End Game

by Lindsay Buroker

  She tried to hold it like a hollow egg, even as she flinched away from the man silently dying at her feet. She hated Tymoteusz for controlling all these people, throwing them to their deaths. Why had he even taken this ship? What had been wrong with the ship he abandoned?

  “They’re done fighting,” Leonidas said from behind her. “They’re not all dead.”

  “Good,” Alisa said, her voice sounding hollow in her ears. She stepped away from the man she had killed, the canister still in her hand. She held it out toward Leonidas, who was walking back up the ramp to pick up his launcher. “Don’t want to waste these.”

  “No,” he said, accepting it.

  “Do we know what the dispersal radius is?” Alisa hoped it wouldn’t prove that she hadn’t needed to kill the man, but she couldn’t have taken the risk, not with Jelena in the ship. Not when she had no idea how Tiang’s drug would work on children. He’d only tested it on rats. Who knew what it might do to a young human body?

  “A hundred meters at least. Mica and I added a dispersal element to help it spread. It’s hard to say how far it would go in a ship’s corridors, but—” He lifted an armored shoulder. He understood.

  “Young-hee and Mica,” Alisa called into the dark ship. “Grab Alejandro and the two remaining Starseers and come tie these people up. Mica, you can look for the source of the power draw while you’re out here. Leonidas, Beck, Abelardus, and I are going to find Thorian.” And hopefully avoid Tymoteusz and any more loyal miner minions he’d created.

  “Tie what up?” came Mica’s distant call from engineering. “Busy here.”

  “We’ll handle it,” Young-hee said from the dark recesses, then called over her shoulder, “Alejandro. Get your medkit, please. And some rope if you have it.”

  “Alisa,” Leonidas said. He had gone back down the ramp, several meters past it, and was looking toward the ceiling of the hangar. “Mica will want to see this.”

  “Mica didn’t sound that interested in sightseeing,” Alisa said as she ran out to join him, picking a path amid the fallen. Some of the miners were conscious, gripping abdomens or broken bones, but none of them made any noise despite the pain in their eyes. It was eerie and disturbing. “I’m not that interested in it either,” she grumbled.

  She wanted to find Thorian and leave.

  “What if I give you that good news I mentioned?” Abelardus asked, following her down the ramp.

  “I could use good news.” Alisa glanced toward the door where Tymoteusz had been standing earlier, making sure there weren’t any more threats charging in. It was closed.

  Leonidas faced away from it, and when Alisa turned to look where he was looking, she almost wished she hadn’t. Crackling blue tendrils of energy extended from a hole in the ceiling to the hull of the Nomad.

  “That our power drain?” Alisa asked.

  “Must be. I haven’t seen anything like it before though.”

  Leonidas lifted one of his rifles and fired a quick burst at the hole. It disappeared inside with a quick flash of whitish-blue. Nothing noticeable happened to the energy strands reaching out to the Nomad. He fired again, this time a sustained shot. The flash was a flare this time, lasting as long as his shot lasted. Again, it didn’t do any perceivable damage. If anything, the chain of energy seemed to grow brighter.

  Leonidas sighed. “I think I’m feeding it what it likes.”

  “Let Mica figure it out. We have a prince to find.”

  “Do you want to leave her out here with only Young-hee and Alejandro? Tymoteusz could send more people anytime.”

  Yumi was there, too, babysitting Jelena, but she wasn’t a fighter. And Jelena… she should have legions of troops protecting her, not a couple of noncombatant Starseers and an engineer.

  “Beck, will you stay here?” Alisa asked, figuring they needed Abelardus to lead them to Thorian.

  Beck and Abelardus had joined them and were also staring at the crackling energy.

  “Yes, Captain. I’ll help get these people tied up and keep an eye on the ship—everyone in the ship.” Beck gave her a firm nod.

  “Thank you.” Alisa pointed toward the door. “Come on, you two. If he’s distracted, or thinks we’ve been killed, this is our chance.”

  “He is distracted,” Abelardus said. “That’s my news. Stanislav is here.”

  Alisa nodded, remembering Tymoteusz’s words. She’d guessed as much but hadn’t had time to process it. “Is the Alliance fleet with him?”

  “It is.”

  “Any chance they’re on their way in to attack?” Alisa hadn’t felt anything striking the mining ship yet, but with its hulking, reinforced hull, it might take a lot before attacks were noticeable. She assumed it had some shields too.

  “They are, but the mafia ships have all gone to intercept. We’re moving too, but not toward the battle. I can’t read the thoughts of any of the chasadski on the bridge. I know Tymoteusz is back up there, but I don’t know what he’s doing.”

  Leonidas veered toward some monitors on a bulkhead on the way to the door. Four of them displayed what appeared to be camera angles from around the exterior of the ship. This vessel was probably as old as the Nomad and did not have holo technology. Leonidas tapped a couple of buttons while Alisa headed for the door. She was more focused on getting Thorian than the battle outside. Even though she was pleased that the Alliance had finally shown up, she was well aware that her entire ship was inside the main enemy ship. If Hawk, or whoever was leading over there, decided to ignore the mafia ships and focus on this one… She had better hope that Tymoteusz could defend it—at least for now.

  Alisa waved at the door sensor, but it didn’t open.

  “I need some cyborg strength over here,” she said, even if she wondered if she might be able to force it open with her armor’s extra power.

  Since Leonidas and Abelardus were both over by the monitors, she decided to try, positioning herself as she had often seen Leonidas do. She planted her hands and pulled. Even though she could feel the armor lending more power to her shoulders, all that happened was that her hands slipped, and the door remained shut.

  “A learned skill, clearly,” she muttered. “Are you two coming?”

  “You may want to see this,” Abelardus said.

  “If it’s the Alliance coming to obliterate us, not really.” Still, she ran over to join them.

  “I thought these might be the controls to that energy ribbon,” Leonidas said, waving at a panel, “but they’re just monitors so the operator can see ships approaching. And this.” He pointed at the far monitor.

  A familiar sight was displayed on it, albeit one Alisa hadn’t seen in a couple of months. Alcyone Station.

  “The rift opened,” she said, glancing toward the Nomad, wondering if that would increase the radiation they were being exposed to and if Alejandro would say anything. But he and Young-hee and Beck were busy treating and tying people, and he didn’t notice her. “Does it matter?”

  “I don’t know,” Leonidas said, “but we’re moving toward it for some reason.”

  She looked sharply at him. “What?”

  He only shook his helmeted head.

  “All the chasadski are up there on the bridge,” Abelardus said again. “This might be a good time to attack them, especially if they’re planning something…” He looked at the monitor. “Foolish.”

  “That crazy megalomaniac doesn’t think it would be a good idea to visit another dimension, does he?” Alisa asked.

  “I don’t know,” Leonidas said again.

  Chapter 23

  The door screeched open under Leonidas’s assault.

  “You’ll have to show me how to do that,” Alisa said.

  “When there’s more time, gladly,” he said, striding into the corridor, his rifle at the ready, the canister launcher slung over his shoulder.

  “Which way to Thorian?” Alisa asked Abelardus as they stepped into the corridor after him.

  “That way.” Abelardus pointed to
the left.

  Leonidas was already heading to the right. “We have to go to the bridge,” he said without slowing. “And stop them from driving this ship into the rift.”

  Abelardus shrugged and started after him, but Alisa caught his arm.

  “We’re getting Thorian before worrying about Tymoteusz and that damned staff,” she said firmly.

  “I am only worried about Tymoteusz’s power to destroy,” Abelardus said, moving to stand beside Alisa. “The staff is… less important now.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Alisa said. “We’ll let the Alliance deal with Tymoteusz—we need to get Thorian and get out of here before they unleash everything on this ship.”

  “If all the chasadski are on the bridge, one canister may be enough to stop their threat permanently,” Leonidas said. “Your Alliance will lose far fewer people and ships if we take them out.”

  Alisa doubted he cared whether the Alliance lost ships or not. He seemed to have some personal vendetta he wanted to carry out.

  “Leonidas,” Alisa said, “be realistic. All Tym needed to do was look at you to drop you to your hands and knees back there.”

  “I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “You’re going without us, aren’t you?” Abelardus asked, as if he already knew the answer.

  Leonidas paused at a corner, checked around it, then turned to look at Alisa. “You and Abelardus get Thorian. If Abelardus is right and all the chasadski are on the bridge, you should be able to handle whatever trouble you encounter along the way. I’ll come find you as soon as I deal with the others.”

  “Leonidas,” Alisa said, frustrated. “You can’t deal with them. They’ll only kill you.”

  “Then I’ll make sure they’re distracted as they do it. You get Thorian, get in contact with the Alliance, and get your ship out of here.”

  “We’re not going anywhere without you. You promised my daughter that you would get Thorian.” Alisa glared at Leonidas, then glared at Abelardus, even though she wasn’t sure why she included him. It would be nice if he backed her up in this.

  All he did was lift his hands and glance down the corridor as if to point out they didn’t have time for this. And he was right.

  “Leonidas,” Alisa said, “I order you to come with us.”

  He hadn’t left the corner yet, but he looked down the intersection she couldn’t see, as if it called to him.

  “Are you or aren’t you my security officer?” she asked. “And did you or did you not make a promise to a little girl?” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she growled at herself, annoyed that her emotions were flaring up now.

  “I did,” Leonidas said. He clenched his fist, but then he ran back toward them. “All right. Let’s go. Hurry. Abelardus, lead.”

  “Naturally.” Abelardus took off at a run, his robe flapping about his legs.

  Alisa flung her arms around Leonidas for a quick hug, even though they were both running, and it was awkward. He patted her back once, then hurried ahead of her.

  Alisa had to sprint to keep up with the men, and she was glad for the assistance her armor gave her. They raced through long gray corridors, conduits and pipes visible on the bulkheads of the old ship, panels occasionally missing. Even as she tore after the men, she wondered if there might be some sabotage they could do to the vessel. After they found Thorian, she would contact Mica and ask. She would much rather face some engineers than the chasadski. Maybe Leonidas thought he could do something against them, but she doubted him. Only in this one thing.

  They charged around a corner, almost crashing into two miners. Before the men could bring their weapons to bear, Leonidas flung them down the corridor. They hit bulkheads hard enough that when they fell, they did not get up.

  Once again, Alisa grimaced at the way they were hurting innocent people, but she foolishly hadn’t thought to bring her stun gun. There was nothing to be done now.

  “You know where you’re going?” Leonidas demanded as they took another turn.

  “Not exactly,” Abelardus said.

  “What?” The word came out as a snarl.

  “I know where he is. Getting to him is another matter. Also, I’m trying not to take us near where there are many people.” Abelardus looked over his shoulder at Alisa, his face grim. No, he wouldn’t want to kill helpless people either. “He’s not being held all that far from here, and we’re on the right level, but I don’t have a map of this place. I’m having trouble running and concentrating at the same—”

  “Get me close,” Leonidas said, “and I’ll tear down the bulkheads.”

  Alisa eyed the one nearest them. These bulkheads looked sturdy, even by cyborg standards.

  “Just give me a second.” Abelardus stopped, breathing deeply as he pressed his hand to a bulkhead and closed his eyes.

  The deck shivered under Alisa’s feet. She, too, braced her gauntleted hand on the wall, fearing the jolts might get worse. It felt like someone was finally firing on the mining ship. Or maybe someone had been firing for a while, and the shields had just now dropped.

  Leonidas paced, his fist clenched.

  “I know you’d like to get the staff and rid the universe of those chasadski,” Alisa said, “but if we can get Thorian and get out of here, the Alliance will—”

  “It’s not about the staff,” Leonidas said. “That ass said he plans to kill Thorian. With his own hands.”

  Leonidas lunged to the side, slamming his fist into the bulkhead. Alisa jumped as it went through. He yanked his fist out, leaving a hole.

  “But he’s still alive now,” she said. “And we’re going to get him.”

  “I want that man dead. For what he wants to do and what he’s already done these last few weeks.” Leonidas ground his jaw back and forth.

  Alisa wondered if Tymoteusz had spoken to him telepathically when he’d been hurting him. Had he taunted Leonidas about Thorian? Was that why Leonidas was so enraged now?

  A distant bang sounded, and the deck shuddered again.

  Alisa wished for Starseer senses so she could tell what was going on out there. But maybe it was better that she didn’t know.

  “Ready,” Abelardus said, taking off at a run again. “I think I’ve got the way. This place is a maze.”

  Leonidas said nothing, but followed right on his heels. Alisa wanted to urge them to hurry, but knew they both were.

  Mom? Jelena’s voice sounded in Alisa’s mind.

  Alisa stumbled, but caught herself. Jelena?

  She wouldn’t have guessed her daughter had the range to talk to her from this far away. Yes?

  I’m scared.

  Alisa’s heart lurched. Did something happen back at the ship?

  Yumi said I had to stay inside, but they all went outside. They’re trying to fix something, but some men with guns are trying to get at them. Tommy is shooting at them. I’m all alone in here. It’s scary.

  Stay put, sweetie. We’ll be back soon. Alisa understood Jelena’s fear, but would rather have her alone on the ship and scared than out in the hangar, especially if shooting was going on. We’re almost to Thorian, she added, hoping that would give her daughter some solace.

  “Damn it,” Abelardus said.

  “What now?” Leonidas lifted a hand, looking like he wanted to wring Abelardus’s neck.

  “He’s twenty meters that way.” Abelardus slapped a bulkhead. “If you want to damage something, damage that wall. I don’t see where there’s even a door to his room. Maybe he’s in some bizarre oubliette and we’re coming at this from the wrong floor.”

  Leonidas slammed his shoulder into the bulkhead, moving so quickly that Alisa thought he was dodging fire at first. But no, he was just determined. He dented the metal inward with his first two strikes, then ripped through to the interior with his third. He tore away panels with his armored hands, then kicked through to the other side. Alisa would have offered to help, but she only would have been in the way. He soon kicked
a hole large enough for them to crawl through, his armored boot like a battering ram as it bashed away the bulkhead.

  He was on what looked to be his last kick when his leg caught on something.

  He blurted a startled oath, and his entire leg disappeared into the hole, as if someone was on the other side, pulling him. Alisa lunged to grab his arm, but everything happened too fast. Leonidas’s entire body was yanked through the hole.

  “Who the hells is in there?” she demanded of Abelardus.

  “Nobody,” he promised, squatting to peer inside at the same time Alisa did. “I checked. Nobody’s in there.”

  They saw Leonidas’s red armored form being pulled across a deck, but the only light came from their corridor, and he disappeared from sight again. Gripping her rifle, Alisa started to stick her leg through, but Abelardus pushed her back.

  “I’ll go.”

  Before she could argue, he dove through the hole, landing in a somersault on the other side and leaping to his feet with his staff. He raced into the darkness after Leonidas. Alisa had no idea what they were getting into, but she stepped through after them, ducking a broken wire that crackled with electricity.

  The ship trembled all around her. Another attack.

  Bangs and thumps came from the other side of the large room she entered. Tables lined one side and counters and cabinets the other. In the darkness ahead, something slammed into a wall—hard. She hoped that was Leonidas hurling his assailant around.

  “Night vision,” she commanded her armor—she’d almost forgotten that was an option.

  The chamber came into view, harshly bright near the hole and a more sedate green further in. She spotted Leonidas in a grappling match with a woman—no, that had to be an android. A second one, also female and wearing a pale coat—a lab coat?—sprang at Abelardus. He pointed his staff at her, and air seemed to slam into her, pushing her back. But as soon as the android landed, she raced for him again.

  Alisa raised her rifle, trying to line up a good shot, but with her own men fighting the androids, it was hard to find an opening. She had to be particularly careful around Abelardus, who didn’t have armor to protect him from friendly fire.