Nemesis: Book Five Read Online Free Page A

were—and as Morena arrived, those already there ceased to exist, their species as extinct as the first planet Morena conquered.
    Morena would spread across the universe in a way that no other Bynum ever considered. She would, if allowed to continue, eventually cause the destruction of her husband's own species. Helos' daughter would become a plague across every species to ever live, besides her own.
    The vision Helos saw disappeared, leaving the swirling colors of the circle. They didn't light up, didn't attempt to speak. They swirled in silence, if not in peace exactly, then perhaps in contentment.
    Helos understood.

4
    Present Day
    R igley couldn't stop staring at this new world. It occupied her mind like a sore tooth, she unable to keep her tongue from going to it even though pain shot out each time. Some part of her couldn't comprehend this place, one that she helped create. Some part of her looked out at these creatures dotting the landscape and wondered what she had done.
    And yet, part of her was happy.
    Part of her loved what she saw. Because she saved these children, even if it meant she killed others. These fully grown creatures, they lived because of Rigley—no one else could claim that.
    She stood on the porch listening to the sides battle, each side a part of her and yet separate, as if something else controlled them other than her conscious mind.
    A phrase fluttered through her thoughts like a butterfly over a flower bed. Lazy, without hurry or worry. Something Abraham Lincoln said that she remembered from her school—a house divided cannot stand. Or something like that, something close to it. The butterfly rested there in her mind, touching down lightly, letting her glimpse its meaning.
    How long had she been divided? How many years had she battled herself, if not in this war, then others? What was one more battle? She could handle it; she had to.
    And then the phrase flew off, leaving as it came, without a care, and as the thought left, so did the meaning.
    Rigley looked out at the auras, some dancing with each other, some solitary, as their owners stood completely still like unplugged robots. She didn't know what they were doing, but they needed to hurry up. Rigley also didn't know what the U.S. was doing, but she figured a lot more than standing around staring into space.
    She didn't hear the alien approach from behind her; instead, she saw the pale blue preceding him from the corner of her eye. Rigley turned, giving up her view of the children, and faced him.
    He didn't look at her, but past her, watching the others as she had moments before.
    "We must prepare," he said.
    Rigley's head cocked to the side, knowing that she heard him speak, but unable to believe it.
    "What?" she said after a few seconds. He still didn't bother looking at her.
    "We must be ready when they return, your kind."
    "You're talking?" Rigley said, feeling dumb as the words left her mouth.
    "It would appear so, yes," Briten answered.
    "What does that mean?"
    Briten looked to her, the blue of his eyes deeper than that of his aura, and standing out like lights in the night. "It means that I'm fully aware."
    "And what about them out there?"
    "They're unaware. They'll remain unaware for a while, as long as I did."
    "Are they helpless?" Rigley said, yet not turning to reference them, unable to take her eyes from his.
    "Somewhat, yes. The longer they're alive, the less helpless they'll grow, and their auras will protect them to some degree no matter what. But yes, right now they need protection." He broke eye contact and went back to staring at his kin.
    "How long will she be down? Morena?"
    "I don't know."
    Rigley kept staring for a few more seconds, and unsure what to do, turned back to the yard. She didn't want to believe she was here, looking at this or standing next to the creature beside her. Because the aliens in the yard, their eyes all focused on him. Before, they stared mindlessly ahead, as if unable to focus on anything.
    And