When we entered the stateroom, a heated discussion was already taking place. My INAS instantly popped up registering multiple high-level threats. The stateroom was large, and a massive holographic table stood in the middle surrounded by a dozen or so high chairs of the most nightmarish design. In those chairs sat dignitaries from several of the major Partak Sector factions. Most of them were Jareet and Greth, but there were also a Vakaz and a Shia wavemaster each of the highest order.
It wasn’t any of them that sent a shiver down my spine. I had seen all those races in various outfits and clandestine political meetings like this didn’t shock me the least. What did rattle my bones to the core was the Frey officer sitting at the head of the table and the two Kayzar Guards to both his sides. I hadn’t seen a Frey since my untimely death on Pelerin now almost fifteen years ago. It wasn’t just the ugly memory that caused me to tense up. The Frey were Aloi allies, which meant that if they met here on official capacity, then the Aloi were extending their feelers toward the Partak Sector.
The entire room looked to Rinslo as he entered, but their gazes didn’t linger on him for long. Instead, their eyes stopped on the three of us and stayed there for an uncomfortably long time. As expected, the Frey commander stared at the Nameless as if not believing his eyes. Rinslo assured him that there wouldn’t be any problems and that the Nameless was his prisoner, but there was something about how the commander accepted this information that troubled me. And it surely troubled him too. It wasn’t just the idea of the Nameless being a prisoner, of him being here; no, it seemed like the very fact he existed troubled the Frey commander.
We stood several feet behind our boss, so to say, and then exchanged calculating stares with the other guards, scanning for their strengths and weaknesses.
One of the Greth commented on Rinslo’s choice of bodyguards. It ended in a full-blown laughter competition, but despite Rinslo laughing along, he was pissed. Even more so probably because he knew who and what we were.
As the meeting finally began, I kept my eyes on the Kayzar Guards. I never had the time to properly look at those fuckers who killed me on Pelerin. When you had a rebirther slot in the CFF, they uploaded your conscious mind every two minutes, so I had a small gap in memory. I remembered flashes of steel, blood, and energized weapons.
The Kayzar Guard was clad in dark purple armor with long black robes that had white borders. Their bodies seemed slim but tall, and their armor was tightly woven to their muscles. Though the guards had helmets on, their leader sitting in the high chair hadn’t. His face wasn’t unlike a human’s face, but their jaws were very different. They looked like an insect’s mandibles and yet they weren’t made of anything solid like a carapace, they were soft so the Frey could produce a language.
I wasn’t disgusted or afraid of the Frey, despite having lost my life to them, but I wasn’t completely myself either. Bad memories tended to bring out a survival instinct in most men and women. It was only natural.
“Before we begin this meeting, let me extend our gratitude to Warden Rinslo who helped make this very beneficial agreement come true,” said a Jareet official. He was most likely the commander of the ship or of a group of Jareet. “Without you, who knows how many more centuries we’d wait before an opportunity like this arose again.”
The other members nodded and applauded in agreement. I had no idea what Rinslo’s part in this was, but my curiosity wasn’t going to let this one slide. I told myself that I wouldn’t ever be dragged into politics again, but this was big, as in really big. For the first time in a long while, I felt as if Xan wasn’t the only place in the universe anymore.
“Yes, Commander, it is true. And as a show of good faith, we will reward such diplomatic skills in fashion,” the Frey dignitary said.
He pressed a few commands into the table and a holographic imagine popped up over the round holo-table. Everyone in the stateroom gasped at the hologram. The image was that of a ship, and even someone like me could partially appreciate the enormity of what I just saw. I had seen a lot of ships in my life, but never something of this design.
The ship was the size of a frigate; it was painted with a dark crimson coating that had streaks of gold running along the sides. The hull looked smooth and slick, which could mean only one thing: it was strong interaction material, but I had never seen a whole ship covered in it. The thing must have had the mass of a star.
The Frey finally spoke again.
“This is a Hunter-class frigate of our own design. But as you can see, it has been heavily modified in every aspect. The outer layer is entirely made of SI material which makes it virtually invulnerable to kinetic weaponry, but it can be penetrated with high-intensity energy weapons found on heavy assault battleships of the Commonwealth Federation. However, we have equipped the ship with quad-band energy shields, so even if a Star-Eater hits you directly, you’d still have a good chance of survival. The ship’s equipped with four SI drones for offensive and defensive usage. Four mass driver batteries, two high-pulse plasma beam emitters, and a Pavlov rail gun cannon. Now, as for—”
One of the Greth nobles shot to his feet and stopped the Frey from speaking.
“How is this even possible? We can’t even manufacture enough SI materials to cover a drone. How can you have a ship covered in a material that is heavier than a star?”
I felt the Frey’s irritation at that question. He wasn’t here to share secrets of Aloi technology; the Greth should have known that. Yet, he didn’t let the question throw him off.
“As you know, this is a prototype. There are mass inhibitors within the layers of the hull, and as you know I’m not an engineer, Lord Maelstrem, but I do not make promises I can’t keep either.”
“I would never assume as much, and please forgive me, it’s just curiosity. Us Greth have a special place in our hearts for technology.”
The Frey nodded.
“The AI is also a prototype. It’s a combined effort of both Aloi and Frey scientists which enabled this frigate to only need a skeleton crew to operate.”
As the Frey Commander spoke those words, I could sense Mitto getting excited. The rest of the members applauded this incredible gift, and if Rinslo’s face hadn’t been that of a leathery Takkari, it probably would have blushed.
“This ship alone is worth half a smaller fleet,” one of the more important Jareet said.
It wasn’t the captain of this ship, his attire was way too fancy for that. I assumed he was a statesman or someone of importance in the ruling circles of Jareet Prime.
“It is,” the Frey replied calmly.
“So, are you telling us that we too will have access to such devastating weaponry, Commander Crase?”
Commander Crase. That name was oddly familiar, but I couldn’t remember why or how.
The Frey commander stared back at the Jareet dignitary and replied calmly. “The Aloi Hegemony will see that you are compensated for your efforts.”
For some reason, he looked at me and the rest of the guards in the room as he spoke.
“That’s what a politician would say, Frey. I need concrete answers. Is the Jareet commissariat going to get access to SI materials, to Pavlov guns, and quad-band shield technology?”
The Frey sat silent for several seconds. He was in obvious discomfort but he shook it off pretty quickly. “I can’t speak in the name of the entire Hegemony. The Frey, as you know by now, have been only allies to the Aloi, which aren’t completely integrated into their society. From this position, I can only assure you that the Aloi are very beneficial allies that always keep their word. That was our experience, and I would lay my life down that it will be your experience as well.”
The Greth and the Vokoz seemed pleased with this answer, but the Jareet not so much.
“Sounds like a whole lot of shit,” I muttered to Mitto.
“Yes, he is being dishonest. I can feel it,” the parasite replied, startling me with the revelation. I didn’t say anything else but made a mental note to questio
n him about it later.
“I had one more thing I wanted to add regarding this frigate,” Commander Crase said as he stared at the Jareet who questioned him earlier. “This is not just a ship of destruction; it is also a ship of life. This deck here,” he said while zooming in on the holographic ship, “is the bio-engineering section of the ship. It’s equipped with technology that will allow you to manipulate the DNA of almost any living being, given that you know what you’re doing. Some of the most powerful bio-engineering devices the Aloi Hegemony uses are on board. It allows for complete fractioning of living things and reverse-engineering their properties. Its uses are virtually endless.”
There was a hint of caution in the Frey’s voice, and I knew there was much more to it than one might think at first. The Aloi and their allies were very driven and focused. They had a goal in mind that they pursued relentlessly, and given the chance, they would do the same to everyone else.
The present sides were somewhat puzzled by this welcome yet surprising addition to Rinslo’s ship. Before anyone could jump the gun, Rinslo spoke up.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Commander. It is such an honor. I’m stunned beyond comprehension, really.”
“As you may be aware, Warden, we didn’t bring the ship with us at this time. However, it is in transit and should arrive within the month,” the Frey commander said, giving me all kinds of ideas.
A ship like this would be a sure way out of here, I thought. Mitto must have felt the change in my brain patterns or something because he confirmed my idea.
“This could be Mitto’s dream, boss. A beautiful, beautiful dream! And I would make sure to fulfill your dream as well!”
I ignored his comments so I wouldn’t raise suspicion within a room dense with tension.
“Now then,” the Frey commander said, “It’s time we discuss the main reason for this meeting. I’m certain that all of you gathered here are serious, respectable people with a great vision and that any bodyguards within this room would be superfluous if not even insulting.”
“Wait back in the ship,” Rinslo whispered. “But stay on alert just in case.”
I was somewhat reluctant to follow the order, but we did so without protest. Rinslo probably told us to wait on our ship in order to avoid any fuss with the other races, to which I agreed happily. They were ugly bastards that were the things of nightmares.
It was asking a lot from three prisoners, though. If it had been anyone else, I bet they’d try to make a run for it right there, but I thought better of it. My mind was racing with possibilities and I didn’t want to screw anything up, unlike Fars who already managed to get into an argument with a Greth guard. The Greth commented that it was highly unusual for an Eres to hang out with an Aloi and how they probably had a romantic relationship. He said it in a wildly more offensive way, of course. Fars, even-tempered as he always was, slammed a fist into the Greth’s face, but before anything slid out of control, I managed to pull Fars back with the help of the Nameless and the situation calmed down rather quickly.
I watched the Kayzar Guards all the while, but they just stood there unmoving like statues. I guess they were ordered to avoid all interaction with the “inferior” races of the Partak Sector. And let’s be honest, they were superior in any way imaginable.
When we arrived at our ship, Fars said what was on everyone’s mind to begin with.
“Why don’t we just take this ship and get the hell away from here?”
“And go where? The Jareet cruiser will catch up to us in no time,” I lied.
It wouldn’t catch up to us and we’d be able to escape and hide within Xan’s asteroid belt where they’d never find us. We wouldn’t have accomplished anything though, and that bothered me. It would have taken us a year on sub-light to reach a space station or habitable planet, and by then we’d be fugitives marked for a shoot-on-sight order. No, a different and grander scheme was simmering in my mind. It would require time, finesse, strength, and violence, but also smarts. The ingredients for any heroic undertaking, or in our case, criminal endeavor.
With the help of Mitto, I managed to get into the Jareet security system and lock on to the meeting room. It was heavily protected not only digitally, but physically as well. The whole stateroom was impenetrable to sound, so it took some ingenuity on Mitto’s part to solve the riddle. He got into the electronics of the holographic table and managed to receive audio input through the communication’s array. It was faint but strong enough for me to understand one very important thing: the Aloi Hegemony was working on integrating the Partak Sector.
I assumed the Greth and the Jareet wouldn’t allow a complete cultural integration and would strike a deal similar to the one the Frey made. Regarding the rest of the races, I supposed they would be left to the mercy of Aloi bioengineering. This stank of betrayal on several fronts as not only would the Greth and Jareet be selling out dozens of races from their sector but from my experience with the Aloi, they’d still get integrated. There was a reason the Frey were the only non-integrated ally of the Aloi: they had leverage, something the Greth and Jareet really didn’t have. The Frey were to the Aloi what the Eres was to the Ka. I wondered how it came to this. Why would the Partak Sector suddenly chose a side after centuries of neutrality?
That’s pretty much all the information I could get from the meeting in the end. It wasn’t much, but at the same time, it was too much. With Fars’ help, I tried to keep my head empty of things I couldn’t influence, and yet I often found myself mulling over the war, Earth, the Aloi, and the Ka. I wondered how far the war had progressed. What the situation on Detera was, whether Winters did anything useful on Zaria VIII, and so on.
It was useless to think about such things since I wasn’t part of the whole story anymore, but it still beats thinking about Persei Prime and my family. Now my mind was burning with curiosity, and I learned to hate that feeling when living in Xan because there was no way to quench the thirst.
It took a whole day of meditating with Fars and doing extensive physical exercises to get my head back into the reality of living in a prison. I talked to Fars that night about his opinion, but he was reluctant to get into it. It was he who taught me to let go of my previous life and focus on the tasks at hand.
“But what do you think is the reason the Partak Sector now wants to join the war? Don’t you have any thoughts about what might be going on?”
“I’d prefer not to have any,” he said, outstretched on his bed. “Politics is for the weak. The strong simply take what they want.”
“Say, doesn’t this worry you? What about your race? What if the war isn’t going well and they’re—”
“We talked about this, Richard Stavos. Many, many times, haven’t we?”
“Yes, but now we actually know something from outside and—”
“And it changes nothing, Richard Stavos. You’re still locked in here with me, fighting for your life. How will worrying here help a war lightyears away?”
“I’m not in the mood for your preaching, Eres, I need answers.”
“What you need is sleep. Tomorrow is the second of the five rounds at the Redemption Tomb. You’re up against a Filadron, Richard Stavos. Your mind needs to be fresh, as they’re deadly enemies.”
“They’re basically trees,” I said, disheartened by Fars’ reluctance to take me seriously. “You’re underestimating your enemy. That is—”
“One of the thousand rules in the Eres’ Code of War, yes, I know.” Although he slept in the bottom bunk, I could feel his grimace through the mattress.
“If the Aloi make allies they never had before, are they under- or overestimating their enemy?” Fars asked suddenly and ripped me from my reverie. And just so when I thought he would doze off to sleep.
“You’re a smart Eres, Fars.”
“And honorable,” he added with a yawn.
“And honorable,” I said while rolling my eyes at the ceiling of my cell. “Good night. Both of you.”
5
“Put that back in, you bloody idiot,” I heard someone yell at Fars.
“He must die a warrior!” Fars screamed back.
I couldn’t move my head to see what was going on, but I recognized the white walls of the infirmary.
“Guards, get this thing out of here!” the first voice yelled again, this time laced with anger instead of panic. It was the doc. A scuffle broke out and a familiar smell of burned meat filled the room. They electrocuted Fars through his bursty and knocked him out.
I felt pain spreading all over my body, especially in my left arm. It was a living and moving thing that went from one place to another. Even though Urgon’s pain inhibitor chip, I was in absolute agony.
“I just have to sever the nerves,” the doctor said to my horror.
I was hesitant to look at the wound he was working on for several long seconds as tears formed at the corner of my eyes. When I finally did manage to turn my head, I screamed internally. My left arm was crushed beyond repair and the doctor was cutting through nerve endings.
“What...what are you—” I muttered but I couldn’t finish the question.
“We will have to remove the whole arm as he’s lost too much blood.”
I gave out a weak groan of protest, but it didn’t reach anybody.
“Stop—please!”
“Or should I get the splinters out from his lungs first?” At that very moment, I saw a stream of blood shoot out of an artery somewhere below my chest. It was followed by a wave of agonizing pain. “Oh, shouldn’t have touched that, I guess. Humans are just ridiculous creatures.”
Redeemer: A Military Space Opera Series (War Undying Book 2) Page 5
