by Matt Novotny
Bev laughed. “Do you ever stop?”
“Repo to Junkyard. Could you folks use some fire support?”
“Junkyard to Repo, bring the rain!”
Remmy patched his feed of the point defense lasers into the battlenet and marked each target so the Olympians could clear his line of fire. Then he started firing, taking out the bay’s defense turrets, one after another.
With Bruno patched into the station network I barely have to aim.
One of Remmy’s lasers was destroyed in an exchange of fire. “I still have you,” he muttered, and took out the turret with his remaining gun.
He was jolted out of the program as the thunder of Burton’s not-no-mini-guns filled the launch bay. His eyes refocused just as a group of Athal tried to fly into the ship, only to be shredded by the Lumar.
“Sorry, Burton,” Remmy said as he picked up his rifle and moved to cover his door. “I got carried away.”
“No trouble,” said the Lumar, gesturing at the bits of Athal spinning away. “I told you they didn’t want in this ship.”
* * *
Hope Station
Hangar Bay
“Oh-one-one, contact!” reported Buzzsaw.
The four remaining CASPers of Squad One entered the hangar bay control room by peppering the tough armorglass with MAC rounds and smashing through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the space.
Six armored Blevin opened up with a barrage of laser carbine fire and one of the CASPers was destroyed.
Buzzsaw flipped out his blades and charged into the Blevin. “Nomad! Divot! Get that console!” Buzzsaw shouted. Three Torvasi were defending a fourth working methodically at a terminal. They turned and burned Buzzsaw down in a hail of heavy laser rifle fire before being killed by MAC fire from Nomad and Divot.
“FREEZE!” shouted Nomad over his external speakers, but the Torvasi hit a final key before looking at him. On the monitors, they saw the third, sealed bay opening, and a ship named Gendrus moving toward open space.
The Torvasi regarded the two CASPers. “Did you really think this would work?” he asked, snatching a grenade from his harness and triggering it instantly. The explosion blew both CASPers back out the windows.
“Uh, a little help here!” shouted Divot as she spiraled off toward the Athal ship. “My thrusters are out! I’m out of control!
“I got you,” Race shouted. He caught her CASPer and steered them both to the side of the bay.
“Thanks, Race!” she said, getting her CASPer’s feet locked down onto the deck.
Nomad triggered his thrusters to hover in the bay. “Oh-one-two, Nomad. Buzzsaw and Charlie are down! Objective destroyed by enemy action. Enemy reinforcements en route.” Nomad looked at the smoking ruin of the control room. “Tell Joe Crawford it’s his turn at bat. It’s up to Ripper now.”
* * * * *
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hope Station
Brothel
Yeorgi’s eyes widened as ‘Bastian’s jaws opened to reveal the barrel of a weapon. It was the last thing he saw.
His screams faded as his body slumped to the floor. The smell of burnt meat permeated the little space. One of the Torvasi stepped into the room and leveled his rifle at Bes. Boula stepped in front of her, her arms wide. The Torvasi adjusted, shooting the tiny Zeewie in the chest.
‘Bastian leaped from the body and onto the Torvasi. His right claw arced with electricity as it came into contact with the guard’s leg. The guard fell like a puppet whose strings had been cut, fire from his rifle spraying down the hall and shattering statuary. The small drone hooked a claw into the Torvasi’s harness and tried to pull him into the cell.
<
They grabbed hold of the Torvasi, and the three of them managed to pull him inside the room and prop him in a corner.
Bes knelt next to Boula and grabbed her hand. “Why’d you do that?”
“You were kind to me and Mix. Escape…” she whispered and went limp.
A silent tear ran down Bes’ face. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. “She was a good soul. Now she can help us one more time.” Bes picked up the little Zeewie and put her on the bed. Sabine set a chocolate bar in her hands. Boula had liked the Human food.
While Bes arranged the pillows to surround Boula, Sabine grabbed the blanket off the floor and, with Bes’ help, managed to cover the arrangement so it looked like Sabine was asleep in bed.
“Where’re we gonna go?” Bes asked ‘Bastian.
<
Bes grabbed Sabine’s hand and smiled at her reassuringly. “You hear that? Jac-son and Amos are coming for us.” The pair hurried after the little Xiq’tal.
They ran down the corridor, took a quick right and stopped at a maintenance access grate. ‘Bastian had the screws off in seconds and pulled the grate aside.
<
Bes heard a commotion from the direction of their cell. She ushered Sabine into the dark space and quickly followed. ‘Bastian pulled the grate closed behind them and replaced one of the screws from the inside. They heard yells and boots hammering on the decking toward them.
‘Bastian whispered to them, <
<
Suddenly, they heard a crash behind them and echoing yells as someone flashed a powerful light into the tunnel behind them.
<
<
Bes helped Sabine up the ladder then began climbing herself. The sounds of large beings trying to move through the little passage spurred them on. ‘Bastian reached up and pulled himself up the ladder after them. They moved as fast as they could while remaining silent. Soon, they were out of the ladder well and into the maintenance tunnel on the next level. Just as they were clear, they heard grunting from below and a light beam speared up the shaft.
Bes and Sabine held their breath, fiercely hugging each other. ‘Bastian moved a dimmed eyestalk to the corner of the opening and peeked down. The beam moved off the shaft, and the guard yelled to its companions…and kept belly-crawling down the lower passage. ‘Bastian returned to his wards.
<
At the end of the tunnel there was another maintenance hatch. ‘Bastian moved forward and extended an eyestalk through the grate. He scanned both sections of the corridor but didn’t detect any sound or movement. His lesser claw flashed out and quickly undid the screws. Each fell to the deck with a light metallic tick. He slid the grate open, waved a claw for Bes and Sabine to come out, then put the grate back into place using a single screw to hold it closed. He moved ahead to the next junction.
On the left, they saw doors similar to where they had been held on the level below.
<
The first door they came to was locked and there was no keypad to open it. The second door had a small door for passing food trays. ‘Bastian unlatched it and used an eyestalk to see what was inside.
Sudden movement on the other side of the door startled Sabine and she let out a squeak.
A deep and rumbling voice sai
d, “You are strange creatures to be working for Kr’et’Socae.”
“We don’t work for that piece of filth,” Bes spat.
‘Bastian illuminated his eyestalk and the iris of a purple Oogar contracted at the light.
“Oh, an Oogar,” Sabine said with wonder.
‘Bastian moved on to the next door.
“Wait. If you set me free, I will fight for you against Kr’et’Socae,” the Oogar offered.
“Sorry, we don’t know why you in there and it could be for good reason,” Bes told him.
“What if I told you I am working with people against Kr’et’Socae?” the Oogar asked.
The station shuddered with a massive impact. The lights in the corridor dimmed then brightened. They heard voices in the corridor, coming their way.
“Quick,” the Oogar warned. “Hide. Once they pass you can let me out.” He backed away from the door.
<
Through the door they heard the guards advancing down the corridor. They heard muffled talking, and the Oogar said something.
“We forgot to close the little window in his door,” Sabine whispered. Bes looked stricken and watched the door in fear.
The guards yelled, and the Oogar roared, smashing into his cell door with enough force that their door shook, and dust rained from the ceiling. The sound of gunfire echoed through the corridor.
* * *
Hope Station
Command Center
A Torvasi approached Sin’Kura. “Mistress, there is a problem.”
“What is it?” Other than the annoying Humans pounding on the station, she couldn’t imagine…Her eye suddenly flashed orange. “The prisoners?”
“Yes, mistress. They have escaped.” The Torvasi took an involuntary step back when Sin’Kura sprang to her feet, expecting the worst. Instead, and to his surprise, she grabbed his arm and guided him away from the command area.
“We must keep this quiet. Kr’et’Socae doesn’t need to be annoyed with little things,” she explained. “When was this discovered?”
“Ten minutes ago. I immediately came to tell you.”
Sin’Kura stopped before a display and tapped it once to wake it up. She pulled up the station schematics. She zoomed in on the section that used to be a brothel. “What do we have in the area?”
The Torvasi checked his slate then pushed the data to the display with a swipe. “We have three patrols checking rooms and tunnels. We started in the cell and are doing a grid search out from there.”
Sin’Kura tapped a strange symbol. “What is this?”
“The Oogar prisoner, mistress.”
She looked at him and her eye changed to yellow. “An Oogar on the station? How delightful.” She could tell the Torvasi was uncomfortable, which made it even more delicious. She shook herself and focused on the situation. “We cannot pull troops off the defense.” She brushed her whiskers as she thought. “What if I get the Athal to check the maintenance tunnels? That would free up guards for the room-to-room search, yes?”
The Torvasi nodded. “It would.”
She touched the panel next to the display. An insectoid popped onto the display. “Greesh’l, I need some of your Athal to help find the Human prisoners.”
“We need everyone to load the F11. I can’t possibly spare anyone,” Greesh’l declared. The translator added a tinny quality to his voice. It annoyed Sin’Kura.
“You know video is active. I see a bunch of Athal on the wall behind you. There is no F11 on the wall. If I don’t have forty Athal at this location—” she tapped the display and sent it to Greesh’l, “—in ten minutes, I will come down and kill you all.” Her eye flashed yellow at the thought.
“It will be as you say, mistress,” said Greesh’l quickly.
While she hadn’t done anything to him personally, the rumors of her bloodlust were something she did nothing to stop. Most of them amused her. And, if a mere rumor could keep everyone in line, then so be it.
She cut the transmission. “Okay, lead on.” The Torvasi stiffened in surprise. “I will help. We need to get this fixed quickly.” She glanced back to where Kr’et’Socae was conferring with Churff. “And quietly.” She gestured for him to precede her, and they headed down the corridor to find her prey.
As soon as Sin’Kura was out of sight of the control room, she took off at top speed. Her species was built for speed and chasing down prey. She outdistanced her Torvasi guard in seconds and a usually twenty-minute walk across the station was covered in a handful of minutes.
Stepping into the cell, Sin’Kura smelled death. She glanced around then backed out into the corridor. She sniffed and stepped left, then right. There. She detected the spoor of the Humans. “This way.” She followed the main corridor and tested each direction until she found the stronger scent. She came to a maintenance grate and pointed.
“They entered here.” Sin’Kura squatted down and stared into the tunnel. A Torvasi guard spoke up.
“We checked the tunnels, mistress.”
“They have already passed.” A buzzing sound echoed down the passage. “Ah, here are our tunnel helpers.” The Athal appeared down the corridor, and one separated from the group to talk with Sin’Kura.
“Greesh’l asked us to assist you. I am Breeef.” His wings twitched. “What would you like us to do?”
“Ve are looking for two Humans. We need to know where they came out of the tunnels,” she said pointing at the maintenance hatch.
“It will be done.” He turned to the assembled Athal and buzzed orders. As a group, they moved forward. Each stopped to sample the spoor at the hatch before they poured into the tunnels and spread out.
After a couple minutes they had their answer. “They exited one deck up.”
“One of you stay here. We will head up.” Not waiting for the others, Sin’Kura bolted to the lift. She trotted down the corridor and spotted an Athal behind the grate.
“Why are you in tunnel?” Sin’Kura asked.
“I don’t have a tool to open the grate,” it replied. Sin’Kura laughed at the Athal.
She was able to smell the Humans’ trail so she told the Athal, “You can return.”
Heavy footsteps announced that her Torvasi had caught up. She pointed down the hallway. “Follow me.”
Soon they were at the door to the Oogar’s cell. She smelled the primal fury. The small door in the middle had been smashed and the floor in front of the door was covered with blood. She peered in. “Hello, my pet. It is so nice to know you are here.”
A pained grunt came from the cell’s occupant.
“Regardless, now I know you are here we will have to have some play time.” Her eye glowed yellow and it was reflected in the Oogar’s eyes. She had no idea why Kr’et’Socae was keeping an Oogar prisoner, but she intended to have fun with him when this was over. She straightened and continued following the trail. It led to the next door. She pointed at it and made room for her guards to enter.
“Stun batons only,” Sin’Kura instructed. The Torvasi stacked on the door and, in a rush, pushed into the room. There was a whine of stun batons being used liberally and the cries of the Human females. Sin’Kura smiled and entered the room.
One Torvasi was down and the little Xiq’tal toy had been beaten several times. One of the little claws twitched.
Sin’Kura tapped a slate and handed it to a guard. “Broadcast this over the station monitors.” She stepped to the older Human female and, in a flash, grabbed the back of her head, clawed hands tangled in her hair. Bes screamed from the shock and pain of the attack.
Sin’Kura looked at the slate. “Rains, I grow impatient.” She dramatically raised her hand, and her claws came out. “I give timer for your compliance.” She slashed open the left side of Bes’ face and Bes screamed again. A second slash, and Bes’ blouse was sliced open from her ribs to her hip. Blood quickly soaked her g
arment. With a firm grip in Bes’ hair, Sin’Kura held her up for the slate.
“Jackson Rains, you had better cough up chip before your friend bleeds out, and I do the same to the girl.” She motioned to turn the slate off as she threw the Human woman to one of the Torvasi. “Bring them.”
Sin’Kura stalked out of the room, her yellow eye blazing.
* * * * *
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hope Station
Brothel
Rains froze as he took in the room. Shredded cloth and pieces of statuary littered the area. A haze of light smoke swirled as the air recyclers tried to cope with the extra load. The main lobby and the passage leading to the sleeping quarters had been thoroughly ransacked. Inside the doorway to one of the rooms lay a man’s crumpled body. He had been shot through the face and was lying in a puddle of congealing blood.
“Bes! Sabine!” Rains broadcast over Bruno’s external speakers.
“Dat wasn’t one of us,” Amos said. “This one’s been dead a while.” Amos flipped the body with his foot. “Yeorgi Romanov. I recognize what’s left of this piece of shit from Sanctuary’s security feed. And there’s an unconscious Torvasi in the room.”
Rains looked into the room. The place had been torn apart. In the corner was a mattress with a body wrapped in a blood-soaked sheet. It was too small to be one of the guards.
“No!” Rains yelled as he hit Bruno’s hatch release, ripped off his helmet, and bailed out. He ran to the body. “No-no-no-no,” he chanted under his breath.
He unwrapped the sheet and saw it was stuffed with pillows. He was having trouble breathing. The smell of death hung over the smoke from the battle and the cloying, musky scent of perfume that permeated the old brothel.
An alert tone came from Bruno, through both the cockpit and Rains’ discarded helmet. He ignored it. Unless he heard MAC fire, nothing else was important.
