Hathor Legacy: Outcast (16 page)

22
Shattered

"What's going on up there?" Brandon asked as Jon came back into the office. "Ilana's not to be trusted."

"Nadira can handle it," Jonathan said.

"When we got here she'd drained her power. She and Matt had a fight."

Matt was still sitting on the couch, but now he had a drink in one hand and a half-empty decanter in the other. Maybe he was better off.

His father had admitted to taking crystal to pay Ilana, and he'd explained about helping pe
ople leave Hathor. Other than that, all he'd done was apologize for putting him in danger. But yet, he still wasn't telling Jon the one thing he wanted to know. Why?

"Son, the shuttle for Demeter will be leaving in about a half hour. We have to get to the st
ation."

"Dad, I told you, I'm not leaving Nadira here. Her mentor will throw her into detention for hel
ping me. You and Cat go on."

"I'm not leaving without you. That's why I came here," Bra
ndon said.

"You still haven't told me your reasons for going against co
mpany rules. I mean, I know forcing people to be Guardians is wrong, but what's that got to do with you?" Seeing where it had gotten them, it didn't make sense. Why would he take such a risk?

"Jonathan?" Nadira walked in. "You've all got to get out of here. before Zina comes."

"No," Jonathan said. "I'm not going without you."

Nadira addressed Brandon. "The Hathor Novacorp Guardian Agreement states that anyone who tampers with citizens under the protection of the Guardians or who have been identified as cand
idates for training, will be detained. It doesn't have to be proven. Being suspected of such activity is enough. Do you understand?"

"What are you talking about? Are you detaining him?" Jon stepped between her and his father.

"No, Jonathan. But when Zina gets here, that's what will happen. Ilana is going to tell her everything."

"Son, that's why Cat falsified the report about the remains. She wanted you to stop looking for me and come home. When the Guardians found out you brought Ilana here, they started asking questions."

"How could you trust her?"

"I didn't. But she was good at getting Matt's confidence. He told her things he shouldn't have. Years ago, he wouldn't have made that kind of mistake."

"Brandon, their meeting wasn't accidental. Ilana works for Zina," Nadira said.

Jonathan felt like his heart had dropped to his feet. Ilana had the payment and the proof. It wouldn't even matter if they left now. As soon as Zina found out, the company would send sec
urity after them.

"Then she's been reporting back all along," Brandon said.

"No, she hasn't. Not yet."

"Dad, why did you do it? Was it worth it?"

"Yes, damn it! It was worth it." He sat down, his shoulders slumped. "Years ago I was an independent miner here. Catherine and I met up in the West. We did mining, excavating, whatever we could get."

"That's why you don't have an ID chip, isn't it?" Nadira asked.

He pulled back his sleeve to show her the tongues of flame tat that circled his wrist. "I prefer these. Novacorp didn't force the issue. My mine is a top producer." Brandon rolled his sleeve back down. "I met Jon's mother, Estrella when I was 23 and she was 17. Her family was in business selling mining equipment. That's how we got to know them."

"Wait a minute," Jon interrupted. "I thought you two met on Astarte."

"We never told you the entire story. After about a year Estrella started developing abilities. Out there, we thought she'd be safe from detection.  Guardians usually stuck to the North when they were hunting. But, her powers got stronger and…well…one day two Guardians showed up. They said someone contacted the District Manager's office about her. It could've been anyone who worked with her family or maybe one of her relatives. I don't know."

"It happens," Nadira said. "Neighbors, friends or family will report it."

"Guardians help protect Novacorp's assets, which makes them very valuable.  And Estrella's abilities were strong. She would get visions and was able to touch objects and see who had owned them. I didn't understand it very well. It was tough for her to experience these things and not know how to deal with it."

"What happened?" Nadira asked.

"After her abilities developed, we discovered she was pregnant. If they took her away, I'd never see her again. And we didn't know what they'd do about the pregnancy. She didn't want to be taken by the Guardians and she couldn't get clearance from the company to leave the planet. So, Catherine and I hid her on an equipment shuttle bound for Demeter. From there, we travelled to Astarte."

Jonathan couldn't believe what he was hearing. This had to be a story his father was making up. "I don't get it. Why didn't you tell us?"

"We didn't want to take the chance the company would find out. It was best if you and the girls didn't know anything."

What else didn't he know? Were there any other secrets? "Does she still have those powers?"

"No, Jon." He looked at Nadira. "I know Novacorp tells you that you'll die if you leave here. It's not true. Once you leave Hathor, your abilities will fade over time. But that's it."

"I know," Nadira said, her voice shaky. "Ilana already told me."

"She did? What did she say?" Jonathan asked.

"What happened when the Guardians came to get Estrella?" Nadira asked, ignoring Jon's question. "Did they detain her fa
mily?"

"No," Brandon replied. "Her mother told them Estrella had been killed in a mining accident."

"And they believed it?" she asked.

Brandon looked down at the floor. "She wasn't on Hathor and they couldn't track her. I wasn't with Novacorp back then, so once I left no one was looking for me. I was just another miner who came and went. But she can't ever come back here, or see her family or communicate with them. She had to disappear. That's why we're not contracted. Neither she or my daughters are listed in the co
mpany records."

"But why am I listed as your son?" Jon asked. "Why me and not the girls?" Remembering the anxiety in his mother's eyes when he'd talked about coming to Hathor, he realized now why she'd been so upset.

"I accessed the company database to add you when I took over as CEO of the mine. I'd hoped one day you'd want to work with me and possibly take over the management. That's why I added your name to the records. Novacorp doesn't recognize unions unless there's a company-validated contract. That's why I wasn't required to add your mother's name."

His mother had escaped from Hathor and could've become a Guardian. Within minutes, Jon's entire world had shifted.

"I would've lost everything if they'd taken her away," Brandon said. "After I took over the mine, I got word from Estrella's mother. There were others who wanted to leave Hathor. I helped them. No one should be forced into a life they don't want. I don't care if they think having abilities is a gift. It's not."

Jon continued to watch Nadira for any signs of what she was feeling about this. Her expression was unreadable, and her em
otions were locked down. She just stood there, refusing to meet his eyes.

Across the room Matt was drinking out of the decanter now, the empty glass on the table next to him. Had he helped out of lo
yalty to an old friend?

But Jonathan didn't get the chance to dwell on it because in the next instant, the world around him exploded.
The window shattered, sending glass flying in every direction. Jon dropped to the floor, pulling Nadira down with him.

"There's an aircar out there on the transport road! It's firing on the house!" Cat screamed from the foyer. "Get out here now!"

23
Payback

Jonathan scrambled to his feet, pulling Nadira up with him. Jagged shards of glass were sticking out of the window frame. Outside he could make out movement as guards scrambled across the grounds.

"Let's go," Brandon said as he hustled them out of the room.

Cat dodged three guards as they ran past her, heading out the front door. "Brandon. We waited too long. We have to get out of here now."

"What the hell is going on?" Matt bellowed, still clutching the liquor decanter. "They have no right to do this."

"Zina must've had a security detail with her," Nadira said.

"Son, take Nadira and go out the back. There's a path leading to the shuttle station down the road."

"No, Dad. I'm not leaving without you."

"Jonathan!" He clutched his son's shoulder. "It doesn't matter. When they come here, they'll find out what I've done. I can't run away from it."

"Brandon, the Guardians don't know that you and Chief Mantee are here. If you leave now, I can protect you," Nadira said. "They won't be able to track you."

"What can you do?" Cat asked, her tone skeptical.

"When Ilana tells them what I've done, it won't matter."

"I'll make sure that Ilana's not a threat. Think of your family. If you're detained, everything will be revealed. They'll force Estrella back here," Nadira argued. "You have to go now."

Jonathan gazed into his father's eyes. He saw the worry and the pain. If there was a chance, his father had to take it. "Dad, you have to trust Nadira."

"All right," Brandon agreed.

"We'll go out the back. Come on!" Cat grabbed Brandon's arm and led him to the rear of the foyer.

"What about Ilana? Are you going to be able to stop her?" Jon asked.

Nadira nodded. "I'm going to try."

"What are they doing out there? Get away from my house!" Matt rushed out the front door.

"Matt!" Jonathan grabbed at him, but missed.

"Never mind him, Jon. Come with me." Nadira led him to the room across from the office. This one also had large windows, and gold furnishings. It was a mirror image of the office, except without the oversized desk. Nadira sat on the nearest couch.

Jonathan sat beside her. "What now?"

She grasped his hands. "I'm going to shield your father and Chief Mantee. But I'll need your help."

"You've got it."

It was just as he'd felt when she'd protected him before. The familiar tingling spread across his body as her energy flowed through him. He allowed his own energy to flow into it, creating the foundation, constructing the shield that would keep his father and Cat from Zina's detection.

*****

Nadira willed herself to tune out the noises that surrounded her. Footsteps thumped across the marble foyer, accompanied with shouted orders from Matt's guards. Jon's energy supported her as she shielded Brandon and Chief Mantee.

"Where are you? This is all your fault!"

The window behind Nadira shattered into thousands of fragments, spewing shards of glass across the room.

"What the hell?" Jonathan threw himself across her. His body protecting her as another wi
ndow blew out. Stunner fire echoed across the grounds, followed by the sound of a scream.

"Jon, what's going on?" Nadira sat up, but found that Jonathan was refusing to let her sit up.

"Stay down. Someone's firing into the house." He lowered his head as a stunner discharge lit up the room. "We've got to get clear."

He pulled her to her feet and rushed her towards the door. But just as they got there, she saw Ilana speeding down the stairs. Clutching the case, she was heading for the front door.

"You're not going anywhere!" Nadira sent out a blast that hit Ilana and knocked her into the wall. The case flew out of her hand, landing in the middle of the foyer. Ilana slid down on the floor.

Jon dashed over and grabbed the case. "I'll take that."

Ilana narrowed her eyes at Nadira. "You don't learn do you?" Struggling to her feet, she fell back against the wall again, her chest heaving.

"Where are you going?" Nadira asked. By not using her full strength, she'd avoided the rebound of energy. She'd have to hold on for a little while longer. Maintain her shields and keep from drai
ning herself.

Matt staggered back into the house, his scraggly grey hair hanging across his face. "J--Jon what are you doing with that?" He pointed to the case.

"What's wrong with you? You're an idiot!" Ilana rushed towards Matt, her arms outstretched.

Matt dodged her and ran into his office, followed by Ilana right on his heels.

"Come on!" Nadira followed them. Jonathan right behind her.

"No! Don't! Stop it!" Matt cried out as Ilana reached up and grasped Matt by the throat. They both fell back on the floor. Ilana straddled him, gripping Matt's neck as she banged his head against the carpet.

"Matt!" Jonathan lunched for her, grabbing her shoulders, trying to pull her off the older man. ""You'll kill him!"

Jon pried Ilana's fingers off and the force sent him on his back, his hands gripping her wrists. They rolled across the carpet, and against the side of the couch.

The influx of emotions hit Nadira, making her head spin so much that she could barely stay on her feet. Her adrenaline pumping, she fell back against the door and braced herself. Ilana was regaining her strength and Nadira had to stop her before she could focus her energy.

Matt was on his hands and knees, coughing so much that he sounded like he was about to vomit. His body heaved as he grabbed a chair and pulled himself up.

Another stunner blast shot through the open window, illuminating the shards of glass that still hung from the frame. Wincing as the whine of the discharge cut through the air, Nadira ran over to where Jon and Ilana were wrestling. Ilana working to free herself from his grip, and Jon refusing to let go.

"Jonathan! Let her go!" Nadira called out. "Let her go!"

But he wasn't focused on her and he continued to struggle as Ilana kicked him.

"Stay back, Nadira! Damn it!" Jonathan rolled her onto her stomach, pressing her into the ca
rpet as she continued to buck.

"Jon, let her go!"

"What?" Jon asked, glaring at her.

The distraction was enough to give Ilana the advantage. Wrenching one of her hands free, she reached back and touched Jonathan's leg.

"Yes, Jon, let me go!" Ilana mocked.

"AAAAGG!" Jonathan released her and fell back on the floor, his body tre
mbling.

Ilana fell back and braced herself against the couch, kicking him as he writhed in pain.

Nadira's emotions surged through her as she focused her energy and threw out a blast.

Ilana screamed as it hit her hard enough to send her somersaul
ting over. Gripping her fingers into the carpet, she wrenched herself up.

Nadira felt her preparing for another energy blast. If she could get Nadira to spend her own e
nergy, Ilana could overwhelm her.

Several of Matt's guards ran through the foyer, their boots tramping against the hard marble floor. Nadira jumped back as the discharge from one of their weapons ricocheted.

In that instant, Ilana ran past her and out of the office.

"We have to get out of here!" Jonathan got to his feet, and joined Nadira at the door. "Zina must've called an entire security team."

"I know." Nadira's struggled to catch her breath. "Jon, we can't let Ilana go."

"Then let's get her."

"No, stay here with Matt." He was leaning against the couch, his eyes closed. "I'll get her."

She ran out into the foyer, avoiding three more guards who shoved past her on their way through.

Crunching on bits of glass and splintered wood, Nadira followed them out the back. The glass double doors leading outside were now just empty frames.

Outside overturned tables and chairs littered the stone patio. In front of her, a gravel path led through a grove of trees similar to the ones out front. She couldn't see what was back there, but she could make out lights in the distance.

"You haven't had enough!" Ilana screamed, running towards her. She reached out her hand and sent out an energy blast.

Where had she been hiding? Nadira dodged out of the way, rolling against the stone floor. As she came to a stop, she sent out a blast in return.

It hit Ilana in the chest and sent her smashing against the doorframe. She slid down to the floor with a groan.

As Nadira came to her feet, she heard more stunner fire and the sound of heavy footsteps i
nside the house. It sounded like several people were running up the stairs. 

Just as she reached the doorway, two people walked out onto the patio.

"Jon!" She ran over to him, then stopped when she saw who was behind him holding a stunner.

"You have betrayed us, Nadira." Zina walked out, her weapon pointed at Jonathan. "And now you will pay for your mistake."

*****

Every nerve ending in Jonathan's body was tingling, and every instinct called for him to grab Zina's weapon and tear it out of her hands. He knew that was a crazy idea--suicidal even--but he couldn't let her hurt Nadira anymore. Whatever she was planning, he had to stop her.

Nadira's eyes were locked with his. Too bad he couldn't tell what she was thin
king right now.

"Ilana, that is a fitting place for you," Zina said.

With a slight turn of his head he was able to see Ilana on the floor. She eased herself up, leaning against the wall for support. "You've always looked down on me. But when you wanted to use me, it was different, wasn't it?"

"She told me what you did," Nadira advanced. "It was a viol
ation to use Ilana without going through the Elders. You'll be punished."

Jonathan felt movement behind him. Was Zina about to blast him? If he could turn around and grab her before she realized what he was going to do…

"I suggest you don't try it, Mr. Keel," Zina said.

She'd read him. Damn it. His thoughts were exposed to her. He had to be car
eful in case he put Nadira in danger.

Nadira darted her eyes to the right. It was a small movement, and he barely caught it. Clearing his mind, he took a deep breath and hit the floor, rolling to the right and away from Zina's line of fire.

When he looked up, Nadira was raising her arms towards her mentor, her body rigid.

The energy blast hit Zina and sent her back against the broken door. She fell against it, gra
bbing hold of the frame to stay on her feet. Her weapon flew across the patio. Before Jon could react, Ilana scrambled over, picked up the stunner and aimed it at Zina.

"I should've done this long ago." Ilana aimed the weapon, her finger pressing against the firing button.

Zina lunged at her and grabbed Ilana's wrist. They fell against one of the overturned tables, and the weapon fell from Ilana's grasp. Zina grabbed it, pointed it at Ilana, and fired.

"Zina!" Nadira cried out.

A blast of bluish-white light, hit Ilana in the chest. There was no scream, or even a sound from her. Instead she rolled down on the floor as the discharge reverberated through the air.

Jonathan ran towards her and stopped. Ilana was lying at Zina's feet, her eyes open, a sizzling hole in her chest. Jon fought back the urge to vomit as the smell of smoldering flesh filled his no
strils.

When Zina faced him, she was breathing hard, her mouth half open.

"You killed her!" Nadira screamed. 

"The Guardians must be protected, Nadira." Zina lowered the weapon, her hand shaking.

"You did it to protect yourself! She told me everything!"

"You've never understood the danger we face! If we show any weakness, Novacorp will use it to destroy us. Ilana was a thief and a killer. I had to do it."

"And you're no different than she was," Jonathan said, unable to take his eyes from the dead woman lying on the floor next to him.

"Enough! Mr. Keel you're coming with me," Zina said.

"Now I know why you were looking for Jonathan. You wanted to know if Ilana had told him about your plan. You were afraid that if he knew, he might tell Matt Bento that you'd sent Ilana to investigate him. You had no authorization from the Elders or Novacorp and you didn't want that to come out. You put out the alerts and chased us here to cover up your wrongdoing."

"Where did you hear such a story? From that slag?" She m
otioned to Ilana's body. "You believe her over me?"

"Zina, all you've ever wanted was power. That's why you d
estroyed our family and killed Ilana. No wonder you're an empath. You suck the life out of everything you touch!"

"How dare you address me in that way." Zina raised her weapon again. "I trained you! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be a Sentry. Obey me or accept the consequences."