Metal Angel by A.L. Knorr & Aaron D. Schneider

Author:A.L. Knorr & Aaron D. Schneider [Knorr, A.L. & Schneider, Aaron D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intellectually Promiscuous Press

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“I need to face Ninurta on my own.”

I sat in Marks’ office with Stewart, both of us cleaned up but looking the worse for wear. Stewart’s eyes were haunted, and his craggy face seemed gaunt. I looked even worse. We’d concluded the debrief; Stewart had filled in the missing pieces about separating me from Sark after we plummeted to earth, while I explained about the dreamscape. Now we were discussing the next step.

“Is this some sort of warrior code, soldier’s honour, nonsense?” Marks turned a withering look on Stewart.

The sergeant gave me a side-long glance as he squirmed uncomfortably in his chair.

“I dinna think that’s the case, mum. I ken Ms Bashir’s reason, though god knows it hurts me. She wants to do this on her own because … well, because we’re no use to her in this fight.”

It felt wrong to nod my head at an admission that probably cost Stewart more than I could appreciate, but it was true. I mouthed thank you as Marks spun away to prowl around her desk.

Stewart gave me a short nod, his eyes soft. The soldier finally understood our respective places in this fight.

“I don’t invest so much in an asset just to let that asset engage in a suicide mission,” Marks remarked coolly, turning her gaze to me. “I didn’t get this far wasting resources.”

It was chilling to realise that was how Marks saw me: an asset, a resource. I supposed she had to view people like that to keep from being crippled by the emotional turmoil of making tough decisions, but still … damn.

“We need to limit the damage,” I explained. “If Ninurta comes for me while I’m in London, he’ll bring carnage on an incredible scale and there will be nothing any weapons can do. In fact our weapons would only become fodder for his assault. I need to be somewhere he won’t be able to hurt anyone but me.”

Marks frowned, arms crossed, tapping manicured nails on her silver-grey jacket.

“Do you really believe he’d be that reckless?” she asked. “Would he disregard the secrecy so valuable in this business?”

“This isn’t business to Ninurta.” I leaned forward to emphasise my point. “This is destiny. He’s not going to be subtle. He once ruled the world, or close to it, and he plans to do so again. He doesn’t care about secrecy because he plans for the majority of the population not to be here anymore.”

Marks blinked, paling. “And how exactly is he going to do that?”

I took a deep breath, knowing that this part wasn’t going to be easy to swallow.

“Ninurta plans to somehow harness the power of his many descendants to affect the earth’s metal core. The incredible destruction will jump-start a contest for survival. The winners of that contest, superior humans, in his eyes, will be the foundation of his new empire.”

“These are the ravings of a madman,” Marks said with a shake of her head. “I need actual intelligence.”

“Insane or not, it would be stupid to underestimate both his conviction and his power.

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