All throughout the drought-stricken land that had become its domain, streaks of white emerged, searching for the required resources. The myriad parts of ODIN sought out any undiscovered technology and supplies to buoy its defenses and ensure its survival. Satisfied it would secure its territory, it turned its focus to selecting which quantum to counter and how. A deep rage bloomed within it, spreading across its network as the realm of ODIN once again burst into life.

  Regret filled Stephen as he stepped into the clearing containing the nanid reaction chamber for the struggling grove. His airship was circling high above, scanning for further attack as he moved across the clearing. Candace Worth weighed heavy on his mind as he approached his creation. A lump formed in his throat as his thoughts strayed over the last few hours. He had followed the ship that he had encountered in Utah, certain it was searching for him. He was surprised at the Leviathan’s apparent discovery of the grove, but confident he had the situation under control. Dark thoughts swirled through his quantum consciousness at the memory. He had not anticipated ODIN, and now Candace was dead. His felt the nanids responded to his thoughts pulling tighter, forming armor under his swirling green robes. He pushed away the reaction subduing it as quickly as it began. His eyes focused on the chamber in front of him, his slow steps bringing him closer. He forced his mind to abandon thoughts of Candace and his error. There was someone here he could still help. The door to the former airship slid open as Stephen drew to a halt in front of it.

  “Welcome, Stephen Fore,” the AI spoke, its words a silent whisper in his quantum mind. Stephen did not exchange pleasantries knowing the AI was indifferent to any exchange of that type.

  “Where is the man?” he queried. The AI did not reply but a moment later the chamber containing the man called Owen slowly exited the ship. It was one of very few technologies remaining that had field generators. Stephen did not linger on the chamber’s technology instead focusing on the dying man inside. Owen was young which had aided his resistance to the strain, but Stephen could see from the advance of the strain it would not be long until it was too late. He wordlessly took control of the stasis chamber from the AI bringing the man out of stasis as quickly as he could. Stephen’s enhanced eyes picked out the quickening pace of the strain as the stasis was removed. He did not wait, reaching out with his mind and gently driving into Owen’s. He was met with agony and confusion. Nathan Landis’ strain did not spare its host, completing the conversion with no regard to the suffering of the body and mind. Stephen slowly probed deeper into the man’s mind looking for his consciousness buried below the instinct and emotion that had consumed him. He could feel the strain advancing more quickly in the body and quickened his search. Finally, not finding a tangible connection he pulled back studying Owen’s mind. An image of Candace Worth briefly crossed his consciousness and Stephen felt frustration drive his next attempt. He sent a shout into the man’s mind cutting through the chaos created by the strain. At the same time, he created a barrier to the continuous neural feedback from Owen’s body hoping to jolt the man enough to rouse logical thought once more. The mind went silent. Stephen waited.

  “Hello?” the thought that emerged from Owen was still filled with confusion but had the clarity of a mind in full possession of itself. Stephen felt relief flood through him as he entered Owen’s mind once more.

  “Owen, my name is Stephen Fore and I am here to help you.” He spoke gently trying not to jar the man’s fragile state.

  “How? I know I am dying,” Owen replied grief crossing his mind at the knowledge of the Leviathan strain’s final gift. Stephen shared the grief briefly before replying.

  “I can save you,” he said, fearing the rejection he had received from Worth as he spoke. Instead of resignation, hope flared in the man’s mind.

  “How?” Owen asked. Stephen did not hesitate. He showed the man, the full capabilities of his quantum being. In a moment he revealed how he could subdue the Leviathan strain, while giving the man a new life with the Earth’s nanids. The full scope of his abilities filled Owen’s mind. Even as he was demonstrating how he could help the man, Stephen could feel the man weakening. As he concluded the demonstration of his abilities, Owen surprised him.

  “Why?” the young man’s fragile mind questioned even as he was slowly dying. Stephen felt the lump return to his throat. He knew why. He had to prove Candace had not died needlessly. He must show Simon and the others he could stop the Leviathan and ODIN. He needed to demonstrate to the few humans left that he could restore the planet and rescue them from extinction. His quantum mind spun thousands of reasons for saving Owen, but Stephen found all lacking. Finally, the answer came simple and pure. He turned his attention back to the man.

  “I need help,” he replied, allowing the plea to wash through Owen’s mind. A moment later Owen’s reply came carrying what little strength remained in him.

  “Do it.” The statement rang through Owen’s mind into Stephen and he felt relief flood him as he placed his hands on the man. One covered the blackened wound where the Leviathan spawn had infected him and the other rested gently on his chest. The man felt fragile under Stephen’s hands. He wondered if Owen was strong enough to survive the conversion as the Earth’s nanids began to stream across his skin. He had his answer a moment later when Owen drew a breath and softly whispered.

  “Thank you.”

  The withered frame of Candace Worth was arranged on a slab of exposed granite on the border of the grove. Simon stood silently at her feet guarding her and holding a silent vigil as the late afternoon sun beat on his armored skin. He let the grief wash slowly through him, cementing his resolve to stop the Leviathan and ODIN. He knew neither would stop until they controlled the world and beyond. A drone streaking overhead shook him out of his thoughts. Kelly had helped secure the area and Candace then turned to her drones bringing them back one at a time. Simon did not understand the relationship she had with the AI but was thankful for her resourcefulness. They needed all the help they could get. He turned back to Candace, his eyes studying her. The sadness returned as he looked at the wound in her chest. He could see the white of ODIN’s nanids slowly spreading. Even with the host dead they sought to control their environment. Anger seeped into his mind bringing memories with it. At first the memories were his from the past before his death but were quickly supplanted by those of ARES. One overtook all others. It was the rescue of Worth from ODIN’s hunter just before his second death.

  The woman had been incredibly brave in the face of the monster sent by ODIN. Simon felt the respect ARES had for the woman even as it stopped the hunter. Simon felt tears form as he recognized she had finally faced the demon that had haunted her for so long. Even though she had died, she had won. Stephen was unharmed and ODIN’s avatar was neutralized. He turned his observation to her face as he felt the ground tremble behind him as Curtis approached. He was relieved at the look of peace on her countenance. The years she had spent guarding him had taken a toll, driving her to the brink of madness. He knew that is why she had chosen her death. She had lived too long and was exhausted mentally. The failing of her nanids was the last indication she needed that her time was up. Simon felt a longing to hear her confident voice, to see the piercing gaze that mirrored the deep intelligence and compassion the woman had. He knew it was gone. Yet he still longed for it. Curtis moved around him wrapping his new body around the stone protectively as he stared at Simon.

  “Simon, take a break,” he said as the rumble of his voice rolled across the open meadow. Simon felt his anger focus on Curtis. He turned his gaze to the serpentine eyes of his old friend.

  “Curtis, she watched over me for two hundred years,” he said, the anger making his voice hard even as he felt his chest tighten with closely held grief. He saw the flicker of pain in Curtis’ eyes. He had been through much over the last two centuries as well, Simon knew that. It did not change the debt he owed Candace, even in death.

  “I will watch over her until my father returns,” he said, turning back to the woman on the slab. No further words were spoken. Curtis and Simon stood watch silently, companions to Candace in her death. Kelly busied herself restoring drones and preparing the airships for flight. As the sun dipped lower in the sky and afternoon began to give way to evening, Stephen Fore emerged soundlessly from the grove. Curtis’ huff of surprise brought Simon’s attention to his approaching father.

  Stephen’s green robes wrapped around him of their own accord seeking to protect him. His father’s face was set, and his determination was obvious. That was not what had shocked Curtis though. It was the man striding behind his father that had disturbed Curtis. Simon felt the same shock as Curtis. Owen was on the verge of death when they left him in the center of the grove and now he was walking toward them as if nothing had ever happened. Simon studied the man, amazed at the power his father possessed. Owen was healed completely from what Simon could tell. As the two men came closer Simon could see the green tint of the Earth’s nanids on Owen’s skin. His hair and eyes gleamed in the fading light the nanids showing in them as clearly as Simon’s own. The only sign of the Leviathan strain was on the man’s arms. Thick bands of the dark nanotechnology spiraled down them to Owen’s hands. Simon wondered what his father’s intent was with the man. Simon worried Stephen would follow the path of ODIN and begin forcing people to convert. It would be the end of the species. Humanity would not be able to fight a three-sided war. There was little hope with the two foes they faced already. Curtis’ growl of discontent echoed Simon’s worry. Simon stepped forward closing the distance with his father.

  “Father, what have…” Simon did not get to finish.

  “I have chosen this,” Owen said, stepping even with Stephen Fore, his mild voice slicing through the quickly cooling air. Simon felt his worries spike. What if the man was under his father’s control. Suddenly he felt Owen trying to connect with his mind using the new nanids to form a bridge.

  “See for yourself,” Owen spoke as he opened himself to Simon and Curtis. The man’s memories were open to them. Not just the healing of his infection, but the death of his family and their struggles before that. Simon saw that Owen indeed had free will and had chosen to help Stephen save the world and humanity. Relief flooded through him as the grief and pain of the day began to recede. Simon seized his father in a fierce embrace needing to know he was truly there. Stephen returned the embrace and Simon could feel the tingle of their nanids interacting. His father released him, patting him on the shoulder as they turned to Candace. As they stood mourning her, Owen stepped next to them.

  “Who was she?” he asked his voice filled with respect. Simon felt the tears come again as words failed him.

  “A friend,” Curtis rumbled dipping his elongated head in respect.

  “An equal,” Stephen echoed his voice filled with emotion as he stared at his old friend.

  “A sister,” Kelly spoke from behind them where she was finishing repairs on the last drone. Simon stepped forward kneeling next to Candace placing his hand on her lifeless one. The lump in his throat eased as he looked at her face once more. He felt the grief ease slightly as he stared at his former caretaker. One word came to mind. He stood turning to Owen holding his gaze.

  “A mother,” Simon said simply, knowing that it was the only term that honored what Candace had done for him. Owen placed his hand on Simon’s shoulder, gripping it with renewed strength.

  “We will stop them,” he said simply, turning back to Candace. Stephen stepped forward touching the ground in front of the stone slab. As Simon watched, green began to spread from his father’s hands moving through the soil, surrounding the stone. Within moments the stone was surrounded by the green nanids of his father. Stephen turned to Simon.

  “It is time.” He said, stepping back. Simon knew what he wanted. The nanids of ODIN would continue to consume the woman destroying her even in death. Simon could use his nanids to burn her and by cremating her, destroy the nanids on her body. He stepped forward intending to begin the process when Curtis’ gentle rumble stopped him.

  “I will do it, Simon,” Curtis said, hoping to ease Simon’s burden. Before Simon could react the newly formed beast raised his reptilian head, drawing a great breath. When Curtis exhaled a cloud of orange and red issued from his mouth falling toward Candace where she lay on the ground. A moment later it ignited, becoming a pillar of flame issuing from Curtis’ maw. Simon was amazed at what he was witnessing. The nanids had become dragon fire. It was the stuff of legends, but the nanids had brought it to life. A smile of disbelief touched his face despite the grim circumstances. The heat of the flame grew in intensity the longer Curtis continued and soon no sign of Candace remained on the stone. A small pile of ash was the last remnant of their longtime friend. Curtis allowed the flame to subside and the five companions stood in a silent vigil around the stone, glowing with the heat from the nanid fire. When the sun slipped behind the horizon to the west, they finally turned making their way to the airships. Simon paused at the airship ODIN had used to bring the Leviathan’s minions, turning to Stephen.

  “Where are we going?” he asked. Stephen halted turning to Simon as his green eyes blazed with determination.

  “Seattle. We are going to save humanity,” he said, the finality of it driving shivers through Simon that remained as they took flight into the deepening night.

  FOURTEEN

  Daniel burst through the doors of the building they were using as an administration building for the new settlement. Just then three airships glided over, their engines a dull drone in the air. He had been sleeping in his makeshift office when the alarms sounded. The warning of the incoming ships had only come moments before and the settlement rushed to respond to the threat. Lights came to life across the settlement driving back the night. Guards armed with an assortment of weapons were converging in the open land where the ships were beginning to land. Daniel felt the years wear heavy on him as he approached the ships. He recognized one as Kelly Holt’s, but the others were foreign to him. His wariness increased as he approached. The settlement guard was spreading out, forming a defensive perimeter between the ships and the administration building. Daniel pushed past them stopping in front of the ships as they touched the ground together. Holt’s drones were blurs above them prepared to protect their mistress without hesitation. The three ships were of old design all similar in function. A combination of field generators and engines kept them aloft. Holt’s and the other were identical, but the third was much larger. He recognized it as a transport ship. He was curious what it contained, but also dreaded the answer. Large flood lights came to life on the ships illuminating the area completely. Daniel pushed his thin hair back waiting for the doors of the ship to open. A brief commotion to his side calmed as Alex pushed her way through the guard. Her pale face had a slight flush of anger and her blond hair waved wildly on her head. Daniel watched as she stalked up to him.

  “What are they doing here?” she demanded. Daniel held her gaze wishing he had protested her inclusion on the council. She had been a thorn of opposition since gaining the appointment. The other members of the council were intimidated by her and often would side with her to avoid a confrontation. It had crippled progress in many ways and Daniel found himself creating workarounds to avoid council approval for most of the settlement projects. Now she was making a tense situation even worse. He felt his irritation bubble over at last.

  “I have no idea, but you are not making the situation any easier stomping around shouting,” he said allowing his anger to bleed into his voice. “Now be quiet, so I can determine why they are here and what they need.” As he finished Daniel turned away watching the door. Holt’s ship opened first with Kelly stepping out lightly. Simon Fore followed out of the transport ship, his countenance made hard by his metal skin. The third ship opened last and Daniel found himself shocked by the person who stepped through. He had expected Candace Worth. Instead a man thought long lost to humanity had returned.

  “Stephen?” Daniel asked incredulously. The man stepped forward offering his hand. Daniel took it sensing the strength in the man. He marveled at Stephen’s appearance. The man had not aged in the slightest.

  “Daniel, we have much to discuss,” Stephen said, drawing his hand back. “Gather your council and as many of the settlement as you can.” Daniel nodded dispatching several guards with a glance. He scanned the ships once more and noticed the absence of Curtis and Candace.

  “Where is Candace?” he asked. Stephen’s face filled with grief.

  “She is dead. Killed by ODIN,” Stephen replied. Daniel felt his world grow dull once again. His leader and friend who had just returned was gone. He fought back the grief knowing it would return later. The other council members emerged from the crowd standing between Daniel and Alex. Stephen stepped back scanning the growing crowd before returning to the ship. Daniel wondered what had happened to draw the man out of hiding. A trickle of fear worked through him at the thought. Whatever it was, it would threaten them all. Daniel’s fear was confirmed a moment later when Stephen reemerged. He held something dark in his hand as he strode in front of the council and the quickly growing crowd.

 

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