A Bellicose Dance

by Patrick M J Lozon

  "Going up to level two."

  He crawled up another maintenance shaft and arrived on the second level. The corridors were dark as lighting was off on most of this level.

  "Gem, can you help me locate the last human?"

  "I can give you an approximation of two corridors to your left."

  He moved quietly down the narrow corridor, holstering his blaster and pulling his sword in the process. A loud blaster shot would tip the others to his presence. If the bridge crew caught on, they'd realize Gem's interference and cage him like a rat. He heard a woman scream, and he picked up his pace, searching for the source. He was deep within the slave storage areas now. The rooms were dingy and dark. Another scream followed by a Xilozak laugh.

  Ryan found the source. The door was open and he moved in.

  The Xilozak was there, prone over a woman on a metal slab. He had one grasping claw wrapped around the woman’s arms. Outmatched in his strength, she could only struggle weakly, desperately.

  The Xilozak turned and saw him.

  Ryan would have carved him up on this spot, but he was too entangled with the woman. He slid the sword over his shoulder and into its scabbard. The Xilozak grinned at him through the darkness, its white teeth reflecting in the meager light. He reached for his belt. A communicator!

  Ryan grabbed him by the head and smashed him up against the wall. Unfazed, the Xilozak seized him by the arm. Ryan countered, turned and catapulted the alien onto the floor. It hit with a bone-crunching thud, but still managed to raise up in a blur, grabbing for him again. Ryan reacted instinctively, bending back and kicking the tough alien viciously in the midsection, ensuring to leverage all his weight. The alien flew out of the room and hit the opposite wall. Ryan pulled his sword and lunged. The blade buried itself into the Xilozak and simultaneously through the communicator and into the opposite wall. Ryan in blind fury grabbed the Xilozak by the neck with his right hand and squeezed. Arm muscles rippled as his grip tightened. The Xilozak neck snapped with a final audible crack, and the alien went limp.

  Ryan withdrew the sword, now drenched in green blood, and disabled the molecular vibration.

  A soft shuffle behind him. He swung around, ready for another attacker.

  The woman had pulled herself upright, a mere shadow. He moved closer and she pushed away, eyes wide, body covered in filth and blood, tattered rags for clothes. A hard, cold look covered her face.

  Aviore? He flipped the helmet control to full opaque.

  She looked past him, eyes wide, body shaking uncontrollably. He reached for her, but she moved away. "No, it’s really me, you're safe now. Nobody's going to hurt you again. It's Ryan. I've come back for you - like I promised."

  "Can’t be, you're dead. You're not real." Her words were distant, gaze averted, dismissing him as an illusion.

  "She's in shock, Captain. Please note another Xilozak is coming down to your level."

  "Aviore! Aviore! Listen to me. I'm here - alive. No, you're not dreaming. You have to come with me. Do you understand?

  He didn't think she'd answer.

  "Ryan?"

  "Yes. It's Ryan. I'm here - for real."

  Her brown eyes turned to him, softened.

  “Is it you?”

  A single tear flowed down her cheek. Ryan reached over and wiped it away. "We have to go now." He picked her up, carried her out into the corridor and quickly stopped. Footsteps were echoing down the corridor - too close. He set her down gently. "Stay here."

  She grabbed his leg, tightly. "No, don't go, not again." Her voice was filled with sadness, desperation. He pulled her clutching hand free and yanked out his sidearm blaster. "You know how to use this, yes?"

  She nodded, and he placed it in her scarred hands. Without another word, he turned and ran down the corridor.

  The Xilozak had changed direction and was now walking down an adjoining corridor. A sound caught his attention. He turned in time to see the glint of steel as the sword buried itself into his chest. Ryan left the alien where he fell, then quickly moved up another level, to the bridge. He readied his rifle, stepped in and fired, relying totally upon his reflexes for aim. One of the crew managed to get a blast off and missed - but Ryan didn't. He made a final sweep over the bridge, selectively finishing off any alien left alive.

  Every airlock door shut simultaneously.

  "Gem?"

  "I've accessed the core. All locks are sealed, all hatches closed."

  “Bay doors?”

  “They are closing, but slowly.”

  "I've secured the bridge. What about the crew?"

  "Two crew are now coming up the turbo shaft."

  "Oh, really?"

  Ryan walked over to the door of the shaft, stepping slightly aside with his blaster leveled. As soon as the doors slid open, he fired. The unsuspecting crew couldn't even discharge their poised weapons.

  "Anymore, Gem?"

  "No. The ship is sealed, with no other crew."

  "You have found Aviore. She does not look well."

  “Prep the surgeon, Gem. Medical emergency. I'm bringing her in."

  * * *

  Ryan found Aviore lying on the corridor floor, the blaster still held tight in her hand. Her face pale, her breathing light and raspy.

  She watched him with a desperate stare.

  "It’s me. I’m going to bring you somewhere safe."

  As gently as possible, he wrapped his arms around her. He could feel her shaking. She was going into shock. Her eyes rolled up. The blaster fell to the floor.

  He was scared. "Gem, I have to get her out of here. How many troopers left outside the ship?"

  "Two that can be determined, possibly more. They are currently circling the perimeter."

  "I need some help. Where are the weapons stores?"

  "Fourth level storeroom off the main corridor."

  Kicking two dead Xilozaks out of the way, he stepped into the turbo shaft, arms full with his precious burden. With a free finger, he pressed the control console. They shot downwards at a dizzying speed. The turbo shuttle stopped at the fourth level. Its doors opened to an empty corridor.

  A short walk and he reached the armory. The room's walls were lined with arms of all types, the Xi-Empire’s weapons of murder and torture. He shifted Aviore over his shoulder and hoisted up a couple rifles with his free hand, then headed to the lower slave holding tanks.

  The Showmish were crammed into their cells so tight he wondered how they could breathe. He felt their reptilian eyes staring at him as he passed. Walking these corridors brought back memories. The foul smells, the darkness, the fear. He swore he could feel the bite of the whip on his back, the blood in his mouth. He turned quickly, to find no one. His imagination playing a fool's game.

  He found the master switch and flipped it with his elbow. Every door slid open simultaneously. The Showmish flooded out from all directions, relieved to be free. They all seemed unusually calm.

  Ryan stood amongst them, holding Aviore, waiting.

  "Gem, I need a Showmish translation through my external speakers.”

  “Everyone," he announced. "I have taken control of this ship. All the Xi-Empire troopers are dead and the airlocks secured. There are troopers still remaining outside - at the very least two, but probably more."

  A few of the Showmish moved into the outer corridors, checking for signs. Did they believe him? He tossed the extra rifles onto the floor.

  "I need help. I have to get back to my ship. I want to set a trap for them."

  A few reached down to grab the weapons.

  He continued on. "They do not know what has happened. As soon as I open the main lock, they will rush in. If they notice all of you out of your cells, they will come in shooting. This must be a complete surprise or someone will die. Do I have any volunteers to help me?"

  Two very large, tough-looking Showmish stepped forward. "We will help." announced the larger of the two. "Who, and what, are you?"

  Ryan realized they couldn't see him
through his helmet. It had automatically reset itself to combat parameters. He switched it over to full opaque.

  "I'm a human. I was a slave once, as well. You need to trust me. There is no time. Are you the appointed leaders?"

  They looked around at the group behind him, hissing menacingly. The others nodded acknowledgment. "Yes, we are the appointed."

  "Send your people up to the fourth level. Just off the main corridor, there is a weapons storeroom. There should be enough to outfit the lot of you. I hope you know how to use these things."

  The leader looked at him, a strange expression on his face, with its forehead crinkled over its eyes. On a human, one would call it a frown, but on a Showmish, it was pure guesswork.

  "We are not savages, human. We may live close to nature, but we have also developed advanced technologies that are well ahead of this Xi-Empire scourge."

  "Of course."

  "But that was before they came," said another. "They took all. Destroyed what they could not take. We lost everything during that time, our technology, our homes, our families."

  "They must be destroyed," the leader hissed, his teeth bared as his lips curled back. He reminded Ryan too much of a crocodile ready to pounce.

  A group of Showmish started up the corridor. "We will take care of the remaining Xi-scourge, Human. You can go to your ship, spare no more thought on this."

  "There are more. Four other slaverships," Ryan announced.

  "Do you know their positions?"

  "Yes."

  "We wish to converse with you more about this. Take care of your sick first."

  Ryan suddenly remembered the four other humans. He had been so worried about Aviore he had forgotten about them. He would have to get them himself. A Showmish might frighten them even more - unless they were all Signites. Regardless, Aviore was in a bad state. They would have to wait.

  "Four other humans have been captured, if you can, bring them to my ship."

  "Wait, Human!"

  An older looking Showmish female stepped forward. She was stout, no higher than a meter and a half, and slightly bent over. She held out her stubby arms.

  "Give her to me. She is not well. She will not survive the trip. You get your fellow humans. I will keep her safe until you return."

  Ryan looked down into those strange reptilian eyes. They were not at all like the eyes of a Xilozak. They were soft and warm, like the eyes of a grandmother who missed her grandchildren dreadfully.

  How strange to apply such a human trait to an alien. She means to help. Could he trust her?

  "Please. I know a little of the human kera. Her breaths are shallow. This cannot continue - her heart will arrest. I can help. I must help."

  Ryan felt for Aviore's heartbeat. It was weak, weaker than before.

  Maybe she could help.

  "Set her down. I will take care of her. I will not move her from this place. Go, get your people. She will be safe with me."

  Ryan yielded, lying her down as tenderly as possible. "Thank you. I'll only be a minute."

  He ran down the corridor, scarcely avoiding a collision with a weapon-toting Showmish. The maze of corridors seemed to wind on forever. Finally, he found the humans' cell. Surprisingly the four had remained waiting. He half-expected them to have attempted escape.

  When they saw him, they rose, excited looks upon their faces. One of them babbled Signite at him loudly.

  "Follow me," he ordered in Trinarieit, ignoring the obvious inquiry. They understood him well enough to obey. By the time they had made it back down to the fourth level, all the Showmish had disappeared. The only one left was the old female, who was sitting on the floor, awaiting his return. She was holding Aviore like a newborn and hissing to her softly. She spoke to him, this time in Trinarieit. "This one, she carries the mark of prominence. I have put her into hutah. She is resting in harmony now. But there are many injuries. A great healing is required. Do you need help?"

  "I have medical capabilities on my ship." He took a quick glance around, apprehensive of danger. A breeze blew down the corridor, ruffling Aviore's hair.

  "Carry no concern. We have already taken care of the scourge," she stated. "The danger has passed."

  Ryan did not need more urging. Taking Aviore in his arms, he turned to start out.

  "Gem, are there any more rovers heading back?"

  "One rover is now returning, although very slowly. I believe they are having mechanical problems."

  "Bring the ship to us then, quickly."

  "In-progress, Captain."

  He stopped and turned to the old female. "Tell your people another rover is on its way here."

  "That fact is already known, Human of Earth. We will not forget this."

  "You're welcome," he quickly turned and headed down the corridor to the outside.

  "My name is HishTar, and I will see you again," she called after him. It was not until Ryan had made his way down the airlock ramp did he realize what the old female had said. He had not told her that he was from Earth, just that he was human.

  No time to wonder about trivial things now.

  As they walked out to the clearing a tell-tale rumble echoed above as the Dancing Queen appeared overhead, its dark image fading in and out of the fog. The landing legs jutted out with a hydraulic whine as the ship settled onto the open field.

  "Gem, we'll follow the same procedure as last time."

  "Acknowledged."

  He turned to address the four Signites in Trinarieit while maintaining a brisk walk toward the ship. "This woman needs medical attention, just follow me up the cargo bay ramp and stay in the first bay until I come to get you. I will talk to all of you as soon as I can."

  They seemed to understand as they did as he instructed. Once they entered the cargo hold, they proceeded to sit down on the floor and rest. Ryan took Aviore directly through to the internal airlock and triggered the sterilization spray. It washed over them both. Aviore opened her eyes. She smiled weakly. He smiled back. Once in the ship, he laid her down on the floor and took off his helmet.

  "I have an automated medical bay to treat you. How do you feel?"

  She had lost a lot of blood. Her face was very pale. "I am not well," she whispered. "The old one, she helped me." She held up a swollen hand to touch his face. He picked her up and headed for the medical bay.

  Ziggy was waiting for them. The medical bay was a circular room, with the operating bed situated in its very center. The room was lit brightly with polished walls of stainless steel.

  Like a sentinel spider, the automated surgeon hung from the ceiling above the bed. A varied collection of arms and medical instruments jutted out from its spherical body in all directions.

  Its brain was independent of all other ship systems, a feature designed as a safety precaution, although it could interface into Gem's network, it acted autonomously. Gem could act as a consultant to the surgeon if it ever had difficulty making a decision, but that was a statistically low probability, considering all the medical knowledge that the Xeronian's had imported into its core memory.

  Swarms of telescopic lenses were nestled throughout the room, which aided the surgeon while it worked. The surrounding walls revealed a matrix of lines which subtly revealed the presence of drawers that reached up and through the ceiling. The surgeon could reach into any one of these drawers to retrieve required medical supplies or surgeon's tools.

  Ryan laid her on the medical bed and Ziggy helped him strip her down. What remained of her clothing were a few filthy rags which he discarded into the waste. They sponged her body clean with a sterilization fluid. The grime hid a massive collection of cuts, sores, and infections. A contorted swelling on her left ankle worried him. Ryan signaled the surgeon to start the scans while he finished off. The results came up on the monitor at the head of the bed. It read like a grocery list.

  Prognosis: CRITICAL: Immediate surgery required.

  The word CRITICAL blinked red on the monitor like a loudspeaker blaring in a closet. T
hings were far worse than he could have imagined. The surgeon dropped over her, anchoring its legs onto the side of the bed, and proceeded to make its first incision.

  "Captain, once we have the internal hemorrhaging under control she will be stabilized," Gem offered reassuringly.

  Ryan noted it in the back of his mind, but it did not make him feel any better. "Have you scanned all the viral composites?"

  "Yes. None are alien to me. All the infections will be treated successfully. Immunity agents and nanites are currently being injected into her bloodstream as we speak."

  “Parasites?”

  “They are also being flushed out. We have nanites developed to destroy the parasites identified within her.”

  Her face, no longer covered with the grime, revealed swelling and bruising to her cheeks. "What about her jaw?"

  "We will have to cut and reset the bone. The healing process will be accelerated once the corrections have been made. The damage to the spine will also be repaired through a similar treatment."

  Ryan was frustrated and angry. He had taken so long to find her. He clenched his fists tightly, containing the rage building inside him. What had they done to her?

  The surgeon moved swiftly, pausing only briefly to make adjustments to Aviore's prone body. Ryan watched it work, oblivious to everything around him.

  "Captain."

  "Captain."

  "Ryan."

  He broke from his trance. "Yes, Gem."

  "She would not have lasted another night on that slavership - you did find her in time."

  The surgeon began to fuse the epidermal incisions. It would not be long before it was finished. One more check on the monitors. They beeped in synchronous intervals with their displays.

  Ryan finally processed the words Gem had said. "Thanks, Gem."

  He took hold of her hand. It took all he had to fight off the tears welling up. The emotion ripped at his insides: guilt that he had not found her sooner, the fear, now lapsing that something could still go wrong, relief, and joy - the most unusual emotion of all. For all that she must have gone through, he could still marvel at her. She had this beautiful look of peace about her, even now, as she lay there. In the airlock, when she'd awakened. She had known this wasn't a dream. The old Showmish had pulled her out from the shock.