The Phoenix Darkness

by Richard L. Sanders

  “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” he yelled, his voice echoing in the ladder tube. “It’s me; Alex!” He resumed climbing as fast as he could, almost recklessly considering the potential fall should he slip.

  The shooting stopped, which he took as a good sign. By the time they’d gotten to deck 109, he’d caught up with the humans, each of whom had crawled through a newly opened panel and now were squatting behind the minimal cover of a sideways hallways. Directly ahead was another major corridor. The humans, it seemed, were not too excited to take their chances heading through it.

  Alex climbed through and replaced the panel. That should slow down any pursuit, he thought, if any is coming.

  Practically the instant he stood up, the large human called Miles pointed his rifle at Alex and looked ready to squeeze the trigger. Alex felt his stomach flip over and was powerfully relieved when Calvin caught the barrel of the rifle and lifted it upward, above Alex’s head.

  “Why not?” asked Miles, looking at Calvin with such surprise that Calvin would save Alex’s life. “After all he’s done to us,” said Miles, through hate-seared eyes. “I say let’s end him, here and now.”

  “We’re not going to kill Alex,” said Calvin, much to Miles’s disapproval and Alex’s relief.

  “Give me one good reason why,” demanded Miles.

  “Because he’s going to help us get out of here,” said Calvin, then he looked at Alex. “Now, isn’t that right?”

  “Yes, oh yes, absolutely,” said Alex, making a mental note that once they were back on board the Nighthawk, assuming they got there, he would have to give Miles the old Patrick O’Connor treatment. Except probably not carbon monoxide again, too obvious… “I’m going to get us all out of here alive.”

  “Well then, if I can’t shoot him,” said Miles, “then at least let me do this.” Without any further warning, he took a big, meaty swing at Alex and clocked him right in the face. Alex crumpled to the ground in searing pain, his face covered in blood from his probably broken nose. He felt around and discovered a tooth had been knocked out from the blow.

  Miles massaged his fist, which appeared to be in some significant pain as well. Everybody looked at him.

  “What?” asked Miles. “He deserved it.”

  Calvin turned to Alex, “He’s got you there.”

  Alex ripped out one of his pockets, tore a piece of the fabric into a thin strip, then balled it up inside his bleeding nostril. Then he rose slowly to his feet, unsure what to say or think. He knew he had to suffer the pain and the indignation, at least for now, because it remained his only shot at survival.

  But I will have my revenge on you, Miles Brown. Just you wait.

  ***

  “You go first,” said Calvin, pointing his pistol at Alex, who looked surprised by the offensive gesture.

  “What?” asked the Rotham.

  “That is a long stretch of corridor with several intersecting corridors and literally no cover, which means someone is going to have to scout ahead and then wave to the others when it's clear to move.”

  “If I were you,” said Rez’nac, towering over Alex. “I would do as Calvin has commanded.”

  “Very well, very well.” Alex peeked around the corner and looked down the long corridor. Apparently not seeing anyone, he sprinted away, pausing to walk at a nonchalant pace as he reached the first intersection. Then he waved.

  “Okay; let’s move, fast,” said Calvin. He led the group and they ran for the first intersection. Meanwhile, Alex had already made it to the second one. He held up his hand in the stop position, then bent over pretending to be a member of the crew inspecting the ventilation. Calvin didn’t know whether such a bluff would work for Alex, but he knew for a fact it wouldn’t work for the rest of them.

  “Scatter,” he said, and his men split paths, some heading down the left side corridor, others the right. They leaned against the bulkheads and waited, listening.

  Calvin heard the sound of boots; quite a lot of them. Then there was an exchange in Rotham. Calvin looked to Rafael for translation; unfortunately, the man had gone the other way.

  But Rafael gave Calvin a thumbs-up, so Calvin took that as a sign Alex’s ruse had worked. He waited for the marching boots to be heard again and was pleased to hear them growing quieter, going farther away.

  When he felt it was safe, Calvin peeked around the corner. Alex gave them the wave.

  “Next intersection,” said Calvin and his team ran. Like before, Alex sprinted ahead, checking on the third and final intersection before they could get into the maintenance tunnels which would lead them below Hangar B.

  Calvin held his breath, waiting. Alex gave them no sign at first, as if something had caught his interest. Calvin was about to give the order to scatter for cover when Alex waved them forward.

  “Follow me,” said Calvin. He sprinted forward, leading the group, and passed Alex when he got to him. They made a right turn and Calvin reached a series of panels. If he was right, it would be the third one from the left. He undid the panel and a crawlspace was revealed. “In here.” He led, crawling quickly on his hands and knees forward, so the others could get inside.

  “Whoever is last should put that panel back into place,” said Rafael.

  “That’s a good idea,” said Calvin.

  “I am last; I shall do it,” said Rez’nac, whose larger muscular frame could only barely fit inside the narrow crawlspace, which was clearly meant for much tinier Rotham engineers. Calvin was momentarily scared that Rez’nac wouldn’t be able to move forward. But with a little dumb luck, a lot of effort, and possibly the grease of his own sweat, the hulking Polarian managed to inch his way through, falling behind the group, but making his way forward.

  Calvin rounded several corners and then took them on a straight path for some time. He counted the movements of his knees as he wormed his way forward, wanting to be sure that they arrived in the exact correct place.

  Fortunately, there was lighting to help Calvin deal with his intense feeling of claustrophobia, which he only managed to keep under control by going first and not being sandwiched between two people. If he had been, he likely would have screamed in panic. Fortunately, the others were able to handle it much better.

  “Okay, I think we’re there,” said Calvin. He undid a latch and slid the panel above him aside, as quietly as he could, then slowly peeked his head up.

  He was in the hangar, as far as he could tell. Their position put them in the far corner, toward stern and starboard, and just as he’d hoped, there was a ship there, the perfect thing to hide behind.

  Calvin climbed out of the crawlspace, then helped each of the others. It took three of them to get Rez’nac out, and he tore his blood-stained clothing in the process, but they managed to do it.

  “Take cover behind that ship,” Calvin whispered. The group of them snuck over to what looked like a drone starfighter and crouched against it, listening.

  “What now?” whispered Rafael.

  Calvin looked at Alex. “This is where you come in,” he said.

  Alex looked very unhappy to hear this news.

  “Don’t blame me,” said Calvin, still using a hushed voice. “You’re the only one who can hope to blend in.”

  “Just what am I looking for, exactly?” asked Alex.

  “We want a drone control shuttle,” said Calvin. “There should be at least one here. Scout the closest one, then get back to us.”

  “Very well,” said Alex, disappearing around the far side of the drone fighter.

  In the meantime, Calvin and his people held their weapons at the ready in case someone got curious, wandered over, and discovered them. If that happened, it would be an all-out fight, but Calvin desperately wanted to avoid that.

  After two or three minutes, Alex returned. “I have good news,” he said. “There’s a light corvette docked on the far side.”

  “We don’t want a light corvette,” said Calvin. “We want a drone control shuttle. Did you see any of t
hose?”

  “Yes, one,” said Alex, confused. “Right over there,” he pointed. “But a light corvette is as easy to take, as easy to fly, has more armor, stronger shields, better weapons, and, most importantly, it’s faster.”

  “He’s got a point,” said Rafael.

  Even Miles looked persuaded, perhaps by the mention of superior weapons.

  “Sorry, no,” said Calvin. “We’re taking the drone control shuttle.” His entire plan depended on it, even though the plan itself might still prove to be a spectacular failure.

  “But what about all the stuff the lizard said?” said Miles.

  “Come on, Miles. Guys, don’t you trust me?” asked Calvin.

  “Well, yeah,” said Miles.

  “I trust you,” whispered Rain.

  “I am yours to command,” said Rez’nac.

  “If you really do have a plan,” said Rafael.

  “I do,” said Calvin.

  Only Alex refused to extend his trust and, by the look on his face, he clearly thought it ludicrous, and perhaps merely the result of human pride, that Calvin would continue to insist on the drone control shuttle.

  “Alex, go scout the drone control shuttle and report back,” said Calvin.

  “I just did.”

  “And?”

  “There are a few soldiers distributed throughout the hangar, mostly a precaution to protect the technicians and pilots who are maintaining and inspecting the various craft, no doubt to ensure their battle readiness.”

  “And around the drone command shuttle?”

  “Hardly anybody,” admitted Alex with some reluctance.

  “Good, let’s move. Alex, you’re on point.”

  “Again…?”

  “Yes, again, unless you want a high energy beam scorched into your back,” said Calvin. “Now, move.”

  ***

  By the time he reached the drone control shuttle, he realized the situation had changed. One of the soldiers had shifted position; he now stood guard next to the shuttle. Evidently, they were rotating around the hangar watching for any signs of trouble. The klaxon had stopped sounding, at least, which Alex knew meant the remaining Advent Elite had all been slaughtered, and the officers on the Bridge no longer believed anybody who was a threat remained alive, even though they knew full well there were humans and a Polarian unaccounted for.

  Perhaps that’s why they’ve stationed lookouts inside the hangar, thought Alex. They probably think we’re runaway prisoners, not armed combatants, therefore only a pest to be found and captured. Not anything that could actually escape the ship and jeopardize their plans, especially with that damn hangar door closed. The massive metal door loomed over them. Alex had no idea how Calvin expected to get past that thing, and he suspected strongly their quest for escape was about to meet a swift and ignominious end.

  He held out his hand, indicating stop. Then Alex crept around behind the soldier and, with his knife, came up swiftly from behind. In the same motion he clamped his left hand over the soldier’s mouth, stifling any scream, and with his right he plunged the knife deeply into the soldier’s neck, then gave it a twist. He held him for a few seconds and then laid him down gently onto the deck.

  “It’s clear,” said Alex, his voice barely louder than a whisper, but loud enough for the humans.

  They gathered at the main hatch of the drone command shuttle. Alex was taken by surprise when Calvin pointed his pistol at him. He wondered if the human was about to exact his revenge and if there was anything Alex himself could do about it.

  “Your weapons, please,” said Calvin.

  Alex handed over the pistol he’d kept hidden in his pocket.

  “And the knife,” said Calvin.

  “Fair enough.” Alex gave him the knife, the last of his lethal weapons other than his bare hands and tactical mind, that is. No doubt the humans remained afraid of him; even before his betrayal, they had seemed wary around him. Of course it should come as no surprise they’d disarm him.

  “Now, open the ship,” ordered Calvin.

  Alex complied, using his handprint and the basic code to deactivate the lock and release the seal. With a hushed whooshing sound, the hatch slid open, revealing the innards of a drone command shuttle.

  “Everybody in,” said Calvin. As Alex stepped forward, Calvin blocked him. “Everybody else first.”

  Quickly the others filed into the ship. First Rain, then Rafael, Miles, and Rez’nac, leaving Calvin and Alex alone on the outside. Calvin still held his pistol at a dangerous angle.

  “Well?” asked Alex. “Shouldn’t we board?”

  “I’m afraid you need to take a few steps that way,” Calvin pointed away from the shuttle.

  “You can’t be serious…”

  “Do it,” said Calvin, “or I’ll light you up.”

  Alex began to slowly retreat from the shuttle, his hands raised in the air. “We had a deal.”

  “Now, now, Proxitor; don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

  The words stung to hear, not just because it meant he was being marooned here, but because Calvin had chosen to throw Alex’s own words back in his face.

  With that, Calvin boarded the shuttle and sealed the hatch.

  Well, the joke’s on you, thought Alex, as he scrambled away as fast as he could. You’ll never get past that hangar door!

  ***

  Calvin saw to it that everybody strapped in except for himself and Rafael, who he asked to join him in the cockpit.

  “I still don’t see why we didn’t kill that backstabbing lizard,” said Miles, as he fastened his restraints.

  “Trust me,” said Calvin, “alone on the supercruiser with no allies and probably eight hundred Teldari looking for him…he’s as good as dead.”

  “They might just lock him up,” said Miles.

  “Well, if they do, then we’re leaving him exactly as we found him,” said Calvin. “A prisoner on a Rahajiim ship.” With that, he entered the cockpit and sat down in the pilot’s seat. Rafael was already seated at co-pilot.

  “Now, to make this bird fly,” said Calvin, comparing the controls to those of the Wanderer. He recognized many of the symbols, but he still need some translation help from Rafael, who was happy to provide it.

  “I think it’s about time you tell me what this plan is for that hangar door,” said Rafael, as Calvin started to lift the bird a few meters. No doubt everybody in the hangar took notice.

  “Rafael, how many drones are inside this hangar?”

  Rafael checked the board. “Two, sir.”

  “Then two will have to do it,” said Calvin.

  He was interrupted by the sound of an alarm going off. Rafael ran to it, then reported. “We’re taking some minor damage in the aft plating…small arms fire.”

  “Is it any threat to us?” asked Calvin.

  “Not yet.”

  “Good, then I want you to get over to those drone controls and become an expert. You have about sixty seconds to do so.”

  Fortunately, Rafael was a quick study. “I believe I can control the drones, sir.”

  “Excellent,” said Calvin. “Tell them both to lift off.”

  He watched out the starboard window as one of the drones lifted into the air. The other drone was out of sight, but Rafael assured him they were both airborne.

  “Good, now order the drones to lock onto the weakest point on that hangar door, then unleash all weapons until they’ve run dry.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  There were loud booms and bright flashes as the drone fighters shot everything they had at the hangar door. No doubt weakening it severely, but even when both payloads had been completely spent, it hadn’t been enough to break a hole.

  “What now, sir?”

  “Fly the first drone into the targeted spot at full thrust.”

  He watched as one of the drones rapidly accelerated and exploded against the hangar door, creating a significant weakness in the door’s remaining integrity. “Now the other,�
� said Calvin.

  The second drone did the same, accelerating to the maximum speed it could, given the surroundings. It smashed into the weakened part of the door, detonating in an eruption of fire, which was swiftly blown out as explosive decompression occurred. Space was now visible through the corner of the door, and various objects, crates, even personnel were blown out through the hole, disappearing into space.

  “The small arms fire has completely stopped,” said Rafael. “Although that’s not much of a surprise.”

  “Can we fit through that hole?” asked Calvin.

  “Nearly, if we’re careful, but I’d say not quite.”

  “Then lock on weapons and give that weakened door everything we’ve got.”

  The shuttle fired its beam weapons and guns, further breaking apart the door until there was a sizable breach into space.

  “There we go,” said Calvin. “Now it’s time we get out of here.” He subtly hit the switch to begin charging the alteredspace engine.

  “Once we accelerate and exit the hangar, we’ll need to clear a distance of half a million MCs away from the fleet in order to execute a safe jump,” said Rafael.

  Calvin pushed forward on the yoke, full thrust. They rapidly approached the breach in the door.

  “Um, sir, why is the alteredspace drive charged and ready?” asked Rafael.

  “Because sometimes the only option is to do something crazy as shit.”

  It was a dangerous jump attempt, probably the most dangerous one he’d ever heard of. But he knew to try and outrun the fleet and jump safely gave them a one-hundred percent chance of failure, so he opted for the ten percent chance of success. “Ready to roll those dice?” he asked, knowing in a few seconds they’d either be safely in alteredspace or permanently cemented fixtures melded into the supercruiser’s bulkheads.

  “You can’t be serious,” said Rafael, looking nauseated and nervous as hell.

  “Time to find out how lucky we are,” said Calvin. With that, Calvin engaged the alteredspace jump sequence just as their nose was clear of the supercruiser’s hangar and he punched it.