The Girls from Alcyone 2: The Machines of Bellatrix

by Cary Caffrey

  Trudy helped her to the bridge, supporting most of her weight with Suko's arm draped around her shoulder and neck. Negotiating the tight passages of the Morrigan was trying. By the time they entered the small cockpit-sized bridge, Suko's head was spinning and blood could be seen seeping from the pressure casing surrounding her midriff. She didn't want to think about the state of her insides, though her PCM fed her a stream of polite if annoying reminders.

  She would lose the leg, the medics had told her as much. Suko didn't care.

  "You should be in the medical bay," Selene said. She didn't turn to face Suko. Her focus was squarely ahead as the Morrigan made for high orbit, heading for deep space and quickly leaving the red skies of Bellatrix behind.

  "Like hell. What in the blazes do you think you're doing? Sigrid's still back there."

  Trudy gasped at the sight of Suko's sidearm in her hand; Suko had the weapon aimed squarely at the back of Selene's head.

  "I won't ask you again," Suko said.

  "Put that thing away," Selene barked. "In your state, you'll likely miss and blast a hole in the bulkhead, killing us all."

  "I won't miss," Suko said. "We're turning around. We're going back. We're not leaving her behind."

  "You're not well, so I'll forgive you for not thinking straight. Every security vessel in the system has been alerted to us. We're lucky to be alive at all."

  It was only then Suko saw the chairman of the Council seated on one of the small jump seats, Miranda at his side.

  Suko's gun swung his way. "What are they doing here?"

  "Saving you, Ms. Tansho," Gillings said. "Possibly saving you all."

  "He's the only reason they haven't blasted us out of the sky," Selene said.

  "We can cloak," Suko said. "We can go back—"

  "The moment we hit atmosphere, they'll see us. Cloak or no, they'll kill us. We'll be dead, and they'll still have Sigrid."

  "No, we have to…"

  Her head was spinning, her vision red; Suko collapsed into the chair behind her. Trudy rushed to steady her. When Suko raised her sidearm again, her hand shook, unable to keep the weapon steady or level. "Chairman, if there's anything you can do—"

  "We're doing it now, Ms. Tansho. Everything we can."

  "What—what are you doing?"

  "Saving her." Then, with a look to the gun pointed at his face, he added, "If you'll allow us."

  "Then do it," Suko said, though she did not lower her weapon. "But understand this, Chairman, if Sigrid dies, so do you."

  *

  "Is she alive?" the colonel asked.

  "She is," Dr. Farrington spat. "No thanks to you or your men."

  Aided by the team of medics, Dr. Farrington struggled to remove the riot netting that covered the girl, pinning her to the red earth. It had taken four of the stun nets to bring her down. Heavy pitons held the netting in place. Like a wild animal, she'd struggled, desperate to free herself, desperate to kill; the thin steel mesh of the netting had cut deep into her arms, torso and legs.

  She'd been shot, eighteen times by his count. One bullet had penetrated her forearm, shattering the bone. Another had torn through her chest, puncturing a lung.

  She should be dead. She would be soon. Dr. Farrington couldn't let that happen. The medics worked quickly, efficiently, but Dr. Farrington knew it wouldn't be enough.

  "If she dies, Colonel, you'll have to answer for this."

  "She didn't exactly give us much choice."

  "Your men were instructed, Colonel. They were told, and quite specifically: all of them—all of us—we're all expendable." Dr. Farrington turned back to look at the girl on the ground. "She's the only thing that matters."

  The colonel sniffed. "Why? Why's she so important?"

  "Need I spell it out? Or perhaps you missed the part where she just killed half of your forces and laid waste to the entire enclave."

  Farrington shook his head. This entire mess was too familiar. It was Scorpii all over again.

  "Then I hope she's worth the price," the colonel said. "We paid dearly today, Doctor."

  "Oh, I promise you she's worth it, Colonel. This girl is the only reason why you're here."

  The colonel pointed back over his shoulder at the eight girls standing unmoving nearby. "You've got them. Why do you need her?"

  "Them?" Farrington laughed. "They're nothing. Simple machines, tools, nothing more. But this girl… She's the answer, Colonel. This girl is the future. She is the beginning."

  What Farrington didn't say, what he was thinking, was that she might very well be the end, as well. She might be the end for all of them.

  The medic at Farrington's side called for his attention. He shook his head. "Sorry, Doctor. It's no good. We can't stabilize her. She's too far gone."

  Farrington rose, looking back at the APC. "Bring the chamber. We'll put her in stasis."

  "She won't survive. She'll die in there."

  Farrington watched as a group of soldiers carried the two-meter-long metallic cylinder between them, supported by its repulsor lift, setting it down at their side.

  "No. She'll live."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Countdown

  "We couldn't save the leg. The damage… I'm sorry."

  "You did all you could, Ensign. How is she?"

  "Her insides were pretty badly banged up—torn apart, more like it—but we made the repairs. I'm not even sure how she's alive. It was like she was repairing herself, even when we got her in surgery. But this—this is all out of my league. I think she'll be fine, but Dr. Garrett will want to see to her as soon as possible."

  Suko woke slowly, blinking under the lights of the medical bay. Selene and a Kimuran medic stood at her bedside, neither of them aware that she was awake. She didn't need to ask what happened. Her PCM confirmed her leg had been amputated above the knee. There was no pain, no sense that the leg had ever been there. It was just gone. It didn't matter. There was work to be done.

  She moved to toss the sheets aside only to find her wrists and ankle bound.

  "You're awake," Selene said. "Sorry about the restraints. It was necessary. You wouldn't stay put to let them fix you."

  Suko pulled hard. The nylon restraints held, but the metal rails at the sides of the bed buckled, bent, and tore free like paper. With her wrists freed, she undid the bindings, swinging her leg over the side of the bed.

  Selene observed the scene of destruction with one eyebrow raised. "I see you're feeling better."

  "Robe."

  Selene tossed the garment to her. "You need rest."

  Suko didn't look up. "What I need is a situation report. Where are we?"

  The vibrations of the deck plates were enough to let Suko know they were in space, maneuvering under full power. Her PCM confirmed she had been unconscious for three days.

  "We're closing on the Relay," Selene said.

  "Why? Why did we leave Bellatrix? Sigrid's still back there."

  "No," Selene said, "she's not. We've been tracking her since we picked you up."

  Tracking her?

  "Where is she?"

  Selene held out her arm for Suko to steady herself on her one good leg. "I'll take you to the bridge. It's easier if you see for yourself."

  It took some effort, but with Selene's help, Suko hobbled through the narrow corridors of the Morrigan to the small cockpit. Each awkward hop sent waves of shooting pain through her; Suko did her best not to think of her scrambled insides. Selene helped her into one of the small jump seats, taking her own seat in the command chair.

  The council chairman was there, his wrists bound and shackled once more. Trudy and Leta stood to the sides. They were dressed in full combat gear and fully armed. Miranda was there as well, and dressed as they were—and armed. They'd actually thought to give her a gun.

  Only Trudy acknowledged her presence; she glanced back, just long enough to give Suko the briefest of nods before turning back to face the forward viewer.

  The Morrigan was runn
ing dark, cloaked. She was hanging off the stern of another vessel fifteen-thousand kilometers ahead of them. The ship was a corvette and part of a small flotilla. Suko counted two troop carriers, each with a destroyer escort. A light cruiser blasted ahead of them in the lead.

  "Sigrid's on that ship?" Suko said.

  "She is," Selene confirmed. "They broke orbit just after you…" Selene turned back to face her. "Well, just after you passed out."

  "We have to get aboard. We have to stop them."

  "That's the plan," Leta said. "Don't worry, Suko. We'll get her back."

  The Morrigan's computer told Suko the rest, transmitting data directly to her PCM. They were closing on the Relay. They would be there within the hour. If they didn't act soon, the ships would vanish into warp space, and the Morrigan would no longer be able to track them.

  "If you're going to do something, I suggest—"

  "Not yet," Selene said. "Look."

  "They're not going anywhere, Ms. Tansho," Randal Gillings said. "I've made certain of that. The authorities have been alerted. I have two destroyers ready to intercept."

  "That cruiser will make quick work of your destroyers, Chairman."

  "Perhaps. But I've also instructed Daedalus Corp to deny their Relay access. I promise you, Ms. Tansho, those ships will not escape." Suko opened her mouth, but the chairman raised a hand. "And, I understand the consequences. You don't need to remind me what will happen should we fail. I have no interest in dying at your hand."

  "Don't worry, Suko," Trudy said. "Once they realize they can't warp, we'll make our move. We'll get aboard, find her. Then we'll bring her home. It's a good plan, Suko. It's going to work."

  Suko struggled to rise. "Good. I'll get my kit. I'm coming with you."

  "No," Leta said, "you're not."

  Suko looked down at the stump of her leg. "If you think this is going to stop me—"

  "It's not your leg I'm worried about, it's your insides. Your guts will split apart the moment you reach for your sword and you know it. You need to rest."

  But Suko knew she couldn't rest. Not with Sigrid out there. Not until she was back, safe.

  Suko heard the alarm bleating from the helm. The young communications officer turned to face them. "The CTF destroyers are signaling the lead ship, Captain—they're ordering them to stand down."

  It had begun.

  Selene crossed her legs, reaching for the cup of coffee at her side. "Any response?"

  The com officer listened. "None yet, ma'am."

  Suko watched, waiting. Her fingers dug into the armrest at her side, hard enough to tear away the thin layer of padding.

  "They're not stopping," Suko said.

  In fact, the ships were accelerating, prepping for their run and insertion into the Relay. The two CTF destroyers blasted toward them, moving to block their way.

  "It's a bluff," the chairman said, though Suko sensed the uncertainty in his voice, saw the bead of sweat on his forehead. "They know they can't escape."

  "CTF ships are firing," the tac officer reported. "Looks like warning shots."

  The Morrigan's optics picked up the CTF ships maneuvering, turning to bring their banks of rail turrets to bear. Hundreds of thousands of ballistic rounds, warning shots, hurled at incredible speeds, blasted across the bow of the light cruiser.

  Undaunted, the cruiser and trailing flotilla continued on. Missiles leapt from the bow tubes of the cruiser. These, however, were not fired in warning. They screamed toward the ships blocking their path. From close range, the lead destroyer had no time to employ her countermeasures. The bow of the ship exploded, breaking apart. Her sister ship had no choice but to take evasive action. But her maneuver took her out of the path of the charging cruiser. The way to the Relay was clear.

  "Chairman…" Suko cautioned.

  The Council chairman was visibly nervous, sweating. He dabbed at his brow. "It doesn't matter. Without access they can't warp. They'll have no choice but to stop."

  But they didn't stop. The Relay was just ahead. Suko saw the four-hundred-meter ringlike structure light up, spinning on its axis, orienting itself to accommodate the oncoming ships. Orange sparks danced amongst the lattices, growing brighter.

  Suko pulled herself up, grabbed the sidearm from Leta's holster, and thrust it into the chairman's face. "Call to them!" Suko screamed. "Tell them to shut it down. Now!"

  Gillings raised his hands, his mouth open, his eyes fixed on the weapon. "Ms. Tansho, if there was something I could do…believe me…"

  "Helm," Selene barked, "intercept course. Maximum acceleration. Tell the weapons crews to stand by."

  "Aye, ma'am."

  But even Suko could see that it was too late. The Relay was activated. The drop sequence had been initiated. Tendrils of orange and white energy arced out, reaching across space as if to embrace the flotilla of ships, pulling them closer, drawing them in.

  "Fire on that cruiser," Selene barked.

  "Ma'am, from this range—"

  "Fire! Fire everything—do it now!"

  The deck plates of the Morrigan shuddered violently, the inertial dampers straining to compensate as her two rail turrets threw everything they had at the fleeing vessels. The tiny ballistic rounds cleared the distance, raked across the hull of the cruiser—and passed clean through.

  The warp sequence had been initiated, and nothing could halt it now. Although still visible, the fleeing ships were no longer truly in their dimensional space. The Morrigan's weapons were useless. Suko saw the blinding flash, the blanket of white sweeping out to cover the flotilla, then blackness. The Relay grew dim once more, the space ahead of them black and empty.

  The gun was still in her hand, the muzzle of the barrel pressed into the chin of the Chairman of the Council of Trade and Finance. Slowly, he lowered his trembling hands, resigned to his fate.

  "I did all I could, Ms. Tansho. But I understand. We had an agreement. Do what you must."

  Suko didn't hear him. Weak, numb, the gun fell from her hand, clattering to the floor.

  It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. It was over. The ships were gone.

  Sigrid was gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  New Alcyone

  November 3, 2348

  Pegasi Space

  "Good as new," the Kimuran medic said.

  Suko caught the overly cheerful tone. The entire crew of the Devonshire continued to walk on eggshells around her, most of them not daring to look her way. The medic didn't have that luxury, having to tend to her.

  "Look, I know I can't stop you from walking out of here, but I'm required to inform you, you're not cleared for combat. Dr. Garrett's orders were quite specific. You're to report to her as soon as we land."

  Suko swung her legs over the bed and flexed the artificial limb.

  Not fully grown, the synthetic flesh of her new bionic leg looked red and angry, but at least it covered the bones. These were made of a hardened carbon-nanotube composite. The artificial musculature looked positively mechanical, grisly and inhuman to behold, but it was far stronger than even her enhanced limbs. This new leg might prove to be truly unbreakable.

  Suko's body had embraced the artificial limb as it did all of her bionic enhancements. To Suko's subconscious mind, the new limb was as much a part of her as any of her natural limbs or organs, even if it didn't look that way at the moment.

  "The new skin will continue to grow, regenerate," the medic said. "Just give it a week or so—you'll never see the difference."

  Suko hopped off the bed. Her uniform was there, hanging and waiting for her. She took it, stepped into it, and zipped it up, bent to lace and fasten the tall boots. The door to the medical bay slid open; she was free to go.

  The wide corridor of the stolen CTF carrier was empty. It was eerily quiet, no sign of her crew. The Devonshire was normally home to more than three thousand crew. Currently, it was crewed by less than four hundred. How Captain Trybuszkiewicz had made off with the giant carrier was a mystery,
but that wasn't anything Suko was concerned with right now.

  She made her way through the maze of corridors, searching for and finding a lift that would take her down to the hangar deck. Most of the crew were gathered here, working to load needed supplies into the three waiting shuttles. These would be brought down to New Alcyone as soon as they were ready.

  One of the shuttles was being sealed up, prepped for flight. Suko walked toward it and climbed the ramp. The crew chief had his hand half-raised, as if to stop her. Wisely, he thought better of it and allowed Suko to board.

  The doors were sealed, the decks cleared, and the shuttle lifted off. Suko climbed the ladder to the flight deck and entered the bridge. Some of the crew flashed curious looks her way, but no one questioned her presence, and no one spoke to her.

  The shuttle's view ports gave nearly a 180º view of the surrounding space. Ahead of them and just above was the gas giant Circe, below was their homeworld of New Alcyone. Once clear of the Devonshire, the shuttle blasted quickly down into a lower orbit.

  There were more ships waiting there. Suko counted seventeen. Some were transports, but there were warships as well: destroyers, two cruisers, along with a handful of the smaller, sleek corvettes.

  Sigrid's fleet.

  Somehow Captain Trybuszkiewicz had done it. He'd made good on his promise and secured the ships Sigrid had asked for. Their homeworld would have the protection Sigrid so desperately desired.

  Suko heard the rumors, heard the excited chatter of the crew, still buzzing after the operation. Outgunned, undermanned, the brash Kimurans had stormed the CTF shipyards over Mars, first stealing the massive Devonshire, then using its firepower to overcome the CTF forces stationed there. Only the Ōmi Maru had failed to return.

  The stolen vessels weren't the only ones in orbit. There were other ships. Mercenary ships. She saw the gleaming gold and red striping of Clan Athena. Lady Lawther, Condottiere of the Mercenary Guild, had heard their call and come.

  The shuttle descended quickly, navigating through the suborbital traffic and braking hard as they smashed through the upper reaches of the atmosphere. Suko was barely aware of the descent. When the shuttle touched down atop the bluff, Suko was already waiting at the ramp, first down, not waiting for the transport to fully settle on its landing struts.