The Fire Eternal (Confederation Reborn Book 6)

by Bernard Schaffer

  Kirn caught his other self around the waist as he fell backwards, dragging him toward the bed. He lowered the man down on top of the blankets and pulled off his boots. Kirn checked the time. He had twelve hours to do whatever it was he was going to do. As he exited the room, he keyed in the command sequence that would lock his doors and prevent anyone from intruding. For the next twelve hours, at least, there is only one William Kirn on this ship.

  He grabbed his blaster from the security door and fastened it to his belt. Now, it's just me and you, Walt, and whatever destructive thing you're carrying around inside you. Tell it I'm coming.

  He saw himself in the cabin's mirror as he walked past. A young man again. Captain of the Endeavor again, with a proper hairline. A proper waistline. He grabbed the bottle of aftershave from the ledge under the mirror, quickly dabbing it on. "And all hell's coming with me," he said with a sudden smile.

  5.

  A dead body sat slumped against the wall leading to the Computer's Cold Storage Department. A young Ensign, probably just a few months out of the Academy, Kirn thought. Kirn bent down and closed the Ensign's eyes, angered by the odd angle of his neck and the fact that he wasn't carrying a weapon. Bryant had snapped his neck for the hell of it, Kirn thought. Probably for nothing more than to keep from being seen.

  Cold Storage was filled with a security team, fanned out in formation as they searched behind the multiple consoles and supply tanks scattered around the area. All of the ship's non-essential data was collected in this part of the ship, thousands and thousands of hours' worth of everything from passive scans of the areas they flew through, down to how many crewmen ordered the broccoli soup for lunch last month on a Tuesday.

  Saris was leading the team, and Kirn called out to him, hurrying to catch up. The Valkar turned at the sound of his voice, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What are you doing, Captain?" he said.

  Kirn unholstered his pistol and said, "I changed my mind. I want to keep searching."

  Saris shook his head, "Human physiology demands rest every twenty-one hours, or you risk the loss of key functions. You will be, in short, no good to any of us if you are not able to perform."

  "There's something you're not factoring in, Mister Saris," Kirn said. "Human willpower. Now let's stop standing around here and go find Bryant."

  "As you insist, sir," Saris said. He nodded to the men at the front of the formation, "Begin to fan out. The Captain and I will maintain the rear."

  They all crouched and began to move slowly, methodically through the multiple compartments. Cold Storage was built on corrugated metal flooring, with red lights shining up past their feet. Above them, several pipelines ran along the ceiling, carrying power from the engine compartment out to the multiple science labs stationed on the decks above. Kirn looked up at the bright yellow fluids travelling through the pipes, silently hoping that Bryant was not crazy enough to tamper with them. There was enough power harnessed in those pipes to blow up the Endeavor four times over.

  The metal floors vibrated as the ship's speed increased. The fluid in the pipes began bubbling and travelling faster, and all throughout the ship, the crew could hear the soft hum of the engines. Long after they'd retired, Chief Doone and Kirn had shared a drink on Earth, and the former Chief Engineer told him he could not get a decent night's sleep anymore. He needed to hear and feel the engines running in order to relax. The crazy old bastard was spending his time taking transport ships out to the most distant Farstations he could find, just to spend a little more time in space, before it was all over.

  Kirn had trouble understanding it at the time, but as he moved through the compartments, surrounded by the computer consoles and perfectly balanced systems all around him, he realized how a man could grow to love such a thing. For Kirn, the true beauty of a starship had always been found on its Bridge, staring at the wonders of the universe unfolding before you. But he could understand how someone devoted to mathematics and precision found all he needed in the engineering department.

  "Captain, something has been troubling me since we returned from Kazar V," Saris said quietly.

  "What is that, Mister Saris?"

  "Did you notice the blue crystals hanging from the necks of the Priests on that planet?"

  "I did."

  "Did they strike you as being somewhat significant?"

  "Of course," Kirn said. "They were blue Lucasian crystals."

  Saris turned and looked at him, unable to hide his surprise. He cleared his throat and regained his quiet tone, saying, "Most observant, Captain. I was not aware you were so familiar with theoretical geology. I've studied the possibility of there being different Lucasian crystals with varying compounds, but thus far, none have ever been discovered."

  Kirn shrugged and said, "Well, apparently they have."

  "An excellent point," Saris said.

  Kirn tried not to smile as he said, "I actually have a theory about those crystals and their effect on Commander Bryant."

  "I would be most curious to hear it."

  "I believe the Priests of Kazar V have found a way to harness the power of the crystals, much in the way we use them to power our ships. First Captain Hunter was affected by it, now Walt Bryant. But instead of Bryant being harmed, he is being compelled to harm others."

  Saris was quiet for several minutes as he processed the Captain's theory, until he finally said, "Based on what we know, that is as plausible a hypothesis as anything I could formulate."

  "Is that the Valkar equivalent of a compliment, Saris?"

  "It is simply the truth."

  Kirn took a deep breath, unsure he wanted an answer to the question foremost on his mind. "Saris, what is your assessment of this situation?"

  "Lieutenant Commander Bryant is a respected Confederation officer," Saris said. "His distinguished career and dedicated service are well-documented. Furthermore, he is one of your oldest friends. One must consider all of those things before making a decision."

  "I'm sure you already have," Kirn said.

  "Indeed. The fact remains that he is attacking people aboard this ship, and poses a significant threat to the entire crew if we cannot detain him. Our only option is to stop him, using whatever means available."

  "Does it matter to you if we have to kill him?"

  Saris considered the question for a moment. "The only real decision is how many innocent lives you are willing to sacrifice in order to justify the death of one man."

  "As cold and calculating as ever, Mister Saris," Kirn said.

  "And that, I trust, is the human equivalent of a compliment, sir."

  They both saw a shadowy figure moving in the dim light ahead of them, rising up from behind one of the power stations, but before Kirn could call out a warning, a heavy wrench rocketed through the air. The security officer standing in front of him never had a chance to move. The wrench's heavy end smacked him in the side of the skull with a sickening crunch, knocking the officer sideways. His boots and hands flailed against the metal floor as he flopped violently, and Kirn looked up only in time to see a heavy container coming directly at him.

  Saris knocked the Captain sideways, and Kirn rolled with it, taking cover behind a large computer tower. Blaster fire filled the compartment, with sizzling bursts of electricity lighting up the room. Saris lowered his head and charged forward into a barrage of debris. Heavy coolant canisters cracked the bulkheads over their heads as Saris used his preternatural reflexes to dodge everything thrown at him. Just as he raised his hand to fire his pistol, a voice called out, "Enough!"

  Walt Bryant lunged forward at Saris and slapped his open hand down on the Valkar's forehead, immediately driving the larger man backward and down onto his knees. An inhuman scream erupted from deep within Saris, and even as he clutched Bryant's wrist with both hand, Bryant only bore down on him harder.

  The nearest security officer was crouched down behind a tall metal pylon, and Kirn called out to him. There was a canister on the ground near enough for him to stretch
his leg out and toe, rolling it toward him close enough to snag. He grunted as he hefted it up and said, "Wait for a clear shot."

  "Aye, Captain," the officer nodded, raising his pistol.

  Kirn stood up from behind the console and ran across the corrugated floor, toward the sound of the screaming Valkar. He hoisted the heavy canister over his head and cried out like a battle-crazed warrior, poised to smash it through the center of Bryant's skull. Bryant looked up at him, amused, and with one hand still clamped around Saris' forehead, he raised the other toward Kirn and spread his fingers, preparing to strike.

  A hot blast of electricity from the security officer's weapon arced through the air, close enough to scorch the side of Kirn's hip and send him sprawling with the canister into the wall. As he crashed, he heard Walt Bryant cry out. The blast had hit him in the chest and knocked him backwards over a console.

  Be dead, Kirn thought as his head slammed the floor. And let this be over.

  By the time Kirn stood up, Saris was still on his knees, huffing and trying to regain his breath. There was a red hand print across his forehead where Bryant had grabbed him. Kirn winced at the pain in his side and looked down to see a long red burn mark, flecked with blackened blood. He searched the floor for Bryant's body, but saw nothing.

  "He is…gone," Saris muttered, forcing himself to rise.

  Kirn slammed his fist on the nearest intercom and said, "This is Captain Kirn to all personnel. Red alert." Red lights immediately began flashing and the sirens blared with a dull, intermittent wail. "Arm yourselves and use any available means to capture Commander Walter Bryant. Kirn out."

  "There is more, Captain," Saris said. "When he grabbed me, we formed a mental connection. In between the surges of pain, I was able to ascertain some of his thoughts."

  "Tell me everything. Did you learn anything that can help us?"

  "He has been taken over by another being. One that wants control of this ship."

  "Why?"

  "Bryant intends to use the Endeavor to assault Kazar V. From there he will seize the blue Lucasian crystals and use their power to enslave the entire quadrant."

  "Over my dead body," Kirn said, smacking his fist into his hand. He yelped slightly as he moved, feeling his belt dig into his injured side.

  Saris glanced down at the wound and said, "We need to get you to Sickbay immediately. That will become infected."

  "There's too much to do right now," Kirn said, waving him off.

  "Captain, the only reason we are still alive is because the small part of Walter Bryant that still exists, is highly-resistant to the idea of killing you. He does not share the same affection for any of the rest of us. If you become incapacitated, or succumb to a fever from that infection, this fight is finished."

  Dr. Kelley scanned the length of Kirn's wound and scowled. "If that had been a little to the right, you'd have a hole through your kidney right now."

  "If it had been a little to the left, I wouldn't even be sitting here, Doctor," Kirn said. "Spare me your ruminations and fix this, so I can get back to the fight."

  "You just sit there until I'm finished and that's an order," Kelley said. He glanced at Saris and winked, saying, "On Earth a Doctor's Order supersedes any other kind. Don't you forget it."

  Saris ignored him, "Captain, I am afraid that Commander Bryant is getting stronger. You saw that he survived a direct hit from a blaster. We may no longer be able to kill him by conventional means."

  "So what unconventional means are you suggesting?" Kirn said.

  Saris paused, eyeing Dr. Kelley the way he always did when he knew he was about to say something beyond the logical comprehension of the other man. He folded his hands behind his back and said, "We must isolate him in a section of the ship, and blow it up."

  Kelley snickered, "Blow it up. You're kidding, right?"

  "On the contrary. A large enough explosion to destroy all organic matter within the blast radius would be sufficient to destroy Bryant, regardless of how powerful he's become."

  "And how, exactly, do you suppose we locate him in that section, contain him, and get everybody else out of the way when it blows up?" Kelley said. As he finished speaking, his eyes centered coldly on Saris and he said, "You don't intend on getting the people out of the way, do you."

  Saris looked back at Kirn, "Captain, what I am proposing is the only reasonable solution. If we fail to act, the situation will soon be beyond containment."

  "Reasonable solution?" Kelley spat. "Who gets to decide which crewmen we sacrifice? You? Me? How about we let everybody draw straws, and whoever gets the short one has to salute the grand old flag and march into the fire! Is that your idea of a reasonable solution, Saris?"

  Saris shrugged and said, "If there are an insufficient number of volunteers, a random selection process would seem suitable."

  Kirn looked back and forth between both men, then smiled, and found himself laughing. He tried to cover it up with his hand, but his laughter escaped through his fingers and he could not contain himself.

  Dr. Kelley cocked an eyebrow, "He's cracking up, Saris. All your talk about blowing people up finally pushed him over the edge."

  "Perhaps a sedative, Doctor?" Saris said.

  "No," Kirn said, collecting himself. He slid off the examination table and stood up, taking his time to look both men over. He put his hand on Dr. Kelley's arm and said, "You know something, Jax? For as much as you complain about Saris, when you get older you will talk all the time about how much you miss him."

  Kelley grunted and said, "I doubt that."

  Kirn looked at Saris and said, "And you, for all your composure, will realize that you envy the Doctor for his passion. You will call him the rough stone upon which you sharpened your intellect."

  Saris cocked his head and said, "Do you often believe you are able to foresee the future, Captain?"

  "Not always," Kirn said. "Just call it a strong hunch." He clapped his hands together and said, "All right. First order of business is we locate Bryant. I want a full sweep of the ship until we find him. When we do, contain him with as many men as it takes."

  "You can't be serious, Bill," Kelley said.

  "I'm dead serious," Kirn said. "He's a threat to my ship and I will stop him, it's as simple as that." He looked back at Saris and said, "However, I am to be notified immediately, and then I will respond to the location and deal with the issue personally."

  Saris nodded, and left to carry out his assignment. Kirn felt a hand on his arm and looked down to see Dr. Kelley grasping him, preventing him from leaving just yet. "Let me ask you a question. What, exactly, do you plan on doing when that happens? You just going to talk to Bryant and convince him to come along peacefully?"

  "I'll appeal to his sense of reason," Kirn said.

  Kelley rolled his eyes, "Oh good, for a minute there, I was worried we might be in trouble."

  A beep from the intercom interrupted them, "Security Team One to Captain Kirn."

  Kirn touched the call button, "This is Kirn, go ahead."

  "We have Commander Bryant contained in the engine room, sir. It appears he is trying to reroute control of the ship. Permission to engage?"

  "Permission denied," Kirn said sternly. "I'm on my way."

  "Bill," Kelley said, stopping the Captain just as he reached the door. "Be careful with him. I've got a nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach about this."

  Kirn looked back at him, "I thought you were a doctor, not a soothsayer, Jax."

  Kelley forced a smile, "What can I say? I am large. I contain multitudes."

  "You know," Kirn said, pausing as he looked back at his oldest friend. A man he'd spent his entire adult life serving with, longer than any other person in the crew. Even as old men, it was Jax who came to see him. Jax who made sure he was never alone for too long. He cleared his throat. "It's been you, all these years, keeping me together. I just want you to know that. Any time I wanted to give up, I thought about what you would say, and it pressed me forward."
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br />   Kelley opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He was the ego to Saris' id, a man who felt his emotions deeply and wasn't afraid to use them. His eyes reddened, and he said, "I mean it, Bill. You watch your ass in there."

  He could hear a man bellowing outside of the engine room, his voice strained to the point of snapping as he howled, "If you lay a finger on her, I'll kill you! I'll cut out your heart and eat it like strips of bacon, you slime-sucking devil! Don't you touch her! Do not touch her, I swear to God I'll kill you and everyone you know!"

  Three security men were holding Chief Doone back, their hands grabbing his arms and waist, doing all they could to keep him from reaching the engine room doors. Inside, Kirn could see Walt Bryant standing in the center of the room. His arms were folded, and he was staring at them with mild amusement. There were security personnel on either side of the nearest corridor crossing, lined up behind one another, all of them armed with assault weapons.

  Saris stood off to the side, hands folded behind his back, watching Bryant. He looked over his shoulder as Kirn walked up to him and said, "The crew has performed satisfactorily in carrying out your orders to contain, and not confront, Captain."

  Kirn looked over at the still-struggling Chief Engineer and said, "Do you call that satisfactory, Saris?"

  "All things considered, I would say that Mr. Doone is behaving with remarkable restraint," Saris said.

  "I see your point," Kirn said. He walked over to Doone and stood in front of him, blocking his view of Engineering. "Doone, listen to me."

  Doone fired his hand over the Captain's shoulder, aiming his finger at Bryant's face, "You! I'm coming for you!"

  "Enough!" Kirn said, grabbing the Engineer's hand and gripping it tight. "Settle down, do you hear me? That's an order."

  "Aye…sir," Doone whispered. "He's locked me out, Captain. So help me, God, if he does anything to her circuits, I'll yank out his guts and stomp on them."

  Kirn cocked his head sideways, "Is that a fact?"

  "Aye, that's a fact."

  "Really? I am not sure I believe you."