by Jake Bible
"Don't care," Roak said. "If Father is targeting syndicates then that is the syndicates' problem, not mine. Deal with it on your own. You have a planet to use as a base, so you have that going for you."
"Ah, except that is the problem and brings us to why you are sitting before me, Roak," Pechu said. "We do not have this planet. We share this planet."
"Buy the impound owners off," Roak said. "Or kill them off. No more share."
"The impound owners are long dead," Pechu said. "No, Roak, we are being forced to share this planet with the other syndicates." Pechu pointed at the holos. "Specifically, Willz and Collari. I would like you to remove them from the situation."
Roak blinked a few times, glanced at Reck, who was also blinking, glanced at Meshara, who looked bored, then glanced at Yellow Eyes, who was poking himself in the cheek for some reason.
"You have dozens of armed thugs outside," Roak said. "Go take care of the other syndicates yourself."
"Why are all three syndicates on this planet?" Meshara asked.
"Stupid bad luck," Pechu said. "I retreated Shilo here because Chafa has almost infinite resources when it comes to ships and weaponry. Thousands upon thousands of perfectly useful ships sit waiting to be used. Millions upon millions of scrapped ships that can be parted out."
"Willz and Collari had the same exact thought," Roak said. "Still doesn't answer why you can't handle your own damn dispute."
"They have banded together against us," Pechu said. "When we arrived, we had three times the beings. They are winning the battle for supremacy of this planet."
"That's so sad," Yellow Eyes said. "I bet you feel awful having to battle for this smog-choked poop planet."
Klib tensed. Both Roak and Reck were on their feet in an instant. Pechu held out a hand and Klib relaxed. Roak and Reck slowly sat back down. Meshara still looked bored.
"I was just saying what everyone was thinking," Yellow Eyes said. "Sheesh."
"You were," Pechu said. "And to add to my humiliation, I am now asking the infamous Roak for help when I should be putting a plasma blast between his eyes for all the harm he has done to Shilo."
"Shilo crossed my path, not the other way around," Roak said.
"Yes and Wrenn handled it poorly," Pechu said. "He was even given a second chance and he fucked that up."
"You don't plan on making the same mistake," Roak stated.
"No," Pechu agreed. "I do not plan on making that same mistake."
"So you want us to go and take out Willz and Collari," Roak said. "What do we get in return?"
"You get the ship you're looking for," Pechu said and waved away the questioning looks. "Do not bother denying it. You came to Chafa. You must be looking for a ship."
"And you have the ship?" Roak asked.
"Eight Million Gods no," Pechu replied. "But I know where it is."
"How can you?" Reck asked. "You don't know what ship we're looking for."
"My organization may be based here, but we still have our contacts and sources," Pechu said. "Especially on Xippee. Roak asked a few too many questions regarding a former Fleet Marine named Chann. Wasn't hard to connect him to a ship that was impounded here not too long ago."
"Great. Where's the ship?" Roak asked.
"Where do you think it is?" Pechu responded with a smirk.
"In Willz and Collari territory," Roak said. "If we want the ship, we have to take out your competition."
"Yes," Pechu said.
"Well, I expected us to have to fight for the ship at some point," Roak said with a shrug. "Fine."
"Roak," Reck hissed. "We were expecting some resistance from impound security, not syndicate thugs."
"Does it matter?" Roak asked. "Worried we can't take them out?"
"No," Reck said. "There are more variables."
"Don't worry, I'm working on those right now," Roak said.
"I see them and I have a plan, Roak," Hessa said to all of them.
"See?" Roak said to Reck. "She has a plan."
"Hessa has a plan?" Yellow Eyes asked then looked at Pechu and Klib. "I don't have one of the secret implants, so I can't hear her. My body doesn't get along with implants."
"Shut up," Roak said.
"Use whatever tools are at your disposal," Pechu said. "You'd be foolish not to."
"What if we get to the ship, get what we need, and don't wipe out either Willz or Collari?" Roak asked.
"Ah, yes, that is the real question to ask," Pechu said.
The chair that Reck was seated in collapsed around her, essentially binding her to the frame.
"I will hang onto your sister as collateral," Pechu said.
"I'm going to need her for the fight," Roak said.
"But you cannot have her," Pechu said. "You have these other two, although I am not sure what this one is."
"Hi," Yellow Eyes said and waved his nubs. "I'm Yellow Eyes."
"Yeah, I'm still going to need Reck to pull this off," Roak said.
"Too bad," Pechu said. She held up a hand and cocked her head in thought. "How about you take Klib in her place?"
Roak laughed. "Right. Sure. No problem."
"Good. Then we have an agreement?" Pechu asked.
"Yep. We have an agreement," Roak said.
"Perfect," Pechu said. "Klib will lead you out so you can make it through the fog. Then she will accompany you to your ship and you can get to work taking care of my competition problem while retrieving the ship you need."
"Then let's get to it," Roak said and stood up.
"What? You're leaving me here?" Reck snapped. "Without even a fight?"
"We'll be back for you," Roak said. "Don't worry."
"I'm not worried, Roak," Reck spat. "I'm pissed off."
"No harm will come to her," Pechu said.
"Oh, I know," Roak said. "Because you don't want to know what happens to you if she is harmed."
"Two siblings caring," Yellow Eyes said and clasped his nubs together. "So sweet."
"Roak? You need to return to the ship right away," Hessa said. "Ships are arriving in the system."
Roak froze. Reck eyed him, but he shook his head.
"What is happening?" Pechu asked. "What is your AI telling you?"
"She's trying to find the ship so we attack in the right area," Roak lied. "Meshara. Yellow Eyes. On me. Klib? Lead the way."
Klib did. She walked past them and through the door to the small room. The rest followed. Once the interior door had sealed, the outside door unsealed and opened. They walked outside, retrieved their weapons, and followed Klib through the fog.
The dozens and dozens of Shilo thugs waited on the outer edge of the fog.
"Do we get to use them?" Roak asked.
"No," Klib answered. "They will be needed here to protect Pechu Magafa."
"Oh well," Roak said and began walking back to the ship. "Hessa? Grab us when you can."
They were only a few meters into their journey when Roak found himself back on the ship.
"Nimm and I have been working on filtering out the smog's interference," Hessa said once everyone was on the ship.
"Uh, where's Klib?" Yellow Eyes asked.
"I placed her in the brig," Hessa said. "We need to talk alone before she becomes part of the plan."
"We'll head to the bridge," Roak said.
They made their way there and Roak froze as he stared at the images on the view screen.
"What am I looking at?" he asked Nimm. "Tell me those aren't Skrang destroyers."
"They appeared a few minutes ago," Nimm said. "And not through the wormhole portal."
"They transported? Like we can?" Meshara asked. "That means-"
"That means the Skrang finally got the tech that Pol Hammon developed," Roak said.
"They did finance his initial research," Hessa said. "Only fair they should have it too."
"The GF is back at war with the Skrang," Meshara hissed. "There is no fair to be had with them."
"Why didn't Pechu detect them?
" Roak asked.
"They are in stealth mode," Hessa said. "I can detect them because I know what to look for. Reck has helped me with the scanners so we can filter out the cloaking and see the ships as they are. I may have also incorporated some FIS tech I stumbled across."
"Stole," Yellow Eyes said. "She totally stole the FIS tech."
"How soon will they be here?" Roak asked.
"Currently, they are staying just out of orbit of the planet," Hessa said. "I am detecting minimal power readings. Both destroyers are powered down as much as possible while still staying functional and battle ready."
"They're waiting for us to leave," Nimm said. "Even if we get the ship's log and escape Pechu, we will have them to deal with."
"There is more," Hessa said.
"Of course," Roak responded.
"The ship we need is currently being used by the Willz Syndicate as their base of operations," Hessa stated. "We will have to take them head on to retrieve the log."
"Great," Roak said. He sat down in the pilot's seat. "Hessa? Release Klib and show her to the bridge. Everyone else, strap in. If we have to hit the syndicates head on then we're doing it in our ship. We'll level the playing field a bit before we drop in and snag the ship's log. Does that fit with your plan, Hessa?"
"It is the plan, Roak," Hessa said. "Nimm and I discussed it and we believe the direct approach is the only way to proceed now that we know what we are up against."
"Then let's go be direct," Roak said. "Hessa, take us to that ship."
7.
Hessa expertly piloted the ship, not above the piles and mounds of ships, but between and around them.
"By staying low we avoid a weapons lock," Hessa explained.
"Doesn't mean we can't be found," Nimm said from her seat at the weapons console. "We've got company."
"Yes, I see that," Hessa said a little testily. "None of you need to man the consoles. I can process information and execute actions exponentially faster than any of you can."
"Oh yeah?" Yellow Eyes' nubs blurred over the controls. "Are you faster than that?"
"Yes," Hessa stated. "Because I had to undo all of the idiotic damage you almost created by randomly pushing buttons."
"She's about to disconnect the consoles, isn't she?" Nimm asked Roak.
"Yep," Roak replied. "Not that it matters. She is faster."
"Time and date," Hessa said.
"How many ships are we looking at?" Roak asked, ignoring Hessa's taunt.
"Eight," Nimm said.
"Can you not put your ship into stealth mode?" Klib asked, having been released from the brig to join them on the bridge.
"It wouldn't matter," Nimm explained. "The wash from the engines is easy to detect while we fly between the piles of ships. It creates force on the stacked ships as well as all of the dust and dirt we're kicking up with our quick maneuvers."
"There are Skrang ships over the planet that can be seen and using stealth isn't practical for this ship," Klib said. "I believe stealth mode is not as valuable as it has been made out to be."
"It has its usefulness," Nimm said.
"Perhaps," Klib replied.
"Eight more ships coming in hard from our nine!" Nimm shouted.
"I see them!" Hessa shouted back.
"She's not doing anything," Klib said to Roak.
"She will," Roak said. "Everyone strapped in?"
All acknowledged that they were strapped in except for Yellow Eyes.
"We really need to do something about these harnesses," Yellow Eyes said as the straps fell loosely about his spindly body.
"Good thing you bounce and can't be damaged," Nimm said.
"I can be damaged, just not right away," Yellow Eyes said. He turned casually in his seat to face Klib who was hanging on tight to the jump seat she'd been assigned. "You see, I can take a massive amount of damage and still keep going. The problem is that all that damage is stored in my cells then hits me all at once later. If I can't get to a med pod then I die."
"Doesn't sound like much of an advantage," Klib said.
"It has its usefulness," Roak said, echoing Nimm.
"Roak likes putting me in harm's way," Yellow Eyes said.
"From all I know of him, he likes putting everyone in harm's way, including himself," Meshara said from her seat.
"Don't get us started," Yellow Eyes said and looked about the bridge. "Right, guys? Right?"
There were a few eye rolls, but no one disputed Yellow Eyes. They didn't outright agree, but certainly didn't disagree.
Roak growled.
"Want me to say it?" Nimm asked.
"Eight more ships," Hessa said. "I know."
The ship banked hard to starboard and everyone held tight as they barely missed colliding with the abandoned shell of the aft section of a GF corvette. The broken superstructure loomed in the view screen then was gone as Hessa maneuvered around it, banking hard to port.
She dove then came up just before the ship was about to impact with the planet's surface.
"Good thing I only ate ten bowls of gump stew," Yellow Eyes said as he waved his nubs in front of his mouth. "Otherwise this may not be pretty."
"Get off my bridge if you're gonna puke," Roak snapped.
"I'm not gonna puke, man," Yellow Eyes said. "Now, if I'd had that eleventh bowl of stew, we might have a problem."
"I will have the bots ready at hand for when this is over," Hessa said. "Just in case."
"You fly the ship," Nimm said. "Ignore Yellow Eyes."
"Harsh, man," Yellow Eyes said.
"They talk a lot," Klib said.
"Yes, they do," Meshara responded.
"Does the jabber ever end?" Klib asked.
"Never." Meshara sighed. "And you don't get used to it."
The ship climbed quickly, the acceleration slamming everyone hard into the backs of their seats. Klaxons rang out as impacts were felt against the ship's hull.
"Are they firing on us?" Klib asked, her voice no longer cool and collected, but more than slightly alarmed. "Are they insane?"
"I don't know," Nimm said, "seems like a good way to take us out. Kind of the usual way to go about it." She swiveled in her seat, fighting the push of g-forces against her as the ship continued to climb. "Have you never been in a dogfight before?"
"I did not fight in the War," Klib stated.
"So?" Nimm replied. "The War ended a while back, but I've been in more than a few air and space battles since."
The ship leveled out then plunged back towards the ground. More impacts from plasma fire rocked the ship.
"Shields are at 85%," Nimm announced.
"Good to know," Roak said, his eyes locked onto the view screen and the ground rushing up towards them. "Hessa?"
"Wait for it," Hessa said quietly, almost to herself.
Plasma cannons let loose on the ground and dirt and rock exploded up towards them as the surface was shattered. The ship pulled up hard and fast then immediately leveled out and raced through the canyons of ships, dodging this way then that.
"That shook a few of them off," Hessa said.
The ship braked hard and spun about, coming to a full stop with the nose pointing back towards the carnage Hessa had just created.
"Wait for it," Hessa said again.
"Is the AI talking to herself?" Klib asked.
"Yes," Meshara said.
"And let's not interrupt her, alright?" Nimm added.
"You truly are bizarre beings," Klib said.
"Well, thank you," Yellow Eyes said. "We appreciate the compliment."
"It wasn't a compliment," Meshara said. "And do not lump me in with these beings. I am Meshara Trelalla of the Cervile-"
"Royal Guard!" Yellow Eyes, Nimm, and even Roak said in unison.
Meshara glared, but said nothing.
The massive dust cloud before them was pierced by a ship which was quickly followed by three more. Hessa opened fire with all plasma cannons then sent six missiles flying at the incoming vess
els.
"Hessa…" Roak warned.
"I know," Hessa said as she sent the ship towards the incoming ships. And the missiles that were about to impact with them. "Just wait for it."
"Oh, I'm for sure going to puke now," Yellow Eyes said as the distance between their ship and the syndicate ships quickly shortened.
"No!" everyone but Klib shouted at Yellow Eyes.
He shoved two nubs in his mouth then was gone from the bridge.
"Did he moltrans?" Klib asked, staring at the empty seat.
"Doesn't need to," Nimm said. "He's quite fast."
The seat was occupied once more with a satisfied looking Yellow Eyes.
"Close call," he said. "But all taken care of."
Yellow Eyes glanced at the view screen and let out a small burping noise. He was gone then back in the blink of an eye.
"Alright. Now it's all taken care of," he stated and lifted a couple of nubs in his own unique way of thumbs up.
Hessa dove under the incoming ships, the outgoing missiles, and the massive dust and dirt cloud she'd created. The view screen was blinded by it all for a moment then became clear once again.
Just in time to show everyone they were racing directly towards a massive pile of impounded ships of various sizes. Most of those sizes were much larger than the Borgon.
Hessa fired, blasting a hole in the column. The ship raced through the hole just before the entire column collapsed in on itself.
The ship braked hard again then turned slowly, taking in the few options for escape as more and more syndicate ships came for them. Hessa chose a direction and accelerated at a speed that would have crushed everyone on the bridge if the grav dampeners hadn't been set to full.
The ship spun on its axis, turning the view screen into a kaleidoscopic Hell. Plasma blasts from the ship, and from the attackers, turned the kaleidoscope into a psychedelic nightmare.
"And he's gone again," Meshara said.
Yellow Eyes' seat was once again empty.
Roak opened the comm ship wide. "Just stay down there, Yellow Eyes."
"Alright." Burp, urp, splash. "If you insist." More burps, urps, splashes followed.
Roak cut the noise from the speakers.
"I may be close behind him," Nimm said. "Hessa?"
"Flying. Can't talk," Hessa replied.
The ship was sideways then upside down then sideways again. They cut a corner a little close and a massive wrenching noise filled the bridge.
