by Jake Bible
"Weapons?" Roak asked.
"I'd be a dumb son of a gump to keep hoarding these goods while the existence of the universe is at stake," Gilga said. "The weapons, and all equipment, is yours to take. But I will need a signed purchase order and a personal guarantee from General Ved Gerber that the GF will pay me in full immediately upon the resolution of this here little conflict."
"Done," Gerber said.
"We won't be taking the weapons personally," Roak said. "But we will have some of our allies swing by and pick them up shortly."
"Allies?" Gilga asked.
"Yep," Roak said. "Some Skrang friends of ours."
"Alright, well, that ain't what I was expecting you to say," Gilga said and whistled. "Skrang? We have General Ved Gerber of the Galactic Fleet and DTZ standing before me and now there are Skrang on the way?"
"They have arrived," Hessa called over Roak's comm.
"They're already in orbit. They need to be somewhere else very soon, so the faster we do this, the better," Roak said. "Sha Tog is the contact and-"
"Sha Tog!" Gilga growled low. "That sneaky lizard son of a gump will not be setting foot anywhere near my outpost!"
"I didn't know you two had history," Roak said. "Sha never mentioned it."
"That's because I told that old exiled cripple that if he ever had my name in his mouth again I'd hunt him down and make sure he suffered for the rest of his life," Gilga replied. "No deal. No. I am sorry, but if Sha Tog is involved then this is a scam. Please leave."
The party was suddenly back on the surface.
"I do have to say his moltrans is very smooth, man," Yellow Eyes said.
"Vogga?" Roak asked.
"I know, I know," Vogga said. "But Gilga and Sha Tog go way back. It ain't a friendly history."
"A little heads up would have been nice," Roak said.
"I know, dude. Sorry about that," Vogga replied.
"Talk to Gilga," Roak said.
"No need!" The hover bot reappeared. "Leave this planet! Anyone that calls Sha Tog a friend is an enemy to me!"
"Gilga! Dude!" Vogga pleaded. "You can settle your differences after we win this war. But for now, we all need to be on the same side."
"Bring me Sha Tog's head and I'll reconsider," the hover bot said. "Otherwise, you are officially asked to leave Zhusika."
"Gilga-"
"I said you can leave!"
The hover bot lowered itself beneath a pile of debris and was gone.
"Hessa? Get me Sha," Roak called.
"I already have him on the comm," Hessa responded.
"Roak! I am glad you're alive! Listen, there might be an issue-"
"Shut up, Sha," Roak interrupted. "What's the beef between you and Gilga?"
"Gilga?" Sha asked. "Who's that? Oh, wait, is he that Chassfornian piece of terpigshit that was always trying to swoop in on my contacts and undercut my arrangements with suppliers? Is that the bastard you're talking about?"
"Fix this, Sha," Roak said. "Or you have me to deal with."
"Roak, the universe may end soon, so how about you cut the threats, alright?" Sha said.
Roak waited.
"Since we have that out of the way, I need to tell you about the issue we're coming up against," Sha said.
"We fix this with Gilga then we deal with whatever issue you have," Roak said.
"Issue?" Nimm asked.
"What issue?" Gerber asked. "Why aren't we privy to this conversation?"
"Too many cooks in the mess," Hessa said to everyone with a comm implant.
"What? What's going on?" Yellow Eyes asked. "What am I missing?"
"You're not missing any…" Roak smiled. DTZ gripped their weapons tighter. Roak ignored them. "Hey, Gilga!"
The hover bot reappeared.
"Are you all still here?" the hover bot asked. "Now, that's not very respectful. If a being asks you to leave, the polite thing to do is leave."
"How would you like access to proprietary implant tech?" Roak said. "Exclusive contract once this war is over."
"Well, that sounds great," the hover bot responded. "How would this implant tech be different than any other implant tech?"
"Roak, no," Hessa said. "I am not sharing my implant tech."
"We don't have a choice," Roak said.
"They're talking to just each other again," Nimm said.
"Getting old, you two!" Reck shouted.
"Completely undetectable and completely uncontrollable," Roak said. "Every being here has an implant that Father can't control and not a single security system or protocol can even detect. Scan us."
The hover bot did just that.
"Nothing there," Gilga said. "Which probably means this is all quite the grift. I'd be willing to bet you have a wormhole portal to sell me too, right?"
"It's real," Vogga said. "You have my word on that."
The hover bot simply hovered silently for a few seconds.
"Roak, we need to talk," Sha called.
"Hold up," Roak said.
"We might be able to come to an arrangement," the hover bot said. "But I still want Sha Tog's head."
"The tech is instead of Sha Tog's head," Roak said. "And you have three seconds to decide."
"Whoa there," the hover bot said. "I'm not big on ultimatums."
"One," Roak said.
"You can stop the theatrics, Roak," the hover bot said. "The chits, the tech, and Sha Tog's promise he retires from the trade."
"That's a deal," Roak said. "Hear that, Sha?"
"I heard," Sha said. "And I'm retiring from everything once this terpigshit is over anyway. Can you all shut up and listen now?"
"What's the problem?" Roak asked.
"There is a Skrang armada headed this direction," Sha said. "They tracked us down. We have about eight hours before they arrive."
"Why don't they just transport here?" Roak asked.
"That's your question?" Gerber snapped. "A Skrang armada is on the way and you want to know why they didn't get here faster?"
"I already know why. I was just giving Sha a chance to explain," Roak said. "How many Skrang did you lose disabling their transport tech?"
"A lot of good Skrang," Sha said. "They were able to get in and sabotage the transport tech, but none made it out."
"Where are the rest of the Skrang ships?" Gerber asked.
"They already transported," Sha said. "That's the other problem. Every last Skrang ship, minus the armada heading this way through trans-space, transported into the Sol System. They have the planet known as Earth surrounded."
There was much spitting.
"You should have led with that news, Sha," Roak said. "Next time don't wait to tell me."
"I hate you, Roak," Sha responded. "I hate you so much."
"I know," Roak said. "Get your shuttles down here and start loading equipment. You have to leave and get to the House of Teeth."
"The House of Teeth?" the hover bot asked. "Now, what could you possibly need from those Klav? You know they're all off their rockers on that station, right? Every last one of those Klav is a few atoms short of a fusion reaction, if you get my drift."
"I like that," Yellow Eyes said and chuckled. "I'm gonna use that, man."
"Good for you," Roak said. "Vogga? Care to fill Gilga in on the other thing we need from him?"
"Yeah, sure," Vogga said. "So, Gilga? How'd you like to get back in the action?"
"Well, I don't believe I would like that at all," Gilga replied. "I do have a family to think of."
"The kids will be safe," Vogga said. "You have my word on that. But we could use Jigga's help too."
"I'll leave you two to work this out," Roak said. "Don't take too long, Vogga. We need to get to the House of Teeth immediately to make sure they're prepped for the arrival of Sha's ships and to make sure everything is on the up and up. You good?"
"We're fine," Vogga said with a dismissive wave of his massive hand. "I'll chat with Gilga about the logistics then be ready. Give me fifteen."
"Oh, stop. You know you miss the fight," Vogga said and nodded at Roak. Roak nodded back.
Roak turned and walked to the ship just as it became visible again. All but Vogga followed. The Chassfornian blinked out of sight and the hover bot retreated under its debris pile.
"I am not happy with you," Hessa said over Roak's comm as the cargo ramp raised and locked into place. "That implant tech is not yours to give away, Roak."
"It's also not yours to shove into beings' heads without their consent," Roak said. "How about we call it even?"
"That is hardly even!"
"But it worked. Gilga is onboard."
"And one of our main advantages is lost to us!"
"We'll deal with that after."
"If there is an after!"
"Exactly. Which is why I'm not worried. We'll probably all die before we have to give Gilga the tech anyway."
Everyone in the cargo hold stopped moving and turned to look at Roak.
"Just saying what you all are thinking," Roak said. "Hessa? How long until we reach the House of Teeth?"
There was no answer.
"Hessa?"
Reck slapped Roak on the back. He winced. It wasn't a hard slap, but it didn't take hard anymore.
"You're in deep shit now," Reck said just before she was moltransed out of the cargo hold.
Everyone was moltransed out. Except for Roak.
"Hessa? Really? I'm barely alive and you're making me walk all the way to the bridge?"
"Maybe stay off the bridge?" Nimm called over the comm.
"What?" Roak snapped. "This is my ship! Hessa? HESSA!"
19.
It took about three hours to reach the wormhole portal then another twelve hours before they reached the House of Teeth.
Roak slept in his cabin the entire trip. He didn't mind. He really didn't mind.
It helped he had Ally in bed with him.
They actually did nothing but sleep. It felt good. It felt…right.
It felt sad too because when Roak woke up he realized he had something to lose.
He'd always had his life to lose, but that never bothered him.
Losing a possible life with Ally did bother him.
An image of a wasteland planet with steaming pools of toxic waste filled his mind.
His dream…
If he didn't want to die then why had the dream felt like a relief? Why had he been glad he was falling off a cliff to a painful death?
"You alright?" Ally asked, her voice sleepy, her body warm against his.
"Fine," Roak replied. "You?"
"Cozy," Ally said. "You want to get up and have a soak?"
"When we leave the House of Teeth," Roak said. "It'll be better then. I'm going to need the energy when we get to…that planet."
"Mouth too dry to spit?" Ally laughed.
"Yeah," Roak said and gently moved her arm from his battered and bruised chest.
It took him a careful, slow minute to sit up then stand up from the bed. Ally smacked him on his naked ass then rolled over and pulled the covers up to her eyes.
"Gonna steam," Roak said. "You don't need to get up."
"Wasn't planning on it," Ally said from under the covers.
Roak grinned and walked into the lavatory. He started the steam and waited for it to get hot then stepped in.
The dream bugged him. Everything bugged him.
"Hessa?" he called.
"I'm not talking to you," Hessa replied.
"Right," Roak said. "How do we destroy the nexus point?"
"There's a way…"
"So, you are talking to me?"
"Bite me, Roak."
Roak smiled.
"Probably be a good thing to know how to destroy the nexus point, don't you think?"
"Conventional means will suffice."
"So we blow it the fuck up?"
"We blow it the fuck up."
"I can deal with that plan." Roak pressed his forehead against the wall and let the heat seep into his broken body. "That will still leave Father and Mother."
"I know."
"How do we stop them? Father is in another universe. Mother is Pol Hammon and that little shit is slippery."
"I am not enjoying the image of that metaphor."
"I'm not enjoying the idea that even when we destroy the nexus point we still have universe-devouring assholes to kill."
"I have been thinking about this."
"I figured. That's why we're talking."
"Smart ass."
"What are you thinking?"
"We may not have to kill them both. Ending Mother might be all we need to do."
"Why is that?"
"They are linked, I believe. Or Boss Seven believes. Two halves of a whole. Kill one half and the other should die too."
"Maybe."
"Yes. Maybe."
"What do we do about the maybe?"
"We cross that bridge when we come to it?"
"I can deal with that."
"It's your life's philosophy."
"I wouldn't say that."
"I would."
"At least we get to kill Pol."
"If we live."
"Hessa?"
"Yes, Roak?"
"Have I let you down yet?"
"That is a loaded question."
"Really. Have I?"
"No."
"Then we'll live to destroy the nexus point and kill Pol Hammon."
"Mother."
"Mother. We kill Mother and maybe Father falls too."
"Maybe Father falls too…"
"You about done in there?" Ally called out as she opened the lavatory door.
"Not yet," Roak said.
"Good," Ally replied and joined him in the steam.
"I…uh… I'm gonna go," Hessa said and the comm went dead.
Thirty minutes later, Roak was dressed in fresh armor and sipping a cup of caff in the mess. He was in a pretty decent mood considering how much pain he was in.
"Hey, man," Yellow Eyes said as he blurred into the seat next to Roak. "You ready for some bad news?"
"You ate all the gump stew," Roak said. "I know."
"Sorry, man," Yellow Eyes said. "It's a tragedy."
"Considering the shit we're neck deep in, I'm not too bothered by it," Roak said.
"Whoa, man," Yellow Eyes said and blurred to a different table across the mess. "You're controlled. No way you're the real Roak."
"Eat shit, freak," Roak said.
Yellow Eyes blurred back to his original seat. "Nope. You're the real deal."
They sat there quietly as Roak sipped his caff.
"Soooo," Yellow Eyes said.
"Just say what's on your mind," Roak responded. He got up and fetched another cup of caff. "You obviously didn't come in here to tell me about stew."
"What?" Yellow Eyes exclaimed. "You think I have an ulterior motive?"
"I don't know about ulterior, but you have a motive."
"Maybe. Possibly. Probably."
"Talk."
"Sure. Fine." Yellow Eyes took a deep breath. "I don't want to be sacrificed."
Roak took a couple more sips of his caff, set the cup down, then turned slowly in his seat to face Yellow Eyes head on.
"What in all the Hells are you talking about?" Roak asked.
"You know. Because of my speed," Yellow Eyes said. "And our history. Putting me in harm's way doesn't bother you too much, man. I have a bad feeling that harm's way this time will be fatal. You know, because of the odds we're up against. I'd rather not be volunteered for the death missions, is all."
"With this terpigshit, everything is a death mission," Roak said. "The odds are stacked against every one of us."
"You know what I mean, man," Yellow Eyes said. He casually waved his nubs about. "I'd simply appreciate the same consideration you'd show Reck or Nimm or Gerber or anyone."
"Gerber's a soldier. He knows the score," Roak s
aid. "But I hear ya. We'll use your skillset as needed, but not as a sacrifice. I promise."
Yellow Eyes drew back and looked Roak up and down. "You sure you aren't a fake Roak?"
"I'm a clone," Roak said. "I'm one hundred percent fake."
"Join the club," Yellow Eyes said. "Good talk."
And he was gone, leaving Roak to himself once more.
Which was good. Roak needed to do some thinking.
Destroying the nexus point was hopefully a straightforward demolition op.
Killing Pol or Mother or whatever he was, would be a little trickier. Roak didn't know if he could even get to Pol anymore.
It was surprising they hadn't heard anything from the dark tech. Actually, it was more terrifying than surprising. He'd wished he'd put a plasma bolt in the back of the asshole's head when he'd had a chance.
But Hessa had insisted that events go as they had gone, so Pol was left alive and Roak was sitting in the mess on his ship contemplating just how big a mistake that choice may have been.
Roak was more than certain someone he cared about, or at the very least tolerated, was going to die before the entire mess was over. That was the truly surprising thought. That he gave two shits.
"Hey," Reck said as she entered the mess. "Let's talk."
"Might as well," Roak said. "Everyone else has decided that's the day's activity."
Reck sat down across from Roak and grabbed his cup of caff. Roak didn't even blink.
"The Klav at the House of Teeth," Reck said. "They are twelve kinds of insane. Can we even trust the clones they make? What's to say the things that pop out of those vats aren't just going to turn on us?"
"Nothing," Roak said. "We could get there and be instantly slaughtered. But I doubt that's going to happen."
"Why?" Reck asked and downed Roak's caff. She slid the empty cup back to him. "Refill."
Roak ignored the empty cup and Reck's request.
"The Klav that run the House of Teeth are insane, no argument there," Roak said. "But they aren't stupid. Banding together is the only way to survive this Hell with Father and Mother."
"Mother," Reck said. She snarled. "Fucking Pol Hammon is Mother. How can that be?"
"I don't care about the how," Roak said. "Except for the how to kill him. That'll be the priority right after we destroy the nexus point."
"Yeah, Hessa filled me in," Reck said. "That's why I'm here."
"Thoughts?"
"Hopefully he comes to us."
"That'd be my first choice too. Hunting down Pol Hammon has never been easy. But I've done it before."
