by T. R. Harris
125
Adam, along with Nolan and his fake capturers, left the next morning, following a track that hopefully would lead them to the Nuoreans. They changed from their uniforms into civilian clothing so it wouldn’t look like a military operation should contact be made with the Nuoreans.
Nine hours later they reached a point in space where they could line up on the provided coordinates. By then, a veritable traffic jam had developed along the course, as a dozen ships of a dozen different designs were there as well. They’d picked up on the blanket broadcast from the Nuoreans and got here as quickly as possible. The line of ships was separated by several light-years, but it was obvious all the starships were headed in the same direction and pretending to be the one carrying Adam Cain.
The pretense was only until the actual ship carrying Adam could be identified. Then the vultures would pounce. Each of the imposters wanted to grab Adam and turn him in; they would watch and wait until someone tipped their hand.
The tense parade continued for two days before Adam got tired of the game. Using the new-found mutant intelligence he didn’t even know he had, he was able to create a burst signal and sent it to the closest ship trailing them. Within the signal was a file, and when opened, it revealed a holograph of Adam. The file was also designed to link up with the comm system of the ship and send another transmission into space.
The plan worked perfectly. The signal was received, the file opened, and before the ship’s occupants knew it, they were broadcasting the image of Adam Cain. Like a pack of hyenas attacking a fallen gazelle, a dozen ships in the line changed course and zeroed in on the broadcasting vessel. The hapless victim broke the line and raced away, chased by the others. In moments, only Nolan’s ship remained on the track. The others would eventually realize their mistake. By then they’d be too far behind to catch up.
Another day passed before a dormant beacon suddenly came to life along the track. A pre-recorded message came through, transmitting the source code for Nolan’s CW equipment. Continuous Wormhole communication theoretically couldn’t be traced, yet the originator of the transmission could be identified through the unique signature of the amplifier.
Nolan sent out an answering signal, confirming his identity. A second later another transmission came through, giving him a new heading. He ordered the course correction. They were in contact with the Nuoreans now—and the aliens knew his was the ship with Adam aboard. How long this leg of the journey would continue was anyone’s guess, although they were sixty light-years from the unofficial boundary of Nuorean space, where the six worlds the aliens had conquered were located. Using the belief that the Cadre was located within this region of space, they were two days out at the most.
Thirteen hours later another beacon sprang to life in the emptiness of space along the course. This one relayed a live message from the Nuoreans.
Nolan stared at the grey-faced alien as they sized each other up. It was the Nuorean who spoke first.
“You are a Human.”
“And you are a Nuorean.”
“Adam Cain is a Human; you claim to have him in your custody.”
“We do,” said Nolan confidently.
“You would turn over a member of your own species to face certain death?”
“If you know anything about Humans, you know that’s not unusual. When can we get our money?”
“That will come. First we need proof that you have Adam Cain.”
“Of course.” Nolan nodded to his comm officer. A view of Adam in a room, lying on a cot, was transmitted to the Nuorean.
“That is not proof. The image could be a recording or it could be false. I demand you bring him to your bridge so I can see him in real time.”
Nolan nodded to another member of the bridge crew who raced from the room. In the awkward silence, neither party spoke. Three minutes later, Adam was hustled onto the bridge, his wrists shackled and chains on his legs. Two of Nolan’s crew held him by the arms.
“Bring him closer to the camera. We have recognition capabilities,” said the alien.
The Humans complied and thirty second later the Nuorean nodded. “As far as we can tell, that is Adam Cain.”
“I told you it was. Now can we get our money?”
“Only upon delivery.”
“Where, when?”
“I am sending new coordinates. Follow them precisely. We will make contact again in two of your days.” The alien broke the connection.
Adam straightened up as his guards unfastened the shackles.
“That worked,” he said.
“Does this mean we really get to keep the money?” one of the crewmen asked.
“Let’s not count our chickens, Mister Howell,” Nolan cautioned. “But if we do, that will be one hell of a re-enlistment bonus.”
“Excuse me, sir, but re-enlistment my ass. I’d be a free man after that.”
Adam contacted Arieel through the ATD ghost program and filled her in on what just happened. The two backup ships were five light-years behind and paralleling their course twenty degrees above their ecliptic. They were also following a zig-zap path, so if detected, they would appear to be on a different vector than Nolan’s ship.
You still believe this will work? Arieel asked in his mind.
We’ve made real progress. Hopefully the Nuoreans will be so blinded by their hatred for me that they’ll let us through. They may be master game players but they are pretty naïve in some areas.
I will relay this information to the others. Please be careful.
Careful is my middle name.
I thought it was David.
It’s just an expression, my dear.
If there is one advantage Humans have over all other creatures in the universe, it is your method of code-speak. Only your own species appear to understand fully what you mean.
That’s not always the case, believe me. I’m breaking the connection now. We’re getting close, Arieel. This should be over fairly soon.
126
“Captain!” the bridge officer yelled at LtCol. Nolan, using his generic title as commander of the ship. “I have contacts dead ahead. They just appeared.”
“Evasive actions!”
“Sir, four more, to starboard and port. They have us boxed in.”
“Captain Cain to the bridge,” Nolan called into his comm.
Adam was there twenty seconds later.
“What’s going on?”
“Six ships have us surrounded. They popped out of dark status,” Nolan reported, frustration in his voice.
“Identity?”
“Nuoreans.”
Adam was afraid he was going to say that. They were only six hours beyond the last beacon point, barely into the two-day transit the Nuoreans had mentioned.
“Power down, Colonel,” Adam said. “They’ve obviously been waiting for us. Let’s see what they want.”
“They want you, Captain,” Nolan pointed out.
“Then you better get me shackled up again. Let’s make this convincing.”
“This screws up our plans. The backup can’t get here in time. And if the transfer takes place in space, we’ll never learn the location of their base.”
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Remember, the Nuoreans don’t know what I’m capable of.”
Nolan laughed. “According to you…neither do you.”
All Adam could do was shrug. The Marine officer was right.
One of the Nuorean ships maneuvered in for an umbilical hookup with Nolan’s ship, while the others stayed off at a distance. The five aliens who entered the ship appeared to be in distress.
“Adjust your gravity downward!” ordered the Nuorean in the black uniform with three yellow stripes on his left breast.
Nolan complied.
“What’s this all about? We haven’t deviated from the course you gave us.”
The alien breathed a sigh of relief as the internal gravity lessened. He gathered his composure before answering.
“Nuoreans are master strategists, Human. We can detect deception in the actions of others. We believe Adam Cain in not your prisoner; instead he is directing the game.”
“You’re wrong. He’s our prisoner. He means nothing to us. All we want is the money.” Nolan tried to remain as defiant as possible. The actions of the Nuoreans were unexpected, but they made sense. This could be a test.
“Bring me Adam Cain.”
“He’s already on his way.”
As if on cue, Adam appeared on the bridge, shackled as before. But now he tried to act defiant himself. It would be what the Nuoreans expect him to do.
“Who the hell are you?” he asked the Cadre officer.
The Nuorean considered him for a moment before smiling. “You are making demands? I have not had experience with Humans before, yet I have heard of you. I even took part in the survey of your home planet, preparing for its destruction.”
“And how did that end up?” Adam asked. “Oh, yeah, it was Nuor that was destroyed instead. I understand the Third Cadre used to live there. Was any of your family and friends there when I blew it up?”
The alien’s fist seemed to come at him in slow motion through the lens of his new mutant abilities. Adam was glad to see they appeared when they did, because he had to put on quite the act that he was hurt by the powerful blow. He stumbled backwards, to be caught by the two Human guards behind him.
“If I was not under orders to bring you to Master Janvis I would kill you now myself.”
“Without a challenge match?” Adam asked after working his jaw back and forth, making sure nothing was broken. It was all part of the act. “That would be a waste.”
“Are you going to take him?” Nolan asked. “What about our money?”
The Nuorean looked at the Marine with obvious anger and frustration. “Will you cease with the demands for your payment!”
“It’s what you agreed to,” Nolan countered. “If the galaxy finds out that you won’t pay, then you can forget about the others being killed.”
“And how will the galaxy find out…if you’re dead?”
Nolan swallowed hard. The alien had a point. “They just will. Everyone knows we’re bringing Cain to you, and the reward is gigantic. If we don’t come back—and boast about all the money we made—they’ll figure it out on their own. No one will take the chance of collecting the bounty, figuring you’ll just kill them when they try.”
“There is no exchange required for the others, just proof of death. Your argument has no merit.”
“Yeah, but,” Nolan stammered. “If you renege on one payment, why wouldn’t you on another?”
“Human, cease! You will get your payment. It is of minimal consequence to us, although apparently not to you.”
“We survive on money. It’s why we do everything.”
“It is not the way of the Nuoreans. We are above such petty things.”
“We aren’t.”
The alien was at his wits end. He stared at Nolan for a long moment before ordering his support troops to take Adam through the umbilical tunnel to his ship. He turned to leave.
“Wait—” Nolan called out.
“You will follow us,” said the alien abruptly. “I do not have your payment with me.”
Nolan bit off his next statement. He looked around at his bridge crew and saw nothing by big eyes and wide grins. It looked like they really were going to collect the bounty. And they might even live long enough to spend it.
Adam contacted Arieel again through the ghost program and gave her the latest news. He would lose contact with her once Nolan’s ship separated by about a half a million miles from the Nuorean vessel he was on. She could still track the tiny fleet as it made its way to the Nuorean hiding place through Nolan’s ship, just Adam wouldn’t be able to communicate with her.
She freaked out knowing he was now in the custody of the Nuoreans. He reassured her he was fine and that they had elaborate plans for him—as was the way of the aliens. They wouldn’t simply execute him. They would make a game out of it.
He was taken to a room aboard the Nuorean vessel and placed under guard. Workers were still installing a lock on the door, since none of the rooms had them. This was a Nuorean ship manned by Nuoreans. There was no need for locks…anywhere.
Once the caravan got underway, Adam felt an emptiness within his mind as he lost contact with the ghost program aboard Nolan’s ship. He also scanned the Nuorean vessel and found he had no connection with any of their electronic devices. They didn’t use Formilian controllers and other Milky Way-based technology. His ATD would be useless in this situation.
But he still had Panur’s residual powers. They would be his ace-in-the-hole when the real game began. Adam wasn’t scared, at least not for himself. He was concerned, however, for the others. Once they reached the hidden Cadre base, he would have to carry most of the load. He smiled. He was okay with that. It just meant a higher score for him.
127
Adam didn’t see much of their destination planet, not until they landed, and then just enough to know that it was arid and flat and the settlement the Third Cadre had set up looked more temporary than permanent. He figured the Nuorean renegades were just playing a part in a larger game and would be returning to the main force—as soon as Adam’s team was dead. Seeing that all the players in the game were rushing to the same place, the outcome would be known fairly soon.
The settlement consisted of a series of seven windowless pre-fab metal structures placed a crude ‘S-shape’ running north to south. Support modules were attached to the outside of the buildings, providing air conditioning or heat. It was mid-day when they arrived and it was pretty warm; however, Adam didn’t know what the night held in store. Each building was connected to its neighbor by curved roof tunnels. Another building, four times larger than any of the others, was set off to the west and across a narrow field. A number of small warrior-class starships were scattered about to the east, having landed more or less where they pleased on the dry, flat landscape, yet far enough from the buildings as to not cause damage from their landing and take-off jets.
Nolan landed the small escort ship about two hundred yards from the nearest building. The atmosphere was Human-compatible, with gravity a little lighter than Juirean standard. He left five of his fifteen-man crew aboard the ship and brought the other ten with him to meet the small Nuorean entourage standing near the cluster of buildings.
Adam caught sight of the meet-up just before he was hustled inside the building. He was taken inside the second building on the north side of the row and placed in a room with a lock. The Nuoreans were expecting him, so they were ready.
All the Nuoreans wore black uniforms with yellow stripes on their chests, either one, two or three. They were also armed with impressive-looking flash rifles of an alien design, along with projectile handguns strapped to their waists.
“I will take you to the treasury where you can collect your payment,” said one of the Nuoreans with three stripes on his shirt. He seemed annoyed serving as the Human’s guide. Nolan got the impression he would have preferred to meet them in the arena. That was the true measure of a Nuorean’s worth.
They were led to the larger building set off from the others. The Nuorean three-striper simply opened a wide door and stepped inside, with no additional security required to enter the so-called treasury building.
It was dark inside the interior until an alien turned on the lights.
There was a collective inhale of breath from the eleven assembled Humans, the result of seeing the massive pile of…well, stuff, in the center of the room. It covered fifty-feet in diameter by twenty high, and consisted of gold and silver objects, along with other trinkets and paraphernalia of all kinds. It was not what Nolan had been expecting.
“What’s this?” he asked his host.
The Nuorean waved impatiently at the pile. “It is the wealth we brought with us, a small portion of the confiscated items from the worlds we have inhabited.”
Nolan stepped up to the edge of the pile and picked up a golden vase. “This is what you expect to pay us with?”
“Yes. I sense you are not satisfied.”
“Satisfied? Hell no!” He held up the vase. “How I am I supposed to know how much this is worth? And I don’t even know if it’s real gold. And if it is, twenty-eight billion dollars of this shit would fill a dozen starships. Don’t you have any Juirean credits or even Human dollars-chips around?”
“What we have is what you see. If you do not want it, then leave.”
Nolan’s men had also moved to the pile and were digging through it frantically. One of the men held up some beige credit chips.
“These look like money,” the young Marine said.
Nolan took a chip. It was unlike any he’d ever seen. “What are these?”
The Nuorean came closer. “They appear to be the credits used on one of our conquered worlds. There should be many more.”
“Then they’re worthless to us.” Nolan threw the chip back on the huge pile. “We can’t use credits from an isolated—and conquered—world.”
The Cadre officer was frustrated. “The worlds we inhabit had trade with your empires. I know they had a substantial amount of compatible credits. You will just have to find them.”
“Colonel! I found a Juirean cen-chip,” said one of his men, holding up a blue chip.
Nolan sent him a stern frown. The Nuoreans were not to know they were a military operation.
Fortunately, the Cadre officer either didn’t hear the sailor’s words, or he didn’t grasp the meaning. He turned to his other troops and motioned for them to leave the room.
“You have twenty planetary hours to collect your payment. Take what is owed and leave the rest.” He turned and left the room.
Nolan’s men were staring at him with wide eyes, wondering what to do next.
