by Andy Kasch
Olut6 remained silent but seemed to be calming down.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Belle-ub said. “Perhaps it was the regulation of polwar that divided Tora, which we see as oppressive and unfortunate—but it is the widespread popularity of this game which can now be used as an opportunity to promote a return to peaceful times. It is highly regrettable that the repressively conservative policies of Banor would interfere with such a thing.”
“We’ve seen what this game does to civilizations,” Brandon said. “Look at your own world, as a perfect example. Where this game goes, societies regress and cultures are destroyed.”
Brandon’s comment caused the Latians to glance at each other back and forth, as if they found great interest in his statement. The Dirgs were only pulsating faster.
Mip7 spoke again. “It is not in our best interest to turn these talks into a political debate. Let’s stick to the issue at hand and try to form a resolution. Belle-ub, you should have at least told the Banorian authorities what you were doing. Our military was not properly prepared for this.”
“You would not have approved, and would have taken action to stop us,” Belle-ub said. “This thing is larger than the petty squabbles of the Torians. Galactic peace is at stake.”
Olut6 began shaking his head and spoke. To Brandon’s surprise, it was in a calm and steady voice.
“Belle-ub, I’m trying to understand you. I don’t know whether I believe your intentions are honorable. Even if I extend you the benefit of the doubt, the results of your actions have created a hazardous condition. You’ve behaved recklessly and unwisely.”
“General,” Belle-ub said, “the tournament will bring peace.”
“When is this tournament of yours scheduled to take place?”
“In three days.”
Olut6 visibly tightened and spoke through a clenched jaw.
“Exactly how many alien races have shown up for it?”
“Not nearly as many as are still coming, General.”
Chapter Seven
Jumper slept well. He didn’t think Alan or Kayla did, though, judging by the rustling he heard from their cots on the few occasions he did awake. When dawn broke, they were all up and waiting for it. The three of them took turns using the public hygiene rooms to get clean before finding breakfast set up on a cart at the fire pit closest to their shack. The two Amulites who fed them last night before showing them to their lodging were sitting on the fire pit ring eating.
One of them was larger and duller-skinned than the other. His name was Totlen6, and was the apparent leader of the expedition. Totlen6 had a rifle on his shoulder as he ate. The shorter, brighter one’s name was Mulb9. He wore a belt with a hand-laser hooked to it, plus several other tools Jumper didn’t recognize. Mulb9 also had something strapped to his ankle that might have been an additional weapon.
Jumper took a bite of his biscuit and approached Totlen6.
“Where are the others?” he asked.
“Meeting us at the fuel station with the cruiser.” Totlen6 appeared slightly annoyed at having his meal interrupted.
Jumper refused to be intimidated.
“A long-ranger?”
“Yes, like the one you stole the other day.”
Jumper chuckled with his mouth full. “You can get that back from the Midlands Militia. They were …insistent upon appropriating it from us.”
“We did.” Totlen6 then stood and walked away to finish his sandwich in solitude.
Undiscouraged, Jumper decided to see if Mulb9 was as easily disturbed as his companion.
“Your skin is brighter. Are you from the north?”
Mulb9 nodded as he swallowed his last morsel of biscuit. “As far north as you can get on this continent.”
“So you’re with the Northern Militia?”
“Correct. Or at least, I was.”
“Joining up with the Central Region now?” Jumper asked.
“Erob, no. The new C3 Guard. We’re all merging.”
Now that was interesting. Jumper sat down next to him. “You mean the Northern and Central Regions?”
“All of us,” Mulb9 said. “Midlands and cities, too. Maybe even the mountain dwellers if our mission is successful—assuming they have any kind of organized leadership.”
Jumper cocked his head. “The cities? I live in the cities. Why haven’t we heard anything about this new C3 Guard?”
“I don’t know,” Mulb9 said. “Who’s in charge there?”
Jumper thought for a second. “Well, there’s a self-appointed council that meets, but no one takes them seriously since there are no elections, and no real regulation of anything. The only authoritative structure I’ve personally known is at the university. If I had to identify one group in the cities that has any discernable measure of control, it would be the supply hub workers, who receive all shipments of food and goods and arrange the distribution routes.”
Mulb9 stood up. “That may be your answer. The prophet’s unification efforts have centered mostly on food and technology distribution channels.”
“The prophet. You mean Belle-ub, right?” Jumper stood and followed Mulb9 back to the food cart.
Mulb9 grabbed a couple more biscuits and said, “Of course. Let’s get going. If you Earthlings require more food, bring some of it with you. The others will be waiting.”
Mulb9 joined Totlen6 on the other side of the fire pit.
“You Earthlings?” Alan said as he stuffed his pockets.
Jumper laughed. “I’m sure he didn’t intend disrespect. Mulb9 is from the far north. Could be he’s never even met a human before. In any case, he seems the nicer of our two escorts.”
“I’m hoping the rest of our party is even nicer,” Alan said.
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Jumper pointed at Totlen6 and Mulb9 behind him with his thumb. “Come on, let’s go. I don’t want us to be the ones dragging behind on this trip.” He then looked at Kayla. “Let’s show these natives how the Amulen Earthlings get things done. Maybe they’ll regret neglecting us in forming this continental guard force.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Kayla said. She checked the safety lock on her hand laser, reattached it to her belt, and then jogged over to be the first to join the two native escorts. Jumper could see Mulb9 smile and start talking to her.
Jumper shook his head. “Man, I hope she’s not going to be more of a liability than an asset.”
“Not if there’s another attack of mini-drones,” Alan said.
Jumper and Alan joined them. They all then walked across the village and through the thin strip of woods. The large force-field fence came into view on the other side, and an off-trail cruiser could be seen parked at the fueling station.
“So, you guys stole a cruiser?” Kayla asked. Her tone was slightly cynical.
“You bet,” Jumper replied. “It was our only way out of here. They basically abducted us, and were trying to keep us captive and force us to work in the agritents.” Jumper pointed to the greenhouses now visible to the left. “Guess they have something to learn about the human spirit.”
Both natives turned and glared at Jumper in reaction to his comment. Jumper thought he noticed something individually different about their glares, though. Totlen6 seemed to be reacting in an insulted, defensive way while Mulb9’s face was more of one of concern. Totlen6’s next comment confirmed Jumper’s analysis of his reaction.
“Let’s see how this ‘human spirit’ of yours holds up on our expedition. I don’t suppose you’d like to take the point position all the way up?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Jumper said. “Besides, you don’t know the path.” He noticed Alan tighten his grasp on his rifle strap.
There were two additional natives waiting next to the cruiser at the fueling station. One of them had a rifle. Jumper was surprised to see that he was a Banorian.
“Hey, look who it is!” Alan said. “Looks like I got my wish.”
Jumper looked closer.
/> “Lakor5!”
Jumper and Alan ran ahead to meet him. Lakor5 was smiling widely.
“What are you doing here?” Jumper asked.
“Coming with you,” Lakor5 said. “Can’t let you Earth kids have all the fun.”
Jumper shook Lakor5’s hand enthusiastically. “How? How did this happen? What are you even doing here, and why didn’t you mention anything about it two days ago when we told you we’d been out here?”
Lakor5 shrugged. “Who knew? When I reported to militia command after our patrol that night, I learned about the new C3 Guard alliance. As a measure of good faith, I was instructed to return the stolen vehicle.” He pointed at the cruiser next to him. “When I got here, I met the Belle-ub. He told me about the mountain expedition. Later, when I found out you two would be part of it, I insisted on joining and stayed behind. He didn’t mention anything about the female, though.” Lakor5 bowed before Kayla. “Tulros.”
Kayla smiled politely and said, “Tulros.”
Jumper cocked his head. “How did Belle-ub know we would be coming back and going on the expedition? We refused that offer. The last thing he knew, we took that cruiser and escaped from this place.”
Lakor5 shrugged again.
“Still not believe in prophets?” Alan said to Jumper.
Alan then grabbed Lakor5’s hand. “Man, am I glad to see you. A friendly face is just what this excursion needed. Don’t worry about her. She’s the best shot in the Earth colony.”
All four natives looked at Kayla and cocked their heads slightly. She didn’t notice, as she was crouching and fixing her shoe.
“Are we ready?” Totlen6 asked Lakor5.
“Yes.” Lakor5 opened the door to the back seats.
“Good. Let’s not waste any daylight.”
*
In the space above Banor, a dark shape surrounded by an intensely glowing ring of light appeared where nothing had been a moment ago. The ring of light dimmed and vanished completely, but the dark shape remained. Anyone watching would have then noticed the dark shape was in fact three different objects. The one in the middle was much larger than the two on the outside, and oblong-shaped. In another moment, it came to life with a ring of red lights around its outer circumference. The rest of it also lit up with a combination of many small red and yellow lights grouped in various patterns.
The two objects on the outside remained dark for the most part. Dull red and white lights on them could be discerned by an astute observer, revealing the outline of what could only be spacecraft. They had sleek hulls with cylindrical pods attached to their sides. The rear ends of the outside cylinders then lit up as a cigar ember being puffed on. The two spacecraft broke away from the large, ominous ellipse and began circling the planet.
The darkness of the alien spacecraft did not hide them from Banorian defense scopes. Their shapes were perfectly visible on them. Within minutes, four squadrons of fighters had launched from Banor and were on an intercept course.
The two dark alien ships retreated from Banor a ways as the Torian fighters approached, but then turned again to face the 36 oncoming Banorian craft, which spread to a wide formation and slowed.
A voice crackled across the cockpit speakers of all the Banorian ships.
“This is fleet leader Jol2. Squadron 4, break and intercept the foreign satellite.”
Nine of the fighters on the far right rolled away back towards the planet.
“Squadron 1, let’s give them a warning shot.”
The nine lead Banorian ships fired lasers all around the two alien spacecraft.
In the silence that followed, many of the stars back-dropping the two alien ships went dark. Fiery rings of light appeared around the dark spaces where the stars had formerly been, before dimming and vanishing. The many darkened stars remained missing.
“There’s more of them!” Jol2’s voice said. “A whole fleet just dagged out. Be careful! I’m calling for help.”
Lasers were suddenly in the space before the fleet, some of them connecting with the Banorian fighters.
“Engage!”
The Banorian fleet returned fire. Explosions and fireballs erupted on both sides.
Jol2’s lead ship took a laser on the top of its hull. He rolled out of it upward and behind to the left to break the beam. The ship was still responsive. As he circled back around, he saw the alien satellite firing upon Squadron 4 with much larger beams.
“Squadron 4 clear out! All squadrons, do not engage the satellite! Repeat, all squadrons stay clear of the satellite! Wait for the ITF1’s.”
The Squadron 4 fighters cleared away. The alien satellite then began firing at Banor with long projectiles of red light. The projectiles didn’t act like any missiles Jol2 had ever seen. They were much larger, and much faster. Almost as soon as they were fired, they vanished as they streaked into the Banorian atmosphere.
*
“Park here.” Jumper motioned towards a depression in a small sand dune along the foothills.
“This isn’t the same spot where your 2-seater was found,” Lakor5 said.
“I know, but the trailhead we located is closer here, almost straight ahead.” Jumper pointed to a clearing in the woods at the base of the mountain in front of them.
“All right,” Lakor5 said to the driver, a dull-skinned Amulite who Jumper had already forgotten the name of. “Do as he says.”
The driver took the cruiser over the dune Jumper pointed to, came down the other side of it, found a low spot, hovered, and set down. The vehicle wasn’t as hidden as Jumper liked, but at least it wasn’t directly visible from most of the immediate flatlands.
Jumper waited impatiently while everyone else gathered their gear and got themselves together. He finally led them all to the trailhead and began the ascent into the Sinlo Mountains. The path was lightly used; most would probably not use the word “trail” in referring to it. It was heavily overgrown in some areas, but passable. It didn’t become steep immediately. Everyone followed Jumper as they hiked up several switchbacks.
Alan and Kayla stayed up with Jumper. Lakor5 was right on their heels. Jumper was happy about that. It wasn’t as though he and Alan were bona fide friends with Lakor5—in fact, on several occasions they had gotten into altercations with his patrol. But Jumper knew the combativeness between them was more friendly banter than serious contention. Lakor5 always ended up letting them pass wherever they were heading—even into heavily patrolled Midlands areas. Jumper figured him for someone thirsty for stories and information, and his way of getting it was by pretending to act tough. Ultimately, Jumper and Alan were glad he—and not someone else—was the eastern patrol captain.
The other three natives followed a short distance behind. Mulb9 brought up the rear. The route Jumper led them on circled behind an outcrop of boulders through a thicket of bushes. When they came out of it, they found themselves on a plateau above the big rocks. A sizable crevice full of dry brush separated the mountainside from the boulders. Some of the brush was broken up in places, and a bad smell permeated in the area.
“Nice view from here,” Kayla said when they stopped to wait for the others. She was gazing out over the valley. They had climbed high enough to see the swamps on the far northern horizon.
Jumper noticed Alan wasn’t looking out to appreciate the view. He was staring into the rock crevice and grimacing.
“What’s wrong?”
Alan pointed at the broken bushes. “Isn’t this where your opponent landed?”
A look of horror came over Kayla.
Jumper pushed Alan on the shoulder. “No. We were farther north. An animal or rock must have fallen there. Enough about that. What’s wrong with you?”
The three natives cleared the bushes and came up on to the plateau.
Jumper waved ahead. “Let’s move.”
But before they could continue, the sound of three small explosions echoed from high above, separated by evenly-timed pauses. It was a signal.
Totlen6 tur
ned to Mulb9. “Answer them.”
Mulb9 unhitched a black cylindrical object from his belt and held it skyward, his arm fully stretched. Two sparks emitted from it and shot high into the air. They detonated in two timed explosions.
Jumper and his six companions remained standing in the open and waited. After a few minutes, the series of three overhead explosions repeated.
“They’re telling us not to come,” Totlen6 said.
“Well, at least they know we’re coming now,” Lakor5 said.
When Mulb9 stowed his device, Jumper led them up into the next batch of woods to continue the ascent.
“More importantly,” Kayla said, “they now know that we know they know we are coming. So we won’t appear as hostile—hopefully.”
Jumper saw Lakor5 glance at her and nod in obvious appreciation of her logic. He seemed impressed by her. But then, Torian females didn’t play a prominent role in their society, especially native females. Encountering an Earth woman as brave, agile, and smart as Kayla had to be a new cultural experience for these natives.
Jumper suspected Kayla wasn’t quite as brave as she acted, though. As they made their way through thick woods and brush, sometimes having to improvise a new section of trail to get back to Jumper’s intended path, rustling noises could be heard in the wilderness around them. Birds and small game, no doubt. Once in a while, Kayla’s hand would find its way to grasping Jumper’s arm right after one of those noises occurred nearby. Jumper kept looking at her when that happened, but she always appeared to be steadying herself from stumbling, sometimes apologizing as she reached for her ankle or foot, as if to blame some vine on the ground for the incident.
“I don’t think there are many dangerous animals in these mountains,” Jumper said to her after the fourth such occasion.
“Good,” she replied. “That’s one less thing I have to rescue you from.”
“Actually,” Lakor5 said, “a small population of large felidors lives up here. Plenty of birds and small game for them, although they’re partial to wild dogs and zaboar.”