Amethyst Chronicles: Winter's Kiss Read online

  Amethyst Chronicles: Winter's Kiss

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Amethyst Chronicles:

  Winter's Kiss

  by K.G. Stutts

  Published by Distinguished Press

  Cover by The Writing Network

  ISBN 978-1-63310-008-4

  This book is licensed for your reading pleasure. It may not be duplicated in any form, digital or otherwise, without express written permission from the publisher, author, or authorized representative. As a work of fiction, any similarities to actual events or individuals is purely coincidental.

  Chapter One

  Laser fire ricocheted off the steel walls the moment Ember Wilson opened a security lock. She pressed her back flat against the wall to avoid the energy blasts. The scraping of metal on metal echoed in her ears as drones approached their location.

  "I thought Morris took care of the security drones?" Her second-in-command, Michael Lewis, questioned behind her.

  As soon as he asked, the blaster fire from the drones stopped. A droid stood in the doorway motionless for a moment before falling over. A crackle came over their ear piece before the voice of the team's tech master, Bryan Morris, came through.

  "Sorry about that," he said.

  Ember rolled her eyes as she dropped out of her defensive stance. "We've got to move. Rudo knows we're here now.”

  "Nova has a distraction set up and ready to blow and I have hijacked the camera feed. Right now, Rudo's team is scrambling to find out why an old episode of Stargate SG-1 is on their monitors instead of the base," Morris informed her.

  Lewis grinned as he moved toward the door. Morris loved the old entertainment programs from their ancestors more than anything currently available on the hologram recreational programing.

  Ember brushed back a loose strain of her coal black hair as she readied for the next task. "Morris, make sure Rudo can't fix the camera feed. Nova, light it up then head back to the hangar bay. We need to be able to take off in five."

  “Aye," Nova's voice acknowledged over her ear piece.

  The building rumbled and shook as Nova executed his task. Rudo knew the special ops team known as Amethyst was there, but as long as her tech guru had his lock on the security, no one knew where they were.

  “At least we still have the element of surprise," Lewis said.

  She nodded and opened the second door on the engineering level of Clayton Rudo's impregnable fortress in Texas. Nothing was going to deter her from the mission. Knowing what she was about to do would brand her a traitor, she still pressed forward. Perhaps one day, the people would thank her.

  For centuries, Earth had been ravaged by harsh winters, hurricanes, droughts, and blistering summers. For the last ten years, the bulk of Earth’s food was grown on other worlds. Then Clayton Rudo, a scientist working with the Intergalactic Security Commission’s home base in West Virginia, announced he had a plan. He had created a machine which would regulate the weather systems. He promised Earth would return to the lush land it was in the history archives.

  But Ember had discovered the truth. Recently Morris had decrypted the real plan. Rudo planned to take over and rule, not cure the soil. No, Clayton Rudo was not the humanitarian everyone believed him to be.

  She went to General Tom Blanchard with the news. And he dismissed her.

  The area was clear as they raced through a long walkway. The sound of heavy boots alerted them to the fact they were no longer alone as they rounded a corner.

  "Get them!" Rudo's men yelled as a group of four henchmen spotted Ember and Lewis.

  "Sorry, don't have time for this," Ember said.

  Lewis dodged blaster fire as Ember launched herself into the air. The foot soldiers stared agape as she soared over them, landing gracefully behind them. Lewis threw a flash grenade, blinding the enemies. The group yelled and fell to their knees, covering their eyes. By the time their vision returned, Ember and Lewis were long gone.

  "Wilson, what's your status?" Morris asked.

  "Headed into the weather system room."

  "I picked up a comm moments ago. General Blanchard is here."

  She swore under her breath before acknowledging. Of course, the presence of the only active five star general in the Air Force would complicate matters.

  "We're out of time," Ember stated, grabbing Lewis by the arm.

  An alarm started blaring, painting the area in a red light. Ember and Lewis sprinted down the hall, fighting their way to their targeted destination. Laser fire filled the air as the two kept at their relentless pace.

  They took down several men before Lewis threw a frag grenade as he ducked around a corner. Screams and debris filled the air. The smell of blood and burnt flesh mingled as the ventilation system activated as they continued on their quest.

  "No time to wait on Morris," Ember said before blasting the security console to the weather computer room.

  Lewis pulled back the heavy door and the duo was immediately under fire.

  "Go!" he yelled, covering for her.

  She knew General Blanchard would order for her team to be taken alive. She was counting on his sympathies. A small grin tugged on the corner of her mouth when she got her confirmation. The blasters were emitting a green light, signaling the setting was on stun, not kill. It would take a ton of power to render them unconscious, buying her just enough time for her to accomplish her goal. Lewis drew fire away from Ember as she set C4 charges on the computer console. She readied the detonator in her hand.

  "Morris, do you read?" she asked.

  "I hear you. What's going on?"

  "Are you sure you have the research files?"

  "Positive."

  "Wilson, what the hell are you waiting for?" Lewis hollered.

  She pressed her lips into a thin line as the last of her explosives was placed. Her brow crinkled when she heard a loud groan. Looking slightly over her shoulder, she saw Lewis had finally been subdued by Rudo's operatives. Several of them fired a stun blast at her. The first few shots she was able to shake off.

  "Ember," a stern voice said from behind.

  Her entire body froze when she recognized the voice of General Blanchard. The moment she turned around, he fired twice directly into her chest. Her body began to tingle, but she didn’t go down. However, another shot would render her unconscious. There was a limit to what her body could absorb. It didn’t matter what happened to her, though. Her mission was complete. She gave him a slight smile and pressed the red trigger button, causing the weather system computer to explode. Computer parts and glass flew across the room as everyone ducked for cover.

  "What have you done?" General Blanchard bellowed when the building shook again.

  "What you weren't man enough to do yourself." Her voice was void of emotion.

  His brow furrowed as he raised his weapon again. He fired another shot into her chest. This time, she dropped down to her knees as her strength began to leave her body and she convulsed. The room spun as she collapsed, falling unconscious.

  #

  Major Liam Ross wasn’t sure what to think when he received orders to meet with General Tom Blanchard. Not a lot of information was given. Still, if it was important enough to be invited to Blanchard’s space station, Lunis Two, he didn’t question it. As soon as he landed in the docking bay, he was greeted by a pretty redheaded woman. Her eyes raked over him appreciatively as he removed his hat and ran a hand through his short brown hair. He squared his broad shoulders back, the fabric of his dress military unif
orm straining against his muscles.

  He stood at attention. “Major Liam Ross reporting to General Tom Blanchard.”

  “Major Ross, I am General Blanchard’s personal secretary, Ashlee Figiel,” she greeted, licking her lips. “Right this way.”

  He followed her through the corridors of the space station. Lunis Two was designed to be the cornerstone in the latest military operations. The newest technology was housed here. Ashlee pulled him along, not letting him linger for any length of time. She came to a stop outside a pair of double doors and entered in a code to unlock it. He raised an eyebrow, but quickly dismissed it. Everyone was under a heightened state of awareness lately. Of course security protocol would limit access to the General. Ashlee smiled sweetly as she ushered him in to meet with the general who was sitting at an office desk.

  General Blanchard was a man in his late fifties with graying black hair of military length and wrinkles underneath his serious brown eyes. He looked slightly disheveled even in his clean uniform. Liam stood at attention and cleared his voice when the General failed to address him. Blanchard looked up, taking a sip from his coffee cup before getting to his feet.

  "General Blanchard, sir." Major Ross saluted.

  "At ease, Major." The General offered his hand.

  "Thank you, sir." Ross shook it.

  "You're probably wondering why you're here," Blanchard said.

  "Yes, sir."

  “Walk with me.”

  General Blanchard pulled a large painting of him and his daughter, Laura, from a wall and revealed a security key pad. He punched in a security code and motioned Ross over. A portion of the wall gave way to reveal a secret room. The room looked like a lab with white walls, a gray marble floor, and various computers and equipment he didn't recognize. Against the back wall were four pods with people asleep in stasis.

  The General stood in front of the first pod, stroking his unkempt bearded chin. The sleeping man had extremely short black hair and was the shortest and skinniest of the four in the tubes. As they approached, a holographic image appeared on the glass next to the man’s face. The picture was of a smiling man with wire-rimmed glasses on his thin nose, brown eyes, and longer hair.

  "This is Bryan Morris," the General introduced. "Best tech man I've ever seen. Smart, quick on his feet, and crafty."

  Liam looked at the General curiously, but he didn't elaborate further. Blanchard moved down to the next pod. The man inside was slightly taller than Morris and had curly red hair. The holographic picture displayed another smiling man with light blue eyes and hair sticking out everywhere.

  "Alexander Nova. He was the best pilot Earth had to offer. And this," the General pointed to the third tube, "is Michael Lewis. Brilliant military mind. He was second-in-command."

  Ross wrinkled up his nose as he gazed upon the strong specimen of a man. Lewis was tall and clearly well-built with brown hair that stopped just above his eyebrows. The image displayed was of a serious man with brown eyes.

  "Command?" Ross questioned, but the General didn't address it.

  He moved down to the last pod which had a woman in it. Ross looked at the tall woman with jet black hair who was somehow scowling even though she was asleep. The picture showed a strikingly beautiful blonde woman with blue eyes.

  "Ember Wilson," General Blanchard softly said. "She's the leader of this team known as Amethyst."

  His voice pulled Liam’s attention away from her. "Amethyst, sir?"

  "A group of genetically enhanced super soldiers. They were Earth's greatest defense."

  "I've never heard of Amethyst."

  "Nor would you. The gene program was top secret. They were named after a side effect of the genetic manipulation causing the quartet's eye color to change to a brilliant shade of dark purple."

  "Gene program? Purple eyes? Sir, this is a little unbelievable."

  "They had it all," General Blanchard continued, still not answering the Major's questions. "Super strength, speed, endurance, skill, stamina, healing, and intelligence. They could withstand several kill blaster shots before they even felt a twinge to their central nervous system. Their natural talents increased tenfold."

  Liam let out a low whistle. "What happened? What led them here?"

  "You remember two years ago when the weather computer designed by Clayton Rudo was destroyed?"

  Liam nodded. Of course he remembered. Rudo was proclaimed a hero when he introduced a super computer that could control Earth's climate.

  "Ember came to me and said Rudo had plans to control Earth, but I didn't believe her. As a result, Amethyst attacked Rudo’s lab in Abilene and destroyed the system.”

  “They were the ones behind the assault? Sir, I helped designed the security protocol for Dr. Rudo’s base myself.”

  “I’m aware, Major. I haven’t met a security platform which Amethyst couldn’t disable. Because of their actions, they were on trial for treason and convicted. Due to the team's enhanced abilities, it was decreed they would remain in stasis until they could be rehabilitated."

  "But we later found out she was right."

  "Yes. Of course it would take us two years to realize. It took, but Rudo rebuilt his machine. I even assigned several top scientists to help speed the process along after Amethyst thoroughly destroyed all of his work. And now ..."

  And now Rudo used his weather system to bring the world to its knees. Washington, D.C., New Mexico, and Texas were now completely under ice. Everything was frozen solid.

  General Blanchard turned away from the sleeping woman. For a split second, the Major thought he saw a mixture of sadness and sorrow in the other man's eyes before going back to normal.

  "They are Earth's only hope to stop Rudo once and for all."

  "If that's true, then why am I here?" Liam asked.

  "Before the President went into his underground bunker, he ordered me to assemble the best military team to work alongside of Amethyst. You are the leader of my team, Major."

  "If Amethyst is so great, then why do you need me?"

  "President Packer believes the team is too unpredictable now. We can't guarantee they will help us after everything that's happened."

  "You mean, after you ignored the warning then placed them in stasis tubes?"

  The General raised an eyebrow. "Yes, that's what I mean. They defied direct orders."

  "Sir, I'm not going to babysit a bunch of medically altered--"

  "Major Ross, these are your orders," General Blanchard sternly said. "Your squad is to work with Amethyst to eradicate the threat to save our planet and billions of lives."

  “Yes, sir.”

  #

  He wasn't happy about it, but orders were orders. Liam watched as one by one members of Amethyst were taken out of stasis except for Ember Wilson.

  Michael Lewis staggered out of the stasis chamber. He rubbed his eyes as he quickly recovered from the sleep effects. Ross' eyes widened in surprise at the unnatural shade of purple they were. Blanchard wasn't kidding about the violet eyes.

  Lewis glared and balled his hands into fists as he locked eyes on General Blanchard.

  "You have some nerve -"

  "I'm aware," the General cut him off. "But you are needed."

  "What makes you think Wilson or any of us will help you after you dumped us in here?" Lewis demanded.

  "Because she was right," Blanchard stated.

  "Ah." Lewis looked amused. "So Rudo activated the weather system after all. I shouldn’t gloat about the fact Rudo did what Wilson told you he would, but I just can’t help myself."

  “Gloating isn’t going to help matters.”

  “Yeah, that may be true, but it sure is fun.”

  The General's eyes narrowed but he didn't lose his composure. Nova and Morris were recovering from their stasis sleep and the trio was brought up to speed on Rudo.

  "You silly, stupid old man," Morris seethed, bitterness resonating in his voice. "If you had listened to Wilson when she told you-"

  "I'm we
ll aware, Mr. Morris," the General said, his irritation beginning to show. "But what's done is done. Now I need your help to make it right."

  “How long?” Morris inquired.

  “Two years.”

  Nova chuckled. “We really did a number on his base.”

  “Apparently not good enough,” Morris grumbled.

  "You know she's going to be livid when she wakes," Nova said.

  "Of course he does." Lewis snorted. "Why else do you think he reanimated us first? He knows she would put a hole in his head the first chance she got."

  Nova laughed. "You think we're going to help keep Wilson subdued?"

  "I'm hoping to reason with her," Blanchard replied.

  "Reason?" Morris questioned. "You mean like when she told you what Rudo was planning to do and you dismissed her? Then you tried and convicted her of criminal charges?”

  “Yeah, and now when she’s proven right, he thinks we’re just going to fall in line." Nova rolled his eyes as he leaned against a stasis chamber.

  "Clayton Rudo was a benevolent scientist who claimed to have the means to save our planet." Blanchard defended.

  "You were desperate and acted accordingly." Lewis countered.

  "We all were! Is it so wrong to want something to believe in?"

  "You mean, like a father believing in his daughter?" Nova asked.

  The other two men whistled low at the dig. General Blanchard's brown eyes flashed as he balled up his fists.

  Nova chuckled. “Temper, temper, General.”

  "Leave my personal life out of it."

  "What personal life? The blonde princess you parade around as your only daughter and pretend your first born doesn't exist?" Lewis inquired.

  “Wait, this woman is your daughter?” Liam pointed to the fourth pod.

  Lewis looked him up and down before rolling his eyes. “I’m not surprised you left that key part out, General. You must be ashamed. Question is, do you regret having a daughter who stands up for what’s right, even if it means challenging you, or does it eat you up inside knowing she was right and you ruined her life?”