Under A Winter Sun by Johan Dahlgren (ink ebook reader txt) 📕

of space.

The General screams in immortal pain, and I let the darkness take me.

* * *

When I wake up, I'm strapped into a chair on the Sundowner.

The familiar smell of sweat and greased metal mixed with fresh ground coffee brings back childhood memories of home. Finn, Jagr, Tyrus and Hildr float in front of me.

Meridian is not in my head anymore, and I draw a sigh of relief. There will be time later to ponder the implications of what just happened.

A grey blanket covers a human-sized object strapped into a seat at the back of the bay. A corner of the cloth has come undone and a pale hand floats free, waving like seaweed in a slow current. I suppose Rivera has family somewhere. We need to take him home.

“And we need to talk about what just happened.”

“Not now, Aeryn.”

“Is that what's been happening when you glitch?”

“Yes. Sort of. But he's never done that before.”

“Get rid of him.”

“I can't.”

“Fuck that. I'm not having a threesome inside your head.”

“Aw, come on, Aer.”

“I'm not joking. I don't want to be in here with that thing.”

She's serious. “And neither do you. Trust me.”

“We'll talk later. I promise.”

Jagr and the others stare at me. Then Jagr slaps me.

“Ow. I'm awake. Don't hit me.”

“Welcome back, Perez. Had a nice nap?” There's warmth in her voice.

“Slept like a baby. Did we get them?”

“We got them, brother.”

Finn's smile is a mile wide behind the bruises and bandages. “We got them good. Is over.”

Tyrus and Jagr exchange a glance. Then Tyrus speaks.

“It's time we brought Perez up to speed, Jagr.”

Braden floats into the bay with two cups of smoking coffee in her hands.

“Up to speed about what?” I look from Jagr to Tyrus.

Braden hands me a cup.

“You're going to need this, Mr P.”

The coffee smells amazing.

Jagr clears her throat. “How much do you know about artificial intelligence, Perez?”

“A bit. I always thought we hadn't built a proper level three AI, and that we never would. After what we saw today, I'm not so sure anymore.”

I take a sip from the coffee. Damn. Braden wasn't boasting. She smiles and gives me a thumbs up. I raise my cup in salute and take another sip. Then I look at Tyrus.

“We still haven't built a level three, Perez.”

“So, what was that thing on the Galahad and the Naglfar?”

“That was most definitely a full level three AI.”

“But if we didn't build it, then who …?”

“Nine years ago, an experimental detector for exotic particles picked up a signal from outer space. A signal that exhibited signs of being artificial. After verification, it was concluded the signal did not originate from any human colony.”

“Where did it come from?”

“A dead planet orbiting the star you would know as Algol.”

“The Demon Star. That figures. Why haven't we heard anything about this?”

“We got to the scientists before they could break the news.”

“And by 'got to them', you mean you killed them.”

“You know the panic this piece of news would cause.”

“This is tin foil material, Tyrus.”

“That doesn't make it any less true.”

“What do they want?”

“We have no idea. But it seems they're trying to make contact.”

“And what are we replying?”

Tyrus exchanges a glance with Jagr. Then he goes on.

“They are trying to make contact, but not with us.”

What? “Then … who?”

“Two weeks ago, we got confirmation that a response was sent. From Nifelheim.”

“Ah.” I see where this is going. “Mimr.”

“We weren't aware of Mimr's existence then, but when Jagr reported what you found on the Galahad, we put the pieces together. When we tracked that data dump to Muspelheim, we knew the entity was on the move, and I decided it was time to see for myself what we are up against.”

“Who are you, Tyrus? And who do you work for?”

“That is classified. Let's just say the outfit I work for has a special interest in non-human intelligence.”

“The Men in Black, eh?”

First, I learn the Shard is real, and now this.

“That is also classified.” He gives me half a smile.

“Fuck you. So, this alien signal was meant for Mimr?”

“We believed that was the case.”

“And now that Mimr is dead?”

Hang on. “Believed?”

Tyrus nods.

“Two minutes ago, Command informed us a new signal was detected.”

Shit. That was after we blew up the Naglfar.

“A signal orders of magnitude more powerful than Mimr's. It caused major power outages all over the system.”

“And where did that come from?”

This is the first time in the brief time I've known him that Tyrus has looked worried. He wipes a hand across his mouth and pulls on his scruffy beard. “Everywhere.”

“What do you mean, 'everywhere'?”

“Every transmitter in the system responded in unison. There is another presence in this system, powerful beyond imagination. And it wants to wipe us out.”

I stare at him. “So, what do we do now?”

No one has a clue. Neither do I.

But someone has to do something about it.

Jagr was right.

Perhaps it is time to pick a side. No more walking away.

But if I do this, there is no turning back.

This is my Rubicon.

I down the last of the coffee and unbuckle from the crash seat.

“Jagr, can I borrow your team?”

“Not much of us left, and you are one of us now. We do this together.”

There's an unfamiliar warm tingling deep in my gut. Is this what belonging feels like?

“Finn?”

“I'm with you, brother.”

I look at Hildr. She looks away.

“Tyrus?”

He throws me a mock salute. “Lead the way.”

“I'm with you to the end, Perez.”

Fuckin' A.

I used to think you can't save the world.

It turns out that sometimes, someone, somewhere gets to try.

Too bad it had to be me.

Dear reader,

We hope you enjoyed reading Under A Winter Sun. Please take a moment to leave a review, even if it's a short one. Your opinion is important to us.

Discover more books by Johan M. Dahlgren at https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/johan-m-dahlgren.

Want to know when one of our books is free or discounted? Join the newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bqqB3H.

Best regards,

Johan M. Dahlgren and the Next Chapter Team

Johan M. Dahlgren Biography

'Twas a maelstrom of thunder and death, the day the dark princeling came