Gateway (Gateway Series Book 1)

by Brian Dorsey

  ‘Unidentified Xen warship, this is Port Royal Space Control. State your intentions and cargo, and standby for charge assessment.’

  The pilot stared at Stone blankly.

  “Port Royal, this Falcon 456,” answered Stone, picking up the communicator. “Visiting for leisure, three onboard, two will be off loading. Stay indefinite.”

  ‘Standby Falcon 456.’

  Falcon 456, this is Port Royal. State name of polis entry.

  “All public polis.”

  ‘Standby.’

  Another minute passed.

  ‘Falcon 456, this is Port Royal. Cost for access is 2000 Humani or acceptable equivalent. What are names of off loaders?’

  “Undeclared.”

  ‘Undeclared, over. Cost for undeclared arrival is additional 2000. Do you accept charges, over.’

  “Port Royal, this is Falcon 456, charges accepted. Request vector for docking.”

  Escorted by the two fighters until its final approach, the falcon drifted into its mooring amidst the flurry of activity around the port. As the mooring lines locked the ship into place the pilot spoke.

  “You will be hunted for the remainder of your days. You will not be able to escape the reach of the Xen military.”

  “Maybe so, Lieutenant, but they won’t find it out from you,” said Stone.

  A shot from Stone’s pistol echoed through the cockpit.

  “At least until you reach Humani forces,” he added.

  The startled pilot relaxed his body. Stone saw him draw in a massive sigh of relief as he realized Stone’s target was the ship’s communications system.

  “Which should take a little while without jump capability,” added Stone as another shot disabled the jump navigation system.

  “You are only slowing the inevitable, traitor.”

  “This should slow it a little more then,” replied Stone as he brought the grip of his pistol against the pilot’s temple.

  Having incapacitated the pilot long enough to make his escape, Stone returned to Mori. She lay motionless where Stone had placed her after the fight. Stepping over Victor’s body, he leaned down and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. As he exited the ship, he was stopped by two security guards and a well-dressed man carrying an electronic ledger.

  “Welcome to market polis, Mister…oh, I see you are undeclared. That will be 4000 Humani.”

  Stone reached into his pocket to present a Xen military exchange card. He had several 5000 Humani cards. They were often used to fund expenses on expeditions into the Dark Zone or for high-ranking officials’ more discreet activities. Although Port Royal accepted almost all forms of currency, including archaic paper and coin, the Xen military exchange cards could only be purchased by First Family patriarchs, current or former Senators, and through Humani High Command; they were untraceable by design.

  “Thank you, Sir. Here are your passes and a data chip providing you with our rules and regulations and a map of the authorized polis. You will be guests A2701 and A2702. Basically, you can do as you please as long as you do not attempt to enter the Administrative polis and follow all orders of security personnel. Enjoy your stay.”

  ***

  Carrying Mori through the streets, Stone struggled to operate the electronic pad containing the map of the various polis. Fumbling with the screen pads, he meandered through the crowded streets. Making his way past Recreation Girls, animal traders, and every other sort of panderer and vender one could imagine, he searched for someplace to hide for a few days. Finally, he saw a building marked ‘Lodging and Recreation Rooms’. “I think this will do,” Stone whispered to a semi-conscious Mori.

  Stone entered the lobby and walked to a beautiful woman behind a large glass desk.

  “Welcome to the Relaxation Building M-12,” said the well-endowed and glamorous looking lady. She took a slight pause as she looked at Mori, half-conscious with her arms draped around Stone’s shoulders. “If you would like a little more ‘lively’ entertainment, I can contact one of our associate recreation houses and have—”

  “That will not be necessary. Thank you,” interrupted Stone.

  “Very well, Sir. The room will be 300 per day,” replied the woman as she began selecting touch screens on the desk. “May I have your passes please?”

  Stone handed over the passes and an exchange card.

  “I see you are undeclared, Sir. Are you expecting any visitors?”

  “No. No visitors.”

  “Very well, Sir. Enjoy your stay,” she replied as she returned the passes and handed him a room card.

  Stone quickly made his way to the elevator. The elevator dipped slightly as it started its ascent, and Mori looked up toward Stone. “It’s going to be okay,” he said in a reassuring voice.

  Mori tucked her head back into his shoulder.

  After a short elevator ride Stone found the room and, with Mori still in his arms, opened the door.

  The room was as well-kept as was everything else in the city. Stone walked over to the bed and gently laid Mori down. As he did, Mori, still weakened, spoke.

  Ty, where are we?”

  “Port Royal. We should be able to lay low here until you are better and give us time to decide what to do next.”

  “Friends…friends here.”

  Stone leaned in closer to hear her mumbled words. “What?”

  “There are contacts here. They can…help.”

  “Later. Rest for now,” replied Stone as he pulled a blanket over Mori. “I will find us some food.”

  He leaned in further to place a light kiss on her forehead. She had already drifted back into a deep sleep.

  ***

  When Mori awoke a strange man was looking down at her. Startled, she recoiled away from him.

  “It’s okay, he’s a medical tech,” said Stone in a reassuring voice. “He’s making sure you are okay.”

  Finishing up his examination, the medic walked over to Stone and spoke. “She has several bruises and two broken ribs. She’s taken quite a beating. How did this happen?”

  “I paid you enough not to ask questions, doc. Just tell me what we need to do to get her better.”

  “Well, physically speaking she just needs some rest, but that’s not going to be the hard part.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Her hemo-sample analysis shows high level of opia and neuro meds in her system. The next few days are going to be hell for her; if it’s your intention to clean her up. If not, I can direct you to a meds market…”

  “No. She needs to be free of the drugs.”

  “As you wish. Just be prepared. She will have a violent and painful withdrawal. It will not be pretty. I will give her a detoxification serum that will reduce the recovery period to a few days, but it will be a long couple of days.”

  Stone looked at Mori. She had overheard the discussion.

  “I can hack it, Ty, as long as you’re with me,” she pledged.

  “I’ll be here, Mori. I will always be here for you.”

  “All right then,” said the medic as he injected the serum into Mori and gathered his equipment. “You know my price if you need anything else. Enjoy your stay.”

  As the medic left, Stone poured a cup of coffee and settled in for what was going to be a long few days.

  ***

  “Ty!” shouted Mori, startled to consciousness by an obvious nightmare.

  “What is it, Mori? I’m right here.” He placed his hands around her pale, clammy skin.

  Sweat beaded on her skin as she shivered in his hands. She looked up at him, her green eyes dark and sunken.

  “I’m cold. And I hurt. I need my medication. Just a little. It hurts so bad.”

  “I can’t,” replied Stone. “It will only be a few more days. You can make it.”

  “Damn you, Hanmani,” she snapped as she slapped him across the face. Mori was weakened, but still extremely strong. Although Stone’s face instantly reddened where she struck him, he felt no pain; his whol
e body already hurt to see her like this.

  “I should have killed you on J3 like the rest of you animals.” She attempted to spit at him, but her mouth was too dry.

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “I mean it. I wish you were dead—you and your slaver hirelings.”

  “Mori, I am not giving you meds.”

  Mori’s demeanor suddenly changed. Instead of anger she looked up at him gently.

  “I’m sorry, Ty. I didn’t mean any of it.” Her words and tone were different but she still shivered and looked around the room, her eyes moving wildly. “I love you. I just need something. Please.” She raised her hand again but this time slowly caressed his cheek.

  “Mori, it’ll be better soon.”

  “Please…” Mori’s hand moved from his face slowly down to his buckle.

  “No,” said Stone backing away from her slightly. “Not like this.”

  Stone, distracted by Mori’s condition, did not realize that while one hand was on his buckle, the other had taken his pistol.

  He jumped backward as she pointed the weapon at him.

  “I’m sorry, Ty, but I need to stop the pain.”

  Mori could hardly hold the pistol steady but at this range she did not have to aim. Tears filled her eyes as she struggled to hold the gun. “Ty, don’t make me do this. Where are the drugs?”

  “There are none here.”

  “Bullshit! There has to be,” she said as she rose from the bed, stumbling and almost falling.

  Stone took a step toward her, but she regained her footing and pointed the pistol at his face.

  “Stop!” she warned. “You don’t understand. I need it. I will die without it.”

  “No. You just think you will. You need to be strong.”

  “Be strong—like when my family was killed or sold into slavery. Like when I saw entire villages destroyed…young women violated.” Her jaw tightened. “Like Capro.” The tears that had collected in her eyes now began to flow. “I am tired of being strong. I am tired of fighting. I just want the pain to stop. All of it.”

  “Mori…”

  “Shut up, Ty. If you don’t have what I need in here, I will find it elsewhere.”

  “No, you won’t,” said Stone as he stepped between her and the door.

  “Don’t Ty. Don’t make me do it.”

  “If you want to shoot me, then do it. I would rather die than see you give up. I love you.”

  Mori held the pistol at his chest. “Just let me go. Please,” she begged, her hands trembling.

  The pistol began to shake even more as her exhaustion began to take its toll.

  “Please,” she asked again.

  “No, I can’t let you go.”

  “I can’t hurt you,” she confessed, “but I can’t do this anymore.”

  Stone made a quick move, lunging for the pistol as Mori turned it to her temple. Luckily her reflexes were slowed enough to allow him to direct the barrel away from her as she pulled the trigger. Stone snatched the pistol from Mori’s weak hand as the shot echoed through the room.

  “I’m so tired,” she said as she faded back into unconsciousness.

  Stone supported her body as she slumped to the floor. Securing his pistol, he lifted Mori into his arms and carried her to the bed. He had just placed Mori back on the bed when two security guards burst into the room, weapons drawn.

  “There was a report of gunfire from this room. What happened?” demanded one of the guards.

  “It was accidental,” answered Stone. “Everything is okay.”

  The lead security guard took a quick look around the room. “Everything seems to be in order.

  You will be charged 200 Humani for unauthorized discharge and given a warning. Be advised that once you have three warnings, your weapons will be confiscated.”

  “I understand. It really was an accident. It won’t happen again.”

  “Very well, Sir. Enjoy your stay,” stated the guard. “And try to not have any more accidents.”

  ***

  The next two days were worse than the first. Locking up the weapons and going sleepless, Stone kept vigil on Mori through the nightmares, the breakdowns, and the violent attacks. On the third day, no longer able to fight, he fell asleep on the chair beside her bed.

  Slowly opening his eyes, Stone realized he had fell asleep and quickly jumped to his feet and glanced toward the bed.

  She was gone.

  He began to panic as he frantically scanned the room. “Damn it!” he said to himself. “Mori!” he shouted. “Where are you?”

  “Good morning, Ty.”

  He spun around to see Mori walking into the room from the shower. The first thing he noticed was the light that had begun to return to her eyes. Covered only in a towel, he saw little trickles of water still flowing down her chest. He also saw beads of water that had collected on the small bristles of hair that had begun to grow on her head. She was still pale and bruised and had a long way to recovery, but she seemed to look like Mori again.

  “Mori, you—”

  “I still feel like crud but needed a shower. I was—”

  She was cut short by Ty’s embrace. “I missed you. I didn’t know you had been captured. I had—”

  “Not now Ty. I just want to rest…and eat. I’m starving.”

  “Sure. I’ll take care of it. I’ll go right now and get something,” replied Stone quickly. “I’m just glad you’re doing better.”

  Stone quickly picked up an exchange card and turned toward the door.

  Mori stopped him, grabbing his arm. “Ty.”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you. For everything,” she said as she rose up on her toes and kissed him lightly. “You saved me.”

  Stone smiled. “Now let’s get you some food.”

  Chapter 15

  Stone and Mori sat at the small table in their room. A few weeks had passed since they had arrived in Port Royal and Mori was getting stronger every day.

  “How about blonde?” asked Mori as she looked at the hair growth enhancers Stone had bought at the market.

  “I liked it the way it used to be,” replied Stone.

  “Bald?”

  “No, like when I first saw you.”

  “Flattery…nice. I think I should change it, though. There will be bounty hunters and spies looking for us if they aren’t already. Besides, you get to grow that beard.”

  “It’s not like I have to follow regulations anymore,” he said as he rubbed his beard, now about an inch in length.

  He placed his arms around Mori’s waist and kissed her cheek. She returned the kiss and Stone could feel her hands reach up toward his neck and embrace him.

  Suddenly, she stopped.

  “I’m sorry, Ty,” she said, putting her hands over his. “I’m not ready.”

  “It’s okay. I understand.”

  Stone felt for her. She was getting stronger. Her bruises had diminished and her sense of humor returned, but she still had demons that she had to come to terms with. “I want to be with you. I just—”

  “It’s okay. Really. Whenever you are ready, I will be here.”

  “Thank you,” she said, pulling his hands to her lips for a kiss. “We’re quite a pair.”

  “We should probably figure out our next move,” said Stone as he felt the reality of his situation start to sink in.

  “There should still be some agents here that I can contact. They could get us back to Terillian lines.”

  Stone paused momentarily.

  “What is it, Ty?”

  “Sorry,” he replied. “I knew there would be consequences to my actions but it’s just really starting to sink in. I can no longer fight for the Xen war machine, even if I had not left the way I did. At the same time, I have no desire to kill Alpha Humana rank and file. They are only doing their duty.”

  “Your—our duty is to the greater good, Ty,” said Mori. “Not to archaic codes based on lies.”

  “We have to find a way to l
et the Alpha Humana people know that the Terillians did not start the war.”

  “So you finally see things for what they are?”

  “Yes. I have finally seen the truth and feel like a fool for spending my whole life fighting for a lie.”

  “How much do you know?”

  “I know that the powerful families of Alpha Humana, with Xen support or direction, have instigated this conflict.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Something about providing slaves for the Xen home worlds.”

  “There’s more to it than that, Ty,” added Mori. “I’m sure the increased raids by slavers over the last two decades and the operations around Navato have something to do with it also.”

  “What do you think is going on in the Navato system?” asked Stone.

  “A few years ago a long-range patrol picked up increased neutrino and electromagnetic readings just outside of the asteroid belt surrounding Venato.”

  “The asteroids cause that whole area to be electromagnetically unstable though,” said Stone. “It’s almost impossible to track a ship there.”

  “The patrol wasn’t sure either, but it stayed on station for a few weeks. During that period it picked up signals from Xen warships and dozens of slave transports-all heading into the Navato system. Most likely they were going to Venato. It’s the only planet stable to humanoids, so unless they terraformed another planet, it has to be Venato. Once I return to my unit I will petition for another mission. Maybe there the proof can be found.”

  “What do you think they are doing there?”

  “We don’t know. The last two missions have gone missing.”

  “Maybe we can find support on Alpha Humana?”

  “Who will believe you? You undoubtedly have been branded a traitor, and it’s not like I could just walk into your Senate and say, ‘Look, it’s not our fault. Join me in rebellion against your Xen masters.’ I don’t think that would go over well.”

  “I know, but there has to be some way.”

  “Let me know when you come up with a good plan. In the meantime, let’s get back to Akota territory and figure things out where we don’t have to avoid Xen hit men and the Elite Guard. There is a recreation center near here where Scout Rangers and spies have set up safe passage in the past. Hopefully we can get lucky. You have made very powerful enemies, Ty, and I am sure they will stop at nothing to get at you.”