Universe in Flames – Ultimate 10 Book Box Set: An Epic Space Opera Adventure

by Christian Kallias

  “I suggest you stop trying to free yourselves,” said the woman.

  “Why did you do this?” Chase asked furiously.

  “I saw you reach for your weapon. Just be happy I had my weapon set in this mode or you’d both be dead by now.”

  “Alright,” Sarah panted, “we’re sorry if we seemed aggressive. We didn’t know your intentions.”

  “Can you release us now?” Chase added as he strained against the binding.

  “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  The Droxian leveled them with her eyes. “I need help getting off this planet.”

  “That’s kind of why we’re here, to see if we could render assistance.”

  “I need to go to another part of space as well.”

  “Well, maybe we can track your ship onto ours. Help you repair and be on your way.”

  “Unfortunately my ship is too badly damaged for that, and I need to be on my way as soon as possible.”

  Chase gritted his teeth. “I’m sorry to hear that, but we’re also short on time and on a very important mission of our own.”

  The Droxian almost smiled. “Then I’m sorry, but I have no other choice but to leave you down here and take your ship.”

  Sarah squirmed furiously. “Wait a minute, we came here to help!”

  “And I just saved both your lives, so the way I see it, we’re even. Since you came on a bigger ship, you will be rescued soon.”

  “Just a second,” Chase stalled, “maybe we can find a way to help each other.”

  “I don’t see how. You just said you don’t have time, and neither do I.”

  “Can you at least tell us why?” Sarah had finally stopped struggling.

  “I’ve been targeted by some Obsidian scum. They put a price on my head.”

  “We’re sorry to hear that. Maybe we can help.”

  “Sarah?” asked Chase nervously.

  “Look, Chase, maybe this woman can help us locate our friends.”

  “Who are your friends?” the Droxian asked curiously.

  “We are Alliance, well, ex-Alliance, and we’re looking for survivors,” Chase replied.

  She thought for a moment. “There has been some ship movement not too far from where the Obsidian were hunting me. Maybe they’re still around.”

  “Can you lead us there?” Chase asked imploringly.

  “I will if you help me get to where I’m going first.”

  Chase fidgeted with agitation. “Look, I understand it’s not nice having a price on your head, but now that you met us, we can protect you. So I think our current predicament is more important. We are really short on time.”

  “So am I,” she sneered. “In fact, I’m wondering why I’m still here talking with you!”

  “What is so important that you need to go now?”

  “They have my son!”

  “What?” Chase and Sarah said in unison.

  “They took my son and, if I don’t find him or if they find me, he will be killed, tortured or both. I cannot take any chances; I don’t expect you to understand.”

  Sarah’s eyes welled up. “I do understand.”

  “Even so, your boss over there is adamant about his mission; I can tell just by looking in his eyes.”

  “Then look into mine.”

  The woman approached Sarah and looked deeply into her eyes. “I suppose you do understand, but that changes nothing. I cannot take the chance that you’ll cross me once I’m on your ship. I’m sorry. I’m grateful you came down to help, but I have to go now.”

  “Please…wait. What’s your name?”

  The Droxian grunted something, then said, “I’m Ryonna.”

  “Ryonna, please let us help you. I give you my word we won’t stop you.”

  “You understand how I feel because you’re female too, but this man won’t.”

  Sarah actually smiled. “I think I can convince him.”

  “I’m right here, you know!” Chase scowled.

  “Chase, we need to help her!”

  “Look, I’m also very sorry they took your child, and I will help you in any way I can, but we can’t afford to lose the time.”

  Ryonna threw up her hands. “See, he won’t help.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Chase countered. “Maybe we can spare a few men to help you and, in return, you can be of help to us. Would that be acceptable?”

  Ryonna hesitated a long time, before coming to stand right in front of Chase. Instead of answering, she pressed something on her weapon and the beams restraining them vanished into thin air.

  “It’s been a very long time since I trusted anyone; even longer with someone I know nothing about,” she said quietly. “Don’t make me regret this.”

  Chase nodded quickly. “I appreciate that, and I give you my word we won’t. Let’s help each other, and let’s do it quickly since we’re both running out of time.”

  Sarah stepped forward. “Chase, I propose we split up. I’ll take a few marines and help Ryonna with her son, while you can continue looking for the fleet and some quadrinium.”

  “I can help you find quadrinium,” Ryonna volunteered.

  Sarah and Chase glanced at each other, relieved and delighted.

  “That’s very good news,” Chase sighed. “We need as much as possible.”

  “Well, if you have a tractor beam, you should start with the amount in my cargo.”

  Chase frowned. “We scanned the planet and didn’t detect anything.”

  “That’s because my cargo bay is shielded. Probably the last damn system still working on it. Before a price was put on my head and my child was taken away, I was a smuggler.”

  “Very well. How much are you carrying?”

  “About five tons.”

  Chase’s mouth dropped open. “Five tons?”

  “Is that a lot?” Sarah asked to the side.

  “It’s enough to power our fleet for the next year, so yeah, I’d say it is. My best-case scenario was that we’d find a ton or two. This is unbelievable!”

  “Does that mean you’ll help find my son?”

  “Absolutely, if you’re willing to sell us this quadrinium…”

  Ryonna threw back her hair impatiently. “Look, help me get my son back, and it’s yours.”

  “We have a deal. I suggest we hurry back to our ship and be on our way.”

  “Very well, lead the way.”

  They raced back to the shuttle, keeping a wary eye out for any more beasts, and quickly docked on board the Iron Fire. A few minutes later, the Droxian ship had been tractored into the shuttle bay and everyone assembled on the bridge.

  “Alright, Ryonna.” Chase gestured ahead. “Where do we go?”

  “Our first destination is the third planet in the Hathan system.”

  “First destination?”

  “I don’t know the exact location of where they are holding my son, but I’m fairly certain someone on this planet does.”

  “Fairly certain?”

  “Chase,” Sarah tempered him, “I believe we must do all we can to help Ryonna. After all, we have all the quadrinium we need for the short term, and maybe she can help us locate more in the future.”

  “I can,” Ryonna promised. “Droxian space is incredibly rich in quadrinium.”

  Chase nodded. “Alright, Sergeant, get us to the Hathan system, maximum speed!”

  “Just a moment,” Sarah said. “Shouldn’t we send some fighters to look for more Alliance ships before we go?”

  “Blindly?”

  Ryonna stepped forward. “I can give you their last position; I encountered some Alliance vessels not long ago.”

  “Do you remember how many ships?”

  “Three maybe four battleships and escorts. But there have also been Obsidian ships in this part of space; they have sent many destroyer groups to hunt down the survivors.”

  “Three battleships,” said Chase hopefully. “That sounds really good. And you say more ships have been escaping?�
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  “From what I’ve heard, yes. A few battlegroups retreated from the all-out attack before being destroyed. I don’t know how many though.”

  Chase and Sarah exchanged a smile. “That’s excellent news. Can you give us the coordinates of where you encountered them last?”

  “Yes, they were located in a system near Droxian space.”

  “Droxian space?”

  “Yes. Obsidian hasn’t attacked our people just yet. We don’t know why.”

  Chase frowned. “How’s the state of the Droxian military?”

  “We are stronger than ever, but my people are no friends of the Alliance.”

  “But are we considered enemies?”

  Ryonna tilted her head to the side. “No, not really. We simply prefer our independence; we wish to keep to ourselves. We only break that isolation to trade, and only with species outside both Obsidian and the Alliance. That being said, we do not take kindly when people trespass in our space; that’s most likely why your ships sought refuge there. They’ll be relatively safe from Obsidian, but you should know, to my people, it’s considered an act of war.”

  There were anxious whispers around the bridge and Chase held up his hand. “We need to talk to the Droxians. Maybe we could convince them to help us in our cause.”

  Ryonna shook her head. “My people won’t help.”

  “Why not?”

  “While we haven’t been attacked by Obsidian yet, my people have been down the Alliance path before. I don’t think they’ll go back.”

  “Look, the Alliance is no more, but the Obsidian Empire has dispatched Zarlack ships to take over smaller worlds and expand. Eventually, they will turn toward Droxia.”

  “Zarlacks?” Ryonna looked startled. “What do they have to do with Obsidian? I thought they were extinct.”

  “So did we, but they’re back. And they allied themselves with Obsidian.”

  “That’s not good,” she murmured. “That explains why they were able to dispatch the Alliance so fast.”

  “Exactly, so it’s in everyone’s interest to make an alliance, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I understand, but I doubt my government will commit their military.”

  “Any chance we can go ask them together?”

  “After we find my son?”

  “After we find your son, yes.”

  “I don’t see why not. In the meantime, if you send ships, make sure you don’t cross Droxian space just yet. The Alliance vessels were in a system called Froxnard, about seven hours hyperspace from Droxia.”

  Chase turned to the side. “Sergeant, how far is Froxnard at sub-light speed?”

  “About ten days travel from here.”

  “So, it’s not an option.”

  “You can make it in much less than that if you use a wormhole not far from here,” Ryonna interjected.

  Chase’s eyes lit up. “Can you tell us where to find that wormhole?”

  “I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I couldn’t.”

  “Great! Hang on, Ryonna. Sergeant, how long until we get to Hathan at hyperspace?”

  “Under a day.”

  “And time to Droxia from Hathan?”

  “About another day and change.”

  “Alright then. Sergeant, have Lieutenant Darkis take two fighter wings, load them with as much quadrinium they can hold, and send them to Froxnard. They are to try to locate any surviving Alliance ships they can.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  A few minutes later, four fighters launched from the Iron Fire’s shuttle bay and vectored away from the ship. Shortly after their departure, the Iron Fire entered hyperspace.

  19

  While en route to the Hathan system, Chase and Sarah were eating breakfast in the mess hall of the Iron Fire.

  “I didn’t expect us to find quadrinium so fast!” Chase exclaimed between bites.

  Sarah grinned. “Good thing I insisted we go to the planet’s surface.”

  Chase reflected on that last comment for a little while and couldn’t help but remember the vision and what the goddess had told him. How it was crucial that Sarah came along.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Sarah asked, interrupting his thoughts.

  “Not at all, sorry. I’m just—a little overwhelmed by everything, I guess.”

  “That’s okay, I understand. I wanted to go for a run anyway. Maybe I should give you some space; you seem like you need a little time alone.”

  “Wait, please don’t leave on my account.”

  “I’m not. Don’t worry, Chase.” She kissed him softly on the lips and left the mess hall.

  Chase watched her go and couldn’t help but think how lucky he was to have met her. What were the odds that amidst his entire universe being destroyed, he would find something great buried in the rubble. But then it dawned on him…what were the odds? Was it plain luck, or was it all orchestrated? Aphroditis had shaken the very foundations he stood upon and, while he’d like to believe that every person had the free will to shape their own destiny, what if there was some higher force? What if it was all pre-ordained and he and everyone else were just pawns in a bigger game? The thought sent cold shivers down his spine.

  “I have seen that look before,” Ryonna said as she approached his table. “Mind if I join you?”

  “Not at all, please sit.”

  She nodded gratefully and pulled up a chair. “I wanted to thank you for keeping your word. When we first met, I didn’t think you would help. But Commander Kepler is very persuasive.”

  Chase sucked in a breath. Even more evidence of Sarah’s “crucial” role.

  “Yes she is, and a very empathic person too.”

  “You two are an item aren’t you?” Ryonna grinned.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “We Droxian females can sense these things, but it doesn’t take an acute sense to see how you two look at each other.” She smiled at Chase kindly before continuing. “Too bad her life is almost over.”

  Chase paled and sat back in horror. “What? What the hell are you talking about?!”

  “I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “Well you did, so you’d better explain yourself or I swear to god I’ll—”

  She held up her hand to cut him off. “Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. Let me explain. Some of my people have a gift. When we meet someone, we have a flash of the moment that person is going to die. While I can’t be sure of when it will happen, I did see Sarah’s death when we met on the planet. She looked almost exactly as she does now. So I’d say it would have to happen soon. Unless your species has a very long lifespan…?”

  Chase could barely speak. “About a hundred, maybe a hundred and forty years when all goes well.”

  “Then she doesn’t have that long a time. I’m very sorry.”

  He pounded the table between them. “This is nonsense!”

  “Again, please accept my apology. This is how things are on Droxia; we have this gift but, if you ask me, it’s more like a curse. But I assure you, it’s quite accurate.”

  And there it was again. Doubt about the future. Doubt that Chase wasn’t in control of his own destiny. Doubt that there was anything he could do to save her…

  Ryonna examined him. “There’s that look of doubt again.”

  “What about it?” He glared.

  “I’ve seen it many times, the look of doubt. The look people have when they question everything about their existence.”

  “Yeah well, life has a way of doing that to you when goddesses speak in your dreams, and strangers tell you the woman you love will die soon.”

  “Goddesses?”

  “I’ve had these…visions where I talk with the goddess of love, Aphroditis.”

  Ryonna raised her eyebrows. “I’ve heard rumors about the Olympians. But this is the first time I’ve met someone who has actually talked with one, in a dream or otherwise. Why does it make you question your beliefs?”

 
“Why wouldn’t it? I always believed I was in control of my destiny; I always believed my actions shaped my universe.”

  “They do. After all, it’s your actions that brought you here, so why question it?”

  “Because if it wasn’t for Aphroditis, I wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t have met you, and...”

  “And you wouldn’t have known about Commander Kepler.”

  “…Yeah.”

  There was a heavy silence at the table for a long while.

  “Look, Lieutenant Commander—”

  “Call me Chase.”

  “Chase, we Droxians don’t believe in gods, but we believe in destiny. With such power as to see people’s death in visions, how couldn’t we?”

  “Doesn’t it affect your choices?”

  “Of course it does.”

  “Then how can you fall in love if you already know how and when your partner will die?”

  She smiled wisely. “Well that’s the good thing about this particular power. Only a few of us possess it, and it doesn’t work on other Droxians. I don’t know when my son will die, and I didn’t see the death of my husband when it came.”

  Chase softened. “I’m sorry. What happened?”

  “Nothing special. An accident. I don’t like to talk about it.”

  “Sorry, didn’t want to intrude into your personal life…even though it’s kind of the way this conversation is going.”

  She laughed. “You’re right, I started it.”

  As the smile faded from his face, he asked, “Have you ever been wrong?”

  She gave him a long look. “Hold on to your beliefs. Prove me wrong. Make sure it doesn’t happen.”

  “Well, can you tell me more about what you saw?” he asked desperately.

  “It...” she paused. “We can tell other people about the visions, but we don’t have the right to divulge details. And I shouldn’t have told you about Sarah because you’re so close to her. It’s just been a long few weeks and I’m grateful to you for your help.”

  “Why can’t you divulge details?” he pressed.

  “You know, I actually don’t know why.”

  “Maybe to make sure people don’t get advance warning and change their fate. But, if they could change their fate, wouldn’t that be a gift and not a curse?”