by B R Flores
“I’m honored Captain Pify. Gors do not see Gystfins as an intelligent species. They see them as food and strong Beasts used for labor. Gystfins will flip to whomever suits their needs best. Trust is not advisable; necessity is what’s important. For now, the Gystfins are afraid of the Gors and will say or do whatever it takes to survive.”
The Dux Ducis twisted in his chair, acting as if he were offended. Before he could voice his defense, Boo snapped, “Don’t insult me. We both know it’s the truth.”
That’s when the true Gystfin showed its ugly self, “Boo brave, the Umduls and Trekachaws protect you. If not, I’d gift you to the Gors with one condition… cut you into pieces alive,” hissed the Dux Ducis.
“Do not trust this Gystfin-Trekachaw. He is a traitor to his own kind. Show good faith, keep the cargo ship and labor as my gift. Traitor Boo will not succumb from Gystfin revenge. Do we have your allegiance?” The Dux Ducis asked Pify.
“Acceptable. Trekachaw Boo liaison for Umduls. No threats appoint virtuous amidst representative. Unite Boo and union forthcoming,” confirmed Pify.
The Dux Ducis sat back in his chair, “I don’t understand what you said?”
Victis’s stripes turned red, “Captain Pify requests a Gystfin that can be professional, unbiased, and productive when consulting with Boo, not you. Like it or not, he’s the Umduls’ liaison. Enough antics, yes or no?” Victis demanded.
“Yes,” growled Dux Ducis.
Pify was moving slower than normal and appeared ill. He stretched out his stubby arms, “Victis, help up table, view better.”
Victis carefully scooped Pify into his arms and sat him gently on the table.
“Agree differences. Transaction fair, labor, cargo ship compensated agreed prior to Boo bashing. Dux Ducis reveal our enemies,” asked Pify.
The Dux Ducis leaned back and crossed his arms, “Captain Doug Smyth is orbiting in the Targus asteroid belt. Battleship shadows asteroid to fool your sensors. Crozins and Gors entered Ryquat orbit defeating escutcheon shield and communications. Ground invasion has already begun. Our monitors intercepted Crozin transmissions. Ryquat Counsel has been captured or killed. Gystfin planet Gardux is being invaded by Gors. Gors took control of our airspace. Will you send battleships?” Dux Ducis asked.
Pify scratched his head and fluffed his hair to hide Fizz. The little Tit was sensing Pify’s fatigue.
“One-hundred Battleships, two days Gardux. Agree Secret, Umduls one Gystfin ship spy. Choose virtuous Gystfin unite Boo,” replied Pify.
“On behalf of all Gystfins, I honor and pay homage to your generosity. May Jaaku protect you and your battleship.” The Dux Ducis stood up and bowed to Pify.
Victis waited until the Gystfins left the room before helping the old Umdul scoot onto a chair. Pify sat for a while before speaking. “Age catch old salt. Sleep soon, battleships discuss now Zaurak? Trekachaws make final. Yes, or no?” Pify asked.
In all the years, this was the first time Victis saw his tough, old friend show signs of vulnerability.
“Pify, are you feeling well?” Victis asked.
“Malignant years inevitable. Quizan accept, embrace anew to thwart death. Not over, end dignity, remain useful.”
It took a few moments for Pify’s words to sink in. Tears filled Victis’s eyes when he realized what his friend was saying. How long had Pify felt this way and how bad was the pain that he could no longer mask it?
Pify’s time was growing short and clearly the great Umdul warrior was accepting his death.
Victis hugged his old friend, “You will always be useful to me. I swear, Phera and I will find you a Quizan to merge with.”
“Promise not Quizans sacrifice. Sailed Galaxy, privileged life ample.” Pify said with remorse.
Pify snorted and buried his face in Victis’s shoulder rather than showing his sorrow.
“Adore wife Phera. Pify not worthy. Regret depart world. Victis, Azha must decide fate of Zaurak.”
Azha voiced that since he was not a Ryquat, Victis should have the final word on helping Zaurak.
Pify pressed his face against Victis’s shoulder and mumbled, “Azha not Human, Azha Trekachaw. Council defy Trekachaws, aberrant pariah. Azha word necessary.”
“Yes, then I vote for saving Zaurak,” said Azha.
“Victis vote?” Pify asked.
“Yes Pify, we should save Zaurak. What would we say to our loyal Ryquat crewmen?”
“Save agree. Gor, Crozin many. Comrades across Galaxy afar bolster unify strength. Kiki species wise, virtuous. Honor alliance good match Trekachaws. Gors, Crozins shiver at Kiki greatness,” explained Pify.
“Then it is settled, we will join forces with the Kikis. I will be honored to meet your comrades,” replied Victis.
Victis carried Pify down the corridor to his quarters with Azha following close behind. The room was stark and small, not that of a Captain’s expected grandeur. The tired, old, salt kicked off his boots and got undressed. His head had barely hit the pillow when a loud snore rumbled past his lips. Victis and Azha tiptoed out of the room and shut the door behind them. Though not of blood, Victis and Pify could not have been closer than father and son. He wouldn’t rest until he found Pify a Quizan.
twenty nine
CASUS BELLI
“THE COSMOS EXISTANCE HAS NO BEGINNING, THUS HAS NO END.ENTERNAL LIFE IS THE COSMOS”
PIFY awoke bright-eyed and rested. He was frustrated that his age hindered his raison d’ être during the tryst. Umduls lived to excel in innovation and achieve the highest standard of productivity. It was his nature to push everyone, including himself, to finish the task at hand before relaxing. Refusing to accept the facts of growing old, Pify often pushed himself to exhaustion. If he continued, his stubbornness would put him in an early grave.
Phera thought about joining Pify in his quarters, for no other reason than to check on him. Learning from Victis and Azha that he wasn’t feeling well shook her to the core. Like it or not, it was best not to disturb his sleep; therefore, she waited with them on the bridge. Victis and Azha were searching the asteroid belt for Cpt. Smyth’s battleship on long-range sensors. Seeing how worried she was, they asked Phera if she wished to join them, knowing it would be a distraction.
The new technology paid off. The coordinates given by the Dux Ducis were spot-on. A Crozin battleship was docked with Smyth’s ship in a slow orbit. Deciding how best to proceed was imperative. Whether they should destroy the ships or spy on them was the question. No one could decide. Finding them was simply too good to be true.
Phera wanted to enter a Ukaru’s brain for information and then test her theory of killing the vile alien with an energy surge. That was one way. The other way was to blow them out of space and end the threat. Phera won the debate. Choan would go with her since Smyth was Choan’s uncle. If he declined, Victis was next in line, then Azha. Phera requested ship to ship on a coded com.
“Choan, your presence is requested on Pify’s battleship regarding an urgent matter,” Victis transmitted.
“Acknowledged, one moment to advise Duro. May I ask the nature of this urgent matter?”
“Negative.”
“Copy that.”
Seconds later, Choan morphed into body form next to Phera, “What’s the urgency?”
Victis spoke up, “We have your Uncle Smyth’s Battleship coordinates on long-range sensor. A Crozin Battleship is docked with his ship in a slow orbit. They’re oblivious to our new technology and that we can detect them at this distance. We recently learned that Smyth is conspiring with the Crozins and Gors to defeat Zaurak. He was promised dictatorship of Zaurak. Phera wants to infiltrate the Crozin’s battleship to test her skills of mind manipulation on the Ukaru. We thought it fair that you get first dibs to go with her. If not, we understand,” said Victis.
“Refusal? Oh, there will be no refusal. I’ve been waiting for this. What do you want me to do?” Choan asked.
“Eavesdrop. Find out what you can and who’s on b
oard,” advised Victis.
“When do we leave? Where’s Captain Pify?” Choan asked.
“You’re leaving now, and I want you back in one hour. Find out what you can and protect Phera. Pify is getting some much-needed sleep.”
“Who knows about this?” Choan asked.
“Just us and those on the bridge,” Replied Victis.
“Smart. We should keep it that way. Phera, lead the way.”
In a flash, they disappeared through the bulkhead into space. Victis looked over at Azha, “Do you think we did the right thing by sending only two?”
“Yeah. They’ll be gone one hour and the Crozins will never know they were there. This was the best way.”
Pify stepped onto the bridge with a big smile on his face. “Good sleep. Update who speak?”
Victis looked at Azha, then over at the monitor, “Step over here. As you can see, a Crozin and Smyth’s battleship are in view.”
“Clearly join, Crozin bird,” said Pify.
“Phera wanted to eavesdrop on the Crozin ship and to test her theory on manipulating a Crozin brain while in energy. Choan’s with her. They’ve been gone ten minutes with a one-hour window to return,” advised Victis.
Pify frowned and his big smile dropped. “Phera gone? This bad, Pify scared Phera hurt. Victis approve foray, not wake?” Pify scowled.
“She told me not to wake you. Pify, you know better than anyone she’ll do whatever she wants to do. Phera is smart and tough; if anyone can do this, she can,” Victis said, trying not to show his concern.
EN ROUTE, CHOAN ASKED PHERA if he could have ten minutes to check his Uncle’s ship first, then meet her on the Crozin bridge. This was not the original plan. However, Phera figured ten minutes would not make a difference. Not so. The moment Choan entered the bridge a magnetic charge stunned him, forcing him into body form. Unable to move or speak, he could see that he was being transported through a corridor into a room crowded with Crozins. The last thing he saw was his Uncle Smyth leaning over him and asking a Crozin if the Trekachaw would survive the charge.
Phera entered the Crozin battleship through the shuttle bay bulkhead. Beneath her, a young Crozin was nervously connecting hoses to the exterior of a shuttle. Standing at the far end of the bay, a huge Ruk was shouting orders to Crozins running back and forth preparing the ship for a magnetic charge. She dimmed her light and descended into the young Crozin’s head for a safe place to stay until she understood more. Finding it amusing, it was difficult not to laugh when he slapped his own forehead several times and then tried to shake off the bizarre, tingling sensation by blowing his nose.
Phera remained silent and drifted over to his eyes, curious if she could see what he saw. The images were blurry with no color, and from that location she was unable to hear his thoughts. Maybe, if she condensed her energy into one eye the images would improve. Sure enough, she could see clear images from there. Now that she had that problem solved, she would speak to him as if a little voice in his head was giving invaluable advice. Phera drifted away from his eye into the center of his brain, listening for his thoughts. There, she could hear him. What was he saying? The more she heard, the worse it got.
“Jipvoy, Ukaru alert decks Trekachaw gaffed. Engage one through fifteen. Check sensors, no tolerance, failure is death.”
“Uyea,” answered Jipvoy.
She could sense his fear and heard his thoughts, “Am I losing my mind? Ruk Drocca will blame me if anything goes wrong. He’ll kill me.”
Phera whispered in his head, “Drocca wants you to fail. He’ll blame you if the Ukaru demands a sacrifice. Go to the bridge and warn the Ukaru of his treacherous lies. Ukaru will reward you for your bravery and punish the Ruk for his deception.”
Drocca slapped Jipvoy across the back of his head screaming, “Do what I told you!”
Phera shouted, “Don’t let him bully you. The voice you’re hearing is a Trekachaw in your head. Grab his arm and I’ll punish the Ruk.”
“NO, I won’t,” yelled Jipvoy.
Drocca spun around and back-handed Jipvoy so hard, he almost lost consciousness as he fell to the floor.
“What did you say to me?” Drocca demanded.
Drocca made a colossal mistake when he reached down and grabbed the young Crozin around his neck. That gave Phera the opportunity to transfer her energy into the Ruk. She wasted no time in finding Drocca’s thoughts.
“Pay attention ignoble. I am a Trekachaw inside your brain. Do as I say, or you will die a painful death,” threatened Phera.
Drocca kicked Jipvoy in the head. “You had a Trekachaw inside you and said nothing?”
Phera surged, sending a blast of energy into his brain. Drocca screamed a high-pitched shrill and grabbed his head. Phera sensed his excruciating pain and fear of dying.
“Do I have your attention?” Phera shouted.
“What do you want from me, Trekachaw?”
“Go to the bridge and touch the Ukaru. I’ll leave you and enter him. Refuse and I’ll make you suffer until I find another host” warned Phera.
“The Ukaru will kill me,” Drocca said aloud.
“No, he won’t. I will not reveal myself to him. Besides if you don’t, I’ll kill you and transfer into whomever touches you. Do you need to be reminded of the pain I can cause?”
“Jipvoy knows, what about him?”
“The Ukaru would kill both of you. If Jipvoy wants to live, he will keep his mouth shut. Stop talking out-loud and think what you want to say from now on. We can communicate without others hearing us.”
Phera listened to his thoughts. They were sick demented acts of what he wanted to do to her. Unlike Jipvoy, Drocca’s purpose in life was taking pleasure in torturing any living thing. A glimpse of him throwing a Ryquat woman appeared in his mind. She tried to run into a corner of the room to get away. Phera could sense his joy when he punched her so hard, blood spewed from her mouth. Given the chance, this is what he would do to her. Drocca moved quickly down the corridor towards the bridge. Several Crozins who were unable to get out of his way fast enough felt his wrath. The moment he had no one to knock down or backhand, images of children’s dying faces popped in his head. He tried blocking out what he was plotting by concentrating on one child he was eviscerating with his teeth, while starring into her eyes. Even so, he couldn’t keep his darkest secrets from Phera. He had every intention on telling the Ukaru that she was hiding in his head. Phera flashed her energy in the center of his cortex. She could feel his brain spasm and his thoughts were gone. As he collapsed to the floor Phera concentrated herself behind one of his eyes. She saw the Ukaru bend over and place his hand on Drocca’s neck. This was her chance, Phera entered the Ukaru, leaving the Drocca’s corpse behind. She remained silent until the disorder and confusion of Drocca’s sudden death was over. How strange were the Ukaru’s thoughts, suspecting other Crozins for Drocca’s unusual death? Paranoid of everyone, he wondered if poison was the cause and if he were next.
Phera answered his question, “No, he did not die of poison. I’m a Trekachaw and I fried his brain. Do what I tell you or I’ll fry your brain slowly until there’s nothing left of you. Do not speak out loud, think what you want to say.”
“What do you want?” The Ukaru asked.
“Excellent, we have an understanding. Tell your crew you’re taking a shuttle. Make sure no one follows you. Do that, then we’ll talk again,” ordered Phera.
“How do I know you won’t kill me anyway?”
“You don’t. I could burn your brain up and take over your body. Would you prefer I do that?” Phera asked.
“No.”
The Ukaru barked orders to the crew, then marched out of the bridge, advising that he was taking a shuttle. Phera had bluffed, claiming that she could take control of a body. That he couldn’t hear her thoughts was extremely fortunate and unexpected. It seemed the only time he could hear her was when she directed her thoughts to him.
EN ROUTE TO THE SHUTTLE, the Ukaru considered his
options. They were grim at best. He hesitated before entering a shuttle, wondering if that would be the last time he’d set foot on his battleship. The Ukaru took a deep breath and sat down in the navigation chair. His nerves were shot, and he feared for his life. When he spoke, Phera could hear the strain in his voice. “I did what you asked. Now what?”
“Set your coordinates for mark 28 and advise your ship that you are checking on something they’ll believe.”
“By advising my intentions I would raise suspicion. That is not the way of a Ukaru.”
“Did you mark 28?”
“Yes.”
At last, she could relax a little now that she was free from the Crozin battleship. The shuttle sped through space, headed for home. Phera surged her energy just enough to cause the Ukaru to blackout. What a relief to exit his body and morph into a Trekachaw. It must have been hours since her last contact with Victis and Azha. By now, Pify would be awake and be worried sick about her. As soon as the shuttle was within range of Pify’s battleship, she requested ship to shuttle communications.
“Don’t disintegrate me. Cover me for a long range Crozin hyperbaric wave,” Phera transmitted.
Pify shouted and waddled in a circle, “Phera safe I hear. My, my, caught little Crozin bird.”
“Hi Pify. That’s not all I caught. I have a Ukaru on board that I brained-zapped. He’ll be waking up in a few minutes. Victis, I have some information I think will please you. Is Choan back yet?” Phera asked.
“We thought Choan was with you?” Victis replied.
“He’s not with me. I flew into a nest of Crozins. Choan was on the Ryquat ship. This Ukaru has some weird thoughts in his head. If I’m not mistaken, he’s the one who took Connie and killed your other daughter on Trinite. Crazy as it may sound, I think he loved her. He kept wondering if Connie was safe on your ship. Even more bizarre, I could feel his sadness that Tilly was out of his life.”
Victis flashed bright purple. “I’ll meet you in the shuttle bay.”