Omega Rising

by Joshua Dalzelle

  Following it outside, Jason saw it had arrived in what looked to be a work vehicle. It pressed a couple buttons and the side began to fold up and over revealing a work bench and rows of tools. After fishing around in one of the open top bins for a second it walked back towards Jason with something in its hand, the whole time still jabbering away in its own language, punctuating certain words with a flutter of its ears. He handed the device to Jason and then pointed at his ear again. Understanding what he wanted, Jason held the device up to his ear. As soon as it made contact he could feel it begin to meld around his ear shape until it was securely in place. After this, the alien waved for Jason to follow him back into the ship.

  Marching up to the terminal by the door, it pressed a spot on the screen and talked up into the air. Almost immediately the computer responded, but to Jason. “Commander Burke, stand by while the interpreter unit is uploaded with the human-English language translation matrix.” The device in his ear beeped softly.

  “Better?” The voice in the earpiece was imposed over the alien’s actual vocalizations, the effect was a bit disconcerting.

  “I can understand you, if that’s what you mean,” Jason answered, realizing for the first time how completely unprepared he was for this moment. Deetz had given him no instructions regarding etiquette or what could be considered as an insult.

  “Ah! That’s better! My name is Twingo, I’m the engineer that’s been dispatched to take a look at your grav emitters and slip reactor.” Now that the translation was coming through, Jason sensed a prominent gregariousness to Twingo’s personality. He was still talking a mile a minute as he looked around the cargo bay. “Haven’t seen anything like this around here in a while, not too much call for gunships anymore this far out in the spiral arm. Looks like she’s taken a bit of a beating. Ha! So what’s the other guy look like?” Jason noticed that the ear flutters seemed to emphasize certain points he was trying to make. Still seems like a he anyway. Twingo walked up to the terminal without waiting for an answer to his questions and began plugging away at it. Unlike when Jason first touched it that night and it locked him out, it responded immediately and began displaying menus that the engineer could navigate through. He consulted with the terminal in the cargo bay as well as a tablet computer he held in his right hand, harrumphing to himself occasionally as he poured through the scrolling displays.

  It was a good five minutes later when Twingo switched off his own tablet and looked at Jason. “No problem! Need to realign the emitters and then calibrate the fuel flow to the reactor. Your output was so low because the matter-antimatter ratio is off, that will kick the reactor into an emergency safe mode that can’t be overridden until a full calibration is performed.” Jason wasn’t aware the reactor output was low. Or how it worked. Or where it was. So, he just nodded and smiled knowingly.

  “So it’s something you see a lot?” He asked the question more to feel a part of the process than any real curiosity about Twingo’s workload. The engineer, however, took the question very seriously and in an eerily familiar way looked up at the ceiling and rubbed his chin while he thought it through. Jason saw that the six-fingered hand actually had two opposable thumbs, one on each side of the four other digits.

  “Not on something like this. We get our fair share of clunkers and scows that the prospectors in the area try to keep in flying order, but most people with a warship this expensive already have an engineer as part of the crew.” Jason pointedly ignored the unasked question so Twingo continued on, “I didn’t get your name anyway… it looks like you’re not from around here, what manner of creature are you?” Jason could tell the question was intended with good humor, so he took no offense at the word “creature”.

  “My name is Jason Burke. I’m a human, although I doubt you’ve seen any of my kind before.” He didn’t elaborate on much more than that. He keenly felt his responsibility to keep Earth a closely guarded secret.

  “Human, eh? Can’t say that I have. Two names as well? Interesting. Anyway, from your lack of implants I assume you’re new to the space game?” Twingo didn’t press him more about his origins as the unlikely pair walked back down the ramp towards the engineer’s vehicle.

  “Implants?”

  “Yeah, you know… computer interface implants, translator implants, memory implants. All manner of gizmos you can have installed into yourself nowadays. I myself just had my eyes done so I can see in an expanded spectrum, great for my line of work although I had a week of terrible headaches afterwards.” Jason was fascinated by the idea, although he was now wondering why Deetz had neglected to give him a translation device before he left. The ship certainly had to have a couple onboard. Hell, the one he currently wore was rattling around in someone’s toolbox a short while ago.

  The two passed the time with idle chatter as they waited for the specialized equipment and personnel Twingo needed to affect repairs to the gunship. Soon, another vehicle hummed to a stop next to the ship, this one about the size of a tractor trailer from America. Two beings jumped out of the front dressed similarly to Twingo, one was obviously the same species while the other was something different. All its exposed skin was covered with a sleek looking grayish fur so it was difficult for Jason to make out any real detail. Both nodded respectfully to Jason and then went directly to Twingo for instructions. Out of habit Jason was resting his right hand on the grip of the weapon slung around his shoulder, he realized that this may be taken as a threatening posture so he removed his hand and adjusted the sling so the railgun now hung down and slightly behind him. His instincts proved correct as both of the newcomers visibly relaxed and went back to talking to Twingo and looking at technical schematics on the tablet.

  The work was well under way when Deetz finally made an appearance. Even with a metallic face and no clothes, the synth looked frazzled and worried. This in turn tightened Jason's stomach up. "Problems?"

  "Huh? Oh, no... no problems," Deetz seemed even more evasive than usual. He looked at the progress being made by the technical team. They currently had transmission lines of some sort running from the larger ground vehicle to each of the long slip-drive emitters that made up the trailing edge of the gunship's wings. In turn, the emitters were glowing bright blue and a pulsating hum could be felt. Every so often the crew would run the power up a bit and loose debris on the tarmac would lift into the air and levitate until the power came back down. Twingo, for his part, had a few large access hatches open in the ship's belly and was utilizing some sort of hovering lift to maneuver himself and his equipment around and up into the openings. The previously boisterous alien was grunting and cursing as he worked to get the reactor back in shape. "So did they say how long they'd be?"

  "How, exactly, would I ask them?" Jason had given Deetz a pass on many things, but leaving him standing alone on an alien planet with no means with which to communicate with them rubbed him the wrong way. Deetz looked over at him and his eyes traveled up to the earpiece Jason was wearing.

  "Oh, I suppose it slipped my mind that you would need a translator. So, if you're quite done being peevish, did they say how long they'd be?" The synth was already watching the crews, as if silently willing them to hurry.

  "From what Twingo tells me it'll be another two or three hours. We in a hurry all of the sudden?" Something had changed, Jason could feel it and whatever it was didn't seem to be in their favor.

  "We're always in a hurry my friend," Deetz boomed expansively, startling Jason. "After all, time is money in this business." With that the synth walked over to talk to Twingo. ...and I'm beginning to wonder just exactly what that business actually is...

  True to his word, the engineer had the ship buttoned up and ready for flight a few minutes under the two hour mark. His pair of helpers had already left and Twingo was chatting with Jason as he packed away his equipment. The sun was beginning to go down and Deetz was seemingly in a hurry to get the talkative alien paid and on his way, but the engineer seemed more interested in conversing with Jason than m
aking a hasty exit. The pair were still talking when an unmarked ground vehicle pulled up, this one was quite large.

  The vehicle pulled smoothly to a stop and backed up to the gunship. Jason watched with interest as the rear ramp of the ship raised slightly and then retracted completely into the fuselage, leaving a gaping hole that led into the cargo bay. The ground vehicle’s cargo section then lifted on a set of hydraulic rams and backed up further until it was butted up against the cargo bay floor. “Looks like whatever you guys are taking on isn’t meant to be seen,” Twingo observed as he leaned against his own vehicle.

  “It would appear so,” Jason agreed. He had begun to suspect that any legitimate enterprise the synth would have been involved in wouldn’t have necessarily needed him, which left only illegitimate ventures. Not for the first time, he fervently hoped he wasn’t cross the line from boring law abiding citizen of Earth to interstellar criminal. After a few short minutes the vehicle that had delivered the cargo had pulled back forward and the cargo ramp reappeared and lowered to the ground. Jason stood up straighter as Deetz motioned him forward while he walked towards the front of the large delivery vehicle.

  “Let's pay these guys quickly so we can leave,” he said quietly. “Just let me do the talking, all you’ll have to do is press your finger onto a tab display to confirm payment transfer and then we’ll be on our way.” As they approached the front of the vehicle two short, squat beings hopped out and walked/waddled up to them. Deetz took the lead right away, “Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Commander Burke, he’s in charge of the ship at the moment. I assume everything is in order?”

  “It is as far as we’re concerned. Confirm here,” skipping all pleasantries, one of the aliens shoved a thin tablet into Jason’s midsection. When he looked down he froze up, while the translator he wore allowed him to understand their spoken language, it did nothing to help him read the document he held. Deetz sensed his hesitation and jumped in.

  “Everything should be in order, Commander. No need to waste your valuable time rehashing over all the details, just press your thumb in the confirmation circle and these fine gentlemen can be on their way.” There was only one circle on the screen. With a look to Deetz to try and discern any deception on his part, Jason pressed his thumb into the circle and held it. The tablet beeped and some more scrolling text he couldn’t read flashed in the middle. “Ah, excellent!” Deetz grabbed the tablet and handed it back to the alien that had jabbed it into Jason’s stomach. “Pleasure doing business with you gentlemen.” Deetz was talking to their backs; the moment they had the tablet back in their possession they took off as fast as their little legs would carry them. As soon as the vehicle pulled away all traces of good humor vanished from the synth’s face. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” was all he said as he walked at a brisk pace back to the ship.

  Jason didn't see the first blast, but he heard it. The second, however, exploded against the tail of the gunship, sending a cascade of sparks showering down around them. He dropped down and began scanning in the direction the energy blast had come from and saw a dark ground car speeding towards them from the far side of the complex. He watched as two more bolts shot out from the vehicle and splashed against the hull of the ship, creating a lot of noise and sparks but doing no damage other than a scorch mark. "They're still out of range!" Jason heard and registered Deetz's words, and was also aware of the bizarre, agitated scream coming from Twingo. The vehicle looked like it had closed to around 300 meters and was coming fast, Deetz took aim with a handheld weapon that seemed to appear in his hand from nowhere and let loose with a brilliant green beam of energy. The returned fire hit the vehicle head on, but diffused harmlessly against the front of it. Deetz sneered in disgust and fired three more shots in rapid succession with the same results. "It's shielded!"

  Jason, having been in combat before, was charged with adrenaline and fear, but was completely in control. When Deetz fired first he took that as a signal he was clear to engage, he brought his larger weapon up to his shoulder and flicked the switch to "FIRE". He could hear a whining from the weapon as the optics fed him information on range and speed of his target. It was an easy shot since, although hauling ass, the vehicle was coming straight at him. Here goes nothing. He let out his breath and squeezed the trigger, not sure what to expect. The resulting roar and pressure from the hypersonic projectile leaving the barrel was tremendous. Ears ringing, Jason watched transfixed as the single round tore through the vehicle with devastating effect; the front seemed to fold in on itself and the rear lifted off the ground violently, the end result was a tumbling, flaming wreckage screeching to a halt still a hundred meters away. Even Deetz was momentarily stunned before yelling at Jason, "Let's GO! We need to be in the air NOW!" As he followed the synth at a run towards the ramp he looked over and saw a motionless heap near the maintenance vehicle: Twingo.

  "Leave him!" Deetz didn't even slow to see if Jason listened before charging up the ramp. Jason, however, would do no such thing. Since he had no idea how to check for vitals he simply grabbed two handfuls of coverall and swung the little alien up over his shoulder and ran for the ship and charge up into the cargo bay. As the ramp came up he could hear and feel the main systems coming online. Jason secured Twingo to the same infirmary bed he had once occupied and instructed the ship's computer to begin necessary emergency treatment since it seemed to know what species he was. He then dashed out and towards the bridge as articulated arms began to descend from the ceiling.

  "What the fuck was that?!" Jason wanted answers as he jumped into his seat and allowed the restraints to snake out and around him, pulling him gently into the seat.

  "No time for that now," Deetz replied, hands flying over the controls and barking commands to the ship. "The reactor is at full power, but the emitters aren't charged yet. We can't initiate a gravity well until they are, and we've got more company on the way." Jason could see on the display in front of him that they had inbound, and from the looks of it they were dealing with aircraft this time.

  "So we're sitting ducks?"

  "Oh no, we've got plenty of surprises for our new friends. But... shooting our way out of here won't endear us to the locals." Deetz grabbed the helm controls and fired up the mains. "We'll be using brute force to get out of here, so it's good that you have your restraints on." The gunship began to vibrate forcefully as the ventral repulsors began to lift the big craft off the ground. "Cycle landing gear," Deetz said to the computer before pushing the controls forward. He was rewarded with a resounding boom as the four powerful main engines lit off and shoved them forward violently. The internal grav plating was active, but Jason could still feel the acceleration as the gunship raced along the ground, gaining speed and allowing the airfoils to get some bite into the thick lower atmosphere. The com system lit up with multiple requests/demands that they land and surrender themselves, all of which were promptly ignored as Deetz pulled the nose up and the powerful ship clawed for altitude.

  Jason kept his eyes riveted to the tactical display that made up most of his center console. They had three supersonic bogeys bearing down on them, but they were quickly losing the initiative as the gunship roared into the darkening sky, the thundering of the main engines probably terrifying any unfortunate soul they overflew. He touched one of the bogeys in the holographic projection and instantly the sensor data the tactical computer had collected appeared on a screen to his left. Although the name the computer gave was unpronounceable to Jason, there was no mistaking the shape; they were being pursued by a trio of sleek, ferocious looking aero-fighters. He glanced over at Deetz and took some small comfort that the synth looked completely unworried, and after a few moments it became clear why. The aircraft giving chase had stopped accelerating once they had reached Mach 3.2, but the much more powerful gunship was already reaching hypersonic velocities and was nearly out of the planet’s atmosphere.

  “A few more minutes and we’ll be able to switch over to the grav-drive and kill the mains and with
the reactor at full power we can enter slip-space within the star system. It doesn’t appear that we’re being pursued at the moment.” The smug expression on the synth’s face irritated Jason greatly for some reason.

  Chapter 9

  “So who was that shooting at us?”

  “Apparently not anyone very competent,” Deetz replied glibly. After looking at the expression on Jason’s face he continued more seriously. “Just some people who failed to understand the finer points of property ownership. Our cargo is a hot commodity, some must have figured it would be easier to steal it from us on the ramp than to try and break it out of the secure storage it had been in.”

  “Do I even want to know what we’re carrying?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Whatever,” Jason said, letting it drop… for now. He was coming down off his adrenaline high and needed to walk around a bit. “I better go check on Twingo anyway.” Deetz’s head snapped around at that.