by Gregg Vann
“It’s just that, well, I would have never guessed that the Udek came from such a pleasant world,” she said. “That’s all. I mean, I’ve heard rumors, and I’ve seen holos from your planet, but this…”
Tien didn’t bother with a reply; it wasn’t the first time he’d heard that particular sentiment from an alien visitor to his world. He was neither surprised nor offended by Ayel’s reaction. If anything, Tien understood. Most of the galaxy had been introduced to the Udek through their military forces, and those de facto ambassadors were notoriously austere and harsh—in both appearance and temperament. Udek soldiers were many things, but they were certainly not colorful. Nor did they provide any clues to the beauty of the planet that spawned them.
As the ship continued on, the open landscape soon gave way to enormous planned neighborhoods, comprised of individual homes of different shapes, colors, and sizes, and tall, brightly painted apartment buildings that held no such variation. Each of those large structures shared the same precise dimensions and hexagonal arrangements—and they were a bright shade of yellow, one impossible to ignore. A few utilitarian-looking buildings were peppered throughout the colorful assortment of Udek dwellings, revealing the transport hubs and municipal constructs necessary for daily life.
At the outskirts of the residential area they encountered a small collection of roads, leading away from the more pleasant surroundings to a thick cluster of industrial buildings. As they got closer to this factory sector, the Udek transmitted a course correction that sent their vessel into a hard turn, and then it began mirroring the path of one of the many small rivers feeding Nykor’s massive lake. The capital city sat right in the center of the large body of water, purposely isolated from the surrounding land. This was a defensive measure from antiquity that had lost its usefulness ages ago. Yet the custom still endured, and was rigidly enforced. Despite the neverending calls to build permanent spans—to construct bridges that would expedite land transportation for both goods and people—there were no physical connections between the metropolis and the mainland.
Tien recognized the approach they were on from his many visits to Nykor, and knew it was nearly time to initiate his part of the plan. “Maxal,” he said, “we’ll be nearing the lake soon. The ship will only be over the water for a brief moment before turning back toward the spaceport on the industrial side of the lake. So make sure you do exactly as I instructed.”
“Understood.”
Tien sealed the face clasp on the darksuit he’d confiscated from Eraz and turned to Brother Ryll. “I hope your repairs hold, monk. This will be one hell of a test.”
“I’ve done all I can, Tien. But to say you’re using that body outside its intended function is a colossal understatement.”
“Everyone get ready,” Maxal called out.
As a service hatch on the floor of the ship slid open, Ayel, Maxal, and Brother Ryll, all pulled oxygen masks down over their faces. Methane-tinged air began flooding into the cabin and Eraz pulled her own mask off, taking in a deep breath as she reveled in the taste of home. Ten meters below the vessel, Tien watched the calm waters of the lake passing by at an alarming speed. And when Maxal began his final turn toward the spaceport, Tien dropped down through the hatch, striking the surface of the lake so hard that he half expected to fly apart.
Tien was sure that the combination of the darksuit and low altitude would keep the Udek escort ships from spotting his egress, so when no powerful weapons lunged out to fry him he wasn’t surprised. The impact with the turquoise water, however, exceeded all of his expectations, as did Tien’s rapid descent down through it. He struck the lakebed hard and gray silt rose up all around him, clouding his vision. Tien toggled the tactical display on to get his bearings, and then he started running across the bottom of the lake. The resistance was strong, but so was his android body, and Tien trudged forward just as fast as he could move.
Nykor’s lake was roughly circular in shape, and it surrounded the Udek capital like a wide, protective moat. All of the routine air traffic and industrial activity occurred on the mainland side of the water, away from the enormous island where the city proper had been constructed. Those less desirable aspects of civilization sat sandwiched between the lakeshore, and the vast, far-flung suburbs. But despite the great divide of water separating Nykor from the mainland, the city didn’t exist in isolation; both shores were well connected by a wide array of vehicles. Boats and light aircraft criss-crossed the smooth expanse of water at all hours of the day and night, ferrying people and products to and from the spaceport, factory sectors, and the outlying suburbs, to meet the ever-growing needs of the city and its citizens.
Tien looked up and discovered that one of those conveyances, a commercial passenger boat, was going overhead just at that moment. He could see the hull slicing through the water clearly with his augmented vision, but Tien knew that no one on the surface could possibly spot him. The light emanating from Ko’ln’s twin suns penetrated the entire ten-meter depth of the water, reaching all the way down to where Tien was jogging across the lakebed. But visibility was always hazy at the bottom of the lake, even without the silt Tien was kicking up, and those conditions coupled with the darksuit’s camouflage rendered him practically invisible.
A few bland-looking fish darted in close to examine the strange interloper who’d invaded their world, but when they found no biological markers indicating food they abandoned Tien and went on their way. The only other things he encountered at the bottom of the lake were a pair of sensor poles used for monitoring pollution levels in the water. But those devices were completely benign. They weren’t equipped with motion sensors or security features—or anything else that might give away Tien’s presence. And why would they be? Most foreign agents and spies worked at their government’s respective embassies on Ko’ln, and enjoyed free rein to walk around Nykor unmolested—though thoroughly surveilled, of course. This had to be the least effective way to sneak around the city if you harbored malicious intent, which also made it the perfect avenue to get into Nykor undetected. But more than that, it was the only method Tien could come up with to escape Maxal’s ship before it landed at the spaceport.
Tien’s sensors informed him there was a solid structure up ahead so he slowed his approach. The silt settled down enough for him to make out an imposing wall of metal five meters in front of him, signaling the end of the lake. Tien walked up to it and actuated the magnetic locks on his hands and feet, and then he began climbing up to the surface.
When his head broke through the water, Tien found himself beneath a sturdily built industrial pier. And even from underneath he could see the large freight cranes running down both sides of it. He also noted an assortment of wheeled cargo movers scattered across the wide deck above him, some of them parked up against empty, open-frame cages used to transport freight. The pier’s heavy-duty platform extended far out across the surface of the lake, and had obviously been constructed with larger ships in mind.
A fine drizzle of rain filtered down between the slats of the bonded-concrete structure, and a quick glance around told Tien that the immediate area was deserted. He climbed up the side of the pier, and then ducked behind one of several large utility boxes mounted near the edge of it. The top of the box sat slightly askew so Tien peered inside, discovering a set of hand controls for the pier’s loading machinery. As the light rain continued to mist the air, he surmised that the equipment had probably been stored away to protect it from Ko’ln’s inclement weather. Tien looked over toward the mainland and saw a row of large factory buildings nearby.
Perfect, he thought to himself.
He made sure no one else was around and began running toward the buildings, halting at the end of the pier to conceal himself behind another of the utility boxes. Straight ahead of him was a road leading into one of the buildings, providing the factory with direct access to the pier. The open area was far too exposed, and someone might easily spot him from one of the windows if he broke cover. But
off to his right, Tien found what he needed. After another precautionary look around, he darted diagonally across a small footpath following the edge of the lakeshore, and then slid into a narrow alleyway between two of the factory’s more dilapidated structures. Tien heard voices coming, and he wedged himself further back into the darkness.
He watched as two Udek workers walked past the opening to the tiny alleyway, moving between buildings without a glance in Tien’s direction. After they went by, Tien relaxed for a moment and looked out across the lake, taking in the beauty of the vividly hued city on the other side of the water. The vast majority of the buildings shared the same primary colors favored by Udek society through the ages, but not all of them. There were several darker structures scattered among the colorful forest of metal, glass, and bonded concrete. But unlike the local municipal buildings in the suburbs, these black and chrome monoliths denoted locations of planetary government and military facilities. And one of those important complexes was Tien’s target. It wasn’t visible from his current vantage point, but that was irrelevant. Because Kiro Tien knew exactly where Special Corp headquarters could be found.
It would soon be dusk, and time to carry out the next phase of his plan. But for now, Tien took in the sights and sounds of the planet of his birth—listening to distant conversations in his native language, and watching people move around outside now that the rain had finally subsided.
How Tien wished he could draw in a breath of the natural methane atmosphere, so unlike the artificial gasses in his undersea cavern on Obas. To exist without breathing masks or an artificial body, with the waning suns on Tien’s true face, and all the smells of the city assailing his actual senses.
To feel it all again.
To experience Ko’ln’s sensations once more.
To truly be…home.
But that small crop of dreams would remain as fallow as the rest of Tien’s desires, subsumed within a mountain of strife that made just staying alive a constant burden.
But they were nice thoughts to have while they lasted.
Eraz looked out at the heavily armed welcoming committee and sighed.
“Is this what you were expecting?” Maxal asked her.
“Something like this, yes. But maybe not so robust a response.”
Ayel took her meaning. There were twenty, fully outfitted Udek commandos circling the ship. And three assault vehicles mounted with heavy weaponry holding back about ten meters behind them, just in case they were needed.
“We did just arrive from Polit,” Ayel offered as an explanation. “After what my people did to your base, the Udek are probably being extra wary.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Eraz agreed. “But they’ve surely scanned us by now. They know there are only four people on board, with no weapons to speak of. So this…” Eraz jerked a thumb toward the window as her words trailed off. “All right,” she said resignedly. “Let’s get it over with. Stand up so I can put these restraints on you before we open the hatch. You are supposed to be my prisoners, remember?”
“And how do we know you won’t sell us out and make that ruse a reality?” Brother Ryll asked. “I’ve dealt with your people enough in the past to know that you’re capable of just about anything.”
“Well, well, well,” Maxal said amusedly. “Look who grew a spine. Good for you, boy.”
Eraz fastened restraints on Maxal and Ayel as she tried to address Ryll’s concerns. “Calm yourself, monk. Kiro Tien left me no choice in the matter. I have to follow along with his plan whether I want to or not.”
“This plan stands as much chance of getting us killed as it does being successful,” Brother Ryll said. “And if we’re being completely honest, probably a better chance of getting us killed.”
“I agree with you,” Eraz replied. “But as I said, I have no choice. Tien was right about one thing, though. This will definitely get us into Special Corp headquarters, albeit with you three as prisoners.”
“And if you and Tien fail to do your parts,” Brother Ryll countered, “there we will remain. So you can understand my concerns.”
Eraz grabbed the monk’s shoulder and spun him around, clasping restraints around his wrists before Ryll had a chance to complain any further. “Well then,” she told him. “I guess we’d better not fail.”
Eraz opened the hatch and lined the three of them up. Then she paraded the trio down the ramp in front of her, flinching slightly as an overabundance of deadly weaponry pivoted toward them. One of the Udek commandos cautiously approached when they reached the ground.
“Stop there!” he commanded.
The soldier slung his rifle over his shoulder and withdrew a hand-held scanner from a pocket on his vest. He went over each of them meticulously, including Eraz, looking for any hidden dangers. When he was satisfied, the commando turned and yelled out, “Clear!”
Back behind the security cordon, a door opened up on one of the assault vehicles. A man stepped out and Eraz recognized him immediately.
“Awi Stenth,” she said loudly. “It’s been a while.”
The Chancellor of the Udek Special Corp smiled as he approached her—like a predator trying to falsely assuage its prey into complacency, just before striking a lethal blow.
“It has, Commander. It has.” Stenth gestured toward the prisoners. “I can see that you’ve been busy. Well done, I always enjoy making new acquaintances.” He came to a halt and their eyes met. “After what happened to our base on Polit, you must have quite a story to tell, Commander. Especially considering you’re the only survivor.”
“I got lucky,” Eraz replied. She tried not to sound too defensive, but failed.
“Yes,” Awi Stenth said. “So it would seem.” The chancellor’s tone was accusatory, and impossible for Eraz to miss.
“I’ll provide you with a full report on everything that happened during the Iriq revolt,” she said.
“Oh…I know you will, Commander Eraz. Seize her!” the chancellor yelled.
Eraz’s hands reflexively shot up as four commandos advanced toward her. One pulled her arms down and bound them behind her back, while the others kept Eraz in their sights.
She glared at Stenth. “This isn’t necessary. We’re both on the same side.”
The chancellor stifled a laugh, choosing a tight smirk instead. “Are we, though? Are we really? I would love to believe you, Commander. I really would. But after that sordid affair with Kiro Tien on Bodhi Prime—when he somehow escaped from right beneath your nose—and now this recent disaster you were involved with on Polit, I truly have no idea where your loyalties lie. None. At all.” Stenth stepped up to Eraz and pushed his face in close, staring into her eyes. “Tell me. Where did you get the code to bypass planetary security?”
“Your man on Polit gave it to m—”
“Of course,” Stenth interrupted. “Of course. I suspected it might be something like that. But you see, Commander, the code’s primary use is to circumvent the military. And your people absolutely despise that broad authority granted by the government. So why in the world would my agent willingly surrender the code to you? A military officer? That seems unlikely, don’t you think?” Stenth backed away again, but the menace of his presence lingered. “Oh yes, Commander Eraz, I think you have some fascinating stories to tell me. And I very much look forward to hearing them.” He whipped a hand brusquely through the air. “Take the prisoners to headquarters and secure them in the interrogation wing.”
As the commandos marched the group past him, Awi Stenth inventoried the disparate collection out loud. “Let’s see now. We have a disgraced Udek commander. A crippled Blenej warrior. An Iriq—terrorist, perhaps—far from home. And most unexpectedly, a Bodhi monk. How interesting.”
The Udek soldiers pushed them inside one of the assault vehicles and slammed the door shut. Then several locks shifted loudly into place.
“How do you like this plan now?” Brother Ryll asked Eraz, his voice equal parts fear, scorn, anger, and desperation.
“A lot less than I did five minutes ago,” she admitted.
The transport slid into motion.
After a few minutes, Eraz felt the change in strata as they drove onto a military barge, preparing to cross the water to the city. The sensation sent unwanted memories flowing into her mind—brutal, horrible remembrances of the last time she’d been interrogated by the Special Corp. Eraz wondered if she had the strength to endure it all again. For the briefest of moments, she entertained the thought of asking Maxal to bash her head in with his manacled arms, so Eraz could avoid having to relive the experience. If he refused, the Iriq woman would certainly do it. She clearly hated all Udek. But Eraz quickly abandoned the notion, placing her trust in Tien’s well-proven talents to complete the mission—despite her being arrested along with everyone else. The Udek assassin would infiltrate Special Corp headquarters and rescue them, just as planned. And once she was free, Eraz would set out on her own deadly quest—to exact revenge against the man who’d burdened her mind with these haunting memories of torture. Awi Stenth would pay for what he’d done to her. And the only currency Eraz would accept was his blood.
She forced herself to relax and leaned back against the armored wall of the transport, surrendering to the situation. What more could she do? Eraz appreciated how difficult Tien’s task was, understanding that he’d have to go through dozens of highly trained commandos and Special Corp operatives to get to them. But she wasn’t worried, not in the least. If there was one thing Eraz had complete confidence in…
It was Kiro Tien’s ability to kill.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Udek commando’s neck snapped with a satisfying crack, his head lolling off to one side to rest unnaturally on his shoulder. Tien tossed the still-twitching corpse into a storage room—situated halfway down a short hallway branching off the main corridor. Then he quietly closed the door again, resuming his clandestine infiltration of Special Corp headquarters.
