by T. R. Harris
Immediately, the trucks turned toward him, and all the heads in the back of the transports craned to get a look at him, each bringing their rifles up into their laps. McCarthy raised his arms up and out to his side, palms open, showing he was unarmed.
The lead truck stopped only meters from his position and the troops poured out the back and over the sides, surrounding him instantly. The majority of the creatures were taller than McCarthy, greyish in color, with rigid plates running along the sides of their heads. The necks were very thick and formed a pyramid shape down from the head and joining up at the ends of what would have been shoulders, if they had any. The eyes were almost solid black, large and intimidating.
So these are Kracori, Nigel thought, the new kids on the block.
An officer of some rank moved through the line of Kracori surrounding him and approached. “Who are you?” the creature asked, not bothering to draw his own weapon.
“I am Nigel McCarthy, a Human. I have brought the Juirean Hydon Ra Elys for your commander Jonnif. This is by his request.”
The Kracori looked completely confused, first by the mention of McCarthy being a Human, and then secondly about Hydon and Jonnif. He placed his hand to his ear and began to speak. “There is a creature here who says he is a Human. He professes to bring a Juirean named Hydon for Commander Jonnif.”
The officer listened in silence for a moment, and then all of a sudden his eyes grew wide. “Yes, my Ludif! Immediately.”
He returned his attention to McCarthy. “Where is this Juirean?”
McCarthy turned and pointed into the woods. “Through there, and I also have Human prisoners for Jonnif as well.”
The confused look returned to the Kracori’s face again. “But you are Human, yet you say you are holding Human prisoners.”
“That’s right. We do things a little differently where we come from.”
“That is apparent. Show us the way.”
Within a few minutes, the small clearing in the grove of trees was swarming with Kracori. Adam’s team had been bound — as had been Hydon — while McCarthy agreed to let the Kracori have their weapons in exchange for not binding them as well. Strictly for security reasons, they were assured. Then they were all led through the trees to the large transport trucks and loaded onto the back of one of them.
Soon they were bouncing across the green meadow while skirting the edge of the granite wall of the Kacoran Plain. After a few minutes, the convoy met up with a paved road, wide and well-traveled. One direction led away from the mountain and toward the city. The other climbed up the mountain, through a series of switchbacks, climbing the two thousand meters to the shear plateau above.
As Adam was jostled back and forth in the back of the truck, he looked up at the plain high above. Within minutes they were on top. They had traveled one long circle, only to end up at the same grassy landing field they’d arrived at only six short days before. And he was right. What had once been an awe-inspiring complex of majestic shining obelisks, surrounding the massive bronze pyramid, was now just a sickening pile of smoking ruble. The entire cluster of magnificent buildings was gone, now an alien environment, unrecognizable from just days before.
Chapter 20
The landing field to the north of the building complex was now spotted with nine Klin flying saucers, all sitting precariously on the shiny, round pedestals protruding from their underbellies. A camp of several large white tents had been set up close to one of the starships and the convoy made its way in that direction.
After parking, all the prisoners were herded off the back of the truck and paraded to the closest tent. A tall Kracori emerged from inside, wearing a tight-fitting vest and black pants. His arms were bare and showed a defined musculature Adam had not seen in many races — other than his own. The wide mouth of the creature was stretched into a grin, and there seemed to be a sparkle in his eye. This would be Jonnif, commander of the Kracori invasion force.
The Kracori officer from the convoy pulled Hydon forward by his arm and placed the Juirean leader in front of his commander. Jonnif grinned even wider, displaying a double row of long, sharp teeth. He made no effort to conceal them, meaning he was either issuing a challenge to the Juirean or his race did not subscribe to such covenants.
“So Lord Hydon, here you are in the flesh,” Jonnif said with immense joy in his voice. “I believe you made a vow that I would never gaze upon your intact body.” Jonnif poked Hydon with a clenched fist. “This does not appear to an apparition standing before me, so I assume you must be very troubled by the circumstance you now find yourself in. I hope so, because your trials have only just begun.”
Jonnif turned to address the officer holding Hydon’s arm. “Who has delivered the Elder to me? Bring him forward.”
The officer motioned for McCarthy to step forward. The two creatures faced each, both of similar heights and builds. McCarthy’s face remained stoic.
“You are a Human?” Jonnif asked, truly seeking the answer.
“That’s right. My name is Nigel McCarthy. You promised amnesty to the one who brought you Hydon, as well as a financial reward for Adam Cain.”
Jonnif gazed past McCarthy at the group of bound Humans standing next to the large transport. “Which of you is Adam Cain?”
Adam took a step forward. Jonnif motioned for him to be brought to him. The Kracori commander then looked back and forth between the two Humans as they stood next to each other. “I find this so confusing: a member of your own race has decided to trade you for the promise of credits.” Jonnif said to Adam, shaking his head. “The only Kracori imprisoned by other Kracori are those who have committed crimes against the race. From my understanding, you are an accomplished warrior among your people and the leader of a force fighting against the Juireans, so hardly a criminal.” Jonnif then turned his attention to McCarthy. “And yet you still take him prisoner and present him to me — for monetary gain? I find this fascinating. Your kind truly is an enigma and highly unpredictable.” The Kracori commander looked at the other of his race now standing next to him and laughed. “I will have to be on my guard with these creatures, Mininof, and tremble with fear in their presence.”
After a moment more of sizing up the Humans, Jonnif nodded to McCarthy. “I will honor my offer to you, both of amnesty and of credits.”
“For me and my team.” McCarthy’s boldness caused the Kracori to widen his eyes.
“You fascinate me, Human. We must speak further; I must seek to find your legend. And yes, your team is as one with you. You will all share in whatever fortunes befall the one.”
Once more, Jonnif turned his attention to Adam. “The same goes for you and your companions. Mininof, make preparations for a test of these warriors. Humans are rumored to be the most superior fighters in the galaxy, at least according to our former associates the Klin. I wish to see this for myself.” He looked at McCarthy again. “Come with me now; we will talk.”
McCarthy entered the nearest tent, followed by five Kracori and Hydon Ra Elys. There were various partitions within the tent, dividing it into several compartments. Jonnif entered one of the sections and sat on a couch placed along the outer wall of the tent. There was another long couch opposite him and he motioned for McCarthy to take a seat. Hydon remained standing behind the couch and under heavy guard.
An attendant entered and brought Jonnif a drink in a large mug. “Forgive me, but I am terrible with alien names. What was yours again?”
“Nigel McCarthy.”
“That is correct. Very odd, but I will respect your ways. I would offer you a liquid, but until you have been tested, what I offer could kill you.” Jonnif laughed; his mood almost giddy. He’s really stoked by his good fortune, McCarthy thought.
After another long swallow of his drink, Jonnif smiled at the large Human. “I have seen how your race is able to deceive others, as you did in the battle of Falor-Kapel. Are you aware of that battle?”
“Yes, I am. At the time, I was the lead Human advis
or to Pleabaen Linuso of the Klin on Marishal.”
Jonnif was truly shocked by the revelation. “Forgive me once more, but I was not aware I was in the presence of such an important dignitary. In such a large galaxy, it is a miracle of fate that we have met. How was it that you came to be in the service of the Klin?”
“I was one of the people taken from the Earth when the Klin were building their army. Their former advisor had grown old and sick and the Klin needed a replacement. I volunteered for the job.”
“You must know by now that the Klin have not been working in the best interest of the Humans.”
“I knew that. It just didn’t matter.”
Jonnif smiled wider and then finished off his drink. He gestured for another. “Is this attitude you’re exhibiting common among the Humans? Is there no such thing as loyalty in your race?”
“That depends,” Nigel said. “Some are more loyal than others. I happen to be more loyal to myself than to others.”
“I suppose that attitude could come in handy; it certainly has for you this day, I must admit. You not only brought me the Juirean leader, but also a very effective and dangerous warrior of your own kind — along with his support.”
It was McCarthy’s turn to smile. “I am very good at what I do. And my services might be available for hire by the Kracori as well.”
Jonnif moved to the edge of the couch, his hands resting on his legs. “You would offer to advise the Kracori in the ways of the Humans? You understand that we are just as determined to rid the galaxy of the Human race as we are the Juireans?”
“That’s fine with me, just so I’m properly compensated for my expertise and advice.”
Jonnif actually slapped his knee is a show of excitement. “Of course, Nigel McCarthy! The Ludif Council would welcome your assistance — and be willing to provide a planetary fortune in return.”
McCarthy raised his eyebrows. “I’m okay with that,” He smiled, full-toothed and unabashed. “When do we start?”
“Immediately,” Jonnif declared, rising from the couch. “You will accompany Hydon on his faithful journey to Eilsion. I will send along a recommendation to the Ludif Council and allow you to present the Juirean personally. The Council will be very impressed. Kaddof!” Jonnif cried out.
Jonnif’s second-in-command entered with a quizzical look.
“Nigel McCarthy, the Human here, has just now joined our ranks. He and the other members of his team are to be afforded our greatest respect. He will escort Elder Hydon to Eilsion and present him to the Ludif’s. Have them all moved to Dagorif’s ship for the most expedient departure.”
“Yes, Jonnif.” Kaddof turned to McCarthy. “Follow me. We will gather your companions and depart in approximately three hours.”
As Nigel McCarthy followed the gray being out of the tent, he was feeling an almost overwhelming excitement. A planetary fortune and respect from the Kracori! I’m really brill, I am!
Chapter 21
Adam’s day wasn’t going as well as Nigel McCarthy’s. All the prisoners had been taken to another tent and tied to the center support poles. They now sat on the grassy floor, struggling as best they could against their restraints. The tent served as some sort of workshop and storage facility, with several long benches set along the canvas walls of the tent and a prodigious number of crates stacked to the rear. They were offered no food or drink.
Jym was apoplectic, while Kaylor tried to assure him that it was only Adam and the other Humans the Kracori were interested in.
“Our races are known well to the Expansion, Jym,” Kaylor said. “Nothing will be gained by testing us.”
“And yet we always seem to be included in whatever misfortune befalls them.”
“That could be as much our fault as theirs-”
“I would say it’s more your fault, Kaylor. It was you who first brought Adam aboard the FS-475 so many years ago. You should have left him to die.”
“Hey, relax you two,” Adam said. “And thanks for that, Jym -
left me to die?”
“I’m only being practical, Adam,” Jym defended. “Many of the recent events in the galaxy would have unfolded just as they have if we had not met you, yet Kaylor and I would have continued with our lives unmolested — if not for you.”
Adam leaned his head back against the metal pole and closed his eyes. Jym was probably right. The sequence of events of the past three years had already been put in motion hundreds of years before Adam came along. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Now here he was, sitting on the grass of the planet Juir and about to tested — whatever that means — by a race of creatures who just kicked the ass of the most powerful force in the galaxy.
No matter how limited the Kracori time on Juir may be they had definitely left their mark on the planet for millennia to come. What the Humans would do with the burned out hulk of a planet when they arrived, Adam had no idea. Besides, with the Juireans essentially demoted now to third-world status, the fleet wouldn’t have much to do once they got here. With Juir already destroyed, the fleet might just simply turn around and go home.
But Adam couldn’t let the rest of them know how hopeless he felt their situation to be. After all, he was the great Adam Cain, Starfighter Extraordinaire!
“It will all work out, Jym,” he finally said without opening his eyes. “Trust me. We’ve gotten out of worst situations than this before.”
Jym stared at Adam for several moments before replying. “Seriously — when?”
Adam could only answer with was a grin and shrug. From her place next to him, Sherri just snorted.
About an hour later three large Kracori came and took Adam away. A few minutes after that two more entered the tent, and after eyeing the prisoners for a few moments, took seats at the benches. Only one of the Kracori was wearing a sidearm and appeared to be a guard. The other was a technician of some kind.
Adam was half pulled and dragged to a nearby tent. The interior of this one was nearly empty, just a large open area that had been set up as some kind of viewing area. Two rows of seats had been arranged along one side of the arena and even now about a dozen Kracori were milling about, taking seats and drinking from large, metal mugs. As Adam was brought in, they all looked at him with amused curiosity, like some circus animal being paraded before the crowd. This was entertainment, and after five days of intense action against the planet Juir, the Kracori officers could sure use a diversion about now. Adam Cain was to be that diversion.
Adam was placed at the center of the grass-floored display area and his bindings removed. He had no idea what the test would entail, but he figured it probably would be a physical contest of some kind, since the Kracori appeared to pride themselves on their strength and aggressiveness. It would also be to the death — his. That’s normally how these things went.
A few minutes later Jonnif entered, chatting jovially with his omnipresent companion Mininof. He barely acknowledged Adam, who stood in the middle of the arena feeling awkward and unsure. The Klin had chosen the Kracori as their physical surrogates for a reason, just as they had the Humans. Yet to the Klin, the Humans were expendable, simply to be used as fodder to reduce the Juireans numbers. The Kracori, on the other hand, had been selected to accompany the Klin all the way to Juir. Adam snickered to himself; somewhere along the way, the Klin missed the boarding call.
After passing through the crowd and sharing pleasantries, Jonnif moved into the arena and approached Adam. The Kracori commander had changed clothes. He now wore a pair of impossibly short shorts and a half-shirt of some kind with a black swatch cutting diagonally from the left shoulder to where the shirt ended just under his rib cage. Adam could see the muscles of the creature’s abdomen, showing a nicely defined six-pack. Although the outfit looked gay, the Kracori himself was intimidating.
“Adam Cain,” Jonnif said, more to the crowd than to him. “You are the first Human any of us have seen in person, although we have been aware of your race for a hu
ndred years or more. The Klin looked upon the Humans as mere savages, but useful savages. Being much more patient than we Kracori, the Klin waited until your race had advanced enough technologically before you could play a part in their ultimate plan. With a little nudge here and there, you progressed nicely.”
Jonnif moved to face him, standing only a few inches away. “But all you ever were to them was meat — but strong meat — born on a heavy-gravity rock and possessed of a combination of strength and agility rarely found in the galaxy — just as the Kracori.” A cheer rose up from the audience. “Yet unlike your race, we do not war amongst our own kind, at least we haven’t in over five thousand years.”
He turned back to the crowd with a flourish of his hand. “However, even now members of your own race betray you for nothing more than monetary gain. It is revealed now, Adam Cain, that the one trait that has made you so valuable to the Klin is the fact that you have never stopped warring amongst your kind. This shows that you will kill no matter the enemy. This trait has also made you adept at all the strategies and tactics associated with war — as well as quite the unpredictable type. As the Klin have said — savages.”
He turned to face Adam again. “I will now test that prowess. We will have a contest; I will not seek to kill you — at least not yet. However, if this test reaches the point when it appears you may kill me…” He drew out the sentence as several members of the audience laughed. “…then my companions here will descend upon you for a few moments of sport themselves. If you are lucky, you will survive their actions; let me correct myself — if you are unlucky you will survive. That would just mean another session and even more entertainment.
“The assault on Juir has been rather disappointing for warriors like the Kracori. We had been hoping for more face-to-face combat with the Juireans. Unfortunately, even as we begin our more intense sweep of the planet, the officer corps here rarely has the opportunity to experience combat first-hand. As a warrior yourself, I’m sure you are aware of such a division of labor. So as long as you live, we will make sport of you — and also of the other Humans we have captured.” He turned back to the crowd and smiled. “I only wish there were more of you!” The crowd roared.
