The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

was talking under his breath. His eyes darted around, to his soldiers and then to James.

On stage, the women who cut open the babies lifted them from the water, applied compresses over the wounds, and wrapped them in cloths. They carried the infants from the stage, passed through the audience, and left the amphitheater. The bloody basin settled.

“In future,” Rayna said, “this would mark end of ceremony. But today, I have special surprise.”

Oh, goddamn.

Michael positioned his hands within centimeters of his rifles.

“Today, we are graced by presence of two guests who hold special place in our hearts.” Rayna stepped back and motioned to Sam, who became center of attention. “Samantha Pynn is proud to be our Ambassador to Earth. She has endured many trials and today, she is here as official observer. She wears yellow dress. In my clan, yellow signified cowardice. But today, I declare it signifies courage. For Samantha Pynn is most courageous to stand before you today.”

Rayna led them in applause, but Michael wasn’t having it. This lunatic was setting her up. He saw the mockery in Rayna’s eyes, where the red pistils grew into an orange fire.

No way. This Cossack bitch is going down.

“We are here,” Rayna continued, “to witness a great moment. I must make confession, for even my husband does not know of great secret I carry. Brother James believes he is only hybrid to speak in private with the blessed Jewels. He is wrong. They have also shown me the future. They have shown me today. This moment.”

She turned to Sam and cupped a hand over Sam’s cheek.

“I made promise to you, Samantha Pynn. I will now keep promise.”

Michael touched the handle of his weapons. Instinct told him to grab and unholster. But Rayna did something Michael never saw coming.

She stared at him.

Then she smiled.

“You have come so far,” she said. “Is most stunning act of love I have ever known. I wanted her to be beautiful for you. What do you think, Michael Cooper?”

What?

How?

Sam took hopeful steps forward. The crowd fell dead silent. Michael caught James in the corner of his eye. The monster pushed past his gangly sons.

“Let her see your face,” Rayna said. “Is moment your hearts have most desired. No?”

Michael double-blinked and tried Valentin again.

“I’m sorry. I have to. Be ready.”

He retracted the helmet with a thought.

Michael wasn’t the same man she knew. He was much bigger, his dreadlocks long gone, and his path steeped in the blood of hundreds. He feared she might not recognize him this way, but Sam’s tears were immediate. For the first time in five months, Michael saw her smile.

She saved him again and again. On the shores of Lake Vernon, Alabama; in battles after crossing the fold; on the Isle of Seneca; inside the GPM at the close of the Solomon uprising. She saved Michael by loving him when most Chancellors considered him a lesser human.

“My turn,” he said. “I love you, Sam.”

He was no one’s fool. The delicious grin on Rayna’s face said everything. She had one ending in mind.

“It appears you have been betrayed, husband.”

Three things happened in rapid succession.

Michael raised his helmet and unholstered both blast rifles. He initiated targeting controls and squared his aim at Rayna and James. Sam reached for a bloody knife. James turned his ire on Valentin.

“I knew you would do this to me!” James shouted, balling his fists. His eyes blazed. “I should have killed you months ago.”

Valentin leveled his rifle at his older brother. He triple-blinked. The six small soldiers who accompanied the processional matched their Admiral’s aim. The other soldiers looked around uncertain.

“Bartok!” James shouted. “Do it. Now.”

James bisected his S-1 environment, establishing views of every quadrant within his periphery plus fifty percent. Another hybrid reached into his suit and grabbed a palm-sized device.

Michael knew it well. A remote drone navigator. He used them for the scoopers cleaning up Mongol bodies on Tamarind.

“No,” Valentin yelled. “We are at war. Stop this now.”

“I love you, Michael,” Sam said through her sobs. Her first words in so long.

No. Sam. Don’t.

He saw both threats at once. Sam gripped the knife. A drone appeared along the northern edge of the bowl. It was engaged. It was a predator. It directed its laser beacon toward the stage.

He raised his right hand, retargeted, and fired. The drone shattered, its deadly tracer thrown off course.

Michael focused on the drone for two seconds, but it was one second too long.

Sam swung about-face and screamed as she fell upon Rayna. The Cossack grunted and looked toward the sky. Rayna grabbed Sam in a headlock and pointed to the knife Sam embedded in the center of her abdomen.

“Is too bad,” Rayna yelled. “You made good try.”

Valentin raged.

“Rayna, no! Michael, no! James, no! Stop this. We are at war. They are coming now. We …”

“The only war is in your mind, brother,” James said. “You armed the immortals to take JaRa for yourself.” Turning to the hybrids, he said, “Valentin intends to kill us all.”

“James, if we don’t fight, all of us will die. The Jewels brought us here for a reason.”

“To grow our empire, Valentin. I know the Jewels better than anyone. They have shown me …”

Valentin calmed. “They’re here.” He threw open a holowindow. “This is live, James. From the command center. We are at war.”

Michael wasn’t close enough to see the details; his eyes, his aim, his heart focused on Sam. She mouthed those three little words repeatedly. For an instant, Rayna drew her gaze toward the bowl, where the Bouchet brothers faced other. None of the hybrids drew weapons. Did they come unarmed? Were they so arrogant?

Strike now. Take them out.

Michael heard distant explosions but not