Scorched Earth: (The Human Chronicles Saga Book #16) (30 page)

Chapter 34

Acus bin Masins climbed the stairs to the Pinnacle Room with caution. He was not allowed inside unless accompanied by a Councilmember. The fact that two Guards stood at the base of the stairs and did not protest his entry, meant he had found the Elder.

Synnoc was seated at the large freeform conference table, with a video monitor lifted from its surface and studying intensely the scene it was broadcasting.

“My Lord, forgive me.”

Synnoc barely reacted to the intrusion.

“My Lord, I did not notice you logged into the room. I have been looking for you.”

Distracted, Synnoc motioned for his assistant to be seated.

Acus looked at the screen. “Is that of importance, my Lord? If not, may I request your attention?”

Synnoc muted the audio and turn to the Overlord. “I have been watching the meeting of the Formilian delegation with Arieel Bol. I am curious if I can learn more from the interaction.”

“And have you?”

“Nothing, except that which I suspected. She was not with Adam Cain at the time of the Overlord’s death.”

Acus knew all the Elder’s secrets. It had been he who relayed the secret orders to the ship’s captain, directing him to assassinate Overlord Esketon and then place the blame on Adam Cain. Shortly thereafter, however, all the Juireans present died in a terrible explosion, creating a mystery as to what took place after the killing. Even though Synnoc hoped to place the Formilian at the scene of the crime, it was generally accepted by those involved in the plot that Arieel Bol was on Worak-nin at the time, with Fleet Marshal—Admiral—Andy Tobias. That mattered not. She was still to be charged with aiding the Human terrorist.

Now the Elder focused his vacant eyes on Acus. “What do you want?”

“I must report some strange behavior among the Elites.”

The mention of the Elites piqued the Elder’s attention. “What kind of strange behavior?”

“My Lord, I went first to the chambers of Vice-Elder Malens ra Erron to provide him with an update on the defense of Juir. I was not able to meet with him.”

Synnoc frowned. “You were acting on my behalf. Who denied you this access?”

“I was not denied access, simply told by his escorts that he was unavailable.”

“Asleep?”

“It is the middle of the day, my Lord.”

“That is still possible. Master Malens is old.”

“Yes, my Lord. So I took the report to Master Cyros next. His Guards were there, yet he was also unavailable.”

Synnoc sat up in his chair. This
was
unusual. Cyros was one of the most-energetic of the Elites. He surely would not be asleep at this hour.

“Yet his Guards were in his chambers?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“So he had to be there.”

“I took the report to Master Havorn next.”

“The same?”

“Yes, my Lord. Do you wish to hear my suspicions?”

“Only as they mirror my own. The Elites are not in their chambers, but elsewhere in the building.”

“Exactly. Why would they been doing such, and without escort?”

Synnoc smiled. “You need not sound naïve on my account, Acus. You believe they are meeting in secret…and without me.”

“Again, my Lord, why would they do that?”

“Because I am the topic of conversation at this meeting, Acus. It is evident they have learned of the death of Kradis and are deciding whether to move against me for this, as well as more of my recent activities.”

Acus knew also of the death of Kradis, although very few on the Kacoran Plain were aware. It looked as though that had changed.

“Find them, Acus. They would not be meeting in the more formal rooms. Start with the sub-chambers.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

As Acus rose to leave, Synnoc casually glanced back at the muted computer screen. To the surprise of his assistant, Synnoc leaned forward and grabbed each side of the monitor, his face only inches from the screen. His breath inhaled sharply.

“My Lord, are you all right?”

Synnoc twisted the screen toward Acus. “Look! What do you see?”

Acus leaned in closer. At first glance there appeared to be more people in the room than before, including two beings in uniform black outfits. Another creature was then exposed as another moved, this one with yellow hair, like that of a Tech, only shorter. It was Sherri Valentine.

“My Lord, how?”

“Look closer!”

Acus focused his attention on those in the black uniforms. A face turned toward the camera.

“Adam Cain!”

“Yes, Adam Cain…and he is here on Juir, and in this building. How could this have happened?”

“My Lord, the last reports only an hour ago had his ship still three hundred light years from Juir.”

“His
ship
is three hundred light-years away, yet he is here. And not only that, but he has freed Sherri Valentine and is in the process of freeing the Formilian.”

“I will sound the alarm. They will not escape.” Acus rose to race from the room.

“No! Stop!”

“My Lord?”

“This is just the type of event the Elites are discussing at this moment. I would not survive if they learn that I have allowed Adam Cain to reach Juir and gain entry to the pyramid. They will classify this as another example of reckless incompetence.”

“We must do something.”

“Of course. Send Guards to wait outside the room.” In spite of the unfolding crisis, Synnoc smiled. “Now that I have them all together, I will receive satisfaction from their combined deaths.”

“And the Elites?”

“Send out searchers, yet be stealthy. I do not want them—or anyone else—to know I am hunting the Council Elite. Once found, report their location to me. I will confront them personally.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

********

Jarsin ka Loc was a security specialist assigned to the Pinnacle Room; it was he who alerted the Guards to the Human’s attack on the Elder four days prior. He had come to his viewing cell to calibrate camera light and sound in the reverent conference room, since no one at the time was occupying it—at least not officially.

Now he sat in stunned silence having just heard the conversation between the Elder and one of his aides. He quickly turned off the feed and fell back into his chair. As a room monitor, he knew all the major personalities in Juirean politics. He had also been privy to many a secret meeting. Yet nothing compared to this.

What was he to do? The Elder ruled the Expansion, yet only with the Council’s blessing. Jarsin truly believed that. No Juirean, not even the Elder, was above the scrutiny of the Council. And now Elder Synnoc was going to have the Elites
hunted
—his own word—and then confronted.

He had to tell someone, but who? Who could he trust not to have his identity revealed? They also mentioned the death of Fleet Marshal Kradis. Jarsin had not heard of this. It would have been news by now. If they would do that to Kradis, what would they do to one such as him?

Nadnon! He was Vice-Elder Malens’ personal assistant. He would be able to warn the Master. But would he also be in the secret meeting? No, Acus had said the Guards were still in the Elite’s chambers. They had gone alone, without escort. Possibly Nadnon would still be in Malens’ chambers.

Jarsin’s station was located seventeen floors below the Pinnacle Room. He would have to go higher, to the Elites chambers. As he entered an elevator, his breath came in short gasps. He had to reach Nadnon.

********

After Acus had left, Synnoc continued to watch with anger and frustration the hidden camera view of the room with the Formilian. He was having trouble concentrating on anything other than the image of Adam Cain, as the real person was located not more than forty-four floors below him. But then he calmed. This was what he wanted, all the players in one place so he could dispatch them at one time.

Yet the situation was becoming dangerous. The Elites were plotting against him, and if he let the Adam Cain situation continue or get worse, they would have more to accuse him of. He would have preferred to execute the Human himself, but the Guards would be his surrogates. Then he could concentrate on other matters….

But something wasn’t right in the image he was viewing. He now counted three females in the room, not two—Sherri Valentine and Arieel Bol. The other female was unmistakably a Formilian, very similar in form to Bol. But then again, all Formilians looked alike. Yet could he have mistaken the female for one of the four males that came to the Pinnacle Room earlier? Considering the stark differences in shape, he could not see how that was possible. There was no mistaking the sex of the alien.

On the screen, the young Formilian female turned suddenly and stared directly at the hidden security camera. Synnoc leaned in closer, as if drawn in by the round, dark eyes. He felt tingles along his spine.

 Then the alien pointed her finger at the camera.  The image turned blue, moments before the monitor exploded in a spray of sparks and flying glass. Synnoc fell back, covering his eyes with his arms.

When he recovered, he knew instantly the identity of the Formilian female. It was the Lila, the demon associate of the mutant Panur and the perverted offspring of Adam Cain and Arieel Bol.

Now she was also in the building….but how?

Synnoc caught himself. “She is a mutant, that is how,” he spoke aloud into the empty room. He gnashed his teeth. He was frustrated, yet relieved in a strange way. From his recent interview with the traitorous Benefis Na, he had only recently learned how best to combat such beings. Still, the level of threat the invaders created had increased. He may have to drop all pretense and do what he must to preserve his plan…and his position.

He pressed a communicator and located Acus.

“Yes, my Lord, the Guards are in route to the Formilian’s room.”

“Have them arm themselves with canisters of frozen atmosphere.”

“Pardon me, my Lord. I am confused.”

“There is a mutant with them, the one who is with Panur.”

“Is Panur with them?” There was panic in Acus’ voice.