by Trevor Gregg
Things blurred even more as it seemed to wind faster into the future. She saw Kyren, strapped into a full-body control rig, a massive holoscreen before him. She could see it now. The robot! The giant robot from her vision!
Wherever Kyren was, whatever he was doing, he would find the robot. She was overjoyed at the realization. She would just have to make sure it happened. She needed to follow her vision or it might not happen. She realized she would have to let Alis die.
She returned to consciousness on the floor, Isa’s voice gentle and soft in her ear.
“Ah, there you are, Elarra. I’m guessing you had one of your visions?” Isa soothed.
“Yeah,” she croaked as she climbed into the chair before the console.
“Are you alright? I have a small medical bay if you are injured.”
“No, I’m fine now,” she replied, color returning to her cheeks and strength to her muscles.
“May I ask what you saw?” Isa queried hesitantly.
“I saw something that revealed hope for the future.”
“Elarra, may I ask you a question?” When Elarra didn’t respond, she continued, “all of you seem to somehow know of my husb… Tharox I mean. You act as if you’ve met, even though we never have.”
“Yes Isa, I understand how that can be confusing. I’m afraid I can’t give you a satisfactory answer, because I don’t have one myself. Suffice it to say, we met in another time, another reality.”
“And you didn’t like him,” Isa added.
“Yeah, but I think I know why he was the way he was, when we knew him.”
33
Not Crevak
“I’m Kyren,” he grinned and stuck out his hand. “And I’m still not Crevak.”
She looked at him askance and chuckled, “okay, I’ll accept that you’re not Crevak. If you were I’d be dead. Or worse. What are you doing here anyway? Seems an awful lot of risk, just to access a database.”
He figured there wasn’t much point in hiding what they were doing, he would just leave out the why and who.
“Yeah, I needed to get some data. Critical data, worth risking our necks over,” he said as Alis and Benjam crawled warily from the service tunnel.
The woman took a step back and looked about ready to bolt. Kyren did his best to appear non-threatening.
“This is Alis, and Benjam,” he said, motioning. When she didn’t respond, he asked “I’ve given you my name, how about yours?”
“Janeala,” she said tersely.
“So there are others, are there?” Alis interjected.
“Yes, there are others. And now you are trapped along with the rest of us,” she noted despondently.
“Why are you here, Janeala?” Kyren questioned.
“I’m an archivist here, I’m a Stalys to be precise,” she said.
Kyren detected a note of pride in her voice. “Sorry, but what’s that?”
“We devote our lives to learning, living in austerity, committed solely to the preservation of knowledge. I have lived here on Darlos, in this city, all my life. I think I may be the last of my order, if the city truly is devastated.”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you the city is destroyed,” Benjam squeaked, extending a tentacle.
Her gaze softened and she touched his outstretched appendage, “Peace be with you, fellow Qurian, may the Society live on.”
“Peace be with you, Stalys of Darlos,” he squeaked his reply.
“So how do we get out of here, anyway?” Alis grumbled.
“There isn’t any way out except past those Crevak,” she replied.
“But you told the other guy not to use the exit. What’s the story, Janeala?” Kyren replied.
“The only way out is through a sealed door,” was her answer.
“There’s more, though, isn’t there?”
“Yes, the others I spoke of, they will be at great risk if I open the seal. They will be vulnerable to the Crevak, it will not be able to be closed again.”
“But the way out is through there?” he persisted.
“Yes, there is a way to the surface,” she said as if it were pried from her lips with a crowbar. “How did you get here? And get past the Crevak?”
“Um, in a ship, and we flew fast,” he replied.
“And you came here, in the midst of a Crevak war zone, just to get some data? Must be pretty important.”
“So why can’t we use the exit? What’s the problem with it?” Kyren demanded.
“I don’t think we should stay here any longer, the Crevak may come along any moment,” she said, deflecting the question.
“Do you have somewhere better?”
“Yes, follow me,” she said as she struck off down the corridor, not looking back to see if they were following.
He trotted after her and caught up, walking side by side. He took a good look at her and realized just how young she was. She couldn’t be more than sixteen or seventeen, he realized.
After some walking they came to a door, panel lit red. She keyed in a code and the door slid open, revealing small living quarters. Janeala stepped into the room and Kyren followed, tailed closely by Alis and Benjam. Seated across from them, on a small couch, was an old man with a huge belly. He had scraggly gray whiskers and a bulbous nose, topped by a hairless head.
“Changed yer mind, did ya? Want to come sit on old Crobnar’s lap now, do yeh?” he drawled, dropping an empty bottle at his own feet, sagging on the couch.
“Great, now you’re drunk, and a creep?” Janeala responded caustically.
“You’ve got spunk, you do. Feisty,” Crobnar slurred, hiccuping. “I like that.
“Enough,” Kyren said, glaring at the old man, willing him to shut his mouth.
But he did not, “So who’re you lot? A bunch of pirates, they look like to me. Especially that giant squid in the back.”
“I am not a squid,” Benjam squeaked.
“So this way out you were talking about,” Kyren reminded her.
“We made a pact, Crobnar and I. We swore that we would keep the doors sealed unless help came,” Janeala said bitterly. “But this lech here wants to open everyone up to the Crevak. There’ll be nowhere safe in the archive anymore.”
“So there are others?” Kyren pressed.
“Yes, sixteen others, to be exact,” Janeala admitted.
“And if we use your way out, they can’t close the doors again.”
“Precisely. I sealed them in, but if I disengage the locks, they will be unable to seal again. The others have more than enough life support and supplies to last many years.”
“Why didn’t you seal yourself in with them?” Alis asked with concern.
“Because I couldn’t,” she said, revealing a small gold disk on a chain around her neck. “This is the archivist key. It is the master key to the entire archive. Milos the Lorekeeper bestowed it upon me before he died. Why he chose me, I don’t know.”
“You’ve got to open the way out for us, we’ve got to escape, it’s critical we continue our mission,” Benjam rattled out.
“Mission?”
“No, well, sort of, I guess,” Kyren replied hesitantly. “We are seeking an enemy, that’s a mission, I suppose.”
“And you’re neither Crevak nor Consortium? Yet you manage to evade a Crevak fleet and fight your way in here. Maybe I should be a little more impressed with you, Kyren on a mission.”
“What is your plan, Janeala,” he asked her carefully, unsure of what her response would be.
“I’ve taken the archive offline, disconnected the tunnels, so the knowledge is safe, deep beneath the planet’s surface. The remaining Lorekeepers and several members of the Council are inside. If you have a ship…” she said, appearing unsure.
“Yes, but eighteen extra people will be tight. The first problem is getting above ground without being seen. The second is how to get back to the ship without being overwhelmed.”
Crobnar woke, groggy and slurring, “I say we hit the road. Varataxi
a is nice all year, let’s go there. They have nude beaches, I’ll take you there, gorgeous.”
Ignoring Crobnar, she continued, “but you will help us, right? You will get us away?”
“I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise anything. It’s a long way to freedom.”
“Let’s go then,” she walked to Crobnar and tried to tug him up. He dozed, snoring faintly.
“Please, help me,” she implored.
Kyren attempted to rouse the big man, earning a bleary-eyed stare and a large belch in his face. Disgusted, he shook Crobnar and then slapped him hard. His eyes began to focus, and he started to mouth some words. Which soon came out as a litany of profanity and alien slurs.
“Up you go,” Kyren grunted as he placed Crobnar’s arm over his shoulder and heaved the man into a standing position.
By some miracle they began to stumble along. Kyren followed Janeala as she made for the door. They wound their way through the halls, stopping in front of a ten foot tall door. Kyren dropped Crobnar and stepped forward, eager to watch Janeala.
Janeala took out her medallion and touched it gingerly with her left hand. It began to glow as locks toggled off and clanked open around the door’s rim. Then there was a tremendous rumbling as the door began to sink into the floor, revealing a brightly lit passageway beyond.
34
Akrus
Kyren grumbled as he hoisted Crobnar to his feet and staggered along after Janeala. The long passage led down a slight slope, with pristine white walls and soft, diffuse lighting. A gilded golden door stood at the end. She approached and the door split into three sections, each retracting into the wall in a different direction.
Janeala stepped through and Kyren heaved Crobnar along. They entered a large chamber, some sort of lounge or sitting area. Kyren spotted low couches and comfy looking chairs scattered throughout. Several humans and a variety of aliens stood in the center of the room, huddled together.
The man at the front of the group stepped forward. Kyren couldn’t bear Crobnar’s weight any longer so he dropped the creep into a chair, maybe a little more carelessly than he intended. He wasn’t sorry, though.
“Akrus, this is Kyren. He has a ship,” Janeala spoke in a quick clip. “We should go as soon as possible. How fast can you be ready?”
“We’re ready now,” Akrus said, extending a hand to Kyren. “We came here when we heard the seal being broken.”
Kyren shook. The man’s grip was strong and brisk. His dark hair framed a young face, alert brown eyes appraising the newcomers.
“What’s the plan?” Akrus said, looking from Kyren to Janeala.
“We have to get to the surface, they have a ship that can get us out of here. We’ll need to use the express tube. Then it’s up to you, Kyren. Don’t make me regret trusting you,” Janeala commanded, with a maturity well beyond her years.
“Once we get to the surface we’ll have to avoid Crevak patrols. I think the best option is to find somewhere to stash your people until we can get the ship online,” Kyren proposed.
“We’ll follow your lead,” Akrus replied, his voice lacking fear.
Good, this guy has his head on straight, Kyren thought. Akrus motioned to two of his entourage and a pair of strong looking saurians hustled over and scooped up Crobnar between them.
“This way to the express tube,” Akrus pointed.
They traversed the underground maze of living quarters, kitchen facilities, and entertainment rooms, Akrus leading the way confidently. They walked down a wide hallway that ended at large double doors.
Janeala strode up and raised her medallion again. The door jamb lit up a golden yellow, then after several seconds, it went green and the doors slid open, revealing a large elevator, circular and nearly thirty feet across.
“Quickly everyone,” Akrus motioned them on as they scrambled into the elevator.
Janeala followed the last, clutching her medallion as the doors sealed. Kyren and Alis exchanged a quick glance, a smile playing across her lips.
“We’re going back into a war zone, I don’t know what is going to happen,” Alis said to him.
“Yeah, neither do I, I’m just winging it. Hopefully Tharox is still out there, Isa is still out there. If not, we’re just as doomed as these people,” Kyren replied quietly.
“Oh dear, don’t say doomed, Kyren,” Benjam said, equally quiet.
“Is everything okay?” Janeala asked.
“Yeah, sure. When we reach the surface, let me and my people go first. We’ll signal when it is safe for you,” Kyren said, slinging off his rifle and tucking the butt to his shoulder. He glanced at the readout to confirm it was lit green.
Janeala touched the medallion again and the doors sealed. Kyren’s stomach lurched as the elevator sprang into motion. It lurched again as they decelerated only moments later. Kyren raised his rifle, Benjam followed suit. Seconds later, the doors slid silently open.
Kyren let out a breath of relief as the shattered street before them was free of Crevak. He crept forward, motioning for the others to wait as he made his way to a berm of cracked and crumbled re-bar-filled concrete slabs. He climbed to the top and peered over, into the street beyond.
It too was empty. Now to find the right direction, he mused, scanning for landmarks. There! He remembered that building from their incoming flight. The Radiant Star would be just beyond. He returned to Janeala and the others with a grin on his face.
“This way,” he instructed, pointing them down the street. “We need to move fast, make for that building over there. We can stash you all there until I can get the ship online.”
“Okay, we will make haste, just give me the signal,” Janeala replied, turning to her people and providing instructions.
Not waiting any longer, Kyren motioned for Benjam and Alis to follow and began to make his way down the street, rifle at the ready. They reached the intended building, a large blasted-out storefront, and he took up a defensive position behind a rubble pile, Benjam taking a spot kitty-corner to him.
They had a perfect field of fire if the Crevak were to make an appearance. And it didn’t take long. Before the first of the refugees had even reached the building, a troop of Crevak streamed down the street.
Kyren unloaded on the first two, a couple of vicious looking thevars whose lizard faces lit up in near comical surprise and he vaporized their torsos. Benjam’s bloop gun went bloop and a charged sphere of energy began to ricochet between piles of rubble.
The bouncing sphere detonated in the midst of the enemy soldiers, vaporizing a few and scattering the rest like matchsticks. Alis grabbed the back of Kyren’s collar and hauled him down, just as a buzzsaw rain of machine gun fire was directed at him.
Benjam pointed his rifle around the cover, holding it with several tentacles, attempting to fire. A hail of fire severed a few of his tentacles and reduced the bloop gun to a pile of shards. He shrieked in pain and crouched behind his cover, drawing his tentacles close and hugging himself.
He watched in horror as the machine-gun barrage was walked up the street toward the fleeing refugees. He saw the pair of saurians and Crobnar torn apart by the stream of high-velocity rounds. The rounds tracked on, heading straight for Janeala and Akrus.
Without a thought, he leaned around the side of his rubble pile and walked his sights across the battlefield until he found the machine gunner. Pulling the trigger immediately, he sent a trio of high energy pulses at the huge grendle who was wielding the gun.
The burst took it full in the chest, but somehow the creature remained upright. Stroking the trigger again and again, the gun barked more blue bolts. The grendle went to one knee as Kyren’s second volley streaked over his head. Fuck! He wasn’t going to make it, he thought, desperately depressing the trigger.
Then the grendle just vaporized, and the thunderous roar of thrusters filled the street as the Radiant Star came into view, hovering mere feet above the rubble strewn street. Framed in the open airlock door, was Tharox, his massive pl
asma rifle sending orange-hot bolts of destruction into the Crevak ranks.
The Radiant Star touched down lightly and a ramp extended before Tharox. He broke into a run, yelling “Isalonna! Jabbar!” as he pounded down the ramp, firing wildly at the advancing Crevak.
Kyren turned to find Janeala and Akrus behind him, relief flooding him. However, there were only a few of the refugees still standing with them.
“Alis, Benjam, get them aboard, I’ve got to help Tharox,” Kyren said, motioning to the refugees. Not waiting for confirmation, he broke into a sprint, tearing after Tharox.
35
Vengeance!
Tharox thundered after the now fleeing Crevak warriors, rage burning in his heart. He raised his rifle and fired into their ranks, felling many with a sustained burst. Several tried to turn and fire but a rapid trio of shots terminated their resistance.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew they would rally, would stop fleeing and fight. He knew there could be new reinforcements around any corner. Yet it gave him no pause. He was driven by the faces of his family, haunting him with grief and loss.
He dodged behind a concrete pillar as a stream of fire was directed his way. Leaning around the opposite side, he unleashed a flurry of blasts and downed the warrior.
“Isalonna, you will have justice!” he bellowed. “Jabbar my son, I will see you again in the Beyond.”
Dashing from cover he sprinted down a concrete drainage channel, heart pounding in his ears. He heard footsteps and popped up, firing several bursts, Crevak bodies exploding in gore or vaporizing entirely. Scrambling out of the canal, he entered a maze of concrete passages. It appeared to the remnants of a building basement, the top floors gone, blasted into rubble.
He could hear them, hear their footsteps. He followed, navigating the maze without caution. Rounding a corner, he came face to face with a thevar warrior. Too close to get his gun up, he instead dropped it. One hand shot out and grasped the warrior’s wrist, the other his throat. They struggled in a lethal dance, the thevar attempting to get his gun into Tharox’s gut, but Tharox’s mechanized limbs gave him the strength advantage.
