Universal Code

by William Songy

  A servant reached its hideous bulbous head out and waved him in. But he refused, “You need to come out Ningal,” Asger demanded.

  He needed to be cautious in many respects. Over the course of his venture, Asger managed to pick up a crew member here and there and expand. As a result, the majority of his crew had somewhat shady pasts. Their allegiances were purely based on one’s financial benevolence. Only three men were with him from the beginning and knew the truth of who he was and why he was there. Truth be told, he no longer had any idea of their psychological state or the condition of their loyalties. Asger knew only of the thoughts that grew from seeds in his own mind. Were they not also susceptible to temptation? What if they had fully turned? Regardless, in order to prevent his head from being removed from his body, Asger needed a financial incentive to offset that which may be sought by anyone learning of the Nam-nim’s presence. He was large and tough, but it was foolish to think he was laser proof. Most of these men were hardened killers with a love for money that was rivaled by little else. As the captain, he needed to convince them that the capture of Ningal would be highly profitable and worth more than she could ever offer them had they stayed the course. That, however, would be a lie. When Asger revealed his intentions, it was certain that she would use her influence and money to turn them to her side. Ningal had to be kept in solitary confinement. Even then the whisper of the Nam-nim’s name would create many complications. This was risky and Asger was suddenly second guessing his decision. It was too late to reconsider or to alter course.

  After a few seconds, he could see Ningal rise from the seat. Her head nearly touched the ceiling of the pod while moving toward the opening. The Nam-nim bent down and stepped out of the pod. A long, flowing emerald green gown touched the floor. Ningal looked at him as she stood up, “Asger Ulven. I had hoped to meet you one day,” an interpreter said deciphering the Tisht dialect.

  “Ningal…Madam Nam-nim,” he responded in a firm tone showing no weakness.

  She was taken back by what seemed to be a rude manner to greet the Nam-nim. She turned her head slightly to the side and continued to stare at him, “Your orders are to take me back to Onsan at once. Let there be no delay. I will have your quarters for now.”

  “From what I have heard your headquarters have been severely damaged. It wouldn’t be safe for you to return there. Besides, I have a better idea.”

  The four eyes on the head squinted, “You…have a better idea? It doesn’t work that way. Have you forgotten who you are talking to?”

  “No, not at all. You are now wanted…let’s just say, by some very important people,” Asger knew at this point he had to be all in. There was no turning back. “The word is that there was an incident at the Baraza Zima and you were involved. Many were killed and someone with my likeness was involved. Seems like I was being set up?”

  This piqued the interest of his crew who seemed to immediately grasp his angle. Despite their love of money, it was useless to a dead man. Turning on Ningal would certainly come with its consequences for everyone on board. This was not a simple merchant or slave trader; she was the Nam-nim of the Kasadu. She had millions at her command that could wipe them out in a nanosecond at the snap of her lanky fingers.

  “You will take me to Onsan and I will consider forgetting the way you addressed me,” she said through the interpreter.

  “This is my ship. You don’t give the orders here,” he said coldly refusing to back down.

  “You are nothing. Your men are nothing. I can crush you in a second,” the interpreter hissed delivering her master’s message.

  The men looked at each other as they became increasingly uncomfortable with the dialogue. Despite being hardened criminals and killers themselves, they didn’t relish the notion of rebelling against Ningal. They could see the anger in the Kasadu leader’s face. Her tone was evident of hostility.

  “Now, you are just a speck of dust in an endless universe. We are done here,” he decided it was best to not leave anyone alone with her or her assistants. He grabbed a rod and squeezed the grip. Blue bolts of electricity danced around the tip, “You are my prisoner.” He pointed toward a doorway out of the hanger. She did not budge as if still involved in a power play. He returned the favor by touching her leg with the rod. She recoiled in pain as electricity shot through her body. “Now go!” he barked at her.

  Ningal squinted her eyes at him and visualized herself killing him. She had to slow down the fantasy that was now playing out in her thoughts. It could not be swift. Ningal wondered how much pain the renowned Asger Ulven could stand and vowed to find out. She would need to hear him scream and beg her for mercy. She swatted at the rod and he hit her again. This time she lunged at him, but he simply stepped aside and guided her to the ground with the rod as her muscles contracted and veins popped from her neck and arms.

  While distracted by Ningal, a personal guard that had escorted her to the pod, pulled a weapon. Reflexively, Asger stepped to his left and swung the rod and pressed it against the laser pistol before a round was fired. The pack exploded and blew off the three-fingered hand. Despite the loss of his hand, the guard lunged at him without hesitation. Asger jammed the rod into the abdomen of the male Tisht and guided him to the ground then held it for a count of ten to make sure he was too weak to try again.

  Asger was alarmed when he noticed one of the members of his crew, despite being armed, simply stood by as he was nearly attacked from behind. Asger looked at him with an expression that asked the question.

  Stein was a gangly bipod from Partino, whose home nation was a loyal member of the Kasadu. Despite his nationality, the leaders of Partino would have him executed if he ever returned. So, his loyalty was fluid and went wherever the money was, except when it guaranteed death. He leaned in and responded in a whispered tone, “What are you doing?”

  “I think it speaks for itself,” Asger replied feeling little need to explain.

  “This is the Nam-nim. You are going to get us all killed,” he noted with concern.

  “Not if you…we see this through. Turning her in will open up more opportunity for us,” he said. He wasn’t sure if Stein bit on the lie and didn’t want to get in a long drawn out conversation while the Nam-nim was able to influence them.

  “Yesterday we were taking orders from the Kasadu, now out of nowhere we are not only in open rebellion but have taken the leader of the Kasadu for a prisoner. A lot of men on the transport will not like this. There could be a mutiny. You better have a good reason for what you have done,” Stein insisted.

  Asger was to the point of anger. He jammed his index finger into the center of Stein’s chest, “And you better back down and get out of my face before I throw you off of my ship like a piece of space garbage.” He leaned into Stein’s elongated face and was nose to nose with him. Stein backed down and Asger returned his attention to Ningal who was getting back to her feet.

  Asger looked at the door and Ningal followed not wanting to be shocked again. He separated the three Kurun and locked them up in soundproof cells removing all possibility of communication. Asger would offer the Nam-nim no mercy as she would offer none to him when and if the roles were reversed. The cells were purposefully dark and cold. Only he knew the code to get into the room and after the reaction of Stein, that was a good thing. If there was a mutiny or a successful attack on his life the Nam-nim would die in the cold cell. Lowering the temperature to less than fifty degrees Fahrenheit would kill the Tisht. So, Asger lowered it to sixty, which was enough to reduce normal brain and motor functions and make any escape less likely. As extra security, he set the thermostat to lower to thirty on the hour. This would require a manual reset every hour or the prisoners were certain to die if anything happened to him.

  By now the word of his abandoning of the Kasadu was certain to have spread throughout the transport. He was quite possibly facing a similar reaction he had received from Stein by the other members of his crew. In the five years since going under, he had built an
entire network…an empire. Or, at least it was to him. Asger had made more money than all the salaries of the leaders in SINSTER combined and multiplied by a hundred. Not even the members of the crew knew about the investments and how many times he managed to turn the money over. It was smart to pay them well and keep visible only what was needed for operating costs. The rest was stored in various places and investment accounts.

  The name of Asger Ulven was known throughout the universe, but very few had any idea of who he truly was. What was the cost? Had he gone too far, broken too many laws for the sake of completing his charge? Disappearing would be impossible as he was easy to recognize. The concept of doing so was an ever-evolving desire that played out in his mind. It was time to walk away. He wanted to be done. Asger could easily access more money than ever dreamed possible as a young agent. There was no need for any of the nonsense anymore. Inexplicably, doubts crept in. Why now? Why end it all now? Why throw away everything you have worked for? It is too late to turn back now. Asger was second guessing himself about taking Ningal prisoner. It was truly too late for that. She was not known for her mercy or forgiveness to any being on any planet. Asger couldn’t finance a war with the Kasadu, they were too large and powerful. Now, he had their Nam-nim. “An impetuous move!” he said aloud.

  Asger sat in a chair on the private observation deck of the Nekark where he usually captained the transport. At times it seemed that he had a view of the entire universe from there and he liked the notion of being by himself. If need be, he could override the controls of the Nekark from there in the event of a mutiny, which he realized was a clear and present danger at that point. How long before the more vocal members of the crew began to ask questions or voice their discontent?

  There was a tap on the door that jarred him out of his thoughts. Instinctively he reached for his weapon and slid off the safety. He gave a verbal command, “C-one,” ordering the door’s transparency display to function on the inside giving him the advantage of a one-way visual of the unknown visitor. The center panel of the door became transparent and illuminated the face of the person on the other side of the metal door. He wondered how long it would take when the two would converse and he almost knew what the dialogue would entail. It was Tarc. Asger paused for a second and considered how much he trusted him. He and another ‘member’ of the crew, Nard, were also SINSTER agents that had infiltrated his operation while undercover.

  A year had passed since being sent to capture and return him to Viennin for a review, investigation and quite possibly a trial. It was only within the last month that he had learned of their true identities after a message that was broadcasted from the Nekark to Viennin was intercepted. The message contained sensitive information about Asger and his network. There was also a tracker on the Nekark that was detected and disabled. This was when Asger began to suspect the two men of being more than they had let on. After some investigative work of his own, he received some valuable information from a paid informant about the two men that confirmed his suspicions.

  Asger lowered his weapon and commanded the door to open. The man entered the private observation area and looked around as he approached a seat and sat down. He swiveled the chair and faced Asger who was yet to say a word. Asger’s expression suggested he was studying the intruder as Tarc was certainly studying him, “So, is this when you tell me your real name?”

  The man looked at him and with a slight nod indicated that it was not to be the case. “Asger Ulven the renegade SINSTER agent? No, Asger Ulven the crime boss?” he said in a condescending tone. “You went too deep. You liked it and wound up on the other side.”

  “Wow, you have me all figured out. I don’t stand a chance against a highly intellectual agent such as yourself. We intercepted your messages to SINSTER. We found the tracker…you are an amateur and you are going to question me? What are you, like level ½? Are you even qualified to be out on your own? I figured you out. SINSTER is scraping the bottom of the barrel with you and your buddy.”

  “I didn’t come here to trade insults with a dirty agent,” Tarc snapped back.

  “That is why there are vaults on Tyreen with mountains of evidence and dirty money that I have collected. I can bury half the traffickers, pirates and crime families in the universe. We no longer have the muscle to bring them down now, do we? If all the crime organizations unified, which is what is happening, they would be fully capable of standing up to Viennin. Have you heard of this little thing called the Kasadu? From what I understand the Universal Council has fallen apart. Most of the Jamhuri Delegation was assassinated and there is a big boy war coming,” Asger said mocking Tarc.

  “Funny you should mention that. The word is that you were responsible,” Tarc said in a snarky tone.

  “So, I have heard. Einar—”

  “Einar Akre?” he interrupted.

  “Yes, he was on RA when I saw him. He accused me of that as well. You were on this transport. We were on RA when it happened. There is no way. I couldn’t have been in two places at the same time.”

  “We aren’t accusing you of that. We can, however, make it seem that way,” he said with a sly smile while staring confidently at Asger.

  “Blackmail from a SINSTER agent? How interesting. You call me dirty? Regardless, I don’t answer to you. You have about thirty seconds before I eject you from this transport.”

  “Do you? Who do you think they will believe, me or a renegade agent who switched sides? SINSTER has received intel that puts you on Aigi at the time of the assassinations. As far as they know, you were nowhere near RA.”

  “Now who is dirty?” Asger said while remaining calm. “Einar…”

  “Who is likely dead now, partially thanks to you. So, he is no witness,” Tarc raised his brow and stared coldly at Asger, “you will do as I instruct from here on out.”

  “Really? Okay, what is your command?” Asger asked scornfully.

  “You will take me to the vaults in Tyreen.”

  “You do realize that the Kasadu will be looking for Ningal. That pod had a tracker on it. The scanners will show that the pod lost speed and stopped rather quickly, which they know means that it was intercepted. We don’t have time for Tyreen. They will not stop until they have recovered their Nam-nim. Despite shooting it into deep space, they will eventually figure out that we intercepted it. Then, they will hunt us down. We don’t have time to go to Tyreen. We will be lucky to make it to Viennin.”

  “Viennin…” the targeted location caught him off guard. “This is not a debate, you do as I instruct, or when we get to Viennin I will see to it that you are incarcerated for your many crimes. I think Aigi will be a good reason for the death penalty,” Tarc noted.

  “Big bad capital punishment guy…you scare me. I may need to find something to calm my nerves,” he replied with a slight roll of the eyes. “You know that I didn’t do it. And you would give false testimony?” Asger asked.

  “Let’s just say, your life depends on what is in those vaults.”

  Asger chuckled, which took Tarc by surprise. Asger tapped on a button and a hologram from their conversation began to playback. Tarc’s attempt to blackmail Asger played out before them. He became enraged and went for his weapon. Before he could point it at Asger, Tarc lost control of all bodily functions and fell to the floor.

  “And you were sent here to get me? The irony,” he said as he stood over him. Asger kicked the pistol away and then picked it up analyzing it. “No, you had this on a charge that would have killed me. So, your intent was to kill me. If I were a ‘dirty agent’ as you suggested, all things considered, would I let you live?”

  There was a second SINSTER agent onboard, Asger considered. He could toss Tarc into a cell, but Nard would be sure to follow. He wondered how either of the men had qualified to be SINSTER agents, much less entrusted with going undercover. It appeared that there were desperate times at SINSTER for qualified agents. He could get the jump on Nard and toss him into a cell with Tarc for security reasons attempting t
o prevent any messages about Ningal’s presence on the Nekark from getting to the Kasadu or the Tisht. If attacked, the transport would last less than ten minutes in the barrage they would certainly face.

  Asger moved over and bound Tarc’s hands and feet before the stun charge wore off. In a humane move, he moved him up against the wall so that the dirty agent didn’t have to lie on the floor. A deep-toned beep from the command center drew his attention. A coded message came in from a close confidant. He sat in the seat and spun around to face the display panel. On a second display, he typed the message as he interpreted it from the series of manipulated symbols of a lost and ancient language of the extinct Uleans. Once it was completed, he read it. The heir of Tozan has returned. He never considered the possibility. The rumors of what had happened to Sana were numerous. The most common was that he was tortured to death and then killed by his Uncle. Other rumors were widespread that he had overwhelmingly beaten Sieti in hand to hand combat in the streets of Tozan and was killed by supporters of his uncle in rebuke. It was also said that he was taken by the Kasadu. It was obvious the stories of his death were inaccurate.

  Tozan was once the crown jewel of Reiahn; a great and powerful nation that had used its wealth and might for good. Hence the reason why the Kasadu wanted to see it fall. For over a hundred years the monarchy, which was ruled by the Kane family, had instituted a representative form of government to assist in ruling the nation in a manner that assured the will of the people be heard and implemented. As the representative government became firmly established, it began to expand its authority and make the crown less relevant. Since Sieti’s coup, he began to have the leaders of the government assassinated and pushed back against the ‘illegitimate’ authority in a hostile takeover of Tozan’s leadership. Numerous attempts of his assassination failed, which were followed by the public torture and execution of anyone who was suspected of being involved in treasonous activities. Often innocent members of the accused’s families were included just for the sake of sending a message to those who were planning future coups. The executions were broadcasted across the nation. Sieti’s rule set the nation back hundreds of years and catastrophically damaged what was once one of the most diverse economies the universe had ever seen.