Endless Advance: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Uprise Saga Book 2) Read online

  “Sir, it’s one thing to be born a certain way—or to make a conscious choice to be modified—but I didn’t sign up for this,” Ava’s pulse spiked. “I’ll make my own choice about what’s beneficial to me, thank you!”

  “Huh. Well that is fascinating,” Kurtz said while Doctor Dwyer’s jaw dropped.

  “My eyes have changed again, haven’t they?” Ava’s voice sounded wrong to her ears. In fact, all her senses were off. She suddenly had a more acute awareness of her surroundings—from the breathing of those on the other side of the glass, to the air scrubbers filtering the air within the chamber.

  Luke swallowed and took a step back. “It’s not just your eyes this time.”

  Fuck me. Ava looked down at her hands, which were now covered in coarse hair and ended in razor-sharp claws. When she let out a sigh, it came out as a growl. She felt numb, as if in shock. “I expected to feel it…”

  “And you can talk!” The doctor’s eyes widened.

  “You’re still…you?” Luke questioned.

  “Yep, can’t say I have murdery impulses. Well, no more than I would after Edwin has uploaded a new one of his videos,” Ava replied. Her voice still sounded strange.

  She turned from the window to see if there was a mirror somewhere in the chamber.

  At the back, she found a door into a compact washroom. Above the sink there was a mirror, but she didn’t recognize the face staring back at her.

  The coarse hair extended up her neck and covered most of her face. Her jaw had elongated into a short snout, and her teeth had reshaped into pointed fangs. The orange glow of her eyes was now overshadowed by a heavy brow, which curved into a menacing glower.

  Okay, so I can understand why they’d take a step back. Ava tapped one of her fangs with her claws. Holy fuck, I have fangs and claws!

  Despite her initial declaration that she had no interest in being modified, she did have to admit that it had some appeal. For the entire time she’d been with her all-Were team, they had been stronger and faster than her. They’d never admit it to her face, but she knew there were times when they wished they could race ahead and get the mission done in their own way. But with a regular human—and their commander, no less—they were limited in what they could do.

  If she had all their skills, and more, well… that would make her indispensable. Maybe this is a good thing—

  Her nerves ignited as though she were being incinerated. A raspy cry escaped her wolf-like lips as she collapsed to the ground in writhing agony.

  “Ava!” she heard someone shout in the distance.

  Shouts of protest followed, and then the hiss of a sealed door opening.

  Firm hands gripped her wrists, and another set cradled her face and stroked the top of her head.

  “Stay with me,” Luke murmured.

  She could tell it was his touch. Scared and confused, she willed herself to return to him—to return to herself.

  The pain receded, and her senses dimmed. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

  Luke was bent over her, supporting her head in his lap. Doctor Dwyer and Colonel Kurtz each held one of her wrists, which they released when they saw her open eyes.

  “What happened?” Ava murmured.

  “You transformed and everything seemed fine, then we heard you scream, and I came running in,” Luke explained.

  “Damn fool,” Kurtz muttered. “She’d have sliced you to ribbons with those claws while flailing about if we hadn’t run in after you.”

  “You’d just leave her writhing on the ground?” Luke shot back.

  “We need to run some tests,” Doctor Dwyer said as he rose to his feet. “It’s encouraging to see you remained lucid when you first transformed, but clearly something is amiss.”

  Ava sat up with Luke’s help. “You think?”

  She felt a draft at her back and reached around her side to feel the tattered remains of her shipsuit. As a precaution, she placed one arm firmly across the front of her torso while she stood up to prevent the garment from falling off completely.

  “I appreciate you coming in to check on me,” she said to Luke, “but I could have seriously injured you.”

  “I couldn’t just stand by and watch,” he replied.

  “Very touching, but we need to commence testing before you have another seizure, or whatever that was,” Doctor Dwyer interjected. “I know you won’t like this suggestion, but I feel it would be best if we restrain you on the bed. That way, we can work on you without risk of harm to us or yourself.”

  Ava nodded. “I’ll hate it when I’m like this, but you got lucky this last time. I saw those claws—those’ll do some damage.”

  “The bed restraints are designed for Weres, so they should hold,” the doctor said.

  “Better add stasis cuffs, too,” Ava countered. “We know those worked on the Hochste down on Coraxa. If I can do the same sort of phase shifting through the Etheric as them, conventional restraints might be useless.”

  “Good point,” Kurtz concurred.

  “I’ll lend any assistance I can with testing,” Luke offered the doctor. “I’m still not up to speed on the nanocyte side of things, but I can advise on the biological interactions.”

  Doctor Dwyer inclined his head. “I welcome any help. Hochste are new to me.”

  “This case is a priority” Colonel Kurtz stated.

  The doctor bristled. “I give the best possible care to all my patients, sir.”

  Ava stepped over to the bed and sat down, holding her shipsuit around herself.

  “I’ll get you a new uniform like the Weres use,” Kurtz told her and headed for the door.

  “Oh, thank you, sir.” Ava bit her lower lip. Shit, if the colonel is running errands for me, I really must be in bad shape.

  “I’ll grab the sampling kit,” Doctor Dwyer stated and exited with Kurtz.

  Luke took Ava’s hands when they were alone. “Are you feeling okay now?”

  “Yeah, I think so. This is all so… sudden.”

  He stroked the side of her face. “Just to be clear, I don’t regret coming here to the FDG, even if my girlfriend is now some sort of super-mutant.” He grinned.

  Ava punched him lightly in the arm.

  He laughed. “Were it anyone else, I’d be concerned. I don’t doubt it’ll be a challenging transition, but I think you’ll be just fine. And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  “You sure about that? You didn’t sign up for this.”

  “Positive.”

  Ava squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  The door hissed as Doctor Dwyer returned, testing kit and stasis cuffs in hand. “All right, Ava, let’s figure out what’s happening to you.” He held up a comically large syringe and a metal rod Ava really didn’t want to get to know on an intimate level.

  She gulped. “Yay.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Colonel Tyson Kurtz entered the supply room and located a rack of shipsuits. He normally would have ordered support staff to do it for him, but he was driven by an impulse to handle the matter himself—to find somewhere private.

  You care for your subordinates, I can tell, a voice said in Kurtz’s mind.

  Kurtz froze in the center of the enclosed room. The fuck…? Who—

  There, there, no reason to be frightened. You and I will be such good friends, the voice soothed.

  Kurtz wanted to run for help, but his limbs wouldn’t obey his commands. His heart pounded in his ears.

  You’ve been a good host, a voice replied in his mind, but it’s time for me to be in charge. I must make sure Ava matures into who we wish her to be.

  A memory roused deep within, striking Kurtz with a sharp pain.

  His pulse quickened as memories flooded back to him. None of it made any sense. He saw himself doing things he’d never dream of doing.

  What’s happening? He gripped his head. Who are you?

  I am one of many. We found Coraxa long ago, used it as a place to learn and grow. We
have since moved, but now the time has come to expand.

  I went to Coraxa for one mission and you hop aboard like I’m some type of transport? Kurtz breath was ragged. Get the fuck out!

  The voice chuckled. Oh, no. I’ve been here for much longer than Coraxa.

  The jumble of memories began to clear in Kurtz’s mind.

  He had traveled to Nezar—a trip three years prior he remembered—but these recollections were different. He had meet with Chancellor Heizberg, and she was also not who she appeared to be. She was like him, a puppet being directed by some unseen force.

  Kurtz saw himself meeting with each of the subjects he’d interviewed during his recent interrogations to gather information from them, and to subvert them through telepathic influence. For years, he’d been manipulating them behind the scenes.

  And then there was Andrea’s escape at the NTech lab, when he’d stood by while she took out everyone around him. They were working together—until she was killed. She had been a willing participant, following directions issued by their masters. But the mission didn’t end with her death.

  Kurtz and Heizberg were there to finish the job.

  Do you understand now? the voice asked.

  I see that you’ve been with me since Nezar, but no, I don’t understand how this is possible.

  If Kurtz had had any control over his body, he’d try to carve the being out of him on the spot. But instead, he could only stand there motionless in the supply closet, desperately trying to process the harm that had been caused by his hand.

  Don’t struggle now. You wouldn’t want to harm us, the voice cautioned.

  He was still unable to move. Are you in my head?

  Yes, in a sense, the voice affirmed. But I am one with you.

  Leave! Kurtz shouted in his mind. I’ll slice you out myself.

  I rather like it here. You are a man of influence, though I could help you become even more. You’ve already been so useful with directing our other tools.

  What are you after? Kurtz asked the voice.

  We have much to discuss, the voice replied. It’s time we get to know one another.

  Kurtz listened as the alien being filled the gaps in Kurtz’s memory about everything he had done over the past three years. He wanted nothing more than to turn himself in, but he was now a passenger in his own body.

  As far as Kurtz could tell, transforming Ava into a Hochste was all according to plan. Whose plan that was, exactly, remained a mystery to him. All he knew for certain was that the entity inside him wasn’t working alone. Beyond the Nezaran Chancellor, who was also being controlled by a similar entity, there were a number of willing collaborators and others who had been subverted. He didn’t yet understand how the aliens’ abilities worked, or the extent of their power, but he knew they meant harm.

  Yet, Kurtz’s only option for the time being was to go along for the ride. If he tried to resist too much, his possessor pushed him further to the back of his consciousness where Kurtz couldn’t even see what was happening. As long as he remained quiet and unobtrusive, he could at least remain apprised of the unfolding situation. Maybe he’d be able to inject little bits of influence here and there. Even the smallest act might make a difference at the right moment.

  Fortunately, at least the alien being understood the importance of keeping up appearances. Acts like getting Ava a new shipsuit to accommodate her condition were an act of caring compassion the being would not have voluntarily elected to do, but Kurtz was able to convince him it would be out of character to not offer. The being listened, and that gave Kurtz hope.

  While Ava might be struggling, Kurtz would be adjusting to his own situation. He needed to help her now, but maybe one day, she’d be able to help him, in turn.

  What’s been set in motion cannot be stopped. The alien leered over him. At least you will be on the winning side.

  Kurtz allowed the alien its feeling of superiority. His chance would come. How do I address you?

  You may call me Nox, the voice replied.

  Kurtz had heard that name before. He thought back to the first interrogation he’d conducted for the recent investigation. That was Major Ellis’ supposed contact, wasn’t it?

  Yes, a role you played so well.

  Kurtz shuddered as he thought back to the interrogations over the past several days—the people he’d subverted without even knowing what he’d done, or how he’d done it. And now they’d suffer because of his actions.

  You’re a tool, just like them, Nox said with a mental jab.

  Kurtz ignored the entity’s statement.

  We shouldn’t keep Ava waiting. Nox directed Kurtz back to the infirmary.

  When he arrived, he saw Doctor Dwyer was completing his examination of Ava, and Luke had a blood sample in hand.

  Ava smiled when she saw Kurtz. “I was surprised when you offered to get me a new suit yourself, sir. Recent moments have made me especially grateful for someone who offers help in a way that doesn’t involve jamming something in me or taking something out.”

  A playful look passed between Ava and Luke, and she smirked. “Well, maybe it’s not all bad,” she added so quietly that only Kurtz’s Were hearing picked it up.

  “If you want a treatment for this condition, then this is a necessary part of the process,” Doctor Dwyer said, having missed the innuendo.

  “This shipsuit is designed for Weres, to accommodate a transformation.” Kurtz handed the garment to Ava. He could feel Nox’s annoyance with the human banter.

  “Thank you, Colonel.” Ava paused. “I know I’m under quarantine, but I’d like permission to speak with Major Widmore.”

  Kurtz tensed. “Why?”

  “I just want to keep him in the loop, sir. My team will be wondering where I am.”

  “Yes, of course.” Kurtz nodded.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “I should get going on this analysis,” Luke said in the ensuing silence.

  “As should I. Try to stay calm and relaxed,” Doctor Dwyer advised.

  Ava eyed the restraints next to the bed. “Yeah, I’ll try.” She ran her hands over the shipsuit. “I need to get dressed first.”

  “I’ll secure you after you change,” Kurtz told her. “Please proceed with your tests,” he told Luke and the doctor.

  “Yes, sir,” Doctor Dwyer nodded and left.

  “I’ll come back to check on you soon,” Luke told Ava.

  “See you then.” She rose from the bed and headed for the washroom.

  Kurtz waited for her with his hands clasped behind his back.

  You and your frail forms. So many precautions needed to keep you safe, Nox commented.

  At least we have our own bodies.

  But isn’t it more evolved to be able to be anywhere or in anything?

  Kurtz didn’t have a good response to that. Maybe the being inside him was more advanced, but that didn’t give it the right to take over the body of another sentient individual.

  Ava emerged from the washroom wearing the new shipsuit, carrying the tattered remains of her old one. “Well, sir, the outer layer is a little bigger than regulation specs,” she tugged on the loose fabric at her stomach, “but it’ll get the job done.”

  “We must always be prepared.”

  “Yes, sir.” She paused. “Sir, may I speak freely?”

  “Granted.” Nox mentally rolled its eyes.

  “I’m wondering how you do it,” Ava continued. “How do you define your identity when you transform from one being into another?”

  If only she knew how apt of a question that was for us, Nox commented.

  “I don’t think of it as going from one being or another, but rather as two facets of the same being,” Kurtz recited at Nox’s direction. “Yes, the external appearance is a significant change, and some of the internal feelings and senses are different, too, but it’s still me. Is it really so different when you transform from soldier into lover? Or commander into daughter? Those parts of us exist at all times, b
ut we filter our surroundings based on the context of whatever role we’re playing in a given moment.”

  Ava nodded. “Hmm, I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

  Kurtz had to admit, Nox answered better than he would have himself.

  “I was not born a Were, but I have been one for long enough that I can’t imagine what it would be like to become something else after so many years in one form—”

  Yeah, right, Kurtz quipped to Nox in his mind.

  “—but I do appreciate what it’s like to have your responsibilities change. I worked my way up in my career just like everyone else, and I’ve gone from one warrior among many to being one of the senior officers. With each advancement came a new sense of identity.”

  Kurtz looked Ava in her eyes. “You, Ava, are now advancing, as well. You have been gifted your whole life, and you’ve used those gifts to help the FDG accomplish what few others could have done. Now, you’ll have even more skills to bring to bear. I am confident you will master these new attributes and be truly one of a kind.”

  Ava shifted on the bed. “I appreciate that, sir, but I don’t know if I’d keep these abilities, if given the choice. I know there are benefits, but there are also risks.”

  “You must keep them.”

  Ava frowned and inched back on the bed. “May I ask why, sir?”

  Kurtz softened and smiled when Nox realized his statement had been too forceful. “Rather, you should take some time to become one with your new skills before you dismiss them for the long-term, if the modifications could even be undone. It’s only been, what, half an hour? That’s not enough time to consider the pros and cons of the situation.”

  “I guess it’s not.”

  “Get some rest, Lieutenant. Luke and Doctor Dwyer will be able to tell you more about your options soon enough.”

  “Right.” Ava swung her legs up onto the bed, and she reclined, placing her hands at her sides. “I hope they can tell me how to stop random transformations more definitively than just stay calm.”

  “You’ll gain control soon enough. I have no doubts.” Kurtz cinched the bed’s restraint cuffs around her wrist, then added a stasis cuff for good measure.