An Incubus Life - 178 -

Chapter 178

(Refer to Chapter 131 for a recap)

This felt a little awkward. “After you disappeared, we met at the high school.”

Her eyes narrowed, “You look to be in your thirties? Are you one of her teachers?” It was not a question but more of a mother’s accusation.

Oh, shit. I rolled back my age to my high school age. My power armor got loose on my body, and numerous yellow caution lights flashed in my HUD that only I could see. Maybe I needed a third suit of power armor. “My name is Caleb Silversmith. Iris and I have become friends. She came with me to Mercanious but went back to Earth before we moved up to the 22nd layer.”

She was focused on helping her husband, “Can someone please take this off?” She asked politely of the shackles.

Admiral Eshanya approached Eloise, “No. Your husband’s injuries will be treated. You will need to be examined by the Medicus Magicae before your shackles will be released.”  A Marine moved in and quickly treated the injury, exposing it and spraying foam onto the bleeding wound. The foam formed a thin layer caked onto the skin.

Mrs. Cartwright was still not happy. “You don’t believe who we are, and I don’t believe who you are. What if we don’t want to go with you?”

“Eloise, be reasonable. Do you really want to stay in this transit city?” An old man walked down the shuttle ramp. He was all smiles as he approached our group.

“Rincewind? Is that really you? What are you doing here?” Mr. Cartwright asked while wincing as he tried to move.

“Yes, it’s me. I let you use my research on the displacement of portals over time. I allowed you to use it in your publications without receiving any credit.” The old man stated with a smile. He was giving them a piece of information that proved he was who he said he was. This older body of Rincewind was closer to how he looked when I met him in New York, and I guessed this was how he liked to appear on Earth.

William Cartwright was stunned but had enough mind to ask, “How is Iris?”

Rincewind looked at me to answer. I replied to the Cartwrights as I reverted to my adult Caleb body. “She is an amazing young woman. She ran into a wall with the Magus Arcanum in her search for you. We have been looking for clues about your whereabouts for months. She never gave up.”

He nodded, “She was always very focused. We should have spent more time with her, but she couldn’t participate in our work, and traveling the transits was too dangerous for her.” I thought it best not to tell them I had taken Iris into the transits. I would let Iris tell that story. I had already told her I had taken Iris to another planet—guessing that was just as bad.

I checked both their aether cores. William Cartwright was 1.04, while Eloise Cartwright was 1.02. Both were weak lower-tier two cores but powerful mages on Earth.

Eshanya had let this play out but was now ready to leave. With impatience in her voice, “Apollyon, I have completed my side of the bargain. I prefer not to linger in the city. We surprised them, and although there are no threats on the radar, transits always tend to become volatile.”

Rincewind urged the two, “Bill and Eloise, we can discuss this on the Eladrin ship.”

Eloise was surprised, “These are Eladrin? On this layer? Is this because of the transit instability? Do they have aetheric sensors with a one-micro unit sensitivity? I would like to get some readings before we leave this thread. The things we were consulted on…”

Even though Mr. Cartwright was injured, he seriously considered his wife’s questions. “Get on the shuttle! You are going back to Earth!” I yelled at the two. I think I was more angry at their passing concern for Iris. The Marines took my command and hauled the two transit scientists into the shuttle.

Bedelia looked like she wanted to introduce herself, but I just shook my head no. This was not the time, and I wanted to get them back to Earth as soon as possible. I still had to break the news to Bedelia that I was not returning. The shuttles lifted off a short time later, and we utilized a different transit portal to return to Planeisa.

We emerged much further away than planned. Eshanya was already on comms, and everything seemed relatively quiet in orbit and on the planet. The shuttles docked in the hangar bay, and our pilot showed some restraint. Mr. Cartwright was escorted to medical, and Mrs. Cartwright joined us in our accommodations.

The whole rescue was anticlimactic with the overwhelming force Eshanya brought to the table. Also, the angelic Deva not being present made it extremely easy.

Sharn was the most disappointed as she didn’t have a chance to do anything. I thought it would be a heroic rescue, and we would have a fighting retreat all the way to Mercanious. Rincewind and Eloise were already talking, and she was very animated. Kristiel was being transported back to her cell until we departed for Mercanious. I was surprised that Eloise was comfortable around the orcs. 

Captain Aida informed me, “About seventy hours, and the shuttle will be refueled with aether to take your companions to Mercanious. You will need to talk with Eshanya about the angelic Sofiel.”

“Thank you, Aida. Their rescue takes a huge burden off of me. Is there any chance you want to join us on Earth?” I asked hopefully.

The Captain snickered, “Live on the twenty-third layer? No. But if you ever want to live on the seventeenth, send me a message.”

We were left in the room, and I left the explaining for Rincewind and Bedelia. I entered my room to relax, and Aurora followed in. She locked the door behind her. “Do you have some time for me?” I fell on the bed, and Aurora sat on it.

“Anything you need. Just ask,” I told her. I was feeling good about myself but much more tired than I should be.

“You are not coming back to Earth with us, are you?” Aurora said, and I looked at her questionly. “Bedelia already puzzled it out. You are here for Andromeda, not the Cartwrights.”

“Is she planning to try and stay with me?” I asked quietly.

“We both are,” she said, irritated.

“It is just too dangerous, and this could take years,” I started, and she cocked an eyebrow. I tried a different approach, “The orcs and Brin will need help acclimating to Earth.”

“You already have a number of people to do that. Just accept the help, Caleb. Speaking of help, I have an itch I need scratching.” She stood, keyed the door lock, and was out of her mat black combat armor in seconds. I didn’t resist and got my armor off as well, and we playfully wrestled naked on the small bed.

Aurora cheated with her aetheric chains, but this was the first time I got to show her my new strength. Her chains, even her layered chains, couldn’t hold me.

Hours later, I was called to meet with Eshanya at the bridge. No one was in the common room, but Captian Aida said Mr. Cartwright had returned to the room after being treated and had fully recovered. Admiral Eshanya was in her office where we had first met. She was processing information from dozens of screens.

She looked up, “We captured a fair amount of data in the palace. The angelics still have their fleet that ambushed us when we exited the transit. I think they are accelerating their operations and trying to get a cascade to collapse the transit. But I also found a reference to Deserae and her battleship, the Eternity.”

“Deserae?” I questioned the name.

“Andromeda’s core fleet was made up of three battleships. She captained the Remembrance. Deserae captioned the Eternity, and I was given the Shadow Fall. Deserae’s ship was damaged on an early transition and was not with us when we were ambushed.” She paused, seeing my confusion. “It is very dangerous to transition such large ships in transit portals. In the records we got from the palace, we found large amounts of raw materials being sent to a ship designated as the Eternity.”

“So they also captured Deserae and the battleship,” I groaned, trying not to think of the difficulty of going against a ship just as powerful as the Shadow Fall.

“On a quick look, yes. But no. Deserae is still in command, and the angelics are sending her material for repairs.” There was a silence between us before she continued, “I believe Deserae betrayed Andromeda and alerted the angelics of our arrival.”

My mind raced to the one conclusion that made sense. “Deserae wanted to be free of Andromeda’s control.” It also freed me. But I was confused, “So she is working with the angelics? I thought angelics and demons were mortal enemies.”

Eshanya laughed, “Enemies, yes. But we do work together on occasion. But if this is true, the betrayal is beyond measure.” Her face got hard, all levity gone.

“What about Andromeda?” I asked.

“We didn’t find anything in the records. But we did find they were dismantling a damaged battleship for parts, which I assume is the Remembrance based on the scale of the operation.” Eshanya stood and walked around her desk to sit on it and face me, her legs splayed suggestively. “If Deserae had planned this all, then there is a chance she would have Andromeda prisoner on her ship. I just can’t see the angelics keeping her alive, so I guess Deserae has her.”

I had so much to consider, and it felt overwhelming at the moment. There was so much going on in my head. Getting everyone back to Earth. This transit being disrupted to be cut off from the Source, And now this news about Andromeda and her other uplifted demons.

I whispered, “They always betray you in the end.” Eshanya arched her eyebrow. I explained, “It was something Andromeda warned me about. She told me to never trust anyone. They would betray me given enough time. Seems prophetic if what you are telling me is true. So what are we going to do?”

“You, incubus, should return to Earth and play in your sandbox. I know how to find the Eternity, and I will deal with my blood sister. If Andromeda is not with her, I will keep searching.” Eshanya stated cooly.

Damn, Carrie. Once again, I was at a crossroads and did not know what to do. I asked Eshanya, “If you rescue Andromeda, will you bind your fate to her again?” On impulse, I added, “How much did she tax the life essence you harvested?”

Eshanya laughed musically, “I will not be bound again, and I called it tribute, not a tax. Immortality and power came with a price. When she first embraced me, I gave her seven parts in ten. After a century, I gained her favor, and it changed to five parts in ten.” I nodded, thinking I had not gotten a bad deal.

“Thank you,” I said, standing. I will make a decision once we get to Mercanious. I was still trying to gauge if I should try to barter for Sofiel’s life as well. I returned to the room to find both  Cartwirghts talking with Rincewind. I recognized a core reader on Eliose’s wrist, and she was in utter shock.

Bedelia explained, “She read the cores of your orc attendants, Aurora and me. The device didn’t work on Rincewind.”

Mrs. Cartwright turned the reader toward me, and I didn’t shy away; I let her use it. I didn’t have my core obfuscation device, so she got my reading. She dropped the reader on the floor and sat heavily down. “What are you all doing on the 22nd layer!”

I walked to Bedelia, “Does she know what I am?” Bedelia shook her head no very slightly. Well, at least not all of my secrets were revealed.

Mr Cartwirght seemed the more pragmatic one of the two. “Eloise, what does it matter? They recovered us, and we still have the data. They are not going to hurt us, and soon we will be back on Earth.”

I wanted answers, “So, How did you two end up halfway across the galaxy working for an angelic deva?”

Mr. Cartwright looked at his wife before answering, “It wasn’t by choice. The Circle sent us. Estrade, the most powerful member of the Circle, wanted us to review data from their operations along the transit thread.” I recalled the Circle was eight powerful mages that ran the Magus Arcanum on Earth.

“And?” I encouraged him to continue.

“Estrade brought us to an angelic spaceship on the twenty-first layer. A few months later, we were locked in a lab and fed mountains of data.” He replied.

“Did you not try to escape or question what was going on?” Sharn asked in a harsh voice.

Eloise flushed, “Well, the data was fascinating, and it disproved some theories and opened up other possible…”

“Eloise, he isn’t interested in the data or our research. Do you wish to be called Caleb or Apollyon?” Mr. Cartwright asked.

“Caleb, please.” I looked at the orcs as a warning for them not to call me Demon Lord in front of Iris’s parents.

Mrs. Cartwright interrupted, “Would it be possible for you to get us some of the Eladrin scanners and sensors? They are just so much better than what we have.”

“I will ask,” I replied but didn’t plan to. I had thought about getting the Cartwrights’ power armor battle suits, but their disposition made me toss that idea. “So, what were they having you monitor? What was the point of kidnapping you?”

Rincewind answered for the two, “The Cartwrights were tasked with monitoring the data for when they collapsed the transit—from inside the transit.”

My mind processed that, “So, they were expendable?”

Mrs. Cartwright objected, “No, we were to exit the transit before it completely collapsed. Estrade promised the spaceship would return us to Earth after.”

It was obvious the Cartwrights were blinded in their pursuit of knowledge. I looked to Rincewind. “Can you explain it to me? Who is Estrade.”

Rincewind sighed, “Estrade is an angelic, much like Sofiel. A servant to those on the higher layers and not always informed of the truth. I counted him a friend, but he never told me about using the Cartwrights.”

“Would they have been able to escape the collapse of the thread?” I asked, thinking the answer would be a resounding no and maybe give some clarity to the pair.

Rincewind stopped them from answering with a silence spell, “Yes. Most likely, they would have escaped the complete collapse, but the instability in the portals would have put the location of their exit in question. They would have ended up in deep space or inside the crust of the planet, most likely.”

The candid answer from Rincewind did not seem to affect the two researchers. I wondered how Iris grew up with these two. “When is the transit going to be collapsed? You said they were somehow accelerating the process?”

Eloise could talk again, “It is all fascinating as the catalyzing needs to be done on many layers and in the transit.” I looked at her impatiently. “Less than three months. Earth months, that is. About ninety days.”

I was confused as what we saw on Mercanious indicated it was still a long way off. “Rincewind, did you tell them that everyone in the transit would be killed and all life on the planets cut off from the Source would eventually die out?”

“I hadn’t gotten to that part yet?” Rincewind, still appearing in his older body, replied.

Mr. Cartwright looked a little shocked, “How do you know that?”

I left the group to let Rincewind explain what he wanted to about his life. Hopefully, the Cartwrights would come around and see the folly. Bedelia followed me into the room.

She immediately went on the offensive. “Caleb, you are not sending me back to Earth!”

“You don’t have a choice, Bedelia. Whatever I decide will be. Even if I have to charm you to make you go.” I replied a little hotly and regretted it. She looked hurt, and I pulled her in a hug. “I haven’t decided yet. There are still too many moving parts, and I don’t have a complete picture.”

“You need me to watch your back,” she said softly. It was a whisper because the Eladrin Marines were obviously extremely powerful allies.

I tried to change the topic, “What do you think of the Cartwrights?”

“It is like meeting a movie star. You expect them to be a certain way, and you are thoroughly disappointed when they actually start talking.” She said into my chest.

I laughed, “And you have met a lot of movie stars?”

“Most of them have magic or are demis, Caleb. Didn’t you know that?” Bedelia said, looking up into my eyes.

“No, I didn’t. How about we not worry about it and use the next three days to get you a few core enhancement sessions?” I reached under her shirt to remove it, and she put her arms up to help. Our lips met, and I trapped her arms in her shirt and pushed her onto the bed.

One of the shuttles was ready with Captain Aida’s squad and my companions three days later. The Cartwrights were much more sober about what they had been researching. I guessed the thought of killing billions of people had affected their blind pursuit of science.

Rincewind sat next to his daughter, who still looked furious, but she could also sense that her freedom was close at hand. She kept eyeing me, and if I ever met her without her restraints, I was going to have to be on guard.

Brin was on the shuttle, checking crates of equipment over and over again. The Eladrin had given her everything she needed to service the suits on Earth. She had befriended the Eladrin mechanics, and I assumed she had a lot more technology in those crates than just the equipment needed to service the suits.

I had three of the Eladrin suits assimilated into my mind space. Captain Adia had gotten me the third suit for my high school Caleb body, and all I needed to do for it was remind her what good sex was like. I also think it was a parting gift on her part.

Sofiel was bound and secured in a seat next to Kristiel. I had convinced Eshanya I might need her help to open the portal to Earth from Mercanious.

I groaned as the pilot and co-pilot arrived. The stick jockey was the crazy Eladrin. He just smirked at seeing my discomfort. We were soon taking off and headed toward a transit portal. With this shuttle and Captain Adia’s Marines, I was confident that no matter what we encountered on Mercanious, I could get the Cartwirghts and my companions back to Earth.

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