The Free Trader of Planet Vii

by Craig Martelle

  It only continued like that for a full turn, before lightening to a more normal downpour. They traveled in the daylight and the dark of night. Aadi led during the night, as he was unaffected by the rain and could see in the dark. It helped that the road was straight. Braden used his implant often to track their progress and read. He wanted to know everything there was about the ancients. He found too much information on the animal research, finally settling on a compendium of modifications, as the ancients called it.

  Hundreds of animal species had been modified, their DNA changed to satisfy a particular need that the settlers had. Many of the animals weren’t native to Vii, but were introduced by the settlers, as the ancients called themselves.

  The Hawkoids and the Hillcats were both developed for the same purpose, to limit a growing rat infestation. The rats of Vii were rather voracious, it seemed. Braden thought the ancients’ approach worked because he had never heard of a rat problem during any of his travels.

  The Tortoids were developed because one of the laboratory technicians liked turtles. She increased their intelligence exponentially, but dabbling with their brains delivered the unintended side effect of the focused thunderclap, or sonic blast as it was called in the database. It was generated in their mind! She lightened their shells and gave them the ability to float. That’s why his shell seemed so much larger than needed for his head and body. He could use his mind to keep himself from blowing away.

  The Aurochs were native to Vii. They were bred as a food source, but with the vast grasslands available, they ran wild to feed. The ancients used mechanical craft to harvest the herd when the need arose. The engineers raised their intelligence, which helped their reasoning ability. Previously, they would eat everything in one area, then starve to death. The Aurochs were receptive to the modifications and their intelligence grew quickly until they were sentient. At that point, they were no longer used as a food source, and they were left alone. Braden thought there should have been more, but when he found the entry on the mutie birds, he knew why the numbers were so low.

  The Bat-Ravens, as the ancients called them, represented the first attempt to control the rats. They were naturally intelligent, aggressive, and could be bred in sufficient number. They were hearty and could survive any environment, but they couldn’t be controlled. They would just as readily attack humans as they would rats. The ancients decided to exterminate them. According to Holly’s database, they thought they were successful.

  But the Bat-Ravens survived. Maybe that was why there were so few large creatures in the south. The Bat-Ravens killed the rest. Brandt Earthshaker might lead the last herd of Aurochs on Planet Vii.

  When Braden shared what he found with the companions, Brandt was even more convinced that they were doing the right thing. The Bat-Ravens could not be allowed to exist.

  ‘Vulnerabilities?’ Aadi asked.

  Braden opened his window and asked the question. Now that he knew the right terms, he could get more information. The ancients tried to poison their food supply. The ones that survived may have been immune. Poisoning probably wouldn’t work again.

  They linked their minds when they flew in search of food, but in their nests, they were alone. How do they nest? he asked the database. In the hills, high trees, low branches. Braden pulled up the map and noted where the mutie birds had attacked their group on the two occasions. He noted where they first saw the cloud of birds. He traced a route north on the map until he came to a small range of hills that bordered the Great Desert, Devaney’s Barren. These were far to the west of where he had crossed.

  He looked closer, finding the forest on the west side of the hills, lining ravines, spreading into the Plains of Propiscius. “I know where they are. I’m sorry, Brandt, but it looks like we need to make a big fire and burn down a forest.”

  ‘If it eliminates these evil creatures, then I approve.’

  “We have a ways to go. We know when they last left their nesting ground. We know they leave once or twice a moon to feed. We need to get going if we want to catch them in their nests. And once we get to the plains, we will have to travel at night. They fly both in the daylight and in the dark, although when they hunt, daylight is best for them.” Braden shuddered. If the Bat-Ravens had caught the companions at night, they would not have survived.

  The long conversation about the Bat-Ravens and the way ahead made the time go by quickly. They traveled with few breaks and were soon back in the sunshine north of the rainforest. They found a stream and rested, drinking their fill, grazing, hunting.

  Micah awoke after sunrise, reaching next to her, but Braden was already up. He stood looking north, his thoughts dark. The fire of vengeance burned within him. The Bat-Ravens tried to kill him twice. He knew there would be a third time, but this time, he brought the war to them. The Bat-Ravens had said, ‘You will all die.’ No, he thought, you will. All of you.

  58 – The Fires Raged

  After a turn of rest, they departed in the evening and set a strong pace under the rising full moon. With the humans’ implants, they headed unerringly in the direction of the Bat-Raven’s nesting ground.

  With the mindlink, they planned as they traveled. Brandt and the horses would be the most vulnerable. G-War’s role was undetermined, but he was also vulnerable if they chose to attack him in force. Skirill could be a liability as well as a benefit. It all depended on what they found in how well nature protected the birds.

  Braden and Micah checked and rechecked their blasters. Besides them, Aadi had the only weapon that could affect the Bat-Ravens as they flew. He could use it twice, then he was spent. Braden and Micah knew they would have to split up. They needed to keep the Bat-Ravens from escaping once the attack started. They could use a hundred more people to do it right, but then they’d never be able to surprise the creatures.

  Surprise. Without it, their attack would fail. The muties would spread out and the companions might never get another chance to rid Vii of the threat. How many more would die if they failed? All of the Aurochs? Max and Pack? The deer, wild boar, people…

  ‘Stop it,’ Micah said directly into his mind. ‘We won’t kill them all. Accept that. But we’re going to kill so many that it will be a long time before they can threaten us again. Then we’ll come back, with more people, more fire.

  ‘We’ll treat them like weeds. Whenever they pop up, we’ll rip them out by the roots. And they’ll show up again somewhere else. In between, we live peacefully. Trade.’ Micah finished her speech on a strong note, appealing to Braden’s definition of success--a good trade.

  ‘As usual, you’re right. We will kill them with fire, with our blasters as long as they have power, then we’ll kill them with our blades.’ Braden finished with determination.

  ‘When Aadi knocks them to the ground, I will crush them.’ Brandt wanted to be involved, demanded to be involved.

  A plan took shape in Braden’s mind where Aadi, Brandt, and G-War would be a target on an escape route. When the Bat-Ravens swooped toward the vulnerable Aurochs, Aadi could knock them out of the sky, then Brandt and G-War could dispatch them while they lay vulnerable.

  Once they viewed the terrain, they’d see if this could be part of the plan.

  They hurried through the darkness, crossing the grasslands in great leaps the first two nights. By the third morning, sunrise showed them the forested hills, closer than they expected. As normal, they hid themselves, but today was special. With Skirill’s help, they would get a bird’s eye view of their target.

  Skirill flew low, to the northeast, away from the Bat-Raven nesting area. He then flew high, far to the east, exposing himself only briefly as he kept the hill top between him and the nesting ground. He flew up and down, looking at different areas, but never getting too close. Then he dove to the ground, heading east away from the Bat-Ravens. After flying away, he rose and circled to make sure he wasn’t being followed. Then he dove to the ground again, returning to the copse where the companions were hidden.

&nb
sp; They had seen what he had.

  When he returned, he perched on the lowest branch, overlooking a map that Braden and Micah built on the ground.

  “Thanks, Skirill. Nice flying, by the way.” Braden nodded to the Hawkoid, who bobbed his head in response.

  “Okay. I couldn’t count the number of Bat-Ravens, but I don’t think I’m exaggerating if I say there might be thousands of them. We’ll need one person on this ridge, overlooking their nesting area. That will be me. I’ll start the attack by lighting these trees on fire. If I saw right, Ess, the wind blew in this direction?” Braden asked for confirmation.

  “’esss,” he replied.

  “Okay. That means the fire should travel in this direction.” Braden put a small branch across his map. “I’ll need to be up here.”

  He pointed to a spot high on the ridge. “Micah. You’ll need to be here, to the side, not downwind. The fire should race down and out of the valley.” He placed another branch.

  “Brandt, Aadi, and G-War, you will be here…” They went through their plan, attacking it, looking for weaknesses. At the end, many unknowns remained, but fewer than when they started.

  They slept, as much as they could, but they were worried.

  Too much could go wrong.

  Braden had a long climb, in the dark, without the aid of the horses. The horses! They’d turn them loose when they approached and would hope they ran for their lives. They could worry about collecting them later.

  They gathered their things and rode out after dark. Braden relied almost entirely on his implant while Micah watched for any night flyers. They came in from the hill side to shield their approach, but Micah and the companions would be forced into the open getting into position on both sides of the valley. That couldn’t be helped. If they had more people, the problem would be worse. Micah, crossing the opening by herself, was less likely to be seen. The others would stay close to the hillside.

  As they approached, Aadi and G-War said they couldn’t see anything flying. So they split up. Braden rode hard to the northeast while Micah and Brandt slowed, walking the approach to limit their exposure. No sudden movements.

  Braden jumped off Max after they climbed a short distance. He pointed his nose to the east and smacked his rump, letting him run into the darkness. His hooves made little sound in the dirt.

  Braden started climbing, taking care not to disturb any rocks or dirt. And he climbed, and climbed with grim determination. He tired from lack of sleep, but couldn’t let the others down. At the moment of sunrise, he had to be in place and ready.

  He knew the others would be. If he did what he planned to do, he’d flush a thousand Bat-Ravens directly toward his partner and his friends. It was the best plan they could come up with. He no longer liked the plan and wished that Micah was climbing the hill instead of him.

  After chasing Speckles away, Micah jogged to keep up with Brandt as he walked toward his position. G-War and Skirill rode on him, while Aadi swam close by.

  When the time was right, Micah veered west, while the others continued north, remaining on the eastern side of the valley mouth. Micah walked steadily, deliberately, crouched low. Her legs ached from the effort as the sky started lightening. Dawn approached.

  She let herself smile. And when it got here, they’d unleash the fire. They’d cleanse the world of this evil.

  Braden worried that he wouldn’t make it. The hill got steep quickly with more loose stone and soil. The faster he needed to go, the more he was prevented from doing so. He gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

  The sun was peeking over the horizon as he approached the top of the hill, which crested with a rock parapet. He clambered the last few strides to the top, only to see the valley still bathed in shadowy darkness. His sunrise was earlier than the rest. The forest was dark and silent. In there, the Bat-Ravens nested.

  ‘I’m in place,’ he said using their mindlink.

  ‘As are we,’ Brandt’s loud voice boomed. Braden ducked involuntarily even though the sound was completely within his head.

  ‘Just made it myself; I’m in position. Sunrise looks to be coming soon.’ Micah crouched low behind a bush, the only cover she could find.

  ‘It’s already here where I am. Ten heartbeats, then we fire.’ Braden concentrated to slow his heart down. He opened the window within his eye. Pulse 94. Deep breaths. Pulse 86. Slowly. Pulse 80. Aim. Pulse 76. He closed the window.

  Fire.

  Micah saw a stream of flame erupt from a point on the hill high above the trees. It washed over the trees from her left to her right.

  Aim. Fire. Her blaster launched its own line of flame into the trees, right to left, skimming the tops as Braden was doing. Letting off the trigger, she changed her aim and started again, right to left, just above the base of the trees.

  The trunks blocked much of the blaster’s power from reaching all the way to the hillside.

  ‘FIRE!’ A thousand voices screamed into the companions’ minds. ‘FLY FOR YOUR LIVES!’

  Braden’s blaster ran out of power and the line of fire abruptly stopped. He put it in its holster and pulled the second blaster out, waiting.

  His mind exploded, and death screams overwhelmed him. He redoubled his efforts to pierce the growing fog of pain clouding his mind.

  Micah stopped firing. She couldn’t see through the pain behind her eyes.

  Bat-Ravens started appearing from among the trees, they were unorganized, every bird for itself, until they were clear. They screeched to rally the survivors to them as they hovered beyond the growing smoke of the forest fire.

  More came from below and from within the smoke. Some made it away from the flames, only to succumb to the smoke and fall as they cleared the dark billows.

  Very few Bat-Ravens had escaped. As they died, the volume of screams lessened, the pain in the heads of the humans drifted away. The fires on Braden’s side of the forest had already burned away from him. He saw a route along the trees to the valley below. He vaulted over the rock face in front of him and started running downhill, the blaster ready to fire when needed.

  The Bat-Ravens hovered in a mini-cloud when they saw the King of the Aurochs, standing there snorting loudly, hoof pawing the ground. They saw the Hillcat on his back, but that didn’t concern them. They wanted revenge. They never saw the Tortoid floating motionlessly to the side.

  They dove, nearly as one, toward their target. A line of flame shot toward them from the side, but missed behind them. They were flying too fast.

  A thunderclap slammed into the Bat-Ravens. More than half of them fell, while the others were disoriented, barely able to keep flying.

  The King of the Aurochs charged like the oversized bull he was, ripping up the ground where the stunned Bat-Ravens lay. He turned and twisted, jumped and pranced, turning the ground red and black, blood and feathers.

  More Bat-Ravens appeared out of the forest and joined the others. Their numbers continued to grow. They spread into a long thin line and flew cautiously toward the beast below.

  Aadi loosed his final thunderclap at the line, knocking a pitiful few from the air. The survivors increased speed as they dove toward the Aurochs. Fifty Bat-Ravens raked him at one time, the Hillcat able to only kill two on that pass. They were fast and their numbers overwhelming.

  Skirill had been far above the fray, but he could wait no longer. His friends were in pain.

  A blaster flame reached out and ripped through a number of Bat-Ravens as they turned for another pass. Then another shot from the blaster and another. The shots were short, but came rapidly.

  Then those stopped.

  The remaining Bat-Ravens headed toward Brandt from all directions. They surrounded him. No matter which way he faced, the Bat-Ravens were coming. ‘Good,’ he thought. ‘I swing my horns, evil will die.’

  The Bat-Ravens were unimpressed. They were too quick to be hit by the huge horns. They attacked, again and again, knocking G-War to the ground, and then they swarmed him. Micah was runni
ng full speed toward the companions with her sword ready. A couple Bat-Ravens came for her and were sliced in half for their efforts.

  Skirill swooped low and raked three of the Bat-Ravens off G-War in one pass. He climbed sharply, banked and dove again. More Bat-Ravens came out of nowhere to attack the Hillcat. G-War’s claws flashed as he was able to stand and attack. He whirled and slashed. Front and back claws ripping at his enemies. Then they overwhelmed him and dragged him down.

  Skirill was there again, pulling them off. He was knocked down and the Bat-Ravens were on him.

  Braden came down the slope toward them, each step four strides long as his Old Tech boots propelled him downward. He dove the last distance, using his body as a battering ram to drive the Bat-Ravens away from the ‘cat. He crushed many, but others leapt away at the last instant. Micah swung her sword, cleanly slicing away the birds attacking Skirill. As she got close to the Hawkoid, she pulled off a Bat-Raven with one hand, hacked it with the sword, then reached for the next.

  Aadi was there as well, biting with his beak, trying to get his shell between the Bat-Ravens and his friends.

  Micah was bitten and clawed. She kept pulling the vile birds away, until Skirill was able to get his wings under him and fly off toward Braden and G-War.

  Brandt stamped and swung his head. Bat-Ravens lined his back, biting and clawing, but they needed the speed of a dive to dig deeply into his thick hide. He then dropped, pushing himself sideways with his mighty legs until he rolled onto his back, crushing the mutie birds who wouldn’t let go.

  A bloodied and battered Hillcat stood and with two final sweeps of his claws dispatched the remaining Bat-Ravens. Braden staggered a few steps, catching the ‘cat as he toppled. He hugged the ‘cat to his chest, tears filling his eyes. He fumbled at his pouch for the numbweed and started rubbing it into the deepest wounds. The ‘cat hung limp in his arms.