Echoes of Avarice

by Brendan O'Neill

  Several of the beasts managed to duck either into his room or back down the hall. They held those glassy globes out into the hall and fired. Energy discharges impacted in the doorway as Connor ducked back into the room as. Somehow, they must be able to see through the devices he realized.

  Connor stuck his head back out and let rip the last of the ammunition in his magazine. It was a wild spray, but he didn’t have much other choice. The Ka’Rathi could see him before he could acquire a target.

  Through sheer luck, several of his ricochets hit one of the creatures at the end of the hallway. An alien chittering shriek pierced the air. The injured Ka’Rathi fell into the open just as Connor had replaced his clip. He leaned out and sprayed a burst into the beast even as its compatriots tried to pull it to safety. His bullets blew off a good portion of its head.

  A grouping of energy pulses drove Connor back inside the room. One came so close that he could hear the pulse hum as it passed scant centimeters from his left ear. Numbly, Connor replaced yet another clip.

  “You’re doing great, Connor!” Dawud called. The man was disheveled and spattered in blood. He glanced at Connor as he bandaged the limp female medical assistant.

  “I can’t hit them!” Connor choked out.

  “Then don’t try. Let them come to you. You’re in a fortified position, don’t compromise it. Force them to compromise theirs.”

  Connor stared at him for a moment, then understood. He nodded as Dawud pulled an oval device from one of the fallen guards and tossed it to Connor.

  “Pull the pin and toss it towards them.”

  Connor tried to grasp the simple instructions, but his life as a teacher had never prepared him for this. His mind was so overwhelmed that it locked onto the first command it could comprehend. As soon as he caught the grenade, he threw it down the hall.

  “You have to pull the pin first,” Dawud shouted as he tossed another toward Connor.

  This time he followed all the instructions and pulled the pin before tossing the explosive. It sailed down the hall and landed near the Ka’Rathi hiding at the end of the corridor. Connor could hear them chitter for just a moment before a thunderous explosion filled the hall.

  Silence filled the air. A different smell floated to his nostrils now. That strange almost sweet smell came down the hall from the Ka’Rathi. Alien bodies twitched, and legs kicked as the creatures took their time dying.

  Elation filled Connor like a balloon. Maybe that was it. Maybe it was over!

  The familiar sound of clicking against metal shredded his hopes. It was as though the sound mocked him. The rhythmic clattering was death laughing at him and his foolishness. He pointed his weapon down the hall, then held his breath and waited.

  Another insect like monster burst around the corner, then stopped and stared at Connor. Unlike the others, this one’s entire exoskeleton was coated in a thick black resin. Connor stared at the spectacle for only a moment before he sent a volley of rounds at the creature.

  A desperate panic threatened to overwhelm Connor as he emptied his clip into the beast just to see the bullets stop against the black resin and fall harmlessly to the floor. In the blink of an eye the beast charged him, that horrible clicking of its claws against the metal floor sounding like dozens of tiny death knells in his ears.

  Connor managed to duck just far enough into the doorway that its metal bulkhead absorbed much of the Ka’Rathi’s massive bulk. Even so, the force of the blow still bowled him over and slid him across the floor. His back slammed a support from one of the medical beds, stopping his momentum and driving the air from his lungs.

  The man lay there, gasping for air, with a hand reaching feebly for the weapon that he had dropped when the Ka’Rathi hit him. His mind vaguely realized that the sour smell from these aliens was much more intense with this creature.

  Slowly, the massive bug stalked toward him, seeming to enjoy its victim’s helplessness. Connor was dimly aware of movement to his right, then a cacophony of gunshots exploded. Dawud held the other rifle and sprayed what was left of its clip into one of the Ka’Rathi’s legs. The bug stumbled down to whatever equated to a knee, then rose and turned to the doctor.

  It chittered as it placed its glassy orb weapon on the table above Connor. The others could only watch helplessly as the beast closed on Dawud, its razor-like claws snapping together in anticipation of shredding the man’s body. Connor grasped the glassy orb and pointed its protrusions toward the beast, but nothing happened. He made a quick and desperate search of the thing, but it had no activator he could find. A hiss emanated from deep inside the creature as it raised its arm, its finger-claws like five mini-scythes poised to cleave through the doctor.

  The Ka’Rathi seemed to freeze as a thin line of vapor suddenly appeared to pass straight through its thorax, and a high-pitched resonating hum sliced through the air. For a moment, everyone in the medical bay froze, watching the creature as it stood still as a statue. Then a second line of vapor pierced the beast’s thorax, followed by a third through its head, each accompanied by the same high-pitched resonating hum. The beast slowly crumpled to the floor, its greenish blood leaking out of three almost imperceptible holes in its body.

  All eyes followed the lines of vapor to the doorway to see Tejeda standing with a strange looking pistol in her hand.

  Chapter 6:

  “Since you don’t seem to be able to stay out of trouble, Colonel Bradly has decided that you’re to be trained in weapons, survival, and hand to hand combat,” Wild Bill said as they walked down the hall to cargo bay 4. It’s a place that was off limits to civilian personnel, which until a few days ago included Connor.

  Connor followed behind Wild Bill gratefully. He’d expected reprisals from Wild Bill and the other military types after being saved in the medical bay. But after the explanation of why he‘d left his quarters, and the deposition of the others in the medical bay, Colonel Bradley decided instead Connor needed training.

  Him and others. The Ka’Rathi intruders managed to slay a handful of CPF and Fleet personnel alike before they were neutralized. Both Colonel Bradley and Captain Yuji realized if the crew and civilians aboard the Prometheus were to survive, the military personnel would need to bolster their numbers with civilian volunteers.

  And Connor was happy to join. Not that he wanted to be in the military. Far from it. He was a bookworm, not a soldier. But the attack had taught him one thing: an attack could come at any time and he was lucky to survive the last one. Very lucky. Anybody without training was setting themselves up as potential victim. Connor was tired of being a victim.

  Wild Bill stopped in front of a door to a storage room just outside cargo bay 4. He punched in some numbers on its keypad, and an audible click echoed down the hall. “Welcome to the armory,” Wild Bill said as he stepped inside the room and waved an arm with a flourish. The storeroom was small, not much more than a broom closet, but packed with weapons along its walls. Rifles of various types lined the two side walls while shelves had been hastily constructed on the back. Each shelf was home to pistols of varying size and shape. Connor had no idea there could be so many different types of weapons.

  “We converted this storeroom just after setting off from New Kathmandu. It contains every weapon aboard that’s not in active use,” Wild Bill continued. “While there are a few pulse weapons here, you will all be trained on, and use, firearms.”

  “Why can’t I use them?” Connor asked.

  “Partly because there are so few, but mostly because they are far too effective. The steel doors of this ship will withstand bullets, but pulse weapons will cut through them like butter. We don’t need you decompressing the ship the way you decompressed my bunk.”

  “I’d heard that pulse weapons could punch through steel, but I never believed it,” Connor said in wonder. “Is that what Tejeda used to save us and take down the bug in black goo that was attacking the medical bay?”

  “It was. Pulse weapons work on rail gun technology and hurl
small tri-pointed disks of a titanium alloy.” Wild Bill took a futuristic looking pistol off the shelf. Grasping the rear of the pistol, he pressed down on a lever and pulled the entire back section off and handed the rest to Connor.

  “I can’t believe it’s so light!” Connor said as he handled the weapon. The entire thing was only seven inches long and weighed less than a pound.

  Wild Bill smiled at his friend. “This box clip will add almost two pounds but has 250 triangular disks that are fired at such a high velocity that they can’t be measured effectively in the standard Mach scale.”

  “Cool,” Connor commented as he handed the weapon back. “Will I ever get the chance to shoot it?”

  “Not aboard ship. Too much potential for explosive decompression and injury. And it takes the antiquated processors on this ship quite a while to make the ammunition.” When Wild Bill placed the weapon back Connor noticed it was the only one of its kind.

  “We only have one?”

  “Here, yes. Fleet Captain Yuji, Lieutenant Tejeda, and Colonel Bradley have the other three,” Wild Bill said as he picked a pistol and an assault rifle off the shelves. He handed them over to Connor. “Basic firearm technology has changed very little since pre-apocalyptic times. And since they’ll take down both humans and your standard Ka’Rathi, those are going to be your weapons.”

  Holding a firearm in each hand, Connor’s face had the same look as a child’s might when holding a massive gift in bright wrapping. “Which do I get to train on first? Can I do the rifle?” He held the rifle level with a huge smile.

  “Both,” Wild Bill said. “After you’ve been checked out on them.”

  “But I thought that’s what I was doing here.”

  “Part of the checkout process includes safety training. Until you know how to properly handle a firearm, loaded or unloaded, you will not be handling a weapon again. I don’t want any more bullet holes in my bunk. This was just to familiarize you with the weapons you will be eventually handling.” Wild Bill took the weapons from Connor and replaced them to the shelves, then led him out into the corridor. After securing the armory, they continued to cargo bay 4.

  The sound of a gym greeted Connor as the doors of the bay opened. Various members Fleet and the CPF were using shipboard items as makeshift weights at the far-left corner of the bay. In front of the weight lifters the floor was separated into multiple padded areas where groups of personnel practiced their combatives. A sound dampening wall split the cargo bay so the right section could be used as a gun range. Groups of personnel were jogging laps around the perimeter of the left bay.

  Connor’s attention was drawn by the whooshing sound of something cutting through the air. Lavi was alone in the closest padded area, practicing with a pair of sticks that danced in a blur around her. The woman’s skin glistened with sweat and her perfect muscles tightened while she flowed through her different fighting forms. Each movement was precise, every step perfect. She was moving so fast that not only were the sticks a blur, but so were her arms below the elbow.

  “I’d hate to make her angry,” Connor said in a daze to Wild Bill.

  “So would I.”

  Connor tore his eyes away from the stunning woman to glance at the Texan. The man seemed to be admiring Lavi as much as Connor. “Really? You?”

  “She can beat anyone on the ship. In fact, over the years I’ve known her, I’ve only seen her lose twice.” He held up two fingers and an eyebrow to accentuate his point.

  Connor looked back at the amazing woman before Wild Bill slapped his shoulder and started toward Lavi. “Let’s meet your instructor.”

  “Wait!” Connor balked at the thought of sparing with Lavi. He took a hesitant step forward then stopped. “Her? I thought you were going to teach me.”

  Wild Bill stopped and looked back at Connor. “I’m your firearms trainer. Corporal Lavi will be your combatives trainer. Don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “She won’t hurt you too much.”

  Connor hesitated another moment before he followed the Texan to the edge of the mat where Lavi practiced. For a few moments she didn’t acknowledge their presence other than a glance while the sticks continued to flow around her like river water around a rock.

  When she finished, Lavi turned to regard her small audience. She stood easily, tossing her sticks to the mats edge. Even at the intensity she had just practiced at, Lavi was only barely panting. Her olive tank was damp with sweat, and she wiped her sweaty palms on her tan shorts. Wild Bill smiled and shook her hand while Connor just smiled stupidly trying not to look awed. They exchanged a few quiet words before Wild Bill walked back.

  “I got things to do,” he said to Connor. “Just relax and you’re going to be fine.” He pushed Connor forward, propelling him to the imposing shorter woman. The Texan waved at the two on his way out of the gym.

  Lavi eyed Connor for a moment with that beautiful stony face she always seemed to wear. He had to imagine that this must be what the rat feels just before it’s eaten by the rattlesnake.

  “Have you ever had self-defense training before?”

  “Uh… no,” Connor said. “But I’ve seen a lot of televids with it.”

  “Those are scripted, choreographed, and their true forms take years to master. Plus, they were based on styles of warfare that are now old and somewhat obsolete. We have better styles to teach you.”

  “Like what?”

  Lavi smiled at her student. “Your training will focus partly on Jin Fong Do, and more heavily on its ADS off-shoot.”

  Connor’s face screwed up in thought. “Never heard of either of those. What is ADS?”

  “ASSAULTS Defense Systems. They’re styles that never really gained fame in your televids but were almost unparalleled in their ability to neutralize an opponent. ADS became especially popular once people realized you don’t need a lot of physical prowess to accomplish it. It focuses less on the striking portion of self-defense and more destroying your opponent in other ways. The zero-gravity defense techniques taught to fleet personnel have been adapted from both Krav Maga and ADS. It may be the most versatile defense technique available.”

  “But I want to learn to hit!” Connor exclaimed, a huge smile spread across his face.

  “I don’t blame you,” Lavi said, raising an eyebrow at the excited man. “The gratification from feeling your fist crush your opponent’s body is almost indescribable. But we aren’t here for gratification, were here to teach you defense as quickly and efficiently as possible. That means ADS.”

  “Can’t I learn the Kung Fu and Karate and other stuff as well?” Connor looked like child that had his favorite toy taken away.

  One of her rare smiles crept slowly across her face. “I’ll make you a deal, Professor. You have two minutes. If you can hit me even once in that time, I’ll teach you what you want to know.”

  “But, uh, I’m not sure…” Connor started uncomfortably.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t hit back.

  A slow smile spread across Connor’s face. “Really?”

  Lavi looked to the clock on the wall. “Two minutes, Professor. Your time starts now.”

  While she was looking at the clock, Connor jumped at his chance. He exploded at her throwing a vicious, wild right hook. But as fast as he thought he was, she was faster. Lavi stepped to his left, grabbed his attacking wrist with one hand and placed the palm of her hand under his chin. With a twist and pull, Connor spun through the air to land in a heap at the far side of the mat.

  In spite of his rather undignified and painful landing, Connor knew he wouldn’t get this kind of opportunity again. He jumped to his feet and dove at the woman, a confident grin spread across on his face. An overconfident grin, he realized, when Lavi dropped onto her butt and kicked a foot into his mid-section. Her foot guided him in an arc over her, Connor flapping his arms like a helpless dodo bird. This time he crashed onto his face which was far more painful than his first impact.

  I’ve killed Ka’Rathi, Connor thought, we
lling rage overriding his better judgement. I can take this chick!

  Again and again Lavi either tossed Connor through the air or drove him into the mat. Frustration mounting, he threw a flurry of punches at the woman. Against the average person he probably would have a decent chance of landing at least one strike. But Lavi dodged each attack, as easily as if she were drinking water. Then, Connor threw what he thought was a brilliant feint with his left hand. When she stepped in, he thought he had her and drove his right hand hard at her chest.

  Somehow the woman sidestepped his swing and caught his right hand under her left arm and placed her right forearm against his clavicle. She moved a foot behind his and pushed causing him to drop onto his back. Lavi held onto Connor’s arm as he landed, reaching out with her other hand to slap at his groin then his face.

  Her strikes to his groin and face were a distraction to keep his mind occupied so she could twist the wrist of the arm she still controlled into a lock. Searing pain ripped through Connor’s wrist, and he yowled like a kicked puppy until she let go.

  “I thought you said you wouldn’t hit back,” Connor whined, holding his injured wrist.

  “I said I wouldn’t hit back for two minutes,” Lavi said, jutting her chin toward the clock. “It’s been five.”

  Connor looked to the clock then back at his instructor. He considered everything that he had just endured.

  “Was that your ADS thing?”

  “No, ASSAULTS is designed to destroy your opponent,” she replied. “That was just for fun.”

  “That’s all well and good if your opponent is human, but what good will it do against a Ka’Rathi?”

  “Very little,” Lavi said. “But if a bug gets that close to you, I can’t teach you anything that will help. That would take years and a lot of luck. My job is to train you against human opponents. ADS is designed to shut down humans as quickly and efficiently as possible. And ever since the Ka’Rathi uprising, human pirates and opportunists have been preying on the weak. A simple cargo ship like the Prometheus makes a tempting target.”