Phantoms

by T. R. Harris

  The Juirean had the link code for the Colony Ship—now called the Behemoth by Adam and the Humans. He entered the number and then waited. A large clock on the wall counted down the link time. In clear space, CW links were good for about an hour, but on a planet, with its additional rotation and other factors, the duration was reduced to about forty minutes. The three thousand credits would cover his first session.

  A Formilian in one of the Behemoth’s twelve relay stations answered the link. The Klin invented CW communications, and they’d built the Colony Ship. They could have as many relay stations aboard their vessel as they wished.

  A moment later, Adam Cain was summoned to the room by the technician.

  “Tidus, where the hell have you been?” Adam barked. “We were expecting you a day ago, and then we lost contact. What happened?”

  “An unfortunate turn of events, my friend. The Forty was attacked by raiders, and our CW comm was destroyed.”

  “Are you okay? Summer and Monty?”

  “Yes, we are all well. However, the ship was severely damaged. We managed to land on the planet Sasin although the ship will never fly again. We are requesting a party to pick us up.”

  “Sasin? Why does that sound familiar?”

  “It is a last-resort refugee planet in this part of the galaxy.”

  “That’s right. It’s supposed to be a real shithole.”

  “I refer to it as a cesspool, but the meanings are similar.”

  “Is the team secure?”

  “We are for now, yet I must request haste in our recovery. The environment is not conducive to long-term residency.”

  “Understood.” Adam frowned. “You say raiders attacked you?”

  “Yes, suspected members of the Gradis Cartel.”

  Adam grimaced. “Yeah, those bastards are still around. I bet they love a place like Sasin. A lot of desperate recruits there.”

  “Indeed. However, at this moment, the Cartel is the least of our worries. When can we expect a recovery?”

  Adam appeared lost in thought for a moment. “The team is getting ready to head out to the Kidis to track down the Aris transit signal. We have the two trans-dimensional starships Panur has built.”

  “I am aware of that, Adam. A Formilian ship and crew would do just as well.”

  “What I’m saying is I could take one of the TD ships and hop over to pick you up. I could be there in no time.”

  Tidus’s mood brightened. He had been expecting nothing less than nine days before rescue. “And in your estimation, what is no time?”

  “How far is Sasin?”

  “Two thousand light-years.”

  “Hell, I could be there in sixteen hours, give or take a few.”

  The Juirean flashed a full-tooth grin, a habit he’d picked up from the Humans. “That would be most excellent. It will also come as great news to Summer and Monty. You will find us at the merchant spaceport in the center of the city of Yanish-kas.”

  “Got it. How’s Monty doing?”

  “He exacerbated his injuries during the attack, but he is recovering. And when we meet, I will provide more detail as to how we managed to survive the Cartel assault.”

  Adam frowned. “Now I’m curious. What happened?”

  “It would take too long on a CW link to explain. Besides, I would wish you to leave as soon as possible. Sasin can be a very dangerous place.”

  “I hear you, my friend. I’ll let Panur and the others know what I’m doing. I’ll see you tomorrow sometime.”

  Tidus was encouraged. This was the best news he could expect and was now anxious to relay the information to Monty and Summer. But then he thought of Anoc and his three henchmen waiting outside the facility. It was a foregone conclusion that his old PA associate would try something at the end of the contract, either an actual assault or an attempt to extort more money out of him. It would take some convincing on Tidus’ part for that not to happen, along with a little help from the twin MK-47s he carried.

  Once that hurdle was cleared, all Tidus and the others had to do was survive on Sasin for another sixteen hours. Not a problem; just lock the doors and don’t open them until Adam Cain arrives.

  7

  “Let me take a look at that,” Summer said to her father.

  Monty pulled up his shirt to expose the clear dressing on his wound. “That Formilian suture shit is doing a pretty good job,” he said. “Better than what I got on Zinnol.”

  Summer pressed a finger on the pink flesh around the injury site. “Any pain?”

  “A little, but nothing unless I twist.”

  “Good. It looks like you’ll have more time to heal. We have nothing to do now but wait. For you, it’s the best prescription.”

  Monty could sense her concern.

  “Everything will be fine, Sum. Tidus is a pretty capable dude. He’s spent most of his time with PA in places like this—”

  The two Humans felt their ears pop as the air pressure changed in the ship; the outer hatch had opened… without warning.

  “That was quick,” Monty said, referring to Tidus and his mission, even though he knew this was something different. Their weapons were drawn by the time the first of the aliens made it into the common room.

  There were three of them, all of different races, and they came with weapons at the ready, rushing through the interior of the ship, their heads looking in all directions for anything to shoot. Unfortunately—for them—the Humans were quicker.

  Energy bolts flew, and a moment later the three invaders lay dead on the deck. But they were only the first wave. Another six crowded in. Soon, the tiny compartment became obscured in the white haze of flash residue hanging in the air. Another two aliens were dead, but Summer had taken a level-two bolt to her right arm and Monty one to his left shoulder as he scrunched over to protect his injured stomach. The bolts weren’t lethal—not to Humans—but they did send them into spasms of pain that rendered the pair defenseless as the aliens piled on top. Soon, they were wrapped in nylon bindings, more than was necessary. Their captors weren’t taking any chances; they were dealing with Humans, and no amount of restraint was too much, or so it seemed.

  What Monty found curious was how the aliens reacted after the attack. While the bindings were being secured, others rushed throughout the ship, checking the compartments, forward and aft. They came back to the central meeting area with confusion on their faces. The leader—an awesome looking beast with black skin and a double set of arms—received the reports and then sent the teams to search the ship again. When the second search came up empty, the leader came to address his captives.

  “You…you are Humans?” The statement came out as more of a surprise than a question. Something wasn’t right about his tone.

  “Yeah, and you know what that means?” Monty asked.

  The alien frowned and cocked his head slightly to the right.

  “You don’t mess with the Humans, asshole,” Monty clarified.

  The alien shrugged off the comment before taking out a communicator and opening a link. “The ship is secure,” he began. “We were able to approach unnoticed and gained entrance with the crew unaware.” He turned away until Monty couldn’t hear what was said. A moment later, he turned back and aimed the device at his prisoners.

  “Scan the female,” said a voice on the link.

  The black-skinned alien brought the camera in closer and ran it up and down Summer. Monty tried to make out the face on the screen, but it was obscured in shadows, all except a glint of metal from the glow of the communicator at the other end of the link.

  “Who are you?” the voice asked through the speaker.

  “I’m Summer Rains. What does it matter to you? Why are you doing this?”

  “There are no other entities aboard?”

  “No, just us. Who are you looking for? Whoever it is, it’s not us.”

  “Draunus, none others?”

  The alien leader brought the communicator back to focus on him. “As I reported,
the ship is small; there is no one else aboard, I assure you.”

  “Yet the presence….”

  Draunus—the alien leader—looked away briefly, his leathery face a study in annoyance. “I have no answers. We came as directed. This is the ship. Perhaps you are mistaken. There are only Humans aboard. I hope you know what you are doing. We do not want their kind after us.”

  “Bring the prisoners to the Cartel facilities,” the voice on the communicator barked. “I will be on Sasin in a day. I will interrogate them myself. In the meantime, send others to the ship to tear it apart. I need to know if she was there. I will survey the vessel personally when I arrive.”

  Cartel facilities? Monty suspected these were the same Gradis gangsters who attacked them earlier. As Tidus explained, all the major cartels operated on Sasin, with the largest ones having designated zones and landing fields, and each guarded by their troops. They did a lot of recruiting in places like this. And there were plenty of takers for what they had to offer: a way off the planet, a decent paycheck and a new community of like-minded souls with which to assimilate. For beings who had just lost everything, the lure was irresistible.

  Monty knew it was a risk coming to Sasin, but they had no other option at the time. However, why all the fuss over the Forty and her crew? At this point, Monty knew the original attack was more than just a coincidence. The Cartel was looking for them. But why?

  Monty, Summer—and even Tidus—were nothing special in the larger scheme of things. There was no reason the Cartel would go out of their way to catch them. Monty stopped himself. The Cartel hadn’t been trying to catch them during the first attack. Instead, they’d come to destroy the ship, without warning or apparent cause. And that meant the crew was expendable.

  He studied the aliens nearby, looking for an out. They were a tough, mean looking group. And the bindings were strong enough to hold the Humans. Monty was wondering if the goal of the bad guys might have changed now that the Forty had reached a planet? He doubted it. They were looking for someone, and it wasn’t any of the three of them. That wasn’t good.

  8

  “I must call the ship to let them know I have returned,” said Tidus from the backseat of the transport. He was squished in between two of Anoc’s huge associates. The third guard was driving this time, with Anoc in the front passenger seat. He now turned to look at Tidus, an ominous MK-17 in his hand, aimed at the Juirean.

  The beings on each side of Tidus were quick and strong, holding Tidus’s arms pinned as they removed the weapons from around the Juirean’s waist. They handed the bolt launchers to Anoc and then proceeded to drain his cloak of any hidden credits.

  “Forty-sevens, very impressive,” Anoc said, inspecting Tidus’s weapons with admiration. “And expensive. Am I to assume you have other treasures aboard your broken starship? You should know by now that I will be confiscating the vessel.”

  “I had so assumed.”

  “It is nothing personal. Just on Sasin, all opportunities must be taken.”

  “What about me and the others?”

  Anoc grimaced in an alien sort of way. “That is an issue. Juireans and Humans are not accepted as labor force, either here or anywhere that I know of. There will not be a market for you on Sasin, at least not in open market.”

  Tidus didn’t like the sound of that.

  “There are those—even on Sasin—who would welcome the chance to take the life of any or all of you, and for a very good price,” Anoc explained. “None would dare challenge you in combat. But you can still be killed. And as trophies, to be displayed at private showings, it will be a great way of demonstrating the buyer’s power and wealth to others. That is how I will sell it. I believe I will get a very good price for the three of you.”

  Tidus kept his expression reserved, in typical Juirean fashion. He would not let on that there were security procedures put in place when returning to the Forty. Monty and Summer would be ready. All Tidus needed to do was be near the rear of the entourage as they entered the vessel, to catch the invaders in a vice between him and the deadly Humans.

  He didn’t feel sorry for Anoc. It was inevitable that his life would end in such a manner. That was the price he would pay for his betrayal.

  The five beings exited the transport and approached the side hatch to the Forty, appearing congenial, with Anoc and two of the others in the lead. Tidus and the last guard brought up the rear. Undoubtedly, they were being monitored from inside the ship.

  At the hatch, Tidus was brought up to key in the access code.

  It didn’t work.

  “Do not delay, Tidus,” Anoc growled. “Your vessel is stranded where it sits. I will kill you and still gain access. I can overcome two Humans in short order, even if I have to call in additional assets.”

  Tidus tried the code again. Still, the panel remained…dead. There was no indicator at all of the controls working. He gripped the handle and pulled it back, on the off chance the door was unlocked. The mechanism disengaged.

  Anoc shoved Tidus back into the waiting arms of the last guard. Then with weapons drawn, he slid the door open the rest of the way and the three raiders entered the ship.

  A strong scent of ozone filled the air, along with a thin wisp of whitish smoke. There were voices, and the sound of movement, a lot of movement.

  By the time Anoc realized the ship was full of Cartel soldiers, it was too late. They were noticed. It was the guard behind Anoc who opened fire first.

  Summer was seated next to Monty on a couch in the common room. The Cartel boss Draunus had just gotten off a communicator arranging for the next round of aliens to come to the ship and search the computers for any reference to their unnamed prize. There were four others in the room with them.

  Suddenly, bodies flew past the Humans, blown away by flash bolts coming from the airlock. Summer recognized the oblong head of Tidus’s friend Anoc leading a small group of aliens into the compartment, their weapons popping out level-two bolts as fast as targeting computers could lock on. It wasn’t hard for the computers to do their job; the room was crowded, with bolts placed into opponents from point-blank range.

  Summer leaned over and crashed a shoulder into Monty, sending them tumbling to the deck. Soon a dead alien fell on top, shielding them from the barrage of flash bolts filling the room. Her father moaned from a spasm of pain in his abdomen. She mentally shrugged. Poor guy. He’s never going to heal if he keeps getting tossed around like this.

  Summer had a restricted view of what was happening, peering up through the armpit of the dead Cartel enforcer. She had trouble deciding who was who; all she knew for sure was that a lot of aliens were dying around her. It was a good start.

  At the first sign of a flash from inside the starship, the guard watching Tidus shoved him aside and looked into the opening. He still had the weapon aimed at the Juirean, but not his attention.

  Tidus smashed his body into the alien’s side, forcing the guard into the airlock. Then he gripped the recessed handle of the hatch and slid it shut, placing his weight against the door to keep it from reopening. The guard made no effort to escape; he was too busy with the firefight taking place inside to think of anything else except returning fire.

  Tidus continued to lean against the door until no more blasts could be heard coming from inside the ship. He grimaced, hoping his friends were safe inside. There were a lot more flash bolts than he’d anticipated. He knew Summer and Monty would have been waiting, their weapons ready, set in action by the lack of entry protocols they’d established earlier. But there were only four of Anoc’s people to deal with, and the Humans had the element of surprise. But easily fifty shots had been fired, if not more. Why?

  Cautiously, Tidus slid the door open and looked inside. A cloud of white smoke escaped into the putrid air of Sasin, obscuring his view. But then the haze dissipated. Inside the airlock were two bodies; one was the guard Tidus had forced inside. The other…was someone else.

  The Juirean entered the ship, bendin
g over to take the MK-17 from the fallen guard. He could see into the suit-up area, where another three creatures lay dead. The bodies were neither Summer, Monty or Anoc’s soldiers. So who were they?

  He moved farther into the ship.

  He heard a voice.

  He turned left and entered the common room. The chamber was full of smoking bodies; a quick count placed it at seven. But there was one person still alive, a thick being with black skin and pointed ears. Tidus had seen the race before, although he couldn’t remember their name. The creature was standing over a pile of the dead; his MK pointed down. He was telling someone to stand up.

  A body tumbled sideways, and a pair of pale slender arms appeared, bound together at the wrists, struggling to pull the rest of the form from under the pile. Summer’s yellow hair appeared. She pressed herself into a sitting position, with the huge alien holding the weapon steady on her tiny form.

  Tidus didn’t need to see anymore. He triggered the MK, sending a deadly level-two bolt into the unsuspecting creature. The energy flared out, burning through the clothing and skin. The force of the bolt sent the beast onto another pile of dead.

  Tidus rushed forward and reached out a long arm to help Summer to her feet.

  “Where is Monty?”

  “I’m here,” said a muffled voice. Summer and Tidus pulled away the dead and recovered the blood-covered Human, his face twisted in a sick combination of anger and pain.

  “Are there any others aboard?” Tidus asked as he swung his gun hand about the cabin.

  Monty looked around, his bound hands holding onto his left side. “I think that’s it.” He motioned with his head at one of the fallen. “Isn’t that your friend, Anoc?”

  Tidus looked. There were two prominent holes burned into the former PA agent. He nodded. “Who are the others?”

  “Cartel assholes. A follow up to the attack from a few days ago.”