Tassin leant closer to Kole. "What's he doing?"
Kole shook his head. "That's the... it's a distress message no one can ignore. Any ship that hears it must come to our aid."
"What good can they do?"
"That depends on who they are, but it's doubtful that anyone will get it in time."
Sabre swivelled his chair to face them. "That's not the point. The enforcers will think twice before destroying this ship if they know that others will be coming here. Even they're not above the law."
The console hissed. "I'm going to take that as a no, cyber. Prepare to be boarded."
Tassin watched the distant speck of the desert planet swell in the screens, wishing there was a chance they would reach it in time. The warships closed in, and Sabre frowned at them, then touched the console again. The engines' deceleration scream faded away and a soft hum replaced it. This time the vast electromagnetic wings were visible in the darkness of normal space, lashing out like coruscating webs of scintillating light. One struck a battleship, engulfing it in lines of brilliant blue power that crawled over it in eager tongues. The ship veered away, flames sprouting from its bow as it used its thrusters. The wing stretched, clinging to it, then snapped back into a butterfly-wing foil of light.
"That'll sure piss them off," Kole remarked.
Bolts of red light pulsed from the flank of the battleship on the other side, and Blue Sun shuddered. Sabre caressed the board and the solar wings vanished. The engines' muted hum rose to a powerful howl. Shots flashed across their bows, three hitting the battleship on the other side of them with bursts of fire.
Tarl laughed. "Take that, you bastards!"
Sabre glanced at him with a slight smile, then tapped the board again as the battleship resumed firing. The engines' howl died away, and the ship shuddered as laser bolts hit it. Alarms blared down the passage.
Tarl cursed, heading for the door. "We've got a fire."
Kole followed him, and Tassin sank down in his chair, gazing out at the battleships. "All this for one man."
"No. This is to protect their secrets."
The ship shuddered again and again, and Sabre watched the board, frowning. "They've disabled one solar wing."
"We're not going to make it, are we?"
"Don't give up hope yet."
"How many more rabbits can you pull out of the hat?"
"A few."
Sabre caressed the panel, making the engines hum again. The remaining solar wing lashed out in a web of fire, not striking anything this time, since the battleships were keeping a safe distance. Blue Sun began to spin, and Tassin looked away as the stars smeared across the screens sickeningly. Sabre took the wing offline, and they tumbled towards the distant planet. Tarl hurried in, clutching an orange cylinder, took one look at the screens and swore.
"What the hell are you doing? We can't decelerate like this!"
Sabre shrugged. "Nor can they get a grapple on us."
"Sabre... You can't do this. You'll get us all killed. I know... you're trained not to lose, but this situation can't be won. Not like this."
The cyber turned to him. "I'm not trying to commit suicide. We're at point seven light. We can achieve a safe entry speed in seven minutes at full-power deceleration, and we have fifteen minutes before we have to do that. In the meantime, they can't shoot out our engines, and if they want me alive as badly as I think they do, they have to let us decelerate."
Tarl sagged against the wall, averting his eyes from the screens. "Right. Sorry."
A slight smile tugged at Sabre's lips again. "A cyber tech apologising to a cyber? Whatever next?"
"I wish I could apologise to all the cybers I hurt."
"I'll just bet you do. Guilt is a bitch, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Are we going to make it now?" Tassin asked, in an effort to dispel the tension.
Sabre glanced at her. "To the planet, yes."
"Thank goodness." She hesitated, meeting his eyes. "I should really say, thank you."
He turned away. "It won't be any fun down there."
"It'll be better than being prisoners, or worse."
Sabre touched the panel, and the smearing stars shrank back to points of light, the planet becoming a much larger buff object. The engines howled again while the battleships moved closer. Another great clang rang through the ship.
Tarl cursed. "They're going to board us, and we can't avoid it now."
"They'll never make it in seven minutes."
Tassin, who was the only one gazing out of the screens, gasped and recoiled.
A vast black ship, so huge that it blotted out half the stars, appeared right in front of Blue Sun. A ripple of force spread from it in a shockwave that swept over them, causing the ship to veer and surge. The men turned to stare at it. Tarl's mouth fell open, Kole's eyes grew wide, and Sabre frowned.
Chapter Two
The vessel's sweeping arms spanned the screens, curving inwards towards them like a ten-legged spider. The ship's central bulk was a flattened ovoid shaped rather like a spider's abdomen, and glittering bulbous protuberances on its bow resembled multiple eyes. It appeared to be unarmed, its hull and arms devoid of the bristling spikes of laser cannons, and it gleamed like watered silk in the starlight. The tiny lights that twinkled on its hull gave an idea of its size, which rivalled the planet beyond it. Its presence and looming vastness sent shivers through Tassin. She turned to Sabre, who continued to scowl at the massive ship.
"Oh, shit," Tarl muttered.
"What is it?" she demanded, alarmed.
Kole's Adam’s apple bobbed, and he spoke in a hushed, choked voice. "An Overlord."
Lines of green fire spat from the ends of the enormous arms, which curved closer around Blue Sun. The ship rocked, then steadied.
Sabre glanced down at the console. "Zero velocity."
"We are so dead," Tarl said.
An enforcer battleship veered away, and red laser bolts shot across its bows from the Overlord's hull, forcing it to stop.
Sabre said, "We're captured."
"That's... That's Ravian. Also known as the Spider Lord," Tarl said.
The console hissed, and a slow, deep voice issued from it. "Your distress message was received, Blue Sun."
Tarl leant against the wall, shaking his head. "We are so dead."
"The enforcers are too, if that's any consolation," Kole said.
"It's not."
A hair-fine lance of scarlet light shot from the Overlord's bows and fixed upon the lead enforcer, but did not appear to harm it.
"Laser communications," Sabre explained at Tassin's puzzled look. "So no one else can hear."
"Why do they speak to the enforcers, and not us?"
"Overlords always interrogate the aggressors first. We'll get our turn."
"What are they?"
"Rulers of the known universe. Enforcers of the laws, judges, mediators, and executioners. There are seven of them."
"And Ravian's one of the worst," Tarl said.
"You mean there's only one Overlord on that ship?"
"Yeah. Each ship is designed for its Overlord. No two are the same. Prevare's looks like an eagle, Tobaran's is shaped like a fish."
"And the rest?"
"I don't know. They're rarely seen."
The needle of red brilliance between the Overlord and the enforcer ship vanished, and a stream of green fire engulfed it, drawing it to a docking port in the Overlord's hull. The communication laser struck Blue Sun’s bow, just under the screens.
"Are you a free cyber-bio combat unit?" the deep, but somehow sexless voice asked.
Tarl glanced at Sabre, who said, "Yes."
"You will be judged. If you wish to save your companions, go to the airlock and step out into space. No suit. Do it now."
Tassin leapt up. "No!"
"Be silent."
"No! You can't do this! You can't kill him now!"
Sabre stood up. "Leave it. It's over for me. This is better than l
etting the enforcers take me back to Myon Two."
"No, I won't let him kill you!"
"How do you propose to stop him?"
She shook her head. "I don't know! Think of something, please!"
"I've run out of rabbits, I'm afraid. There's no escape, but at least I can save you."
Tassin grabbed his arm. "No, please, don't do it! What if he's lying, and he's doing this just to get you out of the way?"
"Overlords don't lie," Kole said.
Sabre nodded. "He's right, they don't."
"No, Sabre. Please don't do it. After all that we've been through... It's not fair!"
"No. I want you to live. Go home, be happy, and forget about me. I'm not worth it."
"You are!"
The Overlord said, "Fifteen seconds to comply, cyber, then you all die."
Tassin glared at the vast ship. "You don't have the right! He's done nothing! All he wants is to live in peace!"
"Ten seconds."
Sabre pulled Tassin's hand from his arm and thrust her at Kole. "Hold onto her."
Kole nodded, hanging on when she fought to get free, shouting curses.
Sabre gazed at her with a sad smile. "Be happy, Tassin."
"No!" she wailed as he turned and sprinted down the corridor, vanishing around the corner at the end of it. Kole cursed when she stamped on his foot, and Tarl stepped closer to pull her into a firm embrace.
"Hush. Let him go. There's nothing you can do to stop it."
"No! He's going to die!"
Tarl bowed his head. "I know."
Kole glanced at the console. "Airlock two is depressurising."
"Let me go!" Tassin yelled, struggling afresh. "I have to stop him!"
Tarl held her tighter, shaking his head. "You can't. It's too late."
"Sabre!"
"How long can he survive out there?" Kole asked.
Tarl shrugged. "Until his oxygen runs out. Twenty minutes."
"Oh, god," Tassin moaned, her knees buckling.
Tarl followed her down, holding her.
"The outer door is opening," Kole said.
"No... god... no," she wept.
Tarl's chest heaved, and she realised that he wept too. She bowed her head and sobbed.
"We're being moved to a docking port," Kole informed them.
"I'll kill that bastard," Tassin said.
Tarl glanced up and whispered, "Don't say that. He's still listening."
"I'll kill you if I get the chance, you whoreson!" she shouted. "I'll rip out your heart with my -"
Tarl clamped a hand over her mouth. "Hush. Don't let Sabre have died in vain by causing your own death now."
Tassin sagged, fresh tears overflowing her eyes. Tarl removed his hand and patted her back as shuddering gasps racked her. "Why... why did he have to kill Sabre?"
"I guess he's on the enforcers' side after all."
"Overlords are supposed to be impartial," Kole commented.
"Let's just keep our opinions to ourselves, so we can get out of this alive," Tarl said.
Tassin wiped her eyes. "I don't care what he does to me now. Sabre's dead."
A grating clang rang through the ship, accompanied by a slight jerk, and Kole said, "We're docked."
"Why doesn't he just let us go?" Tassin demanded. "He's got what he wanted."
"I have no idea."
The console hissed, and a new, commanding voice issued from it. "Open your airlock, Blue Sun."
Tarl rose, helping Tassin to her feet, and touched a button on the console. Down the corridor, the hull door slid open to reveal three men in silver suits with tiny weapons holstered on their hips.
The foremost beckoned. "Come with us."
Tarl urged Tassin towards them with an arm around her shoulders, and Kole followed. They followed the soldiers into a broad black corridor lined with intricately embroidered white silk hangings lighted from behind by a soft golden glow, and thick grey moss cushioned their steps. Tassin gazed around in awe, and Kole's jaw dropped.
None of the three silver-suited men bothered to draw their weapons or check if Tarl or Kole had any. The corridor split into two, and they followed the right-hand fork, moving through seemingly endless skeins of glowing silk, which reminded Tassin of a tunnel spider's web. If there were doors leading off the corridor, they were well concealed, and the trio walked for several minutes through the silken cocoon.
The corridor ended in a shimmering force-curtain, which a guard deactivated to allow them to enter a vast, silk-hung chamber lighted not only by the muted golden illumination, but also glowing orbs that floated above them. On the far side of the chamber, several massive circular windows gave a view of stars and the buff planet. Three enforcer officers were lined up on one side, their black and red uniforms edged with gold. A hooded, black-robed figure sat on a plain white bench on a raised dais in front of the windows. A black veil concealed his face, and his hands were clad in matching gloves. No part of him was visible, and even his form was well disguised.
Their guards led them to within five metres of the Overlord and stepped aside. Tassin glared at Ravian, hating him with every iota of her being. He considered them for several moments before he raised a hand and beckoned to her.
"Come closer." He spoke in the deep, sexless voice.
Tarl released her, and Tassin found that her knees had turned to rubber. She stopped about two metres away, uncertain of how close she was allowed to go, but he seemed to find her proximity acceptable.
"You love the cyber."
She nodded.
The Overlord turned his head towards a man who stood beside the dais. "Summon Atrashka."
Ravian faced Tassin again, folding his hands. "You will have justice."
Tassin wanted to shout that he was a murderer, and there could be no justice now that Sabre was dead, but bit back the words, chewing her lip. Ravian stood up and walked closer, surprising her with his action and the fact that he was not very tall, despite the air of power he exuded. She lowered her eyes and forced herself to stand her ground when he stopped in front of her.
"You are angry. You think I killed your beloved."
"You did," she muttered.
Ravian gestured with a slender hand. "Bring him in."
Tassin glanced around as the curtains on the far side of the room parted and a stretcher floated in, apparently under its own steam. Sabre lay on it, and she gulped, tears threatening to choke her.
"You fetched his body?"
Ravian shook his head. "He's not dead."
"But..." Tassin ran to the still-moving stretcher to gaze down at Sabre. She took his hand and held it, revelling in its warmth. Tarl and Kole started towards her, but several soldiers barred their way.
Tassin turned to Ravian. "How did you...?"
"I translocated him. He is only unconscious."
"Why did you make him do that?"
Ravian turned away. "It was a test, Queen Tassin. You should understand the necessity of such things."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know many things. I am an Overlord."
"So you wanted to see if he'd sacrifice himself to save the rest of us."
"Yes. There is, after all, some doubt as to whether or not cyber hosts are entirely human. Having never dealt with one, I had to know how human he was, and what kind."
"And what is your deduction?" Tassin asked.
"He is human."
"The cyber would have done the same thing if I'd told it to, and that's not human," she said.
"The cyber obeys its owner without hesitation or question, but it no longer controls him."
"You thought he might be a threat to you?"
Ravian shook his head. "No. I wanted to see if he was worth saving. Overlords rarely interfere with something this minor. Our time is better spent deciding the fate of worlds or civilisations, stopping and preventing wars, or bringing aid to famine-stricken planets. The fate of one man does not usually concern us, but his plight moved me."
"I could, but that would cause the economic ruin of two planets and the suffering of millions."
"What about the tens of thousands of cybers they torture and enslave?"
Ravian nodded. "Regrettable. But there are millions of people in slavery, whose fate is not much better than that of the cyber hosts. We have to choose our battles carefully. Even all the cybers put together do not warrant the intervention of an Overlord. We rarely concern ourselves unless there are a couple of million lives at stake."
"Then why did you come?"
"Even an Overlord cannot ignore an imperative one distress call. To do is illegal, and since we make the laws we must also obey them. Now I am here, so I will interfere."
Tassin gazed down at Sabre. "What are you going to do with him?"
"I have not decided yet. Before I do, I will speak to him."
"He's a good man, kind and gentle, he -"
Ravian raised a hand. "Do not try to speak on his behalf. It does him no good. I do not judge a man based on the opinions of others."
"Then you admit that he is a man."
Ravian strolled closer. "He is a cyborg, but that part of him that is not a machine is, without doubt, a man. I have never studied one of his kind closely before. I do not use cybers."
"Why not?"
Ravian spread his hands. "Who would attack an Overlord?"
"There are many madmen."
"True, but none on this ship." He glanced around as a man approached him and muttered a few words. Ravian nodded. "Take the enforcers in tow, then go there." He turned to Tassin again. "My presence is required elsewhere. An interplanetary war has just broken out in Drevan Sector. You will be shown to quarters and wait there until the cyber wakes up."
"I would ask that we be allowed to stay together."
Ravian inclined his head. "You will be accommodated suitably."
"Thank you."
The crewman gestured to the door through which they had entered, and Sabre's floating stretcher headed in that direction. Tassin walked beside it, holding his hand. Tarl and Kole followed, and the rest of the Overlord's guards brought up the rear. The soldiers showed them to two spacious, interconnected suites, hung, like the rest of the ship, with embroidered white silk. They were mirror images of each other, and furnished with soft white sofas and glass tables, the walls between the silken hangings covered with black velvet and the floor with grey moss. In the bedrooms, more gauzy white silk festooned massive four-poster beds with quilted cream velvet covers and white satin pillows. The sumptuous grey-speckled black marble bathrooms and ultra-modern kitchens had silver fittings and black glass cupboards. Floating light globes added to the subdued illumination of the golden backlights, and the overall impression was cool, understated opulence. As soon as the crewmen left, Tarl went over to Sabre and examined him, then swore.
The Cyber Chronicles V - Overlord Page 2
