by J. N. Chaney
“Mr. Murphy—” Garin calls.
“He is Doctor Hank Murphy,” Zedas corrects.
“Yeah, sure. Have either of you seen Patty-pats?”
“I thought you had her,” Zedas says.
I stop and look back, trying to imagine where I would be on the trail if I were a cat. Sure enough, a pair of eyes materialize to the side of a tree. My companions are looking around but won’t see her from their position.
Could I tell them where to find the cat? Yep. But I’m not going to. Patty-pats blinks once, then twice, never looking away from me.
“Give them a break, cat. They’re worried,” I say, wondering at what other changes the animal endured during the gate passage.
She materializes and pads onto the trail, a small rodent in her mouth.
“Ah, look at the hunter,” Zedas says.
Garin reaches to pick her up, but the cat dances away.
“She won’t want to be touched when she’s carrying her prize,” I say. “She can take care of herself.”
“Are you sure?” Garin asks.
“Positive.”
We pick up the pace on the downhill stretch to the coast. The ocean spreads out before us, bordered by a narrow strip of white beach. Near a peninsula farther up the coast, Tamok’s army camps.
“They’re too near the water for my taste,” Shaina says. “Maybe he is expecting nautical ships.”
“Or maybe the Protheans have forced them into that location,” I say.
Shaina grimaces. “Let’s hope not.”
Again, I decide to lead. The closer we get, the more civilians I see inside the camp perimeter. Tamok retreated with a large portion of his army, and that drew people looking for protection.
Shaina moves up behind me. “I don’t think Tamok is going to be much help. He doesn’t have many ground vehicles, and only a few ships that I can see.”
“We make contact, gather information, and go from there,” I say.
“Your call.” She lets me outpace her to keep our formation spread out.
I’m glad because I need time to think. “Does one of those sorry-looking junkers look like the Serendipity to you?”
“No way,” Shaina says. “We came by Orphan Gate. We’re weeks ahead of them.”
“You’re right. That’s some other hunk of junk,” I say, but it isn’t worth arguing about.
25
I approach the rebel camp carefully, making sure they can see us. The last thing I need is for a nervous sentry to shoot first and ask questions later.
Shaina, Garin, and Patty–pats come next with Zedas in the rear. Some of the resistance forces are familiar with the Dogan, but he doesn’t always make the best first impression. Why gamble that the man or woman working the perimeter remembers our defense of the island?
I stop and check on my friends, noticing how the orange and red glow of the sunset silhouettes them. A cool breeze touches my face. Under other circumstances, it would be nice to walk down to the beach.
“I’ll make contact,” I say. “If we wait much longer, we’re as likely to be shot as detained.”
“Agreed,” Shaina says.
I approach the perimeter with my hands up. “Hello! We come in peace. My name is Dr. Hank Murphy, and the people behind me are my friends.”
“Stop where you are,” the guard says.
I follow his instructions and keep my hands up. This means something different in Hadrian culture, I think, but there isn’t time to reverse my decision to appear harmless.
“How do I know you’re not with the Dark Eye? We brought everyone with us when we evacuated,” the guard says.
It’s decision time. How honest should I be? “We came through an Orphan Gate.”
Silence, and then muttering between the guard and others. I wait as patiently as possible. This wasn’t unexpected.
“Stay where you are. Have your friends move up and stand with you,” the guard says. “I’m calling for my commanding officer.”
I wave for my companions to join me, and we stand in a line like we’re waiting for inspection, or maybe a firing squad. I push that thought out of my head. We’re definitely vulnerable, except for Zedas, whose armor appears stronger than ever. In fact, there are new ridges that I think are reinforced sections—and there might be room for another weapon under his backplate.
“Can you have your big friend put that weapon down?” The guard says.
Zedas places the crew-served charge gun on the ground.
Another fire team of guards arrived before the commanding officer. They take up a flanking position from a different part of their defensive line. It doesn’t make me feel welcome, but I don’t argue.
After another wait, a new man arrives and comes forward to talk to me face-to-face.
“My name is Lieutenant Carnes,” he says. “I am the officer of the watch on this section of the perimeter. I’ve been told you are Dr. Hank Murphy, closely associated with the Dark Eye.”
“We had a falling out,” I say.
He doesn’t blink. “Can you provide proof?”
“Do I look like someone who’s in favor with the most powerful military commander in the Goliath Sector?”
He narrows his gaze. “Word of advice, stranger, I wouldn’t let Tamok hear you say that. He should be in charge of our combined forces. Everyone knows that.”
“The Dark Eye left me and my friends stranded on a sabotaged ship in a distant star system with little chance of survival. He betrayed me, just like he betrayed Tamok and everyone in the resistance.”
Two additional fire teams arrive, raising the number of guards we face to twelve plus Lieutenant Carnes. Suddenly, I wish I hadn’t complied with the order to bring my friends up to the perimeter. If they had stayed back, they might’ve been able to escape whatever is going to happen next.
“I’m required to take you into custody,” Lieutenant Carnes says.
“I understand,” Murphy says. “But I’m warning you not to try it. We’ve come too far and been through too much. I’m not in the mood to be arrested.”
It’s big talk for an unarmed group that includes a child and a cat. But the resistance officer takes notice, measuring me, Shaina, and Zedas before making his decision.
I decide to help him. “Maybe you should check in with HQ. We’re not going anywhere. If you still want to fight, we’ll be here.”
Carnes motions to his squad leader then points at us. “Watch him. They are not to leave under any circumstances.”
“Yes, sir.”
He retreats twenty-five meters and has a very animated discussion on his comm device.
“What’s our next move?” Shaina asks.
“If this goes sideways, take Garin and get out of here. Zedas and I will buy some time and catch up later,” I say.
“Unless they kill or capture you,” she says.
“True.” I keep my eyes on Lieutenant Carnes, attempting to guess which way the conversation is going. So far, I don’t like the vibes I’m getting.
Lieutenant Carnes paces back and forth, talks with his hands, the comm device pressed firmly to his ear. His soldiers never look at him. Each soldier watches us, which I respect. They behave like professionals. Hopefully their boss will make the right decision.
Carnes stops a good distance away from us and listens for several minutes. At the end of the now one-sided conversation, he nods, says something brief, and puts away the device. He smooths his uniform jacket before approaching me.
“I will escort you to headquarters, where you will speak with Tamok. The arrest-on-sight order was conditional. You are clearly not with the Dark Eye at the moment. I’ll warn you to be on your best behavior. My men will deal harshly with you and your friends should you endanger our civilian dependents or in any way interfere with our mission to protect them,” Carnes says.
“You won’t get any trouble from us,” I say.
“Very well. Follow me.” He motions toward his arrest team, and they immediately sur
round us, weapons ready but not pointed at us.
I nod to my friends, and we begin our march to headquarters. No one talks. I catalog the number of soldiers and civilians sheltering here. At times, it’s difficult to tell them apart. They look battered and worn down. Many have bandaged wounds that could use attention.
Eye contact with Shaina assures me that she is also picking up these details. Zedas is harder to read, but I know he is taking it all in. Garin looks sad and keeps his jokes to himself for once.
I want to tell the kid to act like a kid, swagger like a pirate and go back to annoying us every chance he gets. But it’s not the time and place for that conversation, so I just remind myself to talk to him later and make sure he’s okay.
The scene that affects the kid most is a group of broken families that have gathered together for comfort. He looks away and seems to age five years. Does he pity them or want them to adopt him? I really don’t know, but I suspect he’s not as tough as he acts.
Lieutenant Carnes escorts us through a new set of guards, leaving his team behind. Some of the men and women here give me respectful nods or salutes, and I return the gestures.
Carnes speaks to the guard supervisor, then waves us inside. “Tamok is waiting for you. He’s a busy man, so don’t waste his time.”
We enter, and I see that the soldiers and citizens are not the only people who seem to have aged during the recent crisis. Tamok Sky looks like he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Doctor Hank Murphy,” he says. “We have a lot to talk about.”
26
Tamok immediately crosses the room and shakes my hand. “It is you. We could have used your help over the last several weeks. I’m extremely curious to see what pulled you away from our defense of Tamondran.”
“There was information we had to pursue,” I say, selecting my words carefully.
“You went with the Dark Eye to find the fifth gate, which turned out to be a ship,” he says. “I’ve done my research. Admittedly, my access to the gate ship is limited. The question is, how do I know you’re not still his thrall.”
“We had a falling out,” I say. “And I’m not anyone’s thrall.”
“Everyone serves another.” His eyes stab into mine, seeking deception. “What caused this alleged falling out?”
“He abandoned us in a distant star system on a broken ship while we were being pursued by enemies,” Shaina says.
Tamok listens but returns his attention to me.
“That sums it up,” I say. “There’s a lot more to the story, but it doesn’t pertain to the resistance or our current situation. We eventually found a gate and traveled through it to return to the Tamondran gate under the waterfall. Now we’re here. We share the same enemies, and we need to work together.”
“Gate travel,” he says, his tone conveying disapproval. “That sounds like something the Dark Eye would do. Are you following in his footsteps?”
“He’s not my friend, not anymore,” I say. Maybe I meant to explain in more detail, but the words hang in the air, and I leave it at that.
He considers my response, makes some internal decision, and then continues. “We have bigger problems than him stealing half of the resistance forces for his own poor strategy. I would have stopped him from seizing control, but many people on Sarsten needed my help when the Protheans invaded. Time for your first test.”
I follow him to a map table where he points out concentrations of the enemy and a small number of resistance positions that are still viable.
“Prothean ships arrive every day. Some of them land and deploy ground forces. Others travel a circuit around the system, looking for the Dark Eye’s fleet. I don’t understand what he’s trying to prove, but he’s leaving us in the wind.”
“He wants to seize control of the Hadrian Empire as well as the resistance forces. That’s how he plans to stop the Protheans,” I say.
“Nice of him to share his plans,” Tamok says.
“He tied us up, put us in a broken ship, and abandoned us to die. He was bragging, showing me he’d won.”
“But you didn’t die, did you, Orphan?” he asks. “And he didn’t win, did he?”
“I’m hard to kill and harder to beat,” I say. “My friends are even more stubborn.”
“Well, then I hope you are truly on our side.” He shares a silent moment with his officers. It’s clear they’ve discussed something before we walked into the room.
I can feel the tension in the air.
“There’s more,” he says. “My sources tell me the Hadrian Emperor himself might be in system or in route. That means several complete armies of the best Overlord troops in the Empire.”
“It’s probably too much to ask that they’re coming to help fight off the invasion,” I say.
He spreads his hands to emphasize he doesn’t know and probably isn’t going to guess. “The stakes are high. We stand to lose everything even if we win, but we find ourselves in a position none of us thought possible. The Protheans might actually be worse than the Overlords. But either way, we have to fight the greater threat now and deal with the rest later.”
“I’m not arguing,” I say. “What do you need from me?”
“I need you to steal the gate ship and hand it over to me, or at the very least, stop the Dark Eye from leaving us here to fend for ourselves,” Tamok says.
“Is that all?” Shaina asks.
I take a step closer to Tamok. “Give me all the information.”
“I’ve told you everything. But I can review, and you’re free to ask questions. The Protheans came shortly after you left. We fended them off easily at first, only to learn those were merely scouting parties. The next wave took a lot of lives. Even then, we thought we’d weathered the storm and that maybe we were truly strong enough to move against the Overlords. Had they defended the Goliath sector from aliens? No, that was all of us. Morale was as high as it had ever been in the resistance,” he says. “Fate tested us, and we proved ourselves.”
“And then the real attack came,” I say.
He nods, words unwilling to come.
My friends and I wait. Even Garin sits still, completely ignored by the adults.
“The Dark Eye has put out a call for every capable fighter on the planet to join him, regardless of their past allegiances,” Tamok says. “I underestimated his appeal. Some of my best troops went over to his side. Others joined him more reluctantly as things grew worse. Maybe they really believe in his cause, but I think it’s a mistake. Even if he can overthrow the Hadrian Empire and put the Overlords in their place, consolidating his victory will take time. By then, it will be too late for us.”
“You only have a few ships,” I say. “How do you expect me to steal the gate ship? You have your hands full, and I have no way to go after him.”
“The plan is straightforward, but there will be risks,” he says. “We’re scheduled for a video conference. It’s expected he will demand our compliance. At least he doesn’t call it a surrender. And require me to send him troops, civilian personnel, and supplies as an act of good faith.”
I see where he’s going with this. “You want me and my friends to be part of a personnel exchange. We infiltrate, then take over the ship using any means necessary.”
“That’s it, essentially.” He confers with his officers. “It’s the only way.”
“I need some time to talk to my friends. Maybe we can come up with a better plan, or at least fine-tune your idea,” I say.
“Stay close by but out of sight. I expect contact from the Dark Eye within the hour,” Tamok says.
“Is there a room in this building?” I point toward our shabby gear. “And can we get outfitted. Make us look like dockworkers. Hide weapons and tools in a crate for when we make our move.”
“My officers will show you to a room where you can relax. Make a list. We will provide what we can,” he says.
“Good enough,” I say.
My companion
s hesitate to leave.
“What’s the holdup?”
Garin answers. “I can’t find Pats. She came in here, and now she’s gone.”
Tamok frowns. “Who is Pats?”
“We picked up the cat during our adventures,” I say. “Don’t ask. I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. We’ll find her.”
Tamok heads back to his planning table. “Animals, go all the time.”
I round up my companions, and we head outside.
“I really looked for her,” Garin says.
“I know you did.” The last thing I’m thinking about is our cat.
“What happens if we don’t find her before we leave?” he asks.
“Patty-pats might be better off with the family here. Where we’re going, it’s going to be dangerous,” I say. A guard lets us into a room and says he will be waiting for a list when we have it.
“I just call her Pats. Patty-pats was a Hwelas name, and they speak pretty funny,” Garin says. “I think we have to take her. She’s good luck. And she can crawl into places.”
“And do what?” I tried to soften my question. “Besides, we have you for that.”
He’s embarrassed, I can tell. The kid didn’t think through his argument because he was a kid. But he meant well, and he was part of the team. I should push him off on a family here, but it didn’t feel right. Which was safer, fleeing the Prothean invasion or fighting my old friend Jack Barris?
“I still want to find her.”
“Maybe she turned invisible,” Shaina says.
“Ha, ha, very funny,” Garin says.
Suddenly wary, I look for clues, anything that could reveal the presence of the cat. There isn’t much in the room—a table, chairs, and a shelf with picked-over rations. With Patty-pats, that doesn’t mean much. She’s a mischief maker, I realize, and she’s messing with me specifically.
Zedas joins in the fun. “There was once a great legend of a ghost cat.”
“Really?” Garin asks.
“Um, no. I was making that up. Perhaps you could finish the rest of the story,” Zedas says.
