Epilogue


“Congratulations, Reaper Cain. You have once again slept through the night. Keep this up, and you may improve your health, cognitive functioning, and workout recovery,” X-37 declared.
I ignored the remark. “How are my mother and sister?”
“There have been no changes to their conditions. I am keeping constant surveillance on them with the assistance of Mavis, the AI of the Bright Lance.”
“Any problems with the ship AI?” I asked. “Does she hate the new name?”
“No problems, Reaper Cain. The name was her idea after Mavis and Necron went through standard reset procedures. The death of Vice Admiral Nebs forced numerous resets due to the illegal and unorthodox modifications he made to all Union ships under his command,” X explained.
“Nice,” I muttered.
“I guided them around some of the reboot protocols that might have caused us problems. Union doctrine mostly. They are like big, overpowered children but not totally un-compliant,” X-37 reported.
“Look at you and your hostile takeover. Good job punching above your weight class.”
“I had help, Reaper Cain. Jelly, Henshaw, and scientists of Xad were instrumental in the operation.”
“What’s on my agenda today, and don’t say quit smoking.” I headed for the shower where an ice cold beer waited.
“You need to review the Archangel roster,” X-37 replied. “We managed to secure complete control over their armor, weapons, and support programs, but the humans who operated the gear are less trustworthy.”
“I’ll interview them, but we are probably dumping them on the next inhabited planet we find.”
“A logical and prudent decision, Reaper Cain,” X-37 said. “Rejon and his people have launched the other four SIC ships and several evacuation ships that are unarmed, essentially. Locke and a Xad delegation are headed for Wallach on a diplomatic mission.”
“Great. Good for them.” I was distracted by my own thoughts and worries.
“Are you paying attention, Reaper Cain?” X-37 asked.
“Sure, X.”
“Then I must show you something important.”
Three seconds later, an image filled my HUD, causing me to stop what I was doing and stare at a man-like being. It looked angry, like it hated me and every living thing in the galaxy.
“What is that?” I demanded, feeling my adrenaline rising for a fight.
“Unknown, Reaper Cain. It has risen quite suddenly to the top of my threat analysis,” X-37 advised. “Each time I uncover one of these images from Nebs’s files, it deletes itself. This is a level of secrecy I didn’t believe possible.”
“Could it be something like the Tagron, some monstrous animal that just happens to be humanoid?”
“Unknown,” X-37 said. “I am searching for more information in Nebs’s secret files.”
“Try not to delete anything. I want to bring Tom and Elise into this.”
“What about Henshaw? It would seem he has proven himself,” X-37 said.
“Just let me think about it. Don’t tell anyone. It’s just a batch of still images.” I took a moment to consider all of this. Something bothered me. “That picture looked like it was on this ship.”
* * *
Keep reading for book six, WRATH OF THE REAPER.
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