by A A Warren
He heard the observatory doors hiss open. Footsteps approached. He did not turn around to see who stood behind him. He knew who it was.
His vessel, the Serpentar, was more than just a powerful warship. It was a part of him. Its sensors, its mainframes, and synthetic neural pathways… They were linked together, more intimate than lovers. And here, in his domain, he knew all that transpired…
“You’re late, Dulkar.” Volonte’s synthetic voice held a deadly hint of annoyance and impatience.
“Forgive me, My Lord,” the armored sorcerer hissed. Volonte turned to face him. Dulkar bowed, his long black robes cloaking his tall body. Beneath the shadowy garment, the alien's containment suit flexed and creaked as he moved. “Creating the star-path that brought us here took much more energy than normal. I required time to rest, before—”
Volonte silenced him with a wave of his hand. “Never mind that,” he said. “You must excuse my impatience. We are so close… I can almost feel it. That which I seek is finally within my grasp, yet still just out of reach.”
Dulkar stood up. An oval plate of polished metal covered his face. A line of purple light glowed from inside his featureless helmet.
Volonte had never seen Dulkar outside his containment suit. The alien was a Spectaran, a living energy field that required the protective garment to interact with other species. Numerous chains and crystal pendants hung around the neck of his armored suit. They clanked and jingled as he straightened up.
“Not for long, My Lord. I assure you, I am now fully recovered and at your service.”
Volonte turned his gaze back to the heavens. He focused on a faint pinprick of light, barely visible amidst the stellar haze. Although it was too far away to see clearly, he knew it was no star or nebula… it was a crippled star ship, drifting in the void.
“Have my men placed the device on the latest captured vessel?” he asked.
“Yes My Lord,” Dulkar replied. The light behind his face plate pulsed and glowed as he spoke, matching the intonation of his words. “A freighter this time, hauling frigilox gas. The crew put up no significant resistance. We have installed the second gravimetric bomb in the vessel’s fusion reactor. All I require now is the trigger.”
Volonte tapped the glowing controls on his armored gauntlet. A quiet hum filled the observatory, as a circular hatch slid open in the floor. A slim metal podium rose up before them. Perched on top of the circular platform, a small crystal statue shimmered in the dim light.
It was about the size of a man’s head. The creature it depicted was some kind of predatory flying reptile, a winged serpent. Its jagged wings and slim, fanged snout gave it an almost draconic appearance. It was carved it from a cloudy, semi-transparent crystal. The stone's facets radiated the surrounding light, reflecting a prismatic array of color that splashed across the dome overhead.
“Ah,” Dulkar whispered as the statue rose into view. “Such beauty, such power.” His fingers hovered just above the glittering statue, as if he dared not touch it. “It never fails to impress me. Your people truly were masters of dark energy manipulation. So many secrets. So much knowledge, lost to time.”
Volonte’s metal fingers clamped around the delicately carved crystal. He lifted it up and held it between them, peering into its dazzling facets with his mechanical eyes. “Soon, you will learn the true extent of my peoples’ power. And I shall reward you for your devotion.”
Dulkar’s viewing slit glowed brighter. A bubble of energy surrounded the statue, and it floated above Volonte’s open palm. The glowing slit of Dulkar’s visor opened wide with surprise, as the bubble grew brighter. The statue began to shake and tremble in the air.
“Dark energy…” the alien groaned. “I can taste it. So much power, hidden within such beauty…”
Bolts of lightning arched across the surface of the energy bubble. Volonte’s mechanical features curled into a nightmarish grin, as tiny cracks rippled through the statue. A high-pitched tone emitted from the crystal. Its molecules vibrated at high speed within the energy field.
The crystal statue became a blur of light, as it vibrated faster and faster. The harmonic tone grew to a high-pitched whine… then a scream. More cracks appeared in the crystal. It glowed brighter and brighter, until the energy bubble was a sphere of brilliant white light… a miniature star, reflected in Dulkar’s mirrored helmet.
“Now,” Volonte shouted. “Reveal your secret to us!”
With the sound of a thousand shattering mirrors, the crystal statue exploded. Volonte’s eyes shrank to tiny pinpoints of red… the glowing sphere was blinding to look at.
Then the harsh light dimmed, and the glow faded away… the statue was gone. Instead, a series of concentric metal disks hovered in the air. Like interlocking rings, they spun around each other as they drifted within the dark energy bubble.
Dulkar made a twisting motion with his hands. As he rotated his fingers, the disks spun in circles, and locked into place. The rings locked together, forming a small metal sphere. Ancient symbols carved into the surface of the metal bands began to pulse and glow across the fist-sized orb.
The alien spread his hands apart, and the sphere lowered back into Volonte’s outstretched hand.
“It is done, My Lord. I have armed the weapon.”
“Then we are one step closer to the power I seek,” the mech said. He waved his hand over the pulsing sphere. A panel on the top swirled open, and a metal carving emerged from within. It was a symbol… the reptilian predator depicted in the statue, swooping to strike.
Volonte pressed down on the ornate button. The carved symbols on the sphere emitted a brief pulse of light. A low hum emitted from the orb, and it glowed bright red. Thermal sensors in the mech’s fingers told him the device was burning hot, but he felt no pain. The hum rose to a high-pitched wail.
Then the device went dark, and the sound died away to a faint echo. Dulkar and Volonte turned their gaze up, peering through the dome at the distant pinpoint of light.
A massive energy wave erupted from the distant ship. Like lightning, the explosion filled the black void of space with a pulse of white light. The glow faded nearly instantly, but a low rumble vibrated through the deck, rattling the dome overhead.
Volonte tapped his wrist display, calling up a hologram of the sector. The cosmic fountain spiraled in the center of the Gyre, spewing its rainbow plume of gas and stellar debris into space. Coordinates blinked to life, appearing around the massive trail of glowing gas.
“The gravimetric forces in this sector have shifted once again,” Dulkar observed, gesturing to the readout on the display.
“Yes,” Volonte snarled. “But it’s not enough. We still need to trigger the final device. We must find Orvane, before either of us can seize what we desire.”
The observatory shook again, as another gravity wave battered the ship.
Dulkar took a step back. “My Lord, perhaps we should leave this sector? Before—”
Volonte raised his hand. “Yes. Alert the bridge, my friend. I wish to stay here and… reflect.”
The alien gave a deep bow. “It shall be done.”
He turned and left the room. Volonte heard the doors hiss shut behind him.
He stood, gazing up at the heavens, waiting for the next tremor to come. Each wave of destruction drew back the curtain a bit more. Soon, his prize would be revealed.
He reached to the pouch at his belt and pulled out the holo-crystal. Tearing his eyes away from the heavens, he stared at the tiny glowing figures. They spiraled in the air before him, and the ancient melody chimed one more.
PLANET ZAKARBA
High Orbit, The Gyre
A few days later…
The planet looming beyond the sloped window of the Star Claw’s bridge was a burnt orange color, and surrounded by a murky haze of swirling clouds. The tiny orb was barely visible through the orbiting belt of garbage and debris that spun around it. Talon gazed down at it, and crossed his arms over his chest.
&nbs
p; “So this is Zakarba, eh? Looks like every other planet in the Gyre. Another ball of dust and rocks.”
Suphara shot him an annoyed glance from the navigator’s chair. “I’m so glad you joined us. Your talent for stating the obvious is clearly your greatest asset.”
Avra shook her head, as she called up some readings on the holo-screen. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” she said, flashing Talon a smile and mischievous stare.
“Playthings are all well and good,” Suphara muttered, as she removed her arms from the portal drive sockets. “But let us not forget we are here to claim a Sorari blood debt. A filthy bounty hunter like him has no business—”
“My business is whatever I choose to make it,” Talon said. His crimson eye reflected the lights from the bridge as he glared back at her. “And I had Orvane in my grasp before you—”
Avra got up, and stood between Talon and Suphara. “That’s enough,” she snapped, glancing back and forth at each of them. “By the gods, I have enough to deal with without you two squabbling like children. We have a mission to complete. And if our target is down there, we need to keep our wits about us. Can you do that?”
Her green eyes blazed as she glared at Talon. He met her gaze head on.
“Aye,” he replied. “But as I said, there’s more at stake here than a bounty or a blood debt. We need to capture Orvane alive.”
“We’ll cross that asteroid field when we come to it. Agreed?”
Talon stared back at her, the nodded. “Very well. Agreed.”
She turned to Suphara. The alien woman’s body seemed to pulse and glow with an inter fire. “Suphara?” Avra demanded.
The crystalline woman stabbed a blue finger towards Talon. “Chego cam parfạng, sorar mea… I will obey, my sister. But mark my words. This buffoon is not to be trusted!”
She marched across the bridge towards the exit. “I will prepare our weapons and equipment. But the Star Claw’s damage control systems are overloaded. They need more time to complete repairs. We’ll have to take his ship to the surface.” She stepped out into the corridor and turned, glaring back at Talon with her shimmering eyes. “At least this human male will be useful for something, besides—” The door hissed shut before she could complete her sentence.
Avra sighed and turned to Talon. “Well. Glad to see your people skills have improved since we last met.”
Talon ignored her and studied the holo-display. “You said Orvane’s brother lives near Tower 1971A?”
Avra stood next to him and examined the screen. “Yes. It’s one of the old terraforming platforms. The towers filter the toxins from the atmosphere, and pump out breathable oxygen. Why?”
“I see the tower there,” Talon said, pointing to a blinking dot on the screen. “But what is that?”
A massive orange blob crawled across the holo-screen. It dwarfed everything else on the display, and seemed to be moving directly towards the tower.
Avra frowned, and tapped the holo-screen controls, magnifying the region. “Dust storm,” she said. “Big one, too. It’s several kilometers across.”
“How soon till it hits?”
She tapped more keys on the display, and examined the readings. “I’m no science officer, but I’d guess a couple hours or less.”
“Then we’d best get a move on,” Talon grunted. “And the sooner we find Orvane, the sooner I can get out of your hair.”
“Talon, that’s not… You know there’s no one I’d rather have at my side. Suphara is just—”
“And I you,” Talon replied. “You know I… I’ve always faced my enemies head on.”
Avra smiled. “Victory or death.”
Talon nodded. “But there’s something about this last vision… Salena’s words… I feel like something is out there, watching, waiting. I just can’t see it yet.”
Avra put her hand on his shoulder. “Perhaps you’ll find your answers down there.”
Talon eyed the massive storm, moving closer and closer to the tiny city on the screen.
“Aye, he muttered. “Perhaps you’re right.”
Chapter Sixteen
PLANET ZAKARBA
The Gyre, Wild Space
Tower 1971A
Three of Utu’s eyestalks pivoted to stare at Orvane as the tiny alien exploded in a fit of coughing. Zakarba’s atmosphere was a thick, dusty haze, blown through the narrow streets by the ceaseless winds. Orvane adjusted his headscarf, struggling to block the tiny particles from entering his wide mouth as they shuffled past a row of tents and stone buildings.
“This unit believes you are suffering respiratory difficulties,” the mech said, hovering beside Orvane. “It is recommended that you purchase a filtration mask, before—”
“No time, no time,” Orvane grunted. He consulted a tiny data tablet he held in his pudgy fingers. “Volonte set off next bomb. He come looking for me soon. Looking for statue.”
“According to the Blue Star data files, you are the leader of the criminal organization that originally stole these statues. Why do you now fear your associates?”
“Framed! Orvane framed!” the alien shouted over the wind. He led the mech down a narrow alley that ran between the weathered buildings. “I am shadow hacker… tech thief. Never want to hurt anyone. Need money, for brother. Brother sick. Lung disease, from towers.”
He pointed up. The mech’s eyestalks tilted towards the sky. Far in the distance, looking over the tiny stone huts and prefab trading posts, a massive atmosphere tower jutted up into the orange sky. Billowing clouds of gas spewed from hundreds of ventilation stacks at the top of the massive structure. Tiny catwalks crisscrossed around the tower, leading to the various atmospheric scrubbing stations located within.
“Old equipment. Makes bad air. We spend too much time here. Bad air make brother sick.”
“This unit does not understand,” Utu droned, as they hurried down the alley. “The Blue Star files claim that you killed a merchant, and stole—”
Utu halted, as Ovane held up his hand and peered around the corner. A convoy of Blue Star marshals mounted on jet-bikes streaked past the alley. Their sirens wailed and echoed as they sped into the distance.
“Blue Star, Volonte, Talon… I trust no one. Everyone out to get Orvane. Volonte’s sorcerer, Dulkar… He steal my face, pretend to be me! He kill those people."
Several of the mech’s optic sensors blinked as it processed this new information. “Perhaps if you remove the inhibitor chip you installed, this unit could access a terminal, and correct the Blue Star data files.”
“Bah!” the alien grunted, as they hurried across the street. “I not stupid. If chip removed, you call bounty hunter friend.”
“Talon would know what to do in this situation,” the mech replied. “He is far more adept in matters of violence and treachery than this unit is.”
“No more violence. I hired to break into vault on merchant ship. Steal statue. But Volonte kill everyone… set off bomb, create black hole! Don’t know why, but we must destroy last statue. Then Volonte stop hunting me.”
The mech’s lifter field hummed as it floated behind the scurrying little alien. “Marshal Waylan spoke of a statue… A tabeki, stolen from a merchant vessel.”
“Statue is not statue. Statue is trigger, for gravimetric bombs. Ancient tech, from old times. Before fall of Star Cross Throne. ”
“Then why did you help this Volonte acquire it?” The mech asked.
“I did not know… Not until too late. I stole two statues and ran here. Left one statue with brother. Brother understand dark energy. He read fortunes, heal sick. He priest of old gods now. Not like me…” The little alien shook his head. “I understand tech. Hack computers, steal data. But I no killer.”
They turned down another narrow, twisting alley. “This unit has observed many biological organisms,” Utu replied. “It is this unit’s conclusion that all living creatures are capable of violence.”
The little alien shook his head. “No… Not like this. So many dead.
And so many more to come. I only wanted to sell statue on Kharis. Get chips, buy medicine. Give brother more time. But my brother tell me, he unlock the statue… great danger hidden inside. We must stop—”
The alien jerked to a stop. The mech drifted into him, slamming into the Orvane’s back. “You seem to be in a hurry, yet you have ceased moving,” Utu observed.
Orvane’s big orange eyes bulged even wider as he stared out the mouth of the alley. Across the street, a plume of smoke rose up from the charred ruins of a tiny hut. A pile of burned timbers and blackened stones was all that remained of the structure. A pair of armored Blue Star marshal’s seated jet bikes hovered in the air, guarding the charred rubble.
“No,” Orvane whispered. “Brother’s shop… gone!”
“What is your brother’s name?” Utu asked in a quiet monotone voice.
“Gulvane… Gulvane Raygor.”
A series of lights blinked beneath Utu’s cluster of eye stalks. “This unit is accessing local Blue Star records. According to their files, your brother was killed in a plasma fire five days ago. The marshals have identified no suspects, nor have any bounties been issued.”
The alien backed away from the alley and slumped against the wall. “No! Gulvane,” he sobbed. “This is my fault… All my fault!”
“If Volonte had acquired the final statue, he would no longer be searching for you, correct?”
The alien narrowed his eyes, and nodded. “Yes, yes. Volonte must not have found it yet.”
“Then perhaps your brother hid it somewhere else on the planet?” the mech suggested.
Orvane looked up… the towering atmosphere plant loomed over the entire city, blocking out the sun and casting a long shadow over the alleyway.
“When we were young ones, we steal holo-vids from merchant once. We hid them where father worked. Place very hard to get to, no one ever find them.”
