The Alien Library: Space Mercenaries # 5 (Wolf Cyborg)

by Galen Wolf

  Before anyone replied, the Count blurted, "Please open it. And hurry," He stood behind Gaijann, hands in his leather belt.

  The assassin stroked his chin. "With the right tools and a bit of time and..."

  "We don't have time." The Count interrupted him.

  Gaijann sighed. "And ...some peace and quiet to think." He looked at the Count and smiled sardonically. Mehefin stood behind her father, her expression unreadable.

  Severan put his human hand on the Count's shoulder to lead him away. The aristocrat stared at Severan's glove and the giant took it away with a smile. "Let's leave him to work."

  They all retreated, finding places in the shade of the pyramid while Gaijann began to study the door and, with various small devices from his belt, tested the metal.

  Then he yelled. "Hey, there's a locking mechanism!" He laughed. "The people who tried to blow holes in it were too stupid to realize you could just unlock it."

  "Can you unlock it soon?" The Count said testily. "I calculate we have 19 hours remaining until night."

  "Sure, sure." The assassin fixed him with his amused green eyes but the Count was anything but amused. Gaijann turned and removed another scanning device from his pack. He wiped them up and down the door's face, consulting the readings, muttering to himself and re-trying. When he had the configuration correct he looked up. "It's locked right down to the atomic level."

  "Awesome!" Atorkh said. "That's pretty cool."

  The Count muttered to Mehefin. Then he took a few steps out of the diminishing shade as the sun clocked round the sky. He stared up, shielding his eyes, to find the white star, as if to calculate how far it had gone on its journey towards nightfall.

  "Some speed would be good, buddy," Severan said to his friend.

  Gaijann raised a hand, not looking up from his instruments. He made an adjustment. Instead of scanning, he was now transmitting. Nothing happened. The Count exhaled. Severan shrugged.

  "He has to go quicker," the Count said to the giant.

  "I know. He knows. Trust him."

  Then there was a rumbling sound. Gaijann laughed out loud and stood back. "I think that's got it." A shower of dust and pebbles fell from the top of the door, and the rumbling came again. They saw a crack appear in the door as a smaller panel opened slightly. Then it halted. "Come on, baby." Gaijann wiped sweat from his brow, then transmitted the opening signal with his makeshift key again.

  The door budged. Then it stopped.

  "Dammit." The assassin began to adjust the instrument so that its atomic frequency oscillated. He grinned. "The secret is to modulate the signal rather than sending the same one."

  "Yeah," Atorkh said, looking over the assassin's shoulder.

  The Count exhaled. "I don't care, just get it open. Time is running out."

  "Easy," Severan frowned at the aristocrat. "We'll get the job done."

  Gaijann made a change on his key, and then with an unexpectedly smooth movement the huge door ground open, revealing a dark empty, tomb-like space behind.

  Atorkh and Torina applauded. Gaijann turned and gave them a mock bow. "And for my next trick..."

  The Count had stepped forward and was staring into the darkness of the library. Mehefin raised her eyebrows at him and began to walk towards the open door but he grabbed her arm. "Wait. Let them go first."

  Severan looked back towards the desert. He stared out over the horizon in the direction from which the Kissag had come. Atorkh was deep in his sensors watching the skies for danger. Morah sat languidly in the shade, apparently unconcerned and still licking her lips, but for some reason Gaijann was uneasy, glancing into the dark recess of the library.

  The Count said to the mercenaries, "Go in."

  Severan spoke quietly to the Count. "I appreciate your concerns about time. But don't issue orders to my people."

  The Count's lips grew thin. "Please go in then."

  Severan was still looking back. Finally, with no sense of hurry, he turned to the Count, gestured to the library door, and said, "Feel free."

  The Count glanced at the hole in the vast door then back at Severan. He gave a thin smile. "You first. I need you to protect us in there. That's what the payment is for."

  "And a very generous payment too. But this is looking like a different scenario to the one we discussed in your office on far off Helios IV."

  The Count's cheeks flushed. He stammered. "Are you reneging on the deal?"

  Severan's human eye was cold and calm. The red eye looked right through the aristocrat.

  "Or maybe it's a ploy to get more money?" the Count said.

  Severan scratched the back of his human hand with the alien claw. Then he said, "Maybe you should be honest with us."

  "Honest? About what?"

  Severan shook his head. "This isn't a random Kissag hunting group. There's something going on here I don't know about."

  The Count's expression was inscrutable. "You know everything I know."

  "I doubt that."

  The Count coughed. "I'm not ruling a bonus out for a job well completed." He gazed into the giant's normal eye, avoiding the alien one. In a tone of mock pleading, he said, "but we need to keep moving. You know that."

  Gaijann noticed that Mehefin was again gazing at Severan. He knew girls got fixated on heroes. He wondered about her life. She probably lived a meaningless life surrounded by vapid, rich-boys and had decided Severan was different and interesting. He smiled to himself; maybe the boss was her new crush. If so, thought Gaijann, she was barking up the wrong tree. He didn't remember Severan showing an interest in any woman since the death of his wife.

  Severan and the Count were still smiling coldly at each other. "I don't care about money," Severan said finally.

  "I do," coughed Gaijann.

  "Me too," piped up Atorkh, fiddling with his drone before he put it back in its case.

  Severan still didn't move to enter the library, nor give any order for his crew to enter. The slaves and Mehefin stood silently, waiting for a resolution.

  "Then what?" the Count said.

  "I just want to know what we're up against"

  The Count sounded exasperated. "We talked about this on Helios IV."

  "But now I've got a feeling that another game is being played behind our backs."

  "Don't be absurd," the Count said. "We get in. We get what I want and we leave. Simple. We just need to hurry."

  Atorkh suddenly added, "Anyway who even are you guys?" His voice had an adolescent squeak.

  The Count ignored him.

  "Is it a secret who you are?" Atorkh said. He hesitated. "Sorry, if I'm prying."

  There was a silence as if he'd asked something dirty. Severan looked at Atorkh and grinned. Atorkh was socially inept and found people hard to read so he often asked things nobody else would.

  "Yes," Morah said suddenly causing all to look at her. "Tell us who you are." While Atorkh's questions probably had no hidden agenda, Morah had reasons for everything she did and said. "I'm interested."

  "Do we really have time for this?" the Count said. "Here and now?"

  "Before going in, I want to set up a defensive perimeter," Severan turned to Atorkh. "Unload some of your sentinel drones to protect the door." Atorkh nodded and walked with Severan back into the desert so Severan could show him where he wanted them.

  The Count's mouth curled in anger. He said something in his own language that sounded like a curse.

  Gaijann went over to Severan and Atorkh and watched them first plan and then deploy where the mines and drones would go. Severan nodded and listened while Atorkh advised him where to put the anti-personnel mines and the drones so they would pop up and fire if any intruders came near. They watched as the drones buried themselves in the rough sand like hermit crabs.

  "It must be some big deal for him to pay us so much for this little trip," Atorkh muttered.

  Severan just lifted rocks and scooped holes for the mines to go into.

  "I mean, what the hell is it he
wants? It's killing me to know."

  Severan stood, the last mine in place. He dusted off his hands. "It doesn't matter what he wants."

  "So what's so special about this place?"

  Gaijann dusted down his suit. "It's where all the knowledge in the universe, or the best part of it, was secreted away millennia ago."

  Atorkh saw a glint of metal way out on the horizon. He shielded his eyes with his hand and looked up into the sky. Then he flipped down his visor to get his Heads Up Display. "Uh-oh! More Kissag Hyenas. Better get moving."

  Severan slapped him on the shoulder. "You're a useful man - for a rookie." He laughed but Atorkh frowned. "Thanks. I think."

  "Let's get back."

  While Severan and Atorkh buried the drones, Morah was back with the group by the door. She addressed the Count. "You didn't explain who you are. Looks like we have time while the boys play with their toys. Please go on." She raised an eyebrow quizzically.

  Gaijann strolled back over. He listened.

  Instead of the Count, Mehefin spoke. Her voice was light but authoritative. "I am Mehefin fel yr Haul, which in your language means Midsummer like the Sun - this is the naming convention in our culture, which can seem flowery to outsiders."

  "What is your culture?" Gaijann said.

  "We are the Combrogi of Helios IV. Originally, settlers from Sol IV, or Mars as you know it - Mamfyd Mawrth to us. My father is Owain ab yr Ynad Goch - Owain, Son of the Red Judge. He is known as pennaeth and athro and tywysog. Not only is he a political leader but he is deeply learned, and a teacher."

  The Count smiled and put his hand on his daughter's arm. He cocked his head as if he was trying to appear modestly embarrassed. It was a touching scene, but Gaijann didn't buy it.

  "They don't need to know all of this Mehefin," the Count said, still smiling.

  "What I'm interested in, is what is in this library that you want so much?" Gaijann said.

  "Me too," smiled Morah, showing her sharp teeth.

  "That doesn't really concern you."

  "Yes it does," Gaijann said. "I understand this place is huge - and deep. How far are we going in? That concerns me."

  "You will be told all you need to know, when the time is right. I doubt you'd be able to perceive the full picture, even if I told you."

  "Try me," Gaijann said.

  Torina pointed at the sky. "Watch out!"

  Cannon fire from a Kissag craft ripped across the desert just in front of the library. The ground was rocked by a series of explosions.

  Atorkh came running to the door, behind him, Severan strolled apparently unconcerned by the mayhem being unleashed behind him. Gaijann could see the sun glinting off the metal of the Kissag warplane as it banked and turned, preparing to circle for another strafing attack.

  "Run Severan!" yelled Torina in exasperation. "For God's sake, hurry up!"

  Atorkh ended his sprint with a half dive, sliding across the pebbles. He was out of breath. "We laid a perimeter with mines and a couple of sentient drones. But there's two Kissag landing craft coming down behind these fighters. And they have a hell of a big ship in orbit. They're pretty prepared."

  Torina turned to the Count and his daughter. "Someone else wants what you want. That's what I think."

  He shook his head. "No one but me knows it exists."

  "Curiouser and curiouser."

  Gaijann looked up at the Kissag craft, which was high up and heading straight for them. When it got close enough it would fire its cannons and from this angle, it was hard to see it could miss.

  "Let's get inside," he said. He called. "Severan, could you just run please?"

  The giant kept walking.

  Torina said, "If we don't move we'll die."

  Seconds went past. Severan finally arrived at the door. The warplane was leveling out to attack.

  "Let us enter the Library," Severan said.

  "At last," muttered the Count.

  "There is one slight problem," Gaijann said. "I've sensed a defense system just inside the door. I'm not sure what it is, but it's still functioning."

  "You only tell us this now?" Torina's faced creased with anger.

  Behind them, the Kissag craft was now within attack distance. Way above, the pilot most have placed his thumb on the cannon trigger and the craft shuddered as the heavy explosive rounds fired off. He was premature. The first ones kicked up rocks and blew them apart. But too short. The Hyena would have to overshoot and circle again.

  Severan looked behind when he heard the explosions and he saw them coming closer, he watched as the Hyena whooshed above their heads and above the Library.

  Torina glanced past the open door, beyond the assassin. Her mouth twisted." Gaijann, are you sure it's safe?"

  "Of course it's not safe," Severan said. "Follow me in. I'll deal with the defense system."

  The healer hesitated and Atorkh with her, looking nervously at his boss. The Count and his group were not going to go into the library first. The Hyena hadn't fired again though it was much closer now, as if the pilot wanted to make sure he was going to wipe them out.

  Severan made to go in through the Library door but Gaijann put a restraining hand on his friend's arm. "Easy boss, why not try a little stealth?"

  Severan looked at the assassin and smiled. "Not my style."

  "But it is mine."

  The seconds hung while Severn considered it. Outside the Kissag attack craft banked and turned like a silver bumblebee.

  Gaijann said, "I'm better suited for find out what's in there without tripping off every alarm in the place."

  Severan smiled. "Okay. Go. Don't take too long. Our friend will be coming round again soon." He turned and pointed at the aircraft bearing down on them.

  Gaijann nodded. He took a minute to look around the huge space behind the door. Seconds went by. Atorkh glanced back at the Hyena, now approaching on its attack run. He yelled, "This Kissag ship is looking to grease us. Can we move please?"

  Gaijann looked over his shoulder and saw the first Kissag craft coming down straight at them. A second was swinging in behind it.

  "Sorry, Gaij, but there's no time for finesse," Severan said and strolled through the door. Gaijann shook his head. "It would only have taken me a few seconds more to locate and disarm," but his boss wasn't listening.

  "We don't got a few seconds," Atorkh scrambled in after Severan.

  Gaijann stepped through the door. The temperature dropped as they left the desert; they went from sauna to cold store. There in the stale air, there was a dry smell of dust mixed with a whiff of mould and, between them, the weight of ages. The library lights flickered on as they entered, powered by some ancient source, still reliable after all these millennia. Though it was probably automatic, it gave the feeling that the library had been waiting for them - like an old friend, or maybe, Gaijann thought, like a spider offering hospitality to a gang of flies. He remembered Atorkh's life form readings from his initial scan and wondered what was alive in here.

  As he walked through, Gaijann noticed a control mechanism on the inside of the panel. He ran over and put his hand ready to close the doors before the Kissag gunfire hit them.

  Torina almost tripped in her haste to get through the door. Morah was beside her, keeping her cool but still moving fast. Then came Mehefin and the Count. They had waited until the last minute in case something attacked the mercenaries. The Count hurried through, looking flustered. Mehefin was more composed. All of them backed away from the door. The Count glanced back out for a second. Then he got out of the way and looked at Mehefin, shaking his head at her, as if something had gone wrong. Gaijann saw her raise an eyebrows but she said nothing.

  Gaijann waited for the explosion, but none came. He looked at Severan who glanced back at him. He shrugged, then he chanced a look outside the door. The Kissag warplanes had broken off from their attack run.

  Atorkh muttered, "Well, damn me."

  "What?" Morah said.

  Atorkh looked back. "That's
mighty strange that it didn't fire."

  Gaijann watched the two Kissag aircraft glint as they banked in the powder blue sky. "Yep, that's pretty unbelievable. It's almost like someone called them off."

  Atorkh said, "And the first burst that was short, was short on purpose?"

  "Who knows, kid?" He looked again at Severan, but the giant merely shrugged.

  Gaijann turned his attention to the interior of the pyramid. The entrance chamber of the Library was huge. All around and up and down were shelves of books going up like cliffs - 300 feet at least. In front, they disappeared in parallel lines into the gloom. There were rows and rows and shelves upon shelves, dimly lit and cloaked in shadows and dust. Above them, hanging down like cobwebs, were the ragged banners of the long dead Librarians of Xaolin. He coughed. The designs were intricate but decayed beyond comprehension. The air was heavy with dust. The powdery remains of centuries of stale air lay on the floor and across it tracks of men and other creatures criss-crossed. He guessed the footprints represented centuries of library robbers, laid on top of each other but generations apart. Each set half erased those that went before them, wiping out memories. Gaijann saw that they all led deeper into the Library.

  "What's going on out there?" Severan asked Atorkh.

  Atorkh listened into the drones that remained outside. He said, "I can hear comms chatter on their nets, but I can't decipher it. It's encrypted. Hang on, they're coming back in to attack."

  Torina shook her head. "That makes no sense. If they wanted to kill us they had plenty of opportunity before."

  "Step away from the opening," Severan said. "Before they blast it." He took Torina by the arm and moved her, ignoring her loud, "Hey!" of disapproval at being manhandled.

  Gaijann's hand hovered over the switch that would close the door. The Count's servants had gone back outside. They were busy dismantling the Count's litter and taking out the stores that had been carried underneath it. They saw the Kissag planes turning again and strapped the stores to their backs with a desperate hurry. The warplanes disturbed the quiet desert air with their feral buzzing.

  "Close the door," the Count moved towards Gaijann. "I think they mean it this time."

  Gaijann pointed. "Your guys are still outside."