He craned his head back, shooting another soldier who had decided to pursue him. Foolish, considering his modified projectiles proved the most lethal of any of the crew’s weapons on the battlefield today.
Roughly twenty of Bosnan’s soldiers remained. A few more had joined the chaos, but some had been killed by the Queen’s forces. Most had broken their arms and died due to an error in their design. Green lasers still bombarded the silver soldiers, but Talek knew that the crew didn’t have much time. He spotted two of the Queen’s men dragging away one of the creations that had collapsed on its own.
Scout’s grave news did not bode well for them. If Malone joined forces with Bosnan, his next creations would prove deadly. They needed to return to the laboratory but this battle and wreckage slowed the crew considerably.
They needed to use Bosnan’s soldiers to get away while they still had the distraction.
Talek ran forward, rubbing his temples. He remained focused most of the battle because, if nothing else, the fight gave him something else to think about. The itching only occurred a few times at first. However, as Scout gave her recap and the crew scattered to provide cover fire, Talek overheard every word. This news excited it.
Talek passed the remains of the gate that once guarded the Consortium. Sora, Scout and Viktor met him there, firing at straggling soldiers that had made it through Bosnan’s army. The exhaustion in Sora’s face had only grown. He had taken a beating and, for that matter, so had Talek.
“We need to get inside, Sora. No more time for this,” he said, firing another shot into the fray. “Do we have everyone?”
Sora beckoned Trika and Natalia to close the gap as they neared the gate. Naos and Nait followed. Finally, Fi jumped forward, ending a soldier’s life with a shot to the small crevice between his chest armor and helmet.
Her precision impressed Talek. He glanced back at the battle to see another one of Bosnan’s soldiers twisting and breaking bones.
“They’ll be in the Consortium soon,” Natalia said, rushing past Talek and Sora. “Let’s get Bosnan.”
Talek ran and listened to a growing hum above him. The hum turned to a roar and he glanced at the sky to see the Killer soaring toward the sole landing pad on the Consortium. The crew now had no further reason to delay.
“What about the people in Idil?” Sora said as the crew entered the foyer once again. They marched up the stairs.
“We saved who we could and brought the battle to the Consortium. That gave citizens a chance to find refuge and once we’re gone, her soldiers will be, too,” Natalia said, throwing her long hair out of her face. Sweat covered it. The crew entered the familiar elevator and she punched in their destination.
“Look, I know I’ve said a lot but, if Bosnan is still there, we really should thi—” Naos said.
“Shut up. Just shut up,” Scout said, growling.
“His concerns are well-founded, Captain,” Viktor said, tapping on Sora’s shoulder. “We should measure our options.”
Naos’ concerns also complicated this disaster, but Talek did not consider it his responsibility to rebuke the boy.
“We don’t have time to think anymore. Right now, we just need to hope he’s still here. If he is and we leave him, the Queen will find him,” Sora said, sighing. He rubbed his face. “I don’t know what’s worse.”
The elevator hit the ground and the doors swung open. Talek still heard the shrill cries of lasers above. The shrill sound had gradually decreased in the last few minutes. The crew still had some time, but not much.
Natalia took the lead again, followed by Sora and Scout. Talek walked out next and observed the lab again but, before he could go much further, Natalia froze. Her left hand twitched. She took in the sight.
“No.”
The tanks no longer held any soldiers. Some computers emitted vital signs and statistics but the computers did not give out nearly as much noise as before. Without any life forms in the tanks, the lights did not shine as bright. A dim, blue light now covered the room. No sign of Bosnan either.
The assistant from before, Kasco, limped into the light of the tank at the head of the room. He clutched his stomach and coughed, before stumbling toward the crew. Talek saw dried, purple splotches on his chin. Puddles of purple lied scattered on the metallic floor.
“I was hoping that you-you’d return,” Kasco said, coughing again. He fell on his knees as he reached Natalia and Sora. “I cannot r-reach Governor A-Arbol. Chief Bosnan took all of the supplies for the soldiers and fled with the crime lord. I insisted that he stay, but he would n-not listen to me.”
Interesting that he did not follow his master’s lead. Out of the side of his eye, Talek noticed Scout’s whitening knuckles.
“You look critically wounded,” Viktor said, stepping forward and crouching. “You need medical attention.”
“Who did this to you?!” Natalia said, crouching beside Viktor.
“The crime lord, M-Miss Malone. My shuttle is near and I can tend to myself,” Kasco said, waving his hand. “I will be returning to Catalan, but that is not important. The Chief blames you for bringing the Queen’s army here, but I do not. I believe you presented an honest offer and, unlike Felicia Malone, you did not shoot me.”
“Why did he agree to Felicia’s offer?” Sora said, tilting his head. He sighed, glancing at the rest of the crew. “Where did they go?”
“S-She offered him all of her resources and said she understood his p-pain,” Kasco said. He coughed and more blood splattered onto the floor. Viktor grabbed his right arm and began pulling him up. “They are going to Wantim to make a n-new army. Different than before.”
The screams exploded again. Talek grabbed his ears, but that did nothing. The itching and crawling invaded every part of his brain. He couldn’t stop it.
“My army.”
No. Talek refused to give in. He recalled Fi’s touch. He recalled Sora’s considerate words.
“We need to go stop them,” Scout said, shoving her way between Sora and Natalia. She glared at Naos. “If they create better soldiers, they could be just as much of a threat as Bettina. We started this and we have to end it. Get Bosnan back on our side if we can.”
“It is only beginning.”
Talek felt the chains on his wrist. He felt his back on the cold, stone wall. He saw the man in pure, bright white. He saw the woman in mundane, empty gray.
“You are your own person. Your name shall be Selas Tabanand you shall keep him at bay.”
Talek saw the forest in Nash. As children, he and his two brothers ran through the mud and climbed the trees. He always wanted to reach the top. One day, as he reached the top, the raindrops hit his nose. He saw the dark, lightning sky. He heard the thundering power. Suddenly, his head pounded. He squeezed his forehead.
“Brother, what’s wrong?”
He grabbed his twin’s arm, trying to get down. His brother’s face paled.
“We’re going to die!”
They let go. They plummeted, slamming their heads into every branch on the way down. First, he and his twin hit the ground. Then his younger brother.
“Jekk?”
The laboratory returned to Talek’s view. The shrill sounds from above had stopped. Only a few inklings of the intense battle remained. The crew still focused on Kasco.
“We will go to Wantim and stop Felicia and Bosnan. Perhaps we can talk Bosnan out of this,” Sora said, nodding to Kasco. Natalia nodded in agreement. “Do we need to escort you out of here, Kasco?”
Talek wouldn’t put much hope into talking Chief Bosnan out of this. He made up his mind. Sora always remained the optimist.
“I’m putting together a crew. A simple crew to deliver supplies around the nebula. You can have food, board and payment. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know that I need good people.”
“I like the sound of simple.”
“Remind me your name?”
“Talek. Talek Dano.”
Enough. Talek pressed on his
ears harder, trying to push out the screaming. He remembered the feel of Fi’s arms in his. The comfort of her touch. The honesty in her words. The calm determination in her black eyes.
The screaming vanished.
“There is another exit in the event of a situation like this,” Kasco said, reaching into his pocket. He still held his stomach. “I will be fine. Thank you, all of you. I hope that you stop the Chief before he makes a grave mistake. Your kindness has earned my respect; if you ever need a refuge, Catalan will provide for you.”
Natalia smiled and bowed. “Thank you, Kasco. Your kindness has earned our respect.”
Kasco pulled out a small, electronic pad and extended it to Sora. “As Chief Bosnan mentioned, he had connected with a group of pirates that wanted to fight against the Queen’s tyranny. They occasionally gave us supplies. If you need more allies, perhaps they can be of help.”
Sora took it. “We will keep that in mind.”
“We need to go,” Nait said, pointing to the ceiling. “I think they’re marching inside.”
The increasing thuds confirmed Nait’s statement. Kasco backed away, waving and disappearing into the darkness. The rest of the crew turned and sprinted for the elevator again. As they entered and Natalia gave it their next destination, Fi stopped at Talek’s side.
“You must keep yourself steady,” she said, crossing her arms. “You must. We can’t risk losing you to this mental battle now.”
Talek smiled. “You’ve helped more than you know, Fi. I’m fighting. Thank you, Fi Kal.”
Fi pursed her lips, sporting her stoic look. “Quite a mystery, Talek.”
“Perhaps that’s why we get along so well, Fi.”
The elevator halted on the fourth floor and the doors opened, hopefully for the final time. Natalia pointed straight ahead and ushered the crew into another blue, narrow corridor. Two doors sat in it. One to the left and one directly forward. “It looked like the landing pad was on this level. It should be right this way.”
Talek followed Sora, listening to the thuds below. They grew louder and drew closer. Talek kept glancing behind him every few seconds as they ran through the hallway. He felt the rush of wind hit his face as Sora opened the door to the outside.
As Talek walked out the door and onto the landing pad, that’s when he finally saw a soldier emerge from the left door behind them.
“Alert! I’ve found them!”
Talek ran faster. “Go, go!”
The Killer sat in front of them, engines still roaring. Trika fired a few shots to throw the soldiers off and Nait followed her example. Natalia, Scout and Fi reached the boarding ramp. Sora looked back, releasing several blue lasers as soldiers marched onto the landing pad. Sora backed toward the ship.
Talek heard the wheeze. Then, Sora stumbled. As his feet went into the air and his torso went backward, Talek threw his arm down and grabbed Sora’s right arm. He yanked him to his feet.
“Not today, Captain.”
Sora smiled, coughing. “I know I can count on you, Talek.”
Talek hoped that held true.
They reached the ramp and Talek pushed Sora onboard. Naos stood at the top of the ramp. One soldier took the lead, charging toward Talek, Nait and Trika. Before he could take aim, Naos took him out with six rapid shots.
“Don’t know if that’ll get you back into Scout’s good graces, but it’s a start,” Nait said, shouting above the madness.
Trika, Nait and Talek backed up the ramp, still firing as many shots as possible. Soldiers swarmed the landing pad and a barrage of red lasers hit the Killer. One snagged Talek’s shoulder and he hissed. His armor had seen better days.
Nait hopped into the ship, partially due to a bolt that met his ankle. Trika fell backward to dodge a shot and before Talek could hit the button to close the ramp, the ship lifted. A rush of blue and white filled Talek’s eyesight as the Killer took to the sky and left a furious squadron in its wake.
Finally, Talek punched the button.
Trika pulled herself up and brushed herself off as she headed to the main hold. Talek followed, taking a deep breath as the rest of the crew came into view. Sora stood in the center of the room, coughing and holding his chest.
Kossk entered from the direction of the cockpit. “Your bodies look weary. They should get rest.”
Scout rubbed her chin, stomping to the opposite side of the room. Naos sat on the nearest couch, putting his head in his hands. Nait and Trika both leaned against the wall, letting out gasps while sweat dripped from Natalia’s face. Fi sat on another couch, tilting her neck in both directions and popping it.
Sweat also drenched Viktor’s face but he approached Sora. “Captain, we should get you to the medical bay. You have sustained multiple injuries.”
Sora nodded, holding up a hand. “Yes, but Kossk, tell Chok to set a course for Wantim. We need to get there as soon as possible. Everyone else, clean up your wounds and get some rest.”
“Yes, Captain. My mind would like a recap when your body is ready,” Kossk said, turning around and returning the way he came.
Talek closed his eyes. A recap of today did not require many words. Talek didn’t want to sum it up as a loss but it also felt far from a victory. The events that awaited the crew on Wantim could turn the tide either way.
12
The double doors nearly came off their hinges as they swung open, hitting the opposing walls in Governor Jet Arbol’s office. Two soldiers in untarnished armor marched inside, holding their signature rifles. Jet, sporting a bandage on his left cheek, stood over his desk.
“We’ve discovered twenty more injured on the north side of the city,” he said, speaking into his comm. “Now that the west is clear, I want those medics transferred to these civill—”
“Governor Arbol.”
Jet’s head snapped up. His face went pale. “Y-Y…”
He flipped off the comm. “Your Majesty.”
Queen Bettina stepped into the office. She stood fully straight and a firm scowl made itself at home on her face. She walked between the soldiers while Jet rushed to the front of his desk and bowed.
“Your visit is a welcome surprise after yesterday’s disaster. Have you come to provide your people with aid?”
“Aid, Governor? I am afraid that I do not provide aid as you do,” Queen Bettina said, remaining still. “Such as the aid you gave fugitives that ravaged your streets.”
Jet’s head snapped up again. The soldiers each grabbed one of his arms and slammed him onto his desk. He trembled, shaking his head. “Your Highness, I do not know what you are talking about. Senator Valie and her accomplices stormed into my office and held me hostage before the royal army arrived.”
She took another step and slapped him. “That is quite different from Captain Nelson’s account, Governor. I have cared for you and your people. I have let you live in bliss and you honor that by betraying our government?”
“You should have listened to me, Governor,” Captain Nelson said, appearing in the doorway. He also held a rifle and sauntered into the office. “You shouldn’t have allowed them in here. My loyalty is to our government. Look at what treason did to our beautiful city.”
He gestured to the window. Beneath the sparkling sunrise, smoke still rose from the array of destroyed buildings. Wrecked cars and rubble blocked most streets that sat in the window’s view.
“I expected resistance from Parliament members and reigning drug lords. Hence, I removed them,” Queen Bettina said, resting her hands at her side. “However, I spared most governors because I knew that love for their planets would correct any possible misjudgment. Unfortunate that you did not follow suit.”
Jet shuddered. “Your Majesty, I love my—”
“You love your people so dearly that you built a covert militia beneath their noses? Even Captain Nelson and the Lt. Governor were unaware of that,” Queen Bettina said. She remained motionless. “The lifeless brood took my forces by surprise, but our scientists examined one of your spe
cimens. One sweep of the Consortium exposed the laboratory that birthed them. An intriguing idea.”
Jet’s eyes widened. He screamed and struggled against the soldiers. They lifted him and slammed him down again.
“In fact, they only had one flaw in their muscle and bone density. One that can be corrected with a clay from Wantim, according to my experts,” Queen Bettina said. She held her left hand out toward its matching soldier. “I assume that is where the Senator and children have fled, Governor?”
“Wherever they are, they’re long gone now,” Jet said, gritting his teeth. He strained to pull his head up, flashing his teeth at Queen Bettina.
The left soldier handed her a steel drill. Queen Bettina didn’t look away from Jet but pointed to the office entrance. “Captain Nelson, you have proved your loyalty. Running a planetary security force is too lowly for you. I would like you to lead the forces on my flagship.”
Nelson fell prostrate. “A position on the Bombard? I would be honored, Your Majesty.”
Queen Bettina stared at the sparkle in Jet’s grinding teeth. “Take them to the mines of Wantim immediately. I am sure that the children and Valie will be there. Leave now and you can be there within hours.”
Nelson stood up, marching toward the door. “I will do you proud, Queen Bettina.”
“Also, Captain,” she said. She still didn’t move, but Nelson stopped in the doorway. “I will join you. This has gone on long enough.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jet struggled to hold his head up. “My people didn’t deserve any of this, my Queen. Not one ounce.”
“Let your people rot.”
Queen Bettina activated the drill and plunged it into Jet’s stomach. He shrieked as it flung skin and blood across his cozy office. His body flailed, but the soldiers remained steady. As did Queen Bettina. She pushed the device deeper into his insides. Flesh fell everywhere.
The soldiers held their free arms up, covering her from the mess. Queen Bettina remained the only thing untouched as blood flooded the office.
Survival, Dark Times Page 17
