The Agathon: Reign of Arturo by Colin Weldon Read Free Book Online Page A

responded.
    “Come on, Tyrell, I don’t have all day. Why did you save my life? And Carrie for that matter?” he paused, “What are you, where is Tyrell, what the hell was that planet machine thing and what the fuck is going on?”
    Tyrell smiled.
    “I can see why she admires you so much,” Tyrell said.
    Barrington paused waiting for a response.
    “The ‘machine thing’ as you put it, is called the Targlagdu. It is the remnant of a very old civilisation long gone. It travels what you perceive as the known galaxy, harvesting life forms and replicating them for energy. It is unfortunate that your species came into contact with it so early in your evolution. You were not prepared for it,” he said.
    Barrington listened intently. Tyrell paused and looked at the captain.
    “Why don’t you ask me what you really want to know, Captain?” he stated.
    Barrington hesitated. He had wanted to kill Tyrell when Carrie had told him that The Black had taken control of his body. Somehow that anger was beginning to surface. He didn’t answer, but thoughts of Jennifer began to flood his mind.
    “Why did you kill her and not Tyrell?” he said softly. Tyrell stared at him blankly for a moment before responding.
    “The deaths of those who came before this one were not intentional,” Tyrell finally said.
    “What?” Barrington said.
    “Communication with your species could only be achieved by bonding,” Tyrell said, “We attempted it with several others including your wife, but the molecular cohesion was unknown to us and the attempts failed,” he said.
    “So you liquefied them?” Barrington said letting the anger spill over into his voice.
    “Your biological make-up needed to be ascertained. Once the information was known to us, the bonding with this one became possible,” Tyrell said unmoved.
    Barrington looked at the floor trying to contain his sadness at the loss of his wife.
    I’m sorry, Jen
, he thought to himself. He sighed and tried to regain control.
    “It was an accident?” he asked Tyrell.
    “It was necessary,” Tyrell responded.
    “What do you want with Carrie? Do you know why she has her abilities?” he said focusing his eye on the doctor. Tyrell stood suddenly and moved slowly towards the glass.
    “Captain, I mean you and your crew no harm,” Tyrell said, “I can help her. I can help you. If I wanted to cause harm to this vessel, this chamber would not stop that from happening,” he said.
    Barrington stood and took a step towards the glass.
    “I think me decompressing this deck and blowing you out an airlock would prevent that from happening,” he said forcefully. Tyrell raised his hands.
    “There is no need for idle threats, Captain. Carrie is far too important for me to cause her harm. Not to mention she poses a greater threat to me than an airlock, wouldn’t you agree?” he said smiling.
    Barrington thought about that for a moment and had to agree that Carrie’s ability was probably one of the only reasons that he had kept Tyrell alive at all. He sighed and stepped away from the glass turning his back to Tyrell.
    “Fuck it,” he finally said moving to the control panel and tapping in a command. The glass to the brig slid apart. Tyrell frowned and genuinely looked surprised at him. He stepped out of the chamber and approached the captain. Barrington held his ground as the pair met in the middle of the quiet room.
    “Thank you,” Tyrell said. Barrington watched him carefully.
    “Now,” he continued, “How can I be of assistance?”
    The Agathon
    Quarters of Carrie Barrington
    Carrie stepped into her quarters and looked around. It looked like someone had tossed the place, then she remembered the unsettling transition from hyperspace. A table lay on its side in the middle of the room. She walked over and slowly picked it up. The light from a passing star drew her attention to a spot of dried blood on her sleeve. She paused and looked at it before staring out at the billions of passing