Toriko hugged her back, head bobbing in agreement.
“We could’ve blown you out of the sky!” Mencari said to Ujaku, who’d stepped out just behind Toriko.
“I’m sorry, we couldn’t risk the chance of being found,” Toriko said. “Not after what happened.” She fought bravely as tears welled in her eyes. “But we made it.”
Eyani and Ghn’en emerged from a ship adjacent to Toriko’s. Mencari marveled at how packed the bay was with vessels. Despite the number that docked, more orbited around the asteroid base, waiting to unload their complement.
“We have a lot to talk about,” Eyani said as she approached.
“Yes we do. We’re going to hit the Nukari.”
* * * * *
“I appreciate you putting up our crew,” Eyani said, exhaustion permeating her voice. With elbows rested on table, she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “They’ve all been through a lot.”
“We all have.”
“Did you ever get through to Maro?” Eyani asked Toriko.
Toriko shook her head. “But she left an encrypted message. They’re okay, and hiding in the lower versions of Tericn’s Murai Dome for now.”
“After our strike, we’ll head there and root out the Nukari.”
“What happened to the Trading Post, Eyani?” Mencari said.
“They somehow followed the tracer signals back to us. We barely had time for anything. We couldn’t even scramble Ghn’en’s forces. Only a portion of the Trading Post was even evacuated when the armada showed up. We tried to save as much of the Eden knowledgebase as possible. Mini-T, the Wise Men, and Bob moved more data then we thought possible given the time we had. We lost a lot of good people who stayed until the last moment to save every bit they could. Colonel Tenrl, Jika, so many …”
“Rhysus, they left nothing,” Toriko said, tears threatening again.
“They obliterated every trace of the station—like it never existed,” Eyani added. “They also hit Moonbase Alpha. We had reports of invasion before losing contact. We don’t know if they got Jencho back, but we know we lost it too.” Her voice cracked, overwhelmed. She couldn’t continue.
“What about the rest of your forces?” Mencari asked.
Ghn’en snorted. “The battle was over before they would have arrived. Good part about that is my fleet is intact and ready to fight.”
“We need it,” Mencari said.
“If you don’t mind, some rest would be quite welcome right now,” Eyani said.
“Of course. We can meet back here when you’re ready.”
“It won’t be long. We don’t have the luxury of time anymore.”
* * * * *
Hours passed. As promised, Asten contacted Mencari, then set a small fleet of Coalition ships to assist. The Nomads were also given the coordinates. Nikko opted to stay back and take care of Osuto. Datochn and Ujaku also remained at the asteroid base.
By the time Mencari and his team arrived in the Janux Nebula, the Nomads were already there. The rest of Ghn’en’s Be’Inaxi fleet tunneled in shortly after, including a massive capital ship. Awestruck, Mencari gawked at its arrival. That ship looked like the blade of a sabre, with channels of glowing green that pulsed along the hull. From the rear sprawled a twisted black mass that pulsed with veins of green energy. Attached to it were six mammoth engines. It had a majestic, if not terrifying, look to it.
The D’mok Warriors discussed battle tactics and got in some last-minute training while they waited.
In a break between sessions, Mencari noticed Cerna staring at the great floating tomb of ice that contained Sabereth, the cosmic beast responsible for destroying her people. Regret danced in her eyes. “Are you okay?” he said.
“It’s still there, slumbering. Alive. If I could kill it myself I would. But then I question how it could be of use against the Nukari.” Her face soured. “I don’t know what makes me sicker, thinking about what it did to my people, or thinking like a Dark Lord and wanting to wield its destructive power.”
“Do you know how to control it?”
“Control it? No one can control a cosmic entity. But you can summon it—”
“Eyani’s about to do her broadcast!” Allia said. A holographic projection crackled as Eyani’s form appeared before them.
“The Nukari had their turn, now we get ours,” she said. “We’re waiting for the last of our allies to arrive, and then we will strike the heart of the Nukari. Today, our nemesis will learn our quadrant is not their home. They will feel the sting of our united worlds and the end of their tyranny.”
Through the window beyond Cerna came a brilliance. “That looks like a space fold,” Mencari said with a smile. A ripple of light moved from a star-like core outward.
“Pretty!” Allia said.
“Rhysus,” Katen said in alarm.
Before Mencari could respond, a single white ship formed from the blazing energy, marked with the round Coalition emblem. He watched in horror as the tips of its cannons glowed and discharged.
A piercing alert sounded. They watched, helpless, as a Nomad ship went to full thrusters while moving between the Coalition guns and the Be’Inaxi flagship. Without proper shields, the beam sliced deeply into the Nomad ship’s hull.
“All ships—shields now!” Eyani bellowed.
Mencari saw the Nomad ship buckle. Small life pods jettisoned from every side of the compacting hull moments before internal explosions ripped it apart.
In its wake, new spheres of light appeared. From them extruded a small armada of black warships that instantly fired upon the white Coalition vessel.
“There! A variation of the Coalition emblem—and in silver!” Seigie pointed out.
Bolts of energy madly discharged between the new vessels, which generated a fuzzy blue energy. Cannon fire from the white ship grew anemic and dissipated altogether into the blue haze.
“Target the white vessel only—fire at will!” Eyani yelled. Space was set aflame by radiant beams and balls of plasma. Despite its advanced shields, the white ship couldn’t withstand the constant pummeling. Taking hits, its hull buckled and explosions blew through the lower decks. In a brilliant flash, it exploded.
“Transmission coming through. Coalition frequencies,” Mini-T said.
“Open the channel, connect Eyani as well.”
Mencari expected to see Admiral Asten. Instead, a Caucasian greeted him. The man was athletic and classically handsome with chiseled jawline, blond hair, and gentle blue eyes.
“Commander Mencari,” the man said, voice strong and confident. Mencari knew the voice but couldn’t place it.
“Who are you?”
“Anrik, sir.”
Anrik? The last time he saw the enigmatic Anrik, he had just freed his tortured body from the Nukari facility. Under the guise of a made-up race called the Nurealians, Humans imbued with D’mok abilities were disguised with light green skin partially covered by large brown scales, and hazel eyes with square pupils. So, too, had Anrik appeared. So this was what Anrik looked like in Human form?
“Where’s Asten?” Mencari said.
“Dead, sir. Murdered by the faction that attacked you. He already prepped us to assist when they found him.”
Don’t trust anyone, Mencari recalled Asten saying.
“If he sent you to help, then what’s the code word?”
Anrik nodded. “Of course, sir … Eisah.”
Correct, but could the code word have been coerced from Asten before he was killed? “Katen, touch his mind. Make sure he’s on our side.”
With a menacing grin, Katen’s eyes fluttered as if in ecstasy. Mencari was confident of the man-beast’s abilities, even from a distance. Anrik grunted for an instant before Katen said, “He is telling the truth.”
“We’re ready to fight, sir,” Anrik said. “Just tell us what to do. Though I do suggest haste. They could have given away our position.”
CHAPTER 14:
Legends Never Die
Fr
om within the polished interior of the Be’Inaxi capital ship, Kiyanna led the effort to finish the offensive plan with Mencari, Ghn’en, Eyani, the Nomad Varen, Anrik, Toriko, Cerna, Mini-T, and Bob.
“Can you do it?” Kiyanna asked the group.
“Of course, it’s easy,” Toriko said. “It’s more an engineering challenge than a technical one. Datochn is ready to remote-assist. I’ll know more as soon as we get within signal range of the station. Worst case, I drop one of these on the hull and we’re good.”
“Solid … Mini-T, Bob, what’s your status?”
“The asteroids have been snagged and moved into position,” Mini-T said.
“Good, install the harvested tunnel drives.” Kiyanna looked to Anrik. “And you’re sure about the Coalition shuttles? Can they handle the load while folding?”
“I’m only concerned about the delay between the start of unfolding and materialization,” he said. “They will be vulnerable for a few seconds, long enough to be targeted and fired on.”
“They have one job to do, and they only have to last long enough to do it.”
“Just voicing my concerns.”
“Noted,” Kiyanna said before looking to Cerna. “You sure you don’t have any limitations?”
“None that I’ve found,” she said with confidence.
“This would be a bad time to discover one. But we don’t have a lot of options. Anrik’s forces will focus their attacks through you. Whatever you did back at Beast Hollow, do it again.” She looked across the team. “Everyone know their teams and assignments?” Her eyes looked each one over, pausing for his or her nod. “Good.”
Kiyanna projected a new display. A large, jagged station floated before them, along with a mammoth ring-like structure. Small platforms orbited on the far perimeter. “The same tech that protected Toriko and the crew from detection is keeping her probe hidden. Now we have all the information we need for the attack.”
“Your methods are unorthodox—but clever,” Ghn’en said.
“This is war, nothing is unorthodox,” she said.
“So when do we hit back?” Ghn’en said with a throaty growl.
“When the asteroids are wired.”
* * * * *
Just a few moments, Mencari thought, closing his eyes. He envisioned lying down in the grassier area of Allia’s Grotto, something he had yet to physically do. Just a few seconds of rest was all he needed. Since the destruction of the Trading Post, rest was a commodity none were afforded. His mind spun, he was exhausted, and not even his abilities could change the fact he was still Human.
Despite his intentions, it overtook him. His consciousness collapsed inward and the pain of his weary body faded as he slipped into darkness. In the all-consuming blackness he was weightless and free, comforted.
But where were his vivid dreams? Was his mind as weary as his body? Regardless, this is what he longed for: nothingness.
A faint sound rang from the distance, a momentary distraction. He returned to the bliss of nothingness. Then it toned again, slightly louder, then again louder still and from a different direction. It was familiar, but not distinct enough to place. Plaguing him like an itch it resonated again and again, each time growing closer, more intense and from a new direction. It also became clearer: a scream, a ghastly shrill. Now it came from multiple sides at the same time. Like a demonic choir, it attacked him from every direction.
His body grew cold with realization. It was Anaka, her final shriek before her horrific end. Every wail felt like a thousand icy shards piercing him. The merciful darkness had become his personal hell, one filled with Anaka’s pain.
His very soul wrenched and what was left of his fragile sanity shattered. The fragments of his consciousness began to swirl amidst the echoing shrills, every moment rending him further. Riddled by his guilt, he was denied temperance from this torment. From his greatest joy, the very fulfillment of his being, came his greatest failure. From his one true love came damnation with no chance for absolution.
The sound dulled along with the pain as he slipped into despair.
From the dark abyss, familiar voices whispered. Moments of tenderness stirred with words of appreciation and support. He could hear Allia’s childish laugh, Toriko’s animated exuberance, Osuto’s assurance, Seigie’s playful prodding, Speru’s genuine gratitude, and countless others. A gentle yet powerful chorus rose against the dissonance.
Warmth spread across the cold hell, gathering his broken pieces. The voices of those he loved grew louder, slowly restoring his fortitude. While imperfect, their unique harmony reminded him of the new family that depended on him. The more he dwelled in the revelation, the weaker Anaka’s cry became. His thoughts became clearer. No heroic deed or purest of penance could ever undo his failure. But he had a renewed responsibility now.
Everything tingled, and he was struck with the sensation of rapid movement upward. He awoke with a gasp, lungs heaving.
“Are you okay?” Seigie said.
Okay? He took a few deep breaths. No, but he at least felt better than he had in a long time. “I’m fine. You?”
“Me? I’m … ready,” she said. “I have a few new tricks I want to try too.”
Something in her gaze made him uncomfortable. She looked pensive, tense. Perhaps despite her age and experience she still got nervous.
“I’ve never been good at this,” she said.
“At what?” Mencari said.
“We all know what you’ve been through, and yet, look at all the things you’ve accomplished.”
“You mean that we’ve accomplished. It’s the team, Seigie.”
“That you pulled together. We’re lucky it was you who was tasked with it. You’ve done well.”
She reached forward and wrapped her hand around the bangle on his wrist. He’d nearly forgotten about the gift from her spawn, Lady Weun, so long ago. It began to radiate brightly, recharged. “A small thanks, just like my great-great-great-whatever-she-is-granddaughter would do.”
An alarm rang through the ship, prompting the pair to rejoin the others.
“Asteroids in position, shuttles ready to fold,” Eyani’s voice boomed. “All teams get into final formation for the attack.”
“Anyone gets in trouble, call for help,” Kiyanna said.
Naijen’s toothy sneer slid across his face. “Only ones needin’ help will be the Nukari.”
* * * * *
Mencari watched the display carefully. The split screen showed the live feed from Toriko’s probe on the left, and a pan across the combined allied forces within the Janux Nebula on the right.
Nomad, Coalition, and Be’Inaxi united against the Nukari. If they survived, this could be a new era in galactic history.
“Drives coming online,” Mini-T said as a silver light swallowed the Coalition shuttles and a deep purple aura radiated from the asteroids.
“As soon as those do their job, we tunnel in,” Mencari reminded.
“Drives engaging!” Mini-T said.
The silver light flattened into a bar before disappearing altogether. A flash from the Nukari display drew Mencari’s attention. Two spots appeared, one next to the giant ring, another by the side of the space station. Nukari cannons didn’t have time to fire before the silver light transformed into hell unleashed, like two stars exploding.
A massive chunk of the station vaporized, though the remaining superstructure looked intact. Debris moved out of the view to show that the ring remained unscathed, coated with a gentle glow.
“No damage at all?” Allia said.
“Shielding,” Kiyanna snarled.
“Tunnel drives engaging,” Mini-T reported.
Beams of light shot before the massive asteroids, spawning purple vortexes of light. Thrusters crudely strapped to the far sides engaged, sending the mass forward. Mencari pondered the use of the transport systems as a weapon. The tunnel itself would accelerate the asteroids, acting almost as mass drivers by the time they shot out the other end. Of course,
it was slower than space folding, but it would do the trick.
Nukari fighters deployed in swarms from the station and spacedock. Mencari’s team had struck the hornet’s nest, and they were angry. They scampered about looking for an enemy to attack, but found none. Their strategy caught the Nukari by complete surprise.
Purple vortexes burst open. The first was directly in front of the massive spacedock. The other was next to the space station. The larger of the two asteroids emerged, traveling at a far accelerated speed thanks to the tunnel. The asteroid barreled into the main spacedoor of the dock, crushing it in, and then drilling inside the facility. Massive eruptions ripped through the structure before it exploded.
Through the second purple vortex flew a hailstorm of smaller rocks.
“It broke up!” Mini-T cried.
“It’s still going to wreck their day,” Kiyanna said with a grin.
She was right. Despite the lack of size, the already compromised structure was riddled as the accelerated fragments rammed it.
“And now we get our turn!” Kiyanna said.
“Playtime!” Naijen bellowed.
“Fleet drives engaging!” Mini-T yelled.
* * * * *
“One minute before we enter normal space,” Mini-T warned as the lights of the corridors turned red. Mencari led the team into the forward hanger.
“Follow the plan!” Kiyanna bellowed.
“Good luck everyone! Do your best!” Toriko said, climbing into her ship with Katen and closing the hatch. In moments, the white neon striping of her ship beamed to life, and the engines roared. Mencari thought about their missions. Everyone had assignments, now they just needed to hold together and do them.
The floor jostled and loud bangs echoed off the hull. His eyes looked over the hull, expecting at any moment something to puncture through. “Be ready!” he shouted, but their D’mok auras radiated as the hanger door opened. An evil purple light rained in from the nebula, which surrounded them. Dust and metal debris littered the space before them. Looking at the Nukari station, Mencari saw the craters in the hull, along with the spot fires created. While he took malicious delight in the view, he fought images of the burning Coalition station from plaguing his thoughts. There was certainly a poetic justice afoot.
D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology Page 91
