Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(82)

*

Corinne

The reason time hadn't flowed backward to before the missiles were fired was because they'd been scheduled to fire anyway. If Fisk and company hadn't done it, then Liron intended to see it done. Therefore, those events hadn't changed. The cause had merely shifted to another set of shoulders.

That's why Earth was still a smoking ruin after nuclear Armageddon had arrived. The situation was tricky enough—that fact made it worse. Those humans who'd survived were huddled in the safest place they could find, praying for deliverance. I wanted to weep for all of them. Tightening my resolve, I stepped through the door.

I found the Phillips clone, a Hal Prentice clone and a Merle Askins clone, ironically playing poker with Liron, who was still disguised as Agent Smith. I released my shield, becoming visible to all present before lifting a hand and freezing Phillips, Askins and Prentice inside a tight shield.

"I can release them, you know," Liron tossed away his disguise. I admit, the fact that he had white wings threw me for a moment.

"I'll separate their particles," I shrugged, feigning indifference. "I know you can't bring back the dead. Only a handful can do that. You're not one of them."

"I can destroy you," he said. I noticed his eyes were a pale brown and his hair matched his eyes—for the most part. Strands of gold, copper and silver threaded through his thick mane, making him more than unusual. That, combined with his white wings, made him appear to be a creature from a myth or fairy tale.

"You know what will happen if you destroy a Larentii," I retorted, attempting to force my anger to the surface. "Your life won't be worth the dust on your feet when the One shows up."

"Hmmph. You think I care about that?" He was calling my bluff.

"What you should care about is the people of Fyris," I upped the ante. "I know about them. Hell, there's a whole section in the Larentii Archives about them. The Avii, too. I see you made the Avii in your image." I inclined my head and pretended to give him the once-over.

"Larentii do not interfere," he snorted and started to turn away.

"This Larentii already has." I sent images, then, of me bringing DB into the Grand Chamber of the Lyristolyi—in the past. I'd wiped out an entire root of the timeline tree when I'd done that. "Didn't you feel it? I sure as hell did. It's why you had to launch the missiles yourself."

"That was you?" He turned back to me quickly.

"That was me," I jerked my chin down in a half-nod. "This is what I have planned for the races you've created, if you don't get the hell away from here and erase your existence from Earth's timeline. Any of Earth's timelines."

I showed him Siriaa—the planet where the Avii and the Fyrians resided. I also showed him the images of it withering and dying, people, animals, everything.

"You wouldn't—Larentii do not," he began, before stopping and blinking at me.

"I know about the poison," I said. "How do you think the Alliance will react if they learn you're growing that foul mess in Fyris, waiting for the day when your superior asks for it? You know it was designed to destroy everything. It already destroyed Ranos. How about I send mindspeech to everyone in the Alliance, telling them where to find Siriaa? How long do you expect your people to last when that happens?"

"No," he held up a hand and backed away.

"Remove yourself from Earth's timeline. I know you're powerful enough to do it. Hide yourself if you want, but I'd go back in time far enough to fool your superior. You seem clever enough. I'm sure you'll come up with something."

"You won't kill my people," he attempted to call my bluff again.

"Try me," I said. "I have nothing else to lose at this point. You leave or they die. Choose quickly; I'm tired of waiting."

I saw images flit through his mind, then, of possible answers to the dilemma I presented.

No, he didn't want to die—especially at the hands of the One. He also wanted to ensure the safety of the two races he'd created. I threatened them.

Without a word, he disappeared.

Yes, I waited and Looked, to make sure he'd left the timeline completely. Another jolt came—a bigger one, this time, and I watched as his place at the poker table disappeared.

I felt beyond weary, then, and knew I'd have to recharge. Just before Kalenegar arrived to take me into custody while he shouted in mindspeech that the Council had declared my death sentence, I released Phillips, Askins and Prentice before folding space to get away.

*

Larentii Archives

Nefrigar, Chief Archivist

Valegar had hidden himself among the stacks and shelves containing Earth's history. Parts of it were now dark; other parts flickered, as if in flux.

They were in flux, I reminded myself.

Corinne had been declared a rebel and an outcast by the Larentii Council. Kalenegar had aligned with them.

Valegar tasted the bitterness of depression and regret, choosing to do nothing to reset certain levels in his body to reject those things. I worried about my son. If things became worse, I intended to call his brothers.

With all of us working together, we would set everything right.

For now, however, Val and I mourned.

We mourned Corinne, who could be destroyed by any Larentii the next time she was found.