The Human Chronicles Saga Box Set 5

by T. R. Harris

  The Davion slipped out of orbit and made a direct approach to the grounds of the golden palace. Although there was a nearby spaceport used by the natives, Panur had laid out his compound to accommodate everything up to a Juirean Class-3 in size, yet only one of the large ships at a time. The Davion wasn’t nearly that big.

  Now the team huddled before the forward viewport as Riyad brought the flying saucer in for a landing. That’s when their spirits fell.

  It seemed that Panur abandoning the palace was an opportunity for the purple-skin natives to reclaim their natural wealth. As the Davion settled to the surface in a cloud of grey and white exhaust, the team noticed that the only thing remaining of the palace was the rough outline of the foundation. Even the low boundary wall of the compound—which had also been made of gold—was gone. There were still a few blocks lying around haphazardly, but not in the fabulous quantities they’d been expecting.

  The barren scene also told them that Panur wasn’t here. If so, he would never have allowed the plunder to take place.

  Tidus’s ship landed a few minutes later, and once the smoke had cleared, the team left their vessels to begin a slow, dejected stroll toward the skeleton of the once-magnificent building.

  Coop picked up a stray gold block. It was heavy, even in the three-quarters-Earth gravity of Worak-nin. Although the metal still had value throughout the galaxy, it wasn’t anywhere near what it once had on Earth. There were too many planets and asteroids for any naturally occurring metal or mineral to have exceptional value from its scarcity. At one time, the block Copernicus held would have been worth a million dollars or more on Earth. Now he was holding around a thousand Juirean credits in his hands.

  “Listen up,” Adam said, getting everyone’s attention. “We didn’t come here to loot the palace, so this is no great setback. We came here looking for the mutants. It’s obvious they’re not here, so we need to go into town and ask around.”

  He grimaced as he spoke. The last time he’d visited the nearby settlement, he’d made a mess of the place, pissed off at the death of his friend Andy Tobias and the kidnapping of Sherri and Arieel by the Juireans. He’d gone on his rampage not only for revenge, but also to instill in the natives a fear of the Humans. But that had been several years ago. Surely they’d forgotten about that by now?

  “Perhaps some of us should collect what gold we can find.” Copernicus said. “There’s not a lot of it left, but it will come in handy.”

  Adam looked around the stripped and near-barren field. “That’s fine. Just keep track of the weight. We don’t want to become overloaded.”

  “If that happens, I don’t think we’d care too much,” said Coop with a wicked smile. Enough gold to overload the KFV-A would have to be substantial.

  Adam surveyed the rest of the team. He spotted Arieel meandering through the ruins. If anyone could get the natives to reveal their secrets, it would be the seductive Formilian. She exuded a strong form of sexual pheromones designed to appeal to a variety of alien species. Perhaps the native Worak-nins would be susceptible.

  He called her over and the pair began the short hike into the town, while the others stayed in the compound to collect their booty, what there was left of it.

  Truthfully, Adam hadn’t really torn up the place; all he’d done was blow up a building and kill a native. But that was the city administrator, Lofis Crondillic. The purple politician admitted helping the Juireans track down and kill his friend. Then Adam turned to the crowd and told them they no longer had to fear the Juireans. Instead, they had a new threat: The Humans. After which, he shoved Lofis into a building and lobbed a grenade in after him. Adam was good at making statements.

  The no-name town was much as he remembered. It was the largest city on the mostly underdeveloped world, with its share of fossil-fuel vehicles filling the streets and a pleasant, peaceful vibe from the myriad of purple creatures going about their daily business. The planet wasn’t an important commercial or military hub within the Kidis Frontier, so the presence of aliens among them wasn’t that common, but not unheard of, either. Even still, word had spread of the two ships that recently landed at the abandoned palace grounds of their demi-god, Panur. Curiosity was on the faces of the natives as they watched the pair of outsiders move along the wide sidewalk fronting the main thoroughfare.

  Arieel was a Prime, yet it was obvious she was of a different species from the male walking beside her. As Adam expected, she garnered most of the attention, from both native males and females alike. But then it happened: Someone recognized him. Anyone present during his last visit would have the image burned into their brains; that was his intention. Fingers now pointed and hushed conversation spread quickly along the street. A wide berth was given to the aliens.

  Adam was heading for the central government building where the administrator lived and worked. It had been rebuilt after the explosion. Adam and Arieel climbed the short flight of stairs to the broad landing outside the entrance. Unlike the last time, when a throng of curious natives had followed him here, only a few of the bravest gathered in the courtyard below. An older native exited the building without being prompted, warned of Adam’s arrival by a phone call. a pair of armed guards were at his side. They were natives, holding menacing-looking Xan-fi rifles in their hands. Although the weapons were deadly, the scared looks on their purple faces betrayed the level of courage Adam was confronting.

  “You are Adam Cain,” said the city official in an even tone. “I am Dinus Banollic, the Administrator. I pray you have not come here for a repeat of your last visit. That was both savage and uncalled for. And unlike my predecessor, I greet you prepared.”

  Adam grinned, being careful to keep his teeth covered by his thin lips. He didn’t want any misunderstandings. “I did what I had to do to avenge the death of a friend. That was then. Now I come in peace, seeking only information.”

  “What information?”

  “Regarding Panur. Have you seen him recently?”

  Dinus eyed Arieel, his eyes scanning her voluptuous figure. His mouth fell open slightly, unaware of the chemical reactions taking place in his brain and the strange attraction he felt toward the alien female. Although they were of completely different species, Dinus couldn’t help himself.

  “Panur?” he said after a moment, the word finally registering in his consciousness. “The Master Being has not been here for quite a while.”

  “Has he seen what you have done to his palace?” Arieel asked, her dark eyes sparkling with both seductiveness, as well as accusation.

  Dinus blinked several times. “Yes…he has seen the recovery efforts. He was not upset, not as we expected. There was relief among the populous.”

  “And when was this?” Adam prompted.

  “A standard year ago, maybe longer.”

  “Was Lila with him?” Arieel asked.

  “Ah, yes, the Apex Being!”

  Adam was shocked at the reference. Only the Aris referred to her in such terms. And since she had reigned over the Expansion for only a year, he doubted her reputation had made it all the way to Worak-nin, isolated as it was in the outer reaches of the Frontier.

  “Apex Being?” Adam questioned.

  “Yes, that is the term by which Panur referred her. For a being such as he to refer to the female in such a manner was an indicator of her importance and power. We bowed to her, just as we did to our Master.”

  “Do you know where they are?” Adam followed up.

  Dinus wobbled his head. “Perhaps; I have notes within my office. There have been references made. Please accompany me inside, I will be delighted to assist.” He waved off the guards.

  Adam and Arieel shared an excited look. Progress, something he hadn’t expected. Enthusiastically, the pair entered the building…and were immediately hit with a cloud of light-yellow gas originating from sources on their flanks.

  Before he could react, Arieel tumbled into him, pushing Adam to the right and into another being wearing a facemask. Instincti
vely, Adam held his breath, but by then it was too late. But he wasn’t completely disabled, not yet. He threw up his right hand and caught a protruding chin with his palm. The head of the masked alien snapped back, creating a sharp pop as the neck snapped.

  Adam, Arieel and the alien ended up in a pile together, with Adam struggling with his last ounce of awareness to pull the mask from the face of his dead attacker and place it over his. By the time he had it on, the lingering gas was inside and all he managed to do was inhale another large gulp.

  Other figures moved in over him, visible only as grey ghosts through the fogged lens of the mask. They were phantoms, each with shining flat faces devoid of features. With his last conscious thought, Adam let out a mental scream through his ATD.

  Riyad!

  And then came the blackness…and the peace.

  Wearing his own protective mask, Wonnel Mandor stepped over the pair of unconscious beings on the floor. He took a moment to regard his dead team member and then shrugged. “That was easier than anticipated,” he said. The other four members of his squad didn’t comment. Instead, they quickly lifted the inert aliens and removed them through a back door of the administration building.

  Dinus Banollic had a mask over his face as well. Now he removed it as he entered the fresh air at the rear of the building.

  “Please assure me the others are being equally subdued,” he pleaded to the husky, black-skinned alien with the thick leather garment on his torso and double MK-17’s strapped around his waist. “I do not wish revenge to befall my people…or myself. The Humans are known for such acts of retribution.”

  “Their companions are currently being likewise overcome. The Cartel keeps its contracts. No misfortune will result from your treachery.”

  “Treachery? It is not such. That would imply we once had a friendly relationship with the Humans. That is not so. We abhor them and their barbaric ways. Now take them away. We wish to be rid of their kind.”

  The Gradis Cartel soldier grinned, partially revealing a jagged set of sharp, yellow teeth. “You have been handsomely compensated. In addition, the Cartel will now offer protection to your people from disparate threats, including the Humans. The fee conveyed to us periodically will be a small price to pay for the security we will provide. It is the same for many under our protective cover.”

  Dinus swallowed hard at the hidden meaning. He knew the history of the Cartel in the Frontier. And even though they had paid him a small reward—hardly handsome—for assisting in the capture of Adam Cain and his partners, he understood the true price his people would pay would be long in fulfillment. Yet in light of the damage the Humans would impose if his—yes, treachery—was discovered, it was all he could do to assure the wellbeing of his people. The Humans were not to be crossed. But neither was the Gradis Cartel.

  Unable to concentrate properly, Adam’s panicked mental call wasn’t directed exclusively at Riyad. Instead, he, Sherri and Copernicus each received the intense mental blast, stunned into frozen statues from the strength of the link.

  When they recovered, each went into action, sensing the warning from their leader.

  “Tidus!” Riyad called out. “Get back to your ship. Something’s wrong.”

  The towering Juirean looked at the Humans, confused. They were making for whatever cover was available, drawing their weapons with lightning quick reactions, while also heading for the Klin saucer when they could.

  “I do not—”

  “Just do it! We’re under attack.”

  “Attack?” He looked around at the pastural scene. There was no one else around except….

  The surrounding forest suddenly came alive with a variety of strange creatures, all sprinting toward them with Xan-fi rifles flaring. Riyad dove behind a small wall around what had once been a fountain outside the palace. At one time it had been coated with gold, but no longer.

  Flash bolts splashed against the barrier. From the color of the plasma, Riyad knew these were of minimal power, designed to stun, not to kill. He lifted his MK-17 and lined up on the closest attacker. Riyad wasn’t playing around; his bolt was set at level 1. The powerful blue bolt burned through the light armor center mass, dropping the alien in mid-stride. All around him, more brilliant flashes were lashing out from Sherri and Coop’s weapons.

  Tidus finally got the message. He sprinted to the open hatch of his starship, before stopping and sending his own contribution of defensive flash bolts into the line of attackers. There were twenty or more, and they were dropping like flies under the unrelenting and accurate fire from the team, the Juirean included. Like the Humans, the blue-haired alien didn’t wait for the MK’s targeting computer to lock on before firing. Members of his race were excellent marksmen and he was proving his skill alongside the Humans.

  And then they were outflanked, surrounded by another twenty or so alien troops emerging from the direction of the native town. Riyad could tell they weren’t natives; rather, they were a hodgepodge of a half dozen races. Some he recognized, knowing them to be accomplished warriors. Others he didn’t, but by their skill and movements, they would also be from predator species.

  Sherri took a strong bolt to her back. She growled and rolled over, blasting the shooter as he moved in behind her. But then two more arrived, each sending the diffused energy bolts into her body. She collapsed into unconsciousness.

  Both Riyad and Copernicus had also taken hits but had avoided follow ups. They closed on Sherri from opposite directions, draping their bodies over her for protection. At level-1 intensity, and with no back up power packs, their weapons soon fell silent. They watched with venomous eyes as the alien troops surrounded them.

  Riyad glanced over at the NT-4. Tidus was under guard, his drained weapon being pulled from his hand as Xan-fi barrels were used to herd him toward the others.

  Riyad tossed his weapon aside, as did Coop. Then he stood, his arms at his side. He knew the aliens didn’t intend to kill them; this was all part of the game. He looked past the sentries and quickly counted ten bodies lying still between here and the tree line. Sherri would recover from her injuries; that couldn’t be said for a fair number of the attackers.

  Riyad flashed his trademark brilliant white smile at the nearest guard. The alien recoiled, before looking to his companions, unsure whether to respond to the death challenge or not? Riyad could see the conflict on the alien’s face. They were not to kill the prisoners, yet this one may have other ideas. How should he respond if Riyad attacked?

  Riyad closed his mouth, yet letting the wide grin linger, stretching across his bearded face nearly from side to side.

  “What now, my friend? Do we help bury your dead, or would that be adding insult to injury?”

  A larger, barrel-chested alien pushed through the line of guards.

  “We bury our own dead, Riyad Tarazi,” the huge being bellowed.

  Riyad wasn’t surprised that the alien knew his name. This was a planned operation and stocked with an ample supply of fighters. By the varied makeup of the races, he guessed them to be Cartel members. The Gradis was strong in the Kidis Frontier.

  Riyad looked down at Sherri’s sleeping body. “Then let us tend to our wounded, while you tend to your dead. And by the way, that was fun. We’ll have to do it again…soon.”

  This time when Riyad opened his mouth he bared his teeth in anything but a friendly expression. This was a death challenge, and one which he would be sure to fulfill.

  91

  When Adam regained consciousness, he was shackled and encased in a small metal box barely the size of a coffin. His mind cleared quickly, providing a vivid memory of a light-yellow haze filling his vision as he entered the government building, followed by a scuffle of some kind. It had obviously been an effective knock-out gas, working even on his enhanced metabolism. But if he recalled correctly, he got in a few licks before going under. That brought a grin to his face.

  He tested the restraints. They were strong and adequate, causing him to conclude that
the Worak-nin had not done this. The abduction had been carried out by someone else, someone who understood Humans and their abilities. And for obvious reasons. He suspected Arieel was similarly imprisoned, along with the rest of the team. They would not have taken only him and Arieel, leaving the others to come after them. The trap had to be all-encompassing for it to be effective.

  He also wasn’t afraid. His captors were not going to kill them. They were to be used as Lo’ol had originally intended, as hostages to lure in the mutants. Asking what they expected to do after that extended the smile on Adam’s face. A pair of pissed off immortal mutant geniuses would be hard to tame. Adam figured he could just sit back and watch the show…or he could attempt an escape. He was almost tempted to go with the former. It would be fun to watch.

  But that would not be true to his nature. Besides, he was curious who was stupid enough to take this tack in locating Panur and Lila?

  He kicked up with his feet, sending a loud report throughout the metal box. “Hey! I’m awake,” he yelled. “How about a bathroom break? And a little food? You don’t want me to starve to death, now do you?”

  A few minutes later, he heard the latches of his coffin snap open and the lid was lifted back. A black-skinned alien with yellow teeth and a nasty expression glared down at him.

  “Soil yourself in here, if you must,” he growled. “And food will be provided. However, you have only been in the containment chamber for three hours. You are hardly in danger of starvation.”

  “And who might you be?” Adam asked with obvious humor in his voice. The tone caught the alien off guard. He was expecting an angrier response.

  “I am Wonnel Mandor.”

  “Okay…and who do you work for, Wonnel Mandor, or are you independent?”

  “I am in the service of the Gradis Cartel.”

  “The Gradis! My old friend Frandon G’Bur! So, he’s calling the shots?”

  “You…you know Mon G’Bur?”