Free Universe in Flames 3: Destination Oblivion by Christian Kallias Page B

know. Been there,
remember?”
    Chase nodded.
    “Look, Chase, I
sacrificed myself so my half sister would live. I have a request, a favor if
you wish, to ask of you.”
    “Protect her?”
    “Yes, please. She
fled when I asked her to. I think she went to Earth.”
    “Of all the
places . . .”
    “I know. Too many
memories there. That’s why you left it in the first place.”
    “Yeah . . .”
    “Please, Chase.
I’m sure Argos is after her. He made that very clear.”
    “Look, if she’s
on Earth, or will be on Earth soon, that’s probably the safest place in the
universe right now.”
    “I wouldn’t be so
sure.”
    “What do you
mean?”
    “She said in the
potential futures she saw . . .
Well, if you left Earth, most of those futures didn’t end well, for Earth or anyone
else for that matter.”
    “Here we go again . . .”
    “Look, Chase, I know
you hate all this. Prophesy, the future, fate.”
    “You got that
straight!”
    “Nevertheless, if
she sees chaos and death, I believe it might happen.”
    “Not really my
problem anymore.”
    “I know, but
please promise me you’ll protect her. That’s all I ask.”
    Chase looked at
Ares’ golden energy form and pondered what was asked of him. He didn’t care
about anything but killing his brother now. The rest was background noise.
    “Chase?”
    “Alright, I’ll
look after her, but only because of the respect I have for you.”
    “Fair enough. Thank
you, Chase.”
    “You’re going to
Elysium now?”
    “We’ll see. You might
still need my guidance in the coming days.”
    “Guidance or
emotional blackmail?” The moment he said it he regretted it. “Sorry, Ares, that
was low.”
    “It’s alright. I
understand how you must feel. Thank you for listening to me.”
    “Sure. What
should I do with your body?”
    “I didn’t think
about it really. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to commit it to the stars.”
    “You want me to
space you?”
    “My body, yes. From
the stars it came; to the stars it shall return.”
    “Very well, consider
it done.”
    “Thanks, Chase.”
    “Anytime. See you
around then?”
    “We shall see.”
    The golden aura dissipated,
and soon Ares was gone.
     

C
H A P T E R V
     
    On board the Iron
Fire , Daniel sat in the captain’s chair. Ryonna’s contacts had come through.
Apparently she had been right, and Chase had been seen fighting on the Ponos
One station. They were about to exit hyperspace on their way there when Ryonna
entered the bridge.
    “Where’s
Tar’Lock?”
    “He’s resting. He
didn’t get much sleep. Apparently a sound made by the hyperspace engine bothers
him and he’s been really restless.”
    “What has changed
that he sleeps now?”
    “I knocked him
unconscious.”
    “You what?”
    “Look, I like
Tar’Lock, but after two days without sleep he was driving me insane; plus we
need him alert, so it’s a win-win.”
    “Hope you went
easy on him.”
    She smiled. “Give
me some credit, will you?”
    “Alright.” Daniel
was unable to restrain from chuckling.
    “What so funny?”
    “Nothing. I just
had a mental image of you knocking him out.”
    “He could have
dodged. He is infinitely faster than any of us. I think he wanted it.”
    “Alright,” said
Daniel, still grinning.
    “Where are we?”
    “We’ll be there
in less than an hour.”
    “I hope Chase is
still there.
    “You and me
both.”
    “What if he
doesn’t want to come back?”
    “We’ll make him.”
    She laughed.
    “What?”
    “Do you really
think we can make him do anything against his will?”
    “I guess not. We’ll
ask nicely, then.”
    “Yeah, let’s do
that, and pray he is in a better mood than when last we saw him.”
    “Worst comes to
worst you can try clocking him too,” said Daniel with a wink.
    “I can try, but
I’d rather not.”
    “Look at it this
way: if he wants to get his ass beaten, who better than you to do it.”
    “I suppose
there’s some logic in what you say.”
     
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