by Brian Dorsey
“Directive? What is that?” asked Orion.
“They couldn’t kill the virus, but they found a genetic answer. On Venato they started a genetic testing program trying to alter humans to be immune. Apparently they have had success. The only problem is that only five percent of humans are genetically acceptable for the alteration. The rest just die a painful death as their body destroys itself.”
“What is the Directive?” demanded Mori again as she pressed the blade against Dominotra’s neck once again.
“With only a small percentage viable, the Xen ambassadors proposed an ultimatum which they called the Directive. The relatively small numbers captured by slavers were not enough to meet their demands so were told to attack the Terillians and push into the Dark Zone—and hopefully into Terillian worlds—to obtain enough genetically acceptable specimens. If we refused, or if we fail, Alpha Humana itself will face enslavement. We chose war over enslavement.”
“Better poor settlers and Terillians than rich Humani,” said Mori as she pressed the sword against his neck a little harder, causing a small trail of blood to roll down Dominotra’s skin.
Gasping against the pressure of Mori’s blade, Dominotra continued. “Whether instilled by the Xen or not, it is our way. The strong do what they can and the weak endure what they must. If we stay strong and force our will on lesser peoples, we will stay free.”
“Free?” spat Mori. “You are nothing put puppets, lap dogs for a species most of you have never seen. A proud and strong civilization…my ass. You are cowards. In your fear you pretentious self-important bastards will have entire worlds enslaved rather than tell your people the truth. What makes you think you can defeat the Terillians now when you were unable to defeat them before.”
“We supported the last war until the Xen grew tired of fighting. Although we carried a heavy burden, the Xen and Doran worlds bore the bulk of the fighting. They began to negotiate when they felt themselves economically strained. This time it’s different. The Xen will risk more because they need more slaves for their society to function.” He paused. “And we will expend everything. If we lose, we will become slaves. Failure is not an option.”
“Why not tell the truth to the people and turn on the Xen?” asked Stone.
“The truth,” huffed Dominotra. “You are a fool, Stone. Even if we told the commoners and somehow fended off the Xen, the higher classes would lose their power forever. This was deemed the best option by the First Families. Besides, it will not matter soon.”
“What do you mean?” asked Mori.
“I cannot.”
“Forget about the Scapi,” said Mori. “I am going to cut your little bitch’s heart out myself if I can find one in there.” Mori turned toward Astra’s unconscious body.
“Wait…don’t. I will tell you. Just don’t harm her.”
“Talk!” demanded Mori.
“The research on Venato has not only created a viable subspecies, they have almost completed a weaponized version of the virus. Once complete it can be used to decimate populations in the Dark Zone or even Terillian planets if we can reach them, leaving them defenseless. The survivors will already be predisposed to genetic alteration and shipment to Xen worlds. That same virus can be used on us if we fail.”
“You bastard. You will kill hundreds of millions,” interrupted Orion.
“To keep our civilization strong. It is worth it.”
“How do we get on the planet?” asked Mori. “We have to stop them before they complete the research.”
“Other than Dorans, Xen, and certain slavers, no one has access.”
“How do we get access?” asked Stone.
“The Association. They control the access. They ar—”
From behind the darkness of the columns surrounding the room, a small cloaked figure pounced on top of Dominotra. As the Senator screamed in pain, the hood fell down from the attacker as it sank its teeth into his neck. The creature had brownish-green prickly scales, an angled forehead, and black eyes inlaid in deep sockets.
It was a Xennite ambassador.
“Holy shit!” yelled Orion as she fired her pistol.
The creature fell off the Senator, blue liquid flowing from the holes Orion had placed in its body. Mortally wounded, the Xen rolled onto its back attempting to draw a small pistol. Another shot from Orion hit the Xen and the pistol fell from its scaly hand. As its long black tongue flicked in and out, the Xen hissed and spat blue liquid from its mouth.
“Human waste. You have killed Batalus.” More blue liquid pooled on the floor. “Foolish senator talked too much. I should have taken care of him sooner.” The creature began to spit blue bodily fluid as it rapidly filled its mouth.
“Father!” screamed Astra as she regained consciousness and saw her mortally wounded father.
The venomous Xen saliva worked quickly on Dominotra. Necrosis rapidly spread over his body as Astra ran toward her father.
“Astra,” he coughed as she knelt beside him. “The Varus line now passes to you. Keep it strong and ensure the survival of our people and our way of life.” He reached upward toward her cheek, his arm now blackened by the Xen’s poison.
“The Varus family shall prosper, Father, and you will be avenged,” Astra promised her father through her tears.
A few meters away, the Xen lay motionless.
“I think it’s dead,” said Mori, motioning to the creature surrounded by a pool of blue.
“And so is my father, you bitch,” interrupted Astra, her eyes filled with tears.
She pounced at Mori, but was no match for her. Another blow sent her back to the ground. She looked up at Mori, her hatred burning strong. “I will see you suffer if it is the last thing I do,” she grumbled. “You will not make it off this planet alive.”
“The gunfire could have been heard by someone,” interrupted TC. “We need to silence their communications center.”
“Where is it?” asked Orion.
“I know where it is,” answered Stone. The excitement of the incident had caused him to lose focus. “It’s down that corridor and to the left. I will go. As soon as I get back we need to get out of here.”
Stone gave a quick glance toward Mori. She was standing over Astra, her weapon drawn. Astra stared back up at Mori. Tears poured down her face, but her eyes showed nothing but rage and a thirst for vengeance.
Mori looked to Stone. “You need to get going, Ty,” she said.
“Right,” he replied as he quickly turned and ran toward the communications center.
***
Precious moments passed as Mori, Orion, and TC waited for word from Stone.
“What is taking him so long?” asked Mori, her pistol still pointed at Astra.
“TC, maybe you should see if he has had any trouble,” added Orion.
“I will see what is keeping him,” said TC as he turned and rumbled down the passageway.
“I hope he’s dead,” said Astra, still huddling over her father’s corpse. “I hope you all die.”
“You are one evil bitch,” said Mori. “It’s nice to see the cream of Humani civilization crawling on the floor with the other vermin.”
“You are all scum,” replied Astra. “Once we have defeated your barbaric race, I will find all of your surviving kin and make them my personal slaves.”
Mori raised her pistol to Astra’s head. “My family has suffered enough at the hands of your kind,” she replied.
“Wait,” interrupted Orion. “Don’t become like her.”
Mori looked down the barrel of her pistol toward Astra’s face. She was not human, not really.
“You are lucky, bitch,” said Mori. “Watch yourself, or I WILL finish this.”
***
Stone rushed out of the control room and turned down the corridor. Taking out the communications center had gone without a hitch and he was returning when he ran headlong into the unexpected. Standing between Stone and escape was Major Arilius Tacitus, sword drawn.
“
I did not think you would be stupid enough to come after her,” said Arilius Tacitus as he walked toward Stone.
Stone raised his hand in a gesture for Arilius to wait. “Major Tacitus…Arilius, you don’t understand. You…we have been lied to all this time. You think you are doing the right thing but you are not.”
“Silence, traitor. I do not wish to hear anything you have to say. You have taken the life of a family member, dishonored the Lady Astra, and killed other fellow Humani, all to help a Terillian. And now you have the audacity to try to attack the Senator and Lady Astra in their home.”
“Arilius. I did not come here to fight you,” pleaded Stone as he stepped backwards, readying himself.
“That is too bad because I have dreamt of nothing but taking your life for weeks. I once looked up to you as a mentor. Now I despise you for the traitor you are.”
“Listen. You have to believe me.”
“If you have anything else to say, traitor, say it with your sword.”
Arilius swung upwards with his sword, knocking the rifle out of Stone’s hand and sending him reeling backwards. Quickly regaining his balance Stone drew his sword, but Arilius was already on him. Bending his body to avoid Arilius’s attack, he was just a too slow. The blade cut across his arm, leaving a gash in his sleeve and sending blood trickling down his arm.
“I don’t want to fight you,” pleaded Stone.
“Then die!” shouted Arilius as he thrust his sword at Stone.
Stone parried and landed a punch across his opponent’s face. Major Tacitus countered quickly, landing a boot behind Stone’s knee, flipping him onto his back. Stone brought his sword up just in time to block the next attack. Grabbing his opponent’s arm, Stone kicked him in the ribs, causing him to back off momentarily. Both men were immediately on their feet again, circling.
***
In the guest hall, Astra continued her verbal attack against Mori.
“Enjoy this moment, whore. I will have my vengeance. I will see your traitorous lover crucified and you sold to slavers and whored out to the masses.”
Astra’s threats resulted in a backhand from Orion, trying to act before Mori’s anger overflowed.
“You and your slaver accomplices will face justice for your evils—in this life or the next. For now you need to keep your mouth shut,” warned Orion.
***
Stone continued his battle with Major Tacitus, slamming him against the wall and landing several elbows to the side of his head. Arilius groaned and responded with a knee to Stone’s kidneys. Stone stumbled backwards as the major fell to his knees.
They stared at one another, both bleeding from several superficial wounds.
“We don’t—”
Stone was cut short as Arilius sprung from his coiled position. Stone dropped to the floor as Arilius passed over him, both swords hitting their marks. Stone stood up, slowed by the new wound across his leg. Major Tacitus stood facing Stone, one hand holding his sword, the other the gash across his stomach.
“We’re going to kill each other,” said Stone.
“So be it, traitor. Then I will have done my duty.”
As Arilius Tacitus spoke, he did not notice TC approaching him from behind until the Scapi was too close. He spun right into TC’s fist. The blow knocked Arilius against the wall, unconscious.
TC drew his pistol to finish him off.
“No!” shouted Stone as he placed his hand over TC’s weapon. “Let’s just get out of here.”
***
Astra looked up at Orion, wiping the blood from her lips. “First of all, there is no ‘next’ life, you barbaric religious fanatic.” She turned toward Mori. “Second, I am from a First Family, you ignorant Terillian slut. I am the law. Before I fade into nothingness, I will make sure my progeny hunt you and your family down until none are left. I will erase your line from existence.”
“Progeny?” laughed Mori. “I pity any whelp you would birth.”
“You shall see soon enough. As you stand there in your misplaced triumph, your lover’s seed grows inside my womb.”
“Liar!” shouted Mori as she landed another backhand against Astra’s face.
“It is true. A son,” she continued, smiling through the blood dripping from her face. “He will be raised as the heir to the Varus line. Raised in the seat of power and taught to hate all enemies of the empire, especially the traitor who killed his grandfather and his Terillian concubine.”
“Hit her again,” said Orion.
Mori obliged.
Spitting blood from her mouth, Astra smiled. Her perfect hair was now a tangled mess, her well-structured checks were soaked with the salty stains of tears, and her once-intoxicating smile was replaced by wells of blood that pooled around her teeth. “Does it bother you that I carry your man’s child? Imagine what it will do to him when he hears the news?”
“He will never know,” replied Mori as she slowly raised her pistol.
“Do it!” yelled Orion.
Mori fired.
Astra’s body slumped limply onto the ground and blood began to pool from the back of her head. Mori, still holding her pistol at Astra’s motionless body, looked over toward Orion.
“You probably did more good for the Terillian race and humanoids in general with that one bullet than the millions already fired.”
“What happened?” asked Stone, who had turned the corner into the room seconds after Mori’s shot rang out.
“Ty…I…”
“She grabbed a weapon,” interrupted Orion. “I had to shoot her.”
Surprised, Mori looked over to Orion.
Orion returned a glance of acknowledgment.
Stone stood silent.
Mori turned back toward Stone. “I—”
“You had no choice,” interrupted Stone. “We have to get out of here.”
***
The group quickly made their way back to Hydra. As the hovercraft came to an abrupt stop, they jumped off and ran toward the ship. Rickover stood at the entrance as Orion and TC raced past him.
“What the hell?” he said. “That took long enough.”
“Shut up, Rickover,” ordered Orion. “Get below deck and make sure we have full power until we can jump.”
“Aye, Captain. I’ll make sure you’ve got what you need,” recognizing the urgency in Orion’s voice.
Orion and TC jumped into their seats and started bringing the ship to life while Mori and Stone took their places behind them and buckled their straps. Orion’s and TC’s hands were a blur as they worked the controls. In a few seconds Hydra was free of the magnetic mooring and rapidly accelerating upwards toward orbit.
“TC, have us ready to jump as soon as we get out of the atmosphere.”
“Roger, where to?” he asked.
“Navato system,” replied Orion.
“Roger.”
“You don’t have to do that,” said Stone. “I don’t have enough money left to cover you taking us that far.”
“Consider this one on the house. After what I heard back there, I’m all in on this one.”
“Captain, two condors closing fast. Fire control radar is tracking,” warned TC.
“Son of a bitch,” replied Orion. “Engineering, remove all safeties.”
“Remove safeties, Aye.”
Hydra shuddered as Orion took her to full throttle.
“Arilius,” said Stone. “He must have had an alternate communication suite installed. I should have thought of that.”
“They’re firing!” shouted TC.
“Hold on,” ordered Orion as she rolled the ship and pulled into a full vertical accent. Explosions rocked the ship as the first salvo barely missed them. “Nav, are the coordinates ready?”
“Thirty seconds. Firing again.”
“Release countermeasures. I’m gonna try to get behind one of them.”
Before he met Cassandra Orion, Stone would have thought it was suicide for a pilot to engage condors with a thirty-year-old falcon. Ten
seconds and a stomach-wrenching maneuver later, she was behind the condors.
“Engaging fire control. Tracking.”
The first condor engaged after thrusters and started to pull away, but the second thought himself a worthy opponent. He was not.
“Fire control locked. Firing.”
Two plasma pulses traced a line from the falcon to the condor. Both found their mark. The condor disappeared in a white hot explosion as Hydra accelerated through the debris.
Passing through the explosion, the bluish sky turned dark as the ship sped out of the atmosphere into space.
“Ten condors approaching from Alpha Humana. Picking up a frigate accelerating toward us off the starboard quarter,” warned TC. “Jump coordinates locked. The frigate is opening fire.”
“Engage jump, now,” ordered Orion.
In a bright blue flash, Hydra accelerated and then disappeared into the vastness of space.
Chapter 18
A few minutes out of Hydra’s jump and the massive asteroid belt came into view. Beyond lay Venato and possibly the fate of two civilizations.
“Damn,” said Orion as she peered out of the cockpit. “That is a lot of asteroids.”
“How are we going to navigate through that?” asked Stone, amazed by the vastness of the field.
“Looks like it’s not going to be easy,” answered Orion.
“Magnetic fields are disrupting my short range navigation systems,” reported TC.
“Not easy at all.” Orion reached over to reduce the gain on short range navigation plot, which was clouding due to the field. “We’re gonna have to do this manually, TC,” Orion added as she continued to adjust the navigation plot.
“Is that possible?” asked Mori.
“I don’t know,” Orion replied, “but there’s not really any other choice but to go back.”
“Captain,” said TC, “picking up comms on Xen frequencies.”
“So there is something out here,” said Stone.
“Put it through,” Orion said to TC, still adjusting the gains.
‘Falcon vessel, this is Venato Control. Pass identification codes or you will be engaged.’
“What codes?” asked Stone. “Aren’t we already emitting Xen idents?”
