by Marcus Sloss
There were two teams here. One was battling a pack of rapyenas while the other moved in for an ambush. I really liked fighting with Larz, it felt like we were cheating. I knew we weren’t but winning mattered. The first group were bipedal ant humanoids. Their chitin exterior deflecting most of the swipes from the predators.
“Those are antviricas fighting. The frowula waiting in ambush are a reptilian species.” Larz said while pointing to the ant creature first and the frog being next. “The antviricas are hated by my battle brethren for their tough shells. The frowula is prey to us. Surprised they made it this far. I doubt they even have scored many points. They are lazy ambush predators of small prey. We wait for the two to engage and focus the antviricas down first.”
I was never given time to provide any input as he shifted into the pounce ready crawl. He prowled in stealth all the way down to the beach. The battle was in full swing when an overextended antviricas got yanked to the sand by a rapyena. This was enough for the frowula to hop into action. They bounded to close the distance. I counted five rapyena, three antviricas, and four frowula standing. I wanted to wait while they dwindled each other down but Larz bolted over a rock and into the scrum.
I sprinted after him and struggled down the slope to keep from falling. Larz tore open two rapyenas as he closed on his targets. There was a lone antviricas off to the right. It noticed the double ambush and broke from combat to give himself space. I wanted to hurl my spear but hesitated. When we were a few meters apart it heard me charging.
The thrust was instant. His dexterity and speed were flawless. A pike entered my gut. I hurled my spear into his chest and locked my hands around the weapon in my stomach. He released his weapon and pulled mine out. He toppled over at its removal. Dead before he hit the ground. I left the spear in my body for now. I knew it was awkward but it would slow my death if it remained. I snatched my fallen pike from the ground and went to aid Larz. The battle was over. Only one rapyena remained and it was retreating. I hurled the pike but the motion caused incredible pain. My throw missed, not even coming close.
“Good job killing this female. Her kind is very quick. I do not like fighting them. That wound will be fatal eventually. I will go and continue to fight. If a luni ship comes down for you it means the match is over. Maybe you will survive to the end. Here are some spears. Die well human.” Lars said and gave me three new spears.
He ran into the forest and disappeared. I sat in the clearing of the sand around all the dead bodies. The smell didn’t bother me only the pain did. I sat there for what seemed like days. I fell asleep at some point. The last rapyena approached timidly startling me awake. It dragged a severed frog leg into the trees to eat. I was thankful it left me in peace and not pieces. I doubt I could fight much by this point.
I thought I might fall asleep again when a ship descended beside me. Larz steeped out and hoisted me into the small shuttle where luni were waiting. A mask was placed over my face and my vision faded to blackness…
CHAPTER 25
I lived… That was a first. We were the last team alive and had the most points so the event ended. I remember very little as they repaired my wounds. They were uncertain about how to fix my human body and cauterized everything. This clone now had a gnarly scar across my belly from the pike wound. I was forced to drink some rejuvenation potion. It was drastically different than the bots I had expected but it was just as effective because I was feeling great.
When I recovered it was a lonely ordeal. I was escorted by a single luni who didn’t even wave goodbye as he dropped me off at my shuttle in orbit. I checked to see our winnings and saw that the tally continued to climb. I guessed they would cut off the royalties soon and our initial payout would be processed. The event was a massive success from Larz’s performance. I never got to say goodbye and the lancer was long gone by the time I had healed.
I checked my video messages and saw eight blinking notifications. Before I dove into them I set the shuttle for a two hour trip back home to Earth. I was exhausted and there was no food on this ship. Oh well. The shuttle slid into slipspace and I relaxed.
The videos were all of friends and family congratulating me. I was missed by them and my homecoming would be filled with special presents from my wives for a job well done. I grinned at this. Mila mentioned that not much happened while I was gone besides the media's increasing negative sentiment towards me.
Normally I would avoid the critics but I wanted to see if any of it was valid. I scanned through the news feeds and Mila was spot on. There was not a positive article about me. Every single narration and dictation was spun to the worst possible outcome. There was one defining thing I noticed missing though. The anti Emperor rhetoric was absent. Not a single mention. I did discover a few praising pieces on Crown Prince Phillip who I had assumed was dead. They glowed with his accolades and how he was the man to solve the Empire’s problem.
It was at this junction my stomach sank and my heart thudded into my chest. Something was drastically wrong. I checked the timer and I was due to arrive outside Oralis in moments.
When I exited slipspace I applied full thrust toward my dreadnaught. There were dozens of extra ships coming and going from the supply wings connected to the train systems.
“Welcome home Mack… Slow down! You are going to fast!” Lorie voice boomed inside the ship.
I flipped the shuttle at the last second and burned hydrogen to arrest my speed. I slid into my private docking bay and landed the ship. I leaped out of the shuttle and ran for a tube. The display populated and I selected the bridge for access. More news broadcast in the tiny pod as I traveled. It only added to confirm my theory.
The pod opened and I was deposited outside the bridge. Before I took drastic actions I needed to be certain. The bridge scanned me and opened to allow me access. I stepped in and saw only Mila and Lorie operating at stations.
Lorie raced to give me a hug but I held a hand palm out. “Back to your station. Mila locate Emperor Linus this instant. Lorie, I want displays on our loading bays now.” I knew something was wrong… too many ships were docked to Oralis
Mila zoned out in work while Lorie populated a video feed of our loading bays. I was too late. There were hundreds of soldiers already on the ship. “Damnit Lorie why the fuck are these soldiers here.”
“You requested them from the Emperor yourself I watched the video of your talk. It is three hundred exactly as you asked.” She said giving me a confused frown that bordered on anger.
“See how they are carrying themselves,” I said pointing to the men. “They are not recruits. These are trained veterans. Seal them off immediately.”
Mila waved her off that. “I am fairly certain Emperor Linus is dead. I already contained the enemy troops for the most part. There are fourteen on the outer hull racing for the bridge. They will need to be stopped. I am flooding the compartments the troops are in with water now. Warnings have been sent to the dragumi work teams to avoid those sections of the ship.”
“Dead? Space monkeys. I should have ensured the Crown Prince actually died. Who is alive of the heirs?”
“I cannot confirm about Linus but he is not broadcasting a pulse. It could be a glitch but I highly doubt it. This is a power move… He wiped them all out. Besides Lorie. They aren’t here for the bridge they want her. We need to immediately wormhole away.”
“Take us to Mars and do it now!” I ordered. The exterior of the ship vanished as we slid into slipspace. I broadcast to the family with an emergency override. “We have been boarded. I repeat there is enemy on the ship. I need Astrid and Bexso combat locked and loaded ready to repel invaders on the ship’s hull. I need Rio guarding the bridge with Lorie. The rest of you get to the bridge immediately. It is the safest spot we have.”
“I scanned the cargo. No large bombs detected or pieces to assemble one. Looks like they knew we would notice that. Mack, the soldiers in the hanger bays are being flooded. Enough to force them to tread water. I see some cutting too
ls but will add more water if they make enough progress. I will figure out more of what is going on while you repel the troops I cannot contain outside on the hull. The blue lines will take you to the closest armory and should be in your eye now. Once you’re ready to fight the lights will guide you to the exit I marked for Lorie and Astrid. They will meet you there. Good luck Mack.” Mila said while still busy working. She never looked up. Lorie darted to me and gave me a kiss.
I left the bridge and bumped into Starla. Our hands briefly touched and we gave each other longing looks as I rushed by. There was concern etched on her face. I entered a tube and it auto sent me where Mila dictated. The news mentioned my ship had declared war by suddenly leaving Earth’s orbit. Three people had died when the landing ships were removed from our hull. Yup, this was planned and we never saw it coming.
I rushed out of the tube when it stopped and ran following the blue lights. The armory door was already open and I donned on my stage four armor. I snatched a laser rifle and was gone. New arrows populated and I sprinted down the hallways. A turn followed a ramp and then I reached a changing room. Lorie and Astrid were here sealing up and donning helmets.
“Here Mack. Us dragumi excel in zero-g because of our wings. For you humans you will have to equip these,” Bexso said and slapped two rings around my wrists that tightened to fit snuggly. “If you find yourself floating away shoot one of these to the hull. If you miss the hull twice hope that we win and Lorie shuttles out to get you. If not, it’s a long time to die alone.”
The warning was clear.
“Sorry, Mack I will be in my human juicy booty form but I am here. I have populated the active readout of our foe’s location. If we exit right here the enemy is only fifty meters away. Let’s give them hell!” Astrid said with nervousness. The pretend excitement covered it fairly well but her eyes told the truth.
I rendered the display of the troops moving in my eye. We had to hurry to set an ambush. “Ambush right outside the airlock. Find cover. If things go sideways retreat back into here.” I said quickly. I slammed a long term helmet on and overrode the airlock warning for an immediate release to space.
The rapid exhaust of air was a shock. We were rocketed out of the ship and into open space outside of mars. I launched my wrist magnet to the hull and pulled myself down. Astrid missed both shots and soared out into the vastness of space. Not only had my lack of proper venting reveals our presence I had jettisoned my wife.
“By all this holy Mack… You idiot. You vent the air then open the door. Lucky I could flap my wings to counter the pressure.” Bexso said while flying to land beside me. “Lorie if you are listening get in a fighter and retrieve her. The human fleet is not an issue this far out and will not be anytime soon so Oralis does not need a pilot at the moment. Your wife does need a rescue though. Focus Mack… Here they come.”
I let my mistake fade from my mind and concentrated on the battle ahead. There was little else I could do. My blood was already pumping and my heart racing. The enemy had slowed and then stopped. I had an advantage they did not, the Oralis cameras and sensors. They knew we were somewhere over here but not exactly where. While we waited for them to get closer a fighter rocketed out of a shuttle bay. The enemy exposed themselves to fire at the rapidly shrinking ship.
It showed a lack of discipline as none of the shots came close. Bexso did not hesitate and downed two before they realized their mistake. Twelve left. I was tired of cowering, I had wanted to fight in zero-g since the moment I knew I thrilled for combat.
“Bexso… I am the bait you are the hammer. I will swing out to fire a few shots then yank myself to cover with my next anchor line. I will drag their attention to the right you go left. Any objections?”
“No, fight well Mack,” Bexso said and shifted to be ready to move left.
I rotated one eye from behind cover and launched a magnet. My line unspooled from my wrist. When it slammed into the hull I leapt at an angle. The moment I was off the deck I shot my second line. I could only fire for a brief moment and was unable to trace my laser line into a direct hit. I saw a running soldier open fire on me mid step. The kick from his weapon sent him off the hull since his boots were not anchored. As I yanked myself behind cover I watched him float away. Eleven left.
I checked my body and found no holes. Right then I knew the enemy was not using auto fire. Probably a new standard after the Tuxpin fiasco. While I was proud of humans for adapting I wished they would not by attempting to board my ship to kill my family. Projectiles pepper my cover endlessly.
“Get ready Mack. I am going to flap my wings and get a good angle and hose them down. When you feel the pressure from your cover shift, you pop up and do the same.”
“Will do.”
I waited patiently behind my contoured edge of Oralis. Suddenly the fire at my position stopped. I frog leaped forward and up. My laser rifle was at the ready and my trigger finger itched in anticipation. The enemy had shifted to engage with Bexso who was scrambling for cover. There were only seven targets left. I squeezed a laser line out across my targets.
Oxygen erupted from four suits and I kept up the pressure. The remaining three troops turned to me and Bexso ripped a wide beam across them. It was over. The dead drifted, and the dying cried out as their suits leaked air. I could not hear them though, nor did I want to. I ended their misery by slicing them into pieces.
“Mack you asshole. You have no idea how scary it is to go shooting into the void. You owe me and Lorie like ten zillion back rubs…”
I ignored this, don’t get me wrong I deserved it but I needed to focus.
“Mila status.”
“It is a cluster, Mack. Linus is dead, officially announced while you were fighting. Good job by the way. I jammed their communications. Why they locked up so badly and were easy to pick off. Well good job killing the foes, we won’t mention ejecting your wife out an airlock. The ship is safe for now. The enemy colonel locked in the cargo bay is requesting a parlay. They realize they can’t swim forever and are unable to get through the walls of the ship. They did not bring explosives in fear it would warn us. I told him to wait, I figured you could handle it when you get to the bridge. Make your way back here and by the time you arrive Bexso and I should have a decent battle plan.” Mila said.
I looked over and saw Bexso flying her way back to the airlock and I anchor line pulled myself to catch up. We entered Oralis and the outer hull slid closed. Air flooded the space until the pressure was matched and the changing room door opened. I ripped the helmet off and angrily threw it. I bypassed the concerned gaze of Bexso and raced for a tube.
News on the ride to the bridge proclaimed me an enemy of the Empire. Declared so by Emperor Phillip who would be speaking of my murder of his father Linus by a hired assassin. Of course.
I furiously opened the pod when I arrived and then bypassed the door to the bridge. My mom, Starla, Rio, Braxton, Braxton’s wife who I need to be introduced to, and Mila were waiting for me. Bexso entered the room moments behind me. When the door sealed I went over the Mila.
“How do we play this? I watched the news. A classic kill your dad and blame your greatest threat for it. Expect the media is on his side and openly broadcasting a false narrative.” I said.
“Remove both,” Bexso said coming beside me. When I paused she continued. “You are not a mere human Mack. Kill them all. Slip into an orbit counter to that fleet. I am showing Phillip is about to take the stand on a shielded field to declare himself the Emperor. He thinks that will protect him but it won’t last long against our mega lasers. Have Oralis blast through that and reduce him to a cinder. After that declare the news enemy of the state and proclaim Lorie the last surviving heir. Then take the throne.”
Mila held up a paw. “Okay, the good news. Your wives are secure and we can move again. Also, the enemy commander has officially surrendered on our ship. They have laid down arms in exchange for removing the water. I am monitoring and will pressure burst their helms if they
betray the truce. Now the bad news. The Britannia, one of the ships in the human fleet sent this.” A video of men holding guns to Maranda, Arenus, Donnie, Thompson, and my Beau. My blood boiled with rage at the audacity and at my stupidity. “It will be a tough decision Mack. We should have never let them leave Griffin the other day. I am sorry. I should have put my paw down…”
I tilted my head back in frustration. What was I to do? I knew from day one this could happen after I was marked, but never expected it. They never got mindmelds…
“What are they demanding?” I asked.
“Your life for theirs. This ship too.”
I looked for anything to throw in blind rage. I ripped a boot off and hurled at the door as I roared in anger. The door opened at a most inopportune time and luckily Lorie dodged the boot. Starla and mom enclosed me in a hug. The family piled on… Then Bexso sang her soft melody.
Lorie and Astrid joined the hug confused and I felt my rage simmer down. I held back the tears and became stoic in determination.
“Astrid, the threat on the ship is contained. Please escort my mother, Starla, Braxton and his wife off the bridge.” I said wanting to say more.
“Mack don’t do it, don’t trade your life…” My mom pleaded. Tears racing down her eyes.
I place a hand on each shoulder. “That will never happen,” I said assuring her.
The rational hit her then. Mom cried harder “I am so sorry Mack, we will be here for you after. Let’s go, I cannot watch.”
As they left the bridge Lorie was still confused. “Watch what?”
“Take the captain’s helm my love. Mila we outrange the human fleet by how much?”
Lorie frowned and stood in front of her kiosk. Mila sent a datasheet to my eye. We had five x on range. I did the math at half that and plotted a point in space for Lorie to take us to.
“Take us there Lorie.” I was expecting a hesitation but there was none. We were only in slipspace for a moment before we were in weapons range of the enemy fleet. The admiral in the opposing armada of fifty ships scattered the cluster and hailed us.
