by Gini Koch
Jeff wasn’t wrong to be worried. The Q’vox scientist’s suggestion had been personal beaming tech. It was smaller, faster to create, and had the added advantage of being something the wearer, as well as the main controller in the helicarrier, could utilize. The Q’vox, being big, lumbering beings, used similar on their home planet to go long distances without killing themselves or it taking forever.
The issue had been that the Faradawn’s beaming tech didn’t “divide up,” so to speak, and they’d been trying to figure out how to replicate it in time. The Z’porrah power cubes solved that issue.
Chuckie had had to spend some time explaining how the power cubes worked, since he was the one of us who understood them best. Due to a variety of factors, he’d ended up on the helicarrier with the rest of the team, just in case he had to use one of the spare power cubes to beam over to save someone. He was also running the main beaming control. Thankfully, we were all adaptable and he still had all his brain.
So the rest of us were wearing serious bling, since the power cubes glowed various shades of gold and bright white, and they were encased in the personal beaming contraption that made us all look like we were Flavor Flav wannabes.
No one liked the idea that the only thing allowing us to get to safety was, essentially, a target hanging right in the middle of our chests. But we had no time for better options.
Our guns, on the other hand, we were all jazzed about. They were the typical Drax design of totally badass cool, and they had three settings—devolve, clone, and dust. No one had had time to fiddle with the original design to remove either the cloning or devolving features. That was okay—we’d all just flipped the switch on our guns to dust and called it good.
We’d gotten prepped while the helicarrier rose up out through the Earth’s atmosphere. Now we were all at the main operations area, hanging with Chuckie and the flyboys, watching our world fall away from us. Chuckie and the flyboys were also in battle gear, and the flyboys were wearing the funky helmets that allowed them to use this ship essentially as if they were Vata.
“We have clearance,” Hughes said calmly. “Passengers and crew, brace for escape velocity.”
“Seatbacks and tray tables up,” Jerry said cheerfully.
“You may feel a slight pulling sensation,” Walker added.
Joe and Randy had Lorraine and Claudia standing right by them, and they indicated that their wives should hold onto the restraints keeping the guys in their seats, which the girls did. Quickly.
The command area was circular and there were metal poles around and within it. White took hold of one and indicated the rest of us should follow suit. Jeff grabbed one and me just in time, as Hughes hit the gas or whatever the helicarrier’s equivalent was.
I was too busy trying to get my feet back on the floor to care.
The “slight pulling sensation” was more like being sucked at by the biggest vacuum cleaner in the world and just as pleasant as that sounds. It was over relatively quickly, and none of us were hurt, but that was only because Gower had managed to grab Abigail and Rahmi caught Rhee.
“Really?” I asked once we were all back on our feet and steady again. “That’s your idea of a warning?”
Joe grinned at me. “If we can’t have fun with our jobs, why would we want to do them?”
“Other than that whole saving the galaxy thing,” Randy added.
Walker nodded. “We just enjoy keeping things light and all of you on your toes.”
“We weren’t on our toes,” Abigail pointed out. “In case you missed that.”
Jerry ginned at her. “Oh, I make sure I never miss anything you do.” She laughed and Gower rolled his eyes.
“We will now be proceeding to the main event,” Hughes shared, sounding far more official than I was used to. But then again, he was the head dude whenever the flyboys were rolling, and that meant he got to joke the least in these situations. “Kitty, just want to say that if we get home and the American Centaurion flag is still an issue, a picture of you flying sideways is always an option for a new design.” Relatively speaking, apparently, on that whole serious thing.
We had NASA Base on the line, and were, in fact, talking to Jeff’s dad. Because the extra pressure was apparently something the cosmos felt we all needed. But Jeff didn’t seem thrown by it, so decided not to worry. And it was nice to hear another friendly voice.
“Alfred, where is the Z’porrah ship?” Chuckie asked.
“They just passed Mars and have shared that the Aicirtap are right on their tails.” He cleared his throat. “They’ve shared farewell messages they’ve asked us to get to their loved ones.”
“Screw that. Matt, put the pedal down.”
“You got it, Commander.”
Felt the ship moving faster. “Will be to the Z’porrah ship in thirty seconds,” Walker said.
Chuckie whistled. “Damn.”
“We’re in a new age, son,” Alfred said. “Just ensure that all of you survive this to see it.”
“Slow down once we reach the Z’porrah ship.” Turned to Wruck. “You sure you’re up for this, Martian Manhunter? Not only the risk, but seeing Ancients and Z’porrah both?”
“I am.” He flipped his blast visor down. “Alfred, please advise them that I’ll be boarding via unconventional means.”
“Already done,” Alfred replied.
Wruck went to Walker’s station, which had the largest viewing screen. We basically pulled up alongside the Z’porrah ship by circling around them and matching their velocity, which was damned fast. But not as fast as we’d been going.
“See you on the other side,” Wruck said. Then he touched his Beaming Bling and disappeared.
“John Wruck is confirmed to be on the Z’porrah ship,” Alfred said a few seconds later. “Alive and well.” And totally on his own now. No one had had a guess for what range the Beaming Bling might have, Z’porrah power cube or no Z’porrah power cube. And we knew it wasn’t capable of interstellar transfers, or else LaRue wouldn’t have based on Earth.
“Great. Matt, let’s move it, we have a fight we’re late for.”
We swung back around and headed off for Mars. Would have totally been excited, but this wasn’t going to be the trip where mankind stepped onto the Red Planet. This was the trip where we hoped to keep Earth from becoming a second Mars—all red and devoid of life.
My music turned on. “I Can Change” by Brandon Flowers. We were back to inscrutable clues unless Algar wanted me to change my plans, which seemed unlikely, since I was pretty sure this was exactly what he’d wanted us doing.
We started slowing down. “Aicirtap fleet in enhanced visual range,” Walker said. He did something, and what he was seeing flipped up onto a large screen that lowered from the ceiling. Drax was one with the idea of impressive luxury extras.
What we saw was a lot of dark silver ships massed near Mars. They were relatively small, all things considered, and were yet another new design. They were rounded and kind of hunched, with a long nose, what kind of looked like a thick shell on top that might be the entry and exit hatch or might not be, four extended legs in the rear, two smaller legs that faced forward in the front, and a rounded engine on either side, sitting right above the back legs. There were strong lights beaming out from right next to the engines.
“You know what I don’t see?” I asked, as my music changed to the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ “When I Change Your Mind.”
Still had no idea what Algar meant. Possibly because I was tired and hungry. Despite checking in regularly with Mr. Watch, which shockingly wasn’t working in space, time had jumbled completely for me. Not only could I not remember the last time I’d eaten—though I suspected it was when I’d been with Raheem—but my body had no idea what time zone it was in, let alone what time zone it was going to consider home when it cashed the check my adrenaline had been writing. And, de
spite the situation, said adrenaline wasn’t recharged yet.
“Gun turrets,” Chuckie answered. “I don’t see torpedo bays, either.”
“They just may be waiting to shoot at us,” Hughes warned.
“Refugees share that the Aicirtap have been, ah, hands on,” Alfred said.
“Maybe they don’t shoot?” Jeff asked, sounding like he didn’t believe any sentient race didn’t use guns of some kind. Tended to agree with him.
“Muddy is with me,” Alfred said. So that’s where he’d gone. Interesting choice. “He shares that, before the uplift, the Aicirtap did not use projectile weapons of any kind.”
“Interesting,” Chuckie said. “That means they’re all hand-to-hand. Meaning it’s even more dangerous for all of you. Because they won’t be shooting at you, where you have a hope of avoiding the bullets or lasers or whatever if you’re fast enough. They’ll be grabbing you, and I can guarantee, based on the pictures that we’ve seen, that they don’t follow the Marquess of Queensberry rules.”
“Huh?” Jeff said.
“They don’t fight fair,” I translated. “And they’ll happily gang up on us.” Meaning we were going to have to be really damned fast. Hoped the new weapons were up to it. But this was their first test, and if they didn’t work, then our only choice would be to escape or go down fighting against a race that apparently really enjoyed their work when it came to rending and destroying other living things. Tried not to feel afraid. Failed.
The song ended, my music switched to The Fray’s “How to Save a Life,” and I heard a voice in my head.
Mommy, are you there?
Jerked. Jamie, is that you?
Yes. Why are you so frightened?
I can’t explain it right now, sweetheart. The last thing I wanted to do was tell my little girl what was scaring me and why.
I think you need to have a snack and a nap.
Managed to control the Inner Hyena—I’d said this to her a lot and she was parroting it right back, with the exact same inflections I used. I’m sure you’re right, but, sadly, Mommy has to wait to do either. Are you and your brother okay?
Yes. That’s not why I’m talking to you. She sounded impatient.
Okay, then why?
Fairy Godfather ACE needs to tell you something, but he can’t, because things are watching.
Things. That boded. Are they trying to hurt Fairy Godfather ACE or you?
They can try. She sounded just like me again—my little girl was ready to share that the cosmos could feel free to bring it.
Okay, well, I’ll try to figure it out, then. I don’t want you or Fairy Godfather ACE hurt, Jamie.
I know, Mommy. I don’t want you or Daddy hurt, either.
Considered this statement. Um, Jamie, are you the reason why all the emotions aren’t hurting Daddy?
Yes! Because Daddy needs to be okay right now.
I’m glad you’re protecting him, but isn’t that hard for you?
Not really.
Not really. Wow. Hoped she wasn’t lying. Well, Daddy would agree that if it is hurting you, even a little, to protect him, that you should stop. Okay?
Okay, Mommy.
Promise me, Jamie-Kat. Mommy and Daddy want you protecting yourself, Charlie, and Fairy Godfather ACE more than us, and if it’s a choice between you or us, you pick you. Promise me.
I promise, Mommy. She sounded angry.
I don’t want to upset you, or for you to think we don’t love and appreciate you, baby. It’s just that we love you and your brother so much, you two getting hurt is the worst thing in the world to me and Daddy.
I know, Mommy. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the things. The things say it’s cheating for any of us to help you, but the things are cheating, too, and I’m not going to let them. Because cheating like this is wrong. Now it sounded like she was talking to or at someone else in addition to or instead of me. You need to flip the switch, Mommy.
Um, that’s what Fairy Godfather ACE wants to tell me? To flip the switch?
And that anything or anyone can be put back to how they were. If you have the right tool with you.
Could tell she was trying to give me clues in the way that ACE and Algar did—obscurely. Had to say this—she had it down. Though, had a feeling the obscurity was more on my side than hers—I was clearly missing the obvious.
The life you save doesn’t have to be yours. The change you make doesn’t have to be to your plan, Mommy. Well, not to most of it.
Um, okay, sweetheart. Mommy will think hard about all of this.
Okay, Mommy. Fairy Godfather ACE says you always think right. Love to Uncle Chuckie. And then the presence in my mind was gone.
She hadn’t sent love to her father, or me. Only to Chuckie. Looked at him. Why only Chuckie? It was a clue, the biggest one, apparently, because it was making me think. Why would Jamie tell me to give her love to Chuckie in this situation?
Got nothing. Other than the feelings of failure and letting my daughter down.
Heaved a sigh and turned to look at the Aicirtap fleet. There were a lot of ships out there. Presumably all packed to the gills with beings that wanted to eat us all.
The music switched again. To Puddle of Mudd’s “Change My Mind.”
Started to laugh. “Oh, my great gods and protectors, I will give myself the most major of duhs on this one. But, don’t worry, baby—my brain has finally chosen to join the party.”
CHAPTER 96
“WHAT IS IT?” Jeff asked worriedly. “What are you talking about? You seemed out of it for a couple of minutes.”
“I was, but I’m back.” Considered next moves. Decided it was time to do what I did best—go with the crazy. Focused on the lead Aicirtap ship. “Wait for my next order.” Touched my Beaming Bling and the helicarrier wasn’t there anymore.
Instead I was at the command center of the ship I’d focused on. Didn’t stop to stare at the Aicirtap all around me, who were all reacting to my sudden appearance by flapping their gigantic mandibles and pincers and such. Flipped the switch on my gun from Dust to Devolve. And fired at the first Bug Person I saw.
The guns were sporting self-contained nukes, thanks to the A-Cs, who had these lying around the Science Center like party favors. Meaning the shot was powerful and faster than the Killer Octopus had been.
Didn’t stop to see what was going to happen, just spun and shot every Bug Person near me as fast as I could. The weapons had been created to fire as fast as an A-C could work the trigger, meaning fast. And adrenaline had done me a solid and shown up when I needed it—I was revved up as if I was at the height of my rage. But I wasn’t angry. I was inspired.
Did a full revolution, hitting at least twenty Aicirtap. Then took a fast look around. The ship was set up for beings with multiple limbs and had a very insectoid feeling, which wasn’t totally a shock. Had no idea if the flyboys could work the controls I saw, but doubted that I could.
My music changed to “Built for Speed” by the Stray Cats. It was nice to be back in sync with Algar.
Would have spent more time in perusal and/or rocking out, but all the hints and what I’d hoped for was paying off—the Aicirtap I’d hit were shuddering and appeared to be smaller. Not a lot yet, but perhaps undoing someone else’s evil work took time.
Time to zap again, since the rest of the Aicirtap I could see were converging on me. My adrenaline was at an all-time high, and it was like everything was in slow motion. Zapped, ducked, zapped, dodged, zapped, zapped, leaped, zapped, rolled, and on and on. Managed a very impressive run up the side of a wall then backwards somersaulting flip, while zapping every bug in sight. I was like a live-action ad for Raid.
Landed in an impressive catlike stance because no one I wanted to impress was around to see it. As near as I could tell, I’d zapped every Aicirtap if not on the ship, then at least that ha
d come into the command deck area, or wherever I was.
The first one I’d hit stopped shuddering. It had been as Muddy had described—about three times bigger than Kyle. Now it was just Kyle-sized, so still a hell of a lot bigger than me.
It made noises for a while, then suddenly I could understand it. “Sorry, you’ll need to repeat yourself, missed anything you said prior.”
“What . . . what did you do?” it asked me. Couldn’t tell if it was a male or female.
“I think I just turned you back into what you used to be. Hopefully still as smart as you used to be, but if not, apologies in advance.”
It looked around as “Victim Of Circumstance” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts came on. “Why are we in warships?”
“Oh dear. Um, this is probably going to sound like so much lying, but the uplift the Z’porrah gave you made you three times bigger and turned you into murderous monsters. You’ve torn up a great deal of this side of the galaxy.”
“That . . . that is impossible. We are a peaceful race! Our ships are defensive, only.”
As it said this, more Unzapped Aicirtap arrived. The Zapped Aicirtap all screamed. Yeah, that was the galaxy’s reaction, too. “Sorry, gotta save you from yourselves.” Zapped the newcomers using rapid fire. Got them all. Blew on the end of my gun. “I think I’m enjoying cleaning up this town. You were saying?”
“Why did you do that?”
“Um, to save you from your crewmates or relatives or whatever.”
“No, I meant blowing on your gun.”
“Oh, that. It’s a human thing from the part of Earth where I was born.”
“Earth! What is an Earthling doing out here?”
“Um, not sure you’ve been following me, but you are in my solar system.”
“No,” the Zapped Spokes-Aicirtap said. “That cannot be.” It ran to look out. “What have we done?”
“Lots of horrible things. You need to do a headcount, right now. I need to know if I’ve hit all your crew or if there are more of you here.”
“I have no idea.” It turned back to me. “I remember . . . a terrible dream. A nightmare.”
