Alura's Bind_Book One

by J. P. Douglas

  "That thing attacked me again. The engineer, a guy named Farkak arrived to help chase him off."

  "Are you injured?" she asked.

  "Yeah, but I'll survive. The Skolean has razor-sharp claws on his fist. He put three very clean holes in my shoulder."

  "It's a Skolean?"

  "That's what Farkak said. I don't know. I only met one Skolean, and while he was tough, this thing is massive. I've put five bullets in him, a blade, and I couldn't even guess how many laser blasts. It just keeps coming. Plus it tossed me overhead with one arm. Like I weighed nothing.

  "What else did this Farkak say?" Shaltia asked.

  "A bunch of stuff. Not sure if I believe it though. I need you to go through the Burnside's computer with Alura. Find out all you can about Farkak, and then see about the three suspects that Captain Naol mentioned."

  "What are you going to do? Schwarz is still hailing. He wants to talk to you. They are still in a holding position with weapons trained on each other."

  "I'm trying," Cooper insisted. "I don't want to move this girl yet, and I don't trust Farkak on my ship."

  "Want me to come over there?"

  "No, stay on the Alura. We are locked in the Med Bay. I just need to be ready if Farkak is actually as untrustworthy as I think he is."

  Cooper found a suture stick. He had been in his fair share of bar fights across the galaxy. Stitching up his own wounds was not uncommon. He sat on an examination bed and pulled the leather jacket off. The three holes in the shoulder and the slashes on the front meant he would need to look for a new one. He pulled his blood-stained shirt off his shoulder to look at the wounds. Three stab wounds cut cleanly through the flesh.

  He sprayed the wounds with an antiseptic. Once they were clean, he used a suture stick, which was a wand that heated the area and applied an adhesive to bind the wound. There were cleaner ways to tend to a wound that left little to no scarring. Most were difficult to use. A suture stick was an emergency mend while on the battlefield. The sutures were permanent, but the healing took longer. Scarring was a foregone conclusion.

  The area was raw to the touch. It probably would be for an hour or so. Cooper found some pain relievers, and he stuck them in his jacket pocket. He might take them when he was back on the Alura. For now, he wanted his head clear and his reflexes fast.

  He removed the spent shells from the cylinder of his pistol and replaced them with live rounds. He only had six more bullets in his pocket and six in the chamber. As much as he liked the Smith & Wesson, the limited ammunition presented a problem. Of course, the Skolean seemed unfazed by the laser pistol. Cooper was still trying to figure out how an engineer could survive so long with that thing on board. Cooper barely survived two encounters.

  Pushing off the examination table, Cooper winced as his feet hit the floor. He was hurting a great deal more than he wanted Farkak to know, and even more than he wanted the Skolean to know.

  "Farkak," he called. "How have you been able to survive that thing?"

  "Luck."

  "Yeah, but he's taken shot after shot and keeps moving. My laser pistol was nothing to him."

  "Skolean take a hell of a beating. I was able to amp my pistol up. It obviously doesn't kill him, but it will slow him down enough to escape."

  Cooper nodded, but he didn't buy anything Farkak said.

  "Could we trap him somewhere?" Cooper asked.

  "I don't know. Maybe. He's strong. I'm not sure what might hold him."

  "I don't understand, though. What happened to the crew's bodies?"

  Farkak shrugged, "I don't know. I found some. Those I would release through an airlock. I don't have anyplace to keep them."

  "And the animals?"

  "They were too big for me to move. Besides, I thought he might be nesting in there."

  Looking surprised, Cooper questioned, "If he is nesting in there, why don't you trap him inside?"

  "Too dangerous," Farkak argued. "What if he got out while I was trapping him? I didn't want to wait that long around him. I don't like the idea of being someone's supper."

  "Did he eat the crew?"

  "I think so. I wasn't trying to watch him. Quite the opposite." Farkak admitted. "I know, he was eating the livestock."

  "What's he been eating? The livestock is all dead."

  Shaking his head, the engineer said, "I don't know."

  The thought sent a shiver up his spine. Mitch was out there still, and a hungry Skolean might find him a tasty treat. Cooper wanted to get off this ship soon.

  "You know, you haven't even told me your name yet," Farkak said.

  "Cooper. Cooper Montbarts."

  The comm squawked. "Cooper," Shal's voice interrupted.

  "Hang on," he answered. Looking at Farkak, he said, "Give me a minute."

  Cooper walked back to the other corner of the Med Bay.

  "Go ahead, Shal."

  "Farkak seemed like a good guy. He has been on the Burnside three different rotations. He had just joined under Captain Naol. Prior to that, he was assigned to fleet maintenance. His record has commendations from other captains he worked under."

  "I don't know, Shal. Something isn't right, though."

  "Cooper, he looks clean. You are probably stressed out."

  "Stressed out doesn't cover it."

  "The three that the captain was looking into were Krylova Ranes, Tyma Gribel, Blathilios Kiel. There is not much on any of them. They were all passengers. Ranes was from Neslow. He was an activist there. He was arrested and sentenced to ten years, but he jumped planet. Somehow he made it to Cheundia and got on the transport."

  "What did he do?"

  "To be arrested?" she asked.

  "No, like a job. Did he have any kind of specialty?"

  "Not sure, but he reprogrammed an autonomous freighter to dump its load on a section of Neslow that was considered outcast. The freight was food."

  "Fucking Robin Hood, huh?"

  "Who?"

  "No one, he's an ancient Earth hero."

  "Gribel is an odd one. No idea where he is from, but he was a scientist, specializing in eugenics. He doesn't have any real expertise to do the kind of sabotage it seems happened on the Burnside. Now, Kiel does. He was an engineer for the Cheundian Council. He was decommissioned, after a shuttle, he was the chief designer, for exploded."

  "What if that Skolean monster, isn't really a Skolean," Cooper asked.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Gribel is a eugenicist. He could have found a way to augment himself. Be stronger and faster. Invulnerable."

  "Oh, shit."

  "Yeah, a regular Jekyll and Hyde."

  "What's a Jekyll and Hyde?" Shaltia asked.

  "When we get out of here, we have to talk literature."

  "Maybe if he did that to himself, then maybe we can find a way to neutralize it. Or reverse it."

  "Cooper, given Schwarz's affinity for selling human chattel, we can't let him find an enhanced human. He'd sell him to the highest bidder."

  Cooper laughed, "I don't think Schwarz could handle this creature."

  A crash across the room jerked Cooper's attention. The girl was standing beside the examination table. Farkak lay sprawled on the floor. Her eyes were aflame, and her voice seethed.

  "Don't touch me."

  Reunion and Recreation

  "Captain Shaltia, the Skolean ship is hailing us."

  Cooper had just disconnected, and Shaltia was staring at the comm board. He was in deep over there, and she felt like it was her fault. She wanted to go over there and try to get him out, but he was right. Something she hated admitting, there were too many unknowns over there. Farkak, the girl, this monster. Shaltia was damned if she'd endanger Alura.

  "Alura, have you found anything else about Gribel's work?"

  "Not yet, Captain Shaltia. Would you like me to open a channel to the Skolean?"

  "Yeah, we might as well hear what they have to say."

  A hologram appeared of a Skolean, a humanoid with sho
rt spikes of hair and rough, olive tinted skin that gave him a reptilian appearance. His teeth were jagged and discolored.

  "I am Lord Korlich of the Michon. You will be spared if you lower your shields and turn the Cheundian transport ship over to us."

  "Well, Lord Korlich of the Michon, I'm Shaltia of the Alura. Your words mean little given that you have attempted to destroy my vessel, to no avail. I will counter the offer. I will not pursue and destroy your vessel if you take leave of this quadrant at once, otherwise, when we decide to leave, your vessel will be the first to taste my wrath today."

  Korlich's image snarled. "That is bold talk. If you can do so, why have you not yet."

  "Because until now, you have been an annoying shit fly buzzing about. Your weapons have no effect on my vessel, and I have the Burnside protected by my shielding until we decide to leave."

  Korlich laughed. "You will have to lower your shields to disengage."

  "Korlich," Shaltia said boldly. "You've been scanning our vessel, have you not?"

  Korlich stared ahead without answering.

  Shaltia continued, "Have you seen any of your weapons affect my vessel?"

  Korlich still remained silent, knowing the answer was "no."

  "Have you ever seen shielding that had that kind of integrity?"

  Shaltia didn't wait for his silence. She said, "Of course, not. What makes you think that such advanced shielding can't be modified to deflect."

  Korlich sneered at her. "I will wager that the Skolean skills of battle are far greater than yours."

  Shaltia retorted, "That is a wager that you will lose. Leave this quadrant or else."

  Korlich cut the transmission.

  "Captain Shaltia," Alura said, "you are aware that we cannot operate our energy shields in the manner you suggested to the Skolean captain?"

  "I am," Shaltia said.

  "Do you think the Skolean ship will retreat?"

  Shaltia smiled, "I guess, it depends on how well Cooper has taught me to bluff."

  "I see," Alura said, "you were bluffing to convince the Skolean that we were in a better position than we actually are."

  "Correct."

  "Mr. Schwarz is hailing again."

  "Fuck. You don't have to call him mister. Just Fucking Schwarz."

  "Yes, Captain. Fucking Schwarz is hailing again."

  Shaltia laughed, "No, not like...you know what. Never mind. Leave it like that."

  Schwarz's face appeared from the holographic projector. The scar running down his right cheek was prominent. His beady eyes moved about sporadically.

  "Where's Montbarts?"

  "He's still busy."

  "Shaltia, I want my property."

  "Schwarz, what is it that Cooper has that is yours?" The question was almost scary given that the first time they met Schwarz, Cooper sold him fourteen million credits worth of counterfeit whiskey.

  "There are some items on the Cheundian transport that are to be delivered to me."

  "Tell you what, Schwarz. I'll move the Alura and you can link up to the Burnside after we leave and take whatever you want off it."

  "Fuck you, Shaltia. I know you. You find my property, your misguided morality will attempt to steal it or corrupt it."

  Shaltia nodded. "People, huh?" Shaltia assumed the answer. Schwarz made his living mostly as a slaver. He would pick up prisoners from different quadrants and systems and sell them to systems that still relied heavily on manual labor.

  "Don't worry about it. If I don't get it soon, then I'll make sure you never leave this sector."

  "Schwarz, don't threaten me you little piece of shit."

  "Shaltia, I like you. But do not forget, I will fuck your skull if you get in my way."

  His head vanished.

  "What does he want?" Shaltia asked aloud.

  "Given Fucking Schwarz's profession, he must have a potential slave on board the Burnside," Alura answered.

  "Can't just be a slave. Maybe he already knows about the augmented 'Skolean?'"

  "A creature like that would be valuable."

  "Alura, I'm going over to the Burnside. Deadlock the airlock, unless it is Cooper or me."

  "Yes, Captain Shaltia."

  "I want to investigate this Gribel. Can you find his quarters in the Burnside's computer and send it to me."

  "Yes, Captain Shaltia. Do be careful of the beast that Cooper has been fighting."

  "I will," she said. Shaltia had every intention. She grabbed the modified matrix blaster that was leaning against the nav console. A trip to Cooper's cabin would help arm her better for whatever she might face.

  She grabbed the laser rifle and one of the laser cannons. Cooper had a collection of antique firearms as well. Shaltia left them alone. She had no understanding of the crude devices. Lasers would have to do, and if the matrix blaster would blow a hole in a bulkhead, then the creature skulking around should be no problem.

  Sealing the airlock, she said, "Alura, deadlock it. Only me or Cooper in or out."

  "Yes, Captain Shaltia. The quarters of Tyma Gribel are on deck eight. Cabin forty-two."

  Shaltia made a spur of the moment decision. If she could find Mitch, then grabbing Cooper and leaving in a hurry would be easier.

  "Thanks, Alura. Where is the rec area that you spotted Mitch in?"

  "From your current position, it is toward the aft of the ship. Take the first corridor. Then the second door to the right."

  "Thanks."

  Following Alura's directions, she found the rec area. It was a large area about the size of the cargo hold. There were rooms divided off. The first room was obviously a bar of some sort. A shiny metal bar jutted out from one of the walls, behind it shelves with bottles waiting to be poured.

  Better keep Cooper out of here, or he'll be wanting to pilfer all the liquor, she thought with a smile.

  "Mitch," she called.

  Moving back into the open area, Shaltia saw a glassed room that was quite large. She stepped into it and saw a pool that had what appeared to have been bodies floating in it. Long since decomposed, the bodies had turned the pool into a cesspit.

  "Mitch," she called again.

  Something moved in the large area. The laser cannon was in Shaltia's hand and raised at the ready.

  "Mitch," she said again.

  A chair fell over, and the barrel of the laser cannon tracked toward the noise. Taking slow steps, Shaltia approached the chair, which had been one in a row of chairs that faced a stage. Plates and eating utensils were lying about as if just left by their users.

  The sound of scurrying pulled her attention to her right. Three big strides later, she saw something move in another room about twenty meters away. She ran over to the room and stepped in quickly with the cannon raised.

  Mitch was backed into a corner. His body was shaking and the fur on his back was up.

  "Mitch, it's me," she said kneeling down.

  The bulldog took a precarious step forward. Then, when he realized she was safe, he ran to her. She scratched his head.

  "Good boy, where have you been?"

  He licked her arm, and Shaltia rubbed his head. "I need to tell Cooper that I have you. He's been worried."

  Mitch responded with another lick of gratitude.

  Shaltia stood up. "Come on, buddy. We have to go find deck eight."

  Mitch followed her out of the room.

  "Cooper, come in," she said.

  Mitch froze and started barking madly.

  "Yeah, Shaltia," she heard Cooper say, but Shaltia's eyes turned to see what had Mitch's attention.

  A figure rose up from behind a table about a hundred meters away, between Shaltia and the exit. It was wearing a cloak that covered its head and torso. His hands hung down, silver glistened from his hands. Razor claws.

  "Oh, fuck," she said as she raised the cannon toward him.

  Mitch was barking furiously.

  "Shaltia, do you read me?" Cooper said in her ear.

  Ignoring Cooper, she ste
pped back. "Mitch, come on," she urged the bulldog who obeyed immediately.

  The creature didn't move. Shaltia stepped back slowly.

  "Shaltia?" Cooper queried.

  "Not now," she answered.

  "What's going on?" he asked.

  "Not fucking now."

  The figure jumped over the table and landed in a full run. She fired the laser cannon. The cannon burst struck the beast. She fired again. And again. Then she ran.

  Her feet felt like lead as she stumbled and ran on. She bolted the only way she could, toward the back of the room. Mitch was running just ahead of her. She turned and fired three bursts. Each knocking the creature back, but not down. He was fast and gaining on her.

  Dropping the laser cannon, she wrapped her fingers around the trigger of the matrix blaster. She stopped quickly sliding on the floor until her feet were planted. Turning she let the beast get closer before she fired.

  The modified blaster discharged a matrix pulse that picked the beast up and sent him flying backward fifty meters into the glassed pool room. The shock waves from the blast shattered the glass walls, and the recoil lifted Shaltia off her feet and dropped her ten meters away.

  "Fuck me," she mumbled as she rolled to her feet and ran for the door. "Come on, Mitch!"

  The scratching of his claws on the ground behind her indicated the bulldog was obeying.

  "Alura, can you lock the rec room?"

  "Yes, Captain Shaltia."

  Shaltia and Mitch cleared the door, and Shaltia hit the door panel to close the door. The beastly figure was rising out of the broken glass as the door shut.

  "Lock it!"

  The panel turned red. Shaltia stepped back as the thud of the beast striking the door startled her. Her back touched the corridor wall, and she slid to the floor. Mitch rubbed her with his muzzle as she let out a sigh of exhaustion.

  The Skolean Vexation

  Korlich hissed at his armory officer, V'lorn. "Find me a way through those shields."

  "My lord, the energy output varies and is layered. I can get through the first few layers, but then the top layer of energy resets at a different frequency."

  "I want to destroy that vessel," Korlich snapped. "Find me a way.