On the Run (Verity Chronicles Book 3): A Cadicle Space Opera Adventure Read online

  ON THE RUN

  VERITY CHRONICLES: BOOK 3

  T.S. Valmond & A.K. DuBoff

  ON THE RUN

  Copyright © 2020 by A.K. DuBoff & T.S. Valmond

  The Cadicle® Universe is a registered trademark of A.K. DuBoff

  All rights reserved. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles, reviews, or promotions.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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  http://vip-landing-page.tsvalmond.com/verity

  Special thanks to Beta/JIT readers:

  John Ashmore

  Taria Faust

  Steve DeBacker

  Doug Burnham

  Leo Roars

  David Frydrych

  Eric Haneberg

  Gil Forbes

  Bryan Ellis

  Publisher: BDL Press

  Cover Copyright © 2020 A.K. DuBoff

  First eBook Edition: October 23, 2020

  Kindle Edition

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Foreword – The Cadicle Universe

  Map of the Taran Empire

  Key Terms, Cast, and Locations

  The Story So Far…

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Read More by T.S. Valmond

  Also by A.K. DuBoff

  Authors’ Notes

  About the Authors

  Foreword – The Cadicle Universe

  The events in the Verity Chronicles are a self-contained story arc set in the larger Cadicle Universe.

  Tarans are the predominant race in the Cadicle Universe; humans are a Taran sub-race. Most of the Taran sphere falls within the purview of the Taran Empire, governed from the planet Tararia by a council of High Dynasties. Earth is one of several rogue colonies on the outskirts of the Empire, separated so long ago that they have forgotten their Taran ancestry.

  The Tararian Guard is the primary military force for the Taran Empire. Its counterpart, the Tararian Selective Service, includes a specialty branch with Agents gifted in telekinetic and telepathic abilities. The TSS is headquartered in Earth’s moon, and its iconic Agents are known in Earth lore as the mysterious ‘men in black’.

  Chronologically, the Verity Chronicles takes place after the events in the original Cadicle series and just before the Cadicle sequel series, the Taran Empire Saga. However, prior knowledge of this broader story universe is not required in order to read and enjoy the Verity books.

  Map of the Taran Empire

  The following map denotes key locations in this book within the Taran Empire in the Milky Way Galaxy. For a detailed color map, visit www.amyduboff.com/taran-empire-map.

  Key Terms, Cast, and Locations

  KEY TERMS

  Taran – The race of all people in the Taran Empire; synonymous with human

  Tararian Guard – The primary military force for the Taran Empire

  Tararian Selective Service (TSS) – A quasi-military organization with Agents specializing in telekinesis; a complement to the Tararian Guard

  Jump – Faster-than-light travel through subspace

  Beacon Network – The navigation method for subspace jumps, maintained by SiNavTech

  High Dynasties – The seven ruling families of the Taran Empire, collectively a governing council

  Lower Dynasties – Influential families throughout the Taran worlds, second only in power to the High Dynasties

  CAST

  Verity Crew and Passengers

  Iza Sundari – Captain of the Verity

  Trix – Lynaedan android companion of Iza

  Joe Anderson (AKA ‘Jovani Saletas’) – Undercover TSS Agent

  Braedon Valtteri (AKA ‘Devon Arvonen’) – Pilot and VR gamer with a gambling problem

  Cierra Quetzali – Healer and Braedon’s ex-girlfriend

  Apex Enterprises

  Karter Hyttinen – Lower Dynasty heir and starship salesman

  Becca Drejas – Karter’s right-hand and assistant

  Iron Dog Crew

  Marten Douketis – Captain of the Iron Dog hauling freighter

  Sydney Reis – Second-in-command of the Iron Dog

  Additional Key Characters

  Desirae Hyttinen – Failed TSS Agent turned Enforcer; cousin to Karter

  Victor Arvonen – Head of Arvonen Dynasty; father to Braedon

  Viper (AKA ‘Abby Quetzali’)– Competitive gamer and engineering genius

  Yeaga – Leader of the miner revolt on Hubyria

  Ian Mandren – TSS Sacon Agent Division Lead; Joe’s direct supervisor

  Raquel Calveras – Old friend of Karter, now working with Victor Arvonen

  LOCATIONS

  Tararia – The central planet of the Taran Empire

  Lynaeda – Technologically advanced central world, specializing in AI and cybernetics

  Beurias – Middle world with significant shipping industry, including headquarters of Apex Enterprises

  Galminus – Dusty outer colony world; transit hub

  Hubyria – Outer colony planet specializing in ore mining

  Leveckis – Outer colony planet; home to Cierra

  Phiris – Prosperous middle world

  Sarduvis – Asteroid housing the Sarduvis Penitentiary

  The Story So Far…

  After a month and a half of living together on the Verity, Iza, her passengers, and crew have settled into a rhythm. Iza is fighting her feelings for Joe in light of her fake engagement to Karter Hyttinen; Joe is feeling more comfortable in his Jovani Saletas undercover alias than as his real TSS Agent self; the mysterious sphere is giving Iza odd dreams; Braedon and his Healer ex-girlfriend, Cierra, are caught in an endless fight/break-up cycle; and android Trix is as logical as ever.

  While trying to complete a delivery, the crew learns that there have been a series of abductions of notable scientists. Braedon notices that his father, Victor Arvonen, has put out a call for scientists, and he fears the worst. The concerns are confirmed when he and Joe witness an attempted abduction in progress, and they intervene to get the scientists to safety.

  Things get more com
plicated when the Verity and Trix both start to malfunction. It appears to be some sort of foreign virus wreaking havoc with the computer systems, but its origins and goal are a mystery. To make matters worse, someone released information about Iza and Karter’s secret engagement to the tabloid Sensationals, prompting the organization of a last-minute engagement party to be the official reveal.

  Iza is whisked away to the Hyttinen Dynasty’s Blue Hills Estate to play the role of Karter’s fiancée for a few days. However, the night of the engagement party, thieves break into the estate, stealing the mysterious sphere along with jewelry and other valuables from the guests. In her attempt to thwart the robbery, Iza recognizes Reis, a crewmate of her rival, Captain Douketis, and a talented coder, Viper, whom Iza had once helped free from prison. They escape, but the damage is done. With fears of Karter’s life still being at risk, he joins Iza on the Verity.

  Braedon locates an auction that’s a promising lead for where the stollen items will be sold, and they set a course. They reach out to Viper to assist with the heist from the auction, persuading her it’s a better option than continuing to work for Douketis. While waiting for the auction to begin, Iza notices a young man skulking around; she recognizes him from her weird dreams, though she doesn’t think they’ve ever met. Though the rest of the night doesn’t go to plan, Joe and Braedon are ultimately able to get the sphere and escape with Karter’s help.

  Meanwhile, Joe has received strict orders from the TSS to get the sphere and keep it out from civilian hands. Ancient records suggest that it might be alien in origin, and research of the tech is strictly forbidden. However, Joe’s feelings for Iza have become more important than his mission, so he allows her to keep the artifact.

  Karter’s old friend, Raquel—an archaeologist—whom Iza briefly met at the engagement party, joins them on the Verity, and she and Iza soon become friends. Iza allows her to study the sphere. It becomes clear that the sphere is the source of the computer virus messing with Trix and the ship, though Iza isn’t sure how to address the issue since she needs to keep the object out of Arvonen’s hands.

  While malfunctioning, Trix takes the Verity to Tararia, where she directs Iza to meet with a woman who looks like her supposedly dead mother. Iza learns that the woman is her mother’s twin sister, and she recognizes the young man who’s been following her as actually being her cousin. Left with more questions than answers, Iza storms out from her aunt’s home, feeling betrayed and abandoned.

  Unable to sleep one night, Iza goes to patrol the ship but is knocked out and taken to the Arvonen One. The vessel has been converted into a lab dedicated to researching the alien technology. The sphere allows the opening of a portal—a Gate—but no one has been able to pass through and return alive. Arvonen plans to use the technology to shift the balance of power in the Taran Empire and advance his own position. It turns out that Raquel has been working with Arvonen all along and is prepared to do anything in the name of their research. Iza is offered up as the next text subject. As they are about to force her through, the scientists notice that her pendant necklace is floating around her neck, apparently in reaction to its proximity to the Gate.

  Joe and Karter, realizing Iza is in dire trouble, strike a deal with Investigator Hyttinen and Captain Douketis of the Iron Dog to provide backup for a rescue. The terms are that Joe will turn himself over for violating his TSS orders and Viper will return to the Iron Dog to work off her debt to Douketis.

  In the chaos of the rescue, Iza is thrown through the Gate. She finds herself in a dark cavern on what could be an alien world. She’s certain she is being watched. Not wanting to push her luck, she quickly tries to go back through the portal. It feels like she’s being held back, and she loses a shoe.

  Arvonen is defeated, allowing Iza and company to return to the Verity. Iza learns about the deals that were made to save her, and Joe also finally comes clean about his ties to the TSS. Iza gives the sphere to Joe, and they part on tearful terms with a promise to be reunited after he’s officially kicked back to Earth.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Victor Arvonen stood with his fists clenched and breath held, praying to the stars that the nebula would be enough to hide them from the TSS ship scanning the area.

  They’d been jumping between remote planets and nebulous clouds since their unfortunate incident with the Verity, when all of his careful plans had suffered an unfortunate setback. Captain Iza Sundari, the key to using the Gate, was also an unbearable nuisance. She’d almost ruined everything. If it hadn’t been for his forward-thinking guard, they’d have been captured by the bumbling Enforcers. He needed Iza to work with him willingly if they were going to make any progress, but an alliance was impossible so long as she was aligned with his wayward son.

  “They’re moving off, sir,” the helm officer reported.

  Victor breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Keep a close eye on them and alert me immediately if you see any more Agents or Enforcers nearby.”

  He took his seat at the center of the flight deck, trying to focus on the sights outside the viewport rather than the interior of his once-glorious ship. Since the attack on the Arvonen One, the ship had been in a constant state of disrepair. Exposed wiring and damaged bulkheads peppered the ship like they’d been in the middle of a warzone. Those bandits, with the help of his youngest son, had broken through the ship’s defenses and pulled Iza and the sphere from his grasp. Victor was determined to not let it happen a second time.

  “Sir?” The mousy woman at the communications station raised her hand as if she were a child in school.

  He gritted his teeth to keep from roaring at her. The last time, it had only made her timidity worse. If she wasn’t the best communications specialist he could find, he’d have thrown her out the airlock ages ago. “What is it?”

  “It’s the resonance signal—the one we’ve been searching for. I think I found it.”

  Victor crossed the flight deck in three strides and leaned over her chair to stare at the console. “Where?”

  “Here.” She indicated the position on a holographic map.

  The planet was nothing remarkable on its own, but Victor admired the small, brown world like it held the greatest riches in the galaxy. In many ways, it might. They’d been searching for months, hoping to find additional evidence of the alien tech that was so critical to his plan. Now, for the first time since his run-in with the Verity, had had a solid lead on a new artifact.

  “When did the signal appear?”

  “A few moments ago. One minute, nothing. Then, all of a sudden, it was there.”

  They had no time to waste. Few others would know what it was, but it would no doubt attract attention. “Helm, how long until we can reach the coordinates of that signal?” Victor asked.

  “If we follow a covert path to the destination, avoiding the TSS patrols, it will take at least eight hours.”

  He frowned. “How long if we take the direct path?”

  “Three.”

  “Make it happen.”

  The helm officer shifted in his seat. “Sir, with the TSS in the area, I don’t recommend—”

  “Circumvent them! Do what you have to do,” Victor roared, cutting him off. “I want to get to that artifact before anyone else does. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” the crewmembers on the flight deck said in unison.

  Victor snapped a finger. “Bring me the digger.”

  Several minutes later, a guard returned with Raquel Calveras. Calm and confident as always, she strode in with her blonde hair loosely tied and draped over one shoulder of her lab coat. Had Victor been a younger man, he might have entertained thoughts of testing their DNA for compatibility. A successful pairing between them would bear him tall, intelligent children. Maybe they wouldn’t be such a disappointment as Devyn.

  “We’ve found a signal,” he told her without preamble.

  “Really?” Raquel’s ocean-blue eyes lit up. She stepped over to the console to verify the signal as he had. “
This may be the break we’ve been waiting for.”

  “Indeed. It’s far stronger than the signal we observed with the previous artifact.”

  The side of her mouth lifted. “Is that so? Where is it?”

  “It’s a place I believe you know well. Uephus.”

  She faltered the slightest measure. “I see.”

  “I thought you’d be excited,” Victor said. “Some might consider it quite an honor to have their homeworld play such a pivotal role in future history.”

  “Of course. It’s just that we were there not that long ago, so we should have picked up something then.” She studied the information on the screen for herself, composing her face. “Based on these readings, a portal must already be active. A big one. But who opened it?”

  “Any chance it’s your Verity friends?”

  Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips drew into a pout. “No, I doubt it. They can’t have gotten the other artifact back from the TSS, and this is the first evidence we’ve seen of another.”

  He smiled. “Then the only reasonable explanation is that the creators have decided to finally make contact.”

  She took a slow breath. “I know we’ve been hoping beyond hope for exactly this, but I can’t help wondering what we’re going to encounter when we do meet them. It would be wise to be prepared for anything.”

  “Oh, my dear, I am.”

  She nodded. “Of course. And I stand ready to assist.”

  “Where are we on the DNA sequence?” Victor asked.

  “The synthetic process is lengthy and complex. The scientists we have left aren’t experts in this field. Their limited knowledge of the exact process is slowing us down.”

  “That is unfortunate. Have we found anyone with a genetic match?”