“Keep that thing pointed down the concourse, pal.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Immediately apparent was a group of mercs standing at the entrance to the port cross pylon. The two teams stared at each other for a moment before raising their weapons. Wargin dashed forward, firing, and took cover behind the railing. Ray joined him, and Fernwyn sprinted for what she hoped was the right airlock corridor. Richter and John fired their pistols from inside the lift.
“Go, Christie!” shouted John.
Christie ran for it. Fernwyn had arrived at a door. She pressed the control button and ducked behind the railing. Christie and John soon joined her. As the door opened, a corridor was visible. At the end of the corridor stood two Z'Sorth, who raised their rifles.
“Hold your fire,” yelled Fernwyn over the din, “we’re with Wargin!”
The Z'Sorth lowered their weapons slightly. Those present entered the corridor. Richter soon followed.
“Come on, you two!” he shouted back toward Ray.
Richter fired across the concourse as Ray disengaged the mercs and ran. The door to the lift opened again, revealing two more mercs. One of them fired as he brought up his weapon. The shot flew by Wargin and struck Ray in the back. Wargin fired two quick rounds, killing the mercs. He jumped inside the lift and closed the doors. Ray stumbled and collapsed into Richter’s arms.
“Shit!” exclaimed Richter.
John and Richter dragged Ray’s limp form into the corridor and closed the door.
“Ray!” said John.
There was no reply. Richter grabbed the shotgun and ran toward the Z'Sorth.
“Open the airlock door!” said Fernwyn.
“Not without Wargin!” one of them hissed.
Richter replied by plastering the Z'Sorth to the bulkhead with buckshot.
“We shouldn’t have trusted a pirate,” he said, despite the fact that he and the others were too deaf to hear him.
“Ray’s hurt bad!” yelled John.
Christie joined John and helped him carry Ray to the airlock.
“Get him aboard, I’ll guard the hallway,” shouted Richter.
Fernwyn opened the airlock door and ran into the zero-g room. John and Christie carefully placed Ray on the floor.
“I need the medical kit from the cargo hold,” said John. “Christie, go get it. Show Fernwyn to the armory, grab the rifles and more pistol ammo and get back up here. This isn’t over yet.”
21.
On level one, Ari and Harrish were crouched behind one of the Umberian ships. They’d been ordered to guard the lab, but it was unbearable to stay while the action raged above. They’d overheard the radio call that Wargin made to Rasi, but it hadn’t made any sense on their end. So far he’d ignored their own call. Finally he answered.
“Harrish, come in, damn it!” Wargin said.
“What the hell is going on up there?” said Harrish.
“It’s the humans and that genmod plank! They’ve taken control of the Faith!”
Ari and Harrish shared a stunned look.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. If the Z'Sorth brothers aren’t responding, they must have been killed or captured.”
“Shit. What about the Black Crest, have you spotted them yet?”
“Who do you think we were shooting at?”
“I can’t believe they came out here for the ship,” said Ari. “Wargin, how many were there?”
“Five, including the cop. Listen, the mercs are in this section, level ten to be sure and probably elsewhere. I’m in the port lift on my way back to you.”
“Okay. Harrish to Aeroki, are you copying this?”
“Yup,” said Aeroki’s voice.
“Does this place have emergency docking clamps on the airlocks?”
“Uh... yeah, it does.”
“Grab the Faith and hold it. We’re no longer in control of it. Establish an uplink with the station’s computer and standby. We may need you to help us retake the ship.”
“Understood.”
The port lift opened and Wargin ran over.
“What’s the plan, Harrish?” he asked.
Harrish held up his finger impatiently and called another frequency.
“Yo,” said Leitke’s voice.
“It’s Harrish. How’s it going out there?”
“Three shuffler ships down so far. I’m doing okay as long as I don’t have any distractions.”
“What are the chances of you being able to take them all?”
“I do hope you’re joking.”
“Shit. Keep it up, I’ll be in touch. Harrish out. Well, kids, it looks like we have no choice but to try and retake the Faith.”
Wargin frowned. “Without Deegan, Rasi and Isar, and with Aldebaran in that trance, we’ll be outnumbered. Fortunately we may be able to fight them on our own terms.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of the humans said they’re not leaving without the orb. As long as we have it, that ship isn’t going anywhere. I say let them come to us. Let them fight their way through the mercs. We just have to hold out here until the cap’s done with his mind transfer or whatever the hell he called it.”
“I think a more aggressive strategy is best,” said Ari. “I say Wargin and I go start some trouble while you stay her and guard Aldebaran. At the very least we can hold them off until he wakes up.”
Harrish nodded. “I agree. Go for it. I’ll cover this level.”
Ari grinned and clasped Wargin on the shoulder.
“I bet I can tag more mercs than you, Rakhar,” she said.
“I’ll take that bet, baldy. Even with you in the lead.”
Wargin gestured ahead, and Ari began to run to the forward lift, rifle at the ready. She pressed the call button when they arrived. Above, the concourse remained silent.
“They haven’t had anyone to shoot at since I bugged out of there,” said Wargin.
“Let’s hope they decided to consolidate and reorganize,” added Ari. “I don’t want to have to push them back in order to access the airlock corridor.”
The elevator arrived. Ari and Wargin prepared themselves, but the car was empty. They entered and Wargin hit the button for the top level.
“Your friends had a chance to kill me and they didn’t,” said Wargin. “Your kind never learn, do they?”
Ari smirked. “That’s just typical human idealism. If they had the jump on you it changes from self-defense to murder. Even after I joined Aldebaran I was still susceptible to the same weakness, at least for those with whom I sympathize. Some moral standards run deep, I guess. Look where it got us.”
“There’s no room for mercy this time. We’re going to have to kill them to get to the Faith.”
“They didn’t have to come here, Wargin. They put themselves in this situation willingly. They should be prepared to accept the consequences.”
“I hope you are, too, Ferro.”
The lift arrived on level ten and the doors slid open. Ari peeked out. Across the open concourse, figures could be seen just inside the port cross pylon. The rest of the level looked clear. The crisp, ozone-like smell of energy weapons was much stronger than below. Ari moved out of the car and took a knee behind the railing. Wargin joined her.
“I’ll open fire while you move to those vending machines over there,” she said softly. “Then you keep fire on them while I move to the airlock corridor. Then I’ll cover you while you head for the ship.”
“Sounds good.”
Ari took aim with her rifle, wishing that it was capable of full-auto despite the distance of her targets. She breathed carefully and fired one shot, hitting a merc in the chest. Wargin dashed away. Ari’s follow-up shots didn’t hit anyone that she could see, but had the desired effect. After a moment of shouts and orders, the mercs began to return fire. Ari displaced down the railing a few feet and resumed firing. She fired the last round in her magazine just as Wargin began firing from his position. Ari sp
rinted toward him, loading her second and last mag. The bolt had failed to lock open so she yanked on the charging handle as she knelt beside Wargin.
“Good job, Ferro.”
“Are you ready to move again?”
“Yes.”
“Get on with it, then.”
Ari found an advantageous firing position between two of the vending machines, and fired deliberately. Wargin ran forward and went prone behind the railing next to the airlock corridor entrance. The mercs had moved down the concourse to the corner, and Ari shifted her fire. Wargin fired his pistol rapidly at the mercs that suddenly appeared in his view. Ari stepped up the rapidity of her effort, her shots flying over Wargin’s head and driving the mercs back. Her rifle empty, Ari discarded it and ran forward, drawing her pistol. She took up a position next to Wargin, daring a glance over the railing.
“Get that door open please,” she cried, and began firing.
Wargin rolled laterally across the floor until he was under the control panel for the door. He waited until Ari nodded before reaching up and pressing the button. A furious slew of energy bolts shot toward them, forcing Ari back behind the railing. Wargin jumped through the door just as it automatically closed.
“Freeze,” someone said.
Wargin looked up from his supine position to see Richter at the other end of the corridor. He raised his pistol and the two of them fired simultaneously. Wargin’s shot grazed Richter’s right forearm, causing him to drop his weapon as the muscles flexed involuntarily. Wargin rose to a crouch to finish the job, and realized he’d fired the last percent of energy from the cell. Richter reached down to pick up his pistol but Wargin leapt forward with blinding speed. Richter dodged backward and managed to get his leg between them just before Wargin’s jaws could close around his neck. Richter pushed with all the strength he had in his leg as Wargin smacked him up against the bulkhead, leaning forward to try again. Richter got his arms up and pressed them against the Rakhar’s neck. He felt Wargin’s weight shift slightly and rode with it, ducking under his right arm. As he freed himself from the Rakhar’s grasp he drew his knife and slashed him along the ribs. Richter ran down the corridor as far as he dared before turning to face his enemy.
Wargin examined the wound and dismissed it, sneering at Richter. He drew a wicked-looking knife from his belt.
“So it comes down to the blade, human,” he growled.
“Not necessarily. You could let me get my pistol back first.”
“Where’s the sport in that?”
“I try not to play fair.”
Wargin lunged ahead. Richter dodged a vicious slash to his head and countered with a quick jab, pushing Wargin’s arm out of the way at the same time. Wargin roared and swung downward. Richter blocked the swipe with his blade, cutting his arm above the elbow deeply. The Rakhar kicked forward and Richter jumped back. Wargin moved his knife to his left hand, and lunged ahead with a fully-committed stab, screaming as loud as he could. Richter side-stepped the move easily and drew his knife across Wargin’s throat as he passed by. A swath of dark crimson splashed across the ceiling and bulkhead as the Rakhar fell, gurgling obscenely. Once again, Richter reached for his radio.
“Drop the knife, Chance.”
Richter noticed the door behind him closing, and the figure of Ari pointing her pistol at him. Richter threw his knife away and turned around.
“Hello, Ferro.”
“I’m glad to see you again so soon. Somehow, I knew it would come down to this one way or another.”
“You were always a bit of a romantic.”
“You know, Chance, I always wondered why you never asked me to spar with you, either in the sims or for real.”
“You never asked.”
“You never offered.”
“I was afraid that you’d take offense to getting your ass kicked.”
“You were so certain of that outcome?”
Richter smiled. “How come you never asked?”
“I was afraid that you’d be less attracted to me if I beat you, which in my mind was a very real possibility.”
“Really? So you thought that my affection for your aggressive tendencies was disingenuous?”
“Yes.”
Richter stopped smiling. “It wasn’t. I don’t misrepresent myself.”
“Fine, my mistake. We can rectify it now or later, your choice. I suggest later, since my friends and I need to use the Faith to get off of this station. What do you say we team up again, at least until we’re all safely back in deep space?”
“I don’t deal with traitors.”
Ari looked genuinely hurt. “You’d rather I execute you right now?”
“You do what you have to do, Ferro. I just wonder if you can shoot me between the eyes like you did Byron.”
“Byron was an asshole. You deserve better than that.”
Ari dropped the magazine from her pistol and racked the slide. She holstered the weapon and spread her arms.
“That’s more like the girl I knew,” said Richter.
Richter and Ari closed with each other and began a violent dance. At first there was very little hard contact, each of them drawing heavily on their Aikido training to skirt around the other and avoid any damage. Soon the full strikes came into play, with each side giving up a hit for every four or five that was blocked or dodged. Ari was good, Richter knew, but she was fighting with a focus that he’d never seen in her before. He pushed aside his conscious mind and became one with the movement, and all his doubt dissolved away. Ari would beat him if he didn’t finish this quickly. He let his training look for that one opening where he could get a strong backfist to her temple and end it, but as seconds turned to a full minute he realized he wasn’t going to get it. Ari landed a solid blow to Richter’s ribs and he staggered back, wheezing.
Every ounce of combat training Richter had ever received was screaming at him to pick up the knife that was just a couple of feet from him. First in the Marines and then in the CIA, the idea of fighting fair had been as alien as the corpses lying in the corridor. Richter didn’t want Ari to win, and he had no doubt that she would kill him if that happened. He just couldn’t get himself to grab the blade and end it. Ari had managed to grab ahold of his pride with a tightness Richter couldn’t believe. He felt a flash of anger. As he prepared himself to re-engage her, Ari’s face was suddenly filled with a look of horror. Her expression shifted to confusion and she looked at Richter as if to say something. Richter didn’t give her the chance, striking her in the head as hard as he could as soon as he was in range. Ari bounced off of the bulkhead and crumpled into a heap on the deck. Richter picked up his pistol and knife.
“I’m sorry, Ari.”
The airlock door opened behind Richter, and John stepped into the corridor.
“Richter, we’re ready to... holy shit!”
John, who was holding his M1, ran forward and surveyed the scene with shock.
“Why didn’t you call for help?” he said after a moment.
“I would have if I could’ve. Ferro’s probably okay. What do you want to do with her?”
“We should leave her for the mercs by all rights, Richter. But I want to talk to her about Aldebaran. Let’s get her aboard.”
John and Richter carried Ari into the zero-g room. Christie and Fernwyn were kneeling over Ray, who had bandages wrapped around his torso.
“How is he?” asked Richter.
“You got Ari?” asked Christie. “Give me two minutes alone with that bitch, I beg of you!”
“We’ll handle her, take it easy,” said John. “We stopped the bleeding, but his lung has collapsed. He needs professional help soon or he won’t make it.”
“Do you want to forget about Seth and get the hell out of here, then?” asked Richter.
“He’s been stabilized,” said Fernwyn, “and he’ll probably make it back to Residere. A few more minutes isn’t going to matter, at least so I think.”
“I want to try for Seth,” said John.
“We’ve come this far.”
“I’m in,” said Richter.
“Is your arm okay?” asked Christie.
“It’s nothing.”
John offered a canteen to Richter, who gratefully accepted. He then gestured to the side, where Ray’s shotgun and two of the spare M1A rifles were lying, along with boxes of ammunition. Richter walked over and began calmly reloading his pistol magazines.
“Do you want the shotgun or the Springfield?” asked John.
“I’ll take both. You should take the M1A and ditch that Garand. No offense, but this isn’t the best situation for it.”
“You’re probably right. I guess the old warhorse can sit this one out.”
“Did you get an opportunity to look over the ship?”
“Briefly. Everything seems to be intact. The pets are okay, somebody was still feeding them. The only thing that’s missing is Seth.”
Ari moaned and began to move. John approached her and propped her up against the bulkhead.
“Wake up, Ari, it’s John.”
Ari rubbed the bruise on her head and opened her eyes.
“John? Where am I?”
“You’re aboard the Faith. Where’s Seth?”
“Seth? What happened?”
John grabbed Ari’s shoulder. “Don’t play dumb with me now. We don’t have time for any bullshit.”
“Wait, wait, I know. I’m just... confused. Where’s Aldebaran?”
“That’s what we’re asking you! Don’t pretend you don’t know!”
“John? Oh, my God. I left you behind.”
Ari looked distraught, and tears filled her eyes. John let go and stepped back. Christie stood up and walked over.
“Where’s Seth, Ari?” asked John.
“He’s down below. I didn’t mean to do it, John. I mean I did, but I didn’t. I... Aldebaran had me.”
“Bullshit,” said Christie. “You did this on your own accord.”
“Aldebaran does have some sort of mind control skill, remember?” said Fernwyn. “She may be a bitch but she may also be telling the truth.”
Ari gasped and held her hand to her mouth. “Jesus... I didn’t really kill Byron, did I?”
“What a load of crap!” said Christie. “You’re not buying this transparent attempt to fool us, are you Scherer?”
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