Ali brought down her sword with rage boiling inside her. She pointed the sword at Harak, who lay awkwardly on the floor. He twisted, scrambling for his axe. She squeezed her hilt yet again and plasma shot from the blade’s tip, singeing the floor next to Harak. Chunks of rock spewed everywhere, pelting Harak and several other Bawns.
Harak stood and retreated, patting himself down, clearly wondering if a bolt hit him. He grimaced when his hand touched his face. “You sun worshiper.” Blood bubbled from his now-exposed charred skin, part of his beard and hair burned off.
Ali continued to point Sol in Harak’s direction. “Now leave and let me be with my friend here.”
Harak slowly shook his head. “It’s forbidden to enter Starship Tranquil by word of the king and the laws binding that word.”
“Don’t throw that crap my way. You’re here to kill me because you think you’ll die because of me.”
He hissed at her like a snake warding off a trespasser. He threw his hands out wide and waved for his men to follow him toward Tranquil. “Everyone guard the ship.” He crossed his arms and dipped his head at Ali. “I honor the sword’s power, but I do not honor the sword’s wielder.”
“That’s apparent.” Ali eyed the men standing in line. “Tell me, Harak, where is King Bilrak? If you are really worried about me stealing the ship, shouldn’t you have brought the one who lays down the law?”
Harak ignored her. “We don’t fear you, sun lover.”
Daf pushed to a standing position. “All right, we should go.”
Ali eased her grip around the hilt, the flame dissipating. She dipped her head at the Bawns. “I didn’t intend to harm any of you.” She turned and walked away, heading toward the elevator.
“Ali,” came Harak. “Know this isn’t over. There will be a time you do not have that sword with you. When that time comes, I’ll end you.”
Ali stiffened, doing everything in her power not to turn and throw the sword into Harak’s stomach.
“Remember.” Harak’s voice rose higher. “You will die by my hands, and by my hands only. I will then place Sol back in its place where it belongs.”
13
Koda
Starbase Matrona
Koda picked a shard of glass out of his forearm, wincing, his ears ringing from the concussion blast. “Are you all right?”
Devon stood, wiping dust and bits of concrete off of himself, his eyes on the burning structure across from the capitol building. “What happened?”
Koda plucked another piece of glass from his palm. He dropped it on the floor and wagged his head back and forth. “I don’t know.” He tugged his ear. The ringing persisted.
Payson walked from the torched building, covered with weapons. He had a rifle on his back, pistols on each hip, and his teeth were clenched on a dagger. He dragged a bulky man who wore fatigues similar to CJ’s. Payson pulled out his gun and held the muzzle to the soldier’s temple, the man’s face covered in soot, his eyes closed, unconscious. Payson pulled the trigger.
Koda gasped and looked away. “It’s Payson,” he said, backing up, his boots crunching on broken glass. “How did he get to Sphere Eight so fast?”
“You got me.”
Koda’s heart beat hard, the back of his spine growing cold. “There’s no way we can get to the hoverstation and to Sphere One right now.” Or ever, if Payson caught a glimpse of them.
Devon sidestepped a thin pile of glass and moved toward the back of the capitol building. “What do we do?”
Payson shifted his attention to Koda as if he’d sensed someone. He grinned and relaxed his fingers from the soldier’s shirt, the dead man sliding down Payson’s leg and rolling onto his back.
Payson spoke into a comm device on his shoulder and walked onto the street, making his way toward Koda, and pulling the dagger out of his smiling mouth. “Your uncle is dead,” he shouted. “You’re next.”
Koda froze, his heart sinking to his knees. My uncle is dead? He shook his head, backpedaling toward Zim’s office in the back. How could that be? Shae left the star system to go to his daughter on planet Eos. No way he died.
“Payson lies, Koda.” Devon shook his head, taking cautious steps. “Don’t believe him.”
Koda dipped his head. “Yeah, I know.” A strange sensation pulled at his gut. Maybe Payson was telling the truth this time. He flexed his abdomen, constricting the feeling, pushing away any thoughts that Fleet Admiral Shae Lutz kicked the bucket.
Payson stepped onto the sidewalk leading to the capitol building.
Koda flicked a glance over his shoulder at Devon. “Zim has to have a weapon somewhere.”
Devon picked up his pace, turning and running into Zim’s office.
Koda stood his ground, swallowing down an electric jolt his mind sent to his arms and legs, telling his body to run, to hide, to live for another day, but he couldn’t. Running out of the door meant running through Payson. He needed to buy Devon some time to find a weapon if Zim had even stashed one.
He moved behind a wall, Payson now out of view. He crept next to the desk in the lobby and lowered into a crouch, facing the hallway, his body hidden.
Bells jingled and broken glass crunched under a boot, then another crunch carried across the office. Payson had entered.
Koda’s heart raced, thinking up a plan, and when only one plan made sense, he squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to go through with it. He had to keep Devon safe or buy him time to escape. He figured that when Payson walked down the hallway and passed the desk Koda hid behind, he’d jump him and wrestle the guy to the ground.
You better find a weapon by then, Devon.
“Yo, Koday! Yo, Koday-poo,” said an amused Payson. “I can smell your fear. Don’t hide. Come out, and I’ll be nice and end your life quickly. It’s the least I can do for a well-meaning politician.”
Koda’s chest tightened. Who was he kidding? He couldn’t fend off Payson, an elite soldier who could probably take Koda down with his pinky.
Payson walked onward, the floor creaking under the weight of his body. The phtah sound of a gun echoed loudly. Koda ducked more in a start, and Payson grunted. Koda shifted and turned, looking behind him. Devon stood in Zim’s doorway with a gun extended, a thin waft of smoke trailing upward from the muzzle.
Devon’s mouth gaped open, his eyes focused on Payson, not that Koda could see the soldier, but from Devon’s look, Koda knew who he stared at. Devon ducked inside Zim’s office, undoubtedly crapping his pants in fear.
Another grunt from Payson and more crunching. “You got me. I wasn’t paying attention.” He laughed. “Don’t worry, guys. It’s not bad. Just a little blood.”
Koda slowly peeked around the desk, noticing Payson grabbing his side, blood dripping from his hand. He took a wobbly step toward the exit, cringing, his face reddening. He twisted around and Koda lurched back behind the desk, hoping Payson didn’t see him.
“That was a lucky shot, kid.” Payson clapped his hands. “Stay here, okay? I’ll get patched up and come back.”
Stay, my ass, thought Koda. He glanced around the desk again. Payson limped out of the building and meandered across the street, the bullet in his side having an obvious effect on his leg.
Koda hurried to Devon and curled around the door frame. Devon stood against a wall, the gun in his hand, his breaths shaky.
“Is he gone?”
Koda nodded. “You saved us, buddy.”
“He’s coming back, and probably with his friends.”
Koda put his palms out. “Not if we get out of here right now.”
Devon nodded in quick succession. “I second that.”
Moments later, they burst out of the building, their arms and legs pumping fast.
Koda pointed ahead. “Hoverstation. Let’s get to Sphere One.”
14
Koda
Starbase Matrona
Koda glanced behind him, the eerie sensation of Payson sticking a dagger in his back creeping up and down his spin
e.
He leaned against a hoverstation ticket counter, and after three attempts, the woman behind the counter gave up. His card didn’t work.
The woman set the card on the reader a fourth time, waiting. “You look familiar.” She glanced at the reader. “Two people to Sphere One, right?”
Koda took a glance behind him again and rapped his knuckles on the counter. “Yes, two, please.” Devon stood by his side.
Besides a few lonely travelers, the hoverstation sat empty. Koda would easily glimpse the rabid killers—Payson and his crew—if they entered the building.
“Okay.” The woman cleared her throat, sighing loudly. “I’m sorry. It's denied again.”
Koda wanted to pound his fist into the counter but refrained like a good politician. He gritted his teeth, as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. “Try again.”
The woman shook her head, her posture wilting as she stared at her holomonitor. “It won’t work, sir. Sphere One is the military sector. Are you sure you have access?”
Koda pulled at his hair. “Yes.”
She paused, tilting her head. “Why do you look so familiar?”
Koda shrugged. “I don't know.” He tapped his finger on the counter, wanting to get this card working. “I know that Sphere One is the military sector, but that shouldn't restrict my access.”
Devon rested his hand on Koda’s back. “She’s already tried it several—”
Koda put his finger up. “We’re getting to Sphere One.”
The woman handed Koda his card. “Denied.”
A clang vibrated through the hoverstation, and a hum echoed off the walls. Koda spun around on full alert, his adrenaline spiking. A hovertrain stopped at a platform on the upper deck. He shook his head at his overly sensitive nerves. Payson screwed me up. Koda turned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Patch me through to your manager…” he took a quick glance at her name tag, “Sarah.”
She gently bit her finger. “I know you from somewhere.” She leaned on the counter. “You're an action vid star, right?”
Koda rolled his eyes. “How I wish, but no, I'm part of the governance, and I should have easy access to Sphere One without trouble. Now, your manager, please.”
Sarah slowly nodded, though she didn’t do as asked. “Well, maybe they are restricting access to everyone but military personnel today. You know, with all the chaos going on around the starbase.”
Devon stepped forward. “How? The military doesn't have authorization over a Prime Overseer. The only person who has authority over an Overseer in the governance is Prime Director Zim Noki, and he publicly made an apology—”
Sarah backed away. “You’re a Prime—”
“But,” Koda interrupted Devon. “It doesn't mean Zim’s being sincere. He’s a known liar and may pull the covers over our eyes again like that Space Templar CJ guy said. He sent that Enlil fella a message, and that doesn’t seem upstanding to me.” He looked at the holostation’s entrance across the station. “Zim may have restricted any access from people with Lutz in their name.”
Sarah clutched her hands over her heart. “You’re Koda Lutz, right? I have the biggest—” she cut herself off, blushing.
Koda walked around the counter, ignoring the star-struck crush in Sarah’s eyes. He pressed a holobutton on the screen. He brought up a commlink to Sphere One, doing his best to get to someone in charge.
Sarah’s hand rested gently on his upper back. “Excuse me, Prime Overseer. You don’t—”
“This is an emergency.” Koda didn’t have time to argue. If Payson found him, he’d be good and dead, along with the two standing with him.
A young woman answered the com, her brown hair in a ponytail, her brown eyes staring back at Koda. “Star Guild Aviation and Flight Training, how can I help you?”
Koda stood tall. “My name is Koda Lutz, Prime Overseer to Sphere Nine. I need access to Sphere One, and now.”
“Koda Lutz?” She bit her lower lip, eyeing a holomonitor near her and out of Koda’s view. “Yes, here you are. I’m sorry, sir, but you’re denied access.”
Koda folded his arms across his chest. “Who denied me access?”
“Prime Director Zim Noki. He’s cut off a few politicians and high military leaders.”
“Well, get me access. This is an emergency.”
The woman shifted in her seat. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t.” The screen blipped off, going dark.
Koda’s jaw dropped. He smacked the side of the HDC. “You piece of Guild.”
“Don’t,” yelled Sarah, pulling Koda’s arm away from the holocomp. “This isn't your property.”
“Zim,” said Devon. “That piece of Orion’s snot.”
Koda lowered his brows. “Yep, can’t trust the big guy. Who knows what plan he concocted with blaring my uncle’s innocence all over the vid channels?”
Devon nodded. “We can get back to Zim’s office and change the orders. We’ll get you access.”
Koda’s stomach felt as if about to rip apart. “With Payson on the loose and Zim screwing us over behind our backs, we have to get to Sphere One and stop the toxin from being released. We don’t have time, nor is it safe to go back to Zim’s office. Payson’s most likely tearing it apart now, looking for us.” Koda paused, slowing his pulse, and taking a deep breath, reverted to politician mode. He turned and faced Sarah.
“Toxin?” said Sarah, pulling back. “What do you mean?”
He grinned and shook his head, not wanting to rile the young lady. “It’s just an expression we military and politicians use with each other. I assure you, there is no toxin on the starbase.”
Koda put on the best, good-looking shine he could muster, standing straight, confident, bold. “Sarah, I see you work hard, and you want to help us out, but as you know, the card reader won’t let you. I know you can manually print a ticket for us with a special family code that they give each employee. So, I want to make a deal with you…”
15
Zim
Starbase Matrona
Sabra stood over Zim, a gun in hand. “Get up and keep going.”
A blast shook the hallway and small pieces of ebb dust fell, slapping against the floor next to where Zim crouched.
Zim rubbed his chest. “How did they find us?”
“It's Payson. He can find anyone.” Sabra grabbed him by the shirtsleeve and pulled. “Fear is the only thing standing between you and staying alive. If you want to live, stand up and follow me.”
“All your friends are dead.”
“Our guards are not dead, just a little discombobulated at the moment. Have faith. They are some of our elite Space Templars. They've seen and dealt with worse.”
“They’ve taken on worse? Who?” To Zim, the only worse thing than Payson was Enlil, the Monarch.
Sabra waved her comment away. “Never mind.”
Zim looked left and right. The hallway seemed to close in on him by the second, the way his insides felt. A bang echoed in the hall. Zim lurched to the side in a start, his shoulder hitting the wall. He covered his head with his hands. “I can't get up.” He lay frozen on the floor in terror.
Sabra kicked him in the leg. “You must.”
Zim grimaced, rubbing at his thigh and finally standing. “Why are you keeping me alive?”
She pushed him forward. “I told you. We have plans for you. So, move.”
They rushed through a hallway in a building’s basement in Sphere Eight, trying to get to Sphere One where they could take off and leave the starbase. Above them, blasts from Sabra’s Space Templar Knights and the ratatatat of rapid gunfire pierced the air. The fight between the Templars and Payson’s crew had carried on for more than ten minutes already, much too long for Zim’s taste.
Zim grunted, hurrying down the hall and toward a door. “It doesn’t make sense. They found us. Do you have a snitch on your team?”
“No, so stop your bellyaching.” Sabra pushed him again. “My care, and my mission, is for your safe transpor
t to planet Aurora where Enki awaits.”
Zim’s heart burned as anger rose in him. Sabra spoke nonsense. “How do you suggest we get there, woman? We can’t even get out of this building, let alone to the docks.”
“Yes, to the docks in Sphere One.”
“Enlil will find us and hang us both.”
Sabra laughed. “I’ll make sure he hangs before us. Now, let’s get going.”
They reached the door as the building shuddered again. Sabra turned the handle. “Locked.” She reared back and kicked it open. It flew off its hinges, and an underground hovercar parking garage was now before them. A concussion went off, and a car went flying in the air, spinning and landing on its hood. Fire licked from the passenger window, sending thick, black smoke toward the ceiling.
Zim fell to his knees. “Just…let’s hide.”
“My mission is to take you to Enki, and I’m not diverting.” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him through the doorway and behind a pillar in the parking garage. Several clacks of gunfire reverberated off the walls, and chunks of ebb broke from the pillar, falling next to them.
Sabra shoved Zim further behind the pillar. “You move, you die.”
She leaned her back against the ebb, her breaths heaving in and out. She clenched her jaw and lifted the plasma blaster in her hand. She counted under her breath, or maybe she was praying, Zim couldn’t tell. She peeked around the corner, taking count. Zim did as well. They ducked back around.
One Space Templar lay dead next to a vehicle, a few of Payson’s men dead nearby. Four of Payson’s men hid behind pillars and hovercars.
“Did you see them?” she asked.
“Yeah, four.”
She shook her head. “From the trajectory of the bullets in this pillar, there is a fifth over there.” She nodded her head toward the east parking entrance.
“Yes, we go back inside, then.”
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