Finish What You Started
Finish What You Started
The Kurtherian Endgame™ Book Five
Michael Anderle
This book is a work of fiction.
All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
Copyright © 2019 Michael Anderle
Cover by Andrew Dobell, www.creativeedgestudios.co.uk
Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing
Interior Images by Eric Quigley
Interior Images © LMBPN Publishing
This book is a Michael Anderle Production
LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact support@lmbpn.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
LMBPN Publishing
PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89109
First US edition, May 2019
eBook ISBN: 978-1-64202-284-1
The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2015-2019 by Michael T. Anderle and LMBPN Publishing.
Contents
Glossary of characters, locations, and ships
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Books By Michael Anderle
Connect with Michael Anderle
Finish What You Started Team
Thanks to the JIT Readers
Kelly O’Donnell
Crystal Wren
Diane L. Smith
Jeff Eaton
Dave Hicks
James Caplan
Jeff Goode
Shari Regan
Angel LaVey
Daniel Weigert
John Ashmore
Jackey Hankard-Brodie
Nicole Emens
Dorothy Lloyd
Micky Cocker
Peter Manis
Larry Omans
If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know!
Editor
Lynne Stiegler
To Family, Friends and
Those Who Love
to Read.
May We All Enjoy Grace
to Live the Life We Are
Called.
Glossary of characters, locations, and ships
Characters
Bethany Anne Nacht (BA)
Super-enhanced human, part of a triumvirate consisting of her, TOM, and ADAM. Can walk the Etheric (see locations). Has the ability to manipulate Etheric energy to her will. Will stamp out injustice without mercy wherever she finds it.
Ex-Empress of the Etheric Empire, BA took voluntary exile to bring in the Federation and now fights to protect it from the Kurtherians. As her alter ego she controls a growing buffer around the Federation border.
Currently based out of the QBS Izanami on Devon, fighting a war against the Ooken—who are connected to the Kurtherians.
Wife to Michael, mother to Alexis and Gabriel.
Baba Yaga
Bethany Anne’s alter ego. Aka “The Witch.”
Originally formed during a time of difficulty, Baba Yaga has become the face BA uses in public to sidestep her little exile issue. This way, BA has been able to extend a level of protection to the Federation without them knowing.
TOM – “Thales of Miletus”
Kurtherian, hosted within Bethany Anne’s body. Enhanced Michael in an attempt to warn humanity of the coming invasion and got it wrong, inadvertently creating the vampire myth on Earth. A thousand years later he got a second chance and got it SO right.
ADAM
AI, hosted within Bethany Anne’s body (see AI’s and EI’s)
Michael Nacht
Ancient, super-enhanced human.
Formerly known as the Patriarch, Michael was the first “vampire.” He has ever-increasing skill with the Etheric and a short temper. Ruled the UnknownWorld on Earth for over a thousand years before choosing Bethany Anne to replace him.
Currently based out of the QBS Izanami on Devon.
Husband to Bethany Anne, father to Alexis and Gabriel.
Alexis Nacht
Super-enhanced human, Bethany Anne and Michael’s daughter. Twin of Gabriel. Highly trained from a young age in martial arts and close combat, weapons.
Has an affinity for technology, and a habit of hacking to get answers. Has shown telepathic ability, and has growing control of the Etheric. Outgoing, loves fashion.
Gabriel Nacht
Super-enhanced human, Bethany Anne and Michael’s son. Twin of Alexis. Highly trained from a young age in martial arts and close combat, weapons.
Has specialized in “spy skills,” as well as engineering, history, and languages. Appears introverted, collects blades.
John Grimes
Enhanced human. Queen’s Bitch—Bethany Anne’s Wherever Bethany Anne goes, so does John.
Currently based on the QBBS Guardian (see ships and stations).
Husband to Jean, father to Lillian, grandfather to Nickie.
Scott English
Enhanced human. Queen’s Bitch—Bethany Anne’s personal bodyguard, and close friend.
Currently based on the QBBS Guardian (see ships and stations).
Husband to Cheryl-Lynn (cousin of John Grimes).
Darryl Jackson
Enhanced human. Queen’s Bitch—Bethany Anne’s personal bodyguard, and close friend.
Currently based on the QBBS Guardian (see ships and stations).
Eric Escobar
Enhanced human. Queen’s Bitch—Bethany Anne’s personal bodyguard, and close friend.
Currently based on Devon with Gabrielle.
Husband to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle Escobar
Super-enhanced human, daughter of Stephen. Head of the Queen’s Bitches—one of Bethany Anne’s closest friends.
Currently based on Devon with Eric.
Wife to Eric.
Tabitha Nacht
Super-enhanced human, hacker extraordinaire. A sister of the heart to BA. Held the rank of Ranger 2 during the Age of Empire, she chose exile with Bethany Anne when the Federation was formed.
Currently located on Devon with her partner, Peter, and their son, Todd Michael.
Peter Silvers
Super-enhanced human, has Were form called ‘Pricolici.’
The first Guardian. Held the rank of Guardian Commander during the Age of Empire, he had reason to remain in the Federation but chose to leave and settle down with Tabitha after the death of his best friend.
Currently located on Devon with Tabitha, holds an advisory position in the Guardians while on paternity leave.
Todd Michael Nacht-Silvers
Super-enhanced human, abilities un
known as yet. Son of Tabitha and Peter. Tiny terror.
Akio
Super enhanced human. Head of the former Elite guard. Queen’s Bitch. Remained behind to protect Earth, returned to BA after the Second Dark Age.
Michael’s closest friend, mentor/father figure to Sabine.
Currently located on High Tortuga.
Hirotoshi
Super enhanced human, former Elite guard, Queen’s Bitch.
Friend, mentor and guard to Tabitha.
Currently located on Devon.
Ryu
Super enhanced human. Former Elite guard.
Friend and guard to Tabitha.
Currently located on Devon.
Jean Grimes (née Dukes)
Super-enhanced human. Inventor of the infamous Jean Dukes Special. Weapons R&D genius, legendary across galaxies for her weaponry.
Currently located at QT2, working to expand the fleet.
Wife of John, mother of Lillian, grandmother of Nickie.
Bartholomew Thomas
Admiral of Bethany Anne’s fleet. Based at QT2, travels aboard the QBS ArchAngel II. Permanently mildly annoyed.
Husband of Giselle, father of three infants.
Barnabas Nacht
Super-enhanced human. One of seven firstborn “children” of Michael, former monk.
Currently located on High Tortuga, where BA has made him Steward of the planet in her absence.
Lance Reynolds
Enhanced human, aka “the General.” Bethany Anne’s father.
Remained to chair the Federation when Bethany Anne went into exile.
Currently located on the QBBS Meredith Reynolds, stationed at Yoll.
Husband to Patricia, father also to Kevin.
Kael-ven
Enhanced Yollin, captain of the QBS G’laxix Sphaea. Potentate of Yoll during the Age of Empire, he divorced his awful wife and rejoined Bethany Anne when she took exile.
Currently stationed at Location Three (see locations)
Kiel
Enhanced Yollin.
Former mercenary, Marine during the Age of Empire. Weapons officer aboard the QBS G’laxix Sphaea.
Currently located at Location Three.
K’aia
Enhanced Yollin, four-legged. Former mine slave on Devon, rescued herself and met Bethany Anne and Michael who helped her free the other slaves. Followed BA to High Tortuga, was given the role of Alexis and Gabriel’s personal guard.
Current location, Devon.
Eve
(see AIs and EIs)
Addix
Enhanced Ixtali, Bethany Anne’s Spymistress. Sometime guardian and governess to Alexis and Gabriel, has returned to spying now the twins are teenagers.
Currently located around Devon.
Nickie Grimes
Naturally enhanced human. Birth name, Meredith Nicole, aka Merry. Daughter of Lillian, granddaughter of John and Jean. Sent on a sabbatical by BA in her late teens as a consequence of her poor choices—which can be read about in the Deuces Wild series. Is returning a (mostly) changed woman.
Currently working out of High Tortuga, where she and her crew are acting as vigilantes under the guidance of Barnabas.
Sabine
Enhanced human, rescued on Earth by Michael, Jacqueline, and Akio during the Second Dark Age. Crack shot, excellent fighter. “Adopted daughter” of Akio.
Currently located on Devon, co-owner of The Hexagon (see locations).
In a relationship with Tim Kinley.
Jacqueline
Enhanced human, Were with Pricolici form. Daughter of North American pack leader, Gerry. Rescued by Michael during the Second Dark Ages.
Currently located on Devon, co-owner of The Hexagon. Excellent fighter, skills with managing the media.
In a long-term relationship with Mark.
Mark
Enhanced human. Rescued by Michael and Jacqueline in NYC during the Second Dark Ages.
Currently located on Devon, co-owner of The Hexagon. Skills in technology and invention.
In a long-term relationship with Jacqueline.
Ricole
Enhanced Noel-ni, originally from High Tortuga. Would choose knowledge over profit, and a fight over all else.
Currently located on Devon, co-owner of The Hexagon. Excellent fighter, even better at business. Runs a team of young adult apprentices who work around The Hexagon.
Demon
Enhanced mountain lion. Rescued from an animal testing facility on Earth by Michael & co. during the Second Dark Age. Was treated in a Pod-doc to fix faulty nanocytes and have her claws regrown.
Currently located on Devon, co-owner of The Hexagon. Especially attached to Sabine.
Tim Kinley
Enhanced human, Were. Aka “Rocky,” aka “Mr. Meaty.”
One of the original Guardians, Tim joined BA as a young man looking for a better path. Spent time as a bouncer at All Guns Blazing (bar) during the Age of Empire.
Currently located at Devon, where he is the Commander of the QBBS Guardian.
In a relationship with Sabine.
Giselle Foxton-Thomas
Human. Civilian resources manager at QT2 (see locations).
Originally from the colonies, daughter of Helena. Has a sunny disposition, is relentlessly efficient.
Wife to Admiral Thomas, mother to their three children.
Good friends with Jean and Qui’nan.
Lady Helena Foxton
Human, indeterminate age. Mother of Giselle, grandmother to Giselle and the Admiral’s children, generally harmless pain in the ass.
Qui’nan
Yollin, four-legged. Architect, engineer, grumbler.
Currently based at QT2, responsible for ship design as part of Jean’s R&D team.
Good friends with Jean and Giselle.
Mahi’Takar
Baka. Nominal leader of the Bakas on Devon.
Takar’Tu’Reigd
Baka. Son of Mahi’Takar.
Da’Mahin
Baka, one of several younger brothers of Mahi’Takar.
Ch’Irzt, Em’Eir, Em’Ain, Kn’Ille
Bakas, niece and nephews of Mahi’Takar.
Meon
Moen leader.
Other Species
The Collective
Co-dependent, water-dwelling species enslaved by the Ooken. Peaceful, enormous telepathic ability. They get their name from their group consciousness, their true name is as yet unknown.
Bethany Anne came across one of the Collective, known as “the Prisoner” in an Ooken outpost.
Bethany Anne granted the being’s dying wish, but not before learning where the Ooken were hiding via the Collective’s shared memories.
The Ooken
Invasive species with connections to the Kurtherians.
Attacked at QT2, then Devon.
Not much is known about where they come from, or their connection to the Kurtherians. They share the same type of group telepathy as the Collective.
Behave like mindless killers, have committed genocide on a nameless number of planets and stolen the technology.
Have been pushing to get closer to the Federation, only Bethany Anne and her people stand in the way.
Kurtherians
Powerful alien species divided. Seven clans are bent on dominating others, five clans are peaceful and chose to eradicate the capability for violence from their genome. Both sides strive to reach a higher consciousness—known as Ascension.
Bethany Anne has sworn to eradicate the Seven in order to protect Earth, and has been either hunting or fighting their puppets for over two centuries. Seven is no longer an accurate name, since BA wiped out all but a couple of the Phraim-‘Eh clan.
AIs and EIs
ADAM
AI, resides in an organic computer within Bethany Anne’s body.
Bethany Anne’s close friend and advisor. All BA’s AIs and EIs come from ADAM.
ArchAngel, AI
This is the second iteration of
ArchAngel as an AI. She serves aboard the QBS ArchAngel II and travels with the Admiral between locations.
Eve
AI, date of ascension unknown. Resides in a short android body. Remained to protect Earth with Akio and Yuko when Bethany Anne left for space, and rejoined BA at the end of the Second Dark Age.
Currently located at High Tortuga.
ArchAngel, EI
This is an EI copy of the original ArchAngel. She serves aboard the QBS G’laxix Sphaea.
Currently located at Location Three.
CEREBRO
EI group/s, consisting of digital entities left without a purpose after the Empire became the Federation. Began as the EIs for the base at High Tortuga and have expanded into the battlestations at Devon, QT2, and Location Three.
Winstanley
Building EI for The Hexagon.
Locations
The Etheric
Unknown location, possibly outside of our universe. Source of limitless energy for those who can access it.