In this scene from Bringer of Chaos, Pietas refuses to submit to human authority.

Death Fears Me

The leaders of his people gathered in sleep around Pietas, sealed inside their curved, steel stasis tubes.

“You think to imprison me? You think to bring me down like a hunted animal?” Pietas indicated the other life-pods. “I will not cower before you. I will not bow. I will not kneel. I will not serve. I will never submit. Humans were made to be ruled, not by my people, but by me.”

The silhouettes above him contrasted with the bright light behind them. One by one, they slipped away, until one remained.

“Fighting us accomplishes nothing.” The disembodied voice echoed in the chamber. “Enter your pod or we’ll siphon the air. You’ll die.”

“I’ll revive. I’ve died countless times. I do not fear death. Death fears me.”

“Have it your way. I told you if you didn’t cooperate, I’d detonate the bombs within the hostages you took aboard your ship. See for yourself.”

On the opposite wall, an image of the Uurahkal sparkled into life. A bloom of light filled the screen. Debris shot in all directions.

“That image is a farce. You would not dare to destroy the Council’s flagship and you will not destroy the Council. You are cowards. You lock us away in a barren room and threaten our people. This is why humans do not deserve freedom. You are worthless, miserable liars.”

“Believe me, your crew is quite dead. The universe is safer for it.”

“It will never be safe for you.” His fists ached from clenching them. “I will hunt you down and make you pay to the last generation of your bloodline.”

“Good-bye, Pietas.” All the lights went out.

In the darkness, the pod indicator lights cast eerie shadows. Pinpoints of blue revealed cameras and projectors. They were watching, even in the dark. No doubt to show his people and humans that he’d failed.

He’d make them watch his escape before he slaughtered them. Then he’d broadcast it to humans across the galaxy. Let them see their doom coming for them. He would kill them all.

A low hissing sound signaled air leaving the room.

Pietas could hold his breath longer than ten humans combined, but he pretended to stumble. He braced himself against his mother’s pod. His chest ached, not from lack of air, but from the love he held for her. He would make them pay for every affront.

Clutching a hand over his heart, he acted as if unable to breathe. He sucked in the escaping air, saturating his blood with oxygen. He shook as if unable to catch his breath and hurried toward the isolated pod. He put himself on the far side, away from the door, between the wall and the tube, and let himself fall against it. He grappled with the opening and then slid to the floor. As hidden from view as he could make himself, Pietas curled into a tight ball and went limp.

He conserved his strength and waited for the loathsome humans to enter.

—

Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas
An enhanced human and a not-quite-human grapple through a deep dilemma in this hopeful but angst-filled SciFi military bromance set in the far future.
Read the first chapter https://kayelleallen.com/chaos-origin/
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Heat level: PG13
Genre: science fiction, space opera, military science fiction
Check out the sequel, coming Dec 29, 2017: Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire

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Mythic Heroes and Misbehaving Robots

Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with mythic heroes, misbehaving robots, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She’s a US Navy veteran and has been married so long she’s tenured.
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