by Edward Zajac
“Universal,” said Zagarat quickly. “Universal, please. Thank you.”
Zag was always polite to OS avatars in the off chance they were programmed to emulate sentients and therefore hold a grudge.
“Wonderful,” said Keelee, sweetly. “And how may I be of service?”
“I need to start this ship.”
“Well, I would love to assist you with this query,” said Keelee. “Would you like an introductory lesson or an advanced tutorial?”
“Introductory, please,” said Zagarat. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” said Keelee. “Your tutorial will begin shortly, right after this brief message from our sponsor.”
“Oh, for CC’s sake.” Zag dragged his fingers across his eyelids. Of all the times for an ad.
“Errin Zee has faced death at the hands of a Krakalian wilabeast, a reanimated treglasaur, and the entire planet of Ursus Nine. Now, she must face something far more frightening and dangerous—her feelings for Quor Jie in the brand new adventure QUANTUM EQUINOX.”
Zagarat’s eyes grew wide. Quantum Equinox was finally coming out? Stellar. Now, he could finally learn how Zee escaped from the tragladores. Unfortunately, it looked like another Quor-Jie-centric book and Zag always hated those. Quor was rich. And tall. And handsome. And charming. Or in other words, everything Zagarat wished he were, but knew he wasn’t.
“If you’d like more information about this interactive novel,” said Keelee, “please say, QUANTUM EQUINOX.”
“Quantum Equi…” Zagarat began to say before stopping himself. “No, no. Sorry. Sorry. I need to know how to start the engines.”
“Of course,” said Keelee. “I’m all too happy to assist you. But before we begin, you must verbally agree that you are authorized by the owner to fly this ship. Please do so now.”
“Oh, for sunning… Yes, I am authorized to operate this ship.”
“Wonderful,” said Keelee. “The engines are activated in the Pilot subroutines here. Magi recommends starting the port, or left engine first, waiting ten seconds, and then starting the right engine, also known as starboard. There’s an easy way to remember it. The vidstars always board from the right and a snifter always needs refilling when you don’t have much port left.”
“Thanks,” said Zagarat. He reached out to activate the left, or port engine when Dahlia’s comm suddenly crackled with life.
“Zag. Come in, Zag.”
Zagarat picked up the device. “Yeah, it’s me. Did you get Rama?”
There was a loud explosion off in the distance. “You can say that,” said Fletcher, his voice muffled by the loud susurrus of laserfire.
“What the suns was that?” said Zagarat. “Is someone shooting at you?”
“No, no, no,” said Fletcher, dismissively. There was a loud crack followed by laserfire. “Actually, it’s more like many someones shooting at me.”
“Oh, suns,” said Zagarat, rocking in place. “Oh, suns. Oh, suns.”
“Zag,” said Fletcher, as if sensing Zag’s anxiety. “Calm down. Remember our motto.”
“We’re all going to die?”
“No,” said Fletcher, over the sound of laserfire. “Everything will work out just fine for us. Just start the engines. We’ll be there shortly.”
“Okay,” said Zagarat, taking a deep breath. “Okay, okay, okay.”
He took another deep breath, trying to compose himself. But it wasn’t easy. His hands just wouldn’t stop trembling. His fingers frenetically tapped the console as if sending a coded distress call to any and all available vessels. It was so bad that he had to physically grab his quavering right hand with his slightly less tremulous left hand. While it didn’t stop his hand from trembling altogether, he was able to activate the port engine on his third attempt.
The entire ship shook as the engine surged to life. Zagarat then searched the OS Wizard for the external camera feeds and brought them online.
His heart leapt with glee when the starboard engines surged to life ten seconds later. But then it plummeted off the edge of a cliff when he saw movement in one of the camera feeds.
“Fletcher,” said Zagarat, the comm trembling in his hand. “Where are you right now?”
There was a brief pause, although Zag could clearly hear Dahlia’s voice off in the distance. “We’re a floor up from you,” said Fletcher. “We should be there shortly. Get the ship ready.”
“Oh, no,’ said Zagarat, wringing his hands. “This is bad. This is bad.”
“What?” said Fletcher, eagerly. “What is it?”
“The hangar bay doors just opened.”
“Comtek,” said a voice over the ship’s speakers. “Start the engines. We have to go.”
That was when Zagarat saw her. Via the camera feed, he saw Xena Xa, along with Leevee and an army’s worth of guards enter the hangar bay.
And that was when Zag nearly peed his pants.
“Oh, this is bad,” said Zagarat, rocking back and forth. “This is bad.”
“Zag,” said Fletcher at a near shout. “Zag! Listen to me. Close the ramp.”
“Yeah,” said Zagarat. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
He searched the OS Wizard for the ramp controls then quickly activated them. Via the camera feeds, he saw Xena Xa jerk back in surprise. She stared at her comm then barked an order at Leevee. A moment later, the ramp jerked to a halt and then began reversing directions.
“No,” said Zagarat, scrambling for the ramp controls. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no.”
He tried to reverse the ramp’s reversal, but it was too late. By the time he accessed the subroutines, the ramp had already touched back down and two guards ran inside.
Zag froze as the realization washed over him, like ordure from an overturned porta-lavatory. They were going to kill him. They were going to take one look at his face and kill him.
He jerked his head up. His face. He had to cover his face.
Zagarat slipped the Quoren plated helmet on, spinning around just as the guards reached the cockpit doors.
“Hello,” said Zagarat tremulously, waggling his ivory fingers.
The guards however did not greet Zag anywhere near as kindly. They struck him hard in the gut then dragged him outside, depositing him at the feet of Xena Xa.
“What is going on here?” Xena demanded. “Where is Comtek?”
“He dead,” said a guard. “He and other guard both dead.”
Xena turned her steely gaze on Zagarat. “And who are you?”
Zagarat glanced down at his nametag. “Hobbes?” he said, hopefully. It was either that or seddoH. Zag wasn’t very good at reading text upside down.
Leevee cocked his head to one side at the sound of Zagarat’s voice, squinting as if trying to recall a faint memory.
“You’re working with KweeKore, aren’t you?” said Xena. “Tell me!”
Zagarat shook his head, battling fear for supremacy over his bladder. He was winning, but just barely.
“Xena,” said Leevee, glancing up from his PCD. “We really don’t have time for this.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” said Xena, clearly annoyed. She stepped in close, sneering. “You’re a very lucky sent. If I had more time, I would kill you in the most horrid ways imaginable.” She motioned towards one of the guards. “Kill him and then get those bluies off my ship.”
A guard raised his rifle.
Zagarat blanched. He was going to die? But he couldn’t actually die. Not really. He was important. He was different. He was Zag. Dying was what happened to other sents, not to him.
Besides, everything was supposed to work out just fine…
ZAG!
Zagarat’s head jerked up. What the suns was that?
When I say the word, drop.
His mouth drooped open. The words weren’t coming from his helmet. He was thinking them. But why was he thinking those words? They made absolutely no…
DROP!
The thought was so overwhelming that Zagarat immediately dropped to the grou
nd. A millisecond later, a pulseblast struck a nearby guard, wisps of smoke wafting up from the three-inch wide cavern in the middle of his chest. A millisecond after that, a barrage of red plasmablasts blazed overhead, killing another two guards.
Get to the ship! bellowed the voice in his head. NOW!
It was Fletcher. Zagarat didn’t know how he knew that. He just knew it was Fletcher.
Compelled by that puissant force known as fear, Zagarat scrambled to his feet, slipping twice on the burnished bay floor before finally pushing himself upright. Unfortunately, Xena Xa and Leevee were faster. They scurried passed him, keeping their heads low as they fled towards the ship.
“No!” exclaimed Zagarat, diving after them. He glided through the air at what seemed like an accretion disc’s pace, his arms and legs fully extended as if emulating that renowned hero, Superior Sentient Man. Just as he was about to hit the ground, his fingertips lightly grazed their heels, just enough to remind Xena and Leevee of the law of artificial gravity.
The duo fell in perfect synchronicity, slamming headfirst into the floor. Leevee in particular hit the ground hard, his PCD flying off of his wrist.
Zagarat scrabbled to his feet again, slipping momentarily on Xena’s long, flowing hair. She yelped in pain. “Sorry,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder as he ran. He reached down and picked up Leevee’s PCD without breaking stride. “And thank you for this. I needed a new one.”
Red lancellations of light streaked overhead as Zag sprinted up the ramp. When he reached the top, he whipped himself around only to see Xena and Leevee staggering to their feet. Worse still, behind them twelve guards were now setting their sights, and the sights of their rifles, on Zagarat.
“Oh, suns,” gasped Zagarat. “How do I close this sunning ramp?”
“Dehr,” said a Weiylan, pointing.
Zagarat turned. The Weiylan was pointing at a large red button. “Oh,” said Zag, slamming his fist against the button. The ramp slowly creaked upwards, the pneumatic pistons groaning at the effort. Zagarat turned back around. “Thanks.”
It was only then that Zagarat saw all the injured Weiylans. There must have been at least ten wounded Weiylans, moaning in agony. But one in particular nearly broke his heart. She was an adorable child, three feet tall with pinchable cheeks that only a child can possess.
At that moment, something came over Zagarat. A fury, a hatred that subsumed every other thought or emotion. He retrieved Betty from his lifesuit pocket. “Die, you sunning diflicks!” he bellowed, firing at Xena and Leevee.
Laserfire riddled the floor, walls, and ceiling, leaving scorchmarked reminders of Zagarat’s ire. He fired and fired until the ramp lurched to a close. Unfortunately, not a single shot found its mark. And yet, that seemed to please the Weiylans, who nodded as if proud of his peaceful efforts.
Zagarat knelt down beside an injured Weiylan. “Are you all right?” The Weiylan half grimaced and half smiled in response. Zag squeezed the giant’s shoulder. “I’ll get us out of here. I promise.” He then muttered under his breath, “I hope.”
The deusteel stairs shook as Zagarat raced up the staircase. Inside the cockpit, he sat down at the main console, took off his helmet, and reloaded the OS Wizard.
“Welcome to the Dauntlaside Help Wizard,” said Keelee, smiling that same vacuous smile that programmers seemed to love. “My name is Kee…”
“Same user,” said Zagarat, preempting her spiel. “I need help with navigation.”
“Of course,” said Keelee sweetly. “What would you like to know?”
“Um,” said Zagarat, finding it hard to think under the pressure. “I need to go forward. How do I go forward?”
“That’s easy,” said Keelee. “You may activate the rear thrusters using the controls here.” The console glowed red where she pointed. “Although I would not recommend it right now.”
Zagarat paused, his hand halfway to the console. “Why not?”
“Because the hangar bay doors are closed right now,” said Keelee. “If you’d like more information on the laws of physics, please consult your favorite nexupedia.”
“Oh, right,” said Zagarat, pulling his hand back. “Sorry. How do I open the bay doors?”
Keelee was motionless for a moment. “I’m sorry, but egress controls are locked at this moment. I suggest you contact the command ship for assistance.”
“No, no, no,” said Zagarat. “You don’t understand. I need to open those doors now.”
“I’m sorry,” said Keelee. “But I cannot help you with that query. However, I would be all too happy to help you with any other queries you might have.”
“But I don’t have any other any queries,” said Zagarat, raising his arms. Betty dangled from one hand and Leevee’s PCD dangled from the other. “I only have the one. How do I…”
Zagarat caught a glimpse of the PCD in his periphery. He cocked his head to one side.
Was it possible?
If Leevee was anything like Zag than he would have synced with the ship the minute he arrived. And that meant there was still hope. At least, Zagarat hoped there was hope.
“Come on, you bastard,” said Zagarat, flipping open the device. “Tell me you did exactly what I would have done.”
Zagarat brought up the virtual screen. The word UNAUTHORIZED USER appeared in the large red letters in the middle of the screen that wasn’t actually there.
Zag grimaced. He didn’t have time for this. He forced a reboot then entered the Magi bypass code he had “acquired” on the nexus. His only hope now was that Leevee had been unaware of the vulnerability and therefore did not write his own code preventing the hack.
The PCD went blank then an infinity sign appeared in the middle of the screen.
WELCOME, AstralStrike.
Zagarat grinned. Oh, he loved lazy techs. They made his job so much easier.
Shouts of panic, agony, and fear echoed over the comms as Zagarat oriented himself with Leevee’s interface, laserfire and plasmafire singing inharmonious harmony in this bellicose opera.
Nearly five minutes passed before Zag was able to access the ship’s command functions, each second seeming longer and more frightening than the last.
The entire hangar bay took on a red tinge as enormous semaphores warned of an impending action. The hangar doors slowly opened, revealing a shimmering field that quavered like a waterfall. Zagarat recognized the pulse shield from Solar War Privateer. It was a shield that maintained bay pressure while allowing ships to exit and enter as they pleased.
“Zag!” came a voice from Dahlia’s comm. “Come in, Zag.”
“I’m here,” said Zagarat, breathily. “Just say the word and I’ll lower the ramp for you.”
“There’s no time for that,” said Fletcher. “This ship is about to blow. You have to get the Weiylans out of there. Now!”
Zagarat blanched. “But what about you?”
There was a loud explosion, followed by more laserfire. “Dahlia and I are getting in an escape pod now. Go!”
“Okay,” said Zagarat, scanning the controls. “Okay, okay, okay.”
He activated the rear thrusters and the ship began to move. Very slowly. Way too slowly. A glance at the aft cameras explained why. The ship was dragging along the cargo bay floor, carving an enormous furrow in the ground as it listed lazily to the right.
Zagarat leaned hard to one side, as if willing the ship to turn. But the ship continued to list off to the right, striking the sidewall of the bay opening.
A loud, piercing screech reverberated all the way into the cockpit as the ship inched its way through the opening. The ship trembled and quaked, as if it might fall apart at any moment until finally, after quite a bit of damage to the bay floor and quite a bit of damage to the ship’s hull, the Starlight freighter cleared the hangar bay and thrusted out into the void of space.
Zagarat sighed with relief. He was free. And so were the Weiylans. Now, he just had to pick up Fletcher’s escape pod…
He f
roze as Keelee’s words haunted his thoughts. All the egress controls were locked. That meant that Fletcher was lying. He was still on that ship.
Zag immediately opened a comm, transmitting a message on an open frequency.
“Aurora!”
AAHHH!” yelled Fletcher, running with all his might.
Laserfire and pulseblasts assailed him from all sides. From the hangar bay where Zagarat had just slipped back inside the ship and now from the other end of the corridor where ten more guards had joined in the Fletcher Griffin Hunt.
A popular athletic event Fletcher abhorred.
His boots screeched on the illumi-tiles as he turned the corner into hangar bay four. Out of the corner of his eye, Fletcher saw a deformed container cover leaning up against the wall. He wrapped his arms about the enormous wheel in the center of the door and heaved it around, wielding the fifty-five pound deusteel panel like a shield.
Laser and pulseblasts riddled the door, Fletcher’s body shuddering under the assault. But the panel held firm, and so did Fletcher even though his arms burned in agony. Slowly and not so surely, he backed himself inside a deusteel storage panel where Dahlia was waiting.
“Zagarat just got in the ship,” said Fletcher. “We have to go. Now.”
“Can’t,” said Dahlia, groaning.
“Why not?” said Fletcher, glancing back over his shoulder. And there he saw his answer. Dahlia was clutching her left leg, a cyan liquid seeping in between her fingers.
“Oh, come on!” said Fletcher to the universe at large. “Seriously?”
“I can’t move,” said Dahlia, grimacing. She gently stroked Rama’s head, who was lying unconscious beside her. “We’re done. Just leave us and save yourself.”
“You don’t know me very well, do you?” said Fletcher. He then took out Dahlia’s comm. “Zag! Come in, Zag.”
“I’m here,” said Zagarat, breathily. “Just say the word and I’ll lower the ramp for you.”
“There’s no time for that,” said Fletcher. “This ship is about to blow. You have to get the Weiylans out of there. Now!”
