by T. R. Harris
“So I can get my ships back?”
“And the service crew?” Riyad added again.
“The documents are being prepared even now.”
“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”
Manis leaned forward, her eyes burning. “As I said, we have a complete record on you, Copernicus Smith. We know you are involved with the cartels. You and your crews are not welcome in Affiliation space, and neither are your so-called celebrities. You should be aware that I informed the local Juirean authorities of your presence here prior to our meeting. Although Visidor has no cause for incarceration, that is not to say the Juireans would not.”
“And why would they do that?” Riyad asked. “The Juireans and the Humans—”
“Are on the brink of war. Everyone knows that. And with recent actions by the Juireans, you are in Expansion territory without authorization.”
Adam blinked hard when the words sank in. “Authorization? What are you talking about? This is the Frontier; it borders the Union. We have every right to be here.”
“Now it is you who are ill-informed. The announcement has been made, and Visidor was instrumental in bringing about the annexation. The Kidis Frontier is now part of the Expansion.”
“Bullshit!” said Copernicus. The reaction by the Visidoran was like all other aliens when first hearing the translation of the word. “When did this happen?”
“Only two days prior,” answered Manis, shrugging off her confusion.
Riyad rose from his seat. “Then we best be leaving before the mane-heads arrive.” He locked eyes with Marshal Manis. “You’re not going to try to keep us here until they arrive, are you?” The implied threat was obvious.
“You stand upon my world, Human,” said Manis with a thin grin. “You arrived without interference; leaving it may not be as simple.”
Adam led the Humans to the conference room door. He threw it open wide—and ran headlong into the armored chest of a much taller creature. Looking up, he met the yellow eyes of a white-haired Juirean Overlord. A quick survey to the left and right revealed eight other Juireans crowding the hallway, weapons drawn.
“They are set on level-1, Human,” said the Overlord, referring to the power setting on the flash weapons. “You see, we have learned much since the last time Juireans and Humans were in conflict.”
Adam matched the alien’s look of amusement. “That you have,” he said. “But you still seem to have missed the most important lesson of all.”
The seven-foot tall Juirean frowned. “And what might that be?”
Adam smiled, exposing a full set of pearly-white teeth. “Just a very simple truth: You don’t mess the Humans.”
Chapter 7
Adam’s statement to the Overlord went over about as well as expected. With a wicked smirk, he allowed his guards to work over the three Humans in a rather rude and savage way before shoving the bloodied and bruised trio into the back of an armored truck for transport to the closest prison facility.
The Visidoran official had already mentioned its name: Fasnis.
The journey took two hours, and although there were no windows in the back of the transport, Adam could tell they had left the paved road almost immediately outside the city and were now slogging through mud and snow, traversing the Visidoran landscape.
Before leaving the Judiciary Building, each of the Humans had been fitted with thick collars, with a brief explanation that they were both trackers and restraints, capable of delivering a debilitating electric shock should they become unruly or try to escape. None of them were in any condition to test the effectiveness of the collars, at least not yet. Instead, they spent the bumpy ride nursing their wounds and trying to come to grips with the new paradigm the galaxy had apparently entered.
Being alone in the back of the truck, they spoke freely. “What the hell, it only took us two days to get here,” Riyad said. “And now we’re essentially at war with the Juireans?”
“Maybe we should have been watching the news during the trip,” Copernicus commented. “I saw this coming.”
“You did?” Adam queried.
“Yeah, ever since the mane-heads got serious about annexation. That started about the same time you and your buddies left on your all-inclusive Sol-Kor vacation. Since then it’s been pretty tense around here.”
“But annexation?” Adam countered. “Something more than a bunch of political maneuvering must have happened. Earth isn’t going to stand still for this.” He looked at his two companions. “Anyone seriously hurt?”
“I’m fine,” Riyad said. “Looks worse than it is.”
“I think I broke a fingernail,” Copernicus replied, while closely surveying his right hand. “The bastards!” Then he smiled. “I know for the two of you this is old hat, but that’s the first time I’ve had a fight with a Juirean.”
“That wasn’t really a fight, not with eight of them using us as punching bags,” said Adam. “Next time it’ll be different, that I promise.”
“So what’s the plan?” Riyad asked.
“I heard them say we’re being taken to the same place they’re holding Kaylor and Jym. The plan? Simple. We take over the place, free ourselves and our friends. Then we wreak havoc on the rest of the planet and make our escape.”
“So…standard operating procedure?” Riyad said as he slumped back on the bench and closed his eyes. “Good. Wake me when it’s time to go to work.”
Copernicus shifted his gaze between his fellow prisoners. “Of course, you’re not serious? Did you forget about the collars were wearing?”
“We haven’t forgotten,” Adam said. “In fact, I kind of like the look. This could be the next big fashion craze back on Earth. After all, we are Cain and Tarazi. We’re famous!”
“You’re also crazy.”
“Yeah…that, too.”
Chapter 8
“What is it with you men?” Sherri screeched. “Can’t you spend a week without declaring war on someone?”
“Hey don’t blame us,” Tobias snapped. “We didn’t start this. And we’re not at war…not yet. But now we have bigger problems.”
Sherri blinked. “What do you mean?”
“We’re stuck here, and Hollingsworth thinks we’re going to become high-value targets.”
“The Juireans will seek to kill us?” Arieel asked. “I am a Formilian, and to be re-appointed the leader of my people. They wouldn’t dare.”
“Their beef is with the Human, Arieel. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“Their beef—I do not understand?”
“Their gripe, their problem.”
“I will protest!”
“I appreciate that, but it may be too little too late. The Juireans are in the process of rounding up and expelling all the Humans in the Frontier, or at least those that can’t be used for propaganda purposes.”
“So that leaves us stranded here on Panur’s stinking planet,” Sherri growled.
“Hollingsworth doesn’t want to risk sending a Human task force to get us, and he thinks us heading out in one of the small local ships would be too dangerous. He recommends we find someplace safe to hide and ride this out.”
“What about Adam and Riyad?”
“I haven’t heard from them,” Tobias replied. “I’ll make contact and tell them to stay put, at least until we know what we’re up against.”
“This is just great!” Sherri said, waving her arms in the air. “And here we made a bid deal announcing our return to the Milky Way, including where we’re staying.”
Andy was just as frustrated as Sherri, even more so. But he understood Hollingsworth’s caution. “We’ll stay in the palace until we find some place safer. The natives are on our side…for the time being. We’ll see how long that lasts if the Juireans come looking for us.”
Sherri shifted her gaze at Benefis Na, the flatulent former Juirean Overlord.
“Speaking of Juireans…what about him?”
“Me?”
“Bene
fis is cool,” Andy said.
“You expect me to betray you to by brothers?”
“You said it; they’re your brothers.”
“But not my friends. You are my friends.”
Andy watched as Sherri locker her fierce gaze on the Juirean. “We’ll see how long that lasts when they show up at our door,” Sherri growled.
“Chill out, Sherri. For now, Benefis is part of the team.”
Tobias looked around the room, sizing up his assets.
“Benefis, we still have CW communications, so get on the horn with your people and see if they know anything more about what the Juireans are planning.”
“You wish me to get on a…a horn?”
“Make a call, a link.” Tobias resisted adding ‘you idiot’ to the end of the sentence, needing the alien as an ally, not an enemy. He turned to the Formilian. “Arieel, it looks like you’re stuck here, too. Your ride back to Formil has been canceled. But call your contacts, as well. We need information, people. In the meantime, I’ll contact Cain and Tarazi.”
“What about me?” Sherri asked.
“You do…whatever the hell you want. You’re going to anyway.”
Chapter 9
“So much for using Cain and Tarazi to free the cartel ship.” Nurion looked from the report he had been reading to glare at the face of the Silean on the CW comm screen.
Onix Gru was not his jovial self. Since his last conversation with the Point-Operator of MK Weapons System, he had reevaluated his place in the scheme of things and found it to be untenable at best. He let Nurion vent.
The room where Nurion sat began to shake.
“Another rumbling?” Onix asked.
Nurion gnashed his teeth. “To borrow a phrase from the Humans, fuck the rumblings! They are of no concern. Focus on what is important, Onix. It says here the Visidorans did not find anything aboard, at least nothing of note. We have been acting upon your intelligence. Where is the artifact?”
“My sources say it was aboard the ship when it departed Incus. It must be well-hidden.”
“That is one option. Or it is not aboard. You are the one who claims to be connected to the Frontier, to know all that goes on there. It was your reporting that even alerted us to its existence. Yet as far as I can tell, the prototype could be simply a fantasy within your mind, used to entice MK to lavish even more credits upon you. As a Silean, I would not put that past you.”
“It exists!” Onix defended. It was one thing to not be of value to the Point-Operator. It was another thing to be accused of defrauding him. “You have seen the evidence.”
“Evidence you provided.”
“What do you wish of me?”
“I wish you to recover the prototype and deliver it to me. Is that too hard to understand?”
“That is what I am attempting to do. The Human has been given ample incentive to recover his vessels. What has happened on Visidor is just a temporary setback.”
“And what of this coming war? How will that affect the Human’s chance of success?”
“He has not failed me in the past. The Humans have only recently been detained on Visidor. They are quite resourceful.”
“I am aware of that, yet if you are correct, and such a device exists, then I must have it. If not, then MK will suffer, and as a consequence, so will you.”
“I will report back as the situation evolves,” Onix said, only a moment before Nurion cut the link.
The huge Silean leaned back in his creaking chair. “Such an orifice,” he mumbled. Then he continued talking to the empty room. “He failed to mention that if MK suffers, he shall, too. He may try to blame me, but others will hold him responsible. At that point, even if he wanted to punish me, he would not be in a position to do so.”
But then he pursed his fat lips. “It is all up to Adam Cain now. And he is not even aware.”
********
“Are you sure it was Adam Cain?”
“Yes, my Elder. I cross-checked all references. He is traveling with Rayard Tarazi,” Senior Overlord Daven Kri reported.
“It is pronounced Ree-odd,” Synnoc corrected. “You have them secured?”
“They have just arrived at the local prison facility.”
“Why are they on Visidor?”
“The native enforcement officer said it is to assist in the release of a service repair crew and the ship they were towing at the time it was confiscated.”
“What ship?”
“It was rumored to be a smuggler’s vessel belonging to the Gradis Cartel, yet no contraband was found aboard.”
Synnoc looked out the west windows of his office, which sat at the very pinnacle of the Malor Pyramid on Juir. His desk was located near the west side of the completely glassed-in room. An oddly-shaped conference table was placed at the center. The layout was a duplicate of the Elder’s Chambers dating back over two thousand years. Synnoc strove to maintain the ancient traditions wherever possible. It was important for the Juireans to regain the pride they once had, before the Kracori ravaged their home planet and the Humans racked up military victory after military victory on their way to defeating both the Juireans and Kracori in the battle of the Dysion Void.
That was years ago, when the tiny pink creatures had just made their appearance in galactic affairs. Since then, the Humans had gained even more respect with their efforts against the Sol-Kor. Synnoc’s predecessors had underestimated the Earthlings in the past. This time it would be different.
“Take possession of the ship, Overlord,” Synnoc ordered. “Conduct your own search. If nothing is found, then place a tracking device aboard the vessel.”
“I do not understand, my Lord. Cain and Tarazi are in custody. The ship is not going anywhere.”
“You must refresh your research regarding these two particular Humans,” Synnoc said. “I doubt highly if the Visidorans will be able to keep them restrained for long.”
“Then…should we not assist?” Daven asked.
Synnoc grinned. “No. Let the Visidorans learn on their own what it means to interact with the Humans. I understand they have had very little contact with them in the past.”
“You wish them to escape—and with the Gradis vessel?’
“It is not my wish, just my belief, that it will come to pass on its own. With the tracker aboard, we may eventually learn what importance the ship holds for the Humans, information I am sure they would not be willing to divulge if asked directly.”
“We could—”
“You could follow my orders, Overlord.”
“Yes…of course, my Elder!”
“That is better. Monitor the situation at the prison, yet do not interfere.”
“As you command.”
Chapter 10
With the collar restraints around their necks, the Visidorans felt confident enough in the security device’s deterrent abilities to leave the Human’s hands and feet unbound. When the rear door to the transport vehicle swung open, the trio climbed out without too much effort, except for the after-effects of the beating they’d taken, which seemed to have intensified the longer they sat immobile in the back of the truck.
It was nearing dusk, yet with enough remaining light for Adam to get a good look at the layout of the prison compound. Like the city of Swiv, the prison was surrounded by a series of tall towers with silver globes resting on top, electric deterrents against invading creatures from the jungle, if not the growth. However, the encroachment of the jungle vegetation—unlike in the city—was managed by physical labor in the form of prisoner work crews, made up mostly of natives with a few aliens thrown. They were waging a never-ending war with the aggressive growth, as guards sat in dual-tracked crawlers watching their sweating charges use hand-held trimmers to attack the stubborn foliage. But no sooner had a section of jungle been beat back, then a recently cleared area was once again overrun. The workers would then shift back to the first section and began the process over again. Adam reasoned that the jungle didn’t stop growing at ni
ght, so the process had to be a twenty-four/seven affair.
A squad of short guards began herding Adam, Riyad and Copernicus toward one of the many identical buildings located at the center of the clearing. There were no walls enclosing the compound, just a wide buffer of cleared mud between the structures and the jungle.
A loud growl blasted out from the jungle shadows. Everyone stopped in their tracks, including the guards. Without warning, the huge, fanged head of a savage-looking beast appeared from the fronds. The head was easily twenty feet long and ten high, with a tangle of long, white teeth—each measuring a foot long—jutting from an extended mouth.
In the blink of an eye, two of the native workers were snatched up by the beast. The massive head angled upwards as the mouth opened wider, sending the unfortunate victims sliding down the long throat, their cries of pain and panic cut off as the mouth suddenly clamped shut.
A series of brilliant flashes lit up the evening gloom, shooting out from two of the balls resting atop the thin towers. Crackling bolts of electricity converged on the head of the beast, causing its smallish yellows eyes to open wide, while a loud, painful roar erupted from its throat. The dinosaur stumbled and fell back into the jungle, the bolts of electricity still connected to the writhing body. But then it rolled over, regained its feet, and dashed off into the darkness.
Adam could both hear and feel the stomping of the creature as it fled deeper into the jungle, having survived the shock.
“That’s not something you see every day,” Riyad said calmly.
“Look at the guards and the prisoners,” said Copernicus. “It’s like nothing happened.”
He was right. After only a brief pause, the guards began ordering the prisoners back to work, as another cart raced off toward the building Adam and his group were nearing, ostensibly to collect replacements for the prisoners who had just been eaten.
“You will soon join the clearing crews,” said one of the squatty guards. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, as if the recent event had stirred her sexually.