Free Annihilation - Finding Keepers (Annihilation Series (Book Seven}) by Saxon Andrew, Derek Chiodo, Frank MacDonald

Manny?”
     
    “You are going to get the full download over the next twenty hours we normally do over a six week period. You will probably be somewhat sore when you wake.”
     
    Jake stared at Manny, “Why?”
     
    “Because your armor is going to be making connections to every nerve in your body and then testing each connection, Mr. Talant. Fortunately, you’ll be asleep. We will also be fitting the device to mask your telepathy at the same time.”
     
    Jake had a sick look on his face, “This is going to hurt, isn’t it?”
     
    Manny smiled again, “Be careful what you ask for, Jake. Now come lay down.”
     
    Jake sat down on the couch and saw ten technicians come in and surround him. Jake looked at Manny as he lay down and saw him shaking his head. Jake remembered what Cynthia said, “Oh, this is not going to be good.” A technician put the band around his head and he lost consciousness.
     
    Valerie looked across the table in her personal quarters at Cynthia Dodd. Cynthia had been called in for an audience with the Queen and she was uncertain about what to expect. Valerie said, “Are you always this nervous?”
     
    “Up until the events at the casino I was quite the happy-go-lucky individual.”
     
    Valerie nodded, “Things change quickly, don’t they?”
     
    Cynthia nodded.
     
    “Well I have you here for a reason. You are going to take Jake and go to that planet where the Searcher was killed. Those creatures that killed her are preparing to come and find us.”
     
    Cynthia was even more nervous after hearing that bit of information, “Is there anything we can do against them?”
     
    Valerie shook her head, “No, it is going to be up to Jake to save us.” Cynthia looked skeptical. Valerie continued, “He must find his initiator, and I believe she is in the Human population on that planet. Jake must go down to the surface and see if he can find her. I wish there was a safer way to make this happen, but there isn’t. You’re going to make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”
     
    “Just how am I going to do that, Your Majesty?”
     
    “At the first sign of him being captured or harmed, you will teleport him to your ship and teleport away.”
     
    Cynthia furrowed her brow, “It is my understanding that we were not to reveal any of our advanced technology around these creatures.”
     
    “Ordinarily that would be true, but not in this case. Cynthia, we are going to be conquered and put into communities just like that planet you’ve seen in their universe. This will happen after more than seventy percent of our population is stunned and transported to their worlds for consumption.”
     
    Cynthia was shocked, “How do you know this?”
     
    “I have seen all the possible futures that await us and in everyone we are defeated except the future where Jake finds his initiator. I have not seen what he does to save us, but I know he does. We cannot lose him. He must be protected at all costs.”
     
    Cynthia looked Valerie in the eyes, “Even if I have to give my life to protect him.”
     
    Valerie sighed heavily, “Cynthia, I would gladly die to protect him. He’s that important to our survival.”
     
    “Just why is he so important?”
     
    Valerie got a faraway look in her eyes, “Because he will find the Gardners.”
     
    Cynthia had also downloaded the history of the Stars Realm and her eyes grew wide, “Are they still alive?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    Jake opened his eyes and saw Manny looking into his faceplate, “I feel like eight miles of washed out bad terrain.” Every part of Jake’s body was screaming pain.
     
    Manny sighed and said, “I told the Royal Family that I wouldn’t put my worst enemy through what you’ve just endured, followed by what happens next. However, you must get up and start moving now. The pain will start to diminish over the next few hours. You’ve got to use your systems immediately after they’ve been connected. We have a set up a course for you to use