Ali stood her ground, her arms folded at her chest. “Do not order my crew...on or off my ship.”
Harak pinched his lips shut, his body stiffening. He marched to Ali, his nose to her belly, and glared up at her. “These are my people. When my father is not in the presence of my people, I am king by birthright. You cannot tell me what to do, lassie.”
Ali flicked her head to the side, motioning toward Thun. “From what I hear, your brother, Thun, is first in line as king. Regardless, the ship does not move unless I move it. I have full authority over everyone, or we don't fly.” Ali wanted to kick the man as hard as she could, just to drive home her point.
Harak brandished a sword from behind his long cape. Ali’s hand quickly moved to Sol, almost as if Sol pulled her to it. Harak took a swing, and Ali caught his sword upon hers. Steel against steel reverberated off the walls. Ali pressed against his sword, and Harak fell to one knee, cringing, his muscles shaking against her power and Sol’s strong force.
“That’s enough, Harak.” Thun kicked his brother in the side and Harak tumbled to the floor.
Ali sheathed her sword into her baldric. She did her best to maintain calm, though her insides wanted to rip Harak limb from limb. “He won’t stop trying to kill me.”
Thun shrugged. “No, Ali. He wouldn’t kill you. Not anymore. Father would skin him alive.”
“Then what do you call that?”
“Just a little banter, you know, a little play.”
Ali glared at Harak. “Play or not, you try that again, and this sword gets rammed down your throat.”
Harak kicked the dirt. “Don't talk to me like that.” He smirked at Ali. “Let's move. Tranquil awaits.”
“We have a half a day to wait,” replied Ali.
Harak walked onward, ignoring her. Thun patted Ali's elbow, standing with the other crew members. “He’ll lighten up.”
Chan shuffled forward. “You’re the captain, Ali. Lead by example. Lead with your heart. Sometimes people like Harak need examples to change their minds, and I believe he’ll change his mind.”
Ali almost chuckled at the idea. The guy couldn’t light a torch without growling at the torch for not lighting itself. “Yeah, I hope so.” She took a step in the city’s direction, where they’d jump in the elevator and to the starship. “Everyone, let’s go.”
A cheer rose in the corridor, and they clanged their weapons against the rocky walls and ground, following their captain to the starship.
A ship that would take them to their first battle.
A battle Ali couldn’t afford to lose.
33
Shae
Starhawk Transport, Unknown
Shae stared out the cockpit window. Y’taul’s giant ship loomed over the Starhawk, its belly opening like a monster about to devour its prey. “I’ll kill anyone who thinks they can buy me and Devon. That’s a fact.”
“I know Y’taul’s game,” said Kalista. “Don’t say anything while we’re inside his ship and whatever you do, no aggression.” The transport shook, the Starhawk passing through the bottom of the ship. Thick metal planks extended downward on either side of the belly’s opening. Blue lights lined the plating, wildly flashing, nearly blinding Shae.
Kalista took an uneasy breath. “Here we go.”
“Give me a gun,” demanded Shae.
“No.” Kalista held her hand over her holstered weapon nearest Shae. “You’ll get another bullet in you if I hand you a gun. Do what I say and what I do. Trust me, gentlemen.”
The Starhawk entered the docking bay, the blue light changing to a hazy red. The Starhawk turned and touched down gently on the docking bay floor, vibrating gently. The underbelly closed, and the bay’s lights switched to soft, white light.
“Welcome,” said Kalista, sarcastically. “You being here may be a good distraction.”
“Distraction for what?” asked Devon.
She opened the pilot-side door and walked out, ignoring Devon’s question. A conversation from outside carried into the cockpit too muffled to understand. Shae stood, walking into the Starhawk’s cabin and paced. “If anything goes awry, stick as close to me as you can so we don’t get separated. We see a weapon, we grab it, all right?”
Devon eyed him, biting his bottom lip. “Understood, Admiral.”
“Do your best to maintain composure, no matter what. Can you do that?”
Devon nodded, rubbing his hands up and down his pant legs, clearly nervous. “I think so.”
Shae stopped pacing. “Know so. Tell your entire body to remain calm and collected.”
“Yes, sir.”
Shae paused, peering into Devon’s eyes. “Close your eyes and focus on every part of you, calming yourself down and telling yourself you’ll know what to do when an opportunity shows itself. Athletes do it, and I do it. It’s a golden ticket to better decision making.”
Devon closed his eyes, his body relaxing. The muffles outside became louder. He opened his eyes. “I did it…I think.”
“Good.” Shae faced the side cabin door. The door clicked and slid open. A cool breeze swirled inside. Kalista stood before Shae, and beside her smiled Y'taul, along with three tall humanoids.
Y'taul motioned for Shae and Devon to come forward. “Here…to us, humans.” He bowed diplomatically.
Devon looked at Shae. Shae nodded and stepped forward, walking out of the transport.
“We Plearians,” stated Y'taul. “You humans. Kali is Anunnaki.” He shook his head and pointed to his chest. “Plearians worth no money. Anunnaki fight if we try to take Anunnaki. Very strong. Kill many Plearians. Humans worth a lot of money on market. Not strong. Not kill other races as easily as Anunnaki. Do you see?”
Shae didn’t see. Once the brainwashing wore off on his race, they fought tooth and nail against the strong Anunnaki. Taking Shae’s race for granted was fool’s gold.
Y'taul turned and walked to an open door leading out of the bay and nodded, gesturing for everyone to follow. The door led into a stark corridor, lit by glowing blue cyan walls. A soft textile made up the floor, and every step squished slightly downward, along with a translucent purple that shimmered with every footfall.
Y’taul led them into a room full of artistic designs—paintings that morphed into a beautiful flower, then to waterfalls, then to mountain landscapes, and on and on. Chairs and a small table sat in the middle of the room. Y'taul motioned for them to sit. “My people are taking the five-hundred troy ounce now, Kali.”
Kalista bared her teeth. “King Anu will have your heads.”
Y'taul glared. “First, you say Enlil will have my head and now you say King Anu. How many heads do I have?”
Kalista sat down, seething. “What are you going to do with the white powder gold?”
“Consume it. Like you and your race do.” He held up his hand as if holding a glass of mead. “We toast, as you say.” He glanced at Shae and Devon, as if proud that he knew human customs. “We toast to longevity.”
Kalista didn't move. “We use the white powder gold for our atmosphere. Nothing more.”
Y'taul held in a laugh. “Oh? I see. That is also consumed through breathing, no? I imagine that if it touches food or soil, it also consumed one way or another?” He winked at her. “Don’t think me as dumb as humans.”
Kalista straightened her lips and fell back into the chair, breathing shallowly.
Y'taul faced Shae. “Do you know what white powder gold does?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “What you humans have slaved for years, years beyond…” he put his hand to his chin, concentrating. “You mine on planet Eos. Your Eos give ebb. Ebb is full of gold...other stuffs, too.” He wiggled his fingers, flashing a few rings with shiny crystals. “You slave for Anunnaki’s longevity.” He pointed at Kalista. “Her longevity. You slave for DNA repair. This white powder gold recharges, re-balances, and heals DNA. You no need to die…for a long, long time.”
Kalista crossed her arms, raising her chin. “You share our secrets? Let me s
hare yours.”
Y'taul put his hand up. “You tell our secrets, I show King Anu vids. Yes, vids that show you sell gold. I show Enlil, as well. He likes to kill.”
Devon slowly raised his hand, moving his head hesitantly from Y'taul to Kalista, then back to Y'taul.
“You need something?” asked Y'taul.
“If what you say is true, then our DNA has holes in it?” Devon shook his head as if dismissing his own words. “I mean, over time, our DNA falls apart?”
Y'taul interlaced his fingers, resting them in his lap. “Yes. You have Suficell Pods, am I correct?” Again, he continued without waiting for an answer. “Those pods can repair your DNA through the DNA healing frequency, which falsely be labeled Immune Support. You quietly be told to use to extend your life, but that frequency is frequency for monoatomic gold or, its other name, white powder gold. It keeps you alive longer than your current lifespan if you wish. And—”
Devon interrupted. “Say that again? We can stay alive much longer?”
Y’taul chuckled as if he were talking to a child. “If you do not die from other circumstances, such as crash ship, then yes. You have ability with white powder gold to live for an abundant long amount of years. Ingest this gold on a continual basis...body regenerates, fixes DNA, and opens other DNA channels. The disease of aging goes away, mostly.” Y'taul eyed Kalista. “This can be done with the Suficell Pods? I'm correct, no?”
Kalista looked away. “Your guess is as good as mine. That’s Space Templar technology, something I know nothing about. Orion’s hell, talk to a gene expert about this crap, Y’taul, not a cargo pilot.”
Devon’s eyes widened. “You’re saying Suficell Pods can make me live for a thousand years, perhaps longer?”
“Yes, but I don't think as easy to do with pods, unlike taking monoatomic gold,” said Y'taul. “But maybe same thing.” He pointed to his heart. “I’m friend. Kali and her race enemy to your people. They liars. We—”
Kalista snorted. “Friends? Friendly? You've killed just about as many humans as we have.”
Y'taul shot Kalista a look full of daggers. “You walk thin line.” He made a cutting motion over his throat. “I can be unfriendly fast-like. Okay?”
“You would enslave them, just like we Anunnaki enslaved them.”
“Kalista, you went over my patience.” Y’taul pressed a button on his chair. A side door opened, and four tall, thin men entered. Two men walked toward Kalista and grabbed her by the arms, pulling her out of her seat. Two others hurried toward Shae and Devon.
There was a loud grunt, and the two men heading in Shae’s and Devon’s direction glanced at Kalista, then rushed her way. The other two lay on the ground near her feet, one out cold, the other rubbing his chin. The two other men approached her quickly.
Kalista grabbed one by his shirt and threw him head over heels. He bounced against a wall, smacking into the floor a moment later. She sent the fourth on his back next.
Shae furrowed his brow. This Kalista didn’t just fly cargo, she exhibited military training.
Y'taul stood, a gun in his hand, and moved quickly toward Kalista. Shae reacted, lunging for Y’taul, swiping the gun out of his hand and tackling the tall guy to the floor. Kalista snagged the gun and kicked Y’taul in the side. She stepped hard on his chest, aiming the weapon at his forehead. “Hi, Y’taul.” She gave him a wink.
Shae grabbed a gun on the floor, dropped from a Plearian. He noticed a man getting up and going for a weapon strapped to his side. Shae sent a hard kick to the guy’s chin, sending him onto his stomach. The Plearian’s weapon bounced on the floor. Shae snatched the gun and slid it to Devon. Devon slipped his finger through the trigger guard, targeting Y'taul. Shae did the same.
“Those are different weapons than you’re used to,” said Kalista. “Be careful.” She held the gun closer to Y’taul’s face, her eyes on Shae. “They only use them to stun. They thought they had us easy, but no one has it easy against me.” She glared at Y’taul. “Next time, be smart. Have your gun’s ready when threatening an Anunnaki. Make us work for it. I don’t like this easy crap.”
A whirring sound filled the room, and a ray extended from Devon’s gun like an energetic ripple and slammed into Y’taul’s lower back. Y’taul jerked a few times, his arms and hands shaking violently. An instant later, he went still.
Kalista stepped back. “Wait until I’m not right next to him before you do something like that, dummy.”
Devon put his hands up, dropping the weapon. “I’m sorry. It was an accident.”
“Who cares.” Kalista hurried toward Devon, grabbing his hand. “You only stunned him, idiot. Unfortunately, Y'taul will be fine in two minutes.” Kalista tugged him along, heading for a door at the far side of the room. “Until then, we're getting our butts out of here.”
Shae ran beside her, dwarfed by her massive frame. They exited and sirens shrieked, and red lights illuminated the corridor. Footsteps echoed in the distance. No doubt more Plearians headed their way, and Shae figured they’d have their weapons drawn this time, kill function activated.
“Over here,” said Kalista, letting go of Devon's arm.
They turned down another corridor and through a doorway into a small, darkened room, highlighted by a dim red light. The door to the room shut behind them. Opposite the door stood a large window the size of a wall, and on the other side of the window hung rows of red lights.
“The docking bay?” said Shae.
“Yep, right past that window.” Kalista hurried to a panel beside the closed door, smashing it with her elbow. The panel sparked, smoke twirling into the air. “That may slow them down.” She pointed her gun at the window. “Stand back.” She pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. She shook the gun, then aimed a second time.
Nothing.
She reared back and threw the pistol at the glass. It ricocheted off the glass and slid across the floor, spinning. “The gun is a dud.” She flicked a look at Shae. “Change the dial on your gun. You’ll see it on the barrel just above the trigger guard. It’ll change the gun from stun to kill.”
Shae clicked the dial forward and targeted the long, wide glass. Pulling the trigger, he heard a click, then another click. He studied the weapon. “Mine’s a dud too.”
Kalista punched the air, her face flushing red. “Blasted shades of Orion’s crack,” she cursed. “All right, here goes.” She made her way to the long, wide window and leaned against it, pushing. It slightly bowed. “I think we can break this.” She tipped her head to the side, motioning at something beyond the glass. “And there’s our Starhawk down there.”
A loud bang jostled the door behind them, then another. Shae turned, expecting the door to burst from its seams by a blast any second, exposing them.
Kalista stepped away and grunted loudly as she rushed forward. She rammed her shoulder into the window. It didn’t budge.
A whining sound of metal against metal reverberated off the walls. The door to the room crept open, lifting a quarter of a meter off the ground. A metallic pry bar appeared through the small opening, sharp and thin at the end, nudging the door open a few millimeters more.
“We all run through this window together,” said Kalista.
Devon’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Shae glanced down at the bay below. “It’s the only way. Like she said, our Starhawk is right there.”
“On my count,” Kalista called out. “One...two…go.”
Shae dug his boots into the floor and ran as fast as he could, jumping into the window, Devon and Kalista doing the same. The window bowed outward, then pushed back, throwing them onto the floor. More metal against metal sounded in the room. The door opened another quarter of a meter, and a gun pointed through the opening.
34
Shae
Y’taul’s Ship, Unknown
“Move, move,” yelled Shae, pushing Kalista and Devon across the room. He shoved them beside several circular chairs, and Devon toppled over.
&nbs
p; A light flashed from the gun thrust through the small opening between the floor and the door. A spark clanged off the floor.
“The bar,” said Shae. He looked Kalista up and down. He thought her strength topped five Plearians put together. “Grab the gun and the bar.”
“The bar easy, the gun…no. The barrel is wicked hot and would melt my skin off.” She stood. “Step back, boys.” She ran toward the door, slid and kicked the gun out of the Plearian’s hand. Simultaneously, she yanked the crowbar loose and pulled it into her chest. Nothing held up the door now, and it shut.
Without a second thought, Kalista dashed wildly at the window, screaming. She slid her grip down the shaft of the bar, leaned on her back foot, and took a giant swing. The bar connected, and the window shattered, sending thousands of pieces of glass to the bay below. She jumped a few levels to the docking bay floor and landed athletically. She gathered herself and looked up at Devon and Shae. “Let's go. I'll catch you. One at a time.” Kalista held her arms out, the red lights in the bay streaking across her body.
“The last time I jumped from this high, I about broke my legs,” said Devon, his voice shaky.
“We've got to go now.” Shae nudged Devon forward.
Devon took another step and jumped, his arms flailing about. Kalista caught him and set him on his feet. Shae took a step and let himself fall, the air rushing up against him. Kalista caught him as well, like a baby falling to its mother.
“They’ll be here any second,” she said.
“Let’s move.” Shae ran as fast as he could to the Starhawk and opened the co-pilot door, jumping in. He rolled off the seat and moved to the cabin. Devon did the same.
“What’s she doing?” He rushed to the cockpit, Devon in tow.
“And where is she going?” asked Devon.
Kalista raced toward another, smaller ship.
Shae slumped, his heart jumping to his throat. “I think she’s leaving us behind. We’re her distraction.” He sat in the pilot’s seat, the chair’s wide frame making it feel like he was a child in an adult’s lounge chair. He scooted to the edge of the seat, held the control stick, and pressed on the holomonitor. His heart picked up a beat when he noticed the icons and flight commands didn’t match the Star Guild ships he piloted. “Ignition, where are you?” He swiped through application windows and stopped on something that looked like an engine icon. “That might be it.”
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