The Fringe Series Omnibus

by Rachel Aukes

  Drake pushed Reyne’s hand away. “No.”

  “Why? What are you—”

  “Hold on.” Drake flipped off the ship’s gravity and pushed full power to the engines. He corkscrewed the Merganser to avoid the array of shots now blasting from the gunship. The CUF gave chase as it continued firing.

  Drake banked the ship to the left and then to the right, zigzagging to prevent the gunship from getting a bead on them. A blast burned too close and rocked the Merganser. Warning lights illuminated the instrument panel. The cockpit vibrated around them.

  “You have to cut the left engine before it blows,” Reyne yelled.

  Drake cursed as he powered down the engine. With only one engine running, the ship veered to the left. His fingers flew over the panel as he entered commands to compensate for the loss. The CUF ship was closing the distance and still firing nonstop.

  “Another close one like that, and we’ll be blown straight into the eversea,” Reyne cautioned.

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Drake muttered as he weaved through space in a madman’s pattern. He took another look at the CUF ship and his lips thinned. “I’ve got a plan. You better tighten your seatbelt.”

  Reyne threw him a questioning look, but obeyed.

  Drake reduced power to the engine while continuing to evade. The gunship fired fewer shots as it closed the distance, clearly confident of claiming its prey.

  “What are you going to do?” Reyne asked.

  Drake’s lip curled upward. “I’m going to ram it.”

  Reyne’s eyes widened. “You’re what?”

  Drake added power, and flew the Merganser in a tightening coil. By the time the CUF ship realized that its prey had become the hunter, it was too late. He leveled out the ship a split second before the left engine slammed into the CUF ship’s aft photon gun.

  The impact threw Drake and Reyne forward. Drake felt his hand hit the instrument panel, followed by a stabbing pain in his fingers. He heard Reyne grunt—or maybe it was himself. He couldn’t tell—it took a second for him to regain his bearings. By then, new warning lights had lit up across the instrument panel.

  Whiplash burned through his neck as he read through the warnings. He was more than a little surprised to discover the right engine and life support systems were undamaged, though they were about the only things left running.

  Reyne winced. “Get that damn gunship back on the view panel.”

  “I’m working on it. She’s a bit sluggish.”

  As he spun the Merganser, he expected to find the gunship hot on their tail. Instead, he found no sign of the ship.

  Drake grunted. “It looks like they bugged out.”

  “No.” Reyne pointed to debris floating in the distance. “That’s all that’s left of them.”

  Drake’s jaw loosened. “That’s not possible.”

  “It’s not probable,” Reyne corrected. “I have no idea how you managed to do it. My guess is that when you scraped off that left engine, the fuel left in it sparked off the photon gun.” He chuckled. “I think that’s the best move I’ve ever seen.”

  Drake stared out at the debris in shock. “I really didn’t expect that to work.”

  “Well, I’m not complaining,” Reyne said. “Though, we better not stick around here much longer. It won’t take the CUF long to come check out why one of their gunships dropped offline.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice.” Drake said as he reinitiated the flight path to Ice Port.

  Limping on one engine, it took them four times as long to reach Playa’s orbit.

  When they got there, they found no sign of the CUF, which was normal for the colony farthest from the Collective. After Drake had docked and powered down the Merganser, he said, “Vym’s not going to be too happy having a busted up ship.”

  Reyne unstrapped his belt and headed onto the ramp. “That’s nothing compared to the CUF coming after you for blowing up one of their ships.”

  Drake followed him. The freezing Playan air blasted through his jacket in seconds. “You think they know who I am?”

  Reyne waited for Drake to catch up. “Everyone on the Coast saw you win the Coastal Run with this ship. Yeah. It’s safe to say they’ll know it was you.”

  Drake swallowed. “I need to get back to Kora.”

  “It won’t be safe for you on Nova Colony,” Reyne said. “Same with Kora. I can help. I can have your sister brought here.”

  “You mean, you’d have her brought to a torrent base.” Drake grimaced. “I’m trying to keep her away from trouble.”

  Reyne gave him a sad look. “I know you’re trying to do the right thing, but the CUF’s reach is growing every day. Soon, you may find it impossible to keep your sister safe.”

  Drake thought for a long moment. “Before they died, my parents made me promise to take Kora as far away from the CUF as possible.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s not possible, but I’ve got to try. I made a promise.” He took a breath. “Listen, you have my word that I’ll join up when Kora turns eighteen. That gives me two years to save up enough credits and find a good, safe home for her.”

  “Good luck.” Reyne handed him a card with a comm channel scribbled across it. “You can reach me on this channel. Give it some thought. I could always use a good pilot. And, the bases are more secure than you think.”

  Drake gave a small nod.

  They shook hands and parted ways.

  As Drake headed to find a lounge, his wrist comm chimed. He smiled when he saw it was Chutt. “Hey, you wouldn’t believe what happened. I was flying—”

  “They killed her,” Chutt cut in, sobbing. “They killed Kora.”

  The blood in Drake’s veins suddenly chilled to match the outside temperature. “What are you talking about?”

  Chutt’s story came out in between stuttered breaths. “The CUF showed up and started arresting everyone at the bar. They didn’t even say why. They called us fringe rats! People started yelling and stuff. Someone fired off a shot, and then the CUF started shooting everyone like they really were just rats!”

  Chutt’s voice cracked, and he sucked in a couple breaths before continuing. “Kora and I crawled under the tables. We almost made it to the doorway when one of them saw us. He shot as us without thinking twice about it!” He paused to breathe. “I swear, I tried to cover Kora, but the CUF guy shot her before I could move. He shot her right in the head. Oh God, there was so much blood. I tried to save her. I mean it, Drake.”

  Drake would’ve said something if he could, but he couldn’t form any words. Every muscle was paralyzed, and his tongue was a leaden weight. Thoughts swirled in his brain, screaming at him that none of this was true. But, his heart drummed the truth with every hammering beat.

  “I’m so sorry,” Chutt said finally. “I pulled her with me, but he shot me in the shoulder and I had to let go.” Chutt sniffled. “You ought to see my shoulder. The shot didn’t break the skin, but it burns like a gored vig. It’s going to leave a huge scar.” He sucked in a breath. “Anyway, I went back after they left the bar. I took Kora with me. I have her with me now. We’re in the vents near E5-6.”

  Drake clenched his eyes shut. He forced his jaws to relax, and he fought to find words. “Stay there. I’ll get back there as soon as I can.”

  “No. You can’t,” Chutt said in a rush. “They’re crawling all over the place. They’re killing or arresting everyone in Nova Colony.”

  “Stay in the vents. They won’t find you there,” Drake said, in a robotic voice, thinking of how he could get back there without being caught. He wasn’t going to leave his sister behind. Chutt was still crying, and Drake realized the boy still needed his help. “It’s going to be okay,” Drake forced out. “Remember the cove by Hydraulics?”

  “Yeah?” Chutt replied.

  “Go there. There’s no way they can track you there.”

  “But, I won’t be able to pull Kora that far.”

  Agony stabbed Drake’s chest as he spoke words he�
�d never fathomed he’d ever speak. “Leave her. I’ll come back for her as soon as I can. You get yourself safe. I’m coming back for you.” And Kora.

  “They’re coming back this way,” Chutt whispered. “I’ve got to go.”

  Drake’s comm went blank, and he stared at it for many long seconds.

  “Hey man, you okay?”

  Drake looked up to see a dock guard watching him.

  “You don’t look so good,” the man said.

  Drake turned and strode away. He walked through the docks and outside. Playa’s icy winds could kill a person within minutes. He didn’t care. Instead of freezing to death, he found himself walking down into one of the city’s deep underground caverns. It was dark and cool, and smelled of civilization—reminding him of Nova Colony. He found a darkened area where a jagged rock formed a small crevice. He squeezed into the small space and leaned his head against the cool stone.

  Then he wept.

  He passed out, still wedged into the cold stone, at some point. When he woke, he wept again. A short time later, his tears stopped. It was as though Playa’s bitter cold helped form a frozen scar over his heart, numbing him to emotion.

  Resolve girded his shivering body. He wiggled out of the crevice and stood. He pulled out the card Reyne had given him and entered the numbers on his comm.

  The torrent marshal answered after several seconds.

  “I’m in,” Drake said. “But I need a ship. I have to do something first.”

  Reyne didn’t hesitate. “You can use mine. I’ll meet you at dock G-12 in thirty minutes.”

  Drake hung up and headed straight back to the docks. He had a new mission.

  He was going to take down the CUF once and for all.

  But first, he had to put his little sister to rest.

  Coming Late 2019

  BLACK SHEEP

  A new series within the Fringe universe

  For fifteen years, Throttle Reyne captains a colony ship farther than any humans have traveled before…until she comes across another ship forty light years from home.

  Subscribe to receive an email alert when Black Sheep is out:

  www.rachelaukes.com/join

  Want to read more by Rachel Aukes?

  The Colliding Worlds Trilogy

  Beyond our world lies countless planets with endless possibilities. On a dark world far from our home, an epic war started a chain reaction, sending two alien races on a collision course with Earth.

  Young widow Sienna Wolfe lives alone in a cabin in the Ouachita Forest. Life is just the way she likes it: quiet and simple. But that all changes when a strange craft crashes in the forest nearby. To keep their presence on Earth a secret, Sienna is offered a choice: die, or join forces with the alien she saved from certain death.

  Little does Sienna know, she’s just walked into a bitter battle between two warring races, the likes of which could wipe out mankind. As she races to align her new friends with the U.S. military, she may soon learn that her alien allies may not be as noble as they seem. Can Sienna prevent an interstellar war from claiming Earth, or will she become the harbinger of an alien apocalypse?

  Read Collision today!

  The Collective

  The Collective is comprised of six terraformed planets in nearby solar systems within the Milky Way galaxy. The Collective is controlled by the dual leadership of Alluvia and Myr. Only those born on Alluvia and Myr are given legal status as citizens, while all others are considered colonists and receive fewer privileges. The Collective views colonists as means to achieve gain, and their pressure is driving the colonies—the fringe—to desperate actions.

  MYR is a silver-rich, water-rich citizen world with idyllic islands. Myr was the first settled planet in the Collective. Myrads have argyria and take great pride in their blue-hued skin.

  ALLUVIA is a water-covered citizen world and home to First City, the Collective’s largest city. Alluvia was the second settled planet in the Collective, and has the highest gravity of all Collective worlds. Alluvia has thick cloud cover and frequent storms.

  DARIOS is the most naturally habitable world and provides much of the Collective’s food supply. As such, it’s heavily regulated by the Collective. Its fringe station is Sol Base, which had been hit by the blight. Since then, the CUF has maintained a chokehold on Sol Base.

  PLAYA is the furthest world from Alluvia and Myr. It has low gravity and freezing temperatures. Its fringe station is Ice Port, which was destroyed by the CUF. The Collective believes Playa to no longer be of value, now that its fringe station was destroyed. Unknown to the CUF, the torrent headquarters is here, located at Tulan Base, which has its own space dock.

  SPATE is a desert-like world and has the largest fringe station, Devil Town, known for its massive indoor garden. Without a stationmaster, it is seen as neutral territory.

  TERRA is a battle-scarred world, where much of the Fringe Liberation Campaign now takes place. Its fringe station is Rebus Station. Terra, the planet nearest to Alluvia and Myr, stands between the citizen worlds and Darios, making it a key planet in the Campaign. The torrent headquarters on Terra are located within Seda Faulk’s secret retreat and space dock.

  SPACE COAST is an asteroid belt outside Collective control and home to smugglers, pirates, and other outlaws. Its fringe station is Nova Colony. The CUF initiated a blockade when the Fringe Liberation Campaign began.

  Glossary of Terms

  ABYSS: Term used to describe people and ships lost in space, presumed or known dead.

  CHIMESUIT: Blue, armored space suit worn by dromadiers. Named for the chime-like sounds the suit emits.

  CITIZEN: Free person born on Alluvia or Myr.

  COLONIST aka Fringe: General population in the fringe. Considered impure and lesser by many citizens.

  COMM: References communications sent/received, as well as personal communication devices.

  CUF: Collective Unified Forces (CUF). The Collective’s military led by Corps General Michel Ausyar.

  DRIFT: Slang term, meaning to die or to kill. E.g., “I drifted him with a single shot to the head.”

  DROMADIER: Soldier in the Collective Unified Forces.

  EM FIELD: Short for Electro Magnetic Field. On-ship technology to produce artificial gravity.

  EMP: Short for Electro Magnetic Pulse. Weapon employed by the CUF to disable ships.

  EVERSEA: A term referencing the space frontier. An Eden.

  FOUNDERS: Secret organization of citizens and colonists who steer the Collective’s actions using ulterior methods. Believed to have gone defunct after the War.

  FRINGE: Refers to the tributary planets and colonists under Collective control (Darios, Playa, Spate, and Terra), as well as the Space Coast.

  FRINGE LIBERATION CAMPAIGN: The official term for the war taking place between the colonies and the citizen worlds.

  FRINGE STATION: A trading outpost with space docks. Located in the planet’s largest colony.

  JUMP SPEED: fastest speed at which ships currently travel. Requires jump shields to protect crews from hydrogen radiation poisoning from high, faster-than-light speeds.

  LOGGER: Waterlogged “puffy” person addicted to seasoned water, i.e. water seasoned with sweet soy.

  PIRATE: Outlaw who raids ships and smuggles contraband.

  REBUS RECLAMATION EFFORT: The initiative, led by Seda Faulk, to force the CUF from Rebus Station.

  RILON: Extremely durable yet flexible metal used on most hulls, weapons, and tools.

  RUNNER: Interstellar postman and transporter. Fringe runners commonly smuggle blue tea or sweet soy.

  SCALAR: References dark matter or space.

  SOLAR SAILS: Large flexible sails on ships used for long-haul space travel.

  SPECTERS: Elite torrent space fleet. Many specters were pirate ships prior to the Campaign.

  STAR SWARM: Tsunami of space garbage/debris pulled into an asteroid’s gravitational pull.

  STRETCH: Playan colonist with low-g mutations. Extremely tall,
with respiratory and heart defects.

  SWEET SOY: Highly addictive drug, often mixed with water.

  TENURED: Indentured servant. Tenured are often tricked into servitude.

  TORRENT: Colonist rebel who fought in the Uprising twenty years before the Fringe Series takes place.

  UPRISING: A revolt by the fringe colonists against citizens of Alluvia and Myr for equal rights.

  VIG: Derogatory term, referring to a small, smelly rodent found on Spate.

  VOICELESS: Tenured who have had their vocal cords destroyed because they broke laws or attempted to escape servitude.

  The WAR: War between Alluvia and Myr. The War ended with a truce and the creation of the Collective, as well as initiating the push for colonizing other worlds for resources.

  WOMBIE: Mutated, slow-moving Spaten colonists who have developed a camel-like ability to store water. Have extremely low IQs.

  Also by Rachel Aukes

  Fringe Series

  Fringe Runner

  Fringe Station

  Fringe Campaign

  Fringe War

  Fringe Legacy

  Colliding Worlds Trilogy

  Collision

  Implosion

  Explosion

  The Deadland Saga

  100 Days in Deadland

  Deadland’s Harvest

  Deadland Rising

  The Tidy Guides Series (Nonfiction)

  The Tidy Guide to Writing a Novel

  The Tidy Guide to Self-Editing Your Novel