Without Mercy by G.P. Hudson

Author:G.P. Hudson [Hudson, G.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thavma Press
Published: 2022-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

When Jon opened his eyes again, the blurred vision returned. He shook his head, trying to clear his eyesight. He hadn’t died, but where was he? Had he been taken captive? He heard voices but could not make out what they were saying. He shook his head again, more violently this time, but it did not help.

Someone spoke. Their voice was close, but they spoke gibberish. Jon thought about reaching out and grabbing hold of them, but his arms were dead weights. He took a breath and said, “I don’t understand.”

“Oh, my apologies,” the voice said. “I hadn’t activated my translator. Is this better?”

“Who are you?” Jon said, struggling to speak.

“Ah, yes. I am Doctor Veck, Imperial Surgeon and the Empress’s personal physician. Fear not; you are in good hands. Dare I say, the best hands in the Empire.”

“My wife?”

“Of course. She is waiting outside. I’m afraid she can be quite aggressive. A formidable woman indeed.” Veck chuckled. “She is half my size and had me scared to death.”

Jon forced a smile. Breeah had surely threatened the poor man.

“You need to rest now, Admiral,” the doctor continued. “As remarkable as your physiology is, you still haven’t fully recovered.”

“What happened?” Jon said.

“You were shot multiple times. Frankly, it is unbelievable that you are still alive. Anybody else, human or Dvorkan, would have died. That you are even speaking to me is a miracle.”

“How did I get here?”

“Your soldiers intervened and rescued you. I believe they are called Chaanisar. They are intriguing beings. You will be happy to know that none of them were harmed. It seems the assassins were more concerned with killing you than them.”

“I see,” Jon said, grateful that none of his people were hurt.

Now, if you don’t mind, you need to rest,” Veck said. Jon felt something press against his arm. “This will help you sleep. We will speak again when you wake up.”

The lights went out again, and Jon fell into a restless sleep, plagued by bizarre dreams. He saw Hishim on his home planet of Ithia. Only, the place was alive with activity, not the scarred shell of a world Jon’s ships had visited.

He saw the skies darken, buildings collapse, Ithians screaming and running for shelter. Jon looked up to see what had blotted out the light. There he saw enormous warships lashing out at the planet, wreaking death and destruction. But Jon was confused, for he knew those warships. They were Diakan.

Then he found himself on Diakus, in the Temple facing the Great See’er, her eyes glowing as brightly as ever.

“How is this possible,” Jon said in his dream. “You are dead. The Temple is destroyed.”

“My corporeal form is not my beginning, nor is it my end,” the Great See’er said.

“Are you saying you’re alive?”

“I exist, just not as you remember.”

“This is a dream,” Jon said, remembering the Dvorkan doctor. “You’re not really here.”

“The universe abounds with contradictions, Jon Pike.”

“You said that before. When I brought Tallos to the Temple.”

“You remember?”

“Yes. I had asked you if I could trust him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.