by Jonah Wilson
Mykal rushed forward apologizing as he knocked a few people over. He darted into a hallway, hearing the small thud of a dart imbedding in the wall where he had been a second before. Okay, so now there are two hunters after me.
Orion glanced around the corner at where the new hunter had been perched. He didn’t see him at first, but then he looked toward the airlock. The two hunters were talking to each other.
The second was much shorter than the first and was pointing at the hallway where Mykal was hiding. Uh-Oh! Need to find somewhere to hide. Mykal thought as he ran down the hall. And why are the lights still flickering?
Chapter IV
In the Walls
Mykal sprinted down the hall, looking back to see if the hunters were behind him. When he looked forward again, he saw the last thing he thought he would see on Tofar Station.
There was a shepherd clothed in green leaning against the wall at the left turn in front of Orion. When she saw him, she tapped her staff against a panel in the wall which slid open. The shepherd then pointed the tip of her staff at Mykal and then towards the small opening.
Mykal wasn’t one to turn away a gift and dove inside. The panel then closed, trapping him inside. He heard the pounding of feet coming towards the other side of the panel. Mykal held his breath. The footsteps paused and then continued on through the turn. Finally, Mykal breathed easy.
Why were hunters after him? He hadn’t done anything to warrant this kind of pursuit. Since he couldn’t change the fact they were after him, he decided to see where he was. He tapped his gauntlet light and scanned the area.
The shepherd had led him into the vent system. Mykal, for once, was grateful for his smaller stature, because it would’ve been very cramped otherwise.
Since there didn’t appear to be anything that would open the panel from this side and because he thought it would be better to put as much distance between himself and the hunters as possible, Mykal started to crawl though the vents.
He took several turns, passing several vents which mostly led to empty rooms. For the few that were occupied, Mykal would turn off his light and crawl slowly by.
It was during one these times where he heard a familiar voice. Dr. Larso? Mykal stayed by the grate to listen to what he was saying.
“A little more to the left. There. Now set it down.” There was a slight thud and then a sigh from Larso. “Now you can go get food, make sure you leave the sauces off this time.”
There was a chittering of the Anthonion’s mandibles as the door opened and closed.
Mykal heard a click and Larso began talking. “Experiment Log 287. The subject is still complying with all that I ask of him. I now understand the Anthonion genome better than any other living being. The tests have shown an increase in strength and durability.
The Accord will have no issue once I show them my prototypes. But first, I need to proceed cautiously. There are those who would in their backwards idiocy, try to stop me. Once I present my research they won’t be able to touch me. My rivals may yet be scheming to steal my work, so I will be storing all my research on my person from now on.”
Mykal thought he might be finished when the lights flickered again. As if prodded by them, Larso continued.
“I am preparing to begin my final tests, using the material I have gained from the subject and what I have cultivated from the genetic bank on Arith. I expect no resistance from the first subject.
In fact, I believe he will thank me for ensuring the Anthonion legacy. I, however, will have inscribed my name for eternity as one of the greatest scientists the universe has ever known.”
Okay, so Larso definitely likes stroking his own ego. And it was weird that I happened to hear that. Wait a minute…
As he moved on, Mykal tried to recall what Ralon had said about the shepherds and their orders. White was for healing. The blue shepherds were mediators. The black and red orders were in some sort of counter balance thing. Ah yes, green, the color of the so called seers.
If Mykal were one to take stock in that, then he would think that the shepherd had meant for him to overhear Larso. The question was, did he believe in that? Mykal decided he would wait to decide whether or not it was coincidence or something else.
He had been debating the pros and cons in his mind so much, that he missed the fact that there was a drop in the vent and fell. Mykal managed to twist so that he would roll as he tried to activate his mag-locks.
He hit the grate before he could. The grate gave way easily and he rolled to his feet. Then he tried to take in his surroundings, but stopped in terror. He was face to face with a Dragof.
Chapter V
Nuri
Mykal looked up into the face of the Dragof, which was red with a bit of white in the center of its forehead. It sat on its hind legs with a winged tail that curled around its body.
“Now then, who are you?” It spoke in a gentle, yet powerful tone.
“Mykal. Mykal Orion.” Maybe I should have used a fake name. Mykal winced at himself.
“Hmmm, Mykal. That is a good name. Although I’m not sure if it suits you.”
Mykal crossed his arms. “What do you mean, doesn’t suit me?”
The Dragof tilted his head. “You were traveling through the vents, so you were probably hiding. Although given this station’s reputation, I shouldn’t be surprised. You are also rather scruffy.”
“You have a point there. And I am at somewhat of a disadvantage because you know my name and I don’t know yours.”
“Allow me to correct that, my name is Nuri.” He answered while bowing his head. “Now, how about you tell me what you were hiding from. And you should know that I have an excellent sense for the truth.”
“How did you develop that excellent sense?” Take the bait. Take the bait.
Nuri took the bait. “Actually, it was rather simple. I merely listened to those I know are truthful and wise. Then anything else, I consider the blathering of liars and fools.”
Mykal continued to lead Nuri away from how Mykal had gotten into his room. “But what if a fool makes a good point?”
“That’s when I add it to my PAD of miracles.” Nuri had a small chuckle at his own joke.
Mykal couldn’t resist. “So is it a miracle when you encounter a wise Bogmoor?”
Nuri frowned, as much as anyone with his snout could. “Most Bogmoor are actually quite wise in the areas of family and romance. It’s the ones that don’t care about those things that have given them a bad name.” The last part was spoken almost with a growl.
Orion tried quickly to change the subject. “Well, what do you think about humans?”
“Hmm, Ad’me Mykal, your race is one I am most intrigued by. I have talked with many, a small number of which I am pleased to count as my friends. I have also spent hours reading your history and your writers. There are many things I have observed about humans.”
He seemed to purr as he continued. “You have a great capability for compassion, a will to stand in the face of odds that could overwhelm, you possess an ingenuity that rivals all of the other races, and that spark that I know so well.”
Mykal let his smile show through, but Nuri stopped purring and looked at Mykal straight in the eye.
“I have also seen you humans be hypocrites, saying you’re the victim while attacking someone else. Self-centered to the point that many of you think that the world has to bend to your wishes. Susceptible to depths of stupidity that defy all logic.”
“You have given in to baseless hatred. Prejudice has held it’s sway over many of you. In your past, some of you have even destroyed that which you should have protected the most. I can continue, but I think you get my point.”
“And what point would that be?”
Nuri sighed. “That humans are capable of many great things, but they also have inflicted many travesties. Now, the questions you should endeavor to answer are ‘What can I do going forward?’ and ‘Who am I really hiding from?”
Uh-oh Mykal gul
ped. “So, you never really took the bait.”
“I decided to indulge you for a while, but I never forgot.”
A voice came over the speaker. “Nuri. We need to talk to you.”
“Ah, we have to cut this short Ad’me Mykal. It was fun having a discourse with you, but now you must be on your way.”
Mykal had never seen a creature of Nuri’s size move with such speed as he turned around and stuffed Mykal back into the vents with his tail. The vent panel slipped back on with a click as Nuri answered the door.
“Come in.”
Mykal watched as two humans walked in. The woman was fair skinned with shoulder length brown hair. The man was a few shades darker and had jet-black hair.
She spoke first. “Nuri, I want you to meet Lieutenant Andrei. He’ll be serving as our squad’s sniper.”
Nuri bowed his head graciously. “A pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant. I hope you are comfortable with this new position.”
“I had a 98% hit rate at the academy. If I can see it, I can hit it.” Andrei said with more than a touch of arrogance.
“The academy can teach you many things, but here in reality, you need to learn to think on your feet,” the woman said. “Now, do you have anything else you want to say to Nuri before I introduce you to the rest of the squad?”
“Yeah, why would a Dragof join Spec Ops? You aren’t exactly able to blend in.”
Nuri responded, “I wanted to see the universe and had some skill in surveillance and timing. Well that, and Command desired my physical attributes as well.”
Andrei hid a laugh and the woman gasped.
“Tavon said it lightened up my explanation on my extraction and suppression capabilities.” Nuri looked quizzically at the woman.
“Nuri, my friend, you need to work on the appropriate timing of your jokes.” The woman said as the lights flickered.
“What’s going on with the lights?” Andrei asked.
“That is why we are here. Any theories, Nuri?”
“I have thought of two likely possibilities, Commander Rebekka.” Nuri shifted to a more upright position. “The first is that someone is draining massive amounts of power at infrequent intervals.”
“We probably would have noticed that, but I’ll have Iceil check it out. Now, what’s your other theory?” Rebekka asked.
“The second is that the Quarzin in the Resonance apparatus is expiring.”
Andrei seemed incredulous. “How can Quarzin just expire?”
Nuri looked at him in bewilderment. “Do you mean no one has told you?”
“Told me what?”
“That the Quarzin which are used for Resonance are actually the dormant state of their race.”
“WHAT!? If they are a race, then shouldn’t they have a seat at the Accords?”
“Honestly, they have not joined because the Accords have not asked them to. Those that I have asked say that resonance feels like fulfilling their purpose. Thus they think they have no need of it.”
“How can you even communicate with them?” Andrei asked.
“There is small colony of Quarzin on Dragof. As one of the two other races we have allowed on our world, it was only natural to learn how to speak with them.”
Andrei shrugged. “Okay, so why would it be expiring?”
Nuri seemed to sigh heavily. “The Quarzin and my people are more alike than most think. Many are true innocents. But they are susceptible to the influence of those around them.”
“On our world, they stay in their pure white coloring, but in a place like this,” he gestured around him, “they may begin to cloud, until they turn black and their lives and the ability of resonance is gone from them.”
“It may seem cold, but couldn’t we send for a new one?” Andrei asked.
This time Rebekka answered. “Since the Quarzin grow, it would be too ingrained into the system to replace now.”
“Quite right, Commander Rebekka.” Nuri said. “We will need to find some other way of helping the Quarzin. I may have one, but it would be considered a long shot logically. What we can do is…”
Mykal tried to see why the Dragof would stop midsentence. Then he saw the Commander moving closer to the grate he was behind. Mykal moved like he was being chased by a Barthu Beast. He made it around the corner by the time the grate opened and he wasn’t going to wait around to find out if she would go after him.
Chapter VI
Not Again.
Mykal managed to find a supply room in what appeared to be a low traffic area of the station. He climbed out of the vent and stretched. Should be safe here for a while. Mykal sat against the wall and went over what had just transpired.
To recap, he was being hunted for an unknown reason, Dr. Larso was conducting some sort of weird experiment, the Accords personal attack dogs were on the station, and to top it off, the station’s power source was possibly dying.
“Quite a mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Mykal Orion.” That was what Ralon would say if she knew what was happening on the station. He smiled as he thought about what her advice would be.
“Chin up and stand up, Mykal. You’re an Orion now, and that comes with expectations. We Orions don’t quit and we don’t give in. Now use that brain you have and figure out a way to clean up this mess.”
Mykal bolted to his feet. We Orions. The hunters weren’t after him for something he had done. Whoever had hired them was after Ralon! They were going to try to use him as bait or for information. Probably both. Ralon would never abandon her crew or her… her son.
Mykal Orion had to find out who was behind this. Ralon had made more than a few enemies with her ‘pirating the pirates to give back to the people’ crusade. But who was it? Mykal decided to head for a DEC and see if he could find anything about recent underworld activity.
Orion opened the door and peered out. No one seemed to be paying attention, so he slipped out and looked around for an open DEC. He had finally spotted one and was heading towards it, when he noticed people backing away with looks of fear. Mykal turned around to see what they were looking at.
He had to look up again. The figure was cloaked in black and had the distinctive snout of a Wolven. Not again.
Mykal gulped and asked weakly, “You’re a hunter, right?”
The Wolven nodded.
“And you’re after me, Mykal Orion?”
The hunter nodded again.
Mykal saw what he needed.
“Are you sure you’re not open to negotiating?” Orion offered the Wolven one last chance.
It shook its head.
“Well don’t say I didn’t try.”
Mykal dove between the Wolven’s legs, taking a hold of the cloak and snagging the riveter in one fluid motion. He then fired several rivets through the cloak and into the floor, beaned the Wolven in the back with the riveter and ran for it.
He had made it a good twenty feet, when he heard the rip of fabric and the howl of the Wolven. He looked to see it chasing him on all fours. He didn’t trust his aim in such a crowded place, so he grabbed his rapier and extended it to full size.
He slowed and turned to strike at his hunter. Mykal’s blade was blocked by the Wolven’s own blade, a large hunting knife. Mykal drew back as the Wolven reached in its cloak to pull a few daggers out. The hunter threw them at Mykal, who ducked and rolled narrowly escaping getting hit.
Orion’s rapier blocked a downward blow from the hunting knife and so the dance began. Mykal would thrust his sword and Wolven would deflect it. The hunter would swing the knife in an arc and Orion would duck out of the way. As they clashed and disengaged, Mykal wondered how long it would take before security showed up.
As in response to his mental question, a bolter discharged, scorching the floor about two feet away from the combatants. Mykal looked at his rescuers, but his heart sank when he saw who had fired the bolter.
The first two hunters stood on the balcony, the armored one’s bolter aimed at Mykal. He could now see why it had such a la
rge holster. While the barrel wasn’t much bigger than that of Mykal’s own bolter, it had a one-sided blade attached to the bottom of it. The original hunter fired up his jet boots and flew to a stop in between the other hunter and the hunted.
Mykal tried to think of how to get away, but his mind was drawing a blank. So, he decided he could find out one thing to prepare him for his capture:
“Can I at least get the name of whoever hired you guys?”
“Didn’t leave a name.” The armored hunter said. “The only stipulation was that you arrive able to talk. Payment on delivery.”
Mykal looked at the third hunter, who simply nodded that there was the same deal there. Well, that hope was gone. So, might as well make it as hard as possible. Mykal rushed the armored hunter, his rapier meeting the hunter’s blade inches before it reached the hunter’s helmet.
Orion spun away and caught a blow from the Wolven with his blade. He switched from one opponent to the other with all the speed and skill that Ralon had trained into him over the years.
He would dodge left and strike right then do the reverse. Mykal activated his cloak, which while it was meant for camouflage, it could serve as a distraction in close quarters. He had found it to be an equalizer against all but the most experienced of swordsmen.
The Wolven began to flail wildly while the first hunter became a bit warier in his attacks. Orion was keeping up with both opponents, but he wouldn’t be able to keep up the pace for long. Sooner or later they would be able to catch him.
The thud on his back told him it was going to be sooner. Mykal fell down on the floor as the second hunter latched on. The claws told him it was another Wolven, but as the hunter proceeded to restrain him, Mykal saw a flash of a mark on its forearm.
Something clicked. The Wolven’s white fur had been burned away from a brand that told Mykal all he wanted to know.