by James Somers
back at the girl as she confidently replaced her dagger.
“The Barudii are all dead,” said one of the men.
“Not quite,” Orin replied. “Is there someone in charge here?”
“Estall is our leader. We’ll take you to him.”
Orin and Ranul followed the men as they lit another torch from the wall and proceeded down the wide path taking them all deeper into the mountain and the city within. Tiet looked at his opponent again. She had fixed her gaze upon him. He sheathed his blade and followed the others as the girl fell in the line behind him. It bothered him that she knew how to use a Barudii weapon so well. She wasn’t even of his clan. And why, he wondered, had these people taken up residence in his family’s abandoned city.
VASEER
The ion trail grew stronger as Vale approached the mountains. At the present particle concentration, he calculated his target must be very close. In the distance, his optics picked up an object near the base of the mountain.
Vale’s sensitive android’s eyes focused and enhanced the image. It was a small transport craft like the one that had been reported stolen from the cloning lab. And the ion trail led right to it. If they had abandoned the craft, then logically they were proceeding on foot into the mountains.
Relevant sites in this region displayed in his mechanical mind’s eye. The only prominent selection was the old Barudii city of Vaseer. Given the present circumstances and the nature of his target, Vaseer appeared most plausible.
Vale slowed the transport then shut down the engines next to the other ship. It appeared to be abandoned. He exited his own transport and walked over to the engine compartment of the other ship. Vale tore away the compartment lid then grabbed the fuel cell housing, ripping it from its mount among the other operational components. He hurled it yards away. If his target did return, then his vessel would not be of any use to escape.
Vale returned to the cockpit of his own ship and encoded the ignition sequence to prevent anyone from stealing it. Then he stepped up to the rear pulse turret. The android grasped the pulse cannon, pulling it free from its mount then jumped back to the ground with it. The mounted gun was nearly half his size and weighed four hundred pounds, yet the android assassin carted it away with ease.
Assessing known entrances and exits to the city of Vaseer, Vale located the closest and bounded away after his prey with his pulse cannon in tow. Dawn approached. He planned to be inside the city before he lost the element of surprise over his targets.
☼
As the group came to the lowest level of Vaseer, the light suddenly greeted them with the splendor of the old city. It was glorious to behold. Tiet stood in awe trying to take it all in. To his surprise, Vaseer was filled with people. All the carvings and gems and precious metals decorating the walls spoke of royalty and power. It was so distant a memory—some time around his eighth year the massacre had stripped him of his family and his people. It was in this place where his mother had been murdered by the Horva. This was the place of Tiet’s dreams and his nightmares.
Orin, Tiet and Ranul followed their guides down through a large open area serving as the town square then on through a series of large columns hewn out of the rock into a smaller chamber. All around them, people milled in the walkways, looking at them curiously. Tiet noticed that almost all of them wore the Barudii clothing which had been left in the city after the massacre. It was an eerie sight to him—like his people raised from the dead.
The irrigation canals still functioned, and Tiet could see fresh water coming in from one of the underground mountain streams. Evidently the gardens must still be in production to keep these people alive down here. As they came into the adjacent chamber, several men sat convened in a meeting. One, who was dressed as though he might be the leader, got up to walk toward them. One of their guides intercepted him and whispered his report.
“Gentlemen, welcome to Vaseer. My name is Estall,” the man said.
Tiet thought how strange it was to be welcomed to his former home by this man who had only taken possession of it because of the slaughter of his Barudii clan.
“I’m Orin Vale, this is Dr. Ranul K’ore and this young man is Tiet Soone,” Orin reported.
“Ah, then you must be the son of Kale Soone the first, the Barudii King,” Estall said.
“How did you know that?” Tiet asked.
“Both of you Barudii are written about in the city’s archives. We Aolene clansmen have studied your history. We have trained our people in your fighting arts for some years now,” Estall said. “We came to the city nearly six years ago to escape the Horva after the war. After the Barudii were wiped out, the Vorn staged a massive takeover against the remaining clans. They released the Horva on our people and killed thousands. A very few still remain in what was left of the Aolene cities. We chose to flee.
“At first we went into the wilderness not knowing where to go. Then some of the elders among our group suggested we take refuge in one of the abandoned Barudii cities. Once we arrived, we realized how well the city was fortified. Finding an ample supply of fresh water and the irrigated gardens, we knew it was the right place for us to stay.”
“Have the Vorn not patrolled here in all that time?” Orin asked.
“At first we feared they might eventually make their way out this far. But they seem to have largely forgotten this place since the demise of the Barudii. Many of our people began to research the Barudii archives. We discovered the warrior art. Our people trained according to your ways. The weaponry was still here in your armories and in good supply. Even without your special mind powers, I think we’ve learned a great deal of the techniques,” Estall said proudly.
“Of that I’m quite sure,” Orin said. “This young woman showed exceptional skill. I was quite impressed.”
Tiet looked again at the girl, only to find her staring at him. He looked away quickly then back, trying to appear as though he were surveying the room beyond.
“Dorian is my younger sister,” Estall said. “She is only in her eighteenth year, but she has been an eager student of your ways. She has instructed many of our people.”
Impressive, Tiet thought. Each time he glanced at her, he noticed she was staring at him. He felt uneasy, embarrassed. He wasn’t sure why.
“I guess you’ve been a very eager student as well to be leading this people when you are so young a man yourself,” said Orin.
One of the elder men standing near spoke up. “Estall is young, but he has proven his courage and his wisdom to our people.”
The men continued talking, but Tiet wasn’t listening anymore. He had now become preoccupied with Dorian. Tiet decided not to be a coward about it. He lifted up his eyes to Dorian. She still stood behind her brother, Estall. Tiet returned her stare.
She smiled slightly—he had definitely seen it. She broke away from the group and walked past him, back toward the public area they had come through. Tiet suddenly realized he may have been smiling himself and pursed his lips to disguise it. Better to pay attention to what’s important right now, he thought.
“If you don’t mind my asking,” Estall said, “the archives contained nothing concerning the last battle of your people. What happened?”
“Something we just weren’t expecting,” Orin said. “The Vorn assembled a massive ground force and we were prepared to meet them. What we didn’t realize was that they had developed some new technology. They just walked right out of the walls, like some dimensional portal. Thousands of Horva clones poured into the mountain cities while we had our warriors on the surface preparing for the ground assault.
“Our king, Kale Soone, had chosen me to guard his wife and son. We tried to fight, but it was only women and children, besides myself, left in the city. The enemy got to Queen, but I managed to take the boy and flee the city with him. I later investigated the battlefield up in the valley. From what I could tell the Horva in our cities came at our warriors from behind as they fou
ght on the surface.”
Everyone was silent for a moment. It was a tragedy which had cost all of Castai’s clans their freedom.
“Now may be time to act, though,” Orin said. “We’ve just discovered their main cloning facility is no longer in production—supply lines are dry temporarily.”
“That would explain what our spies have been reporting,” said Estall.
“I don’t understand,” Ranul said.
“We have spies which go into the cities on a regular basis. They have reported seeing hardly any Horva at all. The Vorn have even taken to patrolling without them.”
“It won’t remain that way for long,” Ranul said.
“Have you heard something specific?”
“I work in weapons development,” said Ranul. “There has been a lot of talk about a fleet coming through the transdimensional rift some time very soon. They’re supposed to be establishing Vorn colonies on Castai.”
“It doesn’t sound like we have much time to left,” Estall said.
“We have to find a way to stop that fleet from coming through the rift,” Orin said. “If your people could attack their main complex directly, then perhaps we could seize a ship from the hangar and take it through the rift to intercept their reinforcements.”
“But we have a ship here,” said one of the men with Estall.
“What kind of ship?” Ranul asked. “Is it Barudii? Is it operational?”
“Yes, at least most of the systems work,” he said. “We’ve never fully ignited the engines. There hasn’t been a need.”
“We had hoped that it would provide a last stand defense, or an escape if the Vorn discovered us,” said Estall.
“They’re going to discover you eventually,” Tiet said.
“Estall, it’s now or never,” Orin said. “Your people are trained and the Vorn are at their weakest moment. But the opportunity will pass if we don’t finish this war and free our people.”
Estall considered a moment, looking at the other men with him. “Please allow me a moment to speak with my elders.”
“If it’s all right, we should take a look at the ship,” Ranul suggested.
“Of course. Millo will show you where it’s docked.”
Millo, one of the men with Estall, motioned for them to follow as he led the way down another corridor out of the chamber. Orin and Ranul fell in behind his lead.
“I’m going to locate some more weapons and meet you down there, okay,” Tiet said.
Orin looked out through the doorway where Dorian had exited then back at Tiet. “All right, but don’t linger, we still have work to do.”
Tiet turned and walked back toward the city center only to find Dorian standing near the large stone fountain. When their eyes met again they both smiled. Tiet walked over to the fountain, not exactly sure what to say next.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you need more weapons,” Dorian said.
She either had excellent hearing, or had been closer to the chamber entrance when he said it. “Well, as a matter of fact, I could use some help.”
“I’ll show you the way to the armory.”
“Thank you.”
The words seemed so difficult to get out, and he wasn’t sure why. After all, Dorian was only a girl. They walked down a passageway to yet another chamber. Dorian keyed in a code on the wall pad. The mechanical door slid aside into the rock, allowing them access into one of the Barudii weapon stores. What a sight, he thought as he surveyed all of the weapons left by his clan.
The walls of the long chamber were lined with blades and kemsticks on one side and racks of pulse rifles and pistols down the middle aisle. On the opposite side were combat uniforms with the Barudii clan insignia, a red ring with a sword running through it. They were fresh-looking in comparison with his own shabby gear. He and Orin had been forced to make due with what they had in an old transport and the cave they had converted into a home.
He walked through the rows of the armory, looking over various items, pausing at the dark colored uniforms. They were the same that Dorian and the other Aolene warriors were wearing.
“If you are going into battle, you should wear the uniform of your people,” Dorian said. She looked him over a moment then retrieved one of the uniforms from the wall.
“Here, I think this one should fit well,” she said, handing him the garment.
“Thanks.”
Tiet could hardly wait to put it on.
“Around that partition is an area where you can change,” Dorian said.
Tiet grinned like a child with a new toy as he walked around the wall and began to change into his new Barudii uniform. She’s quite nice after all, he thought.
“Dorian?”
“Yes?”
“I’m …I’m sorry about hitting you in the passage way.”
“It was a fight. I understand. After all, I was attacking you.”
“Yes, but for all you knew, the Vorn were coming in to harm your people. Anyway, I wouldn’t have done it if I had known—”
“Known what? That I was a woman?”
“No…I mean, if I had known you were so nice.”
Dorian smiled again, knowing he couldn’t see her.
Tiet as he emerged from behind the partition. “Well, what do you think?”
“Just as I imagined.”
“What do you mean…imagined?”
“Nothing. Just a statement.” Changing the subject, Dorian reached for one of the gadgets on a nearby shelf. “You should take one of these,” she said handing him the object. “It’s an electromagnetic shield generator.” She raised her forearm to reveal the same apparatus fixed upon her own uniform.
“It repels small arms fire,” Tiet said. “Orin has one. He’s shown me how to use it, but we only had one between us.”
“Well, you have plenty to choose from now,” Dorian said, smiling. “All of these technically belong to you, after all. We’ll load up this cart and take some down to the ship.”
“Do you think Estall will decide to attack the Vorn?”
“Personally, I think it’s time we took the fight to them. And many others feel the same way.”
Tiet nodded. They began loading weapons for the ship. When they had what they needed, Tiet pushed the cart back out of the chamber and up the passage they had come by. Dorian walked by his side.
“We’d better hurry before Orin rushes off without me,” Tiet said.
“I wouldn’t mind.”
The comment pulled a quiet smile from his face again. Tiet couldn’t remember smiling so much. He couldn’t remember having a reason to.
ASSASSIN
From his perch high above the public square, Vale scanned the identifying features of Castillian faces as the people congregated and moved through the area. The android had still not been able to locate his Barudii target. It was unclear who these humans were. The city was reported abandoned. However, their presence here, and apparent aid to the governor’s target, made them accomplices and therefore expendable under the governor’s guidelines. However, firing upon them now would be tactically unsound, as it would alert his primary target to his presence. Patience was the key.
The carved stone balcony he crouched upon had been easy to access and provided a superior targeting position from which to shoot. Person after person, feature after feature was scanned and rejected as negative matches. But wait, now one face continued to match as the features blinked into place like puzzle pieces. One of the men walking below matched all parameters. Only the garment had been changed from the image on the data clips. Vale had to act.
The android hoisted the pulse cannon up so it would clear the stone balustrade. Vale quickly shifted into the best targeting approximation possible for such a cumbersome weapon. Fortunately, its dispersal pattern was complimentary to the inability to precisely aim the weapon. He tapped the arming switch, causing the weapon to hum.
☼
“Look out!
” someone yelled.
Many in the square turned toward the direction where one woman pointed. Tiet also looked and found a familiar looking Barudii man, with a large weapon aiming into the city center. A wave of pulse laser fire showered down around them as Tiet turned to shield Dorian from harm. He caught her around the torso and pushed her toward the ground. Dorian’s electromagnetic shield pulsed several times intercepting laser blasts meant to take their lives. Rock sprayed away from the walls around them in great chunks.
As soon as Dorian was down, Tiet leaped away from her. If he was the target, then he wanted to draw the fire away from the girl. The strafing trail of pulse fire followed him as he evaded—leaping and twirling from object to ground to wall and away again.
Then the cannon fire ceased a moment as some of the Aolene men attempted to engage the culprit. Tiet saw the Aolene warriors firing blaster pistols at the balcony and hurling spicor discs toward the assailant. The android dodged the discs letting them explode on the walls nearby—each leaving behind a smooth semicircular cavity in the rock. Vale took several blasts to the torso and the arms as he repositioned the pulse cannon and began to spray the Aolene combatants with laser fire. Tiet used this brief respite to study their attacker. He had no explanation for the man’s appearance—he might be a clone.
Tiet saw an opportunity and quickly shattered what remained of the embattled stone balustrade with a concentrated blast of power from his mind. The heavy stone erupted upward against the man, catching his body between the large fragments of rock and the chamber ceiling. It all dropped down to the public square below becoming a heap of smoldering rubble.
The assassin tangled within the shattered stone like a discarded rag-doll. Tiet wondered why no blood could be seen on the body as it hung limply out of the rock. Orin appeared with Estall on the other side of the fountain. No one understood what had just happened.
“Tiet!” Dorian cried behind him. She pointed toward the heap of rubble. As he turned, Tiet heard the sound of stone tumbling. From beneath the heap of stones, Orin Vale’s doppelganger emerged. Orin saw it as well, but he couldn’t believe who he was seeing. Whatever this monster was, it was far too powerful to be human.
☼
Vale stood and quickly reassessed the situation. Tiet drew his blade as he ran toward the mysterious aggressor. Vale also drew a Barudii blade—part of his disguise as a Barudii warrior. The two engaged in fierce combat. Tiet tried to enhance his own speed and strength using the Way, but his opponent was still too strong.
Vale blocked a thrust from Tiet, quickly pushing his blade away. A deadly mechanical hand plowed toward Tiet’s chest. Tiet anticipated the move, drawing a pistol first with his free hand to take advantage of Vale’s exposure. Tiet thrust the pulse weapon into his opponent’s face and fired without hesitation. Vale tried to correct and block the pistol as it came into position, but was not quite fast enough. The blast caught him in the side of the head and sent him reeling backward.
After
