Nickels and Nails

[Leo]

Once we made it back upstairs to the appartment, our father sat the case gently down on the table and popped the tabs open. The spring in the case opened the lid by itself, and sitting in the middle in it's glory was an artifact. An artifact that looked like no other...and it was active.

"Bloody hell..." Nickels said. "You've had this with you the entire time?!"

"I have. I kept it from you in order to keep you safe, for who ever knows about it seems to wind up dead, or missing."

"But you're alive." he said. "And so are you dad."

"But we're being hunted." my father interjected.

I explained the situation to him.

"Project Tundra, named after the missing ship in Alaska. It was an attempt to discover the truth about the alien artifacts discovered on Manhattan when we first arrived in the New York system 800 years ago. Soon after all this happened however, it was ranamed to Project Frostblight. That was what it's intention was, until they discovered similar artifacts on Stutgartt a few years ago. The standard protocol was of course brought into play, but somehow it was leaked to dad, I'll let him explain that part. Now dad is a brilliant man, as you and I both know, both in science and research. Instead of shutting him up, Rheinland decided to bring him in on the project. Dad was a Liberty National just like you and I are, so naturally, Liberty didn't like that. I was only 19 at the time, and dad wanted me to see the project, Rhienland agreed and brought me in as well to research what they had found. Two weeks later dad didn't show up for one of the work days, and got the officals worried. I was detained for questioning and released a few days later when no evidence of dad had turned up. Rhienland had said that with out a doubt all information and records of me being on the project were wiped clean and the project renamed to what it is now. Apparently the Rhienland government has a rat in the highest tier of their system, and ratted my name out to them. That's when you and I took the job in Rhienland, Jess. When that Liberty offical died, I knew s*** was about to hit the fan...I didn't say anything though, assuming that they knew you weren't in on the project and would let you go when they caught me."

Jess listened and raised one question. "What does this have to do with the case?"

"This isn't any artifact Jess. This is an ACTIVE one. Similar to the one Trent used to rid most of the Nomads from Sirius."

"Who...what?"

"It's classified." my father interjected. "Most Artifacts you find these days are dead, deactivated because of the time they've spent in the dirt, but this one was active, buried deep in an ancient temple buried deep underground, so deep infact it was right next to the planets core. I knew your brother wanted to follow in my footsteps as a scientist for a while, so I brought him in to help me. Rheinland agreed to my surprise and we worked on it together. A few months later, a Black Ops Liberty detachment kidnapped me from Rheinland and then on the way back to Liberty, we were attacked by an unknown faction, and I was taken there, where I've been since."

"Do you know who they were?" I asked.

"No idea. They said they were followers of the...I don't remember what they said. I'm assuming the Nomads."

"Followers?" Jess said with a quizical look on his face.

"People worship the Nomads, believing that they are the cure to our problems. So it's only natural they would want this Artifact, I think it's a mighty big deal to the Nomads..."

"So we just killed a bunch of their worshipers...that means the Nomads could be on their way." I said facepalming.

"Very well possible. We might want to get off Malta while we still have the chance." my father said.

"That doesn't explain how you got the bloody case!" Jess said almost yelling.

"I stole it." I said. "After father vanished, we discovered this artifact, it was glowing blue. Most of the artifacts glow red or orange. Never blue. I took it and placed it in a case. When asked about it, I said it vanished into thin air, which wasn't surprising considering we were dealing with alien technology. I snuck it out of the compound, and just now I assume they've discovered I took it."

"And that's why who ever it was are playing Liberty and Rhienland against the both of you. To get you caught, so the members that are still infected in the highest forms of government can steal the Artifact back, and unlock the mysteries of their creators."

"Bloody hell..." Jess said. "We've gotta get off Malta..."

"My thoughts exactly. I'm going to dig in here. Hide with your friend Gio. I know a man in the Special forces of the Outcasts. His name is Chavez Velencia. If you need to contact me, contact him first, he will be able to help you. Good luck boys."

Our father gave us both a hug and patted us on the head. He looked to me.

"Get that Artifact to someplace fortified. There is a freelancer station in Coro-"

The ground rocked as a ship exploded on the tarmac near us. Screams could be heard as we looked out the window of the appartment.

"Go! I'll find Chavez and take shelter. Get that Artifact off the planet!"

I braced the case against my chest and ran down the emergency stairs. Jess ran down behind me. We both dropped to the alley and started running towards a transport vessel getting ready to depart. We jumped in the back and slid the compartment closed. It sealed and the ship took to flight.

"You know, you could have told me...I wouldn't have hated you Josh." Jess said out of the blue.

"I didn't want to take a chance...you're one of the only family members I have left...I couldn't take you hating me..." I replied.

"I'll never hate you...you're my brother, and nothing will change that..."

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You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark.

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Starlight Research Consortium | The Banished Legion | Astral
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