The Short End: Broken Galaxy Book Four

by Phil Huddleston

  Still, Jim reached over and pulled his old beat-up Weatherby to him, making sure it was in arm’s reach if needed. Like most normal people caught up in the destruction and death of war, Jim hated to kill anything unnecessarily. But on the other hand, if it came down to life or death - him or the animal - he would be prepared.

  He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  Letting his mind wander free, Jim thought about all that had happened to him in the last two years. The discovery of the sentient starship Jade in the Canadian Northwest. Relocating Jade to his aircraft hangar in Deseret, Nevada and beginning her repair. Bonnie finding him, joining him, the two of them falling in love. And then Jade’s creation of the clone Rita.

  His thoughts came around to the day Rita had been ‘born’. Or decanted, he wasn’t sure which word to use. He let his thoughts go back, remembering the strangeness of that day - the day he had first met Rita.

  “Time for the big unveiling, I guess,” said Jim.

  “Yep,” agreed Bonnie. They walked down Jade’s passageway toward the medical unit and opened the hatch.

  Before them, the medpod held the clone. She was breathing normally, to all intents sleeping peacefully. Her hair was just stubble, less than an eighth of an inch long. Her lips were thin, her nose as well. In fact, her entire body was thin.

  “Is she healthy?” Jim asked Jade.

 

  Bonnie leaned over the medpod.

  “She’s so thin,” she said. “Almost like a…shit!”

  Bonnie jumped back two feet from the medpod, nearly falling over.

  The woman inside the medpod looked up and smiled.

  Bonnie heard Jade speak.

  “Jim, help her,” said Bonnie, still too shocked to move.

  Jim nodded, stepped forward, and lifted the lid of the medpod. The woman reached up, grabbed the lip, and pulled herself to a sitting position. Then she levered one leg over the edge, pushed herself up with her hands, and scrambled out of the device, thumping down to the floor.

  She was completely naked.

  “Mornin’,” said the woman. “It’s good to get out of that damn thing.”

  Jim glanced over at Bonnie.

  “Well, she has your nose,” he quipped.

  “Don’t start,” replied Bonnie. Bonnie looked at the woman. “How do you feel?”

  “Hungry,” said the woman. “Is there anything to eat in the galley?”

  “Uh…I think we have a few things in there,” said Bonnie, taken aback.

  “Great!” said the woman. She promptly marched out the hatch, turned left, took five steps, and turned right into the galley. By the time Jim and Bonnie caught up, she was rummaging through the refrigerator.

  “So you know your way around…” muttered Bonnie.

  The woman looked at her. “Of course. I have all your memories and most of Jim’s. So anything you know, I know. Except for some of the bad stuff, I think. Jade told me she left some of that out.”

  Bonnie sat down at one of the tables, looking puzzled.

  “When did you talk to Jade?” she asked.

  The woman continued to rummage through the refrigerator, pulling out bread, cheese, meat, and lettuce, and moved it to the counter. She started building a sandwich.

  “Jade has spoken to me a number of times over the last week. Remember that you sleep at night. Jade doesn’t. So we talk at night when you aren’t around. It was part of my educational process, Jade said. I had to get used to talking. Even though I knew all the words, I didn’t exactly have the muscle memory. Or at least, my muscle memory is mostly Bonnie’s, and our bodies are different. So I had to adjust.”

  “You don’t seem to have any trouble walking,” said Jim.

  “Jade let me walk around a couple of times this week at night. It was hard at first, but I got better at it pretty quick.”

  “Jade, why didn’t you tell us about this?” asked Bonnie.

 

  Pensive, Bonnie bit her lip, thinking.

  “Do you have a name?” Bonnie asked the woman.

  Turning to face them, the woman leaned against the counter, naked, and started eating her sandwich.

  “Yes. Jade named me. It was critical to my identity that I have a name as soon as possible during the brain synthesis. My name is Rita.”

  Ashkelon System - Planet Deriko

  In the Wilderness

  Jim’s pipe had gone out in his reverie. Snapping back to reality, he re-lit it and leaned back again, contemplating the strange ways of the Universe.

  He had been in love with Bonnie when Rita was created. Now, two years later, Bonnie had gone her own way, become a starship captain, and found Luke. And he was with Rita, who had borne his child, Imogen - a child who was safely back on Earth with Jim’s sister Gillian.

  And Rita had come into her own, somehow surviving battle after battle, and through a strange set of circumstances finding herself head of the EDF.

  Rita Page. Admiral of the Black.

  My boss. And my wife.

  She really ought to take my last name and end this perpetual confusion everyone has between her and Bonnie.

  But Jim knew she would never do that. She had been formed from the consciousness of Jim and Bonnie.

  That meant she had loved Bonnie from the day of her creation, just as Jim did.

  And she had loved Jim from the day of her creation, just as Bonnie did.

  The impossible woman who loved them both. The impossible woman between them. The woman who knew what they were going to say before they said it.

  Far off, something that sounded like a wolf howled. Jim smiled. He felt like he had come home again.

  If we survive this war, and if the Ashkelon allow it, maybe Rita and I can live here after. It’s a beautiful planet when we’re not killing each other over it.

  Then Jim shook his head. He spoke to the river and the trees and the rocks, knowing they were the only ones who could hear him.

  “No, that’ll never happen. First of all, we’ll never survive this war. And even if we do, Rita would never live here. She’ll be off exploring the next planet, and the one after that, and the one after that.”

  That’s my Rita.

  Ashkelon System - Planet Ridendo

  City of Mosalia

  The Ashkelon stared at the figures across the table. The bar was dark. He could hardly make out the heavily disguised creatures a few feet away.

  One was a Nidarian, of that he was sure. A common enough species on Ridendo.

  The other was dressed as a Dariama. A fish out of water in this place, in this city, on this planet. Only a few dozen Dariama were on the entire planet; the ambassador, his embassy staff, his security detail, a few servants.

  But he didn’t think it was really a Dariama. Something didn’t feel right about it.

  He decided to ignore the feeling, though. There were bigger things at stake right now.

  “And Zukra?” asked the Nidarian.

  “In a rage,” the Ashkelon answered. “As usual. Smashing things, knocking people about. Very pissed that our last raid went so poorly.”

  There was a silence. The three were treading lightly. The Ashkelon glanced around the bar, trying to make it look casual. The only occupants appeared to be quite normal - a couple of lovers ensconced in a corner booth, a couple of drunks slumped on their stools, and the bartender.

  But who could tell? Any of them could be Naval Intelligence. One of Admiral Zukra’s own. They were on dangerous ground.

  The Ashkelon spoke softly to the Nidarian.

  “I understand why Zukra wants his revenge. But why is Garatella so hell-bent on destroying the Humans?”

  The Nidarian shook his head.

  “On the surface, he says it’s because they double-crossed him. They failed to bring the Dragon back to Nidaria as promised. And kept the gamm
a lance technology for themselves.”

  The Ashkelon half-smiled - a somewhat strange sight for a creature with a hint of muzzle that evolution had not fully erased.

  “But we both know that’s not the real reason,” the Ashkelon said. “Garatella had a spy in their midst, so he got the technology anyway. He never expected the Humans to bring it back to him. So what’s the real reason?”

  The Nidarian looked around, making sure no one was within earshot of their conversation.

  “Because he’s afraid of them. He’s scared shitless of these Humans. He says he’s never seen a species so dangerous. He says we have to wipe them out before they get a real toehold in space.”

  The Ashkelon nodded.

  “That’s what I thought. Not that I don’t agree with him to some extent. They are the most warlike and aggressive species we’ve ever encountered. Next to us, of course. But…”

  “Yes,” the other said. “Does that mean we wipe them out? Or…”

  “Or make an alliance with them,” replied the Ashkelon. “Think what an alliance like that could do.”

  “Yes.”

  There was a silence for a bit as they considered the possibilities.

  “But…” said the Nidarian. “For all their aggressiveness in battle and their skill at killing - they preach that they are fighting a purely defensive war; that the protection of Earth is their only goal.”

  The Ashkelon smiled. He looked at the Dariama - or whatever it was - who had been silent for the entire conversation.

  “Every empire starts with that story.”

  Chapter Seven

  Ashkelon System - Planet Ridendo

  City of Mosalia

  The planet Ashkelon had two moons. One was the size of Earth’s moon, and close in. It was full tonight. Ollie and Helen sat in the small garden behind their safe house, staring at the brilliantly lit orb above them in the sky. Far beyond it, less than a tenth of its size, the second moon was a bright crescent.

  And beyond that, just visible as it rose over the horizon, was a pinpoint of light called Deriko. There, 90 million kilometers away, was the Fleet, and warmth, and friends, and safety.

  Helen suddenly shivered. Ollie put his arm around her. “Are you OK?”

  “I think somebody just walked on my grave,” said Helen.

  “Don’t talk like that. I hate it when you say crap like that.”

  “Well, suck it up. I’m me and you’re you.”

  “I’ve noticed,” Ollie agreed.

  There was a short silence. Then Helen spoke in frustration. “So they’re all dead?”

  “Yep. No survivors. They blew themselves up at the end.”

  “Crap. But at least, we don’t have to worry about Orma torturing them for intel. Do we know what happened yet?”

  “Obviously, someone turned them in. Or maybe Orma had a spy in the cell. Whatever happened, they got raided.”

  “I hate that fucker Orma,” Helen spat. “Rita let him go, took a chance on him. Now he kills us every chance he gets.”

  Ollie shrugged. “He’s just doing his job. Like all of us. It’s part of war. We try to stop them, and they try to stop us. Don’t take it personally.”

  “Again - I’m me, and you’re you. I take it personally when some Ashkelon fucker is trying to kill me.”

  “Point taken.”

  “So where do we go from here?”

  Ollie sighed. “That Resistance cell was our best organized. They were just preparing to blow up part of the spaceport. Now…we’ll have to start over. Hand that job over to another cell. Start collecting explosives again. Train their leadership.”

  “Don’t you think it suspicious that you and Yuello met with that Ashkelon contact - and immediately after that, our prime cell gets raided?”

  “No, I don’t think there’s any connection there. We didn’t say anything in that meeting to tip them off. It’s just coincidence, I think.”

  “You better hope so,” said Helen. “If that contact was working for Orma, then we might already be under his microscope.”

  Ollie looked at the moon above them and tightened his arm around Helen.

  “Keep the faith, babe. Keep the faith.”

  Ashkelon System - Planet Deriko

  Battlecruiser Merkkessa

  In Rita’s briefing room outside the Flag Cabin, the Taegu admiral Woderas stared across the conference table at Rita. Woderas was a typical five-foot tall Taegu - creatures quite like Nidarians, clearly related to them at some point in the dark recesses of time. This made the Taegu look small compared to Humans, and even smaller when compared to Admiral Baysig - the seven-foot tall Bagrami next to him. Woderas looked like a child next to the huge bear-like creature.

  But Rita knew not to underestimate them - both the creatures across from her were full Admirals in their respective fleets. Either of them had the power to pick up their marbles and leave if they became displeased with Rita’s leadership. It was a fragile coalition they maintained.

  “I truly understand how you feel, Woderas,” said Rita, speaking in Nidarian. “I can imagine the suffering your people must be experiencing now. If it were Earth that was occupied by the Ashkelon, I would feel exactly as you do.

  “But to attempt now to drive the Ashkelon from your planet would be suicide. It would require us to take nearly our entire fleet.

  “That would leave Zukra free to take any action that would hurt us the most. He could go to Dekanna and attack the Dariama space docks where they’re building out their new ships. He could go to Earth and nuke our planet again. Or he could come in behind us as we attacked the occupying force at Asdif, taking us in the rear. In any of those scenarios, we lose the war.

  “Our only real chance at success is to stay the course. Keep Zukra pinned here in his own system as long as possible. Buy time for Earth and Dekanna to produce more ships. Eventually, we’ll have enough strength to defeat Zukra’s main force. Then, and only then, will we be able to free Asdif and Ursa.”

  Woderas was not happy. “If it were Earth that was occupied by the Ashkelon - then you would not be so complacent about waiting, I think.”

  Rita shook her head. “Admiral Woderas, if the situation were reversed - if Earth were occupied - I would make the same decision. I cannot, and will not, split my fleet to liberate one planet. As long as Zukra and Garatella can come in behind us, we must stay together.”

  Baysig leaned forward and spoke in his deep growly voice. “Remember, Woderas - my own planet is also occupied by the Ashkelon,” he said. “We also suffer under their brutality. Yet as much as it pains me, I agree with Admiral Page. To detach a force to Asdif large enough to push the Ashkelon out of your system would leave us wide open. Zukra would not fail to take advantage of such an opportunity. And Garatella as well. Our intelligence tells us that Garatella has another fleet almost ready to come at us. If we are to survive, we must stay together.”

  Rita looked at Baysig in thanks for his support. His pushed-in, barely visible muzzle always reminded her of a bear. It was sometimes hard for her to remember that he was, if anything, more intelligent than a Human. She had the same fleeting thought that often occurred when she was with Baysig.

  Thank God he’s on our side.

  Beside her, Tatiana Powell dived into the conversation.

  “Admiral Woderas. We can continue to chip away at the Ashkelon forces on the surface of your planet, as we’re doing now. I can send you another thousand Special Forces if that will help.”

  Woderas shook his head, giving up. “No, Admiral, but thank you. We have enough for guerrilla warfare now. More would not help us. In fact, more would probably just get in the way.”

  Tatiana nodded. “I understand. But they’re available if you need them. Just say the word.”

  Rita realized she had won the argument, at least for now. “How about you, Baysig?” she asked. “Do you have enough troops on the ground at Ursa?”

  “Aye, milady,” responded Baysig. “Admiral Powell has b
een more than generous. We attack Ashkelon forces at every opportunity. But of course, as long as they hold the orbitals, we can only harass them.”

  Rita sighed. “I know. And I wish I could give you better news. But it will take at least a year, maybe two, before we’ll have sufficient force to liberate your home planets. I hope you will stick with us until then.”

  Woderas nodded grudgingly. “It will be so, milady. We will stay for now.”

  “Thank you, Admiral Woderas,” Rita smiled.

  “But,” Woderas continued. “The flaw in your plan is that you stay here at Deriko, in the Ashkelon home system. With the forces we have, we cannot defeat Zukra here. Surely you know that.”

  Rita nodded again. “Yes, Admiral. I know that. My only goal at the moment is to keep him pinned in place here. We have other projects in the works, initiatives I can’t discuss right now. But those plans require me to keep him here as long as possible. I assure you, I’m well aware that at some point - and probably soon - we’ll have to leave here and find another place to make our stand.”

  “And I suppose you’ll go to Earth for that?” Woderas said, somewhat bitterly. “Protect your home planet?”

  Rita tried to speak quietly, without letting her frustration show. “No, Admiral. Earth is not the right place to make our stand. I’m sure you see that. All the civilized planets - and thus all our current and potential allies - are in the other direction. We will make our stand in concert with you, and the Bagrami, and the Dariama. Earth will have to fend for herself a bit longer.”

  Sol System - Earth

  United Nations Building - Beijing, China

  Admiral Ken Elliott sat in the top of the UN building, cursing.

  “That bitch!” he fumed. “That ungodly clone bitch!”

  “Yes, sir,” agreed his Chief of Staff, Dewa Shigeto.

  “Her ansible is down for repairs, my sweet ass! She’s ignoring my directive!”

  Shigeto maintained his silence. Elliott slammed his palm down on his desk and looked out the window at distant aircraft on approach to Beijing Capital International Airport. He turned back to Shigeto.