Southern Discontent

by Craig Martelle

  ‘When the moon rises, we’ll be able to fly,’ Skirill assured them.

  Braden tried to crawl forward, but with his first movement, two more burrs embedded in his hand. ‘That’s it. I’m staying here until it starts.’

  The moon rose reluctantly, fighting its way past clouds that had snuck in under the cover of darkness. It was much later than Braden wanted when Brandt jumped from the gully and ran in front of the village. His hooves hammered the ground as he made a wide arc away from the town.

  Braden jumped up, happy to let his boots deal with the burrs. He started running toward one of the guards on this end of the village. Bounder was headed for another. They arrived together and lowered shoulders drove into the midsections of the men, the full-speed body blocks easily separating them from their spears.

  Braden picked his up and used it to club the man into submission. Bounder slammed the butt of his spear into the face of his enemy. The flapping of wings told them that Skirill and Zyena were on their way to deal with their targets.

  Aadi’s thunderclap resonated as he dispatched a third guard.

  Someone raised the alarm. “We’re under attack!” the shouts rose into the cool night air. Braden used the power of his boots to accelerate as he ran through the village. Bounder headed for the building where the spears were stored.

  G-War’s scream told him that someone had arrived before him. He knew before he arrived that the first blood had been shed. The ‘cat only made that sound when making a kill.

  ***

  Holly informed Micah that Braden and company had engaged the raiders.

  ‘The attack is under way,’ Micah told the group through the mindlink. ‘And we’re close.’

  The Aurochs had been walking for the past half-hour to limit the sound that would carry.

  ‘Three appear to be static while one walks in circles,’ Holly reported.

  ‘One guard and three sleeping. We need to hit them, now!’ Micah exclaimed. They dismounted and started to run. The moon was fighting with clouds to provide enough light to see by. Strider took the lead with the ‘cats to the side. Their night vision far exceeded that of any human.

  ‘Left. Right,’ Micah gave instructions as she was pulled along, watching with one eye while holding the end of Strider’s spear. Bronwyn ran behind her, carrying Zeeka. ‘Not much farther.’

  ***

  Zyena crashed into the head of one guard when Skirill raked his claws across the last. The men screamed and lashed out with their lightning spears. Skirill and Zyena dodged low past buildings as the men fired the spears into the sky. Braden slid to a halt, diving behind a hut before the lightning spear’s bolt found him. He pulled his blaster in time for a body to slam into him, seizing his hand and trying to rip the weapon away.

  Braden elbowed the man in the face and fired, point-blank, blowing the man backward. Braden grabbed the fallen spear to keep anyone else from picking it up. ‘Brandt, I could use you to intimidate the locals while we put these last two to bed.’

  ‘On my way,’ the King boomed.

  Braden dialed a broad flame and fired into the ground in front of a growing mob of villagers lining up against him. Skirill swooped past their faces. Braden bolted with the distraction. He held his blaster in front of him as he turned the corner. The lightning had stopped and the last two guards were nowhere to be seen.

  Brandt thundered in his approach. From Braden’s left, a bolt of lightning lashed toward the King, narrowly missing. Braden snap-fired with his blaster, the setting still on wide.

  The flames washed over the man, setting his hair and clothes on fire. He screamed in terror and agony. The lightning spear sparked and flashed while the man started running, but only a few steps before he fell to the ground and the flame consumed him.

  One more. Braden ran at an angle away from the fire. A lightning bolt scorched the spot where he’d been standing. A Hawkoid cry signaled Zyena’s arrival. She grabbed the lightning spear in her talons and tried to yank it from the man, her wings beating his face as she tried to fly away.

  He fired once, twice, harmlessly into space. Braden couldn’t get a clean shot. He accelerated, holstering his pistol with one hand while bringing the spear to the front. Braden held it tightly with both hands and stabbed it into the man. The point embedded into the man’s body, tearing it from Braden’s grip. Zyena lifted a spear into the air as the man let go. He fumbled with the shaft projecting from him, before dropping to his knees and falling over.

  Braden put his foot on the man’s chest and yanked the spear free. He was angry that he’d been forced to kill. He snarled at the villagers that watched him.

  “WHY DID YOU MAKE ME DO THIS!” he bellowed. In a still angry but calmer voice, he continued. “Why did you take the spears? You had to know that we would come after you. Go back to your homes!”

  The villagers didn’t move. Brandt appeared from behind the nearest hut, stamping the ground and shaking his horns. The people retreated but didn’t run away.

  “I said, go home!”

  “But we didn’t do anything wrong!” an older woman claimed. “We weren’t with those men.”

  “Then why are they guarding the village?” Braden demanded.

  “To protect ourselves from the likes of you!” she retorted.

  “GO HOME! And no one else has to get hurt.” Braden pointed the lightning spear at the group and Brandt herded them away.

  Aadi swam toward Braden. The villagers fell back further from the strange creature floating through the air.

  “Go home,” Braden pleaded with the people.

  ‘I think Bounder and the Golden Warrior could use some help,’ Aadi said.

  “Come on, Brandt. If they want to be out here, they can bury their dead.” Braden waved dismissively at the bunch as he held out the spear for Aadi to hold onto. He started to run and Brandt trotted behind them.

  They ran toward disoriented villagers who threw themselves from the path of the human, the Tortoid, and the Aurochs. Braden paid them no attention. He was making a beeline for the hut they were using as an armory.

  A ‘cat snarled and hissed. A Wolfoid growled.

  Braden arrived to a standoff. G-War and Bounder were blocking the door to the hut while a mob of angry men looked at the lightning spear pointed at them. Braden yelled to get their attention.

  “Go home, people. This fight is done.” Braden waved the spear in his hand. The other had burnt. Bounder’s extra spear leaned against the wall behind him. The Hawkoids had collected the last two, keeping them secure in the tree branches above.

  “Maybe you need to go home?” one of the men ventured.

  “We will, as soon as humanly possible, but we’re taking our property with us, which is the only reason we’re here. Make room and we’ll be on our way.”

  “Our property,” the man said confidently.

  G-War charged, an orange and black flash in the moonlight. The man stumbled back, but not far enough. The ‘cat hit him mid-chest. The two went down. G-War slashed the hands that reached for him until the man stopped fighting.

  The ‘cat put a claw to the man’s throat. ‘He’s one of the raiders,’ G-War said.

  Braden stormed into the mob, using the spear to drive them back. Brandt stayed close, knocking men out of the way with his horns. Braden reached past G-War to grab the front of the man’s shirt. “It’s your property because you stole it fair and square, is that right?” Braden picked him up a hand’s breadth and slammed him back to the ground. “Why?”

  “To defend ourselves,” the man mumbled.

  ‘He’s lying,’ G-War stated, showing his claws.

  Feel the Burn

  ‘The men are running back toward Dunk’s Town,’ Holly reported.

  Micah pulled on the spear and called, “Hold up!”

  ‘We saw the flash in the sky. A lightning spear?’

  ‘There have been multiple discharges. Braden is alive and well, but his pulse is racing. He won’t answer my call.’
>
  ‘Of course not. He’s in the middle of a fight. We better catch these guys before they get back to the village. That’s not a surprise Braden needs. Keep trying to get a hold of him and we’ll hurry.’

  ‘The Aurochs are coming,’ Bronwyn replied. Thundering hooves could be felt as much as heard.

  ‘We can run ahead, try to catch them,’ Treetis offered.

  ‘We go together and we’ll catch them. Zeeka, can you fly ahead until you can reach your parents and tell them that the four are coming?’

  Bronwyn threw the large bird into the air, not very far but enough for the Hawkoid to get air under her wings. She beat faster and faster as she climbed past the trees and into the open night sky. The moon outlined her.

  ‘More to your right. I think that will get you close to the village. Fly fast, Zeeka,’ Micah said. She turned and climbed Gable’s offered leg. Once in position, the three Aurochs ran, not as fast as they could but as fast they dared when the moon shown through the clouds.

  ***

  Zeller was first to the door and slammed into the wall since she didn’t bother slowing. Her braceleted hand bounced from the pad and the door started to open.

  Tom felt Android hands grab at him. He dodged left, jumped into the air, kicked off the wall, then kicked off the wall beside the door, narrowly missing Zeller, and threw himself into the two Androids. The three went down. The creations grabbed at him as he pummeled their metal heads with his massive fists. A sword point slid past to skewer one of the Androids. It sparked and froze.

  Zeller cried out in pain. Tom struggled to his feet, dragging the stronger Android with him. He leaned backward, letting his momentum carry the Android up and over. With an extra effort, he slammed the creation into the wall. Stunned, he slammed it a second time and then stomped on its neck. Zeller stepped through the door and onto the catwalk. Tom backed through and watched the door close.

  “What the hell was that?” he yelled at the door.

  Zeller massaged her wrist where the electric shock had passed up the sword’s blade. “Adventure. Braden and Micah said they had a big problem with the Androids. Have you looked at Aadi’s shell?”

  She started to get angry.

  “But Holly fixed it!” Tom looked up the stairs.

  “Obviously not.” Zeller pulled the comm device from her pocket. “Holly! We were just attacked by Androids. What are you doing down there?”

  “Androids. Neeson!” Tom ran up the stairs, vaulting them three at a time to the next landing. He used his bracelet and was through. Zeller rushed after him, listening for Holly’s reply.

  “There may be some rogue elements, but the medical section is completely under my control. I would encourage you not to explore the ship.”

  “Tom!” Zeller yelled, ignoring Holly as she wanted to get to him before he interrupted Neeson’s procedure. She chased him down the corridor, but he was faster.

  She heard him yell as she rounded the corner. Neeson was hooked up to a mask and floating freely within the tank’s recovery gel. Tom had the Android by the throat. The Android’s expression remained unchanged.

  “Holly says he has this completely under control,” she panted.

  “We are in the final stages of the procedure. You will have to wait a few hours and then you’ll be cleared to leave. Between now and then, there is nothing anyone can do.” The Android spoke calmly. The pressure on its throat was meaningless to it. An Android didn’t draw breath. The neck was a conduit housing circuitry and fiber cabling.

  Tom pulled his hand back when Zeller tapped him on the shoulder. “Holly says this one is fine.”

  “I think we’ll stay here and wait until Neeson is ready to go and then we’ll leave together.” Tom continued to glare at the Android’s lifeless eyes.

  ***

  A Hawkoid swooped into the area where the tension was so thick that no one noticed the newcomer. Zeeka backwinged to land on the building in front of which Bounder stood. The King of the Aurochs, Braden, Aadi, and G-War were facing an angry mob.

  ‘The other four are running in this direction,’ Zeeka told them.

  “Zeeka?” Braden said out loud.

  ‘The leader is not with these men,’ G-War replied.

  ‘Then he must be coming, and he’ll rally this bunch to join him. It’ll be a bloodbath.’ Braden didn’t want that.

  He didn’t want that at all.

  Aadi floated backwards. ‘You may want to duck and cover your ears.’

  Brandt danced nimbly out of the way. G-War bolted. Braden hit the ground and covered his ears. The men in the front were wholly unprepared for the sonic blast that hit them. They screamed and cried as blood dripped from ears, heads pounded in pain, and brains seemed to explode from within.

  The first half of the small mob staggered in circles, disoriented. The men in the back winced, but could still see straight. Fear of the unknown seized them. When the first man ran, the ice was broken and the others joined him. Brandt ran in front of them, turning the stampeding herd of humanity away from the direction where the other four could be found.

  The last four would be met without interference from the others. The Wolfoid spears were collected and counted. Twenty in total. One was destroyed. The rest were coming their way.

  “Do we ambush them?” Braden asked.

  Aadi drifted slowly, exhausted from his efforts. ‘I’m usually the one who counsels patience and understanding, but we cannot in this case. G-War has already touched the mind of this one and he must be disarmed quickly,’ he said tiredly.

  ‘I will deal with him. You disarm the others,’ G-War replied. His paws were red from the blood he’d spilled. Two men lay dead and another maimed. The Golden Warrior had kept the spears from falling back into the raiders’ hands.

  Mercilessly so.

  “Go,” Braden said and the ‘cat was off like a shot. “Ess? Keep an eye on him.”

  Braden leaned against the wall next to Bounder. ‘Now what?’

  “I’ll check in with Holly, see how much time we have, and then we’ll find places to hide.”

  Braden accessed his neural implant and the map showing the men’s position. “Damn! They’re almost here.” Braden waved at Bounder to hide inside the door of the ad hoc armory. Braden ran to the other side of the open area, kicking at those still writhing on the ground. “Micah and the others are right behind them.”

  On cue, lightning spears flashed in the darkness of the forest. Flames licked quickly into the trees.

  “I’m starting to hate that guy.” Braden’s lip curled as the fury rose within. Beyond the expectation of combat, it came from the emotions that he fought so hard to control.

  He removed the blasters from their holsters, dialed a narrow beam for each, and waited.

  ***

  The Aurochs were closing. ‘Slower,’ Micah told them as she watched the map before her eye. She started to believe that the men would get to the village before the Aurochs caught up to them. She was fixated on the map before her eye when the lightning exploded into the tree next to her. The Aurochs bolted in three different directions. Fea and Treetis jumped and disappeared into the flame-torn night.

  Micah, Bronwyn, and Strider hung on as the great creatures maneuvered deftly through the trees and undergrowth to put as much distance and cover between them and the next bolt. When the men fired again, the Aurochs and their riders were nowhere near the trees that burst into flame.

  The Aurochs kept running at an angle away from the men.

  ‘Braden? We failed to catch them,’ Micah called over the mindlink. ‘They are almost on top of you.’

  Braden didn’t answer.

  ***

  He heard the men yelling.

  “Send a bolt that way and one over there,” someone shouted.

  Has to be the leader, Braden thought.

  Lightning slashed into the trees. A second bolt, and then a third.

  “That’ll do ‘em,” the gruff voice added. “Come on!”


  Braden could see the outline of three men as they emerged from the forest. Where’s number four? Braden started to panic, quickly pulling up the map with his neural implant.

  To the side. ‘Skirill, there’s a fourth one wide. We won’t be able to corral him with the others. Can you take him out? We can’t have him come up behind us.’

  ‘Leave it to us,’ the Hawkoid replied. Braden could hear the faint flapping of wings, but couldn’t tell from where.

  ‘Where are you, G?’ Braden asked as the leader boldly strode into the area, stopping when he saw the blood and the bodies.

  He started to raise his spear. A shadow threw itself from the nearest roof. G-War wrapped his claws around the man’s face and ripped backwards. The men behind aimed their spears, but didn’t dare fire.

  “Throw him off and we’ll dust ‘em!” one man yelled. Fea and Treetis raced from the forest, leaping together to slam into the backs of the two men. One triggered his spear as he fell forward. The bolt vaporized the leader’s legs. G-War snarled and leapt, catching the building’s overhanging roof and scrabbling upward.

  Fea and Treetis raked their enemies until the men fell, screaming in pain. The ‘cats continued until no further sounds escaped the men’s lips.

  The fourth man appeared as two shapes descended from the sky, claws outstretched. One Hawkoid tore into his face and the other gripped his firing arm in razor-like talons. He tried to lift the lightning spear, but the tendons in his arm were severed and he lost his grip. The spear fell from numb fingers. The Hawkoids flew away as Braden ran toward the man. He held his face with his good hand, cursing through shredded lips.

  Braden picked up the spear and walked away. Fea and Treetis stood over their victims, breathing hard and eyes darting back and forth, looking for the next enemy.

  Cygnus Standing and Rainy Forest appeared from the darkness. Braden had told them to stay clear. They hadn’t listened as they crept closer and closer to the village during the fight.

  “It’s over,” Braden told them. Pounding hooves marked the arrival of the Aurochs. Gable slid to a stop and Micah vaulted from him. She hit, rolled, came upright, and ran into Braden’s arms.