Free Bird Rising

by Ian J. Malone

  “Say the word, and we’ll end this!” Taylor shouldered his carbine.

  “You will not,” Japhara barked. “This is my fight. I will decide its ending.” With that, the Sumatozou bowed up and slammed a bone-jarring smash to the Krulig’s ribcage.

  The latter shrieked and backpedaled, visibly shaken.

  “You were saying about my spirit?” Japhara growled.

  Sadeed answered with a sneer, then reacquired his stance.

  Back and forth the two aliens battered each other, the Sumatozou relying on brute strength and blunt-force power to deliver his punishment, while the Krulig leaned on elusiveness and cunning. Each fighter did his fair share of damage as the bout continued. However, it was the Krulig who eventually regained the upper hand.

  Leveraging his superior footwork, Sadeed slipped right past a hook, then left past a cross, then lunged forward as a breathless Japhara wheeled awkwardly to recover. It wasn’t enough.

  A howl of agony pierced the air amid a geyser of red from Japhara’s side. The Sumatozou crumpled to the ground, unable to move.

  “Your species was always inferior to ours,” Sadeed said, panting. “That’s why we were chosen for the mantle of gate master, while you were merely appointed. The Sumatozou should never have been held that status. Never. You’re not worthy. The fact that you were serves only to demonstrate the truth.”

  “And what truth is that?” Japhara scoffed from his back.

  Sadeed flashed a twisted grin. “That the Vergola, for all their supposed knowledge and wisdom, are no more capable of running hyperspace today than they were twenty thousand years ago.”

  What? Taylor had barely thought the word when Sadeed kicked a toe into the sand, launching a Zuul battle blade into his scaly palm.

  “The hour has come for you to meet your afterlife, Sumatozou.” Sadeed squeezed the weapon’s hilt and charged. “Goodbye.”

  “Japhara!” Taylor disconnected his arm blade and lobbed it to the Sumatozou.

  Japhara caught the weapon and spun.

  “I…” Sadeed staggered back, eyes bulging in disbelief. He gulped, gulped again, then gradually turned his focus to the steel object protruding from his gut.

  “Now, Lord Prefect, allow me to impress upon you a new truth.” Japhara relinquished his hold on the weapon and eased to his feet. “The Krulig are done for. When the Guild Heads learn of your treachery here, they will hunt down the last of your wretched kind and finish what they started. None of you will survive. Is that clear? Not one. I will see to that personally. By the time we’re done, neither you nor your legacy will merit even a footnote in the annals of Union history.”

  Sadeed half smiled, his words coming in a dull rasp through blood-stained lips. “Remember this moment, Humans. Remember it well. For the next time the Council targets a race for extinction, it may well be yours.”

  “Newsflash, Asshat,” Taylor said. “Things have changed since your time in exile. There is no Council anymore, Vergola or otherwise. Those factions died out eons ago with the rise of the Guilds, which are run by the collective. That includes the Cartography Guild.”

  Sadeed managed a laugh before fluids from his mouth caused him to choke. “You ignorant ape. The Vergola Council is the Cartography Guild! They always have been! Don’t you see? They never—”

  Japhara snatched the arm blade from Sadeed’s body and, in a single, fluid stroke, sheared off the prefect’s head with it.

  No one said a word.

  “Did I just hear that right?” Billy asked via pinlink. “The entire Cartography Guild—and with it every tie the Union has to hyperspace—rests squarely under the control of one ancient species?”

  Taylor was still too stunned to answer.

  “The whole point of the Guilds was ostensibly to create a balance of powers rather than one all-powerful centralized group as it was with the First Republic,” Smitty said. “If what Sadeed said is true, this violates everything the Galactic Union stands for.”

  “I know you’re speaking to each other via pinlink.” Japhara spiked the blade into the ground and faced the CASPers. “I can assure you, it is not necessary.”

  Taylor swallowed. “So it’s true then. The Vergola Council is still alive and in control of the Cartography Guild.”

  The Sumatozou peered out at the horizon.

  “Answer me, Japhara,” Taylor pressed.

  The alien bellowed a sigh. “The Vergola Council has presided over hyperspace since the dawn of our civilization. Lest we forget, it was they who discovered the stargates to begin with, and thus it is they who have fostered an understanding of that realm unmatched by anyone else in society.”

  “That still don’t make this right,” Taylor said.

  “Perhaps,” Japhara said. “But ask yourselves two simple questions. One: what species throughout history has ever willingly relinquished that kind of power? Two: if they did, who among us is honestly more qualified than the Council to wield it? Humans? Sumatozou? Krulig?” He leaned in. “The Zuul?”

  Taylor shuddered, his thoughts returning to Japhara’s warning from their cell.

  “There are things in the galaxy that no one in the Union is prepared for,” Japhara had said. “Old things, dark things. Things that would tear your civilizations to shreds if unleashed on your soil.”

  Is he right?

  Japhara straightened to face the others. “Hear me, all of you. If you value the lives of your friends, your crew, and your families—to say nothing of your own—you will forget what was said here today and never speak of it again.”

  “Is that a threat?” Billy asked.

  “No.” Japhara glanced to Taylor. “It is merely a word of advice from one captive who does not wish to see harm befall another.”

  The group nodded as footfalls sounded behind them.

  “Is everyone all right?” Valawn trotted out of the catacombs to join them.

  “We’re fine,” Taylor said. “What’s the status on the Rukori?”

  “A bit confused given the revelations of your transmission, but I expect we’ll manage in time.” Valawn halted next to Smitty. “Word of Sadeed’s betrayal is already spreading through the other colonies. Our people now know beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Krulig were responsible for the Winter Death. That’s all because of you.”

  Taylor shook his head. “We told you we’d bring help, no more no less. Captain Dawson here did that. You folks did the rest.”

  “Indeed,” Valawn said. “You’re a man of your word, Chief Van Zant, just like your brother. Rukoria owes the Eagles a great debt of gratitude.”

  Billy stepped aside as if fielding a call. “Copy that, Jack. Round up the prisoners and have them escorted into the Krulig holding areas. We’ll figure out what to do with them from there. Husker out.” He turned to Taylor. “The last of the Zuul are laying down their arms, as are the Krulig from Sadeed’s ship.”

  “What about those last two frigates in orbit?” Taylor asked.

  “Surrendered five minutes ago,” Billy said. “Same for the stargate crews. Carnegie and Cortes are on their way down now to discuss the return trip home.”

  “I presume you can help us with that?” Smitty asked Japhara.

  The Sumatozou grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise.”

  Now free to do so, Taylor blew out a sigh for the ages and turned his attention to the magnificent western sky. It’s over.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 30: Beer Snobs

  The Humans remained on Rukoria for the next three days to repair their ships and divvy up the spoils, including the two Maki frigates and Sadeed’s frigate.

  Like everyone else, Taylor’s focus had been on the Krulig ship for its hyperspace shunt. What he couldn’t have known prior to signing over the frigates as payment to the other companies was that Sadeed had apparently anticipated this and rigged his frigate to blow when a non-Krulig tried to access its systems. It had detonated spectacularly.

  Taylor drank a lot of Lon
g Branch Light that evening.

  By the time the fourth day arrived, Taylor couldn’t wait to get on the road. He said his final goodbyes to Valawn and the Rukori, then boarded his dropship for the Osyrys to set sail for the stargate. He’d just settled into a book and a cold beer when a knock came from outside his cabin. “Come in.”

  The door slid open, and the XO coasted in.

  “Hey, Billy, what’s up?” Taylor asked from his bunk.

  “Not much.” Billy handed over a slate. “I figured you’d wanna know that we’ve cleared transition without issue, and Keeto’s got us firing on all cylinders toward home.”

  “Good deal.” Taylor paused before continuing. Historically, he’d dreaded hyperspace transitions. This time, he’d practically slept through it. Huh, I’ll be damned. “Did Carnegie and Cortes make it offworld okay?”

  “Yeah, they transitioned just ahead of us,” Billy said. “Hey, did Carnegie seem a little off to you?”

  “How do you mean?” Taylor asked.

  “I don’t know.” Billy scratched his head. “He’s just typically a lot more personable than that. He came. He did his job. He took his ships and left. The end.”

  Taylor considered the XO’s point. “Ron’s been retired for what, almost a decade? I won’t begrudge the man a little rust on his first return trip to the black. Besides, I’m just glad he came.”

  “Amen to that,” Billy said.

  Taylor gestured at his mini-fridge. “What are the odds I can tempt you with a drink while you’re here?”

  “Of that swill?” Billy pointed to Taylor’s bulb, filled with Long Branch. “No way in hell.”

  “Beer snob,” Taylor muttered.

  “Redneck,” Billy answered.

  Taylor grinned and straightened. “So, what’s on your docket for the night?”

  “Eh, not much,” Billy said. “I’ve got a few odds and ends yet to finish on the bridge. After that, I figured I’d head down to the mess for chow. Rumor has it Frank’s cooking up some Spanish paella for dinner.”

  “Have I thanked you lately for hirin’ that guy?” Taylor asked. “Buma or not, it really is cool to have a proper cook around here.”

  “And he can fly a spaceship, too,” Billy noted. “You up for a bite later?”

  “Nah, I ate a late lunch,” Taylor said. “I know somebody who might be, though.”

  Billy smirked, then pivoted for the exit. “And on that note, I’ll leave you to—”

  “Park it, Captain.” Taylor pointed to the chair beside his table.

  Billy exhaled and pulled himself down onto a seat. “So now we come to it, huh? The conversation?”

  “Seemed like a good idea a second ago,” Taylor said.

  “With all due respect, Chief, Smitty and I are just—”

  “If the next word out of your pie hole is friends, I swear on the ghost of Osceola I’ll punch you straight in your Nebraskan junk.”

  The XO blinked. “Wow. Subtle.”

  “Listen, Billy, I get it. You and Smitty are ex-navy, and the military tends to frown on two people from the same command staff gettin’ involved. It makes sense.” Taylor leaned in. “There’s just one issue. You ain’t in the navy anymore.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “Not done.” Taylor raised a finger. “Smitty’s a great girl. She’s loyal, honest, and a straight-up badass under fire. More than that, though, she gets you. She gets your nature. She gets your history. She even gets your dry-ass sense of humor on those rarest of occasions when you bother to let it out.”

  The XO dropped his gaze.

  “Billy, if I’ve learned anything in the last half-decade, it’s that tomorrow ain’t promised to anybody, especially folks in our line of work. If you find somebody you can do life with, you do not, under any circumstances, pass on that. You seize it with both hands and run like the wind. Problem for you is, that requires trust.” Taylor hunched forward and put his elbows on his knees. “I get why that don’t come easy for you, Brother, probably better than most. Hell, I’d likely be the same way had my engagement ended the way yours did. Still, there comes a time when a man’s gotta decide whether to live his life through the windshield or the rearview mirror, because when all is said and done, those are the only two options he’s got. Now what’s it gonna be?”

  Billy sat there for a long moment, staring off into nothing. Eventually, his silence gave way to a chuckle. “When did you get to be so wise?”

  Taylor shrugged. “What can I say? Zuul interrogations have a way of bringin’ a man clarity.”

  “Looks like it.” Billy pushed himself airborne from the chair.

  “So are you gonna make a play or not?” Taylor asked.

  “I’ll think about it.” Billy drummed his fingers on the seat back. “You know, there’s still one aspect of all this that I can’t seem to wrap my brain around.”

  “Yeah? What’s that?”

  “Terry.”

  Taylor cocked his head. “What about him?”

  “Why would he do all this? Don’t get me wrong. For all his faults, your brother was a good guy at heart. His work back home in the Jax community speaks to that. At the end of the day, though, Terry Van Zant was merc, which is to say he sought the same two things as the rest of us—to kill aliens and get paid.”

  Taylor scratched his chin. “What’s your point?”

  “Why would Terry jeopardize everything we built with the Eagles to join an insurrection with no chance of a payday? Conscience or not, it doesn’t add up.”

  Taylor chewed his lip and looked his XO straight in the eye. “If I had to guess…I’d say Terry felt like he needed to make amends for something.”

  Billy wrinkled his nose. Then, slowly, realization set in.

  “Well, would you look at that?” Taylor opened his fridge and peered inside. “I’m almost out of beer. That’s downright criminal, if you ask me. Reckon I’ll head to the galley for a reload.”

  “You want some company?” Billy asked.

  “Nah, that’s okay,” Taylor said. “I’ve gotta pit stop past guest quarters on my way down anyway.”

  “Guest quarters?” Billy arched an eyebrow. “Who do you need to see down there?”

  Taylor pushed off for the door. “Somebody who owes me a favor.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 31: Behind the Curtain

  This time when the Eagles reemerged from hyperspace, they did so at the precise coordinates they’d meant to upon entering the Rukoria stargate.

  “EMS Ryley Osyrys, this is Earth Control,” a voice said through the bridge speakers. “Please proceed on your current heading, and welcome home.”

  A chorus of whoops went out around the crew as everyone was understandably thrilled to see their journey end—everyone, that was, except for Taylor. His journey had a ways to go yet.

  For the next six weeks, Taylor did everything he could to keep his mind preoccupied and away from the encounter that lay ahead. He conducted CASPer drills on the Eagles’ firing range with Billy. He went to Happy Hour with Jack and Stan at the Hell House. He even re-read his entire collection of old Louis L’Amour books, short stories included.

  Eventually, the time for waiting came to a close, and Taylor, for one, couldn’t have been happier—or more nervous.

  “I still cannot believe I’m doing this,” Japhara muttered as Taylor crossed the tarmac toward their shuttle on the Eagles’ campus.

  “A deal’s a deal, Hoss,” Taylor said. “Look on the bright side. At least you didn’t have to spend a decade in suspense before I called in that marker. Now we can both move on after today and forget we ever even met.”

  “You do realize how this move will likely end, yes?” the Sumatozou asked. “With both of us lined up in front of an air lock?”

  Taylor shrugged. “I’ll risk it.”

  “He’ll risk it, he says,” said Japhara with a huff. “Damned Humans.”

  Billy emerged from the shuttle and met them in front of the boarding ramp. �
��Our ride’s prepped and ready. We can launch whenever the two of you are set.”

  Taylor needed no further promoting. He strode up the ramp behind the XO and headed straight for the passenger cabin to buckle in. Several minutes later, the shuttle broke through Earth’s orbit and laid in its vector toward the stargate.

  “You sure you wanna do this?” Billy asked once they’d docked with the admin station. “You’ve gotta know you can’t un-ring this bell once it’s done.”

  Taylor considered as he locked in his mag boots. “I understand. Still, what other choice do we have?”

  The XO gave a slow nod. “I’ll be here when you get back, engines running.”

  “Appreciate that.” Taylor motioned Japhara to the hatch. “After you.”

  Once outside, the two were met by the same robotic host Taylor had encountered before leaving. The roller bot offered its usual greeting, then led the duo back down the path to the gate master’s office.

  “Grand Latura Hylune.” Haju bowed. “It’s an honor to have you aboard this facility.”

  “Master Haju,” Japhara answered in kind. “Has he arrived?”

  “He has,” Haju said. “He is waiting for you in the council chamber. Everything is prepared, and you may enter when ready.”

  Japhara nodded then started for the stone doors across the lobby.

  “Sir, if I may.” Haju halted his superior by the arm then glanced uneasily at Taylor. “Am I to understand that you mean to have this Human accompany you into the chamber?”

  Surprise!

  Japhara remained straight-faced as he turned to his subordinate. “That was my intention, yes. Is this a problem for you, Master Haju?”

  The lower-ranked alien gulped. “No, Grand Latura, there is no problem. Forgive me for asking.”

  “You are forgiven,” Japhara said. “You may now return to your duties.”