by Jake Bible
"Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!" Evil cheered then melted into his bucket.
Roak stared at the bucket for a second then smiled.
"This time we don't have to hunt alone," Roak said.
Roak left Drop Team Zero in charge of the clone station. Gerber had given them strict orders to do whatever was necessary to keep the nexus point, which everyone had started calling the nexus planet, secure. DTZ staying on the station for the time being was the best way to do that while also a good way to referee between the clones and the Klav.
Roak's team departed for their hunt immediately.
"We're as far out on the Edge as I felt comfortable transporting to, Roak," Hessa said as the ship appeared in a desolate system.
If it could be called a system. There were barely any signs that they were even part of the galaxy. The stars visible were dim and weak. All that could be seen were a few asteroid clusters.
And a single planet.
The planet was surrounded by ships.
"Hey, Roak," a voice called over the comm. "Good to see you."
"Thanks for the assist, Roak," Roak said. "You all can take off and head to your homes now. We'll handle it from here."
"We'll stick around just in case," the other Roak replied. "We'd like to see it through too."
"Suit yourself," Roak said. "Hessa? Hail that planet."
"I have been and no one is answering," Hessa said. "But there is obviously a comm system down there, so someone has been on the planet. Whether they are still there or not is unknown."
"The target is down there," the other Roak said. "We guarantee it."
"Then I guess we land and see what we can see," Roak said. "Hessa, take us down."
Hessa navigated the ship past the other Roaks' ships and down to the planet.
The surface was more barren than any moon or asteroid Roak had been on. There were zero signs of life.
But after a few hours of searching…
"That's a hatch," Roak said. "Go back. I saw a hatch."
"A hatch?" Reck asked and checked the scans. "Where?"
"There!" Roak said and pointed at the view screen. "That rock. It's a hatch."
"If you say so," Reck said.
"Trust me. I know a bolthole when I see one," Roak said. "Hessa. Land us right next to that hatch."
She did just that as Roak suited up. He and BR stepped off the ship and walked right up to the rock.
Roak knocked. The clang of metal could easily be heard.
"See," Roak said.
"Never doubted you, little me," BR said.
"We've talked about this, BR," Roak said. "Don't call me that."
"How exactly will you stop me?" BR asked.
"Have you heard of the concept of karma, Roak?" Hessa asked.
"Both of you shut up," Roak said and knocked again.
After a few minutes a hatch did open and the business end of a gas-powered slug chunker appeared. Then a helmet. Then a fully suited body.
"There is a reason your hails were ignored," the voice from the suit shouted. "Go away!"
Then the end of the slug chunker lowered slightly.
"Roak?" the voice asked.
The slug chunker fired, but BR had stepped in front of it before the slug could hit Roak. The huge being staggered back then plucked the crumpled slug from his power armor.
"Midnight?" Roak asked. "You have been a hard one to find."
"There's a reason for that," Midnight said. "I don't know if you've heard, but beings aren't right in their heads lately."
"That's all over," Roak said. "We fixed that. Almost."
"Almost?" Midnight laughed and waved the slug chunker towards the ship. "Until that almost is a definite then get back on your ship and leave. And thank you for blowing my bunker. Now I have to go find a new spot that we can be safe in."
"We?" Roak asked.
Midnight didn't respond.
"Here's the thing," Roak said. "Joe Laribeau, also known as Salvage Merc One, thinks I killed you. He has it out for me now, but we need Salvage Merc Joe to find a tear in the universe so we can turn that almost into the definite."
"So? What does that have to do with me?" Midnight asked.
"I need to show Salvage Merc Joe proof of life," Roak said. "That way he'll back off and take the job."
"Maybe you should have thought of that before you almost killed me on Razer Station," Midnight said.
"Exactly. I almost killed you," Roak snapped. "But you didn't die. Which is why I'm here. You almost killed me. All I need from you is proof of life and I'll be on my way. I promise I won't tell anyone about this place so you don't have to move."
"And all the other ships in orbit?" Midnight asked.
"Don't worry about them," Roak said. "They aren't from around here. None of them have skin in the game. They are just doing me a favor."
"You seem to need a lot of favors, Roak," Midnight said. "Sounds like you're slowing down."
"I am," Roak admitted and hooked a thumb towards BR. "That's why I have my bigger self here."
"Your what?" Midnight asked.
"Doesn't matter," Roak said. "Listen, Midnight, what I'm trying to do is for every being in this galaxy. Hells, it's for every being in this universe. No agenda except keeping us all safe."
Midnight didn't respond. She stood there, the slug chunker aimed at Roak's midsection.
"Fine. How do we do this?" Midnight asked.
"We just need some holo," Roak said and nodded at the hatch. "May we come in?"
"Do you have to?" Midnight asked.
"Kinda hard to breathe out here," Roak said.
"Fine," Midnight said and sighed. "Come in."
Three hours later they'd gotten what they needed and the ship had lifted off the surface of the planet.
"Her husband seemed nice," Hessa said.
"I guess," Roak said. "How soon until we arrive?"
"We're there," Hessa said. "SMC headquarters."
Roak brought up the view. It wasn't good.
"Last time I counted, we're only one ship," Roak said, sighing at the view. "So why are there always thirty, forty, fifty ships facing off against us?"
"Because we win," Hessa said.
"She's got a point," BR said. He was seated against the bridge's far wall, taking up two jump seats. "Are you worried about fifty ships?"
"No," Roak said.
"There's your answer," BR said.
"Are they hailing us?" Roak asked.
"They are powering up weapons," Hessa said.
"Send the holo," Roak said. "Broadcast it wide. Make sure all of those pilots see it."
"They are jamming our signal," Hessa said.
"Eight Million Gods dammit," Roak said. "Project it outside the ship."
"Can you do that?" BR asked.
"I don't see why not," Hessa said.
The view was suddenly filled with a one hundred meter tall holo of Midnight.
"There's no sound in space," Reck said.
"I know," Roak said.
"They're no longer jamming our signal," Hessa said. "The holo has been delivered."
The huge image of Midnight disappeared.
Roak and company waited.
The ships remained between them and the SMC headquarters.
They waited some more.
"Should we hail them again?" Nimm asked.
"No," Roak said. "Salvage Merc Joe is just being an asshole."
"It's his process," Hessa said.
"Roak would know," Reck said.
"I like this team," BR said. "You guys are fun."
"We're being hailed," Hessa said.
Salvage Merc One appeared on the view screen,
"It could be a fake," Salvage Merc One said without preamble.
"You know it's not," Roak stated.
"I said I'd kill you," Salvage Merc One said.
"Yeah, but you were shitfaced, so we can chalk it up to that if you want," Roak replied and shrugged. "Up to you."
"The
bosses already told me what you want," Salvage Merc One said. "All I have to do is find the tear in the universe?"
"That's it," Roak said. "We'll take it from there."
"What's in it for me? What's in it for the SMC?"
"Security. Certainty. Closure."
"The SMC prefers chits up front."
"Sorry. We're broke. But you can always invoice the GF. Send it attention General Gerber of the FIS."
Salvage Merc One looked off screen. He rolled his eyes at something someone said.
"Fine. I'll tell you where it is," Salvage Merc One said.
"The bosses told you?" Roak asked.
"Of course the bosses told me," Salvage Merc One snapped. "They work for me!"
There were some angry and annoyed shouts from off screen.
"Yes you do!" Salvage Merc One insisted.
"I'll let you handle your work issues on your own," Roak said. "Send the coordinates over right away and we'll be gone."
"Last time, Roak," Salvage Merc One said then turned to the voices off screen. "I don't care if he saved the universe! I don't like the guy!"
The screen went black.
"He's fun," BR said.
"Coordinates are received," Hessa said. "They are not in our galaxy."
"I had a feeling," Roak said. "Can you transport us there?"
"It may take a few trips," Hessa said. "I do not trust that distance all at once."
"Do what you need to," Roak said.
Hessa did what she needed to.
It took them five days to arrive at the tear in the universe.
"Uh… Am I missing something?" Reck asked.
"That's the tear?" Nimm asked.
"It looks like a rainbow," BR said. "Right? I haven't personally seen a rainbow before, but Roak's memories say that's a rainbow."
"That's a rainbow," Roak said. "A small one. In the middle of space."
"Very empty space," Nimm said. "We're nowhere even close to a galaxy. You can't even see stars from here."
"Made it easy to find," Reck said. "Now what?"
"Now I close it," Hessa said.
"You already know how?" Reck asked.
"I have been talking with some experts," Hessa said. "There are theories."
"Do those theories include nukes?" Reck asked. "Because that may not be the best way to tackle this problem."
"The solution does not include nukes," Hessa said.
The view was filled with a bright flash and the rainbow was gone.
"That's it?" Nimm asked. "You closed it? How?"
"A highly concentrated beam of ultraviolet light," Hessa said. "It overloaded the color spectrum and sealed the tear."
"Is that science?" BR asked. "That doesn't sound like science…"
"Science has become flexible now that we're dealing with multiple universes," Hessa said. "What works here may not work in another universe and vice versa. This worked, so that's all that matters."
"Agreed," Roak said. "Take us back to the station, Hessa. I want to wrap up our involvement and get the Hells out of that place."
"Then what?" Nimm asked. "What do we all do now?"
Roak smiled. "I have an idea."
29.
"I am not happy about this," Z said as he set a tray of drinks down on the table. "If I did not care for Ally then I would put my tentacles down and end this now."
Roak took the drinks and handed them out to the occupants of the table. Reck, Yellow Eyes, Evil, BR, and Nimm.
"Come on, Z," Roak said. "You love having me around."
"You cause chaos and destruction everywhere you go," Z said and stalked off from the table and back behind the bar. "I am not happy with this!"
"He'll get over it," Roak said. He took a sip of his drink and nodded at the tavern. "This place is three times the size of his old tavern. And Ally gave him majority ownership. He can stop whining any time."
"He really doesn't like you," Reck said after taking a sip of her drink. "Damn! He's a good bartender, though."
"He is," Roak said.
"Roak!" a voice called after the tavern's airlock door closed. "You aren't answering your comm!"
Kalaka walked over, snagged an empty chair from another table, flipped it about at their table, and sat down.
"Kalaka," Roak said. He tapped his head. "Had my implant taken out. I'm retired."
"I'd heard that terpigshit rumor," Kalaka said. "So I had to come to Ligston myself to find out if it's true."
Kalaka looked around the place.
"Nice tavern," he said. "Shitty planet. Why'd you pick someplace where the atmosphere is unbreathable without a rebreather? And the planet has only one way on and one way off. A little inconvenient…"
Roak took another sip, his eyes on Kalaka, and waited.
"I answered my own question," Kalaka said. "One way on, one way off."
"You forgot no powered weapons allowed," Reck said. "Because of the oxygen thick atmosphere."
"Right," Kalaka said and glanced around the space. "Doing some nice business, I see."
"Most are other universe Roaks and their crews," Roak said. "Not all of them went back to their universes. It's driving Gerber and the GF nuts."
"I bet that makes you happy as all the Hells," Kalaka said.
"Speaking of other universes," Roak said. "Any luck finding your planet?"
"No," Kalaka said. "For now the Cervile are homeless. Queen Tala is being so difficult that Gerber has agreed to assign Drop Team Zero to try to find it."
"Just DTZ?" Reck asked.
"Meshara is with them. She and Cookie are representing the Cervile interests. Although Cookie is too GF to be trusted."
"Says the Galactic Vice Detective," Reck said.
"Nope," Kalaka replied. "Retired from the force. With Meshara gone I now have a new position."
"No…" Roak said.
"Yep. Head of Royal security for Queen Tala," Kalaka said.
"You sure DTZ and Meshara are enough?" Roak asked, returning the subject back to the missing Cervile planet. "Who knows what they'll run into."
"They also have some Chassfornian named Vogga with them and he's got a full squad of other Chassfornians," Kalaka said. "Maybe they don't have to look hard and can scare the planet into revealing itself."
"There are an infinite number of other universes," Nimm said. "I doubt their grandchildren can find the planet."
"Salvage Merc Joe knows where Father's universe is," Roak said. "Have the SMC tell them where to look."
"They already did," Kalaka said. "That universe is collapsing in on itself, so it was a fast and fruitless search."
Roak and Reck shared a wary look.
"Gerber's in negotiations with the SMC to look at other universes," Kalaka said. "But, for some reason, Salvage Merc One isn't too happy with Gerber and the SMC won't commit to taking the job. They won't even return Queen Tala's calls."
"Glad I'm nowhere near that ship," Roak said. "The Dornopheous are still missing too. But they don't raise a stink like the Cervile do."
"The Dornopheous aren't even in the same league as Cervile when it comes to raising a stink," Kalaka replied. He looked towards the bar. He snapped his fingers. "Another round here and add one for me too!"
Z glared and made no movement to fulfill the order. Kalaka frowned and looked at Roak.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
"He hates Roak," Reck said.
"A lot," Nimm added as she stood up. She slid her drink to Kalaka. "I have to get back up onto my station. The one way on, one way off won't police itself."
"Shut up," Reck said. "You like being Commander again."
"I didn't say otherwise," Nimm replied.
She smiled at everyone then nodded and left.
"I'll miss working with her on jobs," Reck said.
"Nice being," Evil said. "What time is it?"
"You should get in your bucket," BR said. "I don't think the Groshnel will like it if you melt on his floor."
"
I'd love to find out," Evil said, but shook his head. "Ally might not think it's funny, though."
"Ally would not think it's funny," Roak said and focused on Kalaka as Evil got up from his chair and walked over to his bucket in the corner of the tavern. "Didn't Tala tell you I'm retired?"
"The Queen does not bring your name up," Kalaka said.
"Exes are like that," Roak said with a shrug. "I am retired, Kalaka. I'm not taking any jobs."
"Who said anything about a job?" Kalaka replied. "Did I mention a job?"
"You've been trying to comm me and now you're here on Ligston," Roak said. "In person. You could have commed someone else to tell me to comm you, but you don't trust the comm system unless it's Hessa's proprietary one which means this is about a job that you don't want others to know about."
Kalaka grinned, looking impressed. Roak shrugged.
"I've been doing this a long time, Kalaka," Roak said. "Which is why I'm retired and why my answer is no."
"You sure?" Kalaka said. "This one pays about a hundred million chits. Not credits, but chits."
"I thought you were Head of Royal security now?" Reck said. "Why worry about a hunting job?"
"It's good to keep connections active," Kalaka said. "You know, for security reasons."
"Retired," Roak said. "But I can recommend a team."
"The client wants Roak," Kalaka said.
"So? Tell them they're getting Roak," Roak said. "Technically, they will be."
"What? You mean that guy?" Kalaka nodded to the bucket in the corner.
"And this guy," BR said, staring hard at Kalaka.
"You're a Roak?" Kalaka asked. BR nodded. "Eight Million Gods damn. You are a lot of Roak." Kalaka sighed. "But they want the original."
"There is no original," Roak said and patted his chest. There was still a little pain, even after several months of healing in Ally's bath, but the discomfort was slight. "I'm a clone. All the Roaks are a clone."
"Speaking of, why didn't you get a new body?" Kalaka said. "I hear those Klav have that cloning shit down."
"I like this body," Roak said. "It has character. And I'm used to it."
"Whatever works for you," Kalaka said with a shrug. "How about this? Your team takes the job and I maybe get a percentage of those chits as a finder's fee."
"You mean hush money," Reck said. "So you don't mention to the client that the real Roak isn't on the job."