Universe of the Soul

by Jennifer Mandelas

  She leaned over Gray as he sat at the security station. “From the looks of the reports, our enemy managed to slip right through our preliminary shields and dock. Possibly using the new cloaking devices our cryptographers have been hinting about.” Gray said, studying the schematics of the ship while Adri handed him an assault rifle for the storage unit beside him. “What's their plan?”

  “What do you think? Mayhem, of course. They probably won't come as far as the bridge, it's too risky. Their first stop will be Engineering, and possibly our munitions stores. Let's go.”

  [Security team One, head for the Engineering levels! Two, go for the munitions storage! Three, cut off all access to the analysis and tech labs!] Gray gave orders through his communicator as they raced off the bridge and onto the lift. “This is a very bold move, for simple mayhem.”

  “Our enemies have been making several bold moves lately.” Adri replied, testing the gauge on her rifle. “Even when they don't succeed,

  they manage to cost us time, energy and troops. As the weaker force on the field, its pretty clever maneuvering.”

  “You have a point.”

  The lift stopped on the Engineering level. Already, the acrid haze of smoke had begun to fill the corridor. Blaster fire could be heard nearby. “I guess I was on target.” Adri nodded in the direction of one of the side entrances to Engineering.

  “I've got your back,” Gray agreed.

  The two began to run towards the door, only to see it explode open ahead of them, shooting them with shards of metal and debris. “Down!” Adri yelled, dropping to the floor.

  Gray followed, and was up again before Adri, firing at the Belligerent soldier who tried to dash through the new opening. “Let's go!”

  Together, they rolled through the smoking entrance into the chaos of the Engine Room. Adri could see at once that several of the ensigns had been killed, probably in the surprise of the first few seconds of the attack. Others had managed to barricade themselves in a corner, and were using what weapons were available to get rid of the handful of Belligerents still in the room.

  Adri opened fire, rolling to the right when the Belligerents realized that new forces had arrived and started firing back. A quick glance showed that Gray rolled in the opposite direction, taking out one of the soldiers in the crossfire they created. Between the two of them, and one of the engineers who got off a lucky shot with a welding laser, the three remaining enemy troops were quickly dealt with.

  “Nice of you to drop by, L.C.!” Duane shouted, waving a Belligerent blaster he'd acquired seconds before.

  “Can you even shoot that thing?” Adri demanded. She checked the room, alert.

  “Maybe. I guess I could give it a try, although it is outdated.”

  “Good. Stay here and protect the engines,” Adri motioned to Gray, who was giving orders to his security forces. The munitions stores next.

  Duane's magenta face fell. “Hey, I thought you were staying here to protect us! L.C.!”

  Adri waved as she ran out the door.

  The far entrance leading towards the munitions block was sealed shut. “Split up!” Adri shouted. Without breaking stride, the two parted, Adri to the right, Gray to the left. Turning the corner, Adri nearly ran into the middle of a skirmish between two of Gray's security team and a stubborn Belligerent soldier. Her sudden appearance startled both sides long enough for Adri to get a couple shots off, but the Belligerent soldier backed around the corner. “Give me backup!” Adri shouted before pursuing.

  The enemy soldier hadn't gone far. As soon as Adri rounded the corner, she was forced to duck and roll as a grenade flew at her. “Look out!” she yelled. It was too late for her backup. Adri opened fire, but the Belligerent hadn't stuck around. [Grayson, I have some men down! I'm in pursuit of a lone enemy troop who's heading in the general direction of the starboard batteries! Is there anyone for backup?]

  [We've got some medics on the way. I've made it into the munitions storeroom, and everything's clear here. I'll send you backup as soon as we deal with the problems at the entrance to the analysis labs.] Gray replied over the officer's link. [Stay safe, Adri.]

  Adri caught a glimpse of the enemy soldier and began firing. [Believe me, I will. Rael out.]

  Gray paused in his quick search of the munitions stores to assess the situation. Apart from the three Belligerents they had found in the Engine Room, there hadn't been the usual concentration of forces one found in assaults. In fact, there had only been a scattering of troops, some located in the expected cases, but some – as with the soldier Gray had surprised in the corridor leading from one of tertiary vehicle warehouses – in completely random places.

  “Sir?” Ensign Piontek called. He looked almost ridiculously young in his gray ship's uniform, holding an ATF with more enthusiasm than expertise.

  Gray waved him over. “Keep alert.” He exited the munitions stores and started heading towards the science labs. [Grayson to team Three, what's the situation?]

  [There were Belligerents when we got here,] the petty officer in charge of the third team replied.

  [What's the situation now?] Gray dodged sudden blaster fire, signaling to Piontek to follow suit.

  [Of the four Belligerents spotted, three have retreated beyond our line of fire. The fourth is down.]

  With an unexpected roll across the corridor, Gray popped up in front of the enemy soldier with only inches to spare and blasted him away. [Are the labs secure?]

  [Yes, sir.]

  He debated a few seconds in the hallway before replying, [Maintain your position. Make sure you can't be surprised again. Grayson out.]

  “Where are we going, sir?” Piontek asked as Gray switched directions and began to run.

  “We don't have any troops to spare as backup for the others. We've got to go and assist the L.C.”

  “Right!” Piontek fell in behind Gray as he raced towards the starboard batteries.

  Gray smiled at the hero worship in Piontek's voice.

  When the corridor divided into three paths, Adri was forced to pause in her pursuit. She checked her assault rifle. Then she peered cautiously around the corner. She whipped back when the enemy soldier fired at her.

  “My, you're persistent,” the soldier called in a female voice.

  Adri lowered into a crouch, whirled around the corner, fired, and whirled back. “Can't help it, it's my personality.”

  “I can see that,” the woman replied. “My sister holds you in very high esteem. A worthy adversary.”

  “Kobane?” Adri hazarded. Her mind raced to try to come up with an alternate plan, but she was stuck with the enemy soldier ensconced in her position.

  “That's right. I'm Giselle. Sergeant Giselle Kobane.”

  “I can't say it's a pleasure,” Adri said, trying once again to get a shot off, but Giselle anticipated and blocked the shot with cover fire of her own.

  “Nor I. You truly vex me; you sleep like an undarian,”

  Adri scowled. “It was you in my quarters that night?”

  “Indeed. I was sorry to fail in my objective, but it was only secondary.”

  Why was the girl still chattering? Was she cornered? Or was she stalling in wait for something? Adri debated her choices, liking none of them. If she used her communicator to call for aid, Little Kobane would know she was in a pinch and take the initiative. But she couldn't just leave the enemy to do as she pleased.

  Sounds of blaster and ATF fire at close range jolted Adri from her low position against the wall. It suddenly sounded like there were fights going on in all the corridors surrounding her and Kobane. Adri tried to listen to gauge just how close they were, wishing uselessly for her secondary pistol that was in its holster in the locker room by the pool.

  Gray suddenly came into view, followed by Piontek. They were both firing behind them as they ran towards her. “Five enemy troops on our tail,” Gray said, stopping beside her. “We picked them up by block fourteen.”

  “Wonderful. This whole thing ju
st keeps getting stranger.” Adri jerked her head towards the corner. “We've got the sister of Kobane pinned over there. She's a good shot, and she probably still has some grenades, so that way's blocked.”

  Any more conversation was hindered when the Belligerent troops rounded the corner. The three of them managed to hold them off with their first volley, but it was a losing situation. [Grayson to team Three, backup requested in block twenty-three ASAP!]

  [Affirmative, Grayson, we're on our way,] the petty officer responded.

  “They won't make it in time,” Gray muttered with a glance at Adri.

  Adri nodded. “We'll have to try to take out Kobane. Now.”

  Gray nodded. In that moment Giselle whirled around the corner with surprising grace, firing on them fast. Piontek fell with a shocked cry, clutching his chest. Gray managed to dodge, but still felt a glancing blow on his shoulder. The shot fired at Adri missed her body but hit her weapon, blasting pieces across the hall.

  Adri lunged bodily at Giselle, but before she could make contact, she was flying sideways into the wall as an explosion rent the air. She got to her fee,t blinking in the smoky haze. Adri was mildly surprised to find herself uninjured. She couldn't see anyone, friend or foe, except for an approaching figure. Unarmed, Adri curled her fists and waited for the person to identify himself.

  Hildana Kobane stepped through the smoke, blaster aimed at Adri. She took one long look at Adri's defenseless posture and grinned. “Well, what a surprise. When my sister sent me her distress signal, I figured it would be you. I didn't think that you'd be unarmed and look as though you got caught in a Rafastian feud.”

  “Aren't you going to shoot?” Adri demanded.

  “Now, what's the fun in that?” Hildana asked. She lowered her weapon, and handed it back to someone else in the haze – probably Giselle. Hildana then raised her fists. “This is much better.”

  Adri mirrored her stance, trying frantically to remember the finer points of the hand-to-hand combat training she has received in the Academy. Hildana didn't give her much time to think; the taller woman was on Adri before she could so much as draw a deep breath.

  It turned out that Adri didn't need that breath anyway; Hildana wasted no time in what resulted in a viciously one-sided fight. Adri had learned hand-to-hand combat at the Naval Academy, but since that sort of warfare was incredibly rare, she had never actually used it on the battlefield. Even if she had, her opponent was in a league of her own. Hildana's moves were so smooth, so fluid, that Adri felt as thought she were being pounded on by a feather pillow that also happened to be made of titanium. All her defensive reflexes did not seem to help much, and she was quickly on the ground, out cold.

  The last thing she remembered before the world turned black was Hildana's voice. “Try dodging that, why don't you?”

  Adri came around seconds later, and found herself staring up into the barrel of a Belligerent blaster. Hildana smiled wickedly. “They said take you hostage or kill you. But you're too much trouble to take alive. Farewell.”

  There was no time to so much as draw breath when the sound of blaster fire rent the air. Hildana grunted as her shot went wide. Leaving Adri on the floor, the Belligerent soldier fired at the hallway and beat a quick retreat. Adri sat up and turned to see a bright magenta face through the thinning haze of smoke.

  “Thought you could use a hand,” Duane said cheerfully, “Or rather, a concentrated stream of blaster fire.”

  “Thanks for that.” Adri gingerly got to her feet. Her entire body throbbed in pain; she wouldn't have been surprised to find she had broken several bones.

  Duane looked around at the carnage surrounding Adri. “What happened?”

  “Someone threw a heavy grenade,” Adri rubbed her ribs. “I feel like hell.”

  “Hey, where's Grayson?” Duane inquired, kicking a piece of the ceiling that had been blown off. “Wasn't he with you?”

  Adri felt as though she had been kicked again. “Oh, Danwe,” she breathed. “Grayson!” She lurched painfully towards a pair of huddled bodies half hidden by debris. Brushing the rubble aside, she pulled over the top figure. In the last second, Gray had thrown himself over Piontek's body in an attempt to shield him when the grenade went off. Blood was oozing out of a gash on the back of his head, and his uniform was burnt and sliced through in places. “Grayson! Gray, wake up!” Adri slapped him lightly. “Come on, wake up!”

  Duane crouched down beside Adri, noting with mixed emotions the panic in his L.C.’s eyes. “I'll call the medics.”

  No humanoid species is meant to live in isolation. Trust me, it's a scientific fact. When such isolation cases arise, the humanoid will eventually go completely mad. Curiously, they've never made a study of what happens to a humanoid alone amidst other humanoids of different species. I wonder why? Do they automatically assume that, since there are other, albeit different humanoids present, there is nothing to fear, and nothing to wonder about? Scientist are so narrow minded and self-righteous that way.

  My family's ohran was granted a colony on the moon of Kieve by the Galactic Commonwealth, to resettle some hundred odd years after our departure from Paranth. After such a long time in the cold sleep that had allowed us all to survive the long trek across one galaxy and into another, perhaps we were too muddled to really consider all the terms and ramifications of the Commonwealth's choice for our new home. Maybe we were just so grateful to be granted anything, we didn't give our measly options the consideration we should have. Whatever the reason, we agreed to the terms set up, planted our colony, and tried to go on as we always have done.

  Adaptation is the key to living in a new, strange environment. It comes in two forms: biological and cultural. I guess we paranthians did poorly at both.

  We had problems adapting to the chemical balance in the new atmosphere. Actually, I should say, everyone over a score of years had problems adapting to the new atmosphere. Within a year, ninety-eight percent of those over the age of twenty had died. My parents were among them. With all the older and wiser among us dead or dying, there was no one to guide the rest of us, and our weakness was soon exploited.

  The Commonwealth moved in and began to take over almost before we had our loved ones buried. New rules were erected, new expectations to us lucky ones who had survived the adaptation set in place. It wasn't long before we found ourselves being…coerced? Forced? Persuaded? into scattering across the galaxy, working now for the privilege to return home. Dupes of the Commonwealth, indeed.

  I was shunted into the Galactic Commonwealth Navy, to help fill their voracious appetite for ATF fodder. I thought I would hate it, and at

  times I really do, but at least I feel like I can protect my fellow paranthians here from other forces eager to swallow us.

  It almost makes up for being a one and only amid billions.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “But really doctor, I'm just fine.”

  “Nonsense, Sergeant Duane. If that was so, then you wouldn't have a gaping head laceration like the one bleeding all over your uniform, now would you?”

  “Oh, that. Um, it's just a scratch, really. Isn't it, L.C.?”

  “The lieutenant commander is in no position to dictate your welfare, Sergeant. If I don't see Nurse Rooke treating you on bed seven in two milliseconds, I'm putting you on bed rest for the rest of the week. Is that understood?”

  “Er, yes doctor. Perfectly understood. I'm going now, fully cooperative.”

  “Now, Lieutenant Commander, I believe you should be lying down. From the way you limped in here, I'm concerned that you have some more serious damage. Superficial damage alone looks quite unpleasant.”

  “I'm fine where I am, doctor.”

  “Is that so? And who, may I ask, told you that you had a medical degree? If this is your idea of ‘fine’ then I would hate to see your diagnosis of critical.”

  Gray floated in a soft misty world with no substantial shape or color. The voices, at first indistinguishable from each other, cleared
into ones he recognized. The words became understandable, and he listened with detached amusement to the exchange between Doctor Geiger and his patients. Must be in the infirmary, he mused vaguely. His body didn't hurt. In fact, he couldn't really feel his body, which was a bad sign. Adri's voice shifted his wandering attention away from his possible injuries. She sounded very close.

  “The only pain I'm feeling right now is the headache you're giving me with your constant pestering,” she was saying in a testy voice. “Since you have all this time to waste buzzing around me, why can't you do something more for Lieutenant Grayson? He's still really pale, and he hasn't woken up yet.”

  Aw, she's worried about me, Gray thought, adding warmth to the vague sense of awareness he felt.

  “For the tenth time, he's doing nicely. A nasty crack on the skull, and some minor burns and bruises. A couple of days here and he'll be back to where he started.” Doctor Geiger replied. “You, on the other hand, are a mess. If you don't let me treat you right away, your eye is going to swell completely shut, and whatever mess your chest is in is going to get worse. Then you'll have to stay here longer. Do you really want that?”

  With supreme effort, Gray remembered how to open his eyes, and after what felt like an inordinate amount of time, he managed to do so. At first, all he could see was the ceiling of the infirmary. He slowly moved his eyes down until he saw Adri, sitting on the edge of his bed, watching him.

  “Hey there,” she said softly when she realized he was awake. “How are you feeling?”

  Gray pondered this a moment. “I feel…floaty.”

  “Geiger has you on some stiff stuff to keep the headache off. You were in pretty bad shape.”

  “Grenade,” Gray suddenly recalled.