The Fredorian Destiny: Book 2 of the Evaran Chronicles

by Adair Hart

  Evaran walked up a bit with the others in tow. “I am Evaran.”

  “I know who you are! Why do you think I’m here.”

  “You are here for me?”

  “And the plump old man and his niece. I read on the dark galactinet that you shook Kreol Juul. Not too surprising given he is a second-rate bounty hunter. I’m more impressed by what you did to Krikus Det. He’s a heavy hitter, even on my planet. Almost as good as me,” said Mutt Mutt. He raised a finger. “Almost.”

  “Why did you harm these Ziiarians?”

  Mutt Mutt gestured at the two Ziiarians “Is that what you call them? I couldn’t understand what they were saying. They shriek a lot, though. Seeros said you were looking for a crystal of some type. He wouldn’t say what it was, but it must have some value. I figured maybe I’d find it, but that is secondary. These pathetic creatures tried to stop me. Can you imagine such insolence?”

  Evaran licked his lips and ran his hand through his hair. “You did not need to harm them.”

  “You’re right, I didn’t,” said Mutt Mutt. A grin crept onto his face. “But I did. I see one of the Draidjen escaped alive. I’ll rectify that soon enough. You even brought two Kreagans. What a waste of flesh. Nonetheless, I’ve had time to think, since you took your time.” He pointed at Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Andia. “Those three will come with me to my ship. The rest of you will stay here. Once those three are aboard,” he said, pointing at Evaran,” my robot guards will escort you back.”

  “And if we refuse?”

  “Not a problem for me. The robots are primed for explosion as a last measure. We can shoot it out, but I guarantee you there will be casualties. I suspect, though, you value these ridiculous creatures, even though you just met them.”

  Dr. Snowden noticed V fade in behind Evaran. V reached out with one of his robot tentacles, grabbed Evaran’s UIC, and then faded back out. What was V up to?

  Evaran nodded. “It appears you have planned this out well.” He turned toward Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Andia. “You should do as he says.”

  Andia’s face reddened. “Excuse me?”

  “You should go to his ship. Who knows where it might be in this labyrinth,” said Evaran as he looked at Dr. Snowden.

  Dr. Snowden nodded and put a hand on Andia’s shoulder. “It’s okay.”

  Andia shook her head. “How’s that okay?” She looked at Emily.

  “We’ve been in a rougher situation,” said Emily meeting Andia’s gaze.

  Andia paused and then shook her head. “Looks like there’s no choice.”

  “You’re right, there isn’t. You three come over here with your hands behind your back. Then face Evaran.”

  Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Andia walked over to Mutt Mutt, then wheeled around.

  Mutt Mutt placed handcuffs on Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Andia. He waved at Evaran, Rakar, Silva, and Ezissiris. “The rest of you, move over to that table with those things.” He flipped open the cover on his forearm device. “If you try anything, the robots will begin shooting.” He tapped at a dimly lit interface on the device, then closed it up.

  One of the robots trained a weapon on Evaran.

  “They’ll also let me know if you try anything. If you do, they start shooting,” said Mutt Mutt as he pushed his weapon into Andia’s back, “then it’s lights out for her.”

  “Hey!” said Andia.

  “Shut your mouth. You’re expendable.”

  Andia shook her head. “I don’t like this.”

  Evaran gestured toward the table. “We are going.”

  Evaran, Rakar, Silva, and Ezissiris moved next to the two Ziiarians.

  “Start walking,” said Mutt Mutt as he jabbed Dr. Snowden in the back with his weapon.

  Dr. Snowden glanced at Evaran as he began to walk toward the entrance. He was not sure what the plan was, but suspected it had something to do with V. Andia and Emily stayed close to his side.

  They exited the structure and walked up the main path to the ramp in silence. Dr. Snowden glanced at Andia and could see she was upset. He wanted to assure her it would be okay, but he was not sure it would be. He sighed as they walked up the ramp.

  At the top of the ramp, Andia broke the silence. “So, you’re a bounty hunter, then?”

  Mutt Mutt laughed. “No, I’m a mercenary. There’s a difference.”

  “Seems like the end result is the same.”

  “Perhaps, but I do a lot more than hunt for scrubs. Plus, I am supplied with everything I need and given high-information contracts. I don’t scrounge around and hope for the best. That’s for amateurs.”

  “Or the resourceful. I can see that is not your style.”

  Mutt Mutt kicked Andia in the back, causing her to fall forward and then to the ground. “Watch your tongue, Fredorian. Maybe that will be the first thing I eat when we are off this wretched planet.”

  “Hey!” said Emily.

  “You want me to kick you in the back too?” said Mutt Mutt as he pulled Andia up by her handcuffs. “Less talk, more walk.” He jabbed Andia in the back.

  Dr. Snowden gritted his teeth. He wanted to throttle Mutt Mutt, but the handcuffs were on too tight to do anything. Mutt Mutt really didn’t like Andia for some reason. Or it could just be that she can be harmed while he and Emily could not. He thought back to when Mutt Mutt used the forearm device to control the robots. If he could get his hands on it, maybe he could defuse the situation. He looked ahead and remembered coming down this path. It seemed to him that Evaran wanted to know where Mutt Mutt’s ship was. Perhaps it was near the Torvatta, based on the path they were taking.

  They walked for a while through various tunnels and chambers. They paused at the entrance to the chamber with the rock fort. Dr. Snowden surveyed the tower for Sitassitis but did not see him. They walked around the fort and to a different tunnel than the one they had come in from before. It was sealed with a stone wall.

  Mutt Mutt tilted his head. “Stop.” He rubbed his chin. “Well, that’s odd.” He walked up to the wall and tapped it a few times, then stepped back. He walked around for a bit, then pointed to the tunnel that Evaran and the others had come in from before. “Doesn’t matter, this should take us to where we need to go.”

  After ten minutes of walking, they reached the ladder they had come down before.

  Mutt Mutt pulled a device out and shot three times into the air. After a moment, three ropes fell down and dangled in front of them. He pointed to the ropes. “Stand by the ropes.”

  Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Andia lined up by the ropes.

  Mutt Mutt walked behind them and tied the ropes around their waists, pulling them to ensure they were tight. He then opened his forearm device and pecked at its interface. A light-blue glow formed around his boots. “I am going to pull you up once I am at the top. So you know, those handcuffs can shock you unconscious. I wouldn’t suggest anything rash. I really don’t want to have to drag you.” With that, he flew upward with a blue-and-red glow firing under his boots.

  Dr. Snowden glanced at Emily as they began to be pulled. Her lips were drawn flat, and her eyes were raging. He knew that look. It was evident by Andia’s scowl what she thought of the situation. He looked up but doubted Mutt Mutt was pulling them all up at the same time. The ropes must have some type of anchor that could reel them in.

  When they reached the top, Mutt Mutt pulled each of them onto the ground. He then untied the ropes and pressed a button on the rope anchors, which pulled in the rope, and then retracted the spike holding them in the ground. He picked up the anchors and secured them on his belt and then pointed to a tunnel on the far side of the cavern. “Over there.”

  They walked for another fifteen minutes and arrived at the entrance to the chamber with the hidden mesh pits. Dr. Snowden could hear the sound of something running behind them, as well as a buzzing sound.

  A Ziiarian busted around the corner and flew past them. Mutt Mutt fired at it but missed. He screamed out in pain as one of the six-legged tubelike creatur
es chasing the Ziiarian latched onto his leg. He turned to face it as more approached him.

  Dr. Snowden moved forward into the room a bit and whispered in a hurried tone. “Let’s go! Stick to the wall.”

  Emily and Andia followed him along the wall until they reached the tunnel on the other side. A bright light beam engulfed them.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” said Mutt Mutt, walking toward them. “I could just knock you all out, but everything is under control again. Those filthy creatures will think twice about attacking me again!”

  They turned to face Mutt Mutt.

  Andia whispered to Dr. Snowden. “So what was the plan?”

  “You’ll see. Wish these handcuffs were off, would make things a lot easier.”

  V appeared behind Dr. Snowden. “Hold your hands straight out behind you. Evaran can deactivate them from where he is if the UIC can connect to them.”

  “V!” whispered Dr. Snowden.

  V placed Evaran’s UIC on Dr. Snowden’s handcuffs, and after a moment, they fell to the ground. V flew over to Emily and Andia and released theirs.

  Dr. Snowden activated his repulsor and pointed it at Mutt Mutt. Emily and Andia deployed theirs and did the same.

  Dr. Snowden tilted his head at Mutt Mutt. “One more step, and you will be smeared against the wall.”

  Mutt Mutt laughed as he trained his weapon on them. The mesh-like substances near Mutt Mutt began sliding back. One of the tubed creatures rose up and bore into Mutt Mutt’s leg, causing him to fall to the ground. He screamed out in surprise.

  Another creature emerged and engulfed his foot, inching its way up his leg with its inner mouth.

  Dr. Snowden pointed at Mutt Mutt’s arm with the forearm device. “We need that device. C’mon!”

  They rushed over to Mutt Mutt. The creatures now numbered four and were too busy biting and boring into a flailing Mutt Mutt to focus on Dr. Snowden, Emily, or Andia.

  Andia grabbed the arm with the device as Mutt Mutt was being dragged to one of the holes. She tugged at it. “How do we get it off?”

  A buzzing sound from above approached them. Andia looked up, then stepped back. Sitassitis swooped down. Hack! Andia fell down with Mutt Mutt’s severed forearm and hand. She screamed out in surprise in unison with Mutt Mutt screaming out in pain. Mutt Mutt was dragged until he was pulled down into one of the holes. His screams continued to echo out and periodically intensify as he got bit over and over. Several other creatures emerged from their holes and slithered toward them. A few repulsing blasts later, they skittered back to their holes.

  Dr. Snowden pointed to the tunnel leading back to the fort. “Let’s get to a safe spot.”

  They hustled over to the tunnel entrance. Sitassitis and V hovered near them.

  Dr. Snowden let out a quick breath. “Sitassitis! You came at the right time!”

  “He was the one who killed my brethren at the fort,” said Sitassitis, pointing to the hole Mutt Mutt was dragged into. “I shut off the tunnel to force him to come this route. The route he took initially didn’t have rock worms. How is the city?”

  Dr. Snowden licked his lips and looked down. “Not so well. It’s taken a lot of damage.”

  “Casualties?” asked Sitassitis.

  “A lot,” said Emily with her lips drawn down.

  Sitassitis blinked rapidly. “I must head there immediately.” He flew off toward the city.

  “How could you understand what he was saying? There was no translation orb. It sounded like gibberish to me,” said Andia.

  Dr. Snowden glanced at Emily, then back at Andia. “Long story.”

  Emily exhaled slowly from her nose. “So what now?”

  “Per Evaran, I need to put the UIC on the device,” said V.

  Andia grimaced as she tossed the bloodied stump to the ground. “Ugh, I forgot I was even holding that thing.”

  V placed the UIC on it, and after a few moments, it connected. He then flew up a bit and projected an image of Evaran.

  “Glad to see you are all okay. V relayed what was happening,” said Evaran.

  Emily half smiled. “It got a little crazy. How’s everything on your end?”

  “I have control of the robots now and have sent them back to their ship. They will fly off a safe distance from the planet, then detonate.”

  Dr. Snowden nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. I’m curious, though, what was the plan originally?”

  “The plan was to gain control of Mutt Mutt’s ship by V placing the UIC in a place it would not be detected. He would then fly to the Torvatta, go into body mode, head back to Mutt Mutt’s ship, and then remove the device, with or without Mutt Mutt’s arm attached.”

  “Sounds elaborate, but I think it would’ve worked,” said Andia.

  “Yes, but with the help of Sitassitis and V, your plan worked as well. You adapted to the situation and improvised,” said Evaran, shaking his head with a half grin.

  “Well, I was just going to kick some rocks at Mutt Mutt to get the worms’ attention, but this works as well,” said Dr. Snowden.

  Evaran nodded. “V will guide you three to the Torvatta, and we should be back in an hour.”

  “What about the crystal?” asked Emily.

  “It is nearby. V will return once you are safe, and we will go from there. I suspect it won’t take long.”

  “Sounds good. See you soon.”

  Evaran nodded as his image faded.

  They followed V as he flew off along the wall toward the Torvatta.

  Rakar watched the robots drop their weapons and exit the structure. He moved closer to Evaran as he bowed to the two Ziiarians at the table.

  “My name is Evaran. To my left—”

  The two Ziiarians slid off their seats and bowed before Ezissiris.

  Ezissiris touched the lightly armored Ziiarian on the shoulder. “Please, I am no god. I am just from a different tribe, far from here. My name is Ezissiris. Who are you?”

  The armored Ziiarian looked up. “I am King Dorassis.” He pointed to the Ziiarian with the elaborate robes. “She is my queen, Queen Zystis. We owe you a great debt.”

  Ezissiris shook a hand out in front of him while glancing at Evaran. “You owe me nothing. This was brought upon you by an unfortunate set of events. My tribe will help yours to rebuild. They will be here in a few days. We have knowledge and technology that will help. You can even live on the surface if you wish.”

  Rakar noticed Evaran clenching his jaw. Something did not sit right with Evaran.

  Dorassis glanced at Zystis, then back at Ezissiris. “Any help would be appreciated.” He bowed his head.

  “Please, do not bow to me. We are equals here.”

  “As you wish,” said Dorassis. He looked nervously at Evaran, Silva, and Rakar.

  “They are friends. They helped me, as they just helped you,” said Ezissiris. He pointed at Evaran. “That is Evaran.” He then pointed at Silva, and then Rakar. “And those two are Silva and Rakar.”

  Dorassis hovered and flew over to Evaran and bowed. He repeated the same action with Silva and Rakar. “We thought you were demons, from our past, coming to avenge themselves.”

  Evaran nodded. “It is okay. However, I do have a request.” He extended his hand, palm up, as a projection of the crystal shot up from his ring. “Have you seen this item before?”

  The Ziiarians hovered back and put an arm over their eyes. After a moment, Dorassis approached the projection and ran his hand through it. “You possess the power of light.” He hovered back. “It is our god crystal. We have it embedded in the head of a statue in our temple.”

  “May we see it?”

  Dorassis nodded. “Follow me.” He took off toward the entrance, with Zystis and Evaran in tow.

  Ezissiris, Silva, and Rakar followed a bit behind them.

  Silva turned his head toward Ezissiris as they walked. “Giving tech and knowledge to a primitive species. Is that wise?”

  “What’s the harm at this point? They�
��ve been exposed,” asked Ezissiris.

  “Do you want my viewpoint?”

  “A Kreagan viewpoint. Go ahead, I’m curious,” said Ezissiris as he narrowed his eyes.

  “Freed from the restrictions imposed by influencing a native species, this planet will serve as a military outpost. Being as far away as it is, and bordering Kreagan space, it can refuel ships and also serve as a launch board to respond to events in this sector. Yes, the Ziiarians will benefit, and maybe even dominate this planet, but firmly in debt and under Draidjen rule.”

  Ezissiris looked at the ground for a few moments before speaking. “That is one possibility.”

  Silva smirked. “You have a future in politics.”

  Rakar scrutinized Ezissiris as he listened. Ezissiris was the Draidjen equivalent of Silva, and he could see why they seemed able to talk with each other. If they had military roles, it would most likely be a different situation. It made sense to him that the scenario Silva described would come to pass. He wondered if that was why Evaran was clenching his jaw. Regardless, all the slaughter and exposure to tech is not something the Ziiarians would just forget. It would shape their evolution. Finding out their gods are just flesh and blood would be devastating in its own right. He shook his head.

  They exited the structure and arrived at the temple, which was only a short distance away. Once everyone was assembled, Dorassis led everyone inside.

  Zystis moved from corpse to corpse when they were inside, checking to see if any were alive. “This is … wrong.”

  Dorassis hovered over to her. “Sound the meeting drums. Let everyone know I will be there shortly.”

  Zystis nodded and flew out of the temple.

  Dorassis sighed and continued forward, pausing occasionally to look at a dead body.

  Rakar struggled to comprehend what Dorassis would have to go through. Dorassis had the burden of an entire race on his shoulders. He wondered how they would react to this event. Dorassis’s leadership would be tested; of that, he was sure. He looked around as they walked down the stone-pillar-lined pathway to a large Draidjen statue at the end. The temple was bare, with various waist-high pedestals scattered throughout, similar to the structure they were in with Mutt Mutt. He figured they were a crude version of seats.