D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology

by Michael Zummo

  “Come on!” Allia said, skipping along the path and up the hill. As she did, others phased into view. Along the base of the hill, Osuto talked with Eden’s Colonel Tenrl, the Be’Inaxi Fleet Commander Ghn’en, and their Nomad ally Liren. He noticed Eyani strolling down the hill toward them, already calling out friendly banter. Dane stood on the opposite slope, showing off her latest creature summons to others, which he couldn’t make out. Toriko, Maro, Jika, and Ujaku were captivating each other with their latest inventions, while Nikko and Cogeni basked in the broken shade of an ancient tree. Even Mini-T and Bob hovered about the group, engaged in animated discussion.

  A playful cry drew his attention to Speru, who was chasing Naijen around. Datochn talked to Katen and Decreta, along with Anrik and a few of his special forces operatives. Everyone seemed … happy.

  “Rhysus!” a tender voice drifted down to him. Its gentle timbre soothed him like a cool drink on a scorching day. Anaka. His eyes traced up the hill to the copper-skinned beauty and their child.

  “Anaka! Rhyiel!” he yelled, waving. Anaka’s hair tossed gently in the breeze, and he recognized the red dress she wore the night he proposed to her. Her eyes met his, and he took pleasure living within her loving gaze. How did he get so lucky? She was everywoman. Brilliant, successful, adventurous, a wonderful mother and a powerful lover, she brought proof to the concept of another completing you.

  She knelt down and whispered to Rhyiel, who instantly bellowed “Daddy!” and lunged down the hillside toward him. Elation filled him. He ran to his little boy.

  Rhyiel ran awkwardly and with unusual speed, struggling to keep on his feet. The boy leaped as Mencari opened his arms. Though small, his momentum took Mencari by surprise, sending the two tumbling backward, rolling down the hill laughing.

  “My little cannonball.”

  “Daddy! You home now?”

  “Yeah, baby, I’m home.”

  “I missed you! Don’t go away again.”

  “I’m here now, don’t worry.”

  Rhyiel hugged Mencari tightly, sending waves of love coursing through his being.

  “Rhysus?” a soft voice said.

  Mencari looked behind him and saw a woman walking with Admiral Asten toward him. He lifted his son and turned to meet them. Where did he know that woman from? Her sculpted complexion was so familiar, and simply stunning.

  “Hello Rhyiel,” Asten said. “You’re getting so big!”

  Rhyiel looked away, bashful.

  “Fine work, Mencari,” Asten said.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “We need more like you.”

  “I thought you had that, sir?” Mencari motioned to Anrik.

  Asten laughed and shook his head. “You’re the original, Rhysus. And the Coalition needs you more than you know.”

  Before he could inquire, the young woman interrupted.

  “Rhysus … I never had a chance to thank you.”

  “Thank me?” he said, noticing the woman that now stood next to Asten. Her rose-colored eyes and knee-length, jet-black hair seemed familiar.

  “Have we …” His words trailed off as a vision of a lost friend appeared in his mind. Seigie? My God, Seigie. But her skin wasn’t stony. The crystal plague was gone, and she was simply beautiful.

  “When we first met,” she said, “I wanted nothing to do with anyone or anything. My life had become obsessive research to end it. Then you barged into my cave, and you changed everything. I discovered what happened to my family and to my people. I faced my failure as a Defender. I laughed and cried for the first time in centuries. You … you gave me a reason to live and a way to be redeemed.”

  “Don’t have to thank me, Seigie. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. What you … did … for …”

  A distortion rippled next to her. He saw the brilliant spectrum of light erupt next to the Nukari gateway. What she did for them. Yes. She gave her life. A radiant green glow washed the distortion away. He looked to Seigie who smiled, holding two radiant emerald gems firmly.

  “You make everyone feel like family, Rhysus. Something I thought I had lost and would never have again. That’s why we love you—”

  “We should go or we’ll be late,” Asten interrupted.

  “For what?” Mencari said. “Can’t you stay? Everyone is here.”

  “There’s plenty for us to do, Rhysus. No time for holiday.”

  “Wait, Seigie … this is my son, Rhyiel. And Anaka, my wife’s up there.” He pointed.

  “He’s beautiful, Rhysus,” she said before looking up and waving to Anaka. Rhyiel hugged Mencari and buried his face in his shoulder.

  “He looks just like her,” Mencari said proudly, ruffling his hair.

  “And you,” Seigie added.

  “Good luck, Rhysus. See you soon!” Asten said as the two turned and began to leave.

  “Wait!” Mencari said.

  Seigie looked back, while continuing on.

  “I wanted to say goodbye.”

  She smiled. “Goodbye? I don’t like goodbyes. Family is always with you, no matter the distance…. Let’s settle for ‘until next time.’”

  She and Asten continued on, slowly fading away. Sadness crept over Mencari. Rhyiel tugged on his shirt and whispered, “Let’s run to Mommy!”

  “Okay!” Mencari started up the hill.

  “No! I want to race!” Rhyiel said, squirming.

  Mencari laughed and gently put him down. He could have held Rhyiel forever, but he knew the wiggleworm he’d be struggling with had he not complied.

  “Ready … set … go!” Rhyiel shouted, dashing ahead. The kid had speed, amazing speed. In fact, Mencari swore he saw a slight glow around him. Could he have passed on the genes to his son?

  “Rhysus!” Anaka called out.

  “I’m coming!” He ran faster, but there was no catching Rhyiel.

  “Come on Rhysus!” Anaka called again. He noticed a change in the timbre of her voice. She cried with joy as Rhyiel reached her.

  “I’m coming!” he called out.

  He felt himself lifting as the world began to dissolve around him.

  “I’m coming,” he repeated. Why was his voice so weak now?

  Speru gently shook his side as Allia repeated, “Come on, Rhysus!”

  Allia sighed, relieved when Mencari’s eyes slowly opened. She saw a pained longing grow along with their clarity.

  “It was a dream,” he said.

  “What was?”

  He gazed around the unfamiliar surroundings, then noticed the asteroids floating outside the window.

  “Home, Rhysus. We’re home,” Allia said.

  “How? We were just en route back.”

  “You’ve been asleep for days. We’ve been watching you around the clock. Osuto was going to have Katen mindwalk you if you didn’t wake up soon,” she said, her tone only half-kidding.

  “Osuto? He’s okay?”

  “Speaking of, we should let the others know,” Speru said. Allia nodded as Mencari’s stomach rumbled loudly.

  Allia said, “I’ll get Rhysus some food then we’ll meet up in the conference room.”

  “Sounds good,” Speru said, heading out.

  * * * * *

  “They’re on their way up,” Nikko said.

  Osuto looked around at the anxious bunch. He wondered how Mencari was feeling. Probably much like he was: powerless. Would Mencari be able to let go of the fact that, at times, the extreme must be done? Osuto himself yielded to that when he saved the others from the Nukari armada. Then again, he was the one deciding his own fate, not the leader left behind trying to pick up the pieces and keep the others strong.

  The room fell silent when the room doors opened. Allia and Ichini strolled in, as Mencari slowly limped alongside them looking haggard and aged. Osuto even thought he saw new gray in the younger man’s hair. His heart sank. What had he done to this vibrant young man?

  Osuto understood firsthand the toll leadership took on one’s body. He never wanted
to be a leader, just part of a team. Perhaps he pushed too much responsibility onto Mencari?

  “Hi,” Mencari said. “My leg’s still asleep.”

  Nikko laughed with a tear running down her cheek while she hugged him. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “Guess I needed the sleep. I’m sorry for worrying everyone. I know we’ve already been through a lot.”

  Osuto went to Mencari and shook his hand. “Yes, you all have. Welcome home, Rhysus. Very well done.”

  Kiyanna barged in the room. “We have new infor— oh.” She stopped and stared. “Sir, you’re up, sir. Glad to see you’re better.”

  “Thank you.”

  Osuto motioned to the table. “We were going to review anyway, let’s sit and see the latest.”

  Kiyanna started as everyone took seats. “There’s a different type of chaos through the com channels—more like a resistance against the Nukari occupations.”

  “Anything we should help with?” Mencari asked.

  Osuto shook his head. “We should lie low until we see their next move.”

  Mencari said, “Have we heard from the others?”

  “Eyani’s contacted us a few times,” Allia said. “Same thing with Ghn’en.” She brought up a display. “I have the messages recorded if you want to see them yourself. But the Be’Inaxi have already begun rebuilding the Trading Post. In a secured area, of course. Eyani also wants to coordinate the analysis of the Nukari data.”

  “Nothing from the Coalition yet,” Kiyanna said.

  Mencari met her eyes. “Nothing?”

  “No. I want to find out what they’re doing with that ship we helped them retrieve.”

  “I’ll try to contact Anrik and see what they’re doing,” Mencari said.

  Kiyanna nodded. “That Nomad guy, Varen, sent us a message that their fleet is still ready and waiting for the next move.”

  “Good. Anything happening with the worlds the mercs and Nukari were holding?”

  “Yes,” Nikko said. “Aeun has had the most activity. Actually, from what we’re picking up, the mercenaries and Nukari forces might have abandoned the planet altogether.”

  “Any word on Lady Elle Weun?” Mencari asked.

  Nikko shook her head. “Nothing for sure. Despite the resistance, many worlds are still being held … like Argosy.”

  Argosy. The memory of Cogeni’s mother being shot dead replayed in his mind. Mencari looked at Cogeni, whose expression suddenly became concerned and distant. Mencari leaned over and whispered to Nikko, “Does he know?”

  She looked down and slowly shook her head. “I—I should tell him,” she whimpered.

  A beeping noise drew attention to Toriko. “Incoming message from Maro. We’ve been waiting to hear what was happening back on Tericn. I’ll be back.” She got up and dashed into the command center.

  Mencari had learned too well how destructive holding information, like a death, was to relationships. In a hushed voice, he said to Nikko, “Why don’t you?”

  She sighed softly, then said, louder, “Cogeni, can you come help me? While we wait on Toriko …”

  “Sure.”

  “It won’t take long, this way,” she said, taking him by the hand and leading him out of the room.

  “So how are you feeling?” Mencari asked Osuto.

  “Still a little weak. It feels strange not feeling my abilities.”

  “That big thing we fought hit us with something that took our abilities too. It felt weird. I’m sure yours will come back too.”

  Toriko hurried back in and called up a new display scrolling with data. An image of Datochn appeared next to it. “We found a number of things from the data we grabbed,” she said.

  “Between Toriko and Datochn, they’re parsing up the information at amazing speeds,” Osuto observed.

  “It’s easier when we’re looking for specific things, but we’re making progress,” Datochn said.

  “The Nukari appear to have kept amazingly detailed records. Places, inventories, people, all kinds of things,” Toriko said.

  “We have located other Nukari facilities, but nothing as substantial as in the last attack,” Datochn said.

  “Any more of those rings?”

  “Not as far as we can tell,” Toriko said, relieved.

  Osuto sighed. “There was quite a bit of detail about the one we encountered. So we’re hopeful that means there isn’t another one.”

  “Glad it’s gone,” Kiyanna said. “Can’t imagine what would have happened if more made it through the gateway.”

  “What I saw was scary enough,” Allia said.

  Datochn said as a holographic transmission began to play, “I found this from the data Toriko recovered from the Nukari command center. Kajlit’ga …”

  “Damn them,” Kajlit’ga’s image was saying. “First the research facilities and now this. Have tech-ops restore our data to the fleet systems. Given a few days, we should be able to continue with our research…. Regroup at the fallback position.”

  Kiyanna’s eyes narrowed. “Kajlit’ga … she was the leader of the Nukari beasts.”

  “This isn’t over yet,” Mencari said, feeling lead sinking in his gut.

  He caught an ominous glance between Toriko and Osuto.

  “No, it isn’t,” Osuto said. “Do you remember what you found at K’pec?”

  Mencari nodded.

  Toriko asked, “From what we found, that wasn’t the only place they were doing research on people?”

  Osuto changed the display to show a star chart. “We think there might be a number of facilities. At least, places where they’re keeping people.”

  He looked to Toriko then back to Mencari. “Two people of interest came up on the inventories.”

  Toriko made a selection, updating the display. A beautiful copper-skinned woman with long black hair held a familiar brown-eyed boy in her arms.

  Mencari gasped.

  Osuto smiled. “Rhysus, they’re alive.”

  Epilogue

  “The admiral is dead,” Kajlit’ga thundered. “I’m assuming command of the fleet.”

  His tortured expression flashed through her mind. In order to avoid suspicion, she didn’t allow her Grizel beasts their full pleasure as they finished him off. How convenient it was that his ready room was struck by enemy fire moments after her pets completed their job.

  It wasn’t every day fate handed her exactly what she wanted, with the added pleasure of seeing the frozen, lifeless body of her victim, the former admiral, drifting just outside her window.

  “Our forces are requesting orders, sir,” a bumbling officer said, panicked. “Should they press the line?”

  “We’re abandoning the command core,” she bellowed. “Have all remaining forces disengage and head to their safe-haven coordinates.”

  The shell-shocked underling stuttered, “Ye-yes Admiral.”

  At least the safe-haven plan was in place. She’d long since predicted that the incompetence of the operations commanders would expose them like this. Her idea of a retreat-and-rendezvous at safe coordinates would save their surviving forces. Even if their enemies followed some of the retreating squads, they would never find them all regrouped in one location like a sitting duck.

  Though, following her process, it would take weeks before the groups took final head counts and confirmed they were not being monitored. Only then would they embark for Dilen, the fallback world where emergency operations were already established. And Jencho. That idiot! She should have left him to die. Perhaps he’d be of some use, given the demise of most of their commanders? She’d find some use for him.

  “Engage the phase drive and get us out of here,” she yelled, seated on her new command chair.

  Still, what their enemy accomplished was not insignificant. She felt her face tighten in a scowl. Drawing the ire of the Nomads proved a near fatal mistake. The capabilities of that group were vastly underestimated, something that wouldn’t happen again. Her Coalition agents did well, nearly cr
ippling key enemy vessels before gating into the command core space. She imagined the Coalition would rest easy now, believing they were clear of Nukari influence. She smiled malevolently. Her hold on them was just beginning.

  But what to do about Rhysus Mencari?

  He and his band had proven far more meddlesome than she anticipated. A moment of rage bubbled up as she thought about their wasted efforts on the Nurealians, thinking it was Mencari’s group. Had they had the right target, this end might have been avoided. Nevertheless, the experience, including the capture of Anrik, proved most useful.

  “Get Westik on the com,” she bellowed.

  Where was her mercenary support in the last battle? Westik had explaining to do. Some mercenary leader he turned out to be. Or was he just another pawn without power? Had she befriended the wrong person in the chain-of-command of the mercenaries?

  Regardless, it was clear their reliance on the mercs had to be eliminated. They’d still be good tools, of course, but only a tool.

  She had other resources—more capable and more powerful, completely at her disposal now. Further, her new position as fleet admiral would yield unfettered support for her beast solution.

  On the console before her, she pulled up intelligence information about her enemy. A beastman with a frenzied shrub of orange-and-blond hair appeared. She looked upon his dark amber, lizard-like eyes with disgust.

  Your tricks won’t work again, Katen, she thought. Despite trying to hinder her efforts, the meddlesome Katen, a traitor to his own beast-kind, actually did her a favor. He exposed her beasts’ weaknesses. Now she knew exactly what to fix to make them even more dangerous and formidable than before.

  She called up a display showing a makeshift encampment. Scores of beasts moved in organized units. A new army of beast warriors was already training, this time with a twist. A video feed appeared of a young boy with deep brown eyes. A powerful golden aura radiated from his body. The boy looked much like his father.

  Her evil smile returned as she shook her head, agreeing with her own insufferable thoughts.