by Edward Brody
Walter stroked his beard, his eyes set in confusion. He opened his mouth as if he were about to speak, but was interrupted by Snake. “Wait! That’s not the Queen!” Snake quickly moved his holographic device to the side, so that a caged Queen and her subordinate were visible.
“Lena…” Mich mumbled.
The two women looked scared, and Lena mouthed the word “Mich…” but did not verbalize it.
“If that’s the real Queen, then who’s the other–?”
Walter stopped talking when the standing Queen shifted to her reptilian form for a split second, then shifted back to the image of the Queen. “Shapeshifters,” Snake said with delight in his voice. “Paid mercenaries all the way from Lexxicore.”
Scraggs gasped, and Stryker looking particularly disturbed. “You brought Shapeshifters back to the galaxy? What the hell are you thinking!?” he yelled.
“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa,” Snake defended. “What’s gotten into you, old friend? I didn’t see you coming up with any better ideas before you ran off to do your finagling.”
Stryker was breathing heavily, worry etched across his face, but didn’t reply with another word.
“Well, I’ve got to hand it to you Snake. You managed to kidnap the Queen, but what’s next?” Walter asked.
“To the mines. I’ll hide the Queen in the mines of Rashada, and then I’ll issue our demands. The Galactic Council won’t make any hasty attacks on Rashada, knowing that their precious Queen is there. We’ll hold her hostage for a while to make sure they stick by their word, but when the time’s right we’ll send her and her friend here back to Nerria.”
“So it’s come to this?” Walter’s eyes trailed in the distance. “We’ll meet up with you on Rashada. And take care of the Queen, Snake. One scratch and the Council will not be merciful.”
Snake smiled. “Don’t worry, Walter. She’s in good hands.”
The hologram image faded then disappeared.
“What the fuck does Snake think he’s doing?” Stryker fumed.
“It was the plan all along, wasn’t it?” Walter questioned.
“Kidnapping the Queen?” Stryker asked. “Diplomacy, infiltration, sabotage, yes. Maybe blackmailing the Council with a piece of information that they couldn’t afford to lose or making a connection with a corrupt official but kidnapping the Queen? That’s madness.”
“They’ll have no choice but to listen to Snake’s demands,” Earl said.
“Yes, but then what?” Stryker grilled “The Council nor the Queen will allow something like this to go unpunished. And he’s brought shapeshifters into our galaxy? Snake has no idea the deadly game he’s playing.”
Walter’s face was blank. “What about shapeshifters?”
“You’ve been living on Rashada for far too long, Walt. Lexxicore lost the last Intergalactic War, but it was their shapeshifters who set the wheels in motion in the first place. Snake’s brought them back into the galaxy and within arms-length of the Queen? They’ll kill both the Queen and Snake if they so much as get the urge, and good luck finding them once they’ve shifted.” Stryker shook his head in disappointment. “Once the Council finds that humans have aligned with shapeshifters from Lexxicore, we’ll all be an enemy to the throne.”
“We’re already enemies to the throne,” Earl snorted.
“No, you don’t understand. Humans may be one of the least respected species in the galaxy, but we’re not enemies. But by opening up this can of worms, we quickly will be.”
Scraggs agreed. “I’ve read up on galactic history. They may pardon the kidnapping, but bringing shapeshifters into the mix is setting the universe up for another conflict.”
“Well, let’s just contact Snake and explain the situation.” Walter reached for the device on the counter, but Stryker put his hand in the way.
“Too risky,” Stryker explained. “He’s still in Nerria. There’s no telling what the shifters if they sense our resistance. If the shifters kill Snake and the Queen now, they’ll throw the government out of whack, pick the whole palace off one-by-one before anyone knows what’s going on.”
“So what should we do?”
“Meet him on Rashada like he suggested and try to rescue the Queen before the situation escalates.”
Walter shook his head. “We’ve got no weapons, and you know Snake as well as I do. He’ll kill us all if he thinks we’re betraying him. We wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Snake is a Keeper?” Mich asked.
“No, he’s not a Keeper, but he’s one of the finest fighters in the galaxy.” Stryker said. “Before I got my power, he could beat me in a fight with both hands tied behind his back. I’ll loan you three some weapons, and I suppose I’ll have to go as well.” Stryker sighed. “But just know I’m doing this because I don’t want live through an Intergalactic War. It has nothing to do with the rebellion.”
Walter nodded.
“I’ll go too. Lena is my friend,” Mich said. “And I wouldn’t know what to do here alone anyway.” As the words left his mouth, he wondered if he was making the right choice. It all seemed simple enough when it was just the humans looking to make a better life, but now they were fighting amongst themselves and kidnapping people. Part of him just wanted to run away and figure out a way to sell the sword.
“Lena?” Tristyn queried.
“The Queen’s servant… In the hologram.”
Tristyn nodded, but she didn’t seem pleased with the news that Mich knew the beautiful neander girl.
“When do we head out?” Mich asked.
“Let’s give it 72 hours like Snake instructed. Hopefully the soldiers will already be gone like he said, and that gives us a little more time to prepare.”
Scraggs sighed. “Back to Rashada so soon… Damn you Snake.”
Chapter Thirty-One
A fake Queen? Shapshifters? Tamor pressed tightly against the wall as he struggled to listen in to the conversation. If the woman on the throne wasn’t the real Queen, then that would explain her strange behavior with the Council members.
He instinctively wanted to continue hiding, to wait until the perpetrators walked through the hidden doorway and slay the false Queen, but if they were really shapeshifters in Nerria, how would he be able to tell who was real? Further, if someone caught him with his sword drawn in the same room with someone who looked like the galaxy’s leader, then things could get ugly fast. The other option was the alert the Council, but the Council may take hasty actions that could make matters worse.
No, he would have to take things slowly. He heard that they would be taking the real Queen to the mine on Rashada, so he would need to rescue her from there.
For the next few days, he continued with his position as normal, advising the Queen on her affairs, but remaining vigilant that he was dealing with an impostor. “It may be in the best interest that I travel to Rashada and make sure your orders are being carried out as you instructed,” he suggested, and the Queen willfully agreed.
He went through all of the formalities of leaving, assigning the Queen a temporary advisor and issuing orders to the fake Lena, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he prepared a ship and waited outside of the palace, waiting for a sign of the perpetrators.
He was almost about to leave, assuming that the criminals had already slipped by when he noticed three fully-hooded monks slip out of the library exit of the Queen’s palace. It was not unusual to see monks coming and going from the library, but he was alerted when one of the monks gave an unfriendly shove to the two in front of him. His suspicions were further confirmed when they boarded an older model Atriam-9 Starship, large enough to hold a small crew, but designed specifically for long-haul flights between galaxies. It was unusual for monks to need such a craft.
He waited patiently as they left the port and ascended up to space. Then he boarded his ship and followed. He kept a wide distance behind them as they set their course for Rashada, exactly as he expected.
Kryle Yago had been right, he thought. Humans coul
d not be trusted, and just like they had done to Earth during The Cleanse, they were coming severely close to creating a war that could destroy the galaxy as well.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“More… More… More…” Stryker encouraged as he watched Mich’s hands begin to glow. “Now allow the sword to become an extension of your body. Continue to feed it, but don’t latch on to it.” The intensity in Mich’s hands grew brighter, and his energy leaped onto the hilt for a quick instant then faded away. Stryker sighed.
“I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” Mich complained.
“It just takes time. You’re learning pretty fast, but you won’t master it overnight.” Stryker patted Mich on the shoulder. “I wish I could train you longer, but we need to set out for Rashada. Are you sure you’re up for this?”
Mich shook his head yes. “In a way, I feel like I’m partially to blame for this predicament. If I hadn’t been found, maybe Candy would still be alive and Walter never would have been captured. At least there would’ve been options.”
“It’s not your fault, Mich. Snake will stop at nothing in his pursuit of freedom. Even without you, he would’ve found a way to murk the waters as much as possible.” Stryker tilted his head towards the living quarters. “Let’s get going.”
Once in the main room, Stryker pressed a keypad on the wall and pulled out a large, built-in drawer filled with an assortment of firing weapons. He lifted a blaster rifle and a pistol, threw it to Earl, and then repeated the process with Walter, Scraggs, and Tristyn, hurling two weapons each their way.
“Where’s mine?” Mich asked.
Stryker laughed. “I don’t recall you getting any training on blasters, Mich. Don’t you remember what I told you? All power and no direction is not the way to go.” He motioned towards the copper sword that Mich had since tilted against the table beside him. “If things get ugly, you’re better off fighting with the sword, even if you’re can’t channel into it yet. Better than you firing a bolt up one of our asses.”
The crew laughed and Mich felt embarrassed. Even after coming so far, he was still the weakest of the group. At the same time, he knew Stryker was right. He had never fired a gun back on Earth, much less a high-tech blaster pistol.
“Here’s the plan.” Stryker signaled. “When we get to Rashada, keep a low profile. Once we’ve made it to the mines, you three focus on protecting the Queen, and I’ll take down Snake. Don’t give him any inclination that we’re spoiling his plot until I arrive or it could get ugly. Resort to your weapons only if you’re attacked first. And Mich,” Stryker turned his head and raised an eyebrow. “Try not to die…”
Mich and the rebels gathered the rest of their belongings and headed for the Zatyr while Stryker reached for a long, straight, copper sword on the wall, strapped a pistol to his side and hopped on his speeder. When Stryker reached his starship, he synchronized his telecommunication device with the Zatyr, and once they could hear him, he fired up his thrusters. “Let’s rock and roll, bitches,” he voiced over their speakers.
The two ships were soon set on their course towards Rashada.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Snake stopped his speeder behind the entrance to the mine and ordered Lena and the Queen to get out. They were all still dressed in hooded monk robes, and the two women knew that their captor had a hidden pistol pointing at their backs their entire time.
When they arrived at the entryway, two fully armored guards immediately held their hands out in an order to stop them from proceeding. “What are you doing wearing those robes?” one of the guards asked. “Missionaries not allowed. If you’re here to work, then get yourself changed.”
In a flicker, Snake’s pistol shot out twice, killing both guards before they even realized he had drawn his weapon. When the bodies laid lifeless, Snake shoved his prisoners in the back, urging them inside the mine.
From the moment they entered the mine, the air was filled with a hazy dust which was clearly visible, even with the poor lighting devices that hung on the wall. Lena and the Queen immediately held their hands to their mouths, trying in vain to filter out as much of the pollution as possible. They descended deeper and deeper into the tunnel via a series of ladders, and the sound of persistent clanging grew louder and louder as they went. The mine was hot and humid and coupled with the dusty air, breathing was difficult for them all, though Snake was significantly less fazed.
Eventually, they reached the bottom floor of the mine which been hollowed out for miles. All along the walls stood humans, mining away with mechanical drills and picks. Men, women, and children of all ages were working, some fully clothed and many not wearing shirts or shoes. It made no difference what they wore as they were all caked in a heavy soot, and mixed with their sweat it made any area of their uncovered skin gleam like a shiny oil.
“Welcome to the Rashada Mine, my Queen.” Snake smiled and turned to Queen Vashalla. “Pleasant place, isn’t it?”
“The workers have no masks or safety equipment?” she questioned.
Snake laughed. “Safety equipment? No one can afford safety equipment here. And if your drill breaks, you have to pay for a new one yourself.”
Only the sound of mining could be heard. None of the humans chatted amongst each other while they worked–Not that it would be easy considering the level of noise that echoed throughout. A few workers noticed that they had visitors, but just as soon as they noticed the hooded characters, they turned and went back to work without any mind. The mines were no place to meddle in the business of others.
“The mine is a government owned facility. I find it hard to believe that it’s running in this condition. Why wasn’t it brought before the Council or directly to me?”
“Humans have no spot on the Council nor are there any human government officials,” Snake answered.
“Rashada has an ambassador… Or at least did have an ambassador before she was murdered by rebels. It should have been brought to her attention.”
“Candy was too caught up in security and city control. She had no empathy for humans. We were just blips and numbers on her computer screen.”
“I find that hard to believe…” the Queen objected.
Snake shoved his pistol against the Queen’s chest with enough force to make her step back. “You better believe it,” he snarled. “If anyone gave a rat’s ass about humans, no one would be living or working in these type of conditions.”
“Perhaps the women and children would be better suited for the factory?” Lena inquired.
“The factory is just as bad. Too many fingers lost there for children to work and most women aren’t strong enough to lift the heavy metals. Chemical fumes all in the air.”
The Queen was shocked that she knew nothing of all this, and Lena quieted, deciding it would be better if she shared no further opinions.
He continued leading them further into the mines, and twice they ran into overseers who suffered the same quick fate as the guards at the entrance. When they arrived to a small control room that he had been deliberately heading towards, there was a single guard wearing a gas mask who sat sleeping silently in his chair.
A single blaster shot to the head ensured he wouldn’t wake up.
Snake pried the gas mask from the dead body and wrapped it around his own face, then motioned for the women to have a seat.
“What now?” the Queen asked.
Snake leaned back in his chair and pointed his pistol in the women’s direction. “Now, we wait for Walter to arrive,” his voice was raspy through the mask. He pulled a hologram transmitter from his pocket and sat it on the table. “I want to make sure everyone is in the safest place possible before I make our demands.”
“And what will your demands be?”
He lifted his fingers to the side of his mask and rubbed off some residual blood that had been left from the guard who was now lying dead on the ground. “Complete freedom from the throne and the Council. All the guards and non-humans need to leave Rashada, and
there will be no interference with us anymore. We want to govern ourselves, start a new Earth.”
“And what do you expect humans to do then? For work? For food?”
His mask let out a gurgle as he snorted and shrugged. “We’ll do farming and maybe some import/exports. I read about how they did it back on E-17.”
“And how will you import and export without negotiating with planets under the umbrella of the Council?” The Queen shook her head in confusion. “And Rashada’s soil is only suitable for–“
“Hey!” Snake interrupted loudly. “I don’t know the fine details, okay? All I know is that humans will better off managing themselves rather than slaving away for some other species.”
“There are clearly problems here on Rashada, and we can negotiate ways to fix them,” the Queen said calmly.
Snake leaned forward and titled his head so that his goggled eye was pointing purposefully towards the Queen. “The time for negotiation has long been over,” he growled. “Now it’s time for us to make demands.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tamor took note of the fine details of the Atrian-9 starship as it descended into the Rashada atmosphere. He sat idly in his own ship, giving the Queen’s kidnappers plenty of time to move forward to the mines and leaving no room for them to suspect that they were being followed.
After some time of floating idly in space, he noticed another ship approaching, but this one was more recognizable than the Atrian-9. It was the Zatyr–the same ship that Walter St. James had used to escape from Rashada after being imprisoned.
It seemed all-too coincidental that the leader of the rebel army would be returning to Rashada right after the withdrawal of Nerrian troops and in the same time vicinity that the kidnapped Queen was being brought to Rashada. The only way he would take such a risk is if he knew that the military had been removed.
