by Skyler Grant
"How do you know who we are? Have you been receiving our transmissions from Earth and ignoring them?" I asked.
"Allow me to start things off by putting your companion’s mind at ease. On behalf of the Sinalara I hereby surrender to the empire. I pledge you our loyalty and offer you full access to our technology and our abilities. In return, we seek only the protection you extend to all your citizens," Julasa said.
"Well, fuck. I didn't even get to kill anybody," Sylax said.
"I rather expect that is coming," I said. Whoever this Julasa was and what she represented, she certainly was going to complicated things—I could sense it. Worse than that, I think she did know me.
The empire had absorbed a lot of people—enemies, killers, and monsters. You swore loyalty and meant it, and you were in. They did, I was already getting the prompts.
The Empire has acquired a new population
Sinalara
Population: 1,408,411
Abilities: Telepathy, Probability Manipulation, Foretelling
Over one million people scattered throughout the surface of Mars. Many in poor health, tortured, starved.
"They mean it," I told Sylax, and added to Julasa, "And we accept, as you knew we would. Let’s talk."
23
Julasa led us an encampment in the cavern. It was warmed by massive braziers that burned brightly. The space was filled with tents of hide and cloth.
I had no human modesty taboos and as a sign of respect to our new hosts had my drone strip out of her armor and clothing. Somewhat to my surprise Sylax did the same, her body showing a good many more scars than any of the locals could claim.
We were given mugs of some deeply bitter brew and seated on plush pillows.
"You've led a hard life and done some terrible things," Julasa said, looking over at Sylax.
"Both true. This stuff is awful," Sylax said, with a grimace at her mug.
"Your people appear more human than I might have expected," I said to Julasa.
"In turn, humans appear exactly as the Sinalara expected. Seers don't often get to be surprised," Julasa said.
"Do you expect us to believe you can see the future? We've got a lot of powers back on Earth, but that isn't one of them," Sylax said.
Despite being a popular subject of human superstition, foretelling abilities had never appeared as a crystal-given power. Some, such as King Boreas, could give the appearance they knew the future by being able to rewind time, but it wasn't the same thing.
Julasa tilted her head for a moment. "M84J3A. Mother, if you would be so kind as to generate a random string."
I did. M84J3A. Whatever the Sinalara were, they weren't lying about this ability. My own prompts determined that. It was distantly possible they had some sort of compulsion ability and were simply making us believe these predictive abilities. I'd keep watch for that being so.
"If I were your mother I'd have built you a better face. Still, despite your massive unsymmetrical flaws, you do appear to be telling the truth and the string matches," I said.
"Okay," Sylax said, frowning. "Then if you're telling the truth, why the hell do you need our help? An army that can see the future would be unstoppable."
"The ability is rare, limited, and grows unreliable when violence is involved," Julasa said.
Sylax looked dubious. "All right. So, is it true you attacked Earth and got your asses kicked?"
Perhaps it was a good thing that we didn't bring a diplomat. Sylax did have a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter.
"Not exactly," Julasa said. "Humans do not have quite the duality of nature that my people do. Among us there were always the Sedara who were devoted to war, and the Sinalara who are devoted to peace. Those devoted to the Sedara had skin of silver and it was they who built the great Arks and went to war against your planet. They were very nearly extinct, and now live again in another form."
"Sounds like a lot of bullshit not to have to take responsibility for your own actions," Sylax said.
I gave her a warning look. Sylax met it with a glare of her own.
"I know it must seem like that to one such as you. It is the truth, or at least it borders on the truth. The fundamental differences in philosophy and biology go well beyond war and peace. They are simplifications that will serve for now," Julasa said.
"I'm not buying it," Sylax said, her mug set aside so she could fold her arms. "I've done a lot of bad things in my life and I own up to every one. Emma there is her own kind of monster and she does the same thing."
I wished she wouldn't include me in these statements.
"Let us remove me from the sociopath pride society," I said. "What do you want, and what do you have to offer?"
On the one level it didn't matter. Julasa had sworn loyalty to the empire. If her people were in trouble I would find a way to save them, if I could. But the resources of the empire weren't infinite and right now I had far more people on Earth that needed saving.
"My people are imprisoned, tortured, enslaved," Julasa said, with a look between me and Sylax. "I want you to stop that from happening."
"I don't mind a little killing, and I don't even mind it being for a good cause," Sylax said with an easy grin. "But you didn't answer the second part of her question and you're going to be wanting to."
"My people were an ancient space-faring race. The Sedara built and used our weapons, but the Sinalara built the Arks and our other technology. We were the shapers of metal and the builders of culture. We offer you that knowledge and that which we learned on our voyages," Julasa said.
"Bored now. So, tell me about the people I'm killing?" Sylax asked.
"We don't know if you have to kill them. You may choose not to, as they are your fellow humans, the descendants of the colonists you’re seeking. However, they have become brutal and war-like after taking the technology of the Sedara into themselves," Julasa said. “They are effectively the Sedara reborn.”
"Meaning what?" Sylax asked.
"We of the Sinalara forego technology inside our bodies. We go without clothing to show that we approach the universe with an open mind and without barriers. The same is not true of the Sedara, who clad themselves in technology and fill their bodies with devices," Julasa said.
Cybernetic implants it sounded like, along with armor and weapons which any sensible people used. If the local humans had taken to those things and fused them with the technology of their Earth, the results could give them quite the technological step up.
"Before we go to war with anybody, I want to observe them and then try to strike up a dialog. As Sylax here demonstrates, sometimes even the most rabid of dogs can be tamed," I said.
"Not tame. Just fighting on your side, Mom," Sylax said.
That nickname was not going to catch on.
24
Sylax was back in her armor, as was my drone and a few others I'd brought along. Julasa had given us the location of a nearby human expedition and a guide to show us the way.
We'd taken up position on a nearby hillside where we could look down on a settlement. Ancient stone buildings were interspersed with more modern-looking structures of corrugated metal.
There were fifty-three Sinalara and seven Sedara. The Sinalara were captives of various sorts, most engaged in mining ice. My awareness of my new-found Sinalara subjects let me know that there were two women chained up inside one of the huts. A man with both legs broken was hanging on a post outside, wrists manacled above him and his body showing the scars of frequent abuse and torture.
The Sedara, who were still very much human in appearance, were dressed in spike-adorned leather, going without any sort of atmospheric suits or body armor, and most were festooned with an absurd number of weapons. A buggy and transport truck didn't seem any technological wonder. Each sported heavy armor and a variety of guns.
I'd seen this sort of thing back on Earth when I'd first awakened after the Cataclysm in my laboratory, desert scavengers and barbarians used to living a life of
violence. The sort of culture where one was either a victim or a victimizer. The Scholarium was a more elegant version of the same system.
"At least they're wearing clothes," Sylax said, as she peered down. "And guns. Would be boring if they couldn't put up a proper fight."
No doubt. What I was trying to determine was just how much of a fight they could put up. I wasn't able to get a proper sensor-lock on any of them. My effort to figure out just what their guns could do was hitting a dead-end. That was concerning. They might look scruffy, but on Earth that would be a sign of them having a high power rating. Here it could also mean their technology was more advanced than it appeared.
"We should play it cautious," I said.
"Screw that. You need to know if they shoot or talk first, and if they shoot with what they're packing I doubt they have anything that can scratch me. I'm going in," Sylax said.
It wasn't the most sound as plans went, but it wasn't a bad idea either. It wouldn't be the first time I'd used a powerful crystal-holder to draw fire. I set up my Gunslingers as Sylax sauntered down the hill.
Sylax was a sharp contrast to the locals, armor sleek and tooled to perfectly fit her form and obviously not of local design.
It didn't take long for someone to notice her approach, two people pushing aside a crowd of curious Sinalara while another three Sedara approached her. There were two men and one woman, the man in the lead especially muscular.
"Well, ain't you a fizzy gazelle," said the massive man.
Great, the aliens spoke our language better than the local humans.
"The fizziest," Sylax said, taking it in stride. Although she might appear casual, she wasn't—I had access to her suit electronics and her power projector cannons were charged up and ready.
"She's no Grimbeak. No Sandancer either," said the woman, drawing a pistol from her side and leveling it at Sylax's head.
"Speak up, little gazelle. What band you run with and why've you words for the Rustbreakers?" said the large man.
"I'm from the empire. Join or die," Sylax said.
Well, the line had worked out once before.
"Save the face, if you can," said the large man.
The woman lowered her gun and fired a shot off at Sylax's arm.
Electrical rounds in a spray. I don't think that they were meant to kill, but to stun. They didn't even manage that as Sylax's personal shield flared to life.
"About time someone picked die," Sylax said, and raised her arm to take a shot back. A blast of energy roared out of her projector cannon to catch the woman in the chest, sending her soaring backward with her flesh melting away.
The two men drew their guns, looking towards the body on the ground—where the woman was already getting up. The shot had burned away her leathers, but flesh underneath was threaded with silver and was already starting to stitch itself back together.
"Gazelle might be a Razorbeak. You'll have fun with this one, Grim," the woman said.
The large man had to be Grim from the way he grinned, stepping forward and rolling his shoulders. "Not a bad bite, little Razorbeak, but you want to draw blood, draw mine. You take your best shot. If it don't finish me, I'll break you."
"This one is so mine," Sylax said through her comms. "Do feel free to kill the others though."
Given what we'd might seen, that might be easier said than done. Still, there was one way to find out. My Gunslingers opened fire.
Gauss rounds caught the other two in their skulls, brain matter exploding in a spray behind them.
Sylax meanwhile drew her sword, moving at a run as she thrust it forward burying the blade through Grim's chest and into his heart. The blade rippled with power and Grim grunted. He didn't die, a fist driving forward and shattering through the faceplate of Sylax's helmet.
The other two weren't staying down, as before the silvery threads within them seemed to be reassembling their bodies from the injuries. They weren't the first enemy I'd fought with regeneration, and these were slower than I was used to in some ways. Several more shots were blasted at wrists, elbows, knees, feet. Spreading out the damage with mobility impairing wounds.
If they did have an implant controlling healing, the trick would be to find it and disable it. There wasn't time. The other human defenders of the village were already showing up to return fire with my drones.
"Get out of there," I said to Sylax. She wasn't answering. Grim had kept delivering blows to her face and for some reason her healing wasn't working as it should, she was already unconscious. That was a problem, I pulled my other forces back—for now. Without a gateway I might not be able to take my people back to Earth, but I could bring more to Mars.
25
"You might have told me a bit about their abilities," I said to Julasa. I'd returned my drones to her settlement. The Sedara at the village hadn't given pursuit.
"You didn't ask," Julasa said with infuriating correctness.
"Well, I'm asking now."
"I explained before, when the humans defeated the Sedara they didn't just kill them. They became them. The technology that filled the Sedara found the human conquerers worthy hosts and they became as one. The Sedara were once again strong, durable, inexhaustible," Julasa said.
That was a nice assortment of adjectives, but not actually very helpful. Sylax was all those things as well and somehow she'd still gotten knocked out. That shouldn't have been possible.
At range I hadn't detected any sort of power-dampening field and I normally would have in the case of someone like the Righteous. They had something that gave them an advantage even against someone like Sylax, and that was a concern.
I hadn't been prepared to launch a full invasion force and I spent the next few hours putting together the best quick solution I could. An assortment of Bio-bombs, including a few uranium-enhanced that were known to slow healing in the Powered. Enhanced Gunslingers with their heavy armor-penetrating gauss rifles exchanged their weapons for more conventional sniper rifles, and I called for Enhanced Aegis units armed with acid sprayers.
"Answer me, damn you," Sylax thought. Even though she'd never taken a brainworm I'd always maintained something of a connection to her because of the time I'd been resident inside of her. Sylax usually had that channel blocked.
"You're still alive? I'll have to call off the party," I said.
"Is that why there was no rescue attempt? Predictable. I'm in trouble, Emma, have you been monitoring?"
"You normally keep this channel closed. Thankfully, it is bad enough watching what you get up to from the outside. I still don't have sensory data."
I felt Sylax focus and began to get input from her. She was no longer in the village. This had to be one of the main settlements given the number of people. Sylax had lost her armor, the Martian air was chill against her naked skin as she was forced to walk down a bleak stone hall with her hands bound behind her. In the distance there was the sound of cheering and the clashing of swords.
"It is some sort of arena. They don't believe I'm from Earth and they're about to throw me to something very big and bad they expect will kill me messily," Sylax said.
Whatever had been dampening her abilities was still active. Her nose was a shattered mess and she showed other recent signs of abuse.
"You're injured," I thought.
"A few hours was long enough for them to have some fun. It isn't anything worse than I've done to others. Focus on the problem," Sylax thought.
As if I cared at all about her health and well-being. She really didn't know me at all. Yet whatever was dampening her abilities wasn't dampening mine or I wouldn't be able to communicate with her at all. It was somehow targeted specifically on her.
There were two people marching her down the hall, leather-clad and malnourished, one male and one female. Neither were among those who had captured her.
I tried a quick teleport with one of my drones. An instantaneous in and out to the empty space behind Sylax. Nothing. I couldn't send her backup that way. I could se
nse her location though.
It would have taken any human hours to test in detail, I wasn't a human. With multiple drones I tried teleports at steadily incrementing distances. The closest I could get one to engage was fifteen kilometers from the colony.
That was a lot of distance, too much to cross quickly in the case of an armed assault. I didn't have any sort of shuttles on Mars and they were too big to teleport. I could bring one together in pieces, but I needed a solution in a hurry.
Sylax had reached the end of the hall and was shoved into a circular cage, the bars lined with sharpened spikes protruding inward that scarcely allowed her any movement at all without becoming impaled.
A chain was attached to the top of the cage. It was some sort of elevator.
"I'm really getting tired of you being useless, Emma," Sylax thought.
I was tired of being useless—this was frustrating. The chain jerked taut and the cage began to move, the motion causing Sylax to stumble into a few of the spikes which gouged bloody furrows into her skin.
Height. A quick test confirmed it, I was able to teleport into the air above the colony.
"I can't save you, but I can bomb them," I said.
The cage reached its destination. Stands surrounded the arena on all sides and were filled with cheering humans. Blood on the sand suggested Sylax wasn't the first fight today. The floor beneath Sylax trembled and the cage was lifted away leaving her naked with her hands still bound behind her. Weaponry was scattered here and there—a sword, spear, an energy gun, none exactly useful if you couldn't use your hands.
A gate at one end of the arena was raised and something that was best described as a robotic dragon stepped out. It was coated in shiny silvery scales, with a serpentine neck and body.
A voice boomed out.
"This little gazelle was found on Razor land claiming to be from Earth. Thought some fancy wearings made her a proper, old-world warrior. Grim's boys wanted to keep her as their little joy-toy, but law’s the law and them that claims the old world faces the dragon."