Weight of Ashes

by Rook Winters

  CHAPTER 45: ELLE

  “L37,” someone said. “L37, wake up.”

  She could hear it in the distance. It was a human voice, that was nice. She didn’t like those Qyntarak synthesized voices. They didn’t do a good job translating. She could do much better. The voice sounded familiar though.

  Someone from the woods, right? Someone from Court’s village.

  Her eyes snapped open. That voice belonged to the man who killed all those people.

  He sat in a chair across the room, one leg crossed over the other like he was there for a pleasant social visit.

  “Where am I?”

  “Ah, there you are. I thought you’d come around faster, given your advantages.”

  Advantages? What’s that supposed to mean?

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  She heard the disgust in her own voice. Her hatred for this man was palpable, something she could almost taste. She wanted answers and then she wanted to make him pay for what he’d done.

  “My name is Kane. I work for the governor. The Qyntarak didn’t want to question you personally. Called you horrible names, actually. Some of them are a little superstitious. They believe you are an unnatural creature, an abomination. I think some of them are scared of you.”

  Something was holding her down. She strained for a second and realized it was fruitless so she spat at his feet.

  “I don’t care what they think. Or you.”

  “Tsk, tsk. Hardly polite toward your hosts.

  “They drugged me and strapped me to a chair. That’s not very hospitable.”

  “Be that as it may, here you are. And your fate very much rests in their, uh, hands. You are chock-full of intellectual property. Aldebaran has invested a lot in you so it’s a delicate situation given that the scientists there feel you are a compromised research subject because of your time away.”

  “That’s their problem, not mine. I never agreed to be their research subject. I’m not a guinea pig. You have no right to hold me.”

  The bastard laughed at her.

  “How do you even know what a guinea pig is? Doesn’t matter. You didn’t have to agree. You were born a ward of the state. Do you know who owns Aldebaran? The governor is the largest stakeholder. What Aldebaran wants, Aldebaran gets. Including you.”

  She hadn’t known about the governor and Aldebaran.

  “The look on your face tells me you understand the precariousness of your situation. Aldebaran doesn’t want you back and they don’t want you set free. Your friends will face lifetimes of fines and penalties. They’ll end up in forced work programs. The question is what happens with you?”

  “How can I help them?” Elle hoped that Kane had enough allegiance to his own species that he’d offer her something. She would cooperate if it would help Court and Britt.

  “The only person you can help is yourself. I’ve seen your files. I know what abilities you’ve shown so far. I know what abilities you could develop with the right training. That’s why I’m offering you a job on my team. Special operations for Qyntarak-human affairs.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “Despite your skepticism, I assure you, it makes perfect sense. I have an opening, thanks to you and your friends, and you’re the ideal candidate. I know what you are, L37.”

  “And what is that?”

  “The perfect combination of human and Qyntarak.”

  Elle wanted to respond, to scream at him, to deny what he said, but she couldn’t. Some part of her feared that he might be right, that he was telling the truth. She was different, she knew that. Everyone in the center was different. Different from each other, yes, but all of them were different from the instructors, the caretakers, and the staff. But part Qyntarak? Part alien? That wasn’t possible.

  “Dr. Donovan didn’t tell you, did he? You are Frankenstein’s monster. Everyone was surprised to learn that the Qyntarak are DNA-based. I say everyone but we think they knew. It was a surprise to humans at least. DNA-based but not closely related to humans. And yet, with the right technology, those mad scientists found ways to create hybrids. They died in test tubes by the hundreds of thousands. But some survived. And a few, a very few, thrived. Like you.”

  “Enough. Enough,” she screamed. Then more calmly, she said, “Don’t I get legal counsel or something?”

  “That’s not how this works. Not with you.” He stared like he was trying to read her mind. “You can work for me or you can spend the rest of your days in a cage, occasionally being poked and prodded and studied by bored scientists.”

  “I’m not interested in those options.”

  “You’re not the first person to be born into a life they’d rather not have, but at least you’re getting a choice. That’s more than most people get these days. You need to look after yourself to survive. That’s what Dr. Donovan did.”

  “Dr. Donovan was a good man.”

  “Yes, of course, I’m sure he was. A good man who had to make hard choices. First to look after himself and then to take care of you.”

  Elle noticed she was gritting her teeth. She didn’t like hearing him talk about Dr. Donovan.

  “Don’t squander an opportunity here. You don’t want to end up in a cell or, worse, off planet on a red ship doing forced labor. I’ve heard stories.”

  “You’re mad if you think I’m going to work for you while you send my friends off to prison.”

  “Friends? That band of smugglers and traitors? Don’t make me laugh. They aren’t your friends. They were using you. You’re just a pawn in a game to them.”

  Court’s face flashed through her mind. Maybe Kane was right about Ursula, Britt, and the others, but not Court.

  “You’re wrong. You killed an entire village of people and Court risked his life to keep me safe.”

  She regretted saying it immediately. She’d revealed too much of herself and Kane smiled at the opening.

  “Yes, that’s true, the naive boy from the woods. His only crime was harboring a fugitive who smuggled proprietary technology out of a secure Aldebaran research facility. Then again, how would he know any better? He probably just thinks you’re pretty.”

  He was goading her, and she struggled to keep her reactions under control.

  “Tell you what, let’s make a little deal. I release your restraints and give you a chance to escape. I can’t actually let you go but if you can best me and get out of this room, I’ll have the charges dropped for your boyfriend from the wilds. If you can’t overpower me in a hand-to-hand fight, well, I won’t have any use for you anyway.”

  She didn’t answer. The deal wasn’t a good one, not by a long shot, but if there was a chance that she could help Court, she had to take it. Kane didn’t wait for an answer, he tapped on his handheld tablet and the metal restraints popped open, releasing her wrists and ankles.

  Kane stood, set the tablet on his chair, and stretched, his back popping as he twisted side to side.

  A voice in the back of Elle’s head warned her that this was a bad idea. He was a soulless monster, not someone to be trusted. But what choice did she have? She sat up and spun in the chair so her legs hung over the side. She still had lingering fuzziness from whatever they’d drugged her with earlier. Reflexively, she reached to the place on her neck where she’d felt a sting right after Court had fallen.

  “Court, is he alright?”

  “Yes, he’s fine. Come on, let’s get this started. Since you were just sedated, I’ll give you the first shot for free.”

  Elle rocked forward and landed on her feet. A newfound desire to attack ignited in her veins. She took a tentative step toward him and he responded by closing the distance.

  “Come on,” he yelled.

  He was close enough that she could see the saliva glisten on his tongue as he shouted.

  “Let’s see what Master Zheng taught you.”

  That surprised her. “You know Master Zheng?”

  “Yes, I do. He kicked my ass once. Only once.�
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  His smug grin infuriated her. Master Zheng’s training showed her dozens of possible attacks, his likely counterattacks, and the results if he did give her the first hit for free. She decided on a crotch hit to inflict fast and serious damage. He deserved it. She let her foot fly, and he caught it as he shifted to one side. She hopped on her free foot to keep from falling.

  “Hardly sportsmanlike. Lesson number one: there’s no such thing as a free hit.”

  He twisted her foot, and she jumped awkwardly so the rest of her body would follow the twisting ankle and avoid an early injury. She clipped his face with her boot as her legs spun. He released her and stepped back, rubbing his chin. A tiny smear of blood came away on his hand.

  “First blood. Very good. Now we have ourselves a fight.” He crouched into a defensive stance and waited for her to make another move.

  Kane knew she wanted to attack him. He would use her disgust and anger to his own advantage. She knew it and she didn’t know how to stop herself.

  For several seconds, her rational brain held her back. Then he glanced up at the corner where two walls met the ceiling.

  She seized on his distraction, lunging and driving her palm up into his chin. His arms swung in defensively and she slapped them down, keeping them away from her head and torso. She kicked at his legs then landed a glancing blow to his groin. Kane stumbled back, and Elle pummeled his stomach with a burst of rapid fire punches.

  She didn’t relent, staying close until she had backed him up against the edge of the room. He braced himself against the wall and used his extra weight to force her away from him even while she was attacking.

  Keep going, she told herself. Don’t give him a reprieve.

  She hurled herself back at him and jabbed at his face. Somehow he got a hand up and slapped her incoming arm to one side. Her fist stopped at the wall. She heard the crunching and snapping of things in her hand before she felt the burning pain surge up her arm.

  Kane’s other hand sunk into her gut and for a moment she couldn’t think straight. He grabbed the wrist of her throbbing arm and twisted. He didn’t have much leverage but between his size and her pain, he was able to angle her away from himself. She swung her free arm wildly but didn’t connect with anything.

  Her leg got tangled with his and she felt herself losing her balance. In a flash of terrifying clarity, she saw how this would play out. He’d found the advantage; she wasn’t going to win. Her focus shifted to self-preservation as she weighed options for minimizing injury.

  She tried leaning away from Kane but with surprising dexterity, he planted a foot on her hip and sent her stumbling across the room. She crashed into her chair with a sickening thud.

  “Pathetic. Maybe you and your sad little forest friend belong together in prison after all.”

  So many parts of her hurt that she wasn’t able to focus on just one. She wanted to stop, to give up.

  Court… He wouldn’t give up if our places were swapped, he wouldn’t stop as long as he had breath.

  She had to give as much as he would. That thought drove her on. She pushed herself back to her feet and bobbed in a defensive pose. One hand was already starting to swell. Best to avoid using it. Her side hurt with every movement.

  Cracked rib, maybe? Need to be careful.

  Kane had a disgusting grin on his face.

  “Maybe I spoke too soon. Back on your feet after that? Good for you. Master Zheng would be impressed, but I think we’re done here.”

  He brushed his hands down his shirt as if trying to smooth wrinkles or remove dust that wasn’t there. He started to reach for the tablet he’d set on his chair but stopped when Elle hollered at him.

  “We’re not done. Not. Even. Close.” Spit flew from her mouth. She couldn’t stop now. She’d help Court or she’d be unconscious.

  His smile morphed into something sinister.

  “Very well.”

  He came at her like a blur with a volley of fast punches and kicks. She deflected a few and took the impact of even more. One of his swings grazed her injured hand and the momentary distraction of the pain gave him an opening to hook her leg and drop her to the floor. Her side felt like it had been stabbed. She grabbed onto his leg and instinctively curled herself around it to make it harder for him to hit her. The move knocked him off balance and he fell to one knee.

  He was over her now and Elle feared she’d made a critical mistake. But then he braced himself with a hand on the floor and Elle saw an opportunity. She stretched her neck and was just close enough to reach his forearm. She bit as hard as she could, forcing back her revulsion as her teeth sunk deep into his flesh.

  Kane screamed and pulled his arm away, which caused him to topple over sideways to the floor. Elle rolled over to her back and kicked at him frantically. Her boot scraped over his ear then her other foot hit the side of his face and she heard something crunch. He tried to roll away from her and she kicked the back of his head twice before he was out of reach.

  Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop, she told herself but she didn’t want to keep going.

  Kane’s face was scratched and a line of blood was hanging from his mouth. He pulled himself up using her chair, which she saw was bolted to the floor.

  His confident expression was gone, and he seemed to struggle to look at her. He was almost to his feet, and she realized with newfound panic that he was going to attack again. Her legs flailed as she tried to get back up without using her bad hand or aggravating her burning ribs. Kane flinched at her motion and lost his balance. His face bounced off the armrest of the chair then his head cracked against the floor. He rolled from side to side on the floor briefly and moaned. He didn’t get up.

  Elle ran for the door only to discover that it didn’t have a handle or control panel. There was no way to open it.

  “No,” she shouted.

  She grabbed his tablet, which was lying on the floor cracked but functioning. She tapped and swiped but it repeatedly flashed UNAUTHORIZED.

  “No, come on, something has to work.”

  She tapped harder then started slapping the screen with her palms.

  Settle down, L37. Work the problem.

  She took a few centering breaths and looked at the screen with more focus. The door clicked before she’d pressed another button and exhilaration washed over her. She glanced at Kane on the floor and made the split-second decision that she would run. The door slid open and for an instant she saw the spark of a Scorpion before everything flashed white then stopped.

  CHAPTER 46: COURT

  A gray-haired man with a frazzled look about him rushed into Court’s holding cell without preamble or introduction.

  “Court,” the newcomer said. “Or is it Mr. Court? Is Court your given name or your family name? It doesn’t say here.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Right, of course, yes. I’m Kas Joranko. I’m your appointed counsel.”

  “What do you mean? Appointed by who?”

  “Appointed by whom.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind. I’m your duly appointed advocate for your upcoming arraignments, hearings, negotiations, and payment scheduling. You’re an odd case because there are no records of you anywhere. The governor’s office assigned me to assist you. Anyway, enough on me. All it says here is Court. Is that your family name?”

  “I don’t have a family name. It’s just Court.”

  “Like Madonna?”

  “Who?”

  “Never mind. A really, really old reference and not a very funny joke, if I’m being honest. Anyway, is Court your full legal name then? That’s what your mom and dad called you when you were a bouncing little baby boy?”

  Court was feeling like a deer dazzled by a spotlight.

  “Sorry, you’re who again?”

  “Kas Joranko. We’ve already established that. I’m trying to figure out who you are, Mister Court with no last name.”

  “You’re like a lawyer?” Marsh had told Co
urt about lawyers. He hadn’t held a very high opinion of them.

  “Sort of, I suppose, although no one’s used that term in decades.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why don’t people use the word lawyer anymore?”

  “You mean aside from all the bad lawyer jokes?” Joranko waited for Court to laugh. When he didn’t, Joranko continued, “Most of what I do isn’t strictly legal work. It’s a lot of contract enforcement, policy violations, and debt resolution for the syndicates.”

  “What do I need an advocate for?”

  “I’m going to get to that. I was trying to get your name first. Call me old-fashioned but I like to start with the basics.”

  This Kas character was the first person to say more than five words to Court. He decided that he needed to play along while he tried to understand his situation.

  “My parents named me Harcourt but everyone’s called me Court since… since I was young. I’m from an independent village out east.”

  “Independent meaning off grid, no electricity, cut off from the world?”

  “We weren’t totally cut off, but—”

  “But, yes, that’s the type of place?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you met the girl when she escaped with Dr. Clint Donovan from a nearby Aldebaran research facility?”

  “We rescued her, after a Qyntarak killed Clint Donovan.”

  “Allegedly.”

  “Huh?”

  “After a Qyntarak allegedly killed Dr. Donovan.”

  “No, it did kill him. I saw it.”

  “That’s why it’s alleged. There’s no evidence other than your claim that you saw it.”

  “I know what I saw.”

  “It doesn’t matter. And it doesn’t matter whether or not I believe you. You need to deal with the situation you’re in now. Let me explain how this is going to go down. Your friends will get hit with so many fees and penalties to the syndicates that they will end up in forced work programs for the rest of their lives. Frankly, the same is likely to happen to you unless we can figure out a way to plead your case. Now, tell me what happened. How did you get mixed up in all this? Why are you and the girl working with smugglers?”