The Wormhole Runners A n yA R u p e Rt It was a mystery, something so old and so powerful that it had been buried in secrecy for a reason. The Wormhole runners Anya Rupert Ovi ebooks are available in Ovi/Ovi eBookshelves pages and they are for free. If somebody tries to sell you an Ovi book please contact us immediately. For details, contact: ovimagazine@yahoo.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the writer or the above publisher of this book An Ovi eBooks Publication 2025 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C The Wormhole Runners The Wormhole Runners Anya Rupert Anya Rupert An Ovi eBooks Publication 2025 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C The Wormhole Runners D r. Cassandra “Cassie” Kane stood at the en- trance of the forgotten city, the weight of the centuries pressing down on her. She wiped the sweat from her brow, the heat of the desert moon still clinging to the air despite the late hour. Thalaros IV was barren, desolate, yet here, hidden beneath the ancient ruins, something far more dangerous stirred. She had spent her entire career unearthing the lost secrets of alien civilizations, chasing whispers of for- gotten technologies and hidden wonders, but this... this was different. This wasn’t just a ruin. It was a mystery, something so old and so powerful that it had been buried in secrecy for a reason. “Let’s move, people!” Cassie barked, her voice sharp as she beckoned her team forward. Behind her, a handful of archaeologists in dust-covered jump- suits carried scanning devices and sample contain- Anya Rupert ers, their footsteps crunching on the gravel-laden ground. The ruins stretched out before them like the remains of a lost dream, spires and columns broken and shattered by time. The city’s walls were covered in alien hieroglyphs, impossible to decipher with their current tools, yet they had seen enough to know the truth: whatever this place was, it held knowledge far beyond anything humanity had encountered before. “Doctor,” Marcus, her second-in-command, called out from behind her. “You’re gonna want to see this.” Cassie turned sharply, her pulse quickening. Mar- cus had been the one to spot something hidden be- neath the rubble, a faint outline of an opening. She approached, her boots crunching on the ancient stone as she knelt down beside him. “What did you find?” she asked, her voice a mix- ture of impatience and awe. Marcus pointed to the ground, where the stone had been disturbed. Beneath the thick layers of dust and crumbled stone, there was a faint glow, a pulse, like a heartbeat. “Is that...?” she trailed off, her breath catching. “Something that shouldn’t be,” Marcus finished for her. The Wormhole Runners Cassie’s mind raced. A glow, a pulse, and an alien energy signature. She had been in enough ruins to recognize the signs of alien technology. But this? This was different. This wasn’t just a machine. It felt like something alive. “Clear the area,” Cassie ordered, stepping back. “Everyone, get back.” Her team scrambled to obey, moving quickly as she crouched beside the glowing shape, fingers hovering just inches from the energy field. The air hummed around her, charged with an energy she couldn’t quite understand. She had to admit, even as expe- rienced as she was, there was a sense of foreboding settling in her gut. “Cass, are you sure this is a good idea?” Marcus asked, his voice low. He sounded almost... nervous. That wasn’t like him. “I didn’t come all this way to stop now,” she said, her voice steady despite the dread gnawing at the edges of her thoughts. “We’re not leaving empty-handed.” She reached out and touched the field, and for a split second, the world seemed to tremble. A light flashed, blinding her for a moment. Her heart raced Anya Rupert as she jerked her hand back, blinking away the after- shock. And then the impossible happened, the stone before her shifted, parting like a door opening to an- other world. The team gathered around, murmuring in disbe- lief, but Cassie’s gaze was fixed on the doorway. What had just happened? Had she activated something? “Is that a... wormhole?” Marcus whispered, his eyes wide. Cassie didn’t answer immediately, too stunned to process what she was seeing. A swirling vortex of light shimmered in the air, a thin thread of energy connecting this world to somewhere else. She could feel it, a magnetic pull drawing her in, as though the universe itself were reaching out to claim her. “Cass?” Marcus prompted again, shaking her from her trance. “That thing’s active, isn’t it? And there’s a very real chance we’re about to be followed, right?” She snapped her gaze to him, her mind racing. “Activate the distress beacon,” she ordered, her voice a mix of urgency and adrenaline. “Now.” Before Marcus could respond, a sound echoed from the depths of the ruin, a faint skittering. A scrape of metal on stone. The Wormhole Runners Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “Move it,” she hissed. “Now.” Her team scattered, some heading for their equip- ment, others taking cover. But as they moved, Cassie knew—she wasn’t alone. The moment the wormhole opened, something had sensed it. Something old, something powerful. Something that wasn’t about to let humanity get its hands on whatever was beyond that doorway. It wasn’t long before the shadows moved. Cassie’s heart skipped a beat as figures appeared in the dark- ened corridors, figures she recognized immediately. Nexor Corp mercenaries. She cursed under her breath. “Damn it,” she mut- tered, standing tall. “We’ve got company.” Marcus turned, eyes wide with realization. “Nex- or? How did they...” “Doesn’t matter,” Cassie interrupted. “We don’t have time to find out. Get ready.” The mercenaries, clad in dark combat gear, moved swiftly toward her team. The lead mercenary, a tall, steely-eyed man, stepped forward with a smirk. “Dr. Kane. Fancy meeting you here. Did you honestly think you could keep this for yourself?” Anya Rupert Cassie’s heart rate spiked as she gauged the situa- tion. The mercenaries were heavily armed, and the wormhole, well, that was now an irresistible target for anyone with the right resources. She had to act fast. “I didn’t come all this way just to hand it over to the likes of you,” Cassie shot back, her voice calm despite the rising tension. The mercenary leader chuckled, raising an eye- brow. “You really think you have a choice?” Before she could respond, a shrill sound filled the air, and suddenly the ground beneath them began to tremble. Cassie glanced around, her blood running cold. The shadow she had felt earlier was no longer just a feeling. It was real. Something massive, something ancient, moved in the dark recesses of the city. Cassie’s mind raced. This was no longer just about getting out alive. This was about controlling the wormhole—and surviving whatever had been guarding it for millennia. “Run!” Cassie yelled to her team, shoving Marcus toward the exit. “Get to the ship! Now!” Gunfire erupted, and Cassie barely dodged a shot The Wormhole Runners aimed at her. She turned, eyes wild. This wasn’t going to be easy. But she was no stranger to danger. And with the wormhole, the stakes were higher than ever. It was a race now, not just to escape but to keep the wormhole from falling into the wrong hands. The ancient alien presence was closing in fast, and the mercenaries would stop at nothing to control the power that lay beyond the rift. Cassie’s lips curled into a fierce smile as she sprint- ed toward the exit. She wasn’t backing down. Not this time. The universe had just become a lot more interest- ing. And she was about to discover exactly how deep the rabbit hole went. Anya Rupert I. Cassie stared at the swirling vortex, her breath shallow. The lights flickered, casting sharp shadows across the ruin-filled chamber. She reached out a hand, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. “It’s real. It’s actually real,” she muttered, barely believing her own words. Her comms buzzed to life, static crackling before Marcus’s voice broke through. “Dr. Kane, are you seeing what we’re seeing?” he asked, the excitement in his tone unmistakable. Cassie didn’t look away from the rift. “I’m seeing the impossible,” she replied, her voice tight with dis- belief. “A doorway to another place... another time. This isn’t just a wormhole, Marcus. It’s... it’s alive.” The Wormhole Runners There was a brief silence on the line before Marcus spoke again. “Should we... should we go through it?” he asked, his voice rising in disbelief. Cassie opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the walls around them seemed to shake. A sudden loud crash echoed from above, boots thud- ding against metal. Cassie’s pulse quickened as she looked up. “We have company,” she muttered, her heart racing. “Get to cover.” Her hand hovered over the device she’d activated to keep the wormhole stable, but she didn’t want to take her eyes off the rift. Whatever this was, whatever they had just uncovered, it was more than just tech- nology, it was the key to something else. Something unimaginable. And now, the people who would stop at nothing to control it were closing in. The sound of boots grew louder, and then—out of the shadows—emerged a squad of armed mercenar- ies. They moved in with smooth precision, their boots clicking sharply against the stone floors. The lead mercenary, a tall man with silver eyes that gleamed Anya Rupert like polished steel, smirked as he approached, his gaze fixed squarely on Cassie. “I see you found our little secret, Dr. Kane,” he said, his voice low and chilling. His uniform was marked with the unmistakable Nexor Corp insignia. “Im- pressive work. I’d say congratulations, but... well, you’ve been digging in the wrong place.” Cassie’s heart sank. Nexor Corp. Of course. They were always one step ahead, always lurking where the real discoveries happened. “You’re too late,” she snapped, refusing to show any sign of fear. Her hand stayed on the device, activating it further. “This belongs to no one.” The mercenary’s eyes flickered with annoyance, and in one fluid motion, he reached for his blaster. The gunfire rang out, quick, precise, and deadly. A shot whizzed past Cassie’s ear, the heat of it grazing her cheek. Her heart jumped in her chest, and before she could even process the danger, the mercenar- ies surged forward, their guns aimed directly at the swirling vortex. “This isn’t just about you, Doctor,” the leader growled, stepping closer, his voice a mixture of dis- The Wormhole Runners dain and dark amusement. “This... whatever this is, it belongs to us. And you’re not leaving here with it.” Cassie dove to the side, narrowly avoiding another blaster shot. Her pulse was a hammering rhythm in her ears as she scrambled behind a ruined pillar, the air thick with the acrid smell of burnt metal. “Marcus!” she shouted, barely able to hear her own voice over the gunfire. “Get to the control panel, now!” Marcus didn’t hesitate. He dove behind a stone slab and sprinted toward the console that stabilized the wormhole, returning fire as he went. Cassie peered over the pillar, her mind racing. She had to stabilize the wormhole, shut it down, or... The room suddenly shuddered as the ground be- neath them trembled, the walls vibrating with an eerie hum. The gunfire paused for a split second. Cassie’s breath caught in her throat. The mercenaries looked around, their faces paling, unsure of what was happening. And then, a roar, low and guttural, ripped through the room. Cassie’s blood ran cold as the very air around them Anya Rupert seemed to twist. A shadow moved in the doorway, impossibly large. A shape that wasn’t human, and certainly not anything from this planet. The mercenaries froze. Even their leader, with his cool, practiced demeanor, seemed momentarily stunned. The figure stepped forward, the sound of its claws scraping across the metal floor sending shivers down Cassie’s spine. The creature was immense, its black, scaled body looming in the dim light, its eyes glowing with an unsettling malice. Its head was crowned with jagged ridges, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of sharp teeth. Cassie’s stomach turned. The alien, she recognized it immediately. “J’rathar,” she breathed, her voice barely audible. The J’rathar were an ancient race of beings that had once been masters of the wormhole technolo- gy. But they’d vanished long ago, leaving only whis- pers of their power in the dusty ruins of forgotten cities. They were protectors of the rifts, the gateways between worlds. And now, one had come back to re- claim what was never meant to leave their hands. The Wormhole Runners The creature’s voice was deep, like a growl from the core of the planet. “I think it’s time for you to leave,” it rumbled, its tone cold and menacing, its eyes nar- rowing with hatred. The mercenaries, stunned by the sheer size and presence of the alien, instinctively raised their weap- ons. But the J’rathar only chuckled, a sound that made the hairs on the back of Cassie’s neck stand on end. “You think your weapons can stop me?” it sneered, its voice like thunder. “Foolish humans.” Cassie didn’t hesitate. This was her chance. As the mercenaries scrambled to adjust their aim, she slammed her palm down on the activation panel, locking the wormhole in place. But just as the vortex began to stabilize, the room trembled again, this time violently. Cassie’s legs near- ly buckled under the force. She glanced up. “We have to move!” Marcus shouted, his voice panicked. The J’rathar roared, its massive form lurching for- ward, its claws extending. The mercenaries opened fire in unison, but it was useless. The creature was Anya Rupert too fast, too powerful. It ducked and weaved between the shots, a blur of darkness. And then, with a single swipe, it knocked the nearest mercenary across the room, sending him crashing into a pile of stone rub- ble. “Get out of here, now!” Cassie screamed. Marcus hesitated for a moment before nodding. They didn’t have much time. The mercenaries were already regrouping, their rifles aimed at the alien, but it was clear, none of them stood a chance. Cassie darted toward the wormhole, her fingers slick with sweat as she adjusted the settings on the device. The J’rathar hissed, and Cassie could see the wicked glint of its eyes as it turned its attention to her. The mercenary leader took a hesitant step back, glancing at the rift. “We... we need to secure the wormhole,” he muttered, uncertainty in his voice. His bravado had cracked. “I think it’s too late for that,” Cassie said grimly, her eyes fixed on the glowing rift. “This isn’t something we can control anymore.” The J’rathar lunged again, but Cassie was already The Wormhole Runners pulling the lever. The vortex shimmered brighter, and then, with a violent pulse, the chamber seemed to implode—everything swirling into a point of light. The last thing Cassie saw before the world around her collapsed into pure energy was the leader of Nex- or Corp, his silver eyes wide with terror as the worm- hole swallowed them all. And then, everything went black. * * * * * * * When Cassie opened her eyes, she was no longer in the ruins of Thalaros IV. The air smelled different, cleaner, somehow. The ground beneath her feet was solid, unyielding. But the unmistakable hum of the wormhole was still in her ears. And somewhere in the distance, she could hear the ominous roar of the J’rathar, its voice echoing across the strange, alien landscape. Anya Rupert II. Cassie’s breath came in ragged gasps, the sound of boots pounding against the cold stone floor like a drumbeat in her ears. The walls of the ancient ru- ins seemed to stretch on forever, twisting and turn- ing in ways that made no sense. Yet, her feet moved on instinct, propelling her forward. She could hear Marcus’s breath beside her, shallow and erratic, and the unmistakable thundering growls of the J’rathar echoing through the halls behind them. “We’re not going to make it!” Marcus’s voice cracked as he stumbled over a loose stone, his weight pitching forward. Cassie didn’t hesitate. She spun, grabbing his arm in a vice-like grip, yanking him back to his feet. “We are going to make it,” she snapped, pulling him along. “But you have to keep moving , Marcus, or we’re both dead.”