Ahead Full

by Michael Anderle

  Ecaterina placed her tablet on the table. “Whoever is causing that trouble is going to wish they had never gotten up this morning.”

  Planet H’lageh

  Tabitha checked the room, but it was empty. She slid a hand inside her coat and pulled out a box. Opening it, she grabbed three small round orbs and threw them into the air, where they floated as she put away the box. “Find the princess, Achronyx.”

  “I but live to serve and obey.” The EI sniffed in her ear.

  “Well, you do it poorly,” she told him, palming her pistol. She walked toward the door the orbs had found and opened it. Taking a step through, she watched the map of the palace update as the orbs continued their search through the large building.

  Following the map, she went down a set of steps and opened another door. After peeking both ways, she stepped into the hallway and checked the map. “Right it is.” She headed in that direction and saw a crack in the wall. When she knocked, she heard the hollow sound. It opened easily when she pushed, and she stuck her head inside.

  Three beings turned in her direction, all of them female, if Tabitha was reading the physiology correctly.

  “Hello, Saviour,” a melodic voice, one that seemed to have chimes in it, said. Strangely, none of the three beings had opened their mouths.

  “Achronyx, what language are you translating?” she asked. “You are giving it an accent.”

  “I’m not, Ranger Two,” he replied. “You are hearing an old version of English.”

  The ladies parted and a silvery-haired female became visible. She was sitting on a chair, and her head and shoulders were turned in Tabitha’s direction. “Oh,” her large eyes opened in surprise. “You are the monster from my dream.”

  Tabitha had a hard time not staring at her pointed ears.

  “Your Highness?” she asked.

  “You speak our language?” She stood up. “Or is this your technology magic?”

  “Not magic,” Tabitha narrowed her eyes, “unless you are doing something?”

  The tall, slender woman’s eyebrows came together. “Possibly, but not on purpose,” she admitted as the three ladies moved farther to the sides. Tabitha was all about sex appeal, but this lady put her in the shade—and that wasn’t an issue for her, like ever.

  “We need to get you out of here,” Tabitha told her. “We have a full-blown pain-in-the-ass working to capture you again.”

  The princess shook her head, slowly “But I cannot go. If I leave the Holy City, the lives of my people in the other four cities are forfeit. If they obey, then my life is safe.”

  Tabitha took in the information and considered her options.

  “Four cities, right?” Tabitha asked. The princess nodded. “All of them have military garrisons?”

  The princess nodded again. Tabitha chewed on the inside of her lip and looked at the HUD on her lens. There was movement on the lower levels, but so far no one was heading in their direction. She put up a finger and turned sideways, to hide her mouth better. “Ryu, Hirotoshi?”

  “Hai!” two voices replied simultaneously.

  “We have to protect the princess here in the palace, and need the other four cities liberated simultaneously. Recommendations?”

  “It’s time to call in your brothers who kick ass and don’t care about the names,” Hirotoshi answered. Tabitha could hear him fighting in the background.

  “Are you sure?” Tabitha answered. “This started as us taking out a criminal ring.”

  “Anytime,” Ryu answered, “someone enslaves another, it is out of our hands. Call the Empress. She will make the decision.”

  “Agreed.” Tabitha nodded to herself. “Make your way up here. We can’t take the princess out yet, so we have to protect her while we wait.”

  Tabitha sighed. “Achronyx, get me Barnabas, please.” She watched the layout of the building and those dots running around. Two of them peeled off and started heading her way.

  “You have anything against killing?” Tabitha asked, turning her head to view the princess.

  “Only my own people,” she replied.

  “Peachy.” Tabitha sighed. “So much for bringing them in alive.”

  Why is that? Barnabas’ voice sounded in her head.

  Hey, boss! We have an enslaved planet here. Those who are in charge have taken all four cities, and the citizens have to obey them or their royal princess dies. If the royal princess doesn’t stay put, those in the cities will die. We can protect her, but we can’t liberate four cities simultaneously.

  Even Bethany Anne can’t be in four places at once, Barnabas mused. Ok, I’ll make a call. Stay alive. Barnabas out.

  The call terminated. Tabitha glanced at the HUD and told the women, “You ladies will want to move back.” Sliding her coat aside, she pulled her pistol and aimed at the door. She fired twice, then slid the pistol back into the holster.

  “Why did you shoot my door?” the princess asked.

  Tabitha took two steps and pulled on the door handle, stepping to the side as she opened it. She waved at the two dead Skaine on the other side—their blood was splattered across the hallway floor and halfway up the wall on the other side.

  Two of the ladies-in-waiting turned their heads, but the princess merely said, “Oh.”

  Tabitha pursed her lips and looked at the princess. “What is the most defensible position in this palace?”

  The princess looked at the two dead Skaine before returning her gaze to Tabitha. “Is that through them, or around them?”

  “Well,” Tabitha smiled, “I’d prefer to go through them, but I’ll go around if it helps you sleep better at night.”

  The princess’ face got a little green as she looked at Tabitha’s expression.

  She really would go right through them, Sis’talana thought. What kind of monster is helping me?

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds

  Bethany Anne was busy chewing on a small stylus when she heard a crack. Pulling it out of her mouth, she took a look at it. “Dammit,” she muttered, and set it to the side. “Cheryl Lynn is going to be pissed.”

  She tapped the location of the planet which needed an intervention from Baba Yaga, and was looking at the data when the door buzzed.

  >>Stephen is here to see you.<<

  Let him in.

  A moment later Stephen walked into the room and smiled. “My Empress.”

  Bethany Anne got up from the table and stepped into his hug. “My pain-in-the-ass follower,” she replied and nodded to the chair next to hers. “Take a seat. I’m done standing today.”

  Stephen was just sitting down when the buzzer sounded, and this time ADAM spoke over the speakers. “Barnabas is here to see you. He mentions it is important and relevant.”

  “Let him in,” she replied and the two of them turned to watch Barnabas walk into the room.

  “I see you are conniving again, boss.” Barnabas smiled as Stephen raised an eyebrow.

  “Not yet, but I’ll ignore you when I do,” Bethany Anne pointed to the seat across the table. “Park it, and let me know the news.”

  Barnabas pulled the chair out and sat down. “I need to request that the guys go to a planet and pull some nuts out of a fire.”

  “Who’s in trouble?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “Well, technically Tabitha.”

  “Uh,” Bethany Anne smiled, “no nuts.”

  Barnabas tried not to groan. “It was a euphemism for ‘we have a situation.’”

  “Ok, spill it,” she replied. “I’m starting to dream up some great ideas to connive on, so I need you out of the way.”

  “Uh huh.” Barnabas leaned forward. “We have a rather standoffish planet which has been taken over by slavers and drug lords.”

  “How the hell …” Bethany Anne started before Barnabas’ raised hand stopped her.

  “The people have formed a great relationship with their royal house, and it is reciprocated,” he answered, “so we need four different hardened locations attacked and confir
med unresponsive before we bring the princess out.”

  “So send one of the Bitches,” Bethany Anne answered.

  Barnabas tapped the table. “The four locations need to be taken out simultaneously.”

  “Well, shit.” Bethany Anne made a face. “You couldn’t have perhaps explained that aspect of the challenge at the beginning of this discussion?”

  Barnabas smiled. “It helps keep you on your toes when I make sure you don’t presume everything.”

  “Take the four of them.” Bethany Anne shrugged. “The guys haven’t had a good workout in a while.”

  Barnabas raised an eyebrow. “What should they ship out on?”

  Bethany Anne waved a hand. “You need to ask Admiral Thomas that question.”

  “And if he suggests the QBS Armstrong?”

  “What?” She shook her head. “I don’t need Armstrong at the moment. How long is this going to take?”

  “It’s not that far. Eight hours from ‘go,’ and some cleanup once they get there.”

  Bethany Anne’s eyes narrowed.

  ADAM, how far is this planet?

  >>7.24 hours.<<

  Bethany Anne’s eyes shot open as she pointed her finger at Barnabas. “You already have the guys in action!” She leaned forward. “Of all the typically ‘Barnabas’ things to do,” she stabbed a finger down on the table, “this isn’t one of them.” She leaned back and crossed her arms. “How long ago did you give them the word?”

  “Well, a Ranger is involved,” Barnabas replied, “so I thought we might want to move expeditiously.”

  “Well, true.” She made a shooing motion. “Hurry up. Go!”

  Barnabas stood up and pushed the seat back in. She eyed him. “Don’t get them killed.”

  He waved a hand over his shoulder as he walked away. “Never my intent, Empress.”

  The door closed behind him.

  Stephen looked at her. “So, what are we conniving about?”

  “Whatever makes you think,” she waved between them, “we are about to connive anything?”

  “You specifically told Barnabas you were dreaming up some great ideas to connive. He just took away your handlers, and I’m here.”

  Bethany Anne smiled, put her nose up in the air, and spoke as if she were old Earth royalty. “Well, just for the record, the conniving was already in play. The thinking up new ideas was a lie.” She showed him the most guileless face she could create.

  He looked at her for a long moment. “Baba Yaga?”

  “Baba Yaga,” she agreed.

  “I’ll go get my setup.” He started to get up, and Bethany Anne stood with him.

  “No need,” she told him. “I’ve had a set of everything you use packed for a while.” She grabbed his shoulder, and the two of them disappeared.

  Moments later they reappeared in a special closet. Stephen looked around. “I don’t recognize this room.”

  “You shouldn’t. You’re the first I’ve brought aboard,” Bethany Anne admitted. The circular room was only six feet across. The wall opened and the two of them stepped out into a passageway as the lights came to life in both directions. She pointed to her left. “Thirty feet that way are the engines, back armory, Pod landing bay and other miscellaneous areas.” She turned toward the front of the ship and started walking. “This way is the bridge, living quarters, meeting rooms, front armory, communications, and special shit.”

  “Special shit?” Stephen asked as he observed their surroundings. “Everything is so clean!” He opened a door, and his muffled voice came back into the hall. “Has this been flown anywhere?”

  “No,” she called back. “ADAM, please explain to Meredith we are taking Shinigami out for a test.”

  “How test-y is this test, Bethany Anne?” ADAM’s voice surrounded them as Stephen caught up to her. She opened the door to the bridge. Stephen was surprised to see a large room with a massive circular couch that started on one wall, wrapped around the back of the bridge and traveled the length of the other wall. The front bulkhead was all screen. He followed Bethany Anne in and took a seat when she did.

  “Where are all the bridge seats?” he asked, looking around.

  Bethany Anne’s face lit up. “You are sitting on them!” She turned and spoke to the dark screens. “Shinigami, set up for battle.”

  Stephen was surprised when the seat he was on started changing shape. The leg rest came out, allowing him to lie back comfortably. From the ceiling, additional screens lowered two feet toward him. From between the cushions, armrests rose. Bethany Anne was already enveloped in her own cocoon to his right.

  “We have antigravity support to allow us to handle the massive g-forces this ship can produce when we turn and juke.” She looked up, her eyes flitting left to right. “Shinigami, engage Stephen and allow him access to the bridge stream in his implants.”

  Next to her, Bethany Anne heard Stephen gasp in surprise. She looked at him, and his eyes were flitting around like hers had a moment before. “Pretty cool shit, right?”

  “It’s amazing,” he answered. “How do I issue commands?”

  “Voice, action, mental commands—whatever works best for the activity. You can issue a voice command while pushing a virtual button and issuing a mental command.

  “Plus,” a voice interrupted his review of the screens now in front of him, “you can simply allow me to handle all systems for you.”

  Stephen stopped paying attention to the virtual screens and looked at the front display. “Shinigami, I assume?”

  “Yes,” the EI responded. “I’ve taken the liberty of not yet deciding on my visage.”

  “She …” Bethany Anne started before the EI interrupted.

  “Or he.”

  “Whatever.” Bethany Anne waved a hand. “Gender isn’t important to me.” She looked at Stephen. “This ship has multiple EIs operating it. If I need to go somewhere, I have more EI support than most of our fleet.”

  “More EIs?” Stephen asked. “Do they all have names?”

  “Sure.” She pointed to the screen. “Based on the people who led the design teams and built aspects of the ship. We have Jeurgan for communications, Martina for signals and eavesdropping, Timo for core ship operations, Thorsten for all gate and intra-system routing, and Marions H and K. One handles shields, the other weapons.”

  “Which is which?” Stephen asked.

  She shrugged. “Beats the fuck out of me.” She pointed to the two ladies’ faces on the screen. “The two often squabble about which is better, offense or defense. One started spouting off arguments about,” she looked at Stephen again, “World War II strategies.”

  Stephen tried to remember if he had ever met a Marion who was into World War II. “Was she someone we brought from Earth?”

  Bethany Anne shook her head. “Nope. She just loves research. I’m pretty sure she is ‘K’ and ‘H’ is shields.”

  “You don’t know?” Stephen pressed.

  “Well, of course I know,” Bethany Anne touched the side of her head. “It isn’t like I can’t pull it out, but I feel it’s more fun to allow them to wow me.”

  “You never allowed anyone to ‘wow’ you,” Stephen pointed out. “You always got into the thick of the action.”

  Bethany Anne sighed. “Yeah, the good old days.” It was a moment before she shook her head. “But this pretty little thing is so fucking advanced, I couldn’t hope to do it manually. Even with ADAM running it, we weren’t pushing the envelope. Therefore …”

  Stephen whistled. “Multiple EI’s.”

  “Yup,” Bethany Anne agreed. The two seats started to revert. “ADAM is the primary to activate all commands. Otherwise the ship will seek to protect itself.”

  “Even from you?” Stephen asked as he watched the seats change back into a nice comfy couch.

  “Well, there are a couple of safeguards. If ADAM is incapacitated somehow and I’m considered to be under duress… Well, there is way too much technology in this ship to allow out. TOM has a ba
ckdoor, and no, I’ve no idea what it is.”

  “TOM,” the speakers in the bridge spoke with TOM’s voice, “is aware that a backdoor is usually a bad thing. This isn’t a typical backdoor, Stephen, but rather a unique test to confirm I am the one authorizing an override if ADAM is knocked out and Bethany Anne is incapacitated. Or as she put it, ‘under duress.’”

  “Ok, TOM.” Bethany Anne stretched out. “Let’s change my face, but leave off the leathery look.” She winked at Stephen. “I’ve seen some of my pictures.” She rolled her eyes. “And oh my God am I hideous!” She shook her head. “Fuck that. A girl needs to look good while kicking ass. The white hair is enough, thankyouverymuch.”

  “The ink-black skin and red eyes aren’t a problem?”

  “They’re a statement,” Bethany Anne smiled. “They say, ‘Ding-dong, you’re dead’.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Planet H’lageh, Inter-City Shuttle

  “I’m telling you,” Adam turned toward his copilot Matthew, “that is why this route is so boring. Lack of children.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Matthew answered. He checked the ship’s warnings as they prepared to arrive at the third largest city on H’lageh. “I’m thinking that a nice easy flight this morning was just the ticket after the party this weekend with Juliette.” He checked the next two tasks on his list. They had a small flight, maybe twenty on the shuttle, fully loaded. He was two more down the list when a flash caught his attention. His head moved up, then he squinted as he stared at a screen. “What in Edhellen?”

  Adam glanced toward Matthew. It wasn’t often he swore. “Problem?”

  The younger-looking man shook his head. “Either we have a problem with the sensors or a moon is about to hit us,” he answered, tapping his video screen.

  He wasn’t sure why he tapped on the screen. It wasn’t as if it ever helped.

  A moment later, both pilot and co-pilot’s eyes grew large as a gruff voice spoke to them through their comm. “This is the QBS Alexander, not a moon. Please do not veer from your flight path or you will become a bug splattered on my shields.” There was a slight pause. “John Grimes would like to know your names, please.”