Galactic Satori Chronicles: Kron

by Nick Braker

“Just listen,” Ruth said. “I don’t know what you’re planning or hoping for, but just in case, I want to tell you something.”

  The computer’s voice interrupted Ruth as she spoke.

  “Remain standing and hold still,” Carena said, translating for them.

  “From the moment I first saw you in the lobby—” Ruth said.

  Jets of fluid sprayed out from small nozzles inside the alcove. The nozzles rotated around Magnus, hitting him with a thin, high-pressure stream of cold liquid. It stung but otherwise didn’t appear to harm him. If it was toxic, he couldn’t feel any worse than he did already. Magnus kept his eyes squinted closed and his face down, trying to avoid the stinging spray to his nose and mouth. The liquid felt slippery like glycerin and it rolled off him quickly, taking the black ash with it. A fine metallic grate at his feet allowed the liquid to flow out.

  “—You’ve always held a special place in my heart that no other person—”

  “Step one is complete,” Carena translated.

  Ruth continued. “—could fill. You know how I feel, but not the depth of it.” The flow of the cold, glycerin liquid stopped, leaving him shivering. His fever raged inside and the icy fluid caused his teeth to rattle. A hiss of high pressure air above him pushed the remaining fluid through the grate. The liquid finished its job, leaving him dry and cold. “I know it’s a shitty time to be telling you this.” He could see the tears in his mind’s eye from the tremor in her voice. “I believe you are my soul mate. I know you won’t say anything. Something haunts you and it drives everything else out. I wish I could be the one to break through that wall you’ve erected, but I know I’m not the one for you. Look, I just want you to know how I feel. Nothing will change that.”

  “Magnus, hold your breath,” Carena said, unaware of Ruth’s comments.

  Magnus examined his skin, no trace of the ash remained. Without additional exposure of fresh bacteria, would it help his Aliri augmented metabolism to heal? No, the infection coursed through his body. He jerked in place as several nozzles ejected a quick blast of warm steam. The contrast from cold to warm startled him, though the heat soothed his nerves. He soaked it in, holding his breath. The alcove rotated around, facing the opposite direction. A small corridor only ten feet long lead to a raised dais. He couldn’t see the others. If they each left their own alcove like he did, then they were behind the walls north and south of him. They were isolated from each other. He stepped forward and his right leg gave out from under him. Magnus staggered, falling against the wall. He would not give up, not yet. He pushed himself farther into the corridor. Each step drained what little strength he had left, but he had to reach the dais. It had to be the center point for the radiation cleansing. His goal might as well be a hundred feet away as he struggled to keep moving toward it.

  “Carena says to stand on the dais,” Ruth said, relaying the Kron woman’s instructions to Magnus. He couldn’t hear Carena now since she spoke to them through the helmets they wore, which he did not.

  “What the hell?” Ruth yelled.

  Joannah and Giselle chimed in, mirroring Ruth’s comment. Were they in trouble? As close to death as he felt, Magnus jerked around, trying to find a way to reach them.

  “What... is it?” he demanded, barely able to speak.

  “Carena just said some shit about it being an honor to know you,” Ruth said. “What the hell did she or you not tell us, Magnus?”

  “It’s part... of my plan,” Magnus said, gasping for air. “Look. I have a chance.” He paused to catch his breath again. “If this works.” He dropped to his knees as his body wracked into another coughing spasm. Blood splattered on the floor with each cough. “I’ll see... you on the other... side.”

  Magnus could hear the hurt in her voice but also the hope that he might live. He knew Ruth.

  “I’m sorry, Ruth,” he said, gasping. “It’s now... or never. I’m dying.”

  Magnus clutched his chest as his heart fluttered again. The injection Carena had given him faded and his weakened heart was under attack. He lunged toward the dais. He fell short, landing at its base. He reached out, pulling himself up, trying to get on top of it. He dragged himself with every ounce of strength he had left.

  “Ekes tobor usi noktu,” the female computer said.

  Magnus didn’t know what it said but it clearly wanted him to stand on the dais. He rolled over, managing to position himself on it. A green light overhead activated. It felt hot like the sun on a summer afternoon. With his fever burning him up inside, the heat felt good, but he knew what was happening to him. The system bathed him in radiation designed to kill a lethal and virulent strain of bacteria, radiation that was supposed to cleanse any remnants from the outside of their environmental suits. He had Ruth’s shirt in his hands as the radiation beam grew brighter and the heat rose in the room. Magnus began to sweat more as the heat intensified. He doubled over, drawing up in a fetal position. The bacteria would win if this didn’t work. The radiation had to kill it because he knew for certain he would die otherwise.

  “Magnus,” Ruth yelled. “Tell me you’re okay.”

  Magnus’ face twisted in torment. He couldn’t speak as his body contorted and began to spasm. The only thing he could focus on was pain. The green light grew brighter and the room hotter. Pain was the center of his world; breathing didn’t matter, a beating heart didn’t matter, nothing mattered. His eyes and nose still bled and sweat poured off him. Would a normal human have a chance? Did the Aliri know this was coming? Had they prepared him for it? How could they? Not even a computer could predict this so far in advance.

  “Magnus?” Giselle asked.

  “Is he okay?” Joannah asked.

  An angel appeared in front of him. Her hair was white like snow. She had pale skin and mint green eyes. Where had she come from? The angel knelt next to him, placing her arm on his shoulder. “This should help. Today is not your day to die, Magnus.”

  The radiation beam had stopped. How long ago? He didn’t see it go off. He blinked his eyes. The room’s lights had returned to normal. Blood and sweat covered the dais. How much time had passed? Was he unconscious at some point? The computer spoke again.

  “Kovo, Kovo, speti contminti,” it said.

  Red lights flashed in the room and the computer repeated itself.

  “Kovo, Kovo, speti contminti.”

  Magnus heard several thumps and he craned his head around to find the source. Ruth stood behind a bluish metal door with a small window in its center. Magnus could read her lips. She was calling his name still pounding on the door. Ruth looked to her left, down the corridor, pointing at something. He had no idea what it was as he couldn’t see anything from the floor. She tried to tell him something. He managed to roll over and get his feet under him. He struggled to stand and staggered to the door. He still couldn’t hear her but her message was clear as he read her lips again. Ruth was telling him that their EPs were down and guards were coming. She wanted all of them to run. Carena stood behind her, shaking her head. Ruth told him the door would not open. The computer had locked it down due to contamination.

  “Run,” he yelled, his voice stronger. “Run and I’ll find you.” His legs shook and his arms fought to keep himself from sliding down the door. “God damn it, Ruth, run! That’s an order,” he yelled again. Ruth shook her head at him. “Please,” he mouthed. “I’ll find you. I promise.”

  Ruth’s eyes locked with his and she looked to the right, down the corridor again and to possible safety. She turned back to him, nodding reluctantly. She mouthed the words ‘damn you.’ Ruth gathered her team and ran the other way, taking Carena with them. Magnus slid down the wall, landing on the floor with a hard jolt. Was the bacteria gone? He didn’t feel well, but his strength seemed to be returning. Several times he felt a rush of adrenaline, pulsing stronger and then fading, but each time his breathing eased and the tightness in his chest eased. He began to feel better. Had it worked? The fever had dissipated and he no longer felt cold. His
muscles no longer ached, though he had to admit to being tired; no, exhausted.

  The green energy beam had destroyed the bacteria but at what cost to him? Radiation killed human tissue; instantly if the dosage was strong enough and slowly, over time, if not. His ability needed time to work but he should live. He chuckled, relief washing over him. Fuck the Kron. He was going to live and they were going to die. The thought strengthened his resolve. Magnus wanted this more than anything in life and he was so close to accomplishing that goal.

  The Kron lived with black death all around them, ready to kill the moment someone made a mistake. The image of the angel who had visited him flashed in his mind. Who was the white-haired woman? Was she real? Her face, as she sat next to him, flashed again through his mind. What had she said to him? It seemed important, like she was telling him something without saying it. What was her real message? He shook his head, unable to recall her words, words that were on the tip of his tongue. What were they? He shrugged, giving up for the time being. It would come to him. Magnus stood, testing his strength, still weak. His eyes didn’t burn or bleed and the fog had lifted from his thoughts.

  The room continued to flash red from the lights above. Was it a warning? Ruth had mentioned a lock-down. Did their computer systems detect bacteria still? Movement from the window where Ruth had stood caught his eye. He ducked back, pressing hard against the wall near the door. He’d have to think about all this later. Right now, he had to survive.

  Magnus peered out. Several Kron women rushed by the door, running the same direction his team had gone. They carried weapons in their hands and all of them wore body armor. He cursed. The Kron were hunting his team. He hoped Carena could give them a fighting chance. She would know where to go. Magnus felt certain he wasn’t wrong about trusting her.

  A white-haired woman stood in front of his door, her back to him, pointing earnestly down the corridor and motioning the other Kron women to hurry. Her mannerisms were military and her gestures clearly orders. As the last of the guards passed her, she joined them from behind.

  Damn it.

  Magnus couldn’t get a clear look at her. Was she the same woman or had it been a hallucination? He wanted to know what happened to him but it didn’t matter right now. He had to break out of the room and find a way to reach his team. After that, he’d teleport them home or help them steal a ship. Magnus smiled remembering he’d done it before. If Grep were here, he would remind Magnus the situation was entirely different and they would likely die in the attempt.

  The red lights stayed off and the room returned to normal lighting. The door opposite the alcove entrance slid open, the same one Ruth had pounded on.

  What the hell? Automated?

  Magnus wrapped Ruth’s shirt around his waist. His need for clothes was a lower priority at the moment. He stepped out checking both ways. To the left, where Ruth and the team had run, a bulkhead door stood in his way, closed. Damn it, he couldn’t follow them that way. He checked it first, trying to open it. A panel on the right turned red each time he touched it, buzzing in defiance. He had to keep moving. More troops could be coming and his best option was to avoid them until he could get his strength back or find some weapons.

  The dais room’s floor was rigid in contrast to the floor of the main corridor. A wide, gray strip of rubber-like material reached to each side wall leaving a few inches of hard metal. The softer, gray strip lay flush with it, seamless. The walls and ceilings were creme colored and lit at regular intervals in the ceiling with soft lighting. The main corridor continued right from the dais room and, since he couldn’t go left, it was his only choice. He followed it moving cautiously at first. The empty corridors bothered him. Was there no one in this area? Was this side of Citron always devoid of people? Ruth had mentioned the empty hangar. Perhaps this was normal, but his gut gnawed at him again. It felt like a trap.

  The main corridor turned at an odd angel to the left, roughly 60 degrees. Ahead of him, doors and intersecting passageways lined the long main corridor’s left side. The right was solid, not even windows. Magnus paused a few seconds waiting and listening for signs of activity... nothing. His legs and arms no longer felt like lead. Was he healing? Yes, but he needed rest. He forced himself to pick up his pace and jogged the length of the main corridor.

  Magnus smacked the panels on the doors as he ran by them, the first three turned red and buzzed. On the fourth hit, the panel turned green and the door opened. He didn’t expect it to open and had already gone ten feet past. He returned to the room, rushing inside in case there was anyone inside. The ceiling lights activated automatically convincing him the room was empty. A set of lockers lined the left side and two desks lined the right, molded into the wall. Dual monitors sat on each desk but displayed nothing. An embedded monitor covered half of the far wall. He opened each locker in succession finding various sizes of clothes and shoes. The clothing matched the ones they found on his old spaceship. He removed Ruth’s shirt and donned a pair of light gray pants and shirt. None of the shoes fit so he tossed them back. Finding nothing else, he left the room at a jog.

  The main corridor turned left again another 60 degrees. He stopped and peered around the next passageway, seeing nothing. He continued his pace. He smacked into an invisible barrier that propelled him backwards. He fell on his back sliding to a stop. The barrier stunned him. What the hell was that? He brought his hands to his head futilely trying to quell the hurt. His senses returned. Magnus rolled to his side and pushed himself up. He noticed small sparkles of energy at random points in front of him. Was it a forcefield? He stole a quick glance back to ensure no one crept up behind him. Satisfied, he touched the nearly invisible barrier. It shocked him and pushed his hand back. Damn it, another dead end. He couldn’t go that way. Magnus returned to the closest interior hallway. It led deeper into the building, assuming the main corridor circumscribed this alien structure.

  Footsteps approached at a run from where he originally started. If it was his team, he needed to wait. If not, he would have to run. Magnus pressed himself against the wall, peering around the corner. Female soldiers, guns in hand, rounded the corner at the other end. Yes, they were here for him.

  Damn it.

  Magnus bolted into a run, traveling deeper into the center of the building. He felt better, but he didn’t have the strength to fight. He had to get away. The identical corridors connected seamlessly as he ran. The door at the end of this passageway had the same panel on the right side with a row of lights above it the other doors didn’t have. An elevator? It made sense, but if it didn’t open, they had him. This passageway was one way, his only way. He slammed his hand on the panel expecting it to buzz and turn red. It flashed green and the door opened. Magnus stepped inside the small, hexagonally shaped enclosure. He turned, looking back as the Kron women rounded the corner and the door closed. Had they seen him? Probably, but he didn’t have any choices, fight or run. For now, it was run.

  The door opened and the long passageway in front of him led away from the center toward another main corridor. The floor had the same hard, gray rubber floor but the walls were a soft yellow instead of creme colored. The path led to another main corridor circumscribing this building on this floor. A walkway tube, straight ahead, led to another building. He bolted from the elevator, reaching the intersection in seconds. He turned right, bringing himself to an abrupt stop. Another barrier stood in front of him. He narrowly missed hitting it by inches. He turned to take the other path but another barrier blocked it. His only choice was the walkway tube to the other building. Magnus frowned. He would be in clear sight of the Kron guards as they left the elevator. Magnus couldn’t waste any time. He dashed across the walkway. He guessed its length at about a thousand feet which left him vulnerable from their gunfire. The tube was crystal-clear from the floor up, encasing him. The large building ahead, visible through the rain of black ash, dominated his field of vision. Lights illuminated three of the six edges of the hexagonal building. The walkway tube c
onnected the building behind him to one of the corner spokes ahead of him.

  A female voice yelled. He glanced back, seeing the group of guards exiting the elevator and pointing at him. He pushed himself harder. He had to reach cover by turning left or right ahead, hopefully without running into another barrier. The barriers had stunned him before and he couldn’t afford to hit one with the guards in pursuit. A blast of energy shot past him, hitting a side wall well ahead of him. It singed the metal.

  Shit.

  Magnus weaved back and forth as he ran. It slowed him down a bit but he had to make it tough for them. Another blast whizzed by him burning another hole. The bacteria had nearly killed him, the radiation had weakened him, exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him and his pursuers threatened to burn deadly holes in him. What the hell else could go wrong? He needed to rest but a surge of adrenaline kept him moving. Magnus reached the end of the walkway. He detected the familiar sparkle of two energy barriers on both sides of the main corridor. He cursed knowing his only choice lay in running straight down this passageway deeper into the building. It left him exposed to their fire. The distance between him and his pursuers was the only thing giving him a chance. He had to reach the elevator.

  Magnus glanced back. He was outrunning them. It would be a tough shot for anyone. He slapped the right side panel and the elevator door opened. He dove in as several desperate shots hit the walls and floors close to it. He leaned back in one of the corners, trying to get his breath. The elevator door opened again and he dashed into the new corridor.

  He knew it was a matter of time now. His reserves would run out. He had never pushed himself this hard with his body so damaged. Magnus stopped to rest, he had to.

  Chapter 15

  KATERRA AND MAGNUS

  Kron - Citron

  Tuesday, October 27, 1987 - 11:20pm

  Magnus

  Magnus leaned against the wall, resting his hands on his knees. He looked around getting his bearings. It was either the Kron elevator behind him or an elaborate set of doors at the end of the hallway. The door sparkled but not like the energy barriers that had blocked his path earlier. This door was smooth, polished metal that looked platinum by the color of it. There weren’t any door handles, just another electronic control pad on the right side, like all the other doors he used to get here. He felt like a mouse in a maze, take the wrong turn and get zapped. The forcefields were probably designed to keep him away from sensitive areas. It was that or he was being led into a trap. It didn’t matter, he had only one real choice and it was door number one, ahead of him. The guards would be coming through that elevator door any second. He had to move.