"No argument there," Jason said, tucking his sidearm into its holster at the small of his back. "Let's see if the upper levels have a pub that serves anything that wasn’t actually made on this shithole."
*****
"Why do you keep staring at me?" Jason said more forcefully than he meant to. Crusher simply leaned back in his chair, giving no indication his captain's tone had offended him.
"So what exactly did Doc do to you?"
"Mostly a continuation of what he'd already been doing," Jason answered defensively. "Just a little tune up on the muscles and reflexes."
"No."
"What do you mean no?" Jason said with a frown.
"What do you remember about that little tussle back there?" Crusher asked, ignoring his question.
"Nothing special," Jason said, "they seemed like amateurs. Are you thinking we should have let them go?"
"No, I couldn’t give a shit about killing a handful of lowlife murderers like that," Crusher said with a dismissive wave. "You killed both of those idiots so fast that I barely had time to grab the third and check to see how you were faring. That's why I was still holding him ... I had no time to do anything else. Those lizards weren't a pair of pushovers either; their race is closely related to Korkarans. But it's not just the fact you split a sqroro skull open with one punch or launched yourself through the air hard enough to kill the other one. It's the speed you moved at. It didn't feel unnatural to you?"
"I did feel like I was off-balance the whole time," Jason admitted. "I just figured it was the adrenaline surge. All Doc did was max out the potential my body already had. There was no DNA splicing with a Galvetic soldier, or anything like that, if that's what you're asking."
"There must be something in your evolution, some switch that allows you to turn it all on like that when in a fight," Crusher mused. "Otherwise you'd be vibrating in your seat and you'd have crushed that glass already. Interesting. You've become a very dangerous man, Captain."
"I've always been dangerous," Jason said with a wink, wanting to lighten the mood. Crusher laughed and raised his own glass in a mock salute. Crusher’s words had made him think about the unintended consequences of having his genetic code messed with. He didn’t want to tell his friend that it was likely his “fight or flight” response that had kicked in, nor did he want to bring up that it was a bit unpredictable.
They were sitting on a balcony well above the main galleria in one of the more high class establishments on Colton Hub. Jason knew there was an obvious joke there, but in reality the pub wasn't half bad. The glasses were clean, the air was filtered, and the liquor was vintage and off-world. All in all, not a bad little place. It was like a little island oasis in the middle of a sewage desert. Jason's com unit beeped twice, breaking him out of his reverie.
"Go for Burke," he said into the device.
Lucky's voice came over the speaker. "Captain, I have ensured Twingo is safely aboard the Phoenix and the ship is locked up. Where are you and Crusher?" Jason told him how to get to the bar and which table they were sitting at. "I will be there momentarily. Lucky out."
"Probably shouldn't tell him about our adventure in the tunnels," Crusher said, draining his glass and gesturing to the serving girl with a clawed hand. "It'll hurt his feelings he got left out."
"Good idea," Jason agreed. Lucky was so stoic that it was often easy to overlook that he had a full range of emotions and was actually quite sensitive to perceived insults from his friends. Fifteen minutes later, the battlesynth strode over to their table, which was thankfully tall enough that he could stand by it without looming over them, and greeted each in turn.
"I take it we have no additional passengers?" he asked.
"Nah," Jason said. "It was a scam. Trying to fleece us for credits. The usual deal in this place. What was Twingo up to? I'm surprised he didn't come back with you."
"He was very excited about some of the things he was able to procure in the lower levels," Lucky said. "It looked like refuse to me, but he paid handsomely for it." Jason winced.
"I knew his winnings were going to burn a hole in his pocket," he said, taking a sip as the other two puzzled through the meaning of the phrase. "He couldn't help himself. Every stop we make he's going to buy more and more junk until we can't even get into the engineering bays."
"Most of the items were small, Captain," Lucky assured him, "but I agree that he will likely continue to make impulse purchases until he is out of credits."
"Bah," Jason grunted, "let him collect garbage. I'll just start throwing it out the airlock when he's asleep like I did last time." He paused mid-drink as both his friends' heads snapped in his direction. Shit.
"I knew that was you," Crusher accused. "Months and months he pissed and moaned about that. All the accusing stares across the galley table. The searching of our quarters when he thought we weren't around. I should have known."
"I was aware the entire time," Lucky said.
"How?" Crusher demanded.
"Who is the only person who has the command authority to order the computer to loop the internal sensor feed so it appeared nobody had entered Engineering?" Lucky said.
"This is all ancient history," Jason said, trying to hurry the conversation along. "I would appreciate a certain amount of discretion, gentlemen."
“Discretion is gonna cost you extra,” Crusher said, taking a long pull of his drink.
“Naturally,” Jason said sourly. He waved the server over and ordered another strong drink. Now that Lucky had arrived, he felt fairly secure in kicking back and blowing off some steam as he watched the horde of beings rush around below them. Many of the shops never closed as a constant stream of incoming ships made it unwise to close down for station “night hours” and miss out on all the potential business.
The more he watched, the quieter and more introspective Jason became. All the bustling below him … like so many ants scurrying around, as loud and boisterous aliens jostled each other to get the best deal on this meaningless trinket or that. Maybe ants is the wrong comparison … they actually look like a group of humans during an after-holiday sale. Sad. He grabbed his drink, his fourth since Lucky arrived, and leaned back into his chair to rejoin the conversation with his friends. Since he was facing the entrance to the bar, he had a better view than the other two of new arrivals. Three beings stood in the entryway now, scanning the crowd and paying especially close attention to the three of them. They also looked impossibly familiar. He squinted and tried to focus his blurring vision, trying to dismiss what he was seeing.
“That’s it,” he announced loudly, sliding his glass to the middle of the table. “I’m done.”
“Really?” Crusher asked, surprised. “Seemed like you were settling in for a real bender.”
“That was the plan, but it’s getting too weird,” Jason said, slurring his words slightly between the hard consonant sounds. “I’m looking at you here at the table, which is where you should be … but there are two other Crushers over by the door. And something that looks like a half-human, half mini-Crusher. Maybe this shit is laced with something?” As he made an elaborate inspection of his glass, the other two turned to inspect the newcomers.
“Your initial assessment was partially correct, Captain,” Lucky said. “There are two Galvetic warriors and a female gelten walking towards us.”
“What’s a gelten?” Jason asked.
“It’s the actual name of my species,” Crusher said tightly, turning to face the approaching trio. “Galvetor is the name of our homeworld.”
“Ah,” Jason said. The fact that, like him, most species had a name for themselves and another for their homeworld and/or star system was somewhat confusing. Most identified with their homeworld after they’d been in space for a few generations, while others preferred their species name. Kage called himself a Veran because he was from the Ver System, but Jason was sure his kind had another name for themselves. Jason still referred to himself as human, though Earthling would work just a
s well. The fact two warriors like Crusher were approaching their table finally penetrated his awareness and gave him a little jolt of panic. “Oh shit,” he said, eyeing their progress through the crowd.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Crusher rumbled. “They may not be looking for a fight.” They waited until the lone female gelten stood at their table, the two warriors a step behind and flanking her on either side. Now that they were close, Jason could see that, while still intimidating, they were both at least four or five inches shorter than Crusher and looked to be giving up fifty to sixty pounds to his friend.
“You will tell me your name,” the female demanded imperiously. Her voice was beautiful, strong and melodic, but the edge to her tone made Jason tense up.
“My name is Crusher.”
“I will have your real name,” she demanded again, all but ignoring Jason and Lucky.
“You will get only a warning, old woman, and then you will be on your way,” Crusher snarled in a sudden display of ferocity. “I’ve no time to waste on the likes of you.”
“You will not speak so to the Caretaker, outcast trash!” one of the warriors shouted, moving towards Crusher. Things were going to shit quickly. Crusher stood to meet the challenge and the whine of Lucky switching to combat mode cut through the chaos. The female gelten, the Caretaker, calmly raised a hand. Shockingly, everyone seemed to heed her signal and froze in place.
“You will calm yourself,” she admonished her warrior, “or you will remove yourself from this room.”
“But, Caretaker!” he spluttered. “How can you let this renegade speak to you in such a manner?”
She sighed, turning back to the table. “Because he is Lord Felex Tezakar, the Guardian Archon of Galvetor, and he may speak as he wishes,” she said quietly, locking gazes with Crusher. There was a clatter as both warriors dropped to their knees, placing their foreheads on the floor and prostrating before Crusher.
“Tell them to get up,” Crusher growled. “They’re making a scene.”
“You know that I cannot do that,” the Caretaker said. “Only you can command them.” The snarl that emanated from Crusher convinced Jason that he was about to strike the woman. Instead, he turned to the two warriors.
“Rise,” he said simply. “Quickly! Off the floor, you fools.” Both warriors climbed to their feet but kept their eyes downcast, refusing to meet Crusher’s gaze.
“Please forgive us, Lord Archon,” the one who had threatened him said. “We thought you long dead. Never would we raise arms against you.”
“So,” Jason said conversationally, “anybody care to fill Lucky and I in on what the hell is going on?”
“We should get to the ship, Captain,” Crusher said. “And as quickly as possible.”
Chapter 6
“Hey, Captain,” Twingo called over his shoulder. He and Kage were hunched over something in the cargo bay that looked, at least to Jason, like a twisted chunk of space garbage. “What’s new?”
“We’ve got some guests if you two would like to stop playing in the trash,” Jason said. Both of them spun around, then walked over to where Lucky and Crusher were also coming up the ramp, followed closely by their guests from Galvetor.
“Guys, these are—”
“Oh, shit!” Kage suddenly exclaimed as he spotted the two additional warriors. “There are three of them now.” He actually turned and looked like he was going to flee back up into the ship, but Twingo reached out and grabbed his collar.
“Calm down, damnit!” the engineer said through clenched teeth. “You’re embarrassing us.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Jason ground out before turning back to where the others had stopped to observe the commotion. “Don’t mind him,” he said with a smile. “He just gets a little excited. Anyway, as I was about to say, this is … you know, other than Caretaker, I have no idea who any of you are.”
“Caretaker is simply an informal title,” the female gelten said with a slight smile. “A term of familiarity and respect, if you will. My name is Connimon Helick. The warrior to my right is Morakar Reddix and his younger brother, Mazer Reddix, is to my left. We are not a species particularly obsessed with formality, Captain. You, and your crew, may simply address us by our given names.”
“Simple enough,” Jason said. “This is my engineer, Twingo, and our excitable code slicer, the one with two extra arms, is Kage.”
“Greetings all,” Connimon said with a nod of her head. “Captain Burke, while I look forward to filling you in on why we’ve sought you out, I feel that it would be prudent to launch as quickly as possible. I can’t be sure, but we may have been tracked.”
Jason sighed heavily, getting a sinking feeling he was getting involved in something he would rather not. Again.
“Very well,” he said. “Kage, Twingo … go up front and get us flight prepped and cleared for launch. I’ll be up shortly.”
Twingo turned to look longingly at the pile of trash on the bay floor. “Captain, I was sort of in the middle of—”
“Now!”
“Right.”
“Connimon,” Jason said carefully, “while we’re not necessarily a danger-adverse group, what assurances do you have that I’m not taking my ship and crew into a war?”
“I have none, Captain,” she answered bluntly. “But if you care for Felex at all, this is something you will find worth the risk.”
“Who is Felex?” Kage asked from behind him. Jason didn’t answer; instead he simply turned and glared at him.
“Fine,” Kage huffed, “I’m going.” Jason watched him until he had made it all the way up the stairs to the mezzanine that led to the crew entry hatch. When he turned back to suggest they also enter the ship, he saw that Crusher (he still couldn’t think of him as Felex Tezakar) was standing near the ramp, arms crossed, with an openly hostile expression on his face.
“Crusher,” he said. “Go ahead and close her up, I’ll take our … guests … up to the bridge to get settled in for departure.” Without a word, Crusher turned and smacked the controls to close up the ramp and pressure doors hard enough that Jason was surprised the control panel wasn’t torn from the pedestal. Wisely choosing to ignore his friend’s abuse of his ship, he turned and ushered the rest of the geltens up the steps and through the ship.
*****
“There’s one thing I love about Colton Hub,” Kage said as he scanned the surrounding traffic. “Once we clear the doors, we’re free navigating and no pain in the ass departure control to argue with. By the way, we’re on a collision course with that light-freighter. Range is fifteen thousand kilometers.”
“I’ve got him,” Jason said, nonplussed as he continued to swing the nose of the Phoenix around to line up with their mesh-out vector. “Keep scanning for anybody taking an unhealthy interest in us. By the way, Connimon, how did you get to Colton Hub? Are you leaving a ship here?”
“We paid for passage aboard a freighter of ill-repute,” she said simply. “The voyage was … unpleasant. This is an impressive vessel, Captain.”
“Thanks,” Jason said absently. Her story of flying in aboard some random smuggler’s scow raised more than a few flags in his mind. Their decision to go to Colton Hub had been a spur-of-the-moment choice when they had flown off of Aracoria. There was no possible way they could have known their destination, much less their arrival time and where they’d be on the massive deep-space station. He filed those concerns away for later when he would have a chance to sort out exactly what was going on.
There was another concern he had with two Galvetic warriors standing on his bridge. Although smaller than Crusher, he had no doubt they could be a deadly duo if things turned violent. It was fortunate he had a trump card in his hand that could nullify the advantage of even two Galvetic warriors. He subtly turned to Lucky and scratched his ear with three fingers, a seemingly meaningless gesture that the battlesynth would recognize as part of their prearranged signals: keep an eye on the two heavies and be ready for anythin
g.
When he turned back to the forward canopy, he caught Connimon looking directly at him. Her mouth twitched up in a small smile and she shook her head, as if in amusement, before turning back to the terminal she was sitting near. Damn, she caught that and she’s only just met us. The brothers may not be the most dangerous passengers after all. All the terminals not in use by crew members were displaying a generic flight status for the benefit of their guests. There was nothing to see outside the canopy in interstellar space save for a few random uninteresting points of light against the black.
“We’ve got a fast mover coming around the station, Captain,” Kage reported. “I can’t identify a class or type, but they came from the far docking complex.”
“Do they look like they’re tailing?” Jason asked, advancing the throttle up further.
“We’re the only ship on this vector and they’re coming around awfully fast on what looks like an intercept—”
He paused, frowning. “They’re gone.”
“What do you mean, gone?”
“I mean they’ve disappeared from the scope,” Kage said. “I’m running full active scans and they didn’t stop, explode, or turn back … they’re just gone.”
“Sensor stealthing?” Jason asked Doc in disbelief.
“It would appear so,” Doc said doubtfully. “But …”
“But we’ve never seen anything outside of the ConFed Spec Ops Section that has that sort of tech,” Crusher finished for him.
“I’m getting ghosts of returns along their projected flightpath,” Kage said. “They’re definitely trailing us, but don’t look like they’re making any move to overtake us.”
“Twingo, do we have full power?” Jason asked.
“We’re ready for anything,” Twingo affirmed. “What do you have in mind?”
Jason didn’t hesitate or second guess himself. “Full combat mode!” he barked as he swung the Phoenix around to head back the way they had just come and slammed the throttle down to the stop. “Kage, prep a tachyon burst bomb.” The gunship shot back towards the station, accelerating into the traffic patterns that were drifting lazily to and from the docks arms. The com began squawking warnings and queries the closer they came, but the crew ignored them. “Are they coming about?”
Omega Force 5: Return of the Archon Page 4
