The Warlord

by CJ Williams

  Carrie leaned over the table to make her point. “That’s insane, Luke. This place is about to be swamped with all kinds of bad guys.” She paused to give Hogan an apologetic look. “Sorry, Tanner. But that’s the way it is.”

  He nodded but didn’t speak. He looked more upset than me.

  I faced Hogan and added, “If and when the time comes, we’ll evacuate who we can. Annie and I are not going to abandon you and Yeoja.”

  “Good to know,” he replied, casting a worried glance at his beloved and taking her hand.

  I turned back to Carrie. “We’re not going to run away right off the bat. I know Tanner doesn’t want that either. This is his planet now, and I expect he considers the people here are his responsibility.” I looked at Hogan to speak for himself.

  “That’s true,” Hogan replied without reservation. “I can’t go off and leave everyone to die. Not until we do everything we can. Luke is building an impressive military. You should see it.” Hogan had never spoken so positively about my efforts to rebuild my force. I think deep in his heart he still didn’t accept what I was. But facing overwhelming odds has a way of firming up a shaky allegiance.

  “What kind of military?” Carrie asked. “How big?”

  I answered her question without mincing words. “Completely mechanized fighter spacecraft that operate independently. We’re churning them out as quickly as we can.”

  She surprised me by not arguing against AI enhanced warships. I thought she would be more upset about that, considering her experience with the Bakkui.

  “That’s what you had at the spaceport?” was her only question.

  “That’s correct. When do the Bakkui arrive?”

  “We don’t have a specific day yet. But it’s within the next week or two. What is your daily warship production?”

  Hearing that question made me proud of my little sister. I don’t know how, but she had grown into a master of the art of war. I wished I had better numbers to brag about.

  “We’re up to seventy-five a day. As of now, we’ve got about two-thousand ready to go. We’re predicting the Greys will be here in seven to ten days. By then I’ll have close to three-thousand.”

  “That’s a good-sized fleet,” she said.

  “We’re trying. I was feeling optimistic about the coming battle. I think we can take on the Greys and beat them. But two-hundred-thousand Bakkui? I don’t suppose you brought any warships with you?”

  “A few escorts,” Carrie replied. “I left most of my forces behind; just in case the Bakkui change direction. My intention was to come pick you guys up and get you to safety. I don’t have enough firepower to take on something this size and neither do you. So, what do you want to do?”

  I slumped back in my chair. “We have to talk it over.” I took Annie’s hand in mine. “I need to coordinate with Tanner too. Maybe there’s another answer.”

  Carrie pushed for a different decision. “You know there’s not. I understand what you’re thinking. You’re the Warlord. You can do anything. But you can’t pull a rabbit out of the hat every single day. Go ahead and discuss the options. But don’t take too long.”

  *.*.*.*

  For the next three days, I stayed close to home. I was afraid that Carrie would nag Annie at every opportunity, trying to get her to leave. And she relentlessly nagged at me.

  “Listen,” I finally told her. “First of all, you can’t be positive this is the Bakkui’s destination.”

  “It’s very likely,” she said. “Where else would they be going?”

  “Who knows?” I countered. “It could be anywhere. But my concern is not just about the Greys or the Bakkui. Part of my worry is about what’s going to happen if I show up on Japurnam Five? Do you think everyone is going to welcome back an android king?”

  “It’s going to be a problem,” Carrie agreed dourly.

  “That’s my point. I need some time to sort things out. I haven’t talked to you about it, but I have some major issues. Freddi, the Phantom I commandeered, doesn’t recognize me as a person. I can’t even talk to Tanner’s planetary AI. It’s because I was built without an implant. But I think those are technical issues that can be solved.”

  Carrie shook her head. “That doesn’t mean Annie has to stay here during an invasion. I understand what you’re saying. But let me take Annie and Rosa back to Haiyanas Seven. Then you can fight the Greys and the Bakkui and spend as much time as you want redesigning your hardware. At least your family would be safe.”

  It was an argument that neither of us would back down from. I finally told her to shut up, or I’d take Annie to my base out in the desert. Carrie backed off after that, but I could feel her continuous disapproval.

  The worst part was that I didn’t have a realistic plan. My replicators were going full blast, churning out robotic warships; eighty-three a day now. I was nearing the three-thousand mark, but that would never stand up to the massive Bakkui force coming this way. And I hadn’t even given a thought to all the other issues of my integration into Nobility society.

  I stopped by Hogan’s office that evening just as a new message was coming in from his command post. He gave me a sick look and said, “The Greys are a day away.”

  “We’re ready for them,” I told him with an encouraging tone. “Unless they have an answer to our chaff missiles, we can handle them. And even if they do have a countermeasure, we can still beat them one-on-one. Our ship-to-ship missiles are too small for their arc-beams.”

  “I hope so,” Hogan said. “A lot of people here are counting on it. But what about the Bakkui?”

  That was a different story. I collapsed in one of his office chairs. “I don’t have an answer, Tanner. I hate to say it, but if a force that size shows up we’re toast. We may really have to evacuate and hope they don’t wipe out the planet. I understand that’s hard to accept, but I got nothing else to offer.”

  “I don’t like it,” he said.

  “I don’t either. At the very least we won’t run off. We can make a stand and see what happens, but if the situation goes south, Carrie’s right; we need to leave.”

  Hogan sat in his chair for a long time without speaking. Finally, he grunted his frustration and walked out. I followed him into the street and headed home.

  Carrie was in the kitchen, helping with dinner. Her somber face told me she was already aware that time had run out, but she kept her mouth shut. Annie saw the tension between us and didn’t speak; she just concentrated on finishing the salad.

  I mixed a pitcher of margaritas. Hopefully a few drinks would make the evening go a little easier.

  None of us did more than nibble at the green tangle on our plates. Carrie held her piece until after we ate. She topped up her glass and then glared at me. “Well?”

  “We talked about it. First things first. We’ll face down the Greys when they arrive. I’m confident we can defeat them without too much trouble. If the Bakkui show up, we’ll pull out.”

  It wasn’t good enough for Carrie. “I want Annie and Rosa with me starting in the morning. There is no sense leaving them on the planet. What if the Bakkui get here and start shelling the place while you’re fighting the Greys?”

  I shook my head forcefully. “That is a non-starter, as I’ve told you a million times. Annie and I stay together. Don’t bring it up again.”

  “Then put her on Freddi,” Carrie insisted. “She can wait in orbit. At least your family will be safe during the battle. And then, if the worst happens, Freddi can make another you. She did it before.”

  Annie gasped at the suggestion and gave Carrie a horrified expression.

  “Don’t look at me that way,” Carrie said. “You know it’s true.”

  I took Annie’s hand and glared daggers at my sister. “Drop it, I’m warning you.” All Carrie was doing now was upsetting Annie. I was a little worried that the second I turned my back, Carrie would lean on Annie more than ever. And she had a point. What if the Bakkui showed up during my fight with the Greys? It
might be better to just take Annie with me. She would be safe on Marian.

  I told Annie, “Everything will be okay. We’ll go together on Marian. I’ll be here before noon to pick you up.”

  I had put Marian’s AI into a newly commissioned Starfighter to serve as my flagship. She was fast and could keep up with my new space forces and her living facilities would suit a family quite nicely. Annie squeezed my hand and nodded.

  It wasn’t that great of an evening.

  *.*.*.*

  The next morning it was a quarter after ten when I pulled up in front of our house and ran inside.

  “Ready to go?” I shouted.

  Annie had a couple of bags in the living room. Mostly stuff for Rosa. I looked around but didn’t see our daughter.

  “Where’s Rosa?”

  Annie pointed outside. “Mazie took her out for a stroll. It could be awhile before she can see the sky and breathe fresh air.”

  “Okay. I’ll get her.” I took the bags out to the car and searched for Rosa.

  I spotted Mazie rolling through the park, periodically stopping to keep Rosa from climbing out of the bassinet. She was getting to be a big girl and was cute as a button in her pink jumper. Annie came outside and called to Mazie that it was time to go.

  The robot turned in our direction but then came to a sudden stop. Inexplicably, a standard cargo bay door appeared out of thin air. Mazie didn’t hesitate, she rolled forward, through the doorway, and disappeared. Beyond the hatch I saw the interior of a spacecraft with human soldiers in battle dress uniforms.

  “Attack!” I shouted, pointing at the ship’s entrance.

  “Don’t!” Carries’ voice cried out behind me. “Those are mine.”

  I turned in her direction. “What?”

  “Just listen to me and I’ll explain.”

  A gust of wind at my side made me spin around but Annie wasn’t there. Two soldiers wearing combat gear, augmented with jet-pack assisted wings, had lifted her off the ground and were flying her toward what I finally realized was a fully cloaked spacecraft. I had never seen anything like it. Even right in front of me, in broad daylight, I could not see the fuselage at all.

  “Save Annie!” I shouted at our bodyguards.

  The Barbicans were already moving toward the open doors, but not fast enough. Carrie’s soldiers swooped through the door and disappeared out of sight. The doors were just starting to close when the Barbicans reached the spacecraft. Three of them bounded inside and the other collapsed into a Gatling gun and opened up on the ship itself.

  “Cease firing!” I screamed, running toward the open cargo bay. “Don’t hurt Annie!”

  A ghostly outline of an ellipsoid fuselage appeared where the machine gun bullets disrupted its stealth function.

  I reached the hatchway and charged inside. Soldiers were struggling to subdue one of the Barbicans who was holding the door open.

  “No guns,” I yelled.

  I didn’t want any ricochets hitting Annie. If not for that I would have shot the human kidnappers myself.

  The other two Barbicans came clomping down the corridor. They were holding Annie between them and she was cradling Rosa against her chest. Only the tips of Annie’s toes touched the floor every few feet as they hurried toward me. She was disheveled and looked scared to death, but she was safe. I stepped aside so they could pass and followed them out of the spacecraft.

  “Withdraw,” I shouted.

  The Barbican engaging with the soldiers twisted away and trailed me outside. The machine-gun unit unfolded to his upright stature and covered our retreat.

  “Back to the house,” I ordered.

  I was so angry I could see red. Carrie was standing near our residence. Her hands were on her hips and she looked as furious as I felt. I literally wanted to punch her out.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” I yelled at her. “Annie could have been killed.”

  “You idiot!” she screamed in my face. “I’m trying to keep you from killing her along with your daughter.”

  “Back off,” I spat. “Whatever happens it’s not your call. Now get off my planet.” I would never forgive what she had just tried. She had stabbed me in the back and it totally surprised me. I turned away trying to control my anger. The Barbicans had already helped Annie and Rosa into the car. I jumped in and shouted, “To the spaceport!” and we were off.

  Of course, on the way I cooled down and had second thoughts. Should I send Annie and Rosa to Haiyanas Seven on the original Freddi? It would be safer. It was hard not to reconsider in the heat of almost losing my wife again. I had vowed many times since getting her back, that I would never see her put in jeopardy again. But was it safer to keep her at my side when I was going into combat? When I weighed the options that way, it wasn’t really a choice.

  “Take us to Freddi,” I ordered. Carrie was right. I should send Annie off planet until I finished fighting the Grey invasion.

  *.*.*.*

  The aircar pulled up next to Freddi at the bottom of the boarding ramp. I hustled Annie and Rosa out of the car and into the ship. “Freddi, take Annie to Haiyanas Seven.”

  “Unit Barrett,” Freddi said in that irritating monotone voice. “This starship does not accept commands from non-AI automatons.”

  “Damn it, Freddi!” I shouted. “I’m trying to save her life.” It was wasted effort. “Annie. Tell her to take you to Haiyanas.”

  “You are the king,” Annie said. “I will care for Rosa. You should do what you must.”

  “Please!” I urged her. “Listen to Annie, Freddi.”

  “This unit does not accept commands from—”

  I screamed with frustration. The entire situation was impossible. I swept both Annie and Rosa into my arms and charged off the ship. “Marian!” I shouted for my personal flagship.

  She landed on the ramp a few feet in front of us. Dust swirled as she touched down. “Here I am, Your Majesty,” she announced, lowering her boarding ramp.

  I ran inside and set my family down gently. “We tried to do the right thing,” I said to Annie. “I guess we’re going to stay together after all.”

  “You are the king,” she said. “I will care for Rosa. You should do what you must.”

  One thing about Annie, she rolled with the punches. But even so, under the circumstances, I wanted her to have help with our daughter.

  “Marian,” I shouted. “We need another nanny.”

  “Coming up.”

  “Babe, can you take care of yourself for the moment? I need to get airborne and get ready for the Greys.”

  “You are the king,” she said. “I will care for Rosa. You should do what you must.” She was still looking a little glassy eyed from almost being kidnapped again.

  A nanny robot rolled in and reported in an almost military manner. “Unit Nanette reporting for child care duty,” she said to me. “Where is the child?”

  I pointed at Annie. Nanette rolled over and looked at the bundle of squiggling arms and legs and began cooing in a familiar manner. I threw a quick smile at Annie and hurried toward the bridge.

  “Take us into space,” I growled as I ran. I had to cool off and do it quickly. The Greys were going to be here any minute and I needed to have my forces deployed and ready.

  I would deal with Carrie in the future; but forgiving that stunt would take a long time. I still could not believe that she had tried to kidnap my wife.

  Chapter Fourteen – Decoy

  [Ten Minutes Earlier]

  Annie struggled to get her head around what had just happened. One minute she was standing next to her husband, waving at Mazie, and the next, the mechanical nanny rolled through a doorway that appeared out of nowhere. Annie belatedly realized it was a spaceship.

  She screamed at Mazie to stop when two wraith-like figures rocketed out of the wide door straight at her. They picked her up and flew back through the same hatchway. Soldiers filled the cargo bay. Her first frantic thought, that she was once again being kidnapped by
the Greys, vanished when she recognized the human soldiers wore combat gear bearing her own royal crest. Her captors carried her down a passageway to the central core.

  Like all Alliance ships, the central core’s ceiling opened to the next level, and in this case, all the way up to an interlocked ship. The winged soldiers flew upwards to the vessel above. Annie spotted a woman in the lower corridor, keeping clear of the hurried activity. She was cradling a baby dressed in a pink jumper. The same jumper Rosa had been wearing.

  The floor to the lower levels closed with a solid finality, locking the infant out of reach.

  “Rosa!” Annie screamed.

  “Here she is!” Carrie said loudly, getting Annie’s attention. “Mazie has her.”

  The soldiers released Annie and she turned toward the familiar voice. “Carrie? What?” Luke’s sister stood right beside Mazie, and Rosa was trying to sit up in the bassinet. Annie rushed over and grabbed her child up into her arms.

  “Disconnect and take off,” Carrie said quietly

  “Already airborne,” Sadie’s voice replied from ship speakers.

  Annie examined Rosa closely. It was really her and she appeared to be completely fine. Annie held her daughter to her chest and tried to sort through what had happened. It was difficult to think clearly while getting her emotions under control.

  Carrie tried to put an arm around Annie, and she pulled away, her temper skyrocketing.

  “You kidnapped me!” she shouted harshly. “How could you do that? Luke will be furious!”

  “I’m sorry, Annie, but I can explain everything. We can go to the bridge and I’ll show you now or we can save it for later. The VIP stateroom is yours if you want.”

  “I want to go back to Luke,” Annie said.

  Carrie shook her head. “I promise to reunite you with Luke as soon as possible. But it can’t happen right now. It is going to take a while and I can’t do anything about that.”

  Annie concentrated and tried to focus her mind on delivering a quick punch into Carrie’s brain the way Princess Gimi had taught her. Without warning she thrust.

  Carrie didn’t even blink. Instead, she smiled. “I love you, babe. But your mental combat skills are no match for mine. Why don’t you let Mazie take Rosa to your room?”