Odyssey

The Spiral Slayers

(Book Three of Four)

Odyssey

Rusty Williamson

www.rustywilliamson.com

rusty@rustywilliamson.com

Copyright © 2018

Published by Rusty Williamson at Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion

of brief quotations in review, without permission

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The Spiral Slayers

A four-volume science fiction epic

Rusty Williamson

Encounters

Book One of Four

(January 2013)

Countdown Armageddon

Book Two of Four

(May 2016)

Odyssey

Book Three of Four

(December 2018)

The War Lords

Book Four of Four

(Est. December 2019)

Dedicated to

Nancy

Contents

Prologue

PART One – The Whiteship

Chapter One – Birth

Chapter Two – Childhood

Chapter Three - Nemesis

Chapter Four – The Secret

Chapter Five – Hiber-Dreams

Chapter Six – The Blackship

Chapter Seven – Symbiotic Relationships

PART Two – The Blackship

Chapter Eight – The Spiral Slayers

Chapter Nine - Stowaways

Chapter Ten - Mutiny

Chapter Eleven – The Stow

Chapter Twelve - Winter Storm

Chapter Thirteen - Evolution

Chapter Fourteen - The Harvest of Helpers

Chapter Fifteen – The Loud

Chapter Sixteen – Journey’s End

Chapter Seventeen – The Spore

About the Author

Prologue

Only one person realized what really happened. However, that person did not have the opportunity to share it with anyone. If he had, most would have rejected or rationalized the idea away, and why? Because admitting to being manipulated on that scale was simply too unbelievable, not to mention insulting. But knowing the truth wouldn’t have changed anything, for the realization itself declared that no change was possible, and that was the most frightening part.

The Spiral Slayer’s Blackship first attached itself to Amular’s Larger Moon, then moved the moon to an orbit much closer to the planet. There, the moon’s normally small disk appeared ten times larger, and its swollen form had utterly terrorized all those on Amular who saw it.

The alien placed the moon into a geostationary orbit over the equator, and the attack began. As the planet rotated below the moon and day turned to night, energy beams ravaged the planet from its north to south poles. Following the energy beams, hundreds of thousands of the alien’s black staple shaped ships formed a line stretching between the planet’s poles, firing at impossible speeds, hitting targets of opportunity. At the equator, the curtain of destruction traveled over land and sea at over a thousand miles per hour.

The planet’s leadership had evacuated the Dark Mountain command center before it was hit. Thirty-two ships had flown away from the approaching front, climbing into low orbit racing around the planet at top speeds.

Before long they encountered areas the enemy had passed over. This was marked by a wall of black ash clouds. For the most part, visibility was at zero, yet there were brief moments when the ash cleared, and they could see the huge furrows left behind by the alien’s energy beams.

The transports and their escorts traveled for many hours until they had circled the planet and approached the rear of the battle line. Finally, through breaks in the smoke, the battle line could be seen, stretching like a falling green curtain from north to south, bisecting the land and sky.

They realized too late that they had gotten too close as two of the Slayer’s staple ships spotted them and turned. The staple ships began firing at the thirty-two transports and fighters carrying Amular’s top leadership including President James Olson Wicker.

Admiral Leewood, who was leading Wicker’s convoy, ordered the convoy to split apart and head for the Glass Canyons to the north. Immediately, the convoy divided into smaller groups and took evasive action.

More staple ships spotted the human ships and shot back, joining the attack.

The alien ships were so incredibly fast.

A group of three fighters spitting off from the group carried General Burnwall and his staff. Two of the staple ships went after them. The three Amular fighters split up, and the two staple ships followed the other fighters, allowing the one that carried the General to break contact. It dove for the deck and landed undetected. The fighter positioned itself beneath a rock overhang where it was mostly hidden and shutdown; everything went silent.

General Burnwall released his webbing and worked his way forward to the cockpit. Burnwall stood five feet seven inches and was lean and fit. Like everyone else on Amular, thanks to the Loud, he was in his prime around thirty years old and no longer aging. His hair was dark brown, parted on the side, and his eyes were almost black. His voice was surprisingly deep with the musical cadence of the Southern Continent. Jarvis, what’s our status?

The pilot, call-sign Jarvis, was tall, lanky and right now looked like his head was about to explode. The General knew exactly how he felt. Their weapons had almost no effect on the black staple shaped ships, and the square sheets of green energy the alien fired could cut through their armor like it was nothing. They both knew the other two ships they’d separated from were most likely doomed and that all they could do was hide. It was unbearable.

Jarvis looked over the complex control panels and said, All green, General. We’re on the ground, hopefully, hidden. He took a double take at the coms panel, Shit, I don’t believe it, we’ve got a narrow connection.

To the Serena hub? Burnwall asked.

Jarvis nodded, Yes, sir. It won’t last long.

Try to contact Wicker.

They both knew the chances were slim, the President was aboard Admiral Leewood’s fighter, fleeing from the staple ships just like them.

After a minute, No luck, Jarvis said.

Burnwall tried several other possibilities including Admiral Radin, who was limping back to Amular aboard his damaged flagship from the disastrous Echo Charlie Seven engagement. Nothing.

Finally, he tried Trinity hospital and got through to Admiral Maximus’ doctor.

Burnwall had heard from Leewood that Adamarus Maximus had watched his wife, daughter, and his remaining crew die horrible deaths a day ago when the slayers first began their assault. Later Leewood found Adamarus and rescued him from the wreckage, but Adamarus had been banged up pretty badly and had a severe concussion. Leewood had taken him to the Trinity hospital, which had somehow survived the attack.

The doctor told Burnwall that Adamarus had only regained consciousness briefly since he’d arrived but said he’d go check on his current condition. Burnwall waited on hold.

Adamarus here, his voice sounded weak.

Burnwall thought of offering his condolences. He closed his eyes. Good God, Burnwall thought…we’ve lost our entire world. Instead, he heard himself saying, Admiral, I’d heard you were there. You have a concussion, and you’re banged up. Deciding that Adamarus could do nothing right now, he said, I want you to stay right there and just get yourself recovered because we’re going to need you functioning, understand?

Adamarus said nothing.

That’s a direct order. Admiral…do you understand me?

Finally, he heard, Yes, sir.

I’m in route to Trinity. We had to evacuate the Dark Mountain HQ. We had some of those staple ships on us, but I think we lost them. I’ve got to go. We’ll talk later. Burnwall disconnected and took a breath. He tried to contact several others without luck, then the connection faded out.

The general ran a hand through his hair then turned to Jarvis, How long do you think we should stay here?

Jarvis looked outside. Through the swirling ash and darkness, visibility was now only a few feet. Since we have no idea whether or not the aliens can detect us sitting here…I think I’d almost rather be moving. But, let’s cross our fingers and wait here an hour or so.

Burnwall looked out at the swirling ash and grunted, Agreed.

A little over an hour later, they lifted off and made a run for it. However, within minutes the fighter was buffeted by strong winds, and as they watched, the air around them began to clear.

Below, the ash streamed like black waves over the ground. High above them, the black sky cleared, and the Larger Moon appeared. The Slayer’s Blackship was no longer attached to it. Jarvis lowered the craft, skimmed the ground, ash lifting off the terrain partially hiding them.

Then the ground fell away, affording them a wider view and, in the distance, they spotted a stream of lighter colored smoke and its source, the wreckage of a downed fighter.

Jarvis dove for the ground again, but then some distance beyond the downed fighter they spotted two staple ships. They’d been headed in the opposite direction, but now they turned toward them.

Shit, Jarvis muttered as he turned the fighter away and went full power.

But the alien ships were too fast—they had no chance of escape.

Jarvis jerked his fighter left, just avoiding the shot fired from the pursuing ship off his port side only to get sideswiped by the green energy sheet fired from the alien ship on his starboard. One wing vanished, and the fighter went into a spin, heading for the uneven surface a mere two hundred feet below.

The fighter bounced off the ground, then went over the edge of a cliff and plunged into a crevice as the two staple ships shot overhead and passed out of sight. The fighter hit the ground, spinning and bouncing, somehow missing all the trees and boulders until it jarred to a halt when the thick tree branch finally snagged the fighter, breaking through the cockpit window.

Jarvis was stunned and banged up, but he knew the staple ships would swing back around to check their kill, so he quickly slammed his hand against the clamp on this chest, releasing his harness and looked to his left at his copilot.

There was only the thick tree branch.

He got up and worked his way back, finding only torn body parts from his copilot until he reached the passenger cabin.

Everyone on the port side was dead. He looked across the aisle, General Burnwall was rubbing a bruise on his head.

Are you all right? Jarvis asked.

Burnwall looked up, I think so. He unbuckled his harness and got up.

They’ll be back, Jarvis said urgently. We’ve got to get out and away.

On the way out, Jarvis grabbed the survival kit, then they made a run for it. Jarvis tripped, and the survival kit bounced away. Burnwall went back and helped him up. They could hear the staple ships coming back. They dove behind some trees and boulders. Moments later they heard the zipping sound of the staple ship’s energy weapons, then felt and heard their downed fighter explode. A wave of heat passed over them and shrapnel rained down around them.

Their ears ringing, they raised their heads and looked around. It was dark and smoke filled the air. The only illumination came from the moon and small fires burning here and there.

Hold on…let me get the survival kit, Jarvis said, and he hurried back around the clump of boulders and trees to fetch it from where it’d been dropped.

Burnwall remembered where Jarvis had dropped the kit and figured the explosion had pushed it away and started searching among the boulders and charred trees where he estimated the outward force would have tossed it. He found it almost immediately. It had a piece of jagged metal embedded in it.

Jarvis came over, and they pulled the shrapnel out, then opened it. The water, emergency rations and first aid supplies were fine, but the metal fragment had impaled the emergency long range com unit.

Shit, Jarvis said. He removed the com unit and tried to switch it on…nothing. They both reached for their personal com units but as they’d expected, there was no signal.

Damn, not good, Burnwall muttered.

Both of them were coughing. The wind had died, and the air had again grown thick with smoke and large flakes of ash drifted down like snowflakes. The smell was horrible, the taste was worse, and their eyes burned and watered constantly.

Burnwall looked around them. To the east it was black, nothing could be seen other than vague red glows from fires, but the impression was that the smoke was thicker. It might just be their imagination, but it seemed slightly clearer to the west.

The ash was really coming down now, they’d be buried if they didn’t do something.

Burnwall said, We’ve got to move. Try to find some kind of shelter.

We’re somewhere in the badlands, south of the Glass Canyons. There’s nothing around here, Jarvis replied.

Maybe we can find a cave.

Maybe.

They started walking west.

After about an hour, they found a rock over-hang that formed a shallow cave that sheltered them from the falling ash, and they stopped for a break. They drank some water and ate two power bars. Then, while Burnwall held a flashlight, Jarvis took the survival kit’s long-range com unit apart to see if anything could be done.

After half an hour of fiddling with it, static erupted from the speaker. Distorted voices could sometimes be heard behind the static. They tried to transmit but found that they could only receive, and they seemed to have no control over the frequency.

It was pitch black. Both decided to save their flashlight batteries and turned them off and tried to get some sleep. Given all the stress and exhaustion over the last two days, both men fell into a deep sleep within minutes.

General Burnwall woke to Jarvis shaking him, General. Burnwall immediately went into a coughing spasm. When he finally paused, Jarvis said, You have to come look at this.

It was still the middle of the night, but somehow, without flashlights, he could make out their surroundings.

All was quiet besides the static and half-heard voices that came from the damaged com unit Jarvis had thrown over his shoulder.

They made their way out from under the stone overhang and Burnwall looked around. Visibility was about twenty feet. He could see pine trees and boulders shrouded in a lightly falling ash, but something was not right. It was too bright. Just as he realized everything was being illuminated from a source behind him, Jarvis tapped his shoulder and pointed behind and up the hill.

Turning and looking up the hillside, the General could see that along the top of the hill the sky cleared. The bloated form of Amular’s Larger Moon was so bright it hurt his eyes.

Both men began scrambling up the hill. The top was perhaps a hundred feet away. As they neared the top, a clearer sky became visible, and they could see stars. Hope surged, and they picked up speed.

They were almost to the top of the hill when something else became visible, and both men came slowly to a halt. The clear sky was cut off by a line of gray, lit by the huge moon. Two things were immediately clear. Whatever it was, was very distant and very high in the atmosphere. There was also the distinct impression that it was in motion. Motion coming toward them.

They looked at each other and both saw the fear in each other’s eyes. They trudged the rest of the way to the top. Frozen in fear, they looked upon a thing that neither had ever seen before.

It was a tsunami… miles high, but instead of water, it was ash. From the upper reaches of the atmosphere, lit by the swollen moon, the gray poured down seemingly in slow motion, gaining speed as it neared the ground. It stretched from left to right as far as they could see. Perhaps twenty miles away the ash exploded outward as it hit the ground. It made no sound as it rapidly approached them.

Both men turned and looked back into the sea of gray they would need to flee into. It was hopeless. There was no way out. They both turned again to the approaching ash tsunami.

Burnwall heard Jarvis say, What’s that? He looked over and Jarvis was pointing up. Burnwall looked.

A thin white line extended from an invisible point and reached downward, vanishing behind the top of the tsunami.

They had expected this. Burnwall said. It’s the Blackship firing on our sun.

They knew that this was the same thing that had happened in Loud’s star system and that about three weeks later, the Loud’s sun had exploded, vaporizing all the planets.

As they watched, the white line grew thicker, the energy beam reached what seemed like an impossible width and then stopped expanding.

Burnwall noticed that the voices coming through the static from the damaged com unit were clearer now. He realized he was hearing the voice of Floyd Woodward, their historian. He was reporting from the history station, monitoring the battle. …Blackship…firing on Iceis…Admiral Maximus believes…is venerable when firing…found a way…control of…kinetic asteroid weapon…one hundred asteroids at…Blackship…

Burnwall was shocked, he had just spoken to Adamarus Maximus. Glancing at his watch, he realized it had actually been about eleven hours ago. Burnwall had ordered him to stay there and recover. Now it seemed like the Admiral had found a way to make use of the thousands of asteroids they had placed in orbit performing slingshots around their sun and gas giants to build up speed.

The asteroids had been building up speed for over a hundred years and now traveled at a respectable fraction of light speed. It had been their most powerful weapon against the Blackship, but both control stations had been destroyed.

Through the static, they could hear Woodward count down. He reached zero. They continued to watch, but nothing happened.

Burnwall glanced at the mountain of falling ash, it was halfway to them.

He looked at the radio, but nothing more came from it.

Then the beam blinked out for a fraction of a second, then shot off in a different direction at half its former width, winked out again, then at a fourth of its original width, it shot out again. This time the beam hit the Larger Moon, actually causing it to both move and rotate. They could see chunks of moon break away. Then the beam vanished.

The Slayers had fired on the Loud’s sun for thirty minutes, and three weeks later it had exploded. Yet, they had fired on the human’s sun Iceis for only a few minutes before Adamarus had seemingly stopped them. If the Slayers had not completed their attack on their sun, Adamarus had perhaps just saved them.

Burnwall watched in awe as the Larger Moon continued to slowly rotate and move across the sky. Small chunks, actually the size of mountains, drifting away.

That’s when the realization came to him.

The Loud claimed that twelve billion years ago the Spiral Slayers had reached the final stages of scientific and technological advancement and that they knew and understood everything. And Burnwall knew, with startling clarity a profound truth so obvious, he was surprised no one else had seen it.

The Spiral Slayers were Gods compared to the humans