”

The High Priest walked over in front of Pazan and said, “Does this object belong to them?”

“Holiness, I cannot allow them to have it.”

The High Priest said, “If I ask you another question and you don’t answer it, you will be sent to work in the fields for twenty years in silence. Does this object belong to them?”

Pagan hesitated and said, “It was left by the one that brought them here.”

The High Priest stared at the kneeling Priest and looked over his shoulder, “Go to his quarters and bring his lock box to me.” The Head Servant turned and left the room. The silence in the room was thunderous. Fifteen minutes later, the Head Servant returned with a large metal box. Pagan had decided that he would go to the fields before he opened it. He was shocked when the High Priest put his hands on it and the lid flew open. “If he has an object that belongs to you, you will have to give me a description of it before I allow you to take it.”

Pagan kept his head down and smiled. He collapsed to the floor when he heard Grant say, “It is a piece of technology that is about six inches long and has eight sides.”

The High Priest looked into the box, reached in, and pulled out a silver glowing piece of clear metal. “I believe this is what you want.”

Pagan said, “Holiness, you can’t allow them to take it. It will endanger the universe.”

The High Priest looked at Pagan, “You will go to the fields and work for two months in silence. You will focus on who controls the universe.” Pagan stood and walked out of the room with his head down. The High Priest looked at the two humans, “So you were going to burn the Holy Painting of our Founder?”

Grant kept his head down, “Holiness, I threatened to do it. It was the only thing that I thought would get him to give us our property. But I would never damage that paining.”

“Why didn’t you just come to me and request what is yours?”

Cinny said, “Holiness, we were here seventeen years and this is the first time we’ve ever seen you. How would we go about getting your attention?”

The High Priest stared at her and after a moment chuckled, “You make a good point. I suppose threatening the painting would get my attention.”

Grant said, “That was my hope, Holiness.”

The High Priest handed the glowing object to Cinny and said, “You may go now.”

Grant said, “Holiness, may I please ask you one question before we leave?”

The High Priest’s smile disappeared and he said, “What is it?”

“Why did you accept us into your Temple?”

The High Priest hesitated and then said, “I accepted you because of the one who brought you to us.” Grant wanted to ask another question but knew he had used the only one he would be given. The High Priest saw their expressions and said, “She was pure of heart. She volunteered to give her life if we would take you and work with you.” He hesitated and said, “We did not take her life for the blasphemy of landing here. However, she left with the intent of leading your enemies away. She lost her life in the effort.”

Grant kept his head down and nodded, “Thank you, Holiness.”

“You may come here whenever you choose. You are part of our family.”

Grant said, “You are the only family we have.”

“I’m not so sure about that but you are welcome here.” The High Priest walked forward and put one of his hands on each of their shoulders, “You should go now and find your destiny.”

The two humans backed away keeping their heads down until they exited the room. The Head Servant said, “Was this a good idea?”