by Marc Stevens
“Nathan, is all well?”
“Yes Tria, as well as can be expected”
“The sound of your voice indicates otherwise. What has happened?”
“How much longer will it take to get the Legacy ready for combat operations?”
“Nathan, I find it annoying that you will not answer my question.”
“Tria, I want the Legacy at this location as soon as all systems are in place and checked out. The sooner you can get here the better.”
“Yes Commander, I understand. We are installing the last of the upgrades. Justice says we are deep charging and will be operational in thirty-one hours.”
“Thank you Tria, I miss you and look forward to seeing you soon.”
“Roger, Commander. I miss you as well. Alpha base out.”
If I was a betting man, I would put money on the Legacy being within shuttle range in the next twenty-four hours. The Grawl would probably need an extended rest period after the Legacy left base. I looked down the shuttle ramp when I heard the security door open and saw Klutch toss the roll of 699 through the door. He looked back the way he came, then closed the doors and changed the codes. He quickly trotted up to the shuttle.
“Is everything taken care of Klutch?”
“Yes, Commander. No one followed me, and I believe I have not been under surveillance.”
“What did you do with the bodies?”
“They will not be a problem, Commander. I am going to get cleaned up so we can pay Haras a visit. I have a transport waiting for us.”
With that said the Tibor went to get his armor cleaned. I just shook my head. Who am I to question a Troop Master? Klutch reappeared thirty minutes later and would have looked fit as a fiddle had it not been for the dark ring around one of his big lizard like eyes. We wore our Chaalt armor but changed the color to a warm neutral tone. We both wore Tibor side arms and had our fighting knives in leg scabbards. I was hoping I would not attract much attention. I did not think many would know what a human looked like. Klutch assured me no one on this outpost cared.
We locked the security door and boarded the transport Klutch had waiting for us. It took off at a fairly fast clip after Klutch instructed it where we wanted to go. There were transports of several different designs in the traffic flow we entered. All had aliens of every description riding in them. I knew from experience to only give them a fleeting glimpse. The Troop Master was looking at me out of the corners of his eyes. A small smile crossed his face when he saw I was not staring at anything in particular. The last time I had done so, it caused a crap load of bad mojo. I was naïve but not totally stupid. I was guilty of forgetting sometimes but always learned from my mistakes.
The Transport went up a spiral ramp and we passed the exits of three different floors, finally getting off on the seventh. We turned down a wide thoroughfare and the din of a thousand aliens talking or whatever assaulted our ears. I wish the people of Earth could see with their own eyes the number of different races walking around in this place. It was amazing. I got a small nudge from Klutch when I balked getting out of our ride. He pointed down the pedestrian walkway at a huge blinking sign. The name Haras was flashing on it and changing languages every few seconds.
We made our way to the entrance without me causing a scene by staring at every alien that went by. This was absolutely, off-the-charts awesome. Everywhere I looked there was a table full of aliens eating or drinking. The noise was crazy loud, but it looked like no one cared. We waited in a line to get seated. The place was multi-leveled and I asked Klutch what was above. He remarked that it was private dining and very expensive. I told him that’s where we wanted to go and he nodded.
I was taken by surprise at the sight of four aliens that were at least twelve feet tall and wearing black spiked armor. Two stood on each side on the entrance behind a short wall. You could not see them until you were inside. Klutch pushed me from behind to keep me moving. All four of the creatures were staring right at me. Their exposed arms looked like braided steel cables. They had large rifles slung across their backs. The stare was intimidating.
We stepped into some kind of scanner field and I heard Klutch say private dining. I pushed my lower denomination credit voucher into the Troop Master’s hand and he plugged it into a slot next to a screen. Twenty thousand credits appeared on the screen and then deducted from my two hundred and sixty thousand. He passed it back as a blinking blue light appeared on the floor in front of us. It started moving toward a ramp that would take us to the upper floors. We followed it up the ramp and we passed more of the twelve-foot-tall aliens. They stared at me as well. It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut. I knew it was not advisable to stare, but these guys did not give a crap who they stared at.
Klutch kept me moving with small nudges that at times bordered on shoves. The blue dot stopped in front of a set of ornate double doors. They opened at our approach and we walked into a nicely decorated room. When we entered, the doors closed quietly behind us.
“Klutch, why were the big aliens staring at me so hard?”
“I am not sure, Commander. They are known as the Sig. Long ago they were a predatory species that dominated their star system. They were genetically modified for war. They almost became extinct because they were so feared by all other races at the time. Rather than be killed off, they came to their senses and were eventually civilized. There are still many like me. They are hired as bodyguards or mercenaries. They have never seen a human before. Do not let it bother you. If they did not like you, they would have killed you already.”
I rolled my eyes at the Tibor’s comment and surveyed my twenty thousand credit dining room. The room had a large round table with two chairs. I was glad it was large and Klutch would be seated on the other side. I let Klutch order for us since he knew what I could tolerate and what I couldn’t. He also ordered a malted beverage that turned out to be the equivalent of Earth beer. I was genuinely shocked at how good it was. Klutch was working on his third when the food arrived. What he ordered for me looked like an open-faced hamburger. It was a little bland because I did not have my Earth condiments for seasoning, but other than that it was not bad.
I was consciously trying my best to blot out the noises coming from the other side of the table. The door to our dining room suddenly opened and two Sig stepped inside. We looked at them and back at each other, then dove under the table flipping it on its side for a barricade. We had our weapons drawn and pointed at them. They looked almost bored by our actions.
The two stood there staring at us and the mess we had just made. One of them said in a booming voice, “You still have to pay for the meals you just wasted.” He then turned to Klutch. “You must cease contaminating the atmosphere with your stench. You will drive the customers away.”
I hollered back, “You two must be in the wrong room. Unless you want your big asses kicked, you better get out of here!”
They both burst out in a thundering laughter that was hard on my ears. Then it hit me like a brick to the head, they had spoken Earth English. I slowly stood up but Klutch would have none of it and was drawing a bead on one of them.
“At ease Troop Master, they just spoke the language of my planet. I would really like to know who taught it to them.”
They approached us and righted the table we had tossed over. “Please, follow us. The owner of this establishment wishes to talk to you.”
Klutch still did not like it. “Tell him to come and talk here.”
They stared at Klutch and said, “You can stay if you wish, but the Earthling will come with us.”
The stench in the room intensified and what little I had eaten was looking for a new place to reside. “Klutch, please calm down, we will be fine. Let’s go see what the owner wants. Maybe we can get him to replace your meal.”
The Tibor finally holstered his pistols. I looked up at the Sig and knew my next statement was going to sound corny as hell. “Take us to your leader.”
They both started laughing
again. I really needed to know how they understood what I was saying. We went out the door and around the walkway to the very top floor. There was a large metal gate that was guarded by two more Sig. They eyeballed Klutch and me.
“You must leave your weapons here.”
The air got stifling once more. “KLUTCH, PLEASE!”
The Tibor grudgingly turned over his weapons. We were led through the gate and down a hall lined with beautiful exotic colored plants in large ornate containers. We stopped in front of a huge set of gold inlaid doors. I did not know what to expect. One of the Sig leaned forward and knocked three times on the door. It sounded like metal on metal. I was shocked speechless when the doors opened. There, sitting behind a very large desk, sat a young girl. She was an Earth girl. She stood and came around the desk. My mouth was gaping open. How was this possible?
She looked at me and laughed. “Come on now, surely you are happy to see another of your own kind?”
I momentarily stuttered and stammered, then found my voice. “How did you get here and how is it possible you own this place?”
She looked up at the towering Sig. “Sushi, Pasta, would you please bring chairs for my guest.”
I looked at her. “Sushi? Pasta?”
She laughed and said, “Yes, there are some things I actually miss from Earth. Sig names are so hard to pronounce properly I named them after some of my favorite foods.”
I cocked an eye and nodded. “How did you get here?”
She gave me a questioning look. “Were you not abducted? I assumed you were abducted and managed to free yourself, as I have. It did not take me long to use everything I learned about my abductors against them. I was hiking on a mountain trail in Colorado. It was the last time I would see Earth again. I was taken by the Grawl and sold to the Scrun. I was then purchased by a very powerful Grawl as a slave. I bided my time until I knew everything about him. When he least expected it, I gave him a one-way ticket to hell. Sushi and Pasta were in the process of having their brains wiped so the Grawl piece of scat could have two willing enforcers. I put a stop to that nonsense and set them free. They were more than happy to clean house. We found ourselves sitting on top of a vast fortune in artifacts and credits in a storage complex below the residence.”
This was absolutely incredible. I was not the only human able to adapt and overcome my surroundings. This spoke well of our race and of the future we had in the galaxy. My focus returned to what the Earth girl was saying.
“We stole everything the Grawl had and moved it not far from here. Sushi and Pasta were so grateful to escape they have stuck around to make sure nothing would happen to me. We find that we enjoy each other’s company, so we stick together. We have been together now for more than five years. We bought this place and renovated it. It is now one of the most popular places in this quadrant. The wealth we have accumulated is beyond my wildest dreams.”
I held up a finger and she stopped talking. “Do the Grawl know you escaped and does anyone here know you are human?”
She gave me a small smile. “I told you I learned everything I needed to know about the Grawl and my…situation. I have taken every precaution to cover our tracks. Sushi and Pasta wanted all the credit for destroying the Grawl and his residence. Sig are well known for their vengeful acts of violence. The location of their home world is known information and has no need for protected status. The Sig are still feared throughout the galaxy.”
The relieved look on my face made her smile again. I looked around then back at her shaking my head. She had to be extremely smart and savvy or she would not have survived this long. “What is your name?”
“My real name is Sarah, but out here I am known as Tam Lin.”
Now I knew where the name for this place came from. Haras was her name backwards. “My name is Nathan Myers and to make a long story short I found a ship that was used by the Grawl to steal artifacts. The Grawl got himself killed by bears leaving the ship stranded. The ship had a sentient A.I. and I went to the stars with it. I do not know what your experience has been since you have been here. Mine has been nonstop turmoil with some wonderful mixed in. I have fought several nasty battles trying to right the wrongs I seem to constantly uncover. My list of enemies is much greater than the list of friends. I am, however, slowly turning that equation around.”
She suddenly got a look of surprise on her face. “YOU! You are the one everybody whispers about. It has to be you. The stories of an avenging demon are true. We have heard a deathly beast has appeared out of the void and it is killing every pirate and slaver it finds. The stories have become so outlandish we write them off as folklore. I have heard the demon destroyed Eiger’s base then went on to do the same to Drayen and his outpost. Please tell me it was you!”
20
My cheeks must have been burning bright red. “Some of that scat is probably lies and I did not do it by myself. I had the help of the Troop Master, a Chaalt warrior and a Grawl.”
She was shocked and gave me an incredulous look. “What about the armies of psychopathic demons the Murlak keep talking about? I monitor everything that goes on here. I pay close attention to the more unsavory of species when they gather, and I eavesdrop whenever possible.”
Tam Lin touched something on her desk and a huge monitor appeared on the wall. It had several sections showing different events going on in different places. One in particular caught my attention. There was a Tibor being manhandled by security bots. They were in the back of a spacecraft and there was four dead Murlak scattered on the deck. I held my emotions in check and tried to ignore the screen. I refocused my attention to what Tam Lin was saying.
“Is your reputation for revenge and mayhem a myth or is the general population of Murlak and Scrun scared of old wives’ tales?”
I cleared my throat and shrugged. “I am sure a lot of the stories are blown way out of proportion.”
I looked back at Klutch for some support. The short wide bastard had an ear to ear grin on his homely face. He was pointing at me and shaking his head up and down vigorously. I turned frowning at him and slapped his hand down, giving him a withering stare.
My frustration was interrupted by a loud whistle. “Holy shit, it’s all true isn’t it? I heard from a reliable source that it was just a few causing so much fear. Do you have any idea how much of a reward is on your head? You are wanted dead or alive, mostly dead. Any who can prove you are the one many call ‘The Sword of our Maker’ will receive a billion credits. I would have never, and I mean ever, thought the story would turn out to be about another human being.”
I was getting nervous as hell wondering if they would decide to collect the bounty. I cautiously looked over my shoulder at the Sig. I was shocked to see both down on one knee with a single ropey arm extended and their hands palm up.
“Nathan Myers, I must explain the significance of what you are witnessing. What may seem like a simple gesture to you is of major importance. You and your clan are now brothers and sisters to the Sig. They may be civilized but are still feared warriors throughout the galaxy. Sushi and Pasta have accepted you as part of our family.”
I was relieved they did not need an extra billion credits. Both of the Sig soldiers stood up and then reached out for a good old Earth handshake. My hand was all but lost inside their massive mitts. If it were not for the “S” on one’s armor and the “P” on the other’s I would have never known which, was which.
Pasta said: “You are now an ally of the Sig. If you are ever in need of assistance and it is within our power, it will be granted.”
Wow, making a friend had never been this easy. Maybe Tam Lin could answer the golden question. “Do you have intelligence on Eiger’s current location?”
“Most of our intelligence gathering could be construed as hearsay. The surveillance in the private dining rooms consists of small holes and mirrors. The real shakers and movers have scanning devices that would find most any form of electronic eavesdropping. We watch and listen, then collate what
we gather. The only thing we can say for sure is that Eiger still lives and he is hiding in the uncharted void. There are a few Murlak rumors saying Eiger captured you and was roasting you alive.”
“It will take more than what that gutless Throgg has to kill me. I will catch him one day and he will pay dearly for all of his sins.”
“There is another story circulating among the slaves I have smuggled to freedom. They have been saying the Sword of our Maker captured the king of the Scrun and killed him.”
“You smuggle slaves to freedom?”
“I must spend some of my wealth on something useful. So yes, I smuggle them with the help of the Sig. It is far too dangerous to try and repatriate them, so we do the next best thing. They now reside on an undeveloped planet that was terra-formed by the Sig. It is now home to a large contingent of Sig troops and a training ground for their military forces. All knowledgeable races avoid the area like they do the Fusra Pus virus.”
“There is the possibility I will have a surplus of ex-slaves on my hands in the near future. Do you think you can get them to safety? I will pay well for your services.”
Tam Lin made a dismissive motion with her hand. “I have no need for credits. I will give you discreet access codes that will put you in contact with Sig training fleets. There are several that travel the galaxy training recruits for their military. Only the foolhardy would attempt to interfere with their missions.”
“I will give you the coordinates of a star system when I get to that location. It would be a very good location for the Sig to train.”
“What about the stories?”
“Stories?”
“You know what I am talking about. Did you kill King Lashmos?”
“No. The last time I saw him he was going to see if he could strike a bargain with the people he had attempted to enslave.”
