“Any ships in the area?” asked Russell.
“Nothing showing in the short-range scans, but mind you, a cloaked Vor ship wouldn’t show,” said Del’Ron.
“Would be pretty unlucky meeting two on the same day,” said Jena.
“Unless they figured out we messed with their engines,” said Knurr, “and are actively tracking us now.”
“We’ll know soon enough,” said Russell dismissively. “Let’s scan the planet at the coordinates our employer provided.”
“Scanning…” said Del’Ron. “This world is mostly a big desert and a lifeless rock. There are some very slight life signs, but the atmosphere of the world makes it hard for our sensor to get a clear picture. Probably just some insignificant bugs or rodents. Scans show a set of underground tunnels at the given coordinates.”
“Will the interference allow us to beam down?” asked Russell.
Del’Ron keyed commands on his holo-terminal. “Not as a group, but we can beam one crew member at a time. I wouldn’t recommend more than that. Too much risk of bio-fusion.”
Bio-fusion was not a pretty way to go. When DNA and biomaterials from different life forms mixed during transport, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it resulted in death.
“I’ll go,” said Knurr without hesitation. “Just let me know what we’re looking for.”
“Thank you for your enthusiasm, but that won’t be necessary,” said Russell. “I’ll be going down. Alone.”
Captain Philips could tell from the crew’s gaze they did not expect that. What they didn’t know was that Russell understood how important a mission this was; it was one he couldn’t afford to screw up. While he could trust Jena to acquire the artifact for them, he needed her to manage the crew on the bridge, and, if necessary, keep them in check.
“I’ll be back on the ship in no time. Jena, you have the bridge.”
“Understood, Captain,” said Jena just before the captain’s hologram vanished.
* * *
It was a good thing Russell went alone, as the underground passages were really tight, and there would have been no way Knurr could have managed to fit. Not to mention Russell would never trust him not to double cross them. Jena, however, with her slender figure, would obviously have managed, as would Del’Ron.
Except Russell had never been all that comfortable in tight spaces without being claustrophobic. Between the total darkness of the tunnels and the narrow passages, it made for a very unsettling experience.
Russell interacted with his smart holo-device to open a channel to Alby.
“I can use your help here, Alby. Linking sensor reading and full holo-camera view back to you.”
“Link established,” said Alby. “The place you’re at feels pretty much like my own sensorial experience since I lost my body.”
That made Russell stop and think. He’d never taken the time to reflect on how the world and life would be perceived if all a person had was a working brain with no body. The idea sent shivers down his spine. He definitely wouldn’t want to ever find out. Senses, like touch, smell, taste, and even sight, were too precious. Then again, sight was probably the one thing that had been improved for Alby. Holo-cams had better range than most biological eyes, except maybe Yindreel eyes, which were highly developed to see in every possible lighting condition, with incredible range to boot.
“I’m sorry,” said Russell.
“Don’t be; if it weren’t for you, I would have ceased to exist.”
“As long as you think this is better than the alternative.”
“I’m sure you’ll agree that nothing beats living, and I think you got a taste of that after your—accident.”
“Why did you pause?”
“Well, I think the reason you seldom leave your quarters is you’re suspecting foul play. Or am I reading this wrong?”
He wasn’t. In fact, he was right on the money, and Russell had only two suspects—Knurr and Del-Ron—but over the past few weeks, his growing paranoia had cooked up some wild scenarios involving even the members of the crew he trusted, like Alby, Jena, and even the doc.
Jena was right, though, he was getting overly paranoid. And even if the walk in the underground tunnels was no picnic, it did feel good being out of his quarters. Away from these thoughts.
“No, you’re not,” Russ finally said.
“You’ll need to face the world eventually, or you’ll go nuts, and trust me, I know something about that.”
“Duly noted. There’s an intersection coming up, and my map is all garbled. I wonder if something down there is interfering with my instruments. Where do I go?”
“Enhancing sensor scans, give me a sec. You’re almost there. Take the right tunnel.”
“Thanks, Alby.”
“Sure thing, Captain. Do you mind me asking why we’re out here searching for some strange artifact? It seems a little odd, compared to previous bounties we’ve taken.”
“For one, I wanted a change of pace, something that didn’t involve firefights if it could be avoided, and…”
“Yes, Captain?”
“I dunno, Alby. I just felt compelled to take this one, not exactly sure why, if I’m being honest.”
“As cryptic answers go, that one is right on the money.”
“It’s a feeling, Alby. Call it instinct.”
“I have lost that with my body. Sure, a remnant of self-preservation is still there, but lacking a nervous system, I believe, is why instinct that was once deeply rooted in my psyche is gone. It’s hard to explain.”
“I think I understand just fine. I wish I had found you before you were only a brain.”
“Don’t, Captain. We’d probably have been mortal enemies back then. Your name is forever burned into every Vor’s psyche, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“I had a feeling that was the case. But you never mentioned that before.”
“I’m not your average Vor; not anymore, anyway. And a life oath surpasses such things as a grudge as far as I’m concerned.”
“Fair enough.”
The ground shook, and Russell paused. “What the hell was that?”
“Sensors are reporting a small quake.”
“Thanks for stating the obvious, but I thought the scans we ran before I beamed down didn’t report any seismic activity on this rock.”
“They didn’t.”
“I guess we need new sensors.”
“Or this ain’t a natural phenomenon.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Could be machinery of some kind that generated the mini-quake. I did detect a slight spike in energy the moment the ground shook.”
“I don’t like this one bit.”
“Want me to beam you back up?”
Why did Alby have to voice that thought? The last thing Russell wanted was to be trapped forever under a pile of rubble, especially in his current weak mental condition, but he couldn’t turn tail and run every time things got tricky. The galaxy was not the sort of place that rewarded cowardice.
“No, I’m not gonna let a little quake stand between us and a much-needed payday.”
“That’s also a concept I have shed with my body.”
“What is?”
“The acquisition of wealth. What’s the point? I mean, sure, I need basic nutrients and energy to exist, but that’s about it as far as material possessions go. I have no need for anything else.”
“Does that mean you no longer care about acquiring a robotic body moving forward?”
“I didn’t say that, but if it never happens, I think I’d be fine with that.”
“I see.”
Russell took a few steps ahead, and the ground shook more, stronger this time.
“Are you alright, Captain?”
“I’m starting to think you were right about these being artificial. How far am I from my destination?”
“About a hundred yards, give or take.”
“Remind me why I couldn’t beam directly to the provided
coordinates?”
“Too much interference. The signal wouldn’t lock.”
“Of course it wouldn’t. Hang on…I see some lights ahead.”
Alby stayed silent as Russell approached a metallic door with a very dusty panel on its side. Under the thick layer of dust was a screen and the light he had picked up earlier. He scraped the old dust away to reveal a small display, barely larger than a human hand.
The screen displayed strange symbols in a language that Russell couldn’t read.
“Any idea what this says?”
“I’m unaware of this language. I’m plugging it into our computer, hang on…Nope, the computer doesn’t have it in its databanks, either.”
“Swell. This is clearly the way to open that door, so any suggestions how to proceed?”
“No, not really.”
Russell grabbed his blaster and pointed it at the control panel.
“Wait! Don’t shoot it, Captain.”
Russell paused. “Why the hell not?”
“If this is meant to keep people outside, there must be a reason, and disabling it is unlikely to help you open the door.”
“Only one way to find out.”
“Perhaps, but that should be the last option. Please holster your weapon for the time being.”
Russell thought about it. Both his crew and he needed that payday, and if shooting the panel didn’t open the door, he would have to beam back to the ship and explain one more time why the crew had to be patient about their wages, which was something he really didn’t want to have to do. He reluctantly holstered his weapon.
“Now what?”
“Try interacting with the panel.”
Russell sighed, but randomly touched the surface with his fingers. Eventually the unreadable text changed a couple of times before settling on what looked like a choice. A part of the text blinked red, along with two icons on the screen, one green and one red.
“I’m no linguist,” said Russell, “but that looks like a yes or no question.”
“I agree,” said Alby. “I’m concerned about the flashing red text, feels like a warning.”
“Your powers of deduction are strong, old friend.”
“I may be just a brain, but I still understand sarcasm, even when badly executed, Captain.”
“Touché. I was only trying to defuse the tension.”
“I am not feeling any tension.”
“That makes one of us. Believe me, you would if you were in my shoes right now. Never mind though, if we want to get paid, there’s very little choice.”
“Good luck.”
Russell swallowed hard and pressed the green icon on the right of the panel, and the screen turned off. The ground shook more.
“Why do I get the feeling that was the wrong choice?” said Russell. “Can you please maintain a lock on my signal for an emergency beam out?”
The ground shook so much that Russell had to extend his hands on each side to grab the rocky walls to keep his balance.
“I have been trying to for a while, but I can’t keep a strong lock.”
“And when were you going to let me know about that?”
“Now seems like an opportune time.”
“Now who’s being sarcastic?”
“You said it yourself, Captain; if we want to get paid, there aren’t many choices here.”
A beam of light originating from the top of the door shot toward Russell, who reacted instinctively to cover his face with his arms. The light went down from the top of his head all the way to his feet and back up before turning off.
“Looks like it’s scanning you,” said Alby.
“Oh, Alby, I’m so glad I have you subtitling my adventures.”
“I can get off the link if you’d prefer, Captain.”
Russell’s heartbeat accelerated. The idea of being alone terrified him. But he tried not to let that thought bleed through his words.
“That was a joke, Alby.”
“As was my suggestion.”
The screen came back to life and displayed a stylized 3D version of a human body, with data in the unknown language racing around it at speeds too fast to read, even if he had understood the language.
“What do you think is going on?” asked Russell.
“I’m not sure.”
“Mind proposing a hypothesis, at least?”
“If I have to, I’d say it’s analyzing you and deciding if you should be allowed in.”
“What if it decides I shouldn’t?”
“I’d rather not say.”
“Great, just great.”
The screen turned off, and a source of light illuminated the area around the door. The screen turned on, with large symbols flashing red, along with a big red icon underneath.
“Now what?”
“At this juncture, I have to insist that I’m only going with a theory here.”
“Spit it out, Alby.”
“The fact that the symbols are that prominent on the screen and flashing red means the system is warning you.”
“Yeah, I could have figured that out. But why are there more options? Unless red doesn’t mean the same thing for that culture.”
“It’s a possibility, but I still think it means something on the lines of ‘proceed at your own peril.’“
“You couldn’t have worded that any other way?”
“I could have. I’m just trying to be accurate.”
“There’s no such thing as accuracy when we can’t read what the damn thing says!”
“Remain calm, Captain. I mean accurate as per my own understanding of the proposed theory.”
“Oh…well, I don’t like it.”
“And I wouldn’t blame you for not proceeding forward at this point. We can always tell the crew you didn’t manage to open the door.”
Alby was giving the captain a way out of the mission, again. The problem was, Russell knew that if he turned tail now it would make it even more difficult the next time he faced any adversity. And it made him sick to his stomach to think he had become so afraid of life itself lately.
How the Nightmare of the Vors had fallen. Not that he had ever liked his war nickname, but if they could see him now. Afraid of a little door panel. His heartbeat continued to accelerate as he pondered what to do.
“Your vitals are all over the place, Captain. Should we abort?”
There it was again. It was hard enough trying to muster the courage in his current frame of mind without escape choices being given to him. Russell took a deep breath and punched the red icon.
“I’m not turning back,” Russell said with strong determination.
“Roger that, Captain.”
The ground shook once more as the door lifted. Rows of lights turned on one by one on the ceiling, revealing what lay ahead in five-yard chunks: a well-built hall, looking pristine, made of dark marble-like stones. Twenty yards ahead the corridor split in two, but for now, Russell couldn’t make out what was farther ahead.
Here goes nothing, he thought to himself.
Russell walked forward, and the ground shook a little more with each step. Which made him stop.
“I don’t like this.”
“I can’t blame you, Captain. I do think this is some sort of a test, though.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Well, why engineer mini-quakes reacting to steps if not to test someone’s resolve?”
“Might just be a booby trap with pressure sensors.”
“Yes, but then why include an interactive touch panel? Why not just bury you alive the moment you beamed in if it were a booby trap?”
“Good point.”
Russell proceeded further, and with every new step, the ground trembled, to the point where the pristine, marble-like stones cracked as he took more steps.
“Well, I came this far, might as well go all the way,” said Russell in an attempt to pump himself up.
“That’s the spirit.”
Once he approached the
Y-shaped intersection, more overhead lights came to life, revealing larger corridors. In the left one was a small altar on which a circular gold artifact levitated and rotated on itself. In its center was a red stone that emitted lights from within.
“That’s our prize. The artifact is in reach.”
A sound caught Russell’s attention and made him look in the right corridor, where a furry animal glared at him with piercing, shining purple eyes. It resembled a feline. As a matter of fact, except for overly long fangs and the shininess of its eyes, it looked a lot like an Earth Nebelung cat, with long and smooth gray fur, reflecting lights in bluish hues.
“What is a cat doing here?” asked Russell.
“That’s no cat, Captain. It’s a Skampra,” corrected Alby. “Feline in nature, but not your typical Earth mammal. They come from worlds in the outer rim, and they’re a very rare sight. In fact, they are mostly thought extinct. This is the first I have ever seen one.”
“Well, it sure looks very cat-like.”
“Did I mention this Skampra could be way more valuable than the artifact itself?”
“Bullshit!”
“I’m afraid not. They are very hard to catch, though.”
“We came for the artifact, so if this is a choice of some kind, I’m going left.”
“Very well, Captain. Be careful.”
The moment Russell walked toward the artifact, the entire cave rocked so hard that it sent him crashing to the ground unceremoniously. Large boulders of rock and marble crashed around him.
“I suggest you grab the artifact fast and get the hell out of there, Captain,” said Alby.
“Thanks,” answered Russell between gritted teeth.
He jumped back to his feet and took two more steps before the next quake almost made him lose his balance again. That’s when he heard a loud yelp. It sounded a lot like when an animal was in pain.
He took one more step as best as he could, almost in reach of the artifact, which was now protected from the rumble by a force field. He was deflecting dust and smaller stones when he heard another sound, this time more yelping that turned into a painful shriek.
Memories of his first pet cat, Daisy, came to mind and made him stop advancing. As more yelps resounded, Russell hesitated for a second before running out of the corridor to go check the other path.
The Dogs of God Page 35
