Read Online Beast Planet 2: Captive Salvation by Angela Castle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Angela Castle
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hallway, the cool smooth stone under my feet flecked with reflective blue and green. I passed large doors carved in diametrical patterns. Lights glowed behind lovely arches. It seemed very luxurious. Streaming above me, the pulsing blue light seemed to be following me, watching every step.
“Essence?”
“Essence is here, Anna.” Ah, I thought so. It was kind of creepy, but then again it did beat being alone and the program did seem to have my best interests at heart.
“What part of the city am I in?”
“The Royal House of Morradi.”
“This is the royal palace? Wow.” I frowned. “How come you’re still running? I would have thought after so long, the power would have faded.”
“Morradi City Prime has an endless supply of power from the liquid crystal core of the planet.”
“Oh, okay.” Ask a question and get a,’ I have no clue what its talking about answer’. Right now, I had other pressing concerns. “Are you going to drug me again?”
“You have rested. Your body is returning to a healthy state.”
I sighed in relief. At least I didn’t have to worry about having a ‘HAL’ situation from the movie, A Space Odyssey 2001 with this program.
I stopped as the corridor ended. “The bathing chamber is on my right?”
“Correct.”
The double doors opened automatically. “Wow!” My eyes widened at the huge swirling pool that dominated the room. You could fit twenty large Zakiu men in there. I glanced down at my filthy state. I was so going to have a bath.
It took a moment to search for the Zakiu version of a toilet. But once I was done, I stripped off and walked down the steps into the warm water, moaning at how good it felt on my skin. I dunked under to wet my hair.
I emerged to see Lucky on the side of the pool, watching me. “Do you think I could get some clothing after my bath?”
The blue light shimmered, white- and apricot-colored clothing appeared over one of the stone benches in the bathing room.
“Thank you, Essence.”
“Essence’s duty is to serve and protect.”
Lucky bounced up and down on the rim. I smiled at the little critter as I sat back to reflect on my situation. I was going to give Killiu a big hug when I saw him. I felt my smile slide into a worried frown. What the hell was I doing? I had no business enjoying this luxury when my friends were out there in the Druel imposed camp.
I had to think. I had to learn and there was no way I was going to leave them out there.
“Essence, will you answer my questions?”
“Essence will answer all questions within programming parameters.”
“Good. What happened to the Zakiu people? Why are so few left?” It was hard for me to understand how the Druel could have conquered them so easily. They were such an advanced people.
“Accessing historical recordings of past events.”
A hologram appeared above the pool. I watched in fascination and horror as Essence replayed the devastation the Druel had brought upon the Zakiu.
They had first come under the pretense of peace, wanting a trade treaty. The Zakiu were open and trusting. But the Druel introduced a virus into the population, which wiped out more than half the Zakiu in a matter of weeks. It was then theDruel struck, transporting hundreds of Zakiu off the planet. With no standing army to defend themselves, the Zakiu didn’t stand a chance.
My fingers clenched, anger churned in my gut. I swiped at the tears as I climbed from the pool.
The Zakiu who remained struggled to find a cure for the virus but by the time they had, it was too late. They were a conquered people.
“If you were built to defend and protect, why couldn’t you protect the Zakiu?”
“In the last days Essence was created by scientist Galvan to protect the city. He lived in hope that the people would one day come home.”
Fuck the fucking Druel, they’d murdered billions of people, all for their own selfish greed.
“Why didn’t they attack or destroy the city?” I toweled myself dry and
“Essence?”
“Essence is here, Anna.” Ah, I thought so. It was kind of creepy, but then again it did beat being alone and the program did seem to have my best interests at heart.
“What part of the city am I in?”
“The Royal House of Morradi.”
“This is the royal palace? Wow.” I frowned. “How come you’re still running? I would have thought after so long, the power would have faded.”
“Morradi City Prime has an endless supply of power from the liquid crystal core of the planet.”
“Oh, okay.” Ask a question and get a,’ I have no clue what its talking about answer’. Right now, I had other pressing concerns. “Are you going to drug me again?”
“You have rested. Your body is returning to a healthy state.”
I sighed in relief. At least I didn’t have to worry about having a ‘HAL’ situation from the movie, A Space Odyssey 2001 with this program.
I stopped as the corridor ended. “The bathing chamber is on my right?”
“Correct.”
The double doors opened automatically. “Wow!” My eyes widened at the huge swirling pool that dominated the room. You could fit twenty large Zakiu men in there. I glanced down at my filthy state. I was so going to have a bath.
It took a moment to search for the Zakiu version of a toilet. But once I was done, I stripped off and walked down the steps into the warm water, moaning at how good it felt on my skin. I dunked under to wet my hair.
I emerged to see Lucky on the side of the pool, watching me. “Do you think I could get some clothing after my bath?”
The blue light shimmered, white- and apricot-colored clothing appeared over one of the stone benches in the bathing room.
“Thank you, Essence.”
“Essence’s duty is to serve and protect.”
Lucky bounced up and down on the rim. I smiled at the little critter as I sat back to reflect on my situation. I was going to give Killiu a big hug when I saw him. I felt my smile slide into a worried frown. What the hell was I doing? I had no business enjoying this luxury when my friends were out there in the Druel imposed camp.
I had to think. I had to learn and there was no way I was going to leave them out there.
“Essence, will you answer my questions?”
“Essence will answer all questions within programming parameters.”
“Good. What happened to the Zakiu people? Why are so few left?” It was hard for me to understand how the Druel could have conquered them so easily. They were such an advanced people.
“Accessing historical recordings of past events.”
A hologram appeared above the pool. I watched in fascination and horror as Essence replayed the devastation the Druel had brought upon the Zakiu.
They had first come under the pretense of peace, wanting a trade treaty. The Zakiu were open and trusting. But the Druel introduced a virus into the population, which wiped out more than half the Zakiu in a matter of weeks. It was then theDruel struck, transporting hundreds of Zakiu off the planet. With no standing army to defend themselves, the Zakiu didn’t stand a chance.
My fingers clenched, anger churned in my gut. I swiped at the tears as I climbed from the pool.
The Zakiu who remained struggled to find a cure for the virus but by the time they had, it was too late. They were a conquered people.
“If you were built to defend and protect, why couldn’t you protect the Zakiu?”
“In the last days Essence was created by scientist Galvan to protect the city. He lived in hope that the people would one day come home.”
Fuck the fucking Druel, they’d murdered billions of people, all for their own selfish greed.
“Why didn’t they attack or destroy the city?” I toweled myself dry and
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