Page 67 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
There was truth to what he said, but his mad path was obscene. I wasn’t sure where the line was between monsters and men, but what he was talking about was from the time of the Mad Emperor. Clones died quickly, altered embryos were monstrous abominations at best. We altered the Earthlingswiththeir permission, forbade clones, and kept the birth sexes naturally occurring. It would take a few new generations before the numbers were up to what they used to be, but for now, things were hopeful. I didn’t see the need for war and separation, but people like my father disagreed.
“Stay at my side, my son. We can blame this on others.”
I chuckled. “You think Matros will agree? You attack his mate.”
“A simulacrum.”
“And the feedback surely hurt him.” I shifted into a readied battle stance with my muscles flexed, and feet wide apart. “No, it ends now.”
With one move, I activated the vibration, and the room filled with the dull low hum and aimed against his throat. He instinctively raised his hand, and the sword sunk halfway into his wrist before it formed around the blade. He pulled back and took the weapon with him. “Sorry, my child.”
“I’m not your child.”
“You’ll understand why I did all this. In time you will come to see the wisdom of a new empire. One that’s strong... like the Volardi empires of old. Augo will never be weak again.”
“Those are gone, taken down by their own hubris.” Like in the dojo I took a mental snapshot of my surroundings. Silver lighting orbs were to my side, and an unnaturally strong simulacrum to my front, and I was without a weapon. I balled my hand into the tightest fist I could and punched ‘Balo’ in the face. Something that I always wanted to do yet didn’t. Even creating a simulacrum that looked like a family member was against protocol and again I saw how little my father cared about that.
He ducked a swing while he spoke. “The people love you. You could ease the transition.”
“Lie to them,” I said. “As you did to me.”
“It’s not a lie to withhold information. You could have arranged for Caan’s release. Instead, you pressed him into the Volardi repopulation program as your mate. So, don’t presume to dictate me on ethics.”
Heat flashed over my skin as I accepted the spirit of his words. I pressured Caan into this. He was happy with his new life, but the Earthlings have a saying: ‘The ends do not justify the means.’ My father obviously disagreed.
“Stop fighting me,” he said. “This delays our return.”
I shook my head no. Despite the betrayal, I was still his son and leaving meant he could do whatever he wanted here. Obviously, some orbs could explode, and I feared what would happen to Matros if we left. Caan would come and be safe but into what? A kingdom of lies?
He saw my hesitation and disapproval. “Then I’m sorry for what I must do.”
Hours in the dojo honed my reflexes and allow me to battle other Soturi warriors. Even simulacrums that were set to enhanced reactions, but not against one with no limitations. He blurred with speed as he grabbed me and slammed me against the cold, stone walls. To my side, the orbs hovered closer. “You lost my child, the sphere will shock you, and you’ll fall unconscious. By the time you awaken, it will be too late.
***
Chapter Thirty-Seven
NATE
I stared up with hate at a man who reminded me of the guys back at the mining colony. This one was cleaner, and he wouldn’t want to sexually attack me, but he was the same. Hell, I was the type when I was a stupid kid, although monster was a better word. These aliens changed me into an Omega and turned me into a plaything for other men. I had a chance to live a decent life and have Caan as my son, or I could have given him up and used the galaxy as my personal vacation spot. Twenty years ago I made three jackass decisions that got me into this life, and it was time to make them right.
The king in Balo’s body still had Caan’s husband up against the wall. Seconds were all I had. “Peter!” I whispered loud while my broken hand throbbed. I shook this severed head, and the eyes slowly moved and blinked. He opened his mind to scream, and on instinct, I covered his mouth with my good hand. Then I remembered I did the same thing twenty years ago. I mouthed ‘please be quiet’ and slowly removed it hoping he would listen. His eyes grew wider, and his gaze darted around. Maybe it was me. I was the stuff of his nightmares or because he was in a sim with a separated head. I’m positive he got a feedback loop. Coming out was bad enough. Seeing the man who attacked you decades ago, was the last thing he needed. Back in the mining colony, I didn’t have to beascareful. Their connections weren’t as good as these. I could only imagine what kind of feedback you may get if you were missing your head after getting blasted.
Faster than I would have thought I could I explained the situation. Matros was out, my son was semi-paralyzed, and Graden would be out soon. My strength was shit, even if I had my old body, I couldn’t fight a superhuman robot.
“Help me.”
He stared with unnatural eyes, but it was the same kid I used to torment back on Earth. The one I stomped just because I could. “Do this for me, Peter. You can keep me in prison forever or kill me. Just let me save my son, please?” Tears dripped down my cheeks. “You have kids, let me save mine. Do whatever you want after, you have my permission.”
He said nothing, but I whispered two favors. To my surprise, he understood and agreed.
The matter-rearranger above my head glowed. The king was a fan of monologuing and continued to explain why the kingdom needed to leave. It’s nothing I cared about, but if he wanted it, it couldn’t be right.
Behind the king, Peter’s headless body carefully rose as it trembled and quietly snuck over to the creator. He tossed a thin, flexible metal disk the size of a quarter while his other arm spasmed. I slapped it against my forehead. “Drag me to the jail. Turn on the field.”
The hallway filled with sparks and white light as King Asshole fulfilled his electric promise. His son’s chin met his chest while he lost consciousness. I watched a shaking headless sim and hoped its final malfunction wouldn’t come for several seconds.
I closed my eyes, willed the connection open, and everything I knew went black.
