Martian Ark

by Brandon Ellis

  The Ark of the Concordant’s golden sheen glowed. This one was more beautiful than the fake one on the stage. Two angel statues covered in gold were bowing toward one another. Their hands clasped in prayer.

  Holographic images jumped out from the rectangular box the angels stood upon. The flower of life symbol formed, then a metraton cube, and more geometric symbols that Ozzy knew Wildly wouldn’t have a clue about.

  Wildly clapped his gloved hands together. “And the heavens rejoice. Have you seen such beauty in your life?” He chuckled. “I can’t wait to use it.” He nodded at his comrades. “I’ll rule Mars. No more Ministry. No more Dunrakee. No more crime syndicates. No more competition.”

  Gragas shifted on his feet, tipping his head toward Ozzy’s hands. Ozzy, along with Gragas, were still touching the staffs. If the myth was correct, Ozzy and Gragas should have been dead by now.

  They weren’t of the bloodline. Or maybe his gloves and EVA acted as a barrier between life and death, just as the ornate covering did?

  Wildly gestured toward Ozzy and Gragas. “Take these two. We’ll shoot them in the back of the neck.” He motioned to two of his crew members. “You two take the Ark to my ship.” He gave two quick claps. “Hurry it up.”

  Ozzy stiffened. He didn’t like the sounds of this. And where the hell was Jozi? Take the Hawk up and strafe the bastards already.

  The men pushed Ozzy to his knees, his back to the Ark. Gragas was forced to his knees next to him.

  A rifle’s muzzle pushed against Ozzy’s neck.

  “Don’t worry, Ozzy,” mumbled Gragas. “There is something you ought to know.”

  A loud scream entered his helmets auditory sensors. Ozzy cringed, wanting to cover his ears. A flash lit up the area, and Ozzy squeezed his eyes shut, doing his best to keep out the bright light.

  It didn’t matter. The light penetrated through his eyelids and seeped through his head and to his very bones. He arched back, screaming in pain.

  35

  Olympus Mons, Mars

  The light died down, and Ozzy relaxed. The brief amount of pain that went through him diminished.

  He took a deep breath.

  Quiet filled the mountain.

  The muzzle of the rifle was no longer pressing against his neck. In fact, the gun was on the ground in between him and Gragas.

  Ozzy gave Gragas an ominous stare. “What happened?”

  Gragas dipped his head and spun around, grabbing the rifle. He stood, rifle pointed outward, and walked toward the Ark.

  Several men were on the ground, stirring, clearly dazed. The two men ordered to carry the Ark to Wildly’s ship were bent over with their hands clenched around the Ark’s staffs and frozen in place, their gloves and EVA’s burned to shreds and their emaciated skin exposed to the Martian elements.

  They had touched the Ark and were now dead.

  “They burned to death, Gragas.” Ozzy pointed to his chest. “But when you and I had our hands on the staffs, we didn’t.”

  Gragas nodded knowingly. He waived the rifle around. “Where is Wildly?”

  Ozzy surveyed the area. “I don’t see him.”

  Gragas stiffened. “Regardless, this incident may have alerted the Dunrakee to the Ark’s whereabouts. We have to leave now. We need to carry the Ark as fast as we can to Jozi’s ship.”

  “The Dunrakee know about the Ark?”

  “The majority of the galaxy knows about the existence of Arks. There aren’t many of them, and all have been lost except this one. My guess is the Dunrakee have picked up this anomaly with their instrumentation and are en route. This Ark alone can keep the Dunrakee away from this planet for good…if used properly.”

  A few of Wildly’s men stood and attempted to walk, then flopped on the ground like they were drunk.

  Yet, Ozzy wasn’t affected in the same way, and neither was Gragas. And where in Mars’s plumber’s hole was Wildly?

  Ozzy scoffed. He knew one thing for sure, and he wanted to make the point clear: “I’m not touching that thing. Look what it did to those two, and look what it did to everyone else who didn’t touch it?”

  “You touched it. You were around it just like me. It didn’t affect you in the same way as those you see afflicted by the Ark’s power.”

  That Ozzy understood. The why, on the other hand, wasn’t magically appearing to him as he’d like. He cleared his throat, watching a small dust devil pick up the sand a couple of hundred meters away. “I’m not pushing my luck.”

  “There is a more important reason I asked you to join the Galactic Knights.”

  Ozzy put his hands on his hips. “You’re asking me again? Here? Now?” This wasn’t the time or the place. They needed to get going and to get out of here. Especially, if the Dunrakee know where the Ark is. They needed to get as far away from this body-burning device as possible.

  A drunken man bumped into Ozzy and fell over. He twitched on the ground.

  Ozzy gazed at him, wondering if it was Wildly. It wasn’t. “Where is Mort Wildly?” He looked around.

  Gragas grabbed Ozzy’s shoulder and shook him. “Ozzy, listen and listen well. I’m of the bloodline that can safely transport the Ark, and so are you.”

  Ozzy’s head snapped back. “When are you going to get it in your thick head that that’s crazy? The bloodline is an ancient blood from Martian kings and queens that goes even farther back into the old races before the Martians. They were almost super-powered Beings, and they supposedly created the Ark in a way that those with a certain rare blood type could use and access. I’m not even close to super-powered, and if I ever get a blood test, I guarantee I don’t have some rare blood type that’s half human, half Ancient nobility blood.”

  “Well, perhaps they had superpowers, perhaps they didn’t. I know my athletic abilities are a little more enhanced than most other Beings around the galaxy.” He laughed. “You, on the other hand, aren’t so enhanced in that way.”

  Another of Wildly’s men stood and toppled back over.

  “Again, another reason I’m not of the bloodline. I can’t do anything magical.” The thought of being of the bloodline was just nuts.

  Gragas stood straighter, pushing out his chest. “It’s not about magic. It’s simply enhanced abilities, and you are of the line, Ozzy. The Ancients spread their seed to many other races, including the human race. Your mother was of the seed, and so was her lineage. It is rare. You should be grateful.”

  How the hell would Gragas know his mom was of the line? It didn’t matter. They had to get out of here.

  Ozzy slapped his chest with his palm. “Well, bloodline or not, I’m not touching the Ark again. We gotta get out of here and at least tell Jonas where he can fetch the Ark.” He paused. “After he gives me the rest of the money he owes me.”

  A roar filled the sky, shaking the ground.

  “The Dunrakee are coming,” said Gragas. “We have to hurry.” Gragas rushed over to the Ark. “Help me.” He pushed away the two men holding the staffs. They fell to the ground. More of their skin and their EVA suits flaked away on impact, mixing into the sand.

  Gragas grabbed the staffs on one side of the Ark, gesturing for Ozzy to take the staffs on the other side.

  Ozzy shook his head and walked down a slope, finally seeing Jozi’s ship. She had the engines running, readying to take off.

  Gragas shrugged. He lifted the staffs, leaned back, and pulled the Ark across the soil. The Ark’s back legs dragged against the sand, leaving a trail.

  Ozzy continued walking. Gragas rushed past him, heading toward the Hawk.

  “Watch out for the rock,” shouted Ozzy, running after Gragas, his heart almost bursting out of his skin from what was about to happen. “Don’t move.”

  It was too late.

  Gragas backed into the rock and lost balance. His foot flung in the air, kicking one of the staffs.

  The Ark tipped to the side.

  Ozzy lunged forward and dove, attempting to grab the falling Ark before it hit the g
round.

  His hand touched a staff, but the momentum was too much. The Ark pounded against the rocks, and the lid popped open.

  Ozzy let go of the staff and covered his head, curling into a ball.

  If the myths were right, when the lid opened, it would send energy that could destroy planets.

  Ozzy was a goner. Mars was a goner.

  Lily, his daughter, was a goner.

  He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable—a light blast that would topple this planet, blowing it into a pile of rocks that would float aimlessly in space creating new asteroid belts and meteors.

  He waited.

  And waited.

  “Ozzy, get up, my friend.” Gragas was standing over him. “We got lucky.”

  The Ark didn’t do what was described in the Ancient Coptic writings.

  That part of the myth was just that, a myth.

  Thank the Mars gods. Ozzy pushed off the ground, thanking his lucky stars that of all things, his daughter was still alive.

  He faced the Ark. The contents from the open lid were spread among the crimson rocks.

  Another thunderous sound enveloped the sky.

  “We have to get going,” Gragas blurted. “Help me get it upright.”

  Ozzy glanced at his hands. They weren’t burned or turned into ash like what happened to Wildly’s crew.

  “On my way.” Ozzy helped Gragas push the Ark over. He grabbed scrolls that had fallen out and shoved them inside. He placed the golden ankh inside as well, shutting the lid a moment later. “The Ark is a dud.”

  It either didn’t work very well anymore, or the Ancients greatly exaggerated its power. He’d put all his money on the latter.

  “It’s because we’re of the bloodline, Ozzy. It didn’t go off because I didn’t control it to go off. If I weren’t of the blood, then the entire planet would have folded in on itself and exploded outward. Since we touched it, and we’re of the blood, it’s under our blood’s command at the moment.”

  Ozzy rolled his eyes. “No, the Ark is a dud. Let’s leave it at that and get the rest of my money.”

  “As you wish,” Gragas replied.

  They walked hastily with it down the hill and set the Ark next to the cabin door of the Hawk. The door opened, and Jozi dashed toward them. “We have a lot of incoming Dunrakee ships. I don’t know if we can outrun them.”

  The heavens trembled, and dozens of ships came into view.

  A few broke off, heading in their direction.

  36

  Olympus Mons, Mars

  “The incoming starfighters are two minutes away,” Gragas yelled.

  From the looks of things, they were closer.

  Jozi reached for the Ark.

  Ozzy let go of the staffs and nudged her away, stepping in front of her in case there was some truth to Gragas’s claims. If she weren’t of the bloodline, she would be as good as dead, unless those two Wildly men strangely spontaneously combusted. “Don’t touch it.”

  “He’s right,” said Gragas. “Keep your hands off.”

  “Alright, alright.” She backed away.

  Ozzy and Gragas picked up the Ark and slid it into the Hawk’s cabin. They jumped inside the craft.

  Jozi plopped onto the pilot’s seat with Ozzy next to her in the copilot’s chair. Gragas sat in the cabin in the back next to the Ark.

  Jozi initiated the thrusts and lifted off. “Here we go.” They blasted forward, traveling thousands of miles per hour in seconds. She pressed several buttons on the holodisplay. “Patching in Tagus Valles’ coordinates. We’ll be at Jonas’s compound soon.”

  “Better yet,” said Ozzy, punching in Jonas’s com channel, “let’s get Jonas’s henchmen to fly out of here and meet the Dunrakee head on.”

  Jozi checked her radar. “The Dunrakee starfighters are fast.” She pulled up rear cams. The screen split and showed several Dunrakee craft coming in hot. Jozi put her palm on the screen and moved the rear cam view to the upper left corner of the holodisplay. She shrunk it down to six inches.

  The screen split again, and Jonas’s overweight face appeared. He was in a dark room and was chewing on a chicken bone. “You got it, Ozzy?”

  Ozzy unclipped his helmet and pulled it off, setting it aside. He took a deep breath, tasting the fresh air inside the Hawk. “Yes, we got the Ark.”

  Jonas smiled. “Wildly’s crew and the MMP are all over my compound. We’re holding them off, but who knows for how long.” He grumbled and wiped his lips with his forearm. Jonas’s eyebrows v’d. “Well, holy of all Mars, look who you have in the backseat!”

  Jonas wasn’t happy.

  Gragas waved. “Take your bounty off my head, Jonas. It’s unneeded stress for you.”

  Jonas scowled.

  “Don’t mind him, Jonas,” said Ozzy. “We need more of your S-6 Hawks out here. Dunrakee starfighters are chasing us.”

  The cockpit beeped as if on cue.

  “And they are closing in hot,” warned Jozi.

  Jonas thought for a moment. “Can’t do that at the moment. We’re a little packed in here.” He grabbed another piece of chicken and took a bite. The grease oozed down his fingers.

  Ozzy cocked his head, anger rising in his belly. “Alright. We’ll turn around. I’m sure Shifty Eyes or Lyra No Tail would be happy to have the Ark.”

  Jonas threw the chicken on the floor. “Damn you, Ozzy.” The dark room shook, and Jonas looked behind him, waving someone off. “My guys are a little tied up at the moment.”

  The cockpit beeped again. “Weapons lock,” cried Jozi.

  “It was nice knowing you, Jonas. I’m taking my services someplace else. Or we die trying.” Ozzy went to turn off the com channel.

  “Hold on,” blurted Jonas. “I’ll get some Hawks up there, but it might take me a while to sneak them past Wildly’s attackers.”

  The com link blipped off.

  “Does this thing have aft blasters?” asked Ozzy.

  Jozi looked around the flight console. “Doesn’t look like it.” She banked left and dove, creating distance between them and the starfighters.

  “Exactly how many are tailing us?” asked Gragas.

  Jozi glanced at the radar. “We have five, but an entire fleet of cruisers, frigates, and battleships aren’t far behind. This doesn’t bode well.” Her eyes were wide, and panic filled her voice.

  “And no MMP ships or Marines crafts are around,” noted Ozzy. They must be busy defending another area of Mars.

  Crap.

  Just his luck.

  Gragas stood. He pressed a button on his belt.

  Clank!

  His magnetic boots activated. “Open the cabin door. I’m going up.” He tapped the weapons attached to his belt and legs, indicating he was going to use them on the Dunrakee ships tailing them.

  “You’re what?” asked Ozzy, furrowing his brow. He grabbed his helmet.

  “Care to join me?” Gragas asked, unholstering a double-barreled photon gun, extending it to Ozzy.

  Ozzy nodded. Gragas didn’t need to ask. Ozzy would have gone anyway. He activated his own magnetic boots and slipped on his helmet. He clipped it on his EVA collar and grabbed Gragas’s gun.

  Jozi clutched her pendant underneath her EVA suit. “Let me go out. I’m a crack shot, and you can’t shoot worth beans.”

  “I’ll help him target and shoot. It’ll be a learning experience,” said Gragas.

  “Fine.” Jozi made a noise in her throat, tilting her chin down and frowning. She gave a heavy sigh and opened the cabin door. “Alright, then get out there and blast some ships open.”

  37

  Nearing Tagus Valles, Mars

  “Grab my hand,” yelled Gragas, extending his arm while standing on the Hawk’s roof. A photon beam from a Dunrakee starfighter zipped over his head.

  Ozzy reached out, threw his foot outside the cabin, and magnetized his boot to the side of the craft.

  Gragas leaned back and pulled.

  Ozzy moved swiftly, mana
ging to sweep his other leg over the roof’s edge and on top of the craft.

  The Hawk shuddered, sending Ozzy and Gragas onto their butts. Their boots were the only things keeping them from falling overboard.

  Another photon blast zipped by them.

  “Do what I do, Ozzy.” Gragas went to his stomach, grabbed the edge of the roof, and aimed his double-barreled photon gun at the oncoming enemy.

  Ozzy did the same and held on to the other side of the roof. He pointed his gun at the closest ship and pulled the trigger.

  The gun recoiled in his hand, zipping multiple photon bolts at the nearest Dunrakee.

  Every shot went wide.

  “Ease up, Ozzy,” said Gragas. “The idea is one shot, one hit. If, by chance, they didn’t know we were here before, they know now.”

  Gragas aimed, steadying his weapon.

  Jozi veered to the right, avoiding cannon fire.

  Gragas didn’t budge, his mind clearly on the task at hand, his body automatically adjusting to any movement Jozi put the craft through.

  This guy was trained and trained masterfully. He let out a shot then a second and a third.

  An explosion lit up the enemy craft. Fire spewed from its wing and nose, and flames and smoke licked toward the enemy’s cockpit. The starfighter jerked upward as if the Dunrakee tried to pull away from more potential direct hits.

  It then dipped, spun, and careened out of view.

  “One down,” said Gragas. “Four more to go.”

  A starfighter was coming around. Ozzy aimed as Jozi pulled back, pitching the Hawk into an ascent. Ozzy fired, missing badly.

  “Dammit, Jozi. I had the Dunrakee dead to rights.”

  “Sorry, Ozzy. I’m trying to keep us alive,” Jozi said.

  “Jozi,” Gragas said, targeting a starfighter. “Ignore anything Ozzy says up here. Your piloting comes first. Our targeting comes second.”

  “Aye,” replied Jozi, putting them in a wide turn.

  Ozzy dug his feet more into the roof, keeping himself from flinging off like a rock in a slingshot.