Finish What You Started Read online

  The Kurtherians developed technology that enabled them to access the energy—known as nanocytes. The Seven used nanocytes to dominate every species they came across for millennia, while some among the Five used them to “prepare” other species for the fight.

  TOM changed everything when he came to prepare Earth and gave humanity the technology.

  Devon

  Originally a mercenary hideout until Baba Yaga took over and renamed the planet Devon as part of the plan to divert attention from High Tortuga.

  The planet is protected by its end of the Interdiction—a three-layer security system comprised of a long-range early-warning system, the BYPS network around the planet, and the QBBS Guardian.

  The planet below consists of two major cities, and one smaller city around the lake system.

  First City is the location of The Hexagon, the bazaar, and various communities of settlers.

  Current location of Bethany Anne in response to the Ooken attack in the previous book.

  High Tortuga

  The planet Bethany Anne prepared for her exile. A safe haven, highly defended and hidden from knowledge.

  BA has a base on the northern continent, where the planet is populated. The southern continent is wild land.

  Bethany Anne has now left High Tortuga in Barnabas’ hands while she fights from Devon.

  QT2 System

  Site of the original Ooken incursion. Bethany Anne built wide-ranging defenses similar to those at High Tortuga and Devon. In addition to the battlestation QBBS Helena is the shipyard, where the fleet expansion is being managed from.

  The Federation

  Coalition of planetary governments born after the Empress of the Etheric Empire stepped down. Governed by the leaders of the people from both the former empire and other peoples (such as the Leath), it is headed by General Lance Reynolds.

  It was facilitated by Bethany Anne before she left and went into exile.

  The Federation is still young, and the leaders fear BA’s return as she is a powerful person who would upset the balance of power between the members of the Federation. The revelation that BA is right on their doorstep would end with the various governments withdrawing from their agreement to work together for the good of all.

  Moen

  Planet occupied by the Ooken. Bethany Anne has been attempting to free the planet.

  Ships

  Transport class:

  QTS Lucky Run

  QTS Shanks’ Express

  QTS Polaris

  Shinigami-class:

  QBS Izanami

  QBS Sayomi

  QBS Defiant

  QBS Cambridge

  QBS Revolution

  QBS Shufur

  Sphaea-class:

  QBS ArchAngel II

  QBS G’laxix Sphaea

  QBS Widow’s Tears

  Battlestations:

  QBBS Guardian

  QBBS Helena

  QBBS L3

  Superdreadnoughts:

  SD Ballista

  SD Astraea

  SD Adrastea

  Prologue

  The Etheric

  Bethany Anne held the mercurial storm energy tightly in her mental grip, her hands clenched into tight fists. The thrashing mists around her blazed red, lit by the fire bleeding from her eyes.

  SUBMIT.

  The force in Bethany Anne’s command manifested physically in an outward wave that left her body and rippled through the mists, solidifying each molecule as it was overlaid by her will.

  ADAM and TOM regarded Bethany Anne in their private space with something approaching awe.

  >>Should we say something?<< ADAM fretted. >>She’s been pushing this hard since she and Tabitha found the Ooken staging post. She has to take a break sometime, right? I’m concerned that her focus on following the Prisoner’s mental map is taking her attention away from everything else that’s been going on.<<<br />
  You’re not the only one concerned. TOM felt relief at getting the subject aired between them. Perhaps we can nudge her into taking a short break.

  >>Good luck getting Bethany Anne to do anything she hasn’t already got a mind to do,<< ADAM scoffed. >>She’s not going to step back until she gets the result she’s looking for. We’ll be doing this until we locate the Ooken homeworld.<<<br />
  She shouldn’t be able to do “this” in the first place, TOM contended, most of his attention on maintaining Bethany Anne’s body. The most adept Kurtherian wouldn’t so much as approach an Etheric storm, much less grab hold of one and use it to open a window looking out on wherever the hell they wanted. Why you shared your research on the storms with her I’ll never understand.

  >>Um, because she asked nicely? And by asked nicely I mean threatened to tear my chip out of her brain and crush it under her heel if I didn’t. It could be worse,<< ADAM muttered as the energy around Bethany Anne began to shift. >>She could have figured out how to tear an actual path through the storm. Then we’d both be monumentally screwed.<<<br />
  True. TOM snickered as a thought occurred to him. We should thank whoever will accept it for small mercies.

  ADAM chuckled dryly. >>You can pray for us both since you’re the religious one.<< ADAM tuned TOM out, preparing himself for whatever alien operating systems the Ooken had on the other side of the storm.

  The energy quieted a touch as Bethany Anne exerted her complete control one droplet of vapor at a time. She felt the strain bending so much Etheric energy to her purpose was taking on her body, but a nosebleed or two had never stopped her before. She increased her grip until the energy was leashed at her command into total obedience.

  The energy almost frozen, she felt along the paths she’d learned from the Prisoner, searching for the mental signature of the Ooken hive mind. I’ve got one. She flexed her will and opened a window onto the location. ADAM, she ground out with effort, are you in?

  >>Almost,<< ADAM grumbled, feeling a little bit of the strain himself. >> You know, you could say “wow,” or something, BA. I’m hacking reality itself, and you’re not even impressed.<<<br />
  Bethany Anne wiped the twin rivulets of blood from her nose. Sure, it’s a challenge. Do you want a gold star? I wouldn’t allow you to even try if I didn’t have faith in your ability. You wanted to play with the Etheric? Well, suck it up. This is how the grown-ups play. Now, readings, before I start having brain hemorrhages from holding this much volatile energy.

  TOM cleared a throat he didn’t possess. Actually, Bethany Anne, you have already had several minor bleeds. I’m directing everything I can toward keeping your brain intact.

  Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. I should hope so, since all three of us kind of need it to be functioning if we want to survive this. How long before it gets dangerous?

  TOM paused for a moment while he did the calculations. I estimate another thirty seconds, twenty to be on the safe side. That’s a marked improvement on your last effort.

  >>Close the window,<< ADAM announced. The strain in his voice had dropped off considerably. >>I have the readings.<<<br />
  Bethany Anne gradually released her hold and the Etheric energy dissipated, spent. Well? Was it what we wanted to find?

  >>Give me… Dammit. I’m going to say we missed again. It’s definitely an Ooken location, but it’s not a planet. It’s closest to Admiral Thomas’ location.<<<br />
  Bethany Anne's jaw twitched. Fucksticks. I need to refine this. Stabbing in the dark is too fucking inefficient.

  ADAM stayed silent.

  It’s still a sizeable colony, TOM demurred, feeling the need to divert Bethany Anne before their fears became a reality. And it’s not so close. It’s out of immediate reach, so that’s progress again. You’ll find it.

  I don’t give a shiny shit. It’s not the homeworld. Bethany Anne released a breath slowly, forcing the frustration down. Never mind. We can still send them a nice-to-meet-you gift.

  She received confirmation from Michael that Bart’s section of the fleet was underway to the coordinates. She breathed slowly again
to center herself, gathering her strength once more before moving on. Next storm. Next target.

  >>Really?<<<br />
  Yes, ADAM. Really. I want this done. We have the capability to hit another target, and I sense my next storm. Bethany Anne grasped the temperamental energy. Get ready.

  The storm bucked and twisted to escape her hold, but she was stronger than some upstart energy ball with delusions of sentience. Bethany Anne raised her hands as the energy whipped her hair around her body.

  It was more about intent than anything else, and she intended to own it.

  Submit or be crushed.

  The Etheric fought capture like an unbroken colt—if a young horse were capable of reducing the person breaking it down to their constituent atoms, then scattering those atoms to every corner of time and space if they lost control for the merest fraction of a second.

  Bethany Anne had heard all the old vampire myths back on Earth. Shit, she’d been the one to debunk most of them. Somehow, she thought, being scattered that far and wide might be beyond even her ability to heal from.

  Best not to risk it.

  She clamped down hard with her will, exerting her absolute assurance over the storm that its power was hers to use as she saw fit.

  It belonged to her.

  It wanted to serve her purpose.

  Bethany Anne opened her window as the vortex calmed at her touch, unable to resist. That’s more like it. Good storm. ADAM, you’re up.

  >>Already in,<< he told her smugly. >>We have a colony. Mid-level tech, nothing unexpected. The architecture is less than a century old.<<<br />
  Time to send in the Bitches, Bethany Anne decided. She reached out to Michael to pass on the instruction, finding the connection weak. TOM, do something about my link to Michael. I can barely hear him.

  Oh? There was a pause. I’m doing what I can to make up for you two being on different planes. Try now.

  She did, finding her mental connection to her beloved restored. Michael’s voice caressed her mind, calming her as it always did, even in such extenuating circumstances.

  Do we have Gate coordinates for our next target?

  We do, she replied, sending them over. How many is that now? I’ve lost count.

  Today? Seven. Over the last few months? One hundred twenty-nine. Michael’s voice was low and laced with anger. The bastards keep popping up as quickly as we can exterminate them.

  Bethany Anne's lip curled. I know. They’re like fucking roaches. Worse, since every nest we find leads to a fucktuple more. If it wasn’t for the help we got from the Prisoner…well, shit. I don't even want to think about how this war would be going.

  We owe that poor soul a great debt, Michael agreed. Without the mental map it gave you, the Ooken would have all the resources we have deprived them of to bring against us. We might have been left with more than hurt feelings.

  Feelings? We’re way beyond emotions. This is duty, plain and simple. The Kurtherians have unleashed a plague, and I am the scourge that makes them fear in the night. Bethany Anne touched her fingers to her nose, feeling the blood well again. I have to go. I’ll be home soon, so keep safe.

  You too, my love.

  1

  Devon, First City, The Hexagon, Network Command Center

  Tabitha's shoulders lost some of the tension she was carrying as she exited the elevator into the dim, screen-lit room. There was something about the familiarity of the setup that spoke to her deep inside her little hacker's heart.

  It felt homey to her.

  She pushed Mark’s wheeled chair out of the way with her foot, dragging the next one over to sit down and commandeer the keyboard as his chair kept moving. “What is so important that you had to call me down here? Don’t you know us moms have to sleep when we can?”

  Mark raised his hands in apology as his chair came to a stop in the middle of the floor. “I’m really sorry. I wouldn’t have called if I didn’t think you needed to be here.” He scooted his chair back over with his feet and reclaimed his keyboard. “I don't know what to do about this.”

  Tabitha glanced at the screens, her eyes flicking over the silent crowd gathered outside in Hexagon Plaza. Her half-asleep brain refused point-blank to provide a reasonable explanation as to why the people were there at this unholy hour. “What the hell do they want?”

  Mark dropped his hands. “Fuck if I know. Winstanley alerted me an hour ago. They just turned up, and they keep coming. They're not doing anything, just hanging around like they’re waiting for something.”

  Tabitha narrowed her eyes at the screens. “Yeah, well, I don’t like it.” She got to her feet and headed for the door. “I’m gonna go down and see what they want.” She caught sight of her reflection as she left the command center and sighed, running a hand through her hair to smooth some of the sleep from it. “Ugh. Six AM is so not my best time of day.”

  Tabitha made her way to the side entrance—the one the public didn’t know about—and listened to the murmurs of the gathered citizens. There was no malice coming from the crowd, just a determined resolution to find a way they could contribute to the defense of their homeworld.

  She slipped back in through the door and walked around to the main entrance. “Winstanley, let them in.”

  One of Ricole’s students was operating the front desk. She dropped her handset at Tabitha’s command and stared openmouthed as the building’s EI opened the great glass doors to admit the crowd. “Where did they come from?”

  Tabitha waved her off as she crossed the foyer. “It’s okay, Trixa.”

  They entered, slowly at first, but then with more confidence when Tabitha called them in. The girl behind the desk sat back in her chair, eyes wide and mouth open as she witnessed the goings on.

  Tabitha stepped forward to meet the people. “Hey, what can we do for you all?”

  The people turned at the sound of a voice. A few began to speak, followed by the rest.

  Tabitha raised her arms and waved for quiet. “Just one of you.” She pointed at the crowd. “What’s going on?”

  A group of four Bakas stepped forward. The shortest, a slightly less shaggy individual dressed in an odd combination of orange monk’s robes and crisscrossed leather utility belts spoke up. “We want to fight. We were told by the human Hirotoshi that we would be welcome here. That you would train us.”

  Tabitha was too distracted by the enormous toenails on the hairy feet protruding from the bottom of the Baka's robe to be angry. Still… Damn you, Hirotoshi. If I’ve got to be awake, so do you. You're not getting away with this.

  Hirotoshi’s chuckle echoed darkly through her mind. But, my Lady Kemosabe, you were just recently saying how bored you were. Are you going to turn these potential allies away?

  Tabitha growled over their link. That was before this war broke out. I won't turn them away, but I hope you're ready to reprise your mentor role. If I'm teaching, so are you and Ryu.

  As you wish, came the reply from her other loyal Tonto.

  Tabitha flashed Ryu the mental image of her giving him the finger. Screw you, Ryu. Screw you.

  Hirotoshi chuckled. Tread carefully, my friend. If our lady is reduced to words that rhyme, you may be digging yourself in deeper than you planned.

  Listen to Hirotoshi, Ryu. Quit while I’m telling you that you can’t get ahead—and don’t think you’ve gotten away with it, either, Tabitha told Hirotoshi. She promised herself that she would pay them both back, right before she erased every copy of that damned movie from the record. She gave the gathered citizens her brightest smile and opened her mouth to speak.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t have a word to say.

  For once.

  Her hesitation caused a ripple of unease in the crowd.

  The Baka spoke again. “We don’t want any trouble,” he told her quietly, glancing at his three companions. “We’ll leave if we’re not welcome here.”

  Tabitha tried to speak. How did Bethany Anne do this on the fly all the time? “Of course you’re welcome h
ere,” she finally pushed out.

  The people looked at each other, murmuring among themselves. Tabitha felt a wave of pride that they’d all turned out in support, but she needed the crowd to disperse for now. What would Bethany Anne do?

  Although… Bethany Anne wasn't the owner of this planet.

  Tabitha’s mouth twitched as inspiration came to her. “It makes me feel very good to see the people of Devon come together when we’re threatened. This city has become a safer place to live thanks to good people like you. People I'm proud to call neighbors. I’m glad this is the place I’m raising my son.” She swept her arms out over the crowd. “I just don't know what to do with, well, all of you. I have to speak to Baba Yaga.”

  There were a few gasps. “You know Baba Yaga?” one of the young Bakas asked.

  Tabitha flashed a crooked grin. “Oh, yeah. Me and Baba Yaga, we go way back.” That did the job. She waved a hand at the front desk, satisfied with the results. “Everyone who is really serious about training can leave their contact details with Trixa, and I’ll get back to you once Baba Yaga gives me her orders.”

  The crowd moved over to the desk, making Trixa’s morning a lot more interesting than the young Noel-ni had been expecting.

  Tabitha headed back inside the main building with revenge on her mind. She took the private elevator up to the penthouse apartment, where the offending Tontos were hanging out with Peter in the kitchen, waiting for the coffee maker to deliver the liquid gold.

  Ryu held his hands up, looking at the others for help as Tabitha stalked toward them.

  “I'll deal with you later,” she told Ryu. She lifted an accusatory finger in Hirotoshi's direction. “You, on the other hand, are dead meat, Mister.”

  Hirotoshi turned an accusatory finger on Peter. “You told me she wanted to get into teaching.”

  His accusation only changed the course of Hurricane Tabitha by a few degrees.