Space Race (Space Race 1) Nathan Hystad (ebooks children's books free .TXT) 📖

will have the thermal torpedoes, but if these are designed to withstand our weapons, they’ll do the same against…”

One of the Defenders shot a volley of five torpedoes against the incoming horde, and they all detonated, failing to even scratch the drones.

“There’s my answer,” Luther grumbled. It all happened so fast, and we were back in a deadlock without a chance of victory.

“I told you to concede, and you attack?” the man said, stepping closer. He wore a black armored uniform, unique in appearance. I’d seen the logo before. It was the insignia the Board had created for their Proxima expansion mission.

“Why am I not surprised to see it’s you, Preston?” Octavia asked.

I audibly gasped at the sight of my grandfather. He looked much like I remembered him, except his hairline was slightly more receded, his cheeks hollowed out. Gone was the softness of his eyes, along with the casual smirk from behind which he’d appraised the world.

“Arlo.” My grandpa stared at the camera. “We are destined for great things, and the Lewises are no longer limited to the foolish maneuvering of Earth. Corporate dominance was the downfall of humanity. The moment I met the Velibar, everything changed.”

I tried to breathe, but my lungs betrayed me. I clutched the arms of my chair, gaping at the viewscreen. He was speaking on a comm blast, meaning I couldn’t reply.

“The Velibar are powerful. A galaxy-spanning entity, ready to encompass our solar system. They are also patient, but their tolerance runs thin. They demanded we give up our world, and that fell upon my shoulders. The Velibar assure me Earth will continue to exist, with them in charge. Don’t worry, Arlo. I wouldn’t sell our entire race out, just our leaders. They were the necessary sacrifice. The people will be salvaged.”

“Arlo, is that really him?” Holland asked.

I raised a finger straight in the air. “Listen.” I managed to inhale air and struggled to not shout at the screen. How was this possible? My mentor, the man who taught me so much of what I knew, had returned from the grave, and was accompanied by alien allies. I couldn’t comprehend how any of this had occurred.

“The drones will create the gateway, and today, we make history. Your Space Race is over. The corporations are disbanded. Our people will once again have free will, just under a different leader. The Velibar will be merciful. You will see.” He blinked three times, and I noticed his lip twitch when he was silent. Even he didn’t believe the crap he was spouting. I could tell, because he’d always had that same tell when we played cards as a kid. Maybe there was room for negotiation after all. “Stand down, Octavia. Everyone, your new era begins now. Embrace the change. There are millions of worlds to explore, contrary to the status quo. The Board wants you to stay under their thumb, for their precious Primaries to continue running things and turning profits.”

“And Proxima? What happened to it?” Octavia asked him.

“The Velibar control it. As it turns out, the Velibar encountered Obelisk, sent to investigate Proxima Centauri years ago. It piqued their interest in us. I was forced to leave you all behind, and in exchange, they spared my life. They told me a time would come where I’d be responsible for bringing the news to my people. Today is that moment.” Preston stared into the camera, and a grin crept onto his face.

“I need to talk…” I whispered to myself.

Bryson appeared on screen. He’d somehow managed to interrupt their communication from the bridge of his corporate SeaTech liner. “Preston, you bastard! How dare you sacrifice our people?”

“If it isn’t young Bryson Kelley. Only not so young any longer.” It was difficult to consider the man on screen as my grandfather. His mannerisms were the same, but he was a far stretch from the caring paternal figure I’d grown up around.

“Where is she? Where’s Catarina?” Bryson strode to his camera, his face too close to it. Octavia was there, unwilling to interrupt this moment.

Preston went still, solemn. His chin rested on his chest for a second before he lifted his head to stare Bryson in the eyes on screen. “The Velibar have taken my crew to their home planet. Catarina included.”

Holland made a grunting noise from behind me, and Bryson looked ready to pass out. “Octavia, we have to hear him out. Perhaps this is the best decision—”

“Bryson, don’t be foolish. There’s more at stake than your wife!” Octavia had regained her confidence. I glanced at the drones to see them moving into formation. My grandpa had said they would form a gateway. To where?

“My mother’s alive,” Holland croaked.

“It’s okay,” Jade consoled him.

“We have to stop them,” Luther said.

The drones were forming into a giant circle. Thousands of the almond-shaped black vessels began interconnecting with one another.

“What if he’s right?” Holland asked. “We could work with the Velibar. You saw how big that thing was. If they send a fleet against us, what chance do we have?”

“I agree the Corporations have gotten out of hand, but how can you trust the Velibar? Did you see that Squid? All I can picture is a hundred of those surrounding Earth. They’d devastate our home in minutes. Even if we managed to destroy one, it was lucky. And they didn’t seem too interested in retaliation. We won’t stand a chance.” I wanted him to see reason, but he stared forward.

Octavia clenched her jaw over the screen, the muscles bunching tightly. “Let us go, Preston. Order the drones off, and we’ll join you in discussions with the Velibar. I’m sure once we’ve spoken to them, they’ll be willing to reach a deal.”

Preston let out a bitter chuckle, his voice cracking as if this was the most hilarious thing he’d ever heard. “I don’t think so, Octavia. They’re coming today. You can choose to run now. I cannot stop you, but within a few minutes, the gateway will be operational. They will hunt you