For this month, I am updating my stories more often. The plan is to have a story go up every two days until what's going on in the world has passed. Then I will be returning to the normal update schedule of once a month. Please stay safe.
Seth settled herself and the table with Cain. She took a bite of her food. The flavors washed over her tongue.
So, good.
So much better than she remembered it being.
"Where's Abel?" Cain asked after several moments.
"Dancing with Lilith," Seth replied before she took another big bite of her food. At least now she knew why Abel had downed the cake at her party. This was too good to savor.
Seth took another big bite. She leaned back, savoring the flavors filling her mouth. Yup, today was the best day ever. She'd been able to dance with dear older brother and now she could eat her favorite food in the whole of the universe.
"Dancing?" Cain frowned. He looked towards the dance floor.
Seth followed his gaze.
Movement at the edge of the dancefloor caught her eye. A young man stood, making a small gesture as if to catch someone's attention.
Seth blinked. "Who's that?" She pointed her fork at the man.
"Don't know," Cain confessed. "I would assume someone on Abel's team given his uniform.
Sure enough, Abel stepped up to the young man. The two of them left the rec room, followed close by a taller man.
Seth glanced at the dancefloor in time to see Lilith heading towards them.
"You appeared to be enjoying yourself," Cain commented when Lilith joined them.
A shiver trickled through Seth. She glanced at her brother before returning her gaze to Lilith. "Do you know what that was about? I mean one of Abel's men getting him."
"I don't," Lilith confessed. "It looked like Lieutenant Solomon."
"Representative Mahir's son?" Cain frowned. "I can't imagine that man sending his heir to Mars."
"Abel would have the information on the lieutenant," Lilith pointed out, "but it could be either Mahir is trying to curry favor with the military or—"
Cain snorted. "He doesn't need to. He's the right hand of Isaac."
"Maybe there's another reason he's—"
"He's more likely here to report back to his father over how the project is going," Cain cut Lilith off once more.
Ah, oh.
It was best to leave before this turned into an agreement as it always did when Cain kept interrupting Lilith.
Seth slid out of her seat.
Silence crashed down around Seth as she entered the hall.
There was no sign of where Abel had gotten off to.
Seth slumped.
Great.
Guess she was going off on her own. There wasn't a point in returning to work given no one would be there. And she had no desire to stare at the stars in an observation room. That was all she was doing for the next month!
Seth straightened, grinning.
The bridge.
She'd get see what it was like only an hour or so after launch. This would be great. Seth raced off down the empty halls. There was no one in sight. Not even the teams Abel would have sent out. Perhaps they were elsewhere on the ship. Just the engines or something a long those lines.
Seth slowed as she neared the bridge. Her heart raced and face ached from grinning. This was great! No one had stopped her running through the halls. No one had even seen her doing so. Well, no one but whoever was monitoring the security cameras right now.
The halls were silent save for the sound of Seth's boots against the metal floors. Her heart flickered, smile faltering. There should have been a security team near here. Right?
"Excuse me little girl."
Seth jumped.
"Yeah," she stammered as she turned. She breathed.
It was the security team.
"You shouldn't be wandering the halls alone," the leader of the team approached Seth.
Seth blinked. All right, she'd heard that tone before but only from Lilith, Abel, and their dad, Thomas. It was odd hearing it from a stranger. For that matter, a stranger who wasn't part of her family.
"I'm just happy to see a security team here." Seth smiled. "I was sort of worried when I didn't see you guys in the hall."
The leader blinked and frowned.
"But I'm fine. I just wanted to see—" Seth cleared her throat. "To check on the bridge."
"You really should head back to the party and find you parents."
"Ma'am," one of the other officers stepped forward, "she's Captain Nightlord." He shifted and saluted Seth.
The woman stiffened. "Ah!" She saluted. "My apologies, Captain."
"No worries." Seth smiled at them. "Just keep up the good work, okay?" Seth returned the salute before she entered the bridge. That was weird.
Her eyes widened.
The bridge was larger than she'd imagined it from the pictures. The center of the room held the pilot's seat with several other seats towards the viewport for various tasks. The current pilot was known as the Ace of the UN, Alexander Barvon.
A grunt sounded from the pilot's seat. "If you're going to be on the bridge, stay quiet like the other observer." He laughed. "That way you can better witness the best pilot in the UN."
Another?
Seth glanced around.
A man wearing a fine suit stood off to the side, his gaze locked on the viewport. His blond hair was combed back, and a small chain could be seen coming out of his breast pocket.
"Oh, shut up, Barvon!" snapped one of the helmsmen. "You're only the self-proclaimed 'best pilot in the UN.'"
"Nope, wrong! I am called the Ace for a reason."
"For your ego more like," muttered another.
The man smiled as Seth approached him. "Good morning, Captain Nightlord." He spoke with a familiar accent. There was something familiar about him.
Seth frowned. "Um, sorry, but I know I recognize you," Seth started.
The man chuckled as his eyes softened. "We've never been formally introduced. I am Wilson Walsh—"
"Oh!" Seth exclaimed. "The representative from England."
"Man, you don't understand keeping it down," Alexander laughed. "Oh well, guess you out rank me. But to what do we owe the honor of a captain coming to the bridge of this beautiful lady?"
Ah, what?
"He's talking about the ship," the helmsman explained.
"Oh." Seth blinked. This guy was weird.
Walsh smiled. "I assume you came to see the launch from the bridge as well, Captain?"
"Yup!" Seth returned his smile. There was something almost inviting about the man. Not like the other reps she'd met before. "It's nicer than trying to go to observation room. I'll be in one of those for most the trip as it is. This way I get a change before it's needed."
"True enough." Walsh bowed his head.
Seth grinned and turned her attention to the viewport.
It was peaceful here. Well, more so than if her brothers were in the same room glaring at one another or if she had remained at the party. The crew seemed to love poking fun at Alexander, and he would joke back, defending the ship, who he called a her, to the last.
Static filled Seth's ear from her radio. She touched it, frowning.
"All security personal be advised," Abel's voice came over the radio, "a murderer is on the loose and looking to kill both the command staff and all UN personal. Gather the civilians and escort them to defendable locations around the ship. Lieutenant Tabitha, head to the medical bay and take point there."
"Sir!" Tabitha's voice replied.
The medical bay?
Seth's frown deepened. It would be the most defendable location. The rec rooms had multiple entrances. Or at least she assumed it would have been from what little she'd seen of the full ship's schematics.
The door hissed open.
x – Abel – x
A harsh, metallic scent filled the air.
Blood.
Abel's skin crawled at the familiar, haunting scent. He rounded the corner behind Solomon and Barack. Sure enough, a corpse leaned against the wall. The familiar blue rimmed uniform caught his eye. Abel had never seen this man before.
"Death to the UN suppressers. Freedom to Earth," Abel said the words written above the man as he crossed the hall. "I take it you assume this was done by a radical group?" he asked his three officers.
"We do, sir," Solomon stated.
"Do you recognize him, um, sir?" Private Asran asked. He shifted.
"No," Abel confessed. "He's not a member of Mars security."
"He was one of the two guards for the ship," Solomon informed him. "He was standing guard when I boarded."
"He wasn't when you did, Sir?" Barack asked, frowning.
"No, but I was delayed in the hall for a time."
"You were?" Barack frowned and glanced at the private.
Private Asran shifted. "What, newbie? Just spit it out."
Barack's jaw tightened.
Abel moved over to the body and knelt. "Lieutenant Barack," – he didn't look towards the private or the others behind him. There was something off about this – "take Asran with you and head for the medical bay. We need a doctor to confirm time of death."
"Sir!" The sound of Barack saluting came to Abel.
"Thank God," the words came as a breath from Asran. It was followed by the sound of them moving off down the hall.
"The murderer would have had to take place in the small amount of time between us boarding," Solomon stated, tone even, devoid of all emotion.
Abel looked out of the corner of his eye at the man. Solomon had remained in the security office since he had boarded. "There should be video of the entrance." Still, it would be from Lunar Base given there was only one camera trained on the entrance in the ship and it didn't show the guards.
"It will take several hours for the request and delivery of the video. It is our best option to learning what happened." Solomon paused. "There was no activity at the entrance until you boarded."
"Unless they had access to the cameras somehow."
"Yes, but they would have to hack into them given I was in the security office. It would have to have been from Lunar Base."
If this was the case and the cameras had been hacked, then they couldn't relay on Lunar Base showing the time the man had left his post.
Abel frowned as a soft smooth glint came from the soldier's fist. Abel pulled a sheet of plastic from the hand. Words flickered, glitching from the damage the sheet had sustained: Let the rebellion being. The worlds will burn and those suppressed will rise from the ashes as the new rules. Subdue the commanders, have them join the cause. The four gods shall liberate us.
Abel passed the sheet to Solomon.
"Odd. I've not seen Latin used outside of old texts. If they were trying to make a message, who was it for?"
Abel shook his head. "What is important is on the note. They mean to attack."
"True," Solomon agreed.
Abel touched the radio. "Copy Cain."
No response.
"Cain, this isn't the time to ignore your radio." Abel gritted his teeth. Damn his brother.
"What is it, Abel?" Cain's calm reply came, sounding as if nothing was wrong.
"Are you still at the party?" Abel glanced at Solomon.
There was no sign of a frown. The man just bowed his head.
"No," Cain informed him, "I'm heading back to my office."
"How close are you to it?"
"About a third of the way."
Damn. Yet, this could work to their advantage as protecting a rec room would be nearly impossible with all the entrances in and out of the space.
"Head to the medical, it's closer." And far easier to defend.
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Seriously, Cain was such a pain in the ass sometimes. "I'm sending Lieutenant Solomon there to protect you."
"Understood, Sir," Solomon stated before the sounds of him moving off followed.
"If Lieutenant Barak and Private Asran are still there, relay to them to remain as part of your guard," Abel continued, heart racing.
"What's going on?" Cain's voice was still calm.
"There's been a murder. The culprit is targeting you." Now, just go damn it! Abel wanted to scream this at his thick-headed brother.
There wasn't time to dwell on this matter. The rest of the security force, Seth, and Lilith all needed to be informed.
"All security personal be advised," Abel started to address all his personal, Cain, Seth, and Lilith, "a murderer is on the loose and looking to kill both the command staff and all UN personal. Gather the civilians and escort them to defendable locations around the ship. Lieutenant Tabitha, head to the medical bay and take point there."
"Sir," Tabitha replied.
Abel ended the broadcast.
Damn. A murder just an hour after launch. It was unlikely would turn around. Still this would deepen the misgivings everyone had about his family. Someone was working against them. This was for certain.
Cold metal touched the back of his head.
Abel stiffened, his hand dropping to his gun.
"What? No one to guard you?" a cold voice almost purred. "Such a shame, it makes you the easiest target."
By the sound of the voice, it was man who had Abel at gun point. There were four others with this man by the sound of boots against the floor.
"Now, come with us quietly," the man said, "and no harm will come to you."
"And what exactly do you want with me?" Abel forced back the urge to growl. His heart raced.
"For you to join us," the man purred. "To get out from under the thumb of your suppressors. Perhaps get back at those who tormented you." The man's accent was familiar from the times Abel had gone to the base Cain was born at. Was this man German?
"Great way to get me to join," Abel muttered, looking out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't see any of the man but could make out a few of the followers behind him.
The gun shifted. "Knock him out," the man ordered.
There.
Abel spun, lashing out with his leg.
A shout filled the air.
Thud!
The man struck the ground.
Abel kicked the gun from his hand. The man's face was obscured by a mask.
There were too many to fight alone.
Still…
Abel drew his gun and fired several warning shots.
They dove for the ground.
Abel bolted.
"Stop him!" the man's shout rang off the metal hall.
A soft click filled the air.
Abel glanced behind him in time to see a grenade thrown.
Damn it!
Abel spun on the ball of his foot. He lifted his gun and fired.
A flash filled the space. Abel was blasted back as ringing filled ears.
Abel rolled back.
Another grenade flew through the smoke.
Abel lifted his gun. It weighed more than the last time.
He fired.
Too close.
The grenade went off feet from him.
Sheer blinding agony raced through Abel.
Lights flickered.
The world was rimmed in darkness.
Not yet.
Abel looked through the smoke. Through the ringing he could just make out the sounds of others moving. Nothing came through the smoke.
Darkness swallowed him.
x – Cain – x
Cain heard the soft sound of the Seth slipping from her chair. He glanced towards her in time to see her leaving the rec room.
"Cain," Lilith started. Her was gentle as if he were a frightened child she was trying to coax out from under the bed.
Cain's jaw tightened.
"Why would he send his heir to spy on us?"
Annoying to the last. Her gaze was soft as she looked at him. She wasn't his mother and certainly not his older sister. Bloody hell, they weren't blood. All she was, was the annoying woman who they were stuck with until after the mission was over. Then they would be free of her meddling.
Cain gathered up his tablet and laptop. "I don't know," he stated, holding a snarl in the back of his throat. His lips twitched but he held back the urge to curl them. His siblings loved Lilith for some reason. Even Abel as the dance was enough to tell he'd been enjoying her company.
"Cain?"
Cain stood. He left the room, laptop and tablet tucked under an arm, without a word to Lilith.
He paused halfway back to his office.
Sure, Abel had been moving stiff on the dancefloor, yet, he hadn't snapped and moved away from Lilith like he used to. Was it possible his brother had changed his mind about Lilith?
Cain's heart lurched.
The image of them dancing lingered in his mind's eye. They had seemed far more relaxed around one another. Well, Abel had been. Lilith had feelings for Abel since they had been ten. Cain clenched his teeth. It was impossible for Abel to recognize this. He was daft when it came down to seeing how others felt about him.
"Copy Cain."
Cain stiffened as Abel's voice came over the radio.
"Cain, this isn't the time to ignore your radio."
"What is it, Abel?" Cain answered.
"Are you still at the party?"
"No, I'm heading back to my office."
"How close are you to it?"
"About a third of the way."
"Head to the medical bay, it's closer."
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Abel growled. "I'm sending Lieutenant Solomon there to protect you. If Lieutenant Barak and Private Asran are still there, relay to them to remain as part of your guard."
"What's going on?" Cain asked, frowning. And since when did Abel think he needed a guard. Out of the three of them, Cain was the best fight. Well, until he included Lilith that was. Which he didn't given she wasn't family.
"There's been a murder. The culprit is targeting you."
Just him? Cain opened his mouth to reply.
"All security personal be advised," Abel started to address all his personal, Cain, Seth, and Lilith, "a murderer is on the loose and looking to kill both the command staff and all UN personal. Gather the civilians and escort them to defendable locations around the ship. Lieutenant Tabitha, head to the medical bay and take point there."
"Sir," Tabitha's came from a great distance through the ringing filling Cain's ears.
All the command staff. His precious siblings were being targeted as well. And he didn't know where either of them was.
Cain's heart raced.
The hall spun around him.
Damn it all to hell! He turned.
He would find his siblings and protect them. Abel might be the closest.
The tablet and computer slid from his arm as Cain whipped around. He raced down the hall, back the way he'd come.
Several people stepped around a bend.
Cain skidded to a stop. "Move!" he snapped. If they didn't, Cain would ensure they couldn't move.
"I think not," a female voice came from the middle member of the group. Her voice rasped through a breathing apparatus she wore over her mouth and nose.
Cain blinked.
They were all dressed in worn protective gear he'd seen those who lived and worked in the barren wastes outside of the protective domes of Earth wear. Stranger still, Cain didn't recognize any of them and he had been certain to read through every name and look at every picture of all those heading to Mars.
The woman held out her hand. "Come, Major Nightlord, and with us, usher in freedom for all our kind. Together we can destroy the UN."
"Just move," Cain snarled. His siblings were in danger and this idiotic woman was standing in his way. Cain's hand dropped to the hilt of his sword.
"Ah, so you won't join us quietly then." The woman flicked her wrist and two of the men flanking her stepped forward. "Such a shame and here I was informed you would be the easiest to persuade to our cause."
Cain looked from one to the next. He slid the sword a little from the sheath.
His skin crawled.
Sharp pain lanced through neck.
The world swam before him.
"Another," the woman's voice seemed to come through water.
Cain stumbled as he turned.
Another of her group stood there with a needle in hand.
Cain tried to grip his sword.
The man leapt forward and struck Cain with another dose of the drug.
Cain's knees buckled. The hall was rimmed in black. Hard metal bit into his knees.
Damn it.
The woman stepped up to Cain. Her hand on his chin. "Perhaps one day you will understand why we had to do this."
His heart fluttered through a sensation of falling.
Darkness swam over his eyes. There was nothing. Not the pain of striking the floor, no sound of his body thudding as it hit. Just nothing.
(Author's note: So, the original chapter which was here in the rewrite has to be shifted. Lilith didn't lean into Abel during the dance as much as she did in the original which is what sets Cain off as well as a little more. Besides, I have a feeling the idea of the chapter where he accepts Lilith and Abel being together will have more impact later in the story.
Also, I didn't have it be the same woman managing to appear in two locations at the same time. Instead another important character is the one who confronts Abel.)