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    Hena Day Three
    Hena Day Three
    Hena Day Three
    Ebook163 pages1 hour

    Hena Day Three

    By Odette C. Bell

    ()

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    About this ebook

    This changes everything. Hena’s no longer hamstrung. She’s now here to fight.
    But the Cartaxians will not fall readily, for this mystery is deeper than she could have ever imagined. For some time, those in power have had a plan for Earth, one that will now play out with every torched city and conquered country.
    ....
    Hena follows a castaway superweapon and a hidden alien prince fighting to save Earth from an alien invasion. If you love your space operas with action, comradery, and a splash of romance, grab Hena Day Three today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOdette C. Bell
    Release dateFeb 20, 2018
    ISBN9781370321780
    Hena Day Three

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      Book preview

      Hena Day Three - Odette C. Bell

      Chapter 1

      Nicholas Hancock

      So this was it, ha?

      Hena was finally on board. It seemed there was nothing the Peacekeeper wouldn’t do to help save this world.

      But Nick was no idiot.

      The game had changed.

      They all stood there in the snow as Linh finally started to pull herself together.

      It was a slow and agonizing process.

      Nick couldn’t even begin to imagine what had happened to her. It put his own mindnumbing experience into perspective.

      And it was a hell of a perspective. Hena had already explained what would happen if the Cartaxians managed to get their hands on a dimension gate. They weren’t just talking about the destruction of Earth. They were potentially talking about the destruction of the entire damn universe. It was something he shouldn’t be able to even comprehend. Something his simple, human mind shouldn’t be able to understand. You know that famous quote from Stalin? The death of one man is a tragedy, but a million is a statistic? Yeah, you times that by infinity, and you might start to understand what it’s like for an entire life-filled universe to be on the line. But while Nick’s mind might have absolutely no idea how many sentient beings were in the universe, the knowledge seemed to be buried within his body somewhere. He found his hands clenching, drawing in and out of their own accord, his fingers driving hard into his palm.

      He could tell that Hena was still watching him, even though she was standing a good hundred meters away, collecting Q crystals from discarded armor units and helping Kim to find whatever useful tech they could.

      If there was one thing that he could be thankful for, it seemed this hectic situation was finally giving them a breather.

      Then again, the Cartaxians hadn’t given up.

      For what felt like the fiftieth time, he brought up his hand, and he clamped it over his mouth. His knuckles weren’t just tense. They felt as if somebody had driven metal pins down between the cartilage, as if he had to fight against an immovable force just to twiddle his fingers, let alone rise up to the occasion and save the damn planet.

      Though Amal was ostensibly busy dealing with Linh, Nick could feel that the Centauri was always keeping half an eye on him. That being said, it didn’t have the same wary quality it had before. The alien appeared to no longer think that Nick was at breaking point, as if Nick’s mind was some kind of fragile mask that could fall from his face and crash against the snow like tissue paper being punched through with an armored fist. No, Amal seemed to have the same watchful look about him that Hena often did. The one that kept reinforcing to Nick they were constantly monitoring to see if his Rayar memories had come back yet.

      Though it had been several minutes since Nick’s impassioned speech where he’d promised everybody that even if his memories returned, he would stay the same… maybe a little of that certainty was starting to slip away like water through clamped fingers.

      If there was one thing he had to remind himself of it was that he was no longer the same man who’d walked into that air conditioning plant at Heathrow. He’d changed in almost every way imaginable. He wasn’t just talking about his body. He was talking about his mind. He just had to chart his changing relationship with Hena to prove that. The old Nick – the irascible, hard-minded, inflexible, adrenaline-fueled Nick would never have forgiven her for leaving London. But this Nick? He was starting to understand.

      Nick found himself turning from Amal in the stupid hope that if the alien couldn’t see his face, somehow it would mean he’d have no idea of the dark thoughts trundling around Nick’s mind. But in doing that, it just brought Nick’s crumpled, worried expression within view of Harry.

      Though Harry had been steadfastly sticking by Linh’s side, now Linh was getting back on her feet, the human cameraman seemed to be at a loss.

      He made eye contact with Nick, and he held it.

      Are you alright? Harry asked.

      There were a lot of ways to answer that question.

      Nick’s adoptive father used to tell him that you had to be careful when you showed weakness. Nick’s dad hadn’t been one of those macho guys who believed it was pathetic and unacceptable for a man to cry or show any form of emotion other than aggression. No, Nick’s dad had been just like Jake. Smart as hell. You see, according to Nick’s old man, you showed emotion when you needed to. But you only showed deep emotion around those you trust.

      So Nick had to trust Harry, because there was nothing he could do to hold back his fragility.

      Though it was hard for Nick, it had to be utter torture for Harry. He was the only human here. He was technically the weakest player in this game, and yet, you couldn’t see that by the even, steady way he looked at Nick now.

      None of us is alone, Harry said after a quiet pause.

      It wasn’t the greatest speech ever, but it had a hell of an effect on Nick. It seemed to reach right down and pull something up from within him.

      A sense that allowed him to finally straighten his back, tip his head up, and look at the sky. Yeah, I guess you’re right – we’re not alone. I just wish we had more resources, that’s all. I get the feeling that…. He looked down at his hands, and for a moment, he couldn’t recognize them. They were too large, too stark. The shadow they cast on the marked snow below didn’t feel real somehow. It was as if he was staring at a set of hands he had yet to grow into.

      You get the feeling that what? Harry prompted quietly.

      That what’s gonna happen next is going to be practically impossible, he muttered, even though he knew he should keep these dark thoughts to himself.

      To Harry’s credit, he didn’t react. He didn’t even pale. He just took a moment to look around them. Then he let his gaze tick back up to the sky. But it didn’t settle there. It cut between every single member of their group until it locked on Nick one last time. I’d say we’ll be getting through a lot of impossible situations until this is done. You’ve got to have— he began.

      Linh suddenly coughed loudly. Don’t say it, Harry, she said as she finally managed to pull herself to her feet.

      A broad smile spread Harry’s lips as he turned to face her. It was warm as hell, and it made Nick wonder if there was something between these two. The one thing it wasn’t, was insulted. Harry clearly knew how to deal with Linh’s ire. You hate that word, don’t you? How can you still hate it after what we survived? he added, voice becoming quiet on the word we.

      Amal was right beside Linh, and the Centauri had a watchful look, making it clear he’d be able to jump in at the first sign of Linh’s weakness.

      Linh waved him away with several brisk fobs of her hand. It’s okay. I can stand. Because if I can’t goddamn stand, she said with a throaty, chesty cough, you might as well leave me here. I’ll be useless to you in the next round.

      Don’t say that, Harry said, tone sharp but controlled. He looked right at her. A small smile pressed across his lips. Have hope, he added.

      With her hands planted on her knees for support, Linh looked up at him, and though at first, she had a terse expression, it only took several seconds for one lip to curl up in half a grin. I told you not to say it. I don’t believe in it, remember?

      Nick could appreciate these two were having a moment, but at the same time, he couldn’t stop himself from frowning at that. You don’t believe in hope?

      Hope is a simple misunderstanding of statistics, someone said from behind them. It was Kim. He walked around, lugging what would be an impossible weight. For a human, at least. As it was, the Endo’s body didn’t even seem to be straining underneath the enormous pile of engine scraps he had locked over his shoulder.

      Though the guy’s clothes were completely torn, and he was covered in singe marks from head to toe, his expression was just as easy as ever. It was the perfect counterbalance to Hena’s perpetual seriousness.

      But Nick couldn’t let that comment slide. Hope is not the misunderstanding of statistics.

      Kim brought up a thumb and wiped it along the bridge of his nose. Pretty sure it is.

      Though maybe Nick should have been cowed by the fact he was talking to an Endo, he didn’t care. He straightened up and shook his head. It was a hard move, and it was one that seemed to capture everyone’s attention. Again. This wasn’t the first time that had happened. Back only a few minutes ago when he’d given his first impassioned speech, all eyes had been on him as if he’d been an orator in ancient Rome or something. Now was no different. Nick shouldn’t have to tell you that commanding a crowd was something that was entirely new to him. When you’ve got a gun in your hand, you can tend to command a little clout. But nobody had ever paid attention to Nick simply because he was Nick.

      Now it seemed as if no one could keep their eyes off him.

      Hope is…. He waited for the right words to come. They didn’t.

      Harry smiled. Hope is what we make it, he said quietly. He might not have had Nick’s sheer presence, nor the underlying authority of a Rayar. But neither of those facts mattered.

      Linh suddenly smiled, and it was broad and wide. She found the balance from somewhere to lean over and clap Harry hard on the back. I knew there was a reason to bring a human along, she said with a chuckle.

      Again Harry didn’t become insulted. He just smiled widely. Glad to be of service. Now, shouldn’t we… save the world? Or the universe? Or the dimension? Or whatever it is we’re doing?

      To do any saving, we need to get off this continent, Kim pointed out with a shrug as he finally jettisoned the engine manifold off his shoulder. It slammed into the snow, a chunk of it breaking off.

      Nick turned and looked at Hena. The move felt electric. Hell, every time he looked at her, it felt electric.

      Though it sounded pathetic to admit now that Nick was changing, as a kid, he’d had a thing for superheroes. He’d had old, dogeared comics stacked up by his bed, and every time his tumultuous emotions had gotten too much for him, he’d reached for one. He’d found his sanctuary in the pages, in those tales of super-powered men and women saving others who couldn’t hope to protect themselves.

      And what was Hena if not a bona fide superhero?

      Wait. Stop. Superheroes were fictional.

      Hena was real. Superheroes always saved the day.

      Hena?

      She’d need help.

      Before even getting off this dead continent, we need to figure out an action plan, Linh said as she continued to miraculously stand on her own. We’ll be going up against the entire Cartaxian fleet.

      Nick fancied all of Antarctica, let alone the group, stood still on the word entire.

      Hena had been injured taking on seven cruisers.

      There were still 10 strike ships out there.

      The odds were….

      Split up. We split up, Kim said as he crossed his arms and sat heavily on what was left of the manifold he’d carried through the

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