Alpha One - Chris Burton [147]
“Such naiveté. Your inability to comprehend the realities of life and death beyond the actual and physical is and will be your peoples’ downfall. This is the reality. I have foreseen my death and it cannot be changed. It cannot be ignored. I have done my bidding and I am ready for my life to end. You will take my life.”
Jake decided to ignore Winterburn. Clearly he could not exercise any control over him and he was playing games to try to get Jake to slip up. Jake decided to take the initiative.
“I am going to take control of the ship, Winterburn. You are my prisoner.”
Jake didn’t realize but that was the moment that Winterburn waited for. Jake’s words were the switch in Winterburn’s head that told him that his life was about to end.
Winterburn lunged forward and grabbed Jake by the neck. Jake fell to the ground with Winterburn on top of him, strangling him. He must do something. He managed to free his left arm and reached into the inside right hand pocket of his tunic and pulled out his hunter’s knife. Winterburn was squeezing hard. Jake tried to respond. He pulled the knife up and then down straight into Winterburn’s neck, severing the jugular and killing Winterburn instantly.
* * * *
The Sabre was in a bad way. The Eagle continued to pummel the jump ship. The shields were down and the cockpit had all but disintegrated. The drive systems were smashed and the right wing was ripped off. Obeya had seen quickly that the jump ship would not hold. Shortly after Jake entered the Eagle, she suited up and exited the jump ship armed with a hypercannon. Obeya entered the Eagle and headed straight for the cockpit. The two Kryl inside assumed the jump ship pilot was still onboard and that she was probably dead. This was to be their down fall: Obeya slipped in behind the first of the Kryl and slit his neck with her hunter’s knife. The second Kryl saw her instantly and tried to enter her mind. Obeya recoiled. She felt the penetration of the Kryl into her mind but she held back the pain, her Barcudian side was stronger than her human side. The Kryl could not assume control and could not neutralize her electrical brain stimuli. Obeya realized that she was in control and lifted her hypercannon and squeezed the trigger. The second Kryl died instantly. There were no Kryl alive aboard the Eagle.
She staggered to her feet and composed herself. She must take control of the Eagle. She quickly re-programmed the NAVCOM and the shuttle began to arc and turn back towards the Halo 7. It would be a long haul back, but they were on their way.
* * * *
Jake sat on the floor, with Winterburn’s body in his lap. He pushed the body to one side and stood up and brushed himself down. Winterburn’s death throws was dramatic and there was a huge amount of blood. This was the third time Jake witnessed death in as many days. He realized that the ship was banking and coming back on herself. Had Obeya taken control of the ship? The answer was immediate as Obeya entered the rear compartment accompanied by Carla and Joely. Jake lunged forward and grabbed Carla and Joely and hugged them both closely.
“My, you have been busy.” Obeya said.
“So, it would seem, have you,” replied Jake.
“The other Kryl?”
“All dead, and we are returning to the Halo 7. Without light speed it may be a long way back, especially if we have to catch her before she goes through the fissure.”
“Do you think Hoskins will leave without us?”
“I don’t know. At the end of the day, he needs to preserve the lives of all of his crew and not just us. I guess a lot depends on whether they have defeated the Kryl attack yet.”
“Let’s hope so,” said Jake. He pulled Carla closer and they kissed passionately.
He was not going to let her go again.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Halo 7 Victory
Jonathan Hoskins was worried. Obeya had been gone far too long, and she was not answering her comm link. He regretted sending her with Carter the moment they had left the ship, not least because