The Legend of Earth

“Your attempts to insult me are not working,” Jonnif said. Adam saw a genuine look of shock cross Hydon’s face. So he wasn’t doing it intentionally. Damn! “And your reaction has been anticipated. That is why I’m making this offer to all your fellow captives within your death chambers: Present to me the body of Hydon Ra Elys, either dead or alive, and I will guarantee that all the rest of you in the bunker will be set free, and that applies to all the Juireans as well. While others of your kind will be relentlessly hunted and eliminated by the Kracori, you will all be given amnesty. All you need do is surrender Lord Hydon to me.”

Adam was closely watching Hydon’s face as Jonnif made his offer; he detected no concern whatsoever. And none of the other Juireans in the room were showing any signs of shifty eyes or furtive glances Hydon’s way. Finally, Hydon chose to speak.

“You do not know Juireans very well,” he said. “The preservation of our own selves is of little concern to us. The offering of bribes has no effect on Juireans. I’m afraid this strategy will not provide the results you seek. You will not get my body.”

When Jonnif’s voice came once more through the speakers, his tone was softer, more cadenced. “That is what you think now. Once your people have been confined in their metal grave for more time, you may find that self-preservation can be a very effective motivator.”

“You may believe you are gaining leverage, Jonnif, but I know my people. Do what you must, but you will never lay eyes upon my intact body. In addition, your time on my planet is limited, so you will not gain any long- term advantage from your actions this day. All you have done is shown yourselves for what you are: animals fit only for extermination.”

“It is your race, Hydon, which is in the process of being exterminated. And speaking of our tenure upon your world, it may be permanent, or it may not. That remains to be seen. With regards to the Humans, I also have knowledge that there are some there with you, a circumstance I find curious, yet not concerning.”

Hydon looked at Adam, who raised his eyebrows in a display of surprise. The intel the Kracori had on the operations of the Juireans, including right in the very heart of their capital, was impressive.

Jonnif was continuing: “Since I personally have never met a Human, I will amend my offer. Bring me the Humans, especially the one named Adam Cain, and I will include a sizeable monetary bonus along with the offer of amnesty. This Adam Cain is the only Human name I have heard, and I am curious to see just how imposing he truly is, along with the others of his kind. They will be sport for me and my Ludifs, so only live Humans will satisfy the amendment.”

“Jonnif, your bombast is becoming boring. I will now end this conversation; it has become pointless and immature.”

“As you wish, just let it be known that my offer of amnesty will last for only ten Juirean days. In summary, for all who are listening: for Hydon, amnesty for all; for the Humans, credits for whomever brings them to me personally and alive.

Hydon tapped the technician on the shoulder and the channel was cut. He stared at the floor for a few moments before turning to Adam.

“With the provisions we have, the occupants of the bunker can survive for more than a year-”

“Aren’t you concerned about a revolt down here, about someone taking Jonnif up on his offer?” Riyad asked.

“Juireans will not betray other Juireans simply to save their own lives. However….” Hydon nodded to the Guard Commander who had led them to the command center. The Juirean drew his weapon and leveled it at the Humans. “.…with your people I am concerned.” He turned to Adam, who looked at Hydon with a look of sickening resignation.

“I apologize for this action, Mr. Cain; I’m sure you understand. You Humans are the unknown variable here. I cannot risk leaving you armed as we await your fleet. Apparently, we are under no threat of attack while in the bunker, so your weapons will not be necessary. If that changes, then I will reconsider my decision. Until then, I will ask that you surrender your weapons without resistance.”

Adam and the others were wearing only MK’s holstered around their waists, having left the larger flash rifles in the barracks. Adam understood Hydon’s position, and with McCarthy being the loose cannon that he was, it made perfect sense. At least this way, Adam wouldn’t have to disarm Nigel and his men himself….

As he surrendered his MK to the Guard, Adam looked over at Tobias and Riyad, who were in the process of doing the same. “McCarthy’s not going to like this,” he said to them. And then he turned to Hydon. “How many Juireans did you say you had down here?”

“Three hundred. Why?”

“I hope it’s enough.”

Chapter 15

Nigel McCarthy had noticed the Juirean Guard come to summon Adam, and he had followed him to the command center. Leaning nonchalantly against the cold metal of the corridor wall, McCarthy had been left unmolested and was able to listen in on the conversation inside the command center. Once the technician had cut the transmission with the Kracori, he rushed back down the corridor to avoid being spotted by the other Humans and returned to his barracks, all the while with possibilities exploding in his mind.

A full pardon and a shit-load of money, simply for turning Hydon over to the Kracori — and for solving my Adam Cain problem once and for all. What could be better?

As he entered the barracks, he met the eyes of his men, each one conveying the same silent message: Here was the opportunity they had been waiting for.

McCarthy knew they could never return to Earth; they had been too involved with the traitorous Klin for that fact to be ignored if they ever did. So the arrival of the Human fleet was not something any of them relished. For weeks, McCarthy had been racking his brain trying to find some way out of their current situation, and now this Kracori Jonnif had just handed it to him as sweet as could be.

However, McCarthy knew he had to act fast. The Kracori did say he wanted all the Humans — which included McCarthy and his men. Yet Adam Cain was his true prize. Besides, after having worked with the Klin for so many years, McCarthy was sure he could also convince the Kracori that he could be of value to them as well. Jonnif did admit he’d never met a Human before, so McCarthy could provide him with first-hand experience and counseling, just as he had done for the Klin.

But Adam Cain would immediately be on guard for any betrayal by the Juireans — or the other aliens in the complex — but especially by him. The American was no fool; he would be suspicious of McCarthy straight away.

Carter Thomas approached him. “What’s the op, sir? Extraction will be the problem.”

“I know. We simply can’t parade the Juirean and Cain down the tunnels; they have explosives in them. But there is something called a boring pod down here that we can use.”

“What’s that?”

“Something that can move through solid rock. It’s Hydon’s escape option. We need to find and secure it. Have you seen anything like it over the past few days?”

His men had gathered around the cot where McCarthy sat. “I saw something that looked like a small submarine the other day,” said the Aussie Zack Baker.

“Where?” McCarthy queried.

“Just past the mess hall, back in the workshops and such.”

“Guarded?” Thomas asked.

“Not at that time. It may be by now.”

“Baker, you and Amarillas get over there. Position for action, but don’t do anything until we get there,” McCarthy commanded.

Then he looked at the others. “We need to grab Cain and his people and then figure out a way of getting close to Hydon. The bugger didn’t seem that concerned about his own security, so it shouldn’t be too hard. But then we need to move him half way across the bunker. It could get dicey, mates.”