Beneath the Surface: Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds, #15

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds 15

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Throughout her search for the Starfire shards, Nya has sought other resources her ancestors left behind. She gets her wish when her friends visit the coordinates of Nagami in the hopes that something remains to turn the tide of the war against the Issan.

However, they aren't the first to arrive. A private corporation has dug up the ruins of an ancient structure, and they aren't there for philanthropic reasons. They also aren't alone.

With a suspected traitor still at large on the Iludrin, the battle to control ancient Inari knowledge that has waited thousands of years to be discovered is only the beginning of trouble.

Copyright Page

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds 15

By M.A. Nilles

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BENEATH THE SURFACE is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters, names, places, or incidents to reality is pure coincidence.

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Beneath the Surface

E-book Copyright © 2023 by Melanie Nilles

Cover design by Melanie Nilles

Cover graphic: 51867025 © Philcold | Dreamstime.com

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Published by Prairie Star Publishing; Bismarck, North Dakota.

All Rights Reserved.

For information, visit www.melanienilles.com.

Table of Contents

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BENEATH THE SURFACE

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Other Books by Melanie Nilles/M. A. Nilles:

About the Author

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Chapter 1

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SOONER or later, those taken in by the Issan would figure out who was sending the messages. The technicians had been skilled and almost caught the handiwork in the Iludrin comm system, but they weren't good enough. However, that didn't stop them; they would keep digging until they found what they sought.

Keeping hidden the identity of the traitor they sought was proving more difficult. They didn't know who; he remained too well hidden. He didn't have much time to complete his work. As the only one not overcome by the evil, he needed the right opportunity to reveal to them the Issan lies.

From the private office in the Iludrin, he could monitor the public cameras around the ship without being traced. What he saw in the training room made him sick—the Altorin waiting to work with the Issan. Not only had he manipulated them to his favor, but the demon had defiled the angel and won the favor of the prince and his wife, which was almost as troubling. That the woman was a former Paxon on top of the prince's befriending the Issan proved his judgment had been compromised. They were all corrupted by the enemy and could no longer be trusted with the fate of Ethal.

The old books of the Dunan had warned of evil charming men, evil that had been born of angels rejecting God's goodness in jealousy and trying to overthrow the natural order and subsequently being cast out of his presence.

They were tricky, the diabolical creatures. Although he, the one they called the traitor, had tried to remove the threat from their midst, the people he thought would be effective on the homeworld had failed and the plan had even backfired. Now, the Issan had them all in his favor, using their trust for whatever purpose he sought. Disgusting filth.

Evil never changed. It destroyed everything it touched.

The Issan would destroy them all.

As a true Ethalian, he might be called a traitor, but he would keep trying to save them. He only needed the right opportunity, since most of the crew obeyed the prince without question, even when his judgment was corrupted. No one could be allowed to corrupt the Custo Fos.

He would end the demon's influence, even if he died a martyr.

Nya hit the mat on her front again, smacking her bare midriff when she couldn't get her legs under her in time. Even the bracers L'Ni had made for her did nothing in that situation. With a momentary appreciation for the cushioning of the training mat and that he didn't do worse than knocking her down, she sprang to her feet away from his reach.

She stood back, ready and wary. Although he usually held back his worst, L'Ni made his superior abilities clear when he wanted.

However, he showed signs of having worked hard, likely by holding back. His gray shirt was darkened with sweat in contrast to his faintly blue skin and the flyaway strands loosened from his white tail of hair.

{You're slowing,} he said in his language.

{I'm a little tired.}

{You're stronger than this.}

Yes, she was, but that didn't negate the fact that she was more exhausted than usual. He was working her harder.

Lover's spat? Sonya teased from where she stood nearby with two of her fellow Altorin. Her blonde hair was tied up like Nya's silver-white—in a knot on her head. The trio in their loose white workout suits warmed up while awaiting their turn with L'Ni.

Not a fair fight when you know each other's thoughts, Nya replied without taking her eyes off L'Ni. He stood with the calm confidence he wore too well. She could feel his amusement and his readiness, although he didn't show it. A month had passed since Ann and Nik's wedding, plenty of time for their bond to grow stronger, opening them to each other. Although not seeing clear thoughts like the Ethalians seemed to, Nya and L'Ni had impressions of each other's intents.

It was both useful and frustrating in training, which was why each of them often worked separately with Ann or the Altorin instead of each other. However, Nya wanted to work with him. He pushed her more than she had ever thought possible. She would never beat him, but the challenge drove her. She had come close to checking him a few times while traveling on the Cartegos, but she suspected it had only been because his movements were restricted in the tight space of the Cartegos cargo hold, where he had little head room to spare because of his height. He had also restrained his full strength because the deck was much harder than the mats in the palace and Iludrin training rooms. He tried not to injure her too much.

The problem was that L'Ni wanted a greater challenge for himself and sometimes pushed her too hard.

Yeah. That's never fair, Erim, the youngest Trivios of their team, said dryly.

Oh. Not the right people to complain to about that. Altorin spent all their waking moments linked to each of their team members, even while training against each other. That trained bond of the team allowed instant communication anywhere among them for the protection of the Highborn.

Keeping her eyes on L'Ni, Nya asked, Any suggestions?

Concentration, Sonya said, and misdirection, when you can. Practice like we've been teaching you. You can't rely on strength and speed, especially against him. Everything you do with us is based on reading body language, but with L'Ni, you're also reading another level of input against his abilities. The trick is not letting your own thoughts get in the way. Remember—

'You have to be hyperaware of yourself when fighting someone who can read your thoughts,' Nya finished. She remembered that lesson. She frequently worked with Sonya and the other Altorin, who could read her mind while she could only read body language. They were good, but they weren't near L'Ni's level.

The woman smiled and glanced aside at L'Ni. We can cut off each other if we choose, but I suppose that's not possible between you with this bonding as mates.

But you don't want to make it a habit, Erim added. When you're working as a team, that blending of minds gives you an advantage.

Maybe he could slow down a bit. Sonya motioned to L'Ni with her chin. Give you a chance to practice thought control while working, like we've been teaching you.

I thought I was. Trying to block Ethalians and trying to block a bonded mate were two different things.

Sonya shrugged and said, Then maybe you'd be better off practicing as a team against an opponent.

Are you offering yourself? L'Ni asked in that deep, accented voice.

Sonya's eyes shot aside to her fellow Altorin, a sly smile sliding across her face that belied her real years and hardened experience in the deceptively youthful appearance. We don't have the room for a fair fight.

Docking bay, L'Ni said.

Sonya looked aside at the others, who nodded. It has been a while.

Interesting. Nya and L'Ni hadn't worked out as a team against the Altorin since leaving Ethal—the training room of the Iludrin was a bit tight for all of them. The docking bay floor would be harder.

It had been a while, partly because she and L'Ni had also been off the ship with Zaer and Shen on the Cartegos for five days at Grezl, one of the Starfire worlds, and another two days traveling to rejoin the Iludrin. The natives of Grezl hadn't needed much training to understand the Starfire; they had already been aware of the entities and their power, much like the canids of Karam Three. That had simplified her task.

Staying away had also allowed them to avoid the crew of the Iludrin. Luckily, no one had bothered L'Ni since leaving Ethal, but neither had anyone been able to determine who from the ship had betrayed him to Lord Grovan on Ethal.

Nya and L'Ni and Zaer and Shen had been back on the Iludrin for six days on the way to the next Starfire world, and all had been calm.

The three Altorin hesitated, and Sonya dropped her eyes for a few seconds. Nya knew that look—they were in one of their telepathic conversations.

When she looked up again, Sonya shook her head. Training will have to wait for another time. Besides, the others want in. It wouldn't be a fair fight.

Nya didn't have to look to know that L'Ni was amused by that statement, although his expression would be minimal. Only the pride would give it away. It had taken five Altorin alone to match him on the homeworld because of his strength, speed, and durability, and they couldn't read his mind because of the cybernetic implant.

The three frowned briefly.

And we don't have time, Sonya said to Nya. We're nearly at the coordinates you provided.

What coordinates? The next Starfire world? She thought they were a few days away.

Sonya shook her head with a wry grin. Lady Ann was saving it as a surprise, but I have permission to share it now.

A surprise? Nya looked to L'Ni, but he was as perplexed as her.

The outpost you identified as Nagami.

Nya's caught her breath.

With a wry smile, Sonya nodded. It's tagged as J'Rol Four, but it matches the coordinates of Nagami.

Nagami, the ancient gathering site mentioned by Keeper Alira in her recording on Karam Three? How? Why?

Lady Ann felt it might provide some information, based on what was discovered of the place called Nepur'din. She hopes it might help your mission with the Starfire.

Nya twisted around to L'Ni in disbelief and excitement. Although he revealed no emotions on his face, she felt the interest germinating within him. [You can put your Inari skills to the test.]

L'Ni agreed with a small nod.

When no one said anything more, Sonya added, Lady Ann thought you might like to join her in the command center, to be there when we come out of hyperspace.

Yes, of course. Thank you! Nya hurried to the bench at the side of the training room to retrieve her shoes.

You're welcome.

L'Ni joined her, pulling on his boots and fastening them and the gunbelt with his romars that he had removed for their training. He didn't dare to go anywhere without it, but he had felt secure removing it among the Altorin. When he finished, they made a quick stop in their quarters to change clothes, then hurried up to the command center on the top deck.

In the uniform of an Ethalian Defense Forces officer with her auburn hair tied up, Ann turned from the central display. She was clearly more comfortable in a military position than as the wife of royalty, although the Altorin inside and outside the door were hard to miss. Nik had been born into royalty and even he disliked it, although it had its advantages at times.

Most stations in the command center were occupied, but it wasn't always so full. Zaer had been able to command the whole ship with just six of them, although that had been a bit much to manage, especially when the tampering by Shen and Vel had allowed the tchirsh and Paxons to board unnoticed and when they had taken on the Issan at Welgan as a result.

Nya. L'Ni. Good. You're just in time.

They stopped at the display ring with Ann and looked to the slowly-rotating holographic star map.

I thought we were going ahead to one of the other Starfire worlds, Nya said.

I was, then I realized the coordinates you provided weren't far off our present course. I thought your people may want to know what their ancestors left here, when they're ready to join us, and we may learn something that could help us in our search.

Nya had contacted her people while on Ethal but had to use the time to explain the data she had sent while the portal had been held open. They said they needed time to organize the logistics of joining in a war, and that was controversial enough to cause problems, especially since the trouble from Shirat Marin and her Shirukan only about eleven years earlier—Inari had perfect memories that didn't fade. It would take generations to escape that dark period, until long after the last survivor passed.

She hoped they responded soon. Her friends needed all the allies they could get to destroy enough Issan installations to stop them from breaching the dimensional barriers.

The representatives of other worlds that