Star Watch

by Mark Wayne McGinnis

  Jason nodded. “I’ll contact Gunny … have her coordinate the movements of air and ground reinforcements.” Closing down his notebook, he spat, “Shit! We still have the same problem … getting anything into HAB 170 … as long as it’s bridged to HAB 7. We can’t chance opening up anything into the Minian … not with Lord Shakrim lurking around.”

  Jason saw icon movements on his HUD. The enemy was on the move. Even without the problem of bridged portals, everything they talked about—bringing in reinforcements and air support—would take time—possibly hours. The Sahhrain warriors had, somehow, detected their location and were now no more than fifteen minutes out.

  Noting the icon movements, the other two became quiet. Jason stood and looked around at their remaining assets—four hundred Sharks and about two hundred rhinos. They were in small groups—some on the ground injured, others resting for the upcoming battle. They all looked tired, and beaten as well. Jason couldn’t recall ever being in a similar situation. He wasn’t used to losing, being so completely outmatched.

  What it came down to was simple: either continue phase-shifting—hiding from the enemy indefinitely—or stand their ground and attempt to defeat a formidable opponent.

  Was he willing to sacrifice himself, his men and the rhinos, to ensure the safety of the Minian? The safety of the galaxy? Apparently, Billy and Traveler came to the same conclusion.

  “Cap … we always knew this day could come. We’ve had a pretty good run. We’ve kicked ass and lived to boast about it.”

  Jason couldn’t argue with Billy’s words.

  Traveler said, “This is a most honorable way to die … a worthy opponent. We make a stand … together. I will shed much of their blood before my carcass falls dead on the ground.”

  “Christ, Traveler,” Billy said, “can we not talk about dying carcasses just yet?”

  Traveler snorted, not replying.

  “Let’s get our forces ready. Billy, you’ve got about ten minutes to teach six hundred troops how to use that phase-shifting trick Rizzo taught me … It helped me earlier today … it might help others.” Jason tried to sound upbeat, but as the distant Sahhrain warriors moved closer to their position, he was anything but encouraged.

  Chapter 52

  Dacci System

  SpaceRunner, Planet Harpaign, Ancient Subterranean Ruins

  _________________

  It didn’t take long for the SpaceRunner to touch down on the planet surface. Boomer remained still, hidden within the secret compartment, and hoped no one would initialize their battle suits yet, as her life-icon would show up on their HUDs, plain as day. When it was safe, she initialized her own battle suit and phase-shifted over to a recently observed higher location where she figured she’d go unnoticed.

  In the gray afternoon light, other than the SpaceRunner, the Assailant alone remained on the surface. She watched as all five—Dira, Hanna, Rizzo, Bristol, and Leon, bringing up the rear—hurried down the ship’s gangway. One by one, as they initialized their battle suits, they continued heading toward the wide archway below her. By checking her own HUD, Boomer noted planetary interferences were making it impossible to detect anyone else in close proximity.

  Boomer lowered her head, while keeping an eye on them, expecting any moment for someone to look up and spot her, sixty-five feet above them. But no one looked up—no one noticed her presence. She waited another full minute, then phase-shifted down to the ground.

  At the entrance to the archway, Boomer listened for their sounds but heard nothing. She hurried forward and quickly descended the stairs. By step five hundred her annoyance grew … so many stupid steps!

  Boomer decided she couldn’t afford to lose them. She hadn’t been down here before, and didn’t have a clue where she was going. They at least had Bristol … he’d be able to figure out where to find the other portal window. She phase-shifted down the stairs, as far as her helmet light reached, then phase-shifted again. Reaching the bottom of the stairway Boomer took in the enormity of the underground cavern. Still not seeing the others she ran forward, down the wide roadway for a while, until forced to phase-shift again.

  She landed right behind the others. If the white flash from her phase-shift wasn’t enough to give her presence away, the bright light on her helmet was.

  Dira was the first to spin around and look at her. “Boomer? Damn it, Boomer! What do you think you’re doing? Get back to the surface … in fact, get back on the ship … now!”

  Boomer looked back at the five angry faces staring down at her, but kept her resolve. “No!”

  “I’ll tell your father … you want me to do that?” Dira threatened.

  “I don’t care … you don’t know what I know. You don’t know what you’re up against. Dad would be a lot more upset if you all got killed by Lord Shakrim and his warriors.”

  Dira, infuriated, continued to stare down at Boomer. Bristol tapped his wrist, reminding her time was ticking by. “I know I’m going to regret this … stay behind me … or, better yet, stay behind Rizzo. You do exactly what you’re told … understand?”

  Boomer nodded.

  “I’ve got a fix on the first habitat portal down here … it’s beyond some kind of city,” Bristol said.

  “Can you phase-shift all of us at once?”

  Bristol rolled his eyes at Dira’s apparently stupid question. “Here we go.”

  In a flash, they were standing in front of a large, fairly flat wall. Boomer stepped up close, noticing there was an engraved picture on it. “Look, there’s the Minian!”

  No one shared her excitement. Rizzo and Bristol started searching for something while Dira and Leon watched them.

  “What are you doing?” Leon asked.

  “Looking for an access panel. They’re usually hidden,” Bristol replied.

  “Be faster if we all look for it,” Rizzo added.

  While the others concentrated on the wall, Boomer held back. There were recent footprints in the dirt, the majority heading off toward the wall’s left. She followed after them until, looking up, she could see that the wall wasn’t actually solid there—there was an opening.

  “Here! It’s over here,” she called, darting forward into what appeared to be another cave chamber. Boomer heard Dira yelling for her to stop, but she rushed forward anyway. “I found it! It’s right here,” she said, running over to the ten-foot by ten-foot-wide window before her.

  Bristol ran straight to the small access panel on the left and began entering the code.

  Dira grabbed Boomer’s arm and swung her around to face her. “You can’t do that! I’m serious, Boomer. No more running ahead … do you understand?”

  “Okay! But we’re running out of time … look at your HUD … if you were right about how much time Ricket’s got to live, he’s got … like … fifteen minutes left!”

  Dira glanced over to Leon, then Rizzo, then back to Boomer again. “Just stay close to me.”

  Beep Beep Beep!

  The six darted across the portal’s threshold and continued up the stone steps at a run. Leon took the lead while Boomer brought up the rear, directly behind Rizzo. They reached the top of the steps and continued running through a narrow passageway. Up ahead, Boomer saw daylight; the last one to exit the passage into habitat 7, she knew the habitat like the back of her hand. After countless hours of training with Capri, then others, for the first time she felt back in her own element.

  “There!” Dira yelled, as she rushed toward the distant portal window and Ricket’s body, lying nearby. Hanna and Bristol ran after her as Rizzo and Leon brought up their multi-guns, surveying their surroundings.

  “Help me, damn it!” Dira yelled.

  Bristol knelt down next to Ricket and gently put his arms beneath his broken body and began to lift him.

  “You need to support his head, are you a total idiot?”

  Bristol repositioned his arm, making sure Ricket’s head was better supported, and stood up. Holding Ricket in his arms, he and Dira quickly h
eaded back toward the passageway.

  Dira rushed past Boomer. “Stay right behind me … we’re getting out of here.”

  Boomer did as told, while Rizzo and Leon—walking backwards, their weapons held high—followed closely behind them. Boomer watched Bristol as he struggled with his load, seeming ready to drop Ricket as his skinny legs wobbled.

  Bristol disappeared into the black opening. He would be the only one.

  In a mist of violet-charged light, the speed in which Lord Vikor Shakrim appeared took them all by surprise. He stood tall and imposing, directly in front of the passageway gap.

  Boomer could not have been more pleased. His eyes quickly locked on to her enhancement shield, then up to her eyes, and he smiled.

  Then Boomer realized Sahhrain warriors were standing all around them.

  “There is no reason for all of you to die here,” Shakrim said amiably. “You are, obviously, far outnumbered. Certain death awaits you … and for what?”

  Boomer moved around Dira and stood before Shakrim. “Let them go … let them back into the passage,” Boomer said.

  “No,” Dira said, doing her best to pull Boomer behind her.

  Boomer used her shield to forcibly push Dira back. “This is my fight! No one else can do it!” she said, keeping her eyes on Shakrim.

  “Do what she says, Boomer,” Rizzo said. “Get back.”

  Lord Shakrim’s expression turned stern. “The Minian is mine. The outcome here has been foretold … written two thousand years ago. You cannot change the inevitable. Stand aside.”

  “Kill us and you still won’t be able to enter the Minian,” Dira said. “You’ve gained nothing.”

  “Oh, but how wrong you are. You are the captain’s woman … and that young one, Boomer, his warrior child. Do you honestly believe the captain will idly stand by and watch while I rip the very skin from your arms and legs? While his loved ones cry out in horrific agony?”

  “He’s not on the ship, so you accomplish nothing,” Dira said, desperation in her voice.

  Shakrim smiled and looked at her—an expression of reluctant patience on his scarred face. “At this very moment, I’m sorry to inform you, in an adjacent realm, the very last of Captain Reynolds’ men are dying all around him … over a thousand humans beaten by a far superior force. I suppose they fought an honorable battle, but in the end their destiny was written, long long ago. As was mine. Your Captain Reynolds, in a matter of minutes, will be the sole survivor. Soon enough, he will be brought before me.”

  Boomer listened to Shakrim and tried to quell her rising hatred. She believed him. Sahhrain warriors, enhancement shields on their arms, were an unbeatable force. Boomer’s heart pulled in her chest as she thought about those either dead or dying in the rhino-warriors’ habitat. She looked around at the towering Sahhrain Chosen Spear warriors—each held a long pratta-shaft, plus an enhancement shield. They were the best of the best—Lord Shakrim’s most highly trained personal guard. Boomer looked over at Leon and Rizzo, still holding their multi-guns high, but she noticed no confidence in their eyes. Shakrim was right; there was nothing any of them could do … perhaps they really had been defeated.

  Chapter 53

  Dacci System

  The Minian, Habitat 7, Ancient Ruins

  _________________

  Boomer saw movement at the opening, in the gap leading into the passageway behind Lord Shakrim. She silently cursed Bristol for still hanging around … why didn’t you get yourself and Ricket to safety!

  But it wasn’t Bristol.

  Prince Aahil Aqeel stepped into the light and stood right behind Lord Shakrim. He nodded toward Boomer, a brief smile crossing his lips. He glanced first at Lord Shakrim’s back, then over at her. The message was clear … she knew exactly what she needed to do.

  Aahil’s warriors streamed into HAB 7, in a constant blur of blue skin and violet distortion waves. Boomer and Aahil attacked Shakrim at the same moment.

  Boomer anticipated Shakrim’s most likely defensive move, positioning one edge of her shield to face both down and inward as she leapt as high into the air as she could. But Aahil’s presence must have been detected before the Blues’ leader could unleash his own attack. Shakrim spun sideways, diverting most, if not all, of Aahil’s bright, lightning-like, violet charge.

  Boomer continued to rise higher into the air as her violet waves of light turned red—the power emanating from her shield was far stronger than she’d previously encountered. She flipped over backward as a stream of distortion waves from below sizzled by—just missing her head.

  She saw Shakrim and Aahil below her, their shields emitting brilliant waves, crackling swirls, of violet lightning. Boomer landed on her feet and joined in the fight. Shakrim blocked her advances in stride, dodging and spinning with remarkable agility. His cloak, a black frock blowing in the wind, twirled and twisted—making it difficult to see around.

  Twice before, Boomer had, somehow, called up the red distortion waves … waves that were far more powerful than the violet ones. As she spun and leapt away from Lord Shakrim’s advances, she consciously surrendered to that same open mindset—that place of allowing—and slowly the shield’s violet distortion waves changed hue. She felt the shield on her arm become heavier—stronger. Holding it out before her, and securing its hold with her other hand, she fired wave after wave of thunderous scarlet distortion waves at Lord Shakrim. He spun left and then right, dodging the incoming bombardment from both Boomer and Aahil. With a quick turn of his arm, the face of his shield ricocheted Boomer’s distortion waves directly into Aahil. Unprepared, the prince took the red waves directly to his face. He stumbled backward, into the ruins behind him, and slid to the ground.

  Unsure if Aahil were dead or only injured, she knew she was on her own against Lord Shakrim, either way. For the first time, she became aware of the fighting going on all around her. Blues warriors were going up against Chosen Spear warriors. Both Leon and Rizzo were still alive and fighting hard as well. Where are Dira and Hanna?

  Then she saw it … could it be possible? Was Lord Shakrim slowing … tiring? Boomer, who’d been lulled into false assumptions before, remained on guard when he suddenly attacked her. A rampage—first high, then low, then forward bursts of distortion waves came toward her. Boomer dodged twice and blocked the third volley. Bound in a sense together—neither combatant yielding an inch of leeway—both steadily held their ground as crisscrossing streams of light struck the other’s shield. Shakrim’s stare bore into her. Now anger and hatred emanated from his eyes. But his rage turned to something else when he witnessed her shield’s violet waves turning to red, as they flowed toward him. His arms, noticeably, began to tremble before out-and-out shaking took over.

  Desperate, he looked around for an escape. Boomer continued her onslaught—bringing the might of her enhancement shield closer and closer to Lord Shakrim’s exposed neck. Something flashed in his eyes that Boomer didn’t understand until it was too late. Again, Lord Shakrim used his mastery of Kahill Callan: In one fluid, practiced movement he leapt backward, raising his shield over his head, while positioning it face down and to the side.

  Boomer marveled at his quick thinking and skill, as once again her distortion waves ricocheted harmlessly away.

  No … not harmlessly. Someone was on the ground … someone had encountered the full force of her thunderous red distortion waves. Oh my God … Hanna. She’d just killed Hanna! Tears filled Boomer’s eyes and she felt her own energy draining away. Shakrim’s blows came at her now with renewed ferocity. The scarlet-red hue was gone from her distortion waves. She tried to back away, to fend off the overwhelming power of his attack. She felt something hard against her back … she’d backed into one of the ruin’s tall walls. There was nowhere else to go … nowhere to flee. The first of Lord Shakrim’s distortion wave blows creased her left shoulder, and her arm fell limply at her side. The same arm that held her enhancement shield.

  Lord Shakrim raised his shield, his face now cal
m. He looked almost sympathetic at what was to come next. He raised his shield and Boomer closed her eyes and waited.

  I should be dead, was the first thought entering her mind. It had been too long. How long does it take? She opened her eyes, not understanding at first what she was seeing. It didn’t make sense … didn’t compute. Dad?

  The fighting around her had ceased. Blues warriors and Chosen Spear warriors and Rizzo and Leon and Dira were all watching her father and Lord Shakrim. How did you get here, Dad? More importantly, How can you fight him?

  In the next instant, Boomer recognized Lord Vikor Shakrim’s enhancement shield lying on the ground—the arm straps had been cut. Shakrim was without the use of his shield.

  Chapter 54

  Dacci System

  The Minian, Zoo Rhino-Warrior Habitat 170

  _________________

  Jason was surprised to learn most of the Sharks, even some of the rhino-warriors, were already familiar with what had become known as Rizzo’s maneuver. They even had time to practice the quick phase-shifting move for several minutes before the quickly advancing Sahhrain warriors were near.

  What seemed most odd as the seconds wound down, before the final attack came, was the sense of calm he and the others were feeling. One and all they’d come to terms with their inevitable demise within HAB 7, and an almost jovial atmosphere had taken hold.

  Jason watched Billy use Rizzo’s maneuver to flash in and out around Traveler as the big beast swung his heavy hammer wildly—never coming close to hitting him. Laughter echoed across the desert from four hundred Sharks prepared to meet their Maker.

  “Incoming!” Jason yelled.

  “Lock and load,” a younger Shark, standing near Jason’s side, yelled in response. Jason spoke into the open channel. “Just like we practiced it … spread out … let’s not give them an easy target.”