by Richard Ford
‘Keep your voice down,’ said Bakkatt. He looked at Vance. ‘There should be communications equipment hidden beneath the boiler in the corner. Use a code key and send a message in the Drazi cipher. We require more of our brothers. The Ky’Thain will take more than the four of us to bring down.’
‘What are you talking about?’ said Volt as Vance moved over to the boiler. ‘We have to get off the planet. You cannot hope to take on the Ky’Thain and live, even with reinforcements.’
Vance slid his hand beneath the boiler and found the telltale lever that would reveal the hidden cache. The Anla’shok commonly left these at safe houses throughout the galaxy, and those who knew where to find them could easily retrieve them. As his fist closed around the lever, Vance suddenly froze. The position of the lever, the way it felt in his hand and the fact that he knew Keldulan had been discovered and murdered made Vance hesitate. Gingerly, he released the lever and bent to look beneath the boiler. A thin wire entwined the lever’s base. Vance trailed it from under the boiler to a pipe at the back.
‘Vance?’ said Bakkatt.
‘I think you should take a look at this,’ he replied, backing away.
Bakkatt quickly examined the booby trap. No sooner had he knelt to glance beneath the boiler than he was back on his feet again, denn’bok in hand. ‘We need to get out of here, now!’ he barked, grabbing Volt and pulling him to his feet.
‘Is it going to blow?’ asked Vance, reaching for his own weapon.
‘Worse than that--’ Bakkatt was suddenly cut short as the roof of the safe house collapsed. Two spindly figures rappelled down on gossamer threads. Vance recognised them instantly, and a reflexive action brought the pistol into his hand. He was loosing shells before the Ky’Thain reached the ground. The automatic clip unleashed its pay-load, striking both of the intruders. The first seemed not to notice the stream of fire, as the pistol rounds bounced harmlessly off its carapace. The second reeled backward as it landed, one round striking its wedge-shaped head. Although the round did some damage, blood spraying from the
wound, the creature dove straight into the fray to back up its comrade.
Bakkatt rushed forward to take on the first creature. A loud clashing sound erupted from his fighting pike as he struck against the organic spikes that protruded from the Ky’Thain’s armour.
As soon as the Ky’Thain landed, Vance holstered the autopistol and sprinted forward. He glanced to his right as Merreck also rushed toward them. The Minbari was lucky. Just as he left his post, the double doors imploded and another Ky’Thain warrior burst through. Merreck turned and faced this new warrior, leaving the others to battle their own enemies.
Vance ran at the wounded Ky’Thain as Bakkatt took on his adversary in a twisting, violent dance. All he could hear were Musan Volt’s cries for mercy as the Drazi tried to find somewhere to cower. As Vance met his enemy, all doubt left his mind. He previously faced the Ky’Thain with the help of Bakkatt, but he was not fazed by the fact he now faced this foe alone. He knew that doubt would only lead to his defeat, and he would not allow himself to be easy prey.
Rivulets of blood ran down the creatures face as it lurched forward, vicious spikes protruding from its wrists. Its left eye was filled with blood, and Vance assumed it was blind on that side. He parried its frenzied attacks and swiftly moved around to flank it. The creature swept its long arms wildly, but Vance easily ducked the predictable blows, countering with a measured stab at the creature’s throat. The denn’bok would never damage the creature’s carapace if the autopistol rounds bounced off them harmlessly. Vance knew he must find weak spots.
The strike hit home, and Vance felt the satisfaction of spongy flesh giving way beneath the strength of his blow. A strangled cry left the Ky’Thain’s throat, and it retreated slightly, fury twisting its bloody face. On any other creature such a blow to the throat would have crushed the windpipe, leading to suffocation, but the Ky’Thain was still standing. It stared at Vance, quivering in fury. Then its throat began to inflate, swelling up to twice its normal size as though it were about to burst. Two blow holes opened on the sides of its neck and Vance heard a sudden intake of air. These Ky’Thain seemed to be able to adapt to anything.
With a look of hatred, the Ky’Thain ran forward once more, its spindly arms swinging in a wild attack. Vance managed to parry one of the organic spikes, but the creature was strong. It locked his denn’bok down, and Vance could only watch as the second arm spike shot toward him. Jerklenn’s denn’bok deflected the blow as she rushed to aid him, and the Ky’Thain reeled back under the strength of her counterattacks. Vance noted this was the second time she had saved him in such a way. If they got back to Tuzanor in one piece, he would spend every waking hour trying to repay her.
He took a second’s repose to survey the battle scene. The other Rangers, much more skilled in the use of the fighting pike, were managing to hold their own against the Ky’Thain, but it seemed like a battle of attrition. Vance doubted the Minbari would have more stamina than their bestial opponents, and it was only a matter of time before they became exhausted. He drew the autopistol once more and shouted to his comrades using the cant of the Anla’shok.
Instantly the other Rangers broke off from their enemies, Bakkatt grabbing Musan Volt as he did so. Each dived to the ground as the Ky’Thain turned their attention to Vance, the only opponent still standing. Vance’s shot was on target, aided by the autopistol’s automatic burst of fire. He riddled the base of the boiler, not waiting to see if his shot was accurate or not. As he threw himself to the ground, he heard the booby trap’s trigger flip, followed by a loud hiss and then a muffled explosion.
A wave of heat washed over Vance, and his ears were assailed by the high-pitched squealing of the Ky’Thain. When the heat subsided, he raised his head. Vance smelled burning and saw his cloak was smouldering. He leapt to his feet, flinging the cloak to the floor. The other Rangers were on their feet too, and Bakkatt gave Vance a nod of appreciation.
‘We need to find a communications rig,’ said Bakkatt. ‘This planet has to be scoured for more of these things.’ He motioned to the ground and the ash-covered outlines of the Ky’Thain. ‘I think the Anla’shok will also have more questions for our friend here.’
Musan Volt stood slump-shouldered next to Bakkatt. He opened his mouth to respond but never got the chance. Before anyone could react, one of the Ky’Thain bodies leapt up in a flurry of ash, its wrist spike piercing Musan Volt’s neck. Bakkatt reacted as quickly as he could, but the creature bounded away from his attack. Volt’s lifeless cadaver fell to the ground in a cloud of cinders. The other two Ky’Thain rose from the ash, their bodies blackened, but otherwise unharmed. Merreck took a step forward, but Bakkatt raised a hand to halt him.
‘Get to the ship. Get off planet,’ he said, without taking his eyes from the crouching Ky’Thain. Two figures appeared at the double doors, more Ky’Thain warriors attracted by the exploding booby trap.
‘Do not wait for me,’ said Bakkatt. ‘Take the stairs, now!’ ‘No,’ said Merreck, stepping forward.
‘We live for the One, we die for the One. Today, make sure you all live.’ With that Bakkatt leapt forward. Vance had never seen anyone attack with such ferocity. He doubted even Durhan could have matched him.
Merreck took another step forward, ready to attack. Jerklenn grabbed his arm. ‘We need to report what has happened here. Otherwise our mission will be a failure,’ she said.
Vance pulled the autopistol once more, spraying a wide arc at two approaching Ky’Thain.
‘Let’s go. I don’t have much more ammo,’ he shouted. With that, Jerklenn pulled Merreck away and the two of them scaled the short flight of stairs, ran through the door and burst into the street. As Vance followed, he fired two more bursts to keep the Ky’Thain at bay. When he reached the doorway, he saw Bakkatt still fighting like a whirlwind, his denn’bok striking impossibly fast blows at his feral enemies, surrounded on all sides by the creatures that seemed hell bent on d
efeating him. Although his body was lacerated from a score of wounds, he did not look like he would slow. Unable to watch any more, Vance followed Merreck and Jerklenn.
The two Rangers ran just ahead down the narrow alleyway. Vance had only covered a few short metres when he heard the sounds of pursuit. Before he turned the corner, he allowed himself a quick glance over one shoulder. Two Ky’Thain followed, gripping each side of the street as they pulled themselves along like huge, swift insects.
Vance pointed the autopistol and emptied the last few rounds from the clip. The Ky’Thain paused for cover, and Vance sprinted on, dropping the now-useless weapon. Ahead the other Rangers paused, allowing him to catch up. ‘Keep moving,’ screamed Vance, determined that at least one of them should escape.
‘This way,’ shouted Jerklenn, urging Vance on as she and Merreck fled once more. Vance followed, allowing himself the occasional glance backward. Despite the Ky’Thain’s agility, they did not seem to be superhuman sprinters. They were matching the Rangers’ pace though, and no matter how many back alleys they navigated, their pursuers were always there. As Vance turned yet another corner in the maze of streets, he saw Merreck and Jerklenn waiting at the top of a flight of stairs that led into a wide tunnel. A sign pointed down into the passage, but with only rudimentary Drazi, Vance could not decipher it. Nevertheless he ran headlong down the tunnel alongside the other Rangers.
The tunnel was lit with green strobes, and it did not take long for Vance to realise they were heading towards Torvag’s underground transit system. Behind him the sound of the approaching Ky’Thain still echoed, but now there was hope of escape.
A few Drazi travellers occupied the subway, and they seemed disinterested in the pursuit. At least the Ky’Thain did not seem to be attacking any innocents. Neither did they seem concerned with keeping themselves concealed from the general populace, so intent were they on their prey.
When they made it to the platform, no train appeared. Two black holes stood at each end of the platform, the track running between them like an ancient steel bridge. The only thing coming down either tunnel was a gentle, stale breeze that wafted trash and detritus across the station floor.
The three Rangers turned to face the tunnel they had just emerged from. Each had a denn’bok in hand.
Their ash-covered clothes hung heavy on their bodies and determination marked their faces. Vance forced a smile as he regarded his comrades. Merreck glanced back at him and, through the grime on his face, forced a smile too. ‘We live for the One, we die for the One,’ said Vance. The two Minbari repeated the phrase as the Ky’Thain burst from the tunnel.
A scruffy Drazi who had been lying beside the tunnel siphoning gut-rot liquor from a dusty bottle, leapt into the air in shock as the creatures appeared. The Rangers ran forward to meet their enemy while the Drazi sprinted off down one of the station’s gaping tunnels.
Vance took the Ky’Thain on the right. Jerklenn took the one on the left. Merreck, twisting his denn’bok in all directions, tried to aid his fellow Rangers and keep both of the creatures busy. Without Merreck’s help Vance realised he would have lasted only a few seconds. His enemy seemed incensed, its frenzied attacks flashing in from every angle.
Within seconds the Ky’Thain had the measure of the Rangers. They leapt apart, trying to split up their foes. Merreck immediately picked the closest creature and raced toward it. ‘No!’ screamed Vance. ‘They are trying to break up our defence. Don’t get drawn in.’ Merreck immediately stopped his attack, seeing the sense in Vance’s advice, and together the three Rangers backed away from the circling creatures.
The Ky’Thain moved to stand at the both flanks of the grouped Rangers. Then they rushed in again. Despite his best efforts, Vance could not avoid the flashing spikes and took a slash across the top of his thigh. If he had he not seen the attack coming and seen the blood that followed, he would not have noticed the wound was there, so wickedly sharp were the weapons of the Ky’Thain. His skin parted like a gaping mouth and a flood of crimson poured forth. The wound was too fresh to be painful, but he knew the sting would come soon. For now, Vance would ride his adrenalin rush until he got a chance to catch his breath--if that chance ever came.
As they fought, Vance suddenly heard an echoing scream. In his peripheral vision he saw something speeding from one of the tunnels. Just as he registered that it was far too small to be a train, he realised it was the Drazi drunk who had fled earlier. The Drazi scrambled to the platform in a panic as Vance jumped from it, narrowly avoiding the Ky’Thain’s swinging arm. Vance cleared the track in two bounds, silently praying that the subway train would be moving at speed. He leapt onto the other side of the platform and turned, parrying another attack from the pursuing creature and knocking it back onto the track.
A roaring sound filled the station as the train blasted in, consuming the flailing figure of the Ky’Thain. In a split-second, the high-speed train had shuddered to a stop, its doors flipping open. Vance raced through the open doors to the other side of the platform to join the fray with the remaining Ky’Thain. Seeing that it now had three opponents, the creature backed away, its baleful eyes flicking from one Ranger to the next.
A strangled buzzing sounded from the train, and the Rangers quickly backed onto it, the doors sweeping shut between them and the creature. As the train shot from the station, the Ky’Thain continued to watch them, fury drawn across its animal features.
For several seconds the Rangers stood, breathing heavily and bleeding profusely from their numerous wounds. ‘Tickets,’ came a gruff voice from one end of the carriage.
Vance looked towards the voice and nearly burst into laughter. A venerable-looking Drazi wearing the most ridiculous conductor’s uniform he had ever seen stood before him. The smile soon dropped from his lips as he realised that none of them had any currency.
Big Trouble in Torvag
They stayed on the subway train for two stops, hoping it would take them somewhere near the spaceport. Jerklenn spent that time calming the Drazi conductor and persuading him they had no money. Eventually he trundled off down the train, grumbling about off-worlders.
The Rangers patched up their wounds before the train stopped. Then, sticking close to one another and scanning every angle for their pursuers, they stepped off the train. Curious eyes fell on them as they disembarked. This area of the subway was far busier than the previous platform, and their dishevelled and bloody state drew more than a few stares.
As they passed through a tunnel and out to the street, Vance scanned the horizon and realised they were somewhere in the south of the city, still at least two or three kilometres from their ship. ‘We need some transport,’ he said, starting to feel the numbness wearing off around his lacerated leg. ‘If the Ky’Thain are as intelligent as they seem, they’ll realise where we are going and be on their way to head us off
‘I wouldn’t worry about that,’ said Jerklenn.
‘Why not?’
‘Don’t look, but one of them is trailing us.’ Vance felt every muscle tighten, and the hairs on the nape of his neck stood to attention. ‘It must have followed us on the underground train.’
‘OK, does anyone have a plan?’ asked Vance.
‘We could turn and fight,’ replied Merreck. ‘It would be no match for three of us.’
‘No,’ said Jerklenn. ‘I think that is what the creature wants. It has probably contacted the rest of its kin by now, and they will be on their way here. If we try to fight the creature, we only waste valuable time while the rest of the Ky’Thain arrive.’
‘Only one option then,’ said Vance. ‘We run for it.’
The Rangers turned another corner in the labyrinthine streets, and as soon as they were out of sight of the Ky’Thain, they bolted. No time for stealth now. Where before they had stepped softly, passing the Drazi like spectres, now they sprinted headlong through the surprised civilians. They were met by angry jeers and calls of “come back and fight”, but the Rangers were deaf to the cri
es.
Vance allowed himself a quick glance over his shoulder, and the Ky’Thain was nowhere to be seen. ‘I think we’ve lost him,’ he said, slowing the pace a little. The other Rangers followed suit, and all three of them sucked air into their lungs.
A sudden commotion from down the street indicated they had not lost the Ky’Thain after all. Cries of alarm rang out as the Drazi spotted the spindly creature rushing after its prey. ‘Get back to the ship,’ said Vance, brandishing his denn’bok. ‘I have an idea.’
‘But we cannot allow ourselves to be split up,’ said Jerklenn.
‘Trust me,’ Vance replied with a wink. ‘Get to the ship and don’t wait for me. I’ll head this one off, and hopefully it will lead the others away from you. It’s the only way.’ His last words drowned out Jerklenn’s attempts at protest. Vance nodded to Merreck who, with a nod back, grabbed Jerklenn’s arm and pulled her along. Reluctantly she and Merreck began their flight once more.
Vance turned to face the charging Ky’Thain. As it saw him simply standing in the middle of the street, it slowed, eyeing him suspiciously. Vance stared back, hoping that Merreck and Jerklenn could put as much distance between them and the Ky’Thain as possible.
Skittishly, the Ky’Thain glanced around, wondering if this was some king of trap. It stepped forward, but Vance did not move, trying to stare down the creature as best he could. Gradually it advanced, flicking the spikes from its wrist carapace.
Vance spun his denn’bok in a tight flurry: one of the katas used by the Anla’shok to teach basic proficiency with the weapon. The simple move was designed to look impressive to the untrained eye. The Ky’Thain stopped in its tracks, seemingly mesmerised by the weapon’s blinding speed.
It had now been long enough, Vance thought. Jerklenn and Merreck must have covered quite some distance by now. With a final flurry, Vance adopted a basic fighting stance. The Ky’Thain moved backward and out of range of Vance’s weapon. As it did so, Vance turned and sprinted down an alley, opposite the one his fellow Rangers had escaped along. Just as he hoped, the Ky’Thain followed close behind.
