Freedom by Fire

by C P MacDonald

  Morgan grabbed Uta with his left arm and spun her around to place himself between her and the soldiers. His right arm snapped up with the built-in blaster barrels popping out from each side of his bracer. Unleashing a double stream of laser fire at the attackers gave him enough cover to pull Uta to safety behind a nearby pillar.

  Uta, still wrapped in Morgan’s arm, patted it lovingly, “Thanks for the save there, Sir Knight.” She said with a sly wink.

  Gulping, Morgan awkwardly released her and peeked out from behind the pillar. Zalore’s troops! Again? He didn’t believe in coincidence. From behind him Uta banged her cane on the floor and said frustratingly, “Twice in two days? When they hardly ever venture below Suta Level?” She shook her head in disbelief, “I don’t believe it, something is wrong.”

  Morgan agreed with her and yelled over the fighting, “My thoughts exactly. If I didn’t know any better, I would say Zalore is looking for the Royals too.”

  More troops repelling down right on top of them interrupted their conversation. Morgan opened fire again with his bracer blaster on one arm and the BlasTek in the other, while trying to shield Uta from the returning fire. Two bolts bounced off his bracer in bright flashes before he felt a blow and a harsh burning sensation on his wrist. His wristcom had taken a direct hit, sparks flew from the exposed circuitry.

  Two troopers landed on top of them but were unprepared to deal with a agitated Knight and his temper. Dispatching them in short order, Morgan turned to Uta and said, “Sorry about this,” before picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. With one arm holding the old lady stable, his blaster arm selectively aimed and fired on soldiers to clear his way. He knew they could not risk taking the lift out of there, but on the way in he had spied a waste chute in the wall near the lift.

  Working his way through the battle between the criminal elements and Zalore soldiers, Morgan was able to sneak back toward the entrance. As he predicted, smoke was smoldering out of the lift doors. Spying a round hole in the wall that disappeared into darkness, Morgan ran for it. Spotting their destination, Uta snapped, “I hope you are not going to do what I think you are, Knight! No one goes down that low! We may not be able to get back!”

  “Good,” rumbled Morgan, “then maybe they won’t either!” he said snapping a thumb back at the soldiers behind them. With no fanfare he spun Uta in his arms and placed her feet first into the waste chute. “I’ll be right behind you!” he shouted over the battle as he gave her a shove down the slide.

  Gripping the top lip, he jumped and threw his feet into the chute, propelling himself down the slide after Uta and into the darkness below.

  Chapter 21

  After the meeting with the Cargo Master of the Pirate Guild, Blayne, Gunn, and Kreta made their way back to the safe house. Blayne became concerned when Morgan and Uta weren’t there and kept trying to raise them on his com, but with no reply.

  He paced across the small living area while Gunn flaked out on the couch staring at the ceiling. Kreta kept an eye out the window on the street below.

  “Kreta, is there any other way you can get in contact with Uta? I want to know if they found anything at the market,” Blayne asked,

  The teenage girl shrugged, not taking her eyes off the street below. “That’s not how the Dove network works, she always contacts us. Hell, she doesn’t even carry a personal com,” she said holding up her wrist. “She is very old fashioned, but don’t worry, she knows what she is doing. And your Knight will protect her.”

  Gunn groaned from the couch, “All this waiting is driving me nuts!” He sat up quickly and slammed his feet on the floor, “We’ve been here for days with zero progress!” he barked. Looking at Blayne he demanded, “When are we going back to Dunadd?” His voice lowered to an almost whisper, “I need to find out about my folks, I need to find out if they are still alive.”

  Blayne cast his eyes down in guilt. With everything that had happened, he had forgotten that Gunn left family behind. And not once did his friend complain about it, until now. He tilted his head toward his friend, “I’m sure they are fine. They know how to take care of themselves.” And then he mumbled, “At least yours may still be alive.”

  Gunn’s eyes widened in shock as he stammered, “Blayne, I’m so sorry, man. I wasn’t thinking! You know the Queen was like a second mother to me! I wasn’t trying to…”

  Blayne held up his hands to interrupt Gunn, “It’s OK. I know you didn’t mean it.”

  “It’s this sitting around that is driving me crazy. Plus, I could use a good meal, I feel like we haven’t eaten in days.” Gunn tried not to think about the last time he ate, when he lost Cadee.

  Kreta, still at her position from the window offered, “I know a safe place where we can get some grub.” She flicked the curtain back against the window and added, “But I suggest we leave out the back, someone is watching the front from across the street.”

  Rolling his eyes, Blayne said, “Shocker. It feels like this whole damn planet is watching us.” Cocking his head at Kreta he asked, “How do you stand it?”

  She shrugged, “I grew up here, so it’s nothing new. Besides, I’m not the prince of an entire planet, so that helps,” she offered with a small smile.

  The diner Kreta led them to was on top of a tall building with an awesome view over the district. The food stall was tucked into the back corner of the rooftop lot, with several chairs and tables scattered around. Kreta insisted on ordering for them, bragging that the owners were known for their noodles.

  Blayne was having a hard time thinking of his stomach with Morgan and Uta not answering their coms. But both Kreta and Gunn insisted that he eat, that he would need the fuel to keep going.

  After their meal was delivered, Blayne mechanically slurped his noodles while staring out over the city below. With everyone around him focused on their meals, and the hustle and bustle of the city far below, it felt like the first real quiet he had had in days. Had it only been less than a week since Aratan invaded his home planet? And killed his mother? His mind jerked away from the memory that was still too fresh to think about. How was he going to tell his father? And worse, if he never found Cadee it would devastate his father. It was no secret that Cadee was the King’s favorite child. And all honesty, Blayne didn’t blame him. Cadee always acted like a proper princess, not a wayward wild child as he tended to do.

  Tipping up the bowl to sip the last of the broth, he smacked his lips in appreciation. His friends had been right, he needed good food in his belly. The past few days had been hell, but at least for now, he felt a little more human.

  His momentary feeling of pleasantness was almost immediately killed by dread. How in the hell was he supposed to lead a revolt of farmers against the professional military forces of Aratan? He had never been good at being a Prince or a leader of any kind. Now Cadee, maybe she would have a shot at unifying the people to fight back. He knew the expats they were looking for were not exactly huge fans of his family’s rule. And yet it was now up to him to convince them to not only come back to Dunadd, but to come back and fight for a home they had left. And at the moment, he had no idea how he would pull that off.

  Gunn must have seen the emotions playing across his face because he gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. His friend looked out over the city for a minute before tilting his head at him, “It will be all right. Cadee’s a tough girl and she can take care of herself until we find her.”

  Blayne grumbled his worries out loud, “She can, but maybe I can’t! How am I supposed to lead our people back to Dunadd? You know me better than anyone, that is not me.” He gestured out over the city, “We are the people who fly skyboards through the city, ignore traffic laws, and sneak pies out of the kitchen. We don’t lead military revolutions against trained forces!” he rambled, until Gunn gripped his shoulder tighter.

  “Yes, we were that. We were the Palace Delinquents, the Scourge of the Palace Patrol. But all of that is the past, right now we need to focus on the presen
t. And as my Daddy always liked to say, you cook with what you have, not with what you want. And right now we have each other.”

  A soft cough from Kreta behind him made Gunn smile a little, “And Kreta, we have a Kreta too. So there’s nothing that can stop us.”

  Blayne laughed a little, smiling for the first time. He knew what Gunn was trying to say and not say. But it felt good to have his friend at his back.

  Gunn playfully punched his arm, hard enough to knock him sideways out of his chair, “Now knock it off! The past is done. Right now it is your duty to protect your people, both on Dunadd and here on Crorix. Or on Thyke, if that is where they are.”

  “But isn’t it my duty to protect my sister too? How can I do both?”

  “With friends.” Gunn pointed at himself and Kreta, “We can search for Cadee, but we cannot lead the people. Only you can do that.”

  Blayne looked sideways at Gunn and asked, “And when did you get so wise?”

  Gunn grabbed his jacket and tried to look distinguished, “I’ve always been wise. I had to be to keep the likes of you out of trouble over the years,” he said with a straight face.

  Kreta snorted into her broth, then leaned her elbows on the table. “Since Uta is out of contact, I’m free for a while, I can help.”

  Blayne looked at her, “Help us with what? No offense, but you are not a military strategist, nor a professional soldier.”

  “Nope, but I know where those people are. Your people.”

  Gunn frowned, confused, “But Uta said they were on Thyke, we know that. But we have no way of getting there.”

  Kreta looked shyly at them and admitted, “Well, not all of them. There are still a few here on Crorix that didn’t want to go to Thyke. Uta doesn’t enjoy dealing with them, but I can take you.”

  “Why didn’t you or Uta say anything about them before?” Blayne asked.

  She shrugged apologetically, “Because even by Crorix standards, they are a rough crowd. It will be up to you to convince them to help. Hopefully, before they turn you in.”

  Chapter 22

  After returning to the safe house, Kreta told them to sit tight while she went out to contact the underground Dunadds. By the time she returned it was the middle of the night. Blayne was about to climb the walls. All evening he had been trying to contact Morgan with no luck. He was fearing the worst.

  Kreta slid silently through the door. “Ah, good. You’re still awake. Get up. We need to go.”

  Gunn, grumbled sleepily and staggered off the couch, “Wha? Why?”

  “Because the Group said they will meet with you, but only tonight. Like, now.” Kreta commanded, tossing Gunn his jacket.

  “The Group?” asked Blayne as he slipped a pistol into a side holster under his coat.

  “That’s what they call themselves,” Kreta answered. “Are you sure you want to meet with them? They are not exactly the type of citizen you would want to take back to Dunadd.”

  Blayne nodded his head, “I have little choice. I will need everyone I can scrounge together to retake home.”

  “All right then, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “How far is it this time?” asked Gunn, thinking back to their recent trip to the docks, and particularly the route through the sewers.

  “Only a few levels down. It won’t take long,” she assured them and led the way out the door.

  Blayne glanced at Gunn in concern, grabbed an extra blaster from the weapon crate still by the door, and followed Kreta into the darkness of the night city.

  It turns out what Kreta meant by only a few levels down was 10 levels down, by stairs. Blayne’s legs shook with fatigue and burned by the time they reached the landing where Kreta waited.

  Placing her hand on a door she said, “Once we go in, we are in their District so everything is by their rules.” She warned them. “Which means, there are hardly any rules, they do what they want.” She looked at Gunn, “So behave!”

  Gunn held up his hands innocently, “Why are you looking at me?”

  Blayne stepped in front of Kreta and pushed open the door. He was getting real tired of everyone around him calling the shots. First, it was Morgan protecting him and his family. Then it was Uta, then the Pirate Guild. If he was going to get his planet back, or find his sister, it was time he started asserting his position and taking control of the situation. With his head and hands held high he walked straight into the meeting area, a large open courtyard surrounded by tall buildings on four sides.

  Kreta and Gunn scrambled to catch up, nervously looking at the dozen armed men around at the perimeter of the courtyard, all with weapons pointed at them.

  Blayne ignored the threat lining the walls and walked directly to the group gathered in the center of the yard, until their bodyguards stepped in front of him to block his way. He lowered his hands and stood there patiently until they acknowledged his presence. A thin man with a ridiculously tall hat turned around to look Blayne up and down. “Yes?” he asked in a haughty voice.

  Blayne knew the man was attempting to put him off by treating him so casually, but he refused to take the bait and react. “You know who I am, you agreed to this meeting. Are you prepared to listen to my requests?” Even though the words came out of his mouth, Blayne could swear he heard them in King Lamond’s voice.

  The man tilted his head and raised an eyebrow in slight surprise as the rest of the Group, two men and a woman, turned and lined up in front of Blayne.

  The woman spoke up, her voice flitting with a high-pitched squeak, “Speak your requests.”

  Blayne nodded to the lady and began, “I’m sure by now you have heard of the Aratan invasion of our home planet. I have been tasked with coordinating the recruitment of all former Dunadds to help retake the planet. I have been told that you represent the expats that chose to remain on Crorix. I am here to ask for your help.” And with his last statement, Blayne lowered himself down to one knee and bowed to the congregation in front of him.

  The tall man applauded sarcastically, “That was well done, Your Highness. I see Palace life wasn’t lost on you completely.”

  Confused, Blayne looked up at the tall man, “Do I know you?”

  The man flicked his hand dismissively, “No, not really. I worked at the Palace for a time when you were younger. I was there long enough to hear of some of your more inappropriate deeds. But I am happy to see you grew up into a fitting young Prince.”

  Gunn stepped beside Blayne and whispered, “I remember my Dad talking about this guy. Lord Bravid.” He pressed his lips in a thin line disapprovingly, “They removed him from office for selling his serfs off-world into slavery.”

  Blayne immediately stood up and planted his feet wide, his hand resting on his holster. “Is that true? Slavery?”

  “Eh. That was some time ago,” Lord Bravid answered. “Thanks to your father sending me to this god-forsaken hell hole, I have long atoned for those crimes. Now I help oversee the ex-pat community here on Crorix,” he said with a sweeping motion of his hand at the city around them.

  The lady placed a calming hand on Blayne’s arm to interrupt, “We all have committed some sort of crime in the distant past which is why we are here, trying our best to make the most out of a bad situation.”

  Blayne took a second to consider this. He had assumed that the expats on Crorix were here because they wanted to be; it hadn’t occurred to him that they were here because the courts, and his father, had sent them here. And it immediately struck him what he must do.

  Bowing again to the group, he asked, “Like I said, I am here asking for your help. Let me stand in front of our people, let me ask them for their help and I will do everything in my power to reinstate everyone to Dunadd. There is enough evil in the world, enough trouble, that we need not sow it among our own people. I will get you back on Dunadd, of that you have my promise.”

  Blayne could feel Gunn beside him giving him a startled look of surprise, but also of approval. He turned to look back at Kreta
who was also nodding with a slight smile of support. He looked back to the Group who momentarily had startled expressions on their faces before they converged into a circle to debate quietly.

  The woman broke from the circle and approached him to stand in front of the others, “That is a most generous and kind offer, Your Highness. We had no idea you would be open to such welcomed negotiations.” She shrugged, “It would have been most useful if we had known this earlier.”

  Blayne cocked his head in suspicion, “Why? Why would it have been useful?”

  The lady tilted her head and looked down her nose at him, “Because then we wouldn't have told Kessen where to find you.” And with that, a dozen Kartack troops dropped over the courtyard walls to surround Blayne and his friends.

  Chapter 23

  Blayne tensed his arms and tested the strength of the cuffs until they cut into his wrists. After the ambush, the Kartack soldiers had pulled hoods over their heads. When they yanked the hood off, he was in a room by himself. Looking around the sparse room, he did not know where he was. With his chair bolted to the floor and with his arms tied to the armrests, he wasn't going anywhere. So wherever he was, he figured this must be an interrogation room of some kind. Rocking back and forth, he tried to loosen the chair, but it didn’t budge.

  “Save your strength,” said a voice from behind him. Blayne craned his neck until a familiar, bulky, soldier came into view. Tavio Matos, President Kessen’s head dog.

  Tavio dragged a chair over in front of Blayne and sat down. He crossed his legs casually and just stared at Blayne. Matching his gaze, Blayne tried to get a measure of the man, but he was cold as ice and his face was like stone. After a few minutes of unflinching staring, Tavio finally spoke. “You are a hard man to find. I have to give credit where credit is due, you made me work for this.”

  “Glad to be a challenge, I hope it was a nice distraction from licking Kessen’s boots,” Blayne snarled. "Where are my friends?"