Ki Book One

Chapter Sixteen

  Jackson hated every moment of it. Watching the Major shoot Ki at point blank, seeing her fall between the ship and the dock. Hearing that splash seconds later.

  Skin slicked with a cold, drenching sweat, he waited.

  Max snapped.

  He launched himself at the three Guards who had positioned themselves before him. He moved so fast they couldn’t react. Landing a blow to the nearest one with is fist, he twisted, slamming another in the jaw with his elbow as he simultaneously kicked the remaining one in the gut.

  In a flash, he’d dispatched them and grabbed up one of their guns, rolling to the side and bringing it up.

  If Jackson had never seen the Zeneethian Scouts in action before, Max’s display would have been unbelievable.

  Max snapped up from his roll, aiming at the Guards closest to him. Though he clearly tried to shoot them, the gun would not work.

  It had no bullets in it.

  Realization dawning on him, Max’s face paled, slack jaw shifting open.

  “Surround him,” the Major yelled as he ran back from the dock.

  Max took a single step back, letting the gun fall from his grip as it clattered onto the ground by his feet.

  “Don’t get too close,” the Major added with a roar.

  “You are all going to die,” Max could hardly move his mouth. His teeth were clenched with violent emotion, desperation and hatred powerful and obvious. “You bastards are all going to die for this.”

  Jackson had seen Max acting before. The way the man had so smoothly and seamlessly slipped into the role of Archer Reed, the way he’d tried to goad Jackson into overreacting in the mine shaft – Max was way more than a dumb grunt. Now all that control was gone. He seethed with uncontrollable rage.

  “You have no idea who you are messing with. The Zeneethians will destroy you all for this. None of you will be safe,” Max stood with his arms limp at his sides, his shoulders rounded, but his face and neck rigid. “You will all be wiped from history. Your families will be wiped from history. Every record of you ever existing will be changed. We will even alter the memories of your friends. You have no way to fight us.”

  “Shut up, prisoner,” the Major reached the group, though came no closer than five meters from Max. With a controlled but wary expression, he told his men to keep their distance yet again.

  “They’re going to come for you,” Max took a step forward and nodded at the Major. “You should be worried about more than your career. You’ve just condemned your entire nation.”

  “Don’t listen to him, men,” the Major snapped. “Prepare the transport. Get the tranquilizer dart. You are going to be questioned, prisoner. You will tell us everything you know. There will be no escape.”

  Max did not respond. He ticked his head to the side and shook it slowly. Then he straightened up, some control returning to his features, but not enough to dampen his slackened, palpable shock.

  Seconds later he was shot in the back of the neck with a dart, then another when it was clear he would not fall. Blinking, eyes bleary, he stumbled to one knee. How he was still conscious, Jackson did not know, but eventually he slumped forward.

  Cautiously several guards moved in and handcuffed him, even wrapping along leather strap around his arms and torso to ensure there was no way he could break free. Then he was taken to a waiting car.

  Jackson watched him the entire time, when the car rumbled to life and its clean tires crunched over the rough bitumen, he turned to the Major. “You are going to need to keep complete radio silence. The second you send a call saying you’ve taken him into custody, they’ll swoop down.”

  The Major stood erect, his hands behind his back, his broad chest puffed out against his clean-cut uniform. “I will not take orders from you. Though it appears you were right about Archer Reed, you have not yet been absolved of your charges. You will be taken to Avictus Island where you will await trial.”

  Jackson forced himself to calm down before his frustration could peak any higher. “He did exactly what I said he would. Now I’m telling you, if you tell anyone where you’re taking—”

  “Enough. Take him onto The Pasquada.” The Major turned and walked away without another word.

  Jackson was taken down to the other end of the port and loaded onto a different ship. When he was aboard, she set sail. At the same time the Maqueda also left berth. The two ships headed out into the bay then set sail in opposite directions.