The Alien Library: Space Mercenaries # 5 (Wolf Cyborg)

by Galen Wolf

  "Like flies to a web," Severan said.

  "Except us. We're smarter than that."

  "I think we paid a heavy price for that knowledge."

  Gaijann nodded.

  His friend's face was set in a grim line. "We need to leave."

  "Roger that."

  They went through a room they hadn't seen before, but it was familiar from their connection with the Library's mind, and Gaijann recognized it as a version of the Room of Things Reversed. Here memories fell from the sky like flowers. The place was beautiful and light. They went through it as if they walked through an ancient garden of plum blossom and wisteria. The blooms of remembrance dropped around them like scented snow. Gaijann spat them out. He put down his visor to keep them off his face, but Severan allowed them to fall on him and he drank them in.

  They were halfway through the room, when Oriel appeared in front of Severan with the two children they had lost. She was young and smiling while Severan was scarred and heavy with the sorrow of the years.

  Gaijann stopped. He could see her too. Severan stood still in front of his dead wife.

  "You've been hurt," said Oriel - her voice entering directly into their minds.

  "I miss you," Severan said. "Every day."

  She smiled sadly, her brown eyes moist. She brushed back her chestnut hair from her face. "I can come back to you," she said. "It's not too late."

  Severan shook his head. "I chose otherwise."

  "You can choose again."

  Severan gripped the medallion of the Blind God so hard Gaijann thought he'd snap it.

  Oriel said, "If you had been willing to put us before your pride, Severan. We would live still."

  His great head bowed. "I know."

  "And now you are given the chance to repair the wrong you did. I can be with you." The two children were quiet. Their mother put her arms around their shoulders, holding them in tight. "Tell your father," she said. "Tell him to let us live again."

  The giant wavered.

  Gaijann whispered, "This isn't real Severan."

  Oriel noticed him for the first time. "Gaijann, you were a good loyal friend to us. You gave me away to him at our wedding."

  Gaijann shook his head. "I gave my friend Oriel away. Not you."

  She smiled at Gaijann. "And you loved me too."

  "That was a long time ago. Before you married Severan."

  "And when you heard I was dead, your heart broke. In the bars of a barren world you tried to drink yourself into oblivion because you could not bear living without me."

  Gaijann said, more quietly this time. "That's all true. But Oriel knew nothing of that. So you are not Oriel."

  Severan shook his head and put his hand gently on his friend's shoulder. "It's not her. Come."

  Gaijann couldn't look at his friend."I never loved her like you did."

  "It's all right. I knew anyway."

  "Sorry."

  "You can't tell your heart what to do. She inspired love. It's not your fault."

  Gaijann nodded and they both walked on.

  But the Library wasn't finished with them. In front of their eyes, the Ghazzali soldiers came again. Their harsh shouts, their mocking talk of religion: a religion of love that allowed them to rape and kill unbelievers. Gaijann saw Severan's face twist in grief. He was back there on the day his pride wouldn't let him yield to the Ghazzali.

  Gaijann was filled with rage. He yelled at the air. "You monstrous thing. How can you do this?"

  Severan walked on, his head bowed. He left the scene behind him where once again his wife and children were murdered and degraded. Gaijann caught up.

  The giant said, "The Library loves to drink our emotions. Our pain is like sweet wine to it. But I will not let it drink mine."

  They hurried through the room where sweet nostalgia still fell around them. Gaijann fought the alien emotions and thrust them from his consciousness as they invaded him. Severan walked purposely, through a blinding snowstorm of memory.

  Then another. Gaijann recognized the mellifluous pitch of her voice; her words like honey. Mehefin stood there, dressed in a blue gown. The hood was down and her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders. Her rainbow eyes were lit again, her lips soft and moist, her mouth half open as she watched Severan. "I can be yours," she said.

  The giant stopped. Gaijann clapped his hand on his friend's great back, pushing him forward, but the giant resisted. "For what price?" he said.

  "I only want your love," she said.

  "But you're not real," Severan said.

  "You don't understand," said Mehefin. "The Library has power over life and death. It can make the world different, and in this world I will be yours."

  Severan looked at her with his torn face.

  Gaijann touched his arm. "Please, Severan, let's leave this place."

  But Severan didn't move.

  Gaijann worried that the Library hadn't snared him with Oriel, but might succeed with Mehefin.

  Mehefin walked up to Severan and he didn't walk away. He let her take his hand. Gaijann saw his eyes were filled with tears. But his brow was lined and he shook as if under tremendous strain.

  "She's not real," hissed Gaijann. "Don't listen to her."

  Mehefin turned to Gaijann and snarled, "And what do you know, assassin? Don't you think I saw your eyes as you coveted me?"

  Gaijann shook his head. "I never wanted you."

  Mehefin's face softened. "If you love him, let him have his happiness." She put her hand to the giant's face and caressed it gently.

  Severan reached up and took her hand. He clutched it tenderly but removed it away from his face. He said, "I hoped that in you I could have had a new future. When I met you here, in this cursed place, for the first time since Oriel's death, I felt hope."

  She beseeched him. "You can have hope. The Library can give me life again. We can be together."

  "It's just milking you Severan," Gaijann hissed.

  Severan put up his hand gently to silence Gaijann. He said to Mehefin, "It's true. I truly believe the Library can make you live again."

  "Then, choose me." She stretched out her hand, but he didn't take it. Her face became troubled. Gaijann wondered to what extent this projection was really Mehefin. If she had been absorbed into the Library, then maybe it really was her - her soul even. Maybe she even had feelings: a ghost's despair and longing for what is lost.

  She said, "We can have that life, Severan. I can give you hope."

  He shook his head. "I have abandoned hope. I accept my fate. Come Gaijann."

  And the two men walked out of the cave in silence. Behind them Mehefin faded away for the last time. The Library would never have a use for her again and so she was forgotten.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: Reanimator

  They came to the shaft they had first descended. In front of them was the silver pool, strangely quiet now. Severan looked up at the staircase climbing out of sight in a spiral of stone.

  "I don't trust that," Severan said, indicating the pool as he walked past. As if in response, the sheen of silver rippled. "Let's hurry."

  "You go first up the steps?" Severan said.

  "Stealth's broken. But still. Sure."

  Gaijann stepped past him. Despite the healing, Severan moved stiffly, his leg lame and halting. Gaijann saw him look down at the stump here his artificial hand had been and saw his grimace.

  Gaijann was already many steps ahead. He advancing quickly upwards.

  Severan's armor was heavier than Gaijann's even in its degraded state. As he went up the steps, his breathing became more labored. Gaijann looked behind with concern but kept going, step after step. He couldn't see the top but he hoped that the Library had not sealed off the shaft in one final joke.

  "I need a rest," Severan yelled up.

  "Sure," Gaijann called back. "I'll just go ahead and scout."

  "Aren't you tired?"

  "Yes, but my desperation to leave this place is giving me energy."

&nb
sp; Severan sat down. He had the stolen rifle between his knees. He drifted off to sleep and awoke to the touch of Gaijann's hand on his shoulder.

  "It's not clear," said the assassin.

  "What?" Severan struggled to shake off sleep.

  "Some Kissag by the door. I guess they are the guard party left by the ones we killed below."

  "No communications systems work in here, so they won't know." Severan stood up. He hobbled as he began to climb the steps again.

  They stopped just before the top of the shaft. Then they crouched and sought shadows. Most likely the Kissag would have thermal imaging gear and high level acoustic detectors. Gaijann knew they were sitting ducks as soon as they came out unless they found cover quickly. The assassin took a chance, bobbed his head up, and looked. The ground level of the Library was familiar. They were so close to escaping, but a horde of armed Kissag stood between them and freedom. He started to move forward.

  "Quietly," Severan hissed.

  "Am I anything else?"

  The giant grinned and pointed to the huge book shelves behind them. "We move there. Me first, then I'll cover you."

  Severan crouched and ran as quietly as his huge armored frame would let him. He got to the book shelf and looked back for Gaijann. There was the sound of Kissag stirring. Searchlights went on and were aimed in their direction. They heard the metallic clicks of weapons being readied.

  "Gaijann," he whispered, looking around, seeing only the broad band of light that had flicked on between his position and the top of the shaft.

  Gaijann tapped the big man on his shoulder. He was already behind him. "As I said, I only do quiet."

  "We can't go forward," Severan said. "I don't want to go toe to toe with them."

  "Plan?"

  Severan pointed up. "Climb the shelves."

  "I like that idea."

  The assassin went first, clambering from shelf to shelf, doing his best not to disturb books. Inevitably some fell, either disintegrating or, if they were in better repair falling to the ground with a soft thump. The Kissag heard them and shone lights.

  Severan was halfway up the shelves and Gaijann was nearing the top. The shelves were maybe 60 feet high. The Kissag moved.

  Gaijann peered into the dark, thinking they'd be hard to spot, but the Kissag gave themselves away with the lights on their weapons and on their armor.

  Gaijann was on the top of the shelf. He leaned over and gave his hand for Severan to grasp. Severan waved his stump and whispered, "I've only got one hand. If I let go with that, I fall."

  But Gaijann grasped the injured limb and heaved Severan towards him. Then they were both on the top. The bookshelves were wide enough for three men to walk abreast. Severan pointed in the direction of the exit, and the waiting Kissag. The mercenaries moved forward. Gaijann looked down. The Kissag patrol that had been sent forward was directly below them. They were looking around, but not up. Quiet as they could, Severan and Gaijann made their way forward. They came to the end of the shelf. Severan looked at the gap - it was about 8 feet.

  "Can you make it?" Gaijann said.

  Severan shrugged. "In this state, I don't know."

  "Take off your armor. You don't need it now."

  Severan removed the heavy breastplate and set it down quietly. Then the shoulder armor and the bracers on his arms. "I'm lighter," he said but he pointed to his damaged leg. Then he looked down at the sixty foot drop. "Who do you worship again?" he said.

  "You know very well."

  "Just say her name."

  "Lady Luck."

  "Think she'll help an unbeliever?"

  "Oh yes, she loves a trier."

  "Let's go then."

  Gaijann jumped first, and landed safely, agile as a cat. He stood on the other side fumbling with his pack. Severan got ready to go but Gaijann put up his hand. "Hey, hey, let's even the odds a little." Gaijann reached into his pack and pulled out a length of c-s rope. He threw it to Severan. It hissed as it uncoiled and Severan snatched it with his good hand.

  "Tie it to you."

  "You got any of those pitons left? I could anchor the rope with those."

  "No," whispered Gaijann across the dark gap. "I only had two. And keep your voice down. Just jump."

  Severan shook his head. "No, I'll pull you down with me."

  "Only if you fall." Gaijann rolled his eyes. "Stop being your usual stubborn self and do what I say for once."

  Severan laughed. "Do what you say?"

  "That's it. Weird, I know. Just do it."

  "Okay," the giant said. He tied the rope firmly to his belt. He reached down and slung the rifle over his back using its carry strap.

  "Ready," Gaijann asked.

  "Yep." Severan jumped.

  Severan's boot caught the top of the opposite stack. He had purchase with his toes but then his boot slipped and he dropped. The rope jerked. As he went down, he snatched at the top of the shelf with his good hand and held. His feet slid uselessly against the smooth side of the shelf. Gaijann felt the rope take up the slack as he started to drag Severan up. The assassin winced - even with parts of him missing the giant was really heavy.

  The Kissag below heard the commotion and began barking and hissing. Beams of light shot up from below, illuminating Severan hanging there. An energy beam took a hole out of the shelf to his right.

  Gaijann saw the blackened pages of books smolder then catch. The hesitant flame gave his attackers more light on their target. A stream of automatic bullets smacked into the shelf above his head. Gaijann pulled Severan a further few inches. The giant shifted his grip by snatching at the top of the shelf and began to drag himself up with the fingers of his one hand. He let go and snatched again. Gaijann had the rope taut and he grunted as he took the giant's weight. Severan got his good hand on the top of the shelf and began to pull.

  Another burst of fire.

  Another energy beam ripped a hole in the stack beneath his left foot. The lizards couldn't keep missing. Severan slipped an inch, but then his foot found the hole that the beam had made. His toes went into it and found support. He pushed up with his foot and let go with his hand. Gaijann held him. Severan's palm slapped the top of the shelf. His fingers found holds and he pulled. The sinews of his forearm strained but he moved. Gaijann dragged him with all his strength until Severan's chest was on the top. He scrambled fully up and then he was safe. Bullets and beams cut uselessly into the side of the stack.

  "That was close."

  "Nah, I had you."

  "Always. Let's hurry. They know where we are."

  They ran along the top of the shelf in a half crouch. The next gap was narrower and both men made it easily. Then they raced along the next shelf top and they were almost at the door.

  There was a movement in the darkness above. Severan looked up.

  There were huge webs.

  Dangling from them, huge spiders moved like dancers on their multiple black legs. Multifaceted eyes stared down, a faint glow coming from them like the glow that comes off dead wood.

  Severan said, "I wonder whose nightmare the Library plucked those from?"

  "Mine, I think'"

  Severan put his hand on his friend's back. "Keep moving."

  They went forward a few yards and they heard a light thump as if something had landed on the shelf behind them. Severan turned and was faced with one of the spiders. Ahead, Gaijann was near the end of the shelf.

  "Get down at the end, Gaij," Severan said.

  "Sure."

  Severan looked behind him. The spider was advancing. Gaijann was about to go down the end, not realizing the spider was behind them. Gaijann peered down then straightened up. "Oh-oh."

  "What?"

  "Kissag climbing up."

  "There are spiders behind us."

  "And lizards in front. Nice."

  Just then there was the bright fire of an energy weapon, its flash illuminated Gaijann. Then came the heavy burst of kinetic weapons that were so close that he could hear the th
ump and whistle of the bullets. Gaijann drew his knife and was waiting for the Kissag to get to the top. He was back a foot or so, so that he was out of sight of the Kissag soldiers below.

  Severan turned then dropped to his knees. He took his rifle with his good hand on the trigger, using his hand-less limb to steady the weapon. The spider was scuttling and hurrying towards him. Severan gave a controlled burst and the spider shrieked. At the same time, the first Kissag to make it to the top of the shelf screamed as Gaijann stabbed him. Other spiders descended on their ropes of silk. Severan fired again. He had one more clip of ammunition after this one.

  Two Kissag came up at once and Gaijann wrestled with them. One false step and he'd fall. Severan turned and snap-fired at the Kissag's head. He hit, and then Gaijann had only one to deal with. He could do that.

  Severan turned back to the spider. One rushed him and he was knocked backwards. Its legs tried to seize him, its gaping mouth open below its mirror ball eyes. Severan fired into its mouth and it jerked back, squealing with a sound like air let out of a toy.

  He fired again. His clip was empty. He had a only a few seconds to reload before they were on him again.

  "How many down there?" he shouted to Gaijann.

  "Hundreds," Gaijann said. He heard his friend's labored breathing." Maybe, forty. Still too many," Gaijann said.

  Severan fitted the next full clip into his weapon with a click. Two spiders were coming, one hanging off the edge of the stack and scuttling along sideways. He shot at that one, making it pause. Then he righted his gun and gave a burst at the other. He retreated slowly backwards towards Gaijann. There were still energy beams coming from the Kissag below but they were wide.

  Gaijann heard a curious buzzing. He peered to see if it was the spiders. It wasn't. More curious. They had stopped dead as if they were listening for something. The buzzing got louder. It seemed to be coming from all sides. "What's that?" called Severan.

  "The humming sound? Don't know."

  The Kissag had stopped climbing.

  Gaijann looked into the darkness around him. He saw a swarm of small things gathering and whining in the air.

  "What's that - bees?" Severan asked.

  Gaijann shook his head. "No, they're smaller than bees, lots of them though."