The Omega Drive

by Nik Whittaker

Dack and Tylr followed the route they started on, keeping an eye out for anything that could help them. Passing several patrols with a simple head nod to anyone they encountered.

  “According to the plans Ezekiel drew up, there should be a communication centre just ahead. It should have an active roster of the Sanctum’s hangers,” Dack said, checking each room they passed.

  “Here!” Tylr called out, peering into the next room on the left.

  They stepped inside, once they’d checked that no-one was passing by. Inside they were greeted with two long banks, comprising of three computer systems in each bank.

  Tylr began tapping on the screens.

  “It’s got a full manifest of the stations log,” they said, eyes scanning back and forth, reading the information.

  “Any sign of the Journey’s End?”

  “Hang on,” Tylr was scanning as fast as possible.

  From behind them, a man stepped through the door.

  “Can I help you?” He shouted out.

  Dack spun round, tapping Tylr’s shoulder to keep working.

  “Oh, hello,” he smiled at the man.

  “You’re not authorised to be in here,” the man stepped forwards, whilst not a large man, he had enough body mass to cause some trouble.

  “We are authorised, actually, routine system checks, you know how they get sometimes,” Dack rolled his eyes.

  “No, you’re not,” the man said.

  “We really are.”

  “You’re not, because that’s what I’m here for,” the man replied, his hand moving to the CommLink on his shoulder.

  “Ah, ah ah!” Dack held a finger up to pause the man, “you don’t want to do that.”

  “Why not?” The man paused for a brief second.

  Dack dove forwards, making his fingers into a point he jabbed the man’s windpipe, the impact choking the man.

  He clutched his throat, gasping for breath.

  “Sorry, I did warn you,” Dack wrapped an arm around the man's neck, further reducing his breathing capability. Seconds later, the man was unconscious and Dack lowered him on the floor.

  “I’ve got it, Hangar 18,” Tylr turned, seeing the man on the ground.

  “Excellent, radio the others to get them to begin the distractions.”

  Tylr sent a series of beeps through the CommLink they wore, masking the message from any eavesdroppers.

  Once done, the two of them headed towards the ship. It was several sectors away, closer to the centre of the Sanctum. They had just set off, when they heard the first alarm. An automated message began to play over the tannoy.

  ‘ALERT, ALL HANDS TO HANGER 7,’

  The message played on repeat, in between three klaxons.

  “Looks like Valen and Vittoria have got the ball rolling,” Tylr smiled.

  “And it’s working,” Dack said, pointing ahead of them, where a large group of soldiers were jogging towards the hanger they had come from.

  Dack and Tylr began to jog themselves, half for speed, and half to give the impression they were being active in the alert, even if they were going the wrong way.

  As they approached Hangar 18, a second alert began to sound, this time the message was alternating.

  ‘ALERT, ALERT, SECOND INCIDENT, BRIG FIVE’,

  They stepped aside as several more groups marched past them.

  “Look,” Tylr pointed ahead, where four large information screens showed what was happening in the other areas. On the first two, the Hanger was a mix of fire and smoke. Several soldiers were trying to extinguish the flames, but every time they did, more flared up around the hanger. On the other two screens, a full-blown prison riot was taking place, Dack recognised several of the fighters as the prisoners they had brought it, but it looked as though they had unlocked all the cells, to boost the numbers.

  “Wow,” was all he could say. This plan might just work.

  They ran now, turning a corner into the hanger, they weren’t prepared for what greeted them.

  The hanger was more of a dock than a hanger. Just ahead of where they stood, the ground stopped, and past some railings they could see open space. The Journey’s End was docked against the railings.

  “They must have built the ship in open space,” Tylr said, looking at the large slimline vessel ahead of them.

  “The outer shields would allow them to remove the artificial gravity, and work as though they were in outer space, but with breathable air,” Dack added.

  “Congratulations,” a voice said from behind them. “You are correct on both accounts.”

  They spun, seeing the Prime Leader stood in front of them.

  “Unfortunately, you are still as naïve and headstrong as you were on the Axiom, caught unaware, as ever,” he smiled. Beside him a large Jackal stood, one which neither of them recognised, he wasn’t one of the new foot-soldiers, but something else.

  “Prime Leader, nice to see you again,” Dack waved with one hand, checking his revolver with the other.

  “Don’t even think about it,” the Jackal said, his mask was black but had a white trim across it which seemed to shift in the light.

  “You won’t have met my colleague here, well not recently. He is the new leader of the Jackals, designation, Cero,” the Prime Leader grinned to himself.

  The Jackal stepped forwards, and raised a large Omega shotgun.

  “I advise you both drop your weapons, and come with us,” Cero said, his voice muffled by the mask.

  Dack sighed.

  “Actually, I think not,” he said, looking over Cero’s shoulder.

  Behind him, Vittoria, Hixon, Jonir, and Lyla stood, weapons drawn.

  “Now who is naïve and headstrong?” Dack stepped forwards and grabbed the shotgun from Cero. “Thanks for joining us,” he said to the others.

  “We weren’t going to let you have all the fun,” Vittoria said, admiring the ship before them.

  “Fancy seeing if you can get her started?” Dack said to Vittoria.

  “You bet,” she ran round, towards the access ladder for the ship.

  “As for these two…” Dack started, but before he could finish, Cero leapt on the spot and grabbed the shotgun back from Dack. Spinning it round into his hands until it aimed at Dack.

  “I warned you,” he said, then pulled the trigger.

  54

  Dack moved as fast as he could, though it wasn’t fast enough to avoid the shot. His metal hand caught most of the energy from the weapon, twisting the metal out of shape as the Omega energy impacted it, and conducted through the metal. It began to glow bright white, as the energy dissipated. He screamed with pain, as the heat of the metal flowed through the connections, and into his nervous system.

  “Lucky,” Cero sneered, bringing the gun up for a second shot.

  “Wait,” Hixon shouted. He and the others still had all their guns trained on Cero. “You move, and we’ll open fire.” They didn’t want to risk firing, and Cero getting a shot off before they took him down. Pure luck was all that had kept Dack alive so far.

  Cero looked across at the line of guns pointed at him, then at Dack, and finally at the Prime Leader.

  “Are they on their way?” He asked.

  “They should be here any second,” smiled the Prime Leader.

  Cero nodded, then lowered his gun. Hixon marched forwards, and snatched it from him, taking several steps back to avoid another sneak attack.

  “Move,” he shouted at them, pointing towards the exit of the hanger.

  The others moved over to Dack, who was getting his senses back as the metal cooled. The connecting joint had melted and merged into his flesh.

  “How does it feel?” Lyla asked, checking over the wound.

  “It… doesn’t hurt anymore. It kinda tingles,” Dack replied, massaging the joint between his hand and the metal.

  As the Prime Leader and Cero reached the hanger doors, they flung open. The solid metal bending outwards from a central point, like a battering ram had hit it. Standing i
n the space, the three Endlings stood. Shai, her long flowing dress rippling like water. Beside her, Ezik wore blood-red body armour, flames around its edges, flickered with each movement. Finally Wyx, standing he would have been half the size of the others, but he was hunched over, making him look even shorter. An electric shimmer seemed to jump across his eyes.

  Without speaking, Shai raised her arm and flung a bolt of water at Hixon, knocking him off his feet.

  “Hixon! We thought you were dead,” Ezik stormed towards him, and opened his hand, a flame formed in his palm, “now we get to kill you.”

  The ball of fire left Ezik’s hand, and flew at Hixon, igniting upon impact. He screamed with pain as the heat took him. Before there was too much damage, Shai hit him with another bolt of water, extinguishing the flames.

  “We want him alive, for now,” she reprimanded Ezik.

  “You’re no fun,” the flames around his body flared up, but simmered down soon after.

  The Coyotes had been in shock at what they saw, whilst they had seen Shai, and her powers, on the Axiom, the elemental power of the Endlings’ was still something unbelievable.

  Tylr was the first to come to their senses, drawing the pistol Hixon had given them, and hitting a button on its side, the gun transformed into a rifle. Tylr pulled the trigger, and fired off several rounds at the three Endlings.

  The first few ricocheted of Ezik’s armour, hardly denting in the material, one hit Shai, and was absorbed by her watery skin. The final shot connected with Wyx in the arm.

  “Argh, fuck you!” Wyx screamed, as a dark green liquid leaked from his arm. He raised his other arm, and electrical static sparked between his extended fingers, before crackling across the space between him and Tylr.

  The blue lightening zig-zagged through the air until it reached Tylr, the impact flowed through their body, causing them to drop to their knees.

  Jonir stepped forwards, swinging his hammer into the flow of electricity. The heavy metal block on its end absorbed the power, and released Tylr. Turning to Wyx, he began to run, keeping the hammer in the path of the electricity. A primal scream erupted from his lungs as he charged.

  Lyla had done all she could for Dack, and they both turned to the fight. Dack still cradling his arm scanned the area. Hixon was still on the ground, trying to recover, and Tylr was in no state to fight for the time being, the electricity having jolted every muscle in their body.

  He and Lyla both drew their weapons, and fired at the Endlings, Cero and the Leader, hoping to distract them enough for Jonir.

  Jonir’s paced slowed, as the strength of the electricity pushed him back. Just as he seemed to come to a standstill, he pushed the hammer, the propulsion that Hixon attached to it kicking into gear.

  Wyx stared in horror as Jonir loomed above him, glancing at his allies he saw them too busy fending off the onslaught of firepower from Dack and Lyla. Hixon was on his feet again, his skin blistered from the earlier attack, but his Ion-Staff firing into Shai, her water-skin absorbing the power, but immobilising her.

  Jonir pulled the hammer away for a moment, the electricity hitting him square in the chest, so he could swing the hammer above his head. Using his momentum, he kept moving forwards, despite the lightning. His scream intensified, as he brought it down, the propulsion going into overdrive. The hammer landed on Wyx’s skull, the sound of breaking bones, blood, and flesh being crushed, replaced the static of the lightning. The small body of the Endling crumpled, as the hammer continued to press through his body, until, eventually, it struck the metal of the floor with a loud clang. A pool of dark green blood pooling around the remains of Wyx’s flesh.

  Jonir stood in the midst of the destruction, his skin crackled as the electricity dissipated. Breathing heavy, he dropped to his knees as he turned to look at the other Endlings. Their faces in shock.

  The room fell silent.

  The Journey’s End behind them lit up, the engines roaring into life.

  55

  The noise of the engines filled the room, as they began to glow a blue heat. Cero was the first to make a move. Diving, he retrieved his shotgun, which Hixon had dropped earlier. Jumping up and firing, an Omega bolt struck Jonir who was still stood over the body of Wyx. The direct hit ripped skin from his side, spinning him across the room, and into the wall, his body went limp as he hit the ground.

  “No!” Lyla ran over to him, her medical bag at her side.

  Cero turned to gun towards Hixon, who was still attacking Shai with the Ion-Staff, another bolt fired. Hixon saw it coming and rolled away, the pain of his burns shooting through his body as he did. Shai dropped to a knee, free of the Ion blast. She thrust a hand out, and a half strength blast of water hit Dack, knocking him to the ground. Ezik, now free of the gunfire pummelling his armour, gestured across the floor of the hanger, creating a wall of flames which circled half the room.

  On one side Tylr and Hixon moved over to Jonir who lay unconscious, with Lyla doing everything she could to help him. On the other Shai, Ezik, Cero and the Prime Leader stood tall, with Dack trapped with them, the flames licking his back.

  “Looks like you overestimated your team,” Cero said.

  Dack glanced behind him, the team were watching, trying to get back into the fight.

  “No, that’s not it, you underestimated us,” he replied, unable to stop a small smile escaping onto his face.

  As if on cue, the station felt like it was tilting. The floor of the hanger began to shift into an incline.

  “What’s going on, Status report,” Cero shouted into his comms.

  A report blared back through his headset.

  “The ships’ stabilising unit has been taken offline,” he relayed the information to the others.

  “What have you done?” hissed Shai, the venom in her voice.

  “You think I didn’t have a back-up plan?” He replied, “If we don’t get the ship, then we destroy the base, either way, you lose.”

  Shai turned to the Prime Leader

  “Get this fixed, NOW!” She shouted, “Ezik, go with him, who knows what these idiots have set up.”

  Ezik and the Leader sped from the room. Shai turned to Dack.

  “As for you…” before she finished the sound of a motor spinning up interrupted her.

  Above them, attached to the Journey’s End, a gun turret dropped from a hatch, aimed at Shai, and began to fire. A barrage of bullets plowed into her, the ripples of her skin turning into splashes and waves. She couldn’t resist the power, and dropped to the floor.

  “That’s for Jonir!” Vittoria’s voice shouted over a tannoy.

  Dack looked up, and smiled as he could see her through one of the windows. It had taken her a while, but she seemed to have full control of the ship now.

  “Jako,” he said into his CommLink, “great work with the Ship’s stabilisers, now get back here pronto, we need to leave now!”

  Dack turned, just in time to have his throat gripped in a vice-like hold, as Cero grabbed him and lifted him from the ground.

  “It ends now,” Cero said, his metallic skull mask inches from Dack, “You end now.”

  The grip on his throat was crushing his windpipe, Dack could feel his lungs burning for oxygen. He held up his remaining hand to free himself, but Cero’s grip was too strong.

  The room started to spin, he could barely think straight. He trying to release the grip again, but without realising he had raised his missing hand, the twisted metal on the end thudded uselessly against Cero’s arm.

  That’s when he felt it, the tingle that was still coursing through his body from the Omega hit earlier, it felt stronger now. As if he was sensing something close by, he concentrated on it, as though he was tugging at something. Once he made the connection, it felt like he had hold of something in his mind, holding it, pulling at it.

  He looked at the mask of Cero, and was sure it was shifting, adjusting. A burst of adrenaline flowed through Dack as he felt the connection stronger now, as though seeing t
he mask had reinforced the grip. He pulled with his mind, and Cero’s mask ripped off his face.

  All the adrenaline within Dack drained as he started into the face before him. He couldn’t believe what he was looking at. Staring him in the eyes, though the face was a bloody mess of incisions, pale skin and white hair, was Tanner. Before Dack could react further, Cero lost his grip, and Dack tumbled to the ground.

  As he landed, he saw Tylr, their rifle in hand, they had just fired at Cero, but as he fell from the shot, they too saw the face of their long dead friend.

  “Tanner?” Dack whispered through his recovering vocal chords.

  Cero was on his knees, and started to stand again, his body armour had taken most of the hit. He turned, and looked at Dack, his face unmoved.

  “Tanner is dead,” Cero said, now on his feet. He looked at the others who were now coming forward, the flames dying down without Ezik to keep them burning.

  Hixon stepped forward.

  “What the hell is going on, guys?”

  Lyla put a hand on his arm to stop him, and shook her head.

  “Tanner died in the explosion of the Axiom, he sacrificed himself to save us by falling into the Omega generator,” she whispered.

  “Into the Omega?” Hixon said.

  Before he continued, the station lurched again, throwing everyone off balance. The turret stop its fire, Vittoria worried she might hit one of the Coyotes as everyone lost their footing. Shai, finally free, scrambled for the exit, having difficulty keeping the fluid of her body together. In the confusion, Cero grabbed his mask and reattached it, then leapt onto the side of the Journey’s End, climbing its side to an access hatch.

  “Shit! We need to stop him!” Hixon yelled, and followed him.

  The others, still in shock, regained their energy and ran towards the ship.

  56

  On the bridge of the Journey’s End, Vittoria was rushing from console to console. The ship was built for a crew of at least five. The consoles scattered around, with their own seats, were meters apart, and to activate different things; she had to move across them. Despite this, she had fired up the basic Alpha Engine, and the security turrets. She’d seen some commotion below, but was unsure what was happening.