by Jake Bible
"Stop smirking, Roak," Sha said.
"Don't know what you're talking about, Sha," Roak said. "How is the outfitting of the other Chassfornians going?"
"Like slicing Gaca butter with a Kepler knife," Gilga said.
"Smooth and easy?" Roak asked.
"Smooth and easy," Gilga said. "They are very upbeat clones."
"Vogga is an upbeat Chassfornian," Roak said.
"Well now, most of us are, Roak," Gilga said. "I'm hoping the galaxy might change its perception of us after this little skirmish."
"Little skirmish?" Sha asked. "That's one way of putting it."
"All Chassfornians will be suited up and armed when the time comes for the assault," Gilga said. "But I do have to make an admission, Roak."
"Oh? What's that?" Roak asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Jigga and I have been talking," Gilga said. "Mostly about our youngins. It would be a shame if they ended up orphans after this."
"Jigga isn't joining in the fight," Roak said. "I understand-"
"Oh, all the Heavens no," Gilga said with a laugh. "She is rip roaring ready to crush some enemies. I'll be the one staying here on the ship with our young. Although, I do have to say that neither one of them are too happy they won't be allowed in on the fight."
"Gotta love Chassfornians," Roak said.
"Hmmph," a voice said from behind Roak.
"Got an issue?" Roak asked, looking over his shoulder at Agent Prime who was seated in one of the jump seats.
"Let's just say I've had some unfortunate run ins with Chassfornians," Agent Prime said.
"We all have," Nimm said from the co-pilot's seat. "You lived, so consider it a positive experience."
Gilga exploded into laughter. "Most certainly! Living is a win!"
"Are we about ready to transport?" Roak asked. "Sha?"
"The ships are outfitted and ready," Sha said. "As far as we know. Hessa was not forthcoming with the exact details and Reck was far from cooperative with my techs, but we are ready for transport on your mark."
"I didn't have time to teach a bunch of Skrang the ins and outs of a tech just invented!" Reck exclaimed from her seat at the weapons console. "Tell your techs to suck it up and get a grip."
"I do not believe I will," Sha said. "When do we depart?"
"Shortly," Roak said. "Stay at the ready."
"We are," Sha said and the holo disappeared.
Roak rotated his seat around to face Agent Prime.
"Keep your opinions to yourself, Prime," Roak said. "You're only here because Gerber insisted. I don't want you here and I don't want you pissing off our allies."
"Do you have any idea how huge the FIS file on Sha Tog is?" Agent Prime asked. "And how many agents have been lost to Chassfornian attacks? Those two elements make me extremely wary of calling any of the beings on those ships 'allies', Roak."
"Broaden your mind," Roak said. "This is my world you're in, not the cozy world of the FIS with your budgets and diplomacy and all that terpigshit."
"How can this possibly be your world, Roak?" Agent Prime asked. "Not since the War has there even been anything close to this magnitude. We are dealing with overwhelming forces, enemies that are barely even comprehensible, and odds that say we'll be dead before tomorrow."
"I think you answered your own question," Reck said. "You have heard of Roak's reputation, right?"
"Reputation and reality are two different things," Agent Prime said.
"Roak's reality tends to exceed his reputation," Nimm said. "Believe me I wish that wasn't true since it's bitten my ass too many times to count."
"And saved your ass," Roak said.
"Debatable," Nimm continued. "But hear this, Agent Prime, there is no one I'd rather be with during this insanity than Roak. If anyone has a chance to survive this nightmare then it'd be Roak and Hessa."
"Thank you, Nimm," Hessa said. "I appreciate being added to that list."
"You're welcome," Nimm said. Nimm's demeanor softened, but only slightly. "It's hard to see now, but you'll understand when this is over."
"I hope you're right, Commander," Agent Prime said.
"Just Nimm now," Nimm replied. "The GF stripped my commander status."
"And I'm just Yellow Eyes!" Yellow Eyes announced as he blurred onto the bridge. He snagged the navigation seat. "Let's get this show on the road, man! I'm itching to find out if I live or die!"
"That's the attitude you should have, Prime," Roak said with a smirk.
"And don't forget," Yellow Eyes said, "I'm not the sacrifice. Everyone clear on that?"
"What is he jabbering about?" Nimm asked.
"He's worried I'll have to use his speed and ability to take massive amounts of damage as our last resort and leave him to die," Roak said.
No one responded. It took Roak a couple of seconds to realize they were waiting on him to keep talking.
"What? I'm not going to sacrifice him," Roak said.
"It's good to hear you say it out loud," Reck said.
"See. I wasn't crazy to bring it up," Yellow Eyes said. "Hey, Agent Prime Number, you got any cool space spy stories to tell us while we travel?"
"We won't have time," Roak said. "Once we transport, we will be in the thick of the fight. We won't have even a second to adjust. Hessa?"
"All defensive shielding is at optimal levels," Hessa reported. "Weapons are full and stealth mode will be engaged once we transport. They know we're coming, but not when. And they know to look for the stealth signature, but not where. This should give us about one point four seconds of safety after transport."
"And the Skrang ships?" Roak asked.
"They are reporting the same," Hessa said. "I wouldn't mind studying their stealth tech a little more in depth once this conflict is resolved. I believe with Reck's help we can increase the efficiency of our own stealth mode."
"Always good to have something to look forward to," Roak said.
His mind went to Ally who was safely secured in his cabin. He'd asked her if she wanted to be up on the bridge, but she declined.
"Where's Poq?" Roak asked.
"He is below decks," Hessa said. "We thought it would be best if he oversaw all repairs as they became necessary. He can seamlessly integrate with the bots, so there will be zero lag in response to damage."
"Perfect," Roak said. "Skabz?"
"He's pouting in the mess," Hessa said. "He wanted to be given a prominent role, but I told him his responsibility was simply to be ready when needed."
"Perfect again," Roak said. "Are we ready?"
"No," Reck said.
"Really? What now?" Roak asked.
"We should say our goodbyes," Reck said.
That dropped the mood a little.
"No need for goodbyes," Roak said. "We'll make it."
"Not all of us," Reck said. "You know that, Roak. We have no idea what we'll be dealing with on that planet. We could stay in this ship the entire journey, blast the fuck out of the nexus point, and fly right off that Hells planet. Or we might have to land and tackle it on foot. If it's the last part then goodbyes now will save us time later."
"Not in a goodbye mood," Roak said. "So drop it."
"All I'm saying is-"
"Drop it!" Roak shouted.
"Someone's in denial," Yellow Eyes said. "You know what helps with denial? A hug!"
Yellow Eyes blurred over to Roak, hugged him, and blurred back before Roak could react.
"Didn't that feel good?" Yellow Eyes said to Roak. "Maybe a group hug should be next?"
"See what you did, Reck?" Roak said and pointed his finger at Yellow Eyes. "No group hug. No more hugging of any kind. And no Eight Million Gods damn goodbyes!"
"Whatever," Reck said.
"I thought it was a nice idea," Nimm said.
"As did I," Hessa added.
"Way to lead, Roak," Agent Prime said.
Roak felt his anger build, but he kept it in check. A few breaths later and he said, "Hessa. Open
the comms."
"Comms open," Hessa replied.
"All ships, prepare to transport," Roak said. "On my mark. Three, two, one."
The view outside the Borgon's view screen switched from the House of Teeth to a massive armada of Skrang warships all positioned around a beige, desolate planet.
"All ships have arrived," Hessa announced. "The Skrang ships are already scanning for our location, Roak. Do we proceed?"
"Yes," Roak said. "Take us down to Earth."
No one was taking any chances with luck. They all spat onto the bridge's deck.
The ship banked hard and fast and aimed for a small window of space between two Skrang destroyers. Roak felt his body press back into his seat and he forced himself not to wince. If just that amount of pressure caused pain then he didn't even want to think about how much agony he was going to be in if they had to walk in to the nexus point.
Or if he needed to be moltransed. That thought made his stomach flip.
"We've been made!" Hessa announced.
Roak knew that announcement was sent to all the ships. Especially since all of the ships were suddenly under fire.
"New trajectory!" Hessa warned as she dove the ship under a barrage of incoming plasma blasts.
That time Roak grunted as the g-forces threatened to crush him before the grav dampeners took some of the burden off his body.
Only a couple of the plasma blasts connected with the ship's shields. The bridge shook from the force, but the ship didn't slow or get moved of course.
Although, Roak wouldn't have called the direction they were traveling in a course. It was more like a constant, never ending series of zigs and zags, climbs and dives.
Then they were back between the two Skrang destroyers. Hessa had put them back on course, so Roak mentally apologized for his doubts.
"Did you think I couldn't do it, Roak?" Hessa asked.
"Hessa, if it turns out that your implant can read my thoughts then we may have to reconsider our partnership," Roak said.
"I'm reading your vital signs, Roak," Hessa said. "They tell me everything I need to know."
"Not happy with that," Roak said.
"Should I list all of the traits of yours I'm not happy with?" Hessa replied.
"Are they always like this?" Agent Prime asked.
"Who?" Yellow Eyes replied.
"Never mind," Agent Prime said and tightened the jump seat's straps.
The ship shot past the two destroyers and there was nothing but clear sky between them and the planet's surface.
Perhaps not clear sky. More like a brown, hazy atmosphere that was filled with clouds that looked more like floating asteroids than a collection of dirt and ice crystals.
Hessa took them down into the atmosphere and right through those clouds.
"We have full engagement!" Sha announced over the comms. "Are you on the planet yet?"
"Almost," Roak replied. He gripped the armrests of his seat as they continued to fly blindly through the grimy cloud cover.
"How's it going?" Nimm asked.
"All fighters have been deployed and we are waiting for the moment to launch the Chassfornians," Sha said.
"Keep us posted," Nimm said.
"If I am able to," Sha said. "Good luck."
"You too," Nimm said.
They broke through the clouds and every klaxon on the ship exploded into a cacophony of danger and warnings.
"How'd we not know they were down here?" Nimm shouted.
More than two dozen GF corvettes were already below the planet's atmosphere. They had all plasma cannons ready and waiting.
Then the plasma cannons opened fire.
"Hessa!" Roak shouted.
"Don't distract me!" Hessa shouted back.
"Yeah, don't distract her!" Agent Prime screamed.
"Now he's learning," Yellow Eyes said. "He may be one of us soon after all."
The view screen filled with plasma fire.
The power went off, plunging them all into pitch darkness, and Roak could swear that they were in free fall.
"Hessa!" Roak shouted again.
No response.
"Hessa!" Roak shouted once more.
"She's offline!" Reck yelled from her seat. "Everything is offline!"
"Did we get hit?" Roak asked.
"No," Nimm said. "Not that I could see before it all shut down."
"What is she doing?" Roak asked.
He held on tight. The ship was for sure in free fall and the pressure from the drop was about to make his head explode.
Then the ship powered up and the view screen showed them the surface of the planet. Which was about ten meters below them, if that.
They were skimming the surface at a height that Roak was not comfortable with at all. Especially since most of the view outside the ship was of very large mesas that seemed to be everywhere he looked.
They were racing towards a pair of mesas that Roak knew they could not fit through. The gap between them was too tight. Way too tight.
"Eight Million Gods dammit, Hessa!" Roak yelled.
The ship flipped sideways and they threaded the gap without even a scratch.
"I think you mean thank you, Hessa," Hessa said. "This is some amazing flying, Hessa. I should never doubt you again, Hessa."
"So they are like this all the time," Agent Prime said.
"All the time," Reck said.
"Isn't it fun?" Yellow Eyes asked.
"No," Agent Prime said.
"Agreed," Nimm said.
"That's enough out of everyone," Hessa said. "We're approaching the site in about ten seconds."
They all watched as a lone mesa jutted up from the ground. Hessa was aiming straight for it.
"Going a little fast, don't you think?" Roak said.
"Nope," Hessa replied.
"She's enjoying this," Reck said. "So stop goading her, Roak."
"I'm not goading anyone!" Roak yelled.
"Why are we flying straight at that rock?" Agent Prime shouted. "Pull up, you stupid AI!"
"Man, you're gonna pay for that," Yellow Eyes said.
They were less than a second from impact.
Then they weren't.
The view of the mesa was gone and replaced by a view of a cavernous tunnel that they were diving down into.
"Did none of you see the opening to this tunnel system?" Hessa asked.
No one replied.
Hessa laughed.
"You're all mad," Agent Prime mumbled.
"Now he's really learning," Yellow Eyes said.
23.
They flew through the tunnel system at full speed for several minutes.
"Are we being pursued?" Roak asked.
"No," Hessa said. "Which worries me."
"That's what worries you?" Agent Prime asked. "We're flying almost blind at full speed through a tunnel system that-"
"Hessa, if he speaks one more time then please moltrans his ass into the brig," Roak said.
"Not a problem," Hessa said.
"You are some angry beings, you know that, right?" Agent Prime said and held his hands up in surrender. "Last words, I promise."
"He's not wrong," Nimm said.
"I've been saying it for a long time now, man," Yellow Eyes said.
Reck only shrugged.
"Any readings?" Roak asked. He didn't need to say of what. They were all there for one reason only. "Hessa?"
"Flying," Hessa said.
"Nothing unusual on the scans," Nimm said. "The energy spectrum is showing we're at the crossing point of several energy lines, but I can't see anything special that screams nexus to other universes."
"They should have a sign up, man," Yellow Eyes said.
"They?" Roak asked. "Who the fuck is they?"
"I don't know," Yellow Eyes replied. "The Eight Million Gods. Or whatever their equivalent is in the other universes."
"We're all probably going to die, so you can tell them personally soon," Reck said.
"She h
ad to go there," Yellow Eyes said and motioned that he was zipping his lips.
The view screen was a maze of cavern walls and rock outcroppings. Hessa navigated the tunnels with precision.
Almost.
"Sorry," Hessa said as the ship took a hard knock to the port side. "The tunnel is narrowing."
"Put us down," Roak said.
"Is that wise?" Hessa asked. "The nexus point could still be kilometers away."
"Then we walk," Roak said. "I'd rather the ship is set down in a place it can easily take off when needed than it getting stuck somewhere in this rocky Hell."
"I disagree," Hessa said. "But I do see your point."
They slowed until they reached an area that was just big enough for the ship to set down on. It was an outcropping that was probably about thirty meters from the tunnel floor. Hessa landed the ship and everyone stared at the view screen and the deep black that was laid out before them.
"I'm going to speak now," Agent Prime said. "That's going to be a hard climb down."
All eyes fell on Roak. He ignored the attention and stood up.
"Then sitting on our asses is doing no one any good," Roak said. "Nimm, you have the bridge."
"No surprise there," Nimm responded.
"Everyone else, we move. Now."
Roak left without waiting for the others. They caught up to him as he swiped the interface in the lift.
"I have several charges ready," Hessa said. "They are in the cargo hold along with power armor options."
"Charges?" Agent Prime asked. "I assumed we'd need more than a few charges to take out a multi-universe nexus."
"They're nuclear," Hessa explained. "Compact. Easy to carry. But nuclear."
"You have nuclear bombs on your ship?" Agent Prime asked Roak.
Roak looked bored. "You don't?"
"Eight Million Gods no," Agent Prime said. "Quantum fusion bombs are much safer to transport and provide just as much destruction."
"While I agree in theory," Hessa said, "quantum fusion has a way of getting out of control when it chain reacts with other elements. Since we are dealing with an unknown like the nexus point then the nuclear bombs are our safest bet. They will destroy the nexus, I can guarantee that."
"They'll also destroy us if we don't get out of this tunnel system in time," Agent Prime said.