Southern Discontent (Free Trader Series Book 7)

by Craig Martelle

  ‘Holly, what’s the latest?’ Braden asked as Brandt slowly chewed the offered numbweed.

  ‘Master Braden! So happy to hear from you. Did you ever determine if the leader of the raiders was among those who went south?’

  ‘We were not. Skirill and Zyena were exhausted from their search for numbweed, so they couldn’t carry G-War.’

  ‘Those four spears continue south, but they are moving slowly. The group might be hunting or foraging. The other power signatures remain as they were before. Five around the village and sixteen in storage. Bronwyn has arrived in Southport with a small herd of Aurochs. She will be meeting up with the President and her entourage soon.’

  ‘Entourage? Is that one of your special words, Holly? Never mind. Brandt will be back with us shortly and we’re going to close on the village. Our plan right now is that we’ll attack after nightfall.’

  The others handed their numbweed to Brandt, who continued to reluctantly take it. He kept making faces. Braden held up his hands. What?

  ‘It tastes horrible, and my tongue is numb,’ the King replied. Braden turned away as he started to smirk. The King wasn’t wrong.

  ‘Take care, Master Braden, you and the rest of your group. The Wolfoid spears can be deadly,’ Holly said.

  ‘If we do everything right, there will be no lightning, no fire. If we do some things right, then people on their side may die. If we do everything wrong, then we are looking at a lot of casualties.’ Braden turned to the others. Aadi, G-War, Bounder, Skirill, Zyena, and the pups. ‘We’ll do everything we can to keep from getting hurt. You have my word, Holly.’

  Braden’s blasters were fully charged. Bounder’s spear was charged. The pups carried only sharpened sticks in place of lightning spears. Cygnus had given Braden’s long knife back to him, but longed to hold it in his hand once again.

  G-War, Aadi, and the Hawkoids were armed with what nature, and select genetic engineering, gave them.

  Against raiders armed with lightning spears.

  The thought kept returning to haunt Braden. The repairs to Aadi’s shell stood as a stark reminder of what happened when Braden failed to protect those in his charge.

  Brandt’s struggle to stand brought Braden’s attention back to the real world. He closed the window in front of his eye and watched as the others ran from the great creature’s tottering. Unsteady hooves held him upright.

  For the moment. Braden caressed the King’s nose. “I’m glad you’re back with us. Let’s go over the plan and fill in the last of any missing pieces.”

  ***

  Micah led the way through the center of the town. Not because she was trying to create a spectacle, but because it was the only path she knew. Getting lost trying to get out of Southport was not a part of her plan.

  People stepped aside as the menagerie passed. Treetis ran ahead, far enough to scare unsuspecting pets into dark alleys. He refrained from chasing them, pleased with their fear and finding that to be the respect he wanted. He didn’t need to fight them.

  As Braden would have said, know your enemy, because how you treat an enemy is far different from anything else. Treetis knew what an enemy looked like. The Security Bots in Atlantis had shown him the face of an enemy, an unrelenting, merciless enemy driven by malevolent intelligence. That dog barking? She wasn’t the enemy.

  Treetis stopped in the middle of the path and waited. Fea nuzzled him as she strolled past. Micah walked by, nodding to the scruffy-looking ‘cat. Just like G-War, she thought.

  ‘Do we have to walk the whole way?’ ‘Tesh asked. She held Luciana’s hand and Ax held Heloysius’s hand as the Rabbits skip-hopped in the way that they walked.

  The children were gifted with the ability to mindlink and were more comfortable using it than talking aloud. Micah suspected G-War had something to do with it, but he would never admit to it.

  ‘I think Bronwyn might have an alternative.’

  “Bronwyn!” the children cheered.

  Gray Strider looked back at the Rabbits and the twins. ‘You have been gifted with joy,’ she told Micah.

  ‘I think so,’ she replied. “But I’m afraid that if we keep taking them into dangerous situations, we will dampen their love of life.’

  ‘Then don’t. Send the Rabbits, the children, their ‘cats, and the pups back to the ship.’

  Micah stopped and held up her hand for the others to stop. “That would leave you and me.”

  ‘And Fea and Treetis. Together, we are four of the most able warriors on all of Vii. Do you think mere men can stand before us? Even with Wolfoid spears…mere men?’

  “I don’t know what to say to that.”

  ‘Say the right thing. Send them back to the ship,’ Strider encouraged.

  “You sound like Aadi, but you are right. Give me a moment.” Micah’s eyes unfocused as she brought up the window before her eye and accessed her neural implant.

  ‘I need to know Braden’s status and all the information you have on the spears.’

  ‘Master President. Such a timely request. I expect no less from your foresight and thoughtfulness. Braden has Brandt upright and they are moving toward the village where the spears are stored. They will attack after nightfall, using darkness to their advantage. Four people with Wolfoid spears are moving in your general direction, but they are moving slowly, as if hunting,’ Holly reported.

  “Four of us and four of them, with Braden closing on Dunk’s Town? I don’t think they’ll know what hit them.” Micah kneeled and waved her children to her. “Come here, you two.”

  The three hugged, while Klytus and Shauna complained. They were ready to go to war against the bad men.

  “I know. You are both stalwart warriors and that’s why I need you to watch after Axial and De’atesh. We are all one family, but we have different jobs right now. I need to go be presidential and you need to spend more time growing and learning. Make sure that you kids get your lessons from Holly while I’m gone. When we get back, if you haven’t been listening, there will be hell to pay!”

  ‘Is Dad coming with you?’ Ax asked.

  ‘I expect so. We will meet him in a couple days and then we’ll come back to you.’

  ‘What about the fields?’ Luciana asked in her dainty thought voice.

  Micah sighed and rolled her head. “New plan. Go to the fields first, take a look, Klytus and Shauna can start addressing the domestic intruder population, and then you can make recommendations to the Southport farmers. Everyone stay together and watch each other’s backs.”

  ‘Wind Runner and Low Crawler, you will keep them safe. I charge you with this task.’

  Strider didn’t wait for a reply. They’d already dallied long enough. She started to lope toward the east. Micah waved one last time and dashed after Strider. Fea and Treetis ran easily to stay abreast with the human and the Wolfoid.

  ***

  Zeeka circled lazily over the town. She reported to Bronwyn as soon as she saw Micah and the group cutting a path through Southport. The young woman encouraged Cragmore to one final run to beat Micah to the fields.

  The Aurochs herd pounded through the open fields of wild grass to a narrow strip of land after which the meager tended fields stood. The Aurochs slowed and grazed on the rough, dry grass.

  ‘Don’t go into the fields, not until our friends the Rabbits tell you that it’s okay,’ Bronwyn told them. Cragmore yanked a bush out of the ground and devoured it. The young woman slid down the bull’s side and landed lightly on the ground. She found a stump to lean against while waiting for Micah and Strider.

  The Hillcats arrived first.

  ‘Greetings, beautiful lady,’ Fea said.

  ‘And to you, beautiful lady,’ Bronwyn replied, bending slightly so Fea could put her paws on the young woman’s shoulders. Treetis stood tall next to Fea and danced on his back feet until he could lean against Bronwyn.

  Micah and Strider slowed to a walk, smiling warmly as they approached. “I’m so glad you were able to come. I’m so
rry it is under such circumstances, but you know us. If there’s a crisis, we’ll be right in the middle of it, dragging everyone else along with us.” Micah smirked, trying not to betray how the truth bothered her. “The Rabbits, twins, and the rest of that mob will be along shortly to check out the fields. If you could meet them here, they can explain the rest of it.”

  “I’m going with you,” the young woman said matter-of-factly.

  “Someone has to stay here and watch over the others. Someone has to share what the Aurochs are saying.”

  “The twins can talk with them and the Rabbits are more than equipped to watch over the children. They are carrying their pistols, are they not?”

  “Yes, but…” Micah’s thought trailed off. “It’s going to be dangerous.”

  “I know,” Bronwyn said. She was thin and willowy, with an unrivaled mental strength. She pulled Micah into a hug, feeling the physical strength of the older woman.

  Twenty-four cycles and she was the older woman. Bronwyn knew Micah was young but had seen more than nearly every other person on Vii. Despite being taller, Bronwyn looked up to Micah in a way that mattered most.

  “I wish I were more like you,” she said.

  Micah laughed. “I was thinking I want to be more like you!”

  Strider joined the hug but only to inject a dose of reality. ‘We need to go.’

  ‘Faramor, you are in charge until we get back. Gable and Tally, I would like you to join us, carry Micah and Strider, if you would be willing.’

  ‘Of course,’ came two voices at once. Cragmore bent his knee so Bronwyn could climb onto his back. With a dexterity borne of much practice, she vaulted into place astride the bull’s neck. Micah and Strider followed suit, with Fea and Treetis joining them to ride on the bulls’ heads.

  “Why do they do that?” Bronwyn asked.

  “No one knows, but Brandt allows the Golden Warrior, so everyone else follows suit. It’s a fad.”

  “Like when the men wore long hair pulled into a bun?”

  “Exactly like that.”

  Faramor trotted to a place by the trail to await the arrival of the others. The cow Aurochs told the rest of the herd to go back the way they’d come until they found better grazing. She would contact them when she knew more. Cragmore, Gable, and Tally started to run, past the fields where the trail disappeared and toward the forested hills to the east.

  ‘Holly,’ Micah said, hanging on while accessing her implant, ‘I’ll keep the window open so you can help guide us. We want to set up a blocking position without them knowing that we’re there.’

  ‘An ambush, yes. I am unable to calculate where they are going because their track is inconsistent, but I will guide you.’

  ‘And keep me informed about Braden’s attack.’

  ‘Yes, Master President.’ Holly projected a map showing the distance they needed to cover before they were close to the four men away from Dunk’s Town. Micah adjusted the image until the village was centered and then overlaid Braden’s position. They were close, and she was not.

  Faster, she thought. We wasted too much time…

  Fight Fire with Fire

  “Please. Imagine being able to run freely again, climb all those stairs yourself!” Tom used the lightness of his tone to convince the ‘cat to submit to the procedure. “We went through all of this for you. Micah and Braden have been here, and they said it was safe and you wouldn’t feel a thing.”

  Neeson’s wide eyes stared back at Tom, his claws embedded in Tom’s shirt as the human hunched over the table, neither letting go.

  Until the ‘cat did. ‘I guess it won’t be over unless it starts.’

  “The sooner the better. I’m ready to feel solid ground under my feet.”

  Neeson retracted his claws and laid back. The Android swooped in and started to hook the ‘cat to a number of machines. Neeson pinched his eyes closed and yowled.

  The ‘cat relaxed as the procedure started by putting him to sleep.

  “You should probably wait in the corridor,” the Android said. With Neeson out, a surgical device descended to his hip, cut the ‘cat open, and started reshaping the leg bone.

  Tom gasped in shock. Zeller moved between her partner and the Android. “You make sure no harm comes to him. I would not be very happy if the ‘cat was injured.”

  “I can assure you, this is the first step in the healing process. Once the injuries are repaired, the creature will be put in that tank—” The Android pointed to a clear cylinder containing a gel-like fluid. “—to expedite the healing process. It shouldn’t take much time at all, maybe a few hours.”

  The medical machine continued to work on Neeson. Zeller pushed Tom toward the door. They went through and it closed behind them. Tom stared at the door with his arms limp at his side.

  “You wondered what was behind the doors. What do you say we go take a look?” she offered.

  Tom nodded numbly. Neeson’s ever-present voice was gone. The blacksmith hadn’t realized how soothing that had been, most notable now that it was gone. Tom pointed to his head.

  “I know, he’s gone. I’ve felt that way about Arnie ever since we went underground at New Sanctuary.”

  “You didn’t say anything,” Tom stammered.

  “Whining wasn’t going to change anything. I hate this place, but this is something we agreed to do, for Neeson. When we see him again, he’ll be the ‘cat he used to be, not burdened by a poorly healed injury.”

  “I’m whining?” Tom replied softly, guilt written across his face.

  “Just a little, but I’m used to it.” She pushed him playfully.

  “Hey! I don’t always whine. Sometimes, I put a lot of feeling into it.” Tom shook his head and smiled. “What do you say we take the elevator?”

  It took the combined strength of both humans to move the massive machine blocking the elevator doors. They left it in the corridor as they hurried in before the doors closed.

  “Next floor down,” Tom told the elevator, enunciating clearly as the paper instructed.

  The elevator traveled for a total of three seconds before stopping, and the doors slid smoothly to the side. The corridor beyond was dark, punctuated by flashing lights. Cables and hoses hung from the overhead. Trash littered the corridor. Zeller pulled her sword as she stepped out. Tom found a small pipe with wires protruding that he picked up to use as a club.

  The doors closed, and the elevator went away. During one of the strobe-like flashes, Zeller pointed to the wall. “Blaster marks. There was a fight in here.”

  “If they have blasters, we might want to think about leaving,” Tom suggested.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Zeller replied into the moment of darkness. She turned to wave her bracelet in front of the pad. “This could be a problem.”

  The pad had been ripped from the wall.

  “I guess we do it the hard way. At least we only have one landing’s worth of stairs to climb.” Tom headed down the corridor toward the Livestock Level, moving during the light flashes. Zeller hurried to stay close, following his path while also trying to watch to their rear.

  They had covered part of the distance when they heard the drumming. “Wait,” Zeller cautioned. The flashes showed movement behind them. The sound of feet hitting the deck.

  Androids. “RUN!” Zeller yelled. Tom took off, tripping and stumbling as the flashes revealed more debris than he could safely navigate.

  “Stuck,” he shouted back. “Come on!”

  He helped her over an obstruction and then started throwing more mechanical parts and pieces into it as he tried to build a barrier, buy them more time to reach the door at the end of the corridor, the door to freedom.

  An Android ripped one of the heavier pieces away, tossing it behind like a child’s toy.

  Zeller screamed her war cry and stabbed the creation in the face. It fell back, but another took its place. She jabbed her sword into its throat. With both hands, it grabbed the blade and pulled. Zeller slammed into th
eir hasty barricade, but didn’t let go. Tom grabbed her and pulled.

  A third Android pulled another part of the barricade down. Tom broke its arm when he slammed his hammer across it. He followed up by hitting the one holding the sword. It released the blade and Zeller fell back.

  Tom swung again, but the Android was ready and slapped the weapon from Tom’s hand.

  The artificial life form reached for Tom, arms outstretched. A sword flashed in front of his face, hacking the arms away. Tom kicked the Android into another. Zeller pulled Tom away and they ran down the corridor while the Androids regained their feet and pounded after them.

  ***

  A gully to the east of the village had provided an avenue to get close without being seen. It was also filled with untainted vegetation. The King of the Aurochs ate noisily as they approached, much to Braden’s chagrin.

  ‘Could you eat more quietly?’ Braden demanded, using his thought voice to limit adding to the noise.

  ‘I’m trying, but I’m a starving-level of hungry.’

  ‘How is that different from any other day?’ G-War quipped.

  Aadi floated along serenely. The Hawkoids were hidden in the trees, watching the area between the gully and the village to warn Braden if anyone was headed his way. They confirmed the positions of the village guards.

  ‘Does everyone know the plan?’ Braden asked. They said they did. He made each of them recite their part, and then talked through contingencies. What if…

  They didn’t have long to wait. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountains to the west. The twilight faded and G-War slinked away. Aadi swam slowly out of the gully, staying close to the ground to maintain the appearance of a shadow.

  Braden and Bounder climbed from the gully, spread out, and crawled slowly toward the village. Everyone needed to be in position when the moon rose. Holly assured them that they had time.

  Crawling across the ground was time-consuming and challenging. Both Braden and Bounder discovered that burrs grew on the surface, embedding themselves in hands, knees, and paws. They kept stopping to remove them, which greatly slowed their progress. The more they crawled, the more pain they suffered. Finally, Braden stopped.