by Roxie Ray
The moment we had cleared Svante and were surrounded by the murky darkness of space, Terrox switched on the light speed engines. I reached out for Rosa, and she took my hand as the ship bucked slightly before zooming into light speed travel.
“Do you think Brags and Sophia will be all right?” Rosa asked me, keeping her voice low.
“Of course,” I assured her. “The Destroyer is a capable ship.”
“But they’re being followed.”
“They have enough ammunition to take down a small planet,” I told her. “You need not fear, my love. I have made sure they have enough protection and enough firepower to rely on should a space battle break out.”
Rosa took a deep breath and nodded. Her ability to care for others was intensely touching, and it only made me want to draw her to my chest and make sure she was being cared for, too. It seemed she had spent too much of her life being cast aside. I intended to correct that.
“There it is,” Brailin said excitedly. “The wormhole.”
Rosa took a step forward and squinted into the distance, but I knew it would be a few more minutes before her human eyes could catch sight of the wormhole in the far distance.
As we drew closer, my eyes started to pick up the finer details of the wormhole. From a distance it just looked like a silver circle, fanned by currents of electricity that hugged its edges. But as we got closer, I saw all those little nuances that made a wormhole both beautiful and dangerous.
I could see the flickering undertow of lashing crimsons and reds that looked like fire embers that had just gained traction. Every now and again, a current of energy that mimicked lightning flashed across the gaping hole. If you tried to look into the wormhole, all you could see was a midnight black expanse that gave little away. If you looked past its fiery façade, it almost looked peaceful.
“Oh wow,” Rosa breathed next to me. “I see it now. It looks terrifying.”
“We will have to move quickly,” Terrox said. “We need to make sure we’re not caught in the space rip-tide.”
“What’s a space rip-tide?” Rosa asked.
As if in answer to her question, lightning flashed across the wormhole’s center, illuminating space for the tiniest of moments and revealing a dead planet only a few hundred meters away.
“That is,” I said, glancing towards her.
“What happens if we get caught in it?” Rosa asked. I sensed the nerves in her tone.
“We die,” Terrox replied coolly, before I could stop him.
Rosa raised her eyebrows, and I flashed Terrox an annoyed glare that he didn’t see.
“It’s okay, my love,” I said. “There is an art to crossing wormholes, and you are among some of the finest commanders in the Zoloran Galaxy.”
“That’s a lot of pressure, boss,” Brailin said playfully.
I shook my head at him, aware that he was enjoying himself a little too much. “Get ready,” I told my protectors. “We need to cross soon.”
“Why soon?” Rosa asked, sensing there was more to my words.
“Wormholes are dangerous beasts,” I replied, unwilling to lie to her. “If you hover too close to it for too long, it saps away the life force of whatever it senses. That is why the planets and stars in this area of the galaxy are dead.”
Rosa looked concerned, but she still didn’t look scared. In fact, she looked at the wormhole like a beast she needed to slay.
“We’re ready,” Terrox nodded, glancing at the controls.
He glanced back at me, and I nodded. Rosa slipped her hand into mine as the engine screamed into high gear. I felt a pull as our bodies, along with the ship, zoomed through the wormhole. As we passed through it, light hit us from all sides like a missile strike, and we were forced to close our eyes. I pulled Rosa to me and pressed her face down against my chest.
When the intensity of the light dissipated, I glanced up, blinking my eyes open warily. We were surrounded by dark space that was similar to what we had just left behind. Yet it was unfamiliar in small, nuanced ways. The light of this galaxy was a deep blue as opposed to black, and the stars I could see shone instead of blinked.
“We made it,” I breathed with relief. “We’re in the Lyrae Galaxy.”
A strange sound caught my ears, and I turned my neck to the left. The relief died before it had a chance to grow any larger as my eyes fell on three large Sives ships hovering dangerously close to us.
“Sives,” I growled urgently.
“Fuck,” Comadin breathed. “How did they know?”
“They were here before us,” I said. “Which means they know where the Vuter is.”
“We need to get to it before they do,” Brailin said, jumping to his feet.
“It might be too late for that already,” I pointed out. “In any case, we won’t be able to go anywhere unless we go through them.”
Brailin and Comadin stared at the three Sives ships. “Then that’s exactly what we’ll do,” Comadin said, as he prepared the Zernike for attack.
Terrox moved to the right hand side of the control panel where an array of buttons that controlled the offensive artillery lay. He pressed the dispatch button to deploy the missile guns on either side of the ship. I looked towards either side of the Zernike, expecting to see the long guns moving out of their protective coverings and into open space so that they could fire easily, but nothing was happening.
I glanced at Terrox and saw that his face had turned pale and thin beads of sweat had formed on his brow.
“Terrox?”
“Something’s wrong,” he said urgently.
“What do you mean?” Brailin asked, hurrying to his side and pressing the dispatch button himself. “Fuck, why isn’t it working?”
“Something’s wrong,” Terrox said again, as his eyes rose up and landed on the three Sives ships that were now directly in front of us.
“They’re not firing,” Comadin observed. “Why aren’t they attacking us?”
“They already have,” Terrox breathed. “I can’t seem to access any of our offensive power. It’s like they’ve taken control of the ship and blocked us from using our own weapons.”
I pushed Terrox and Comadin out of the way and stared down at the control panel. I started pressing buttons with vigorous zeal, but I was met with the same silent indifference that Terrox had experienced.
“Fuck!” I roared. “How are they doing this?”
“Quatix,” Rosa said, her voice shaking slightly. “Their ships are getting closer.”
The Zernike was strong, but we had expected a space battle. Now that there was a breach in the ship, things were looking significantly worse for my crew and me.
A loud beep-beep sounded through the Zernike, and a red button at the top of the control panel started flashing erratically. I heard Rosa gasp as the sound of a blast echoed through the ship.
“What was that?” Rosa asked.
“They’ve breached the ship,” Terrox said, and his eyes spelled murder. “They’re inside.”
I turned to Comadin. “Alert the other protectors,” I instructed him. “Send a message to the Destroyer, put the Zernike on autopilot, and then meet us at the weapons vault. This is going to come down to hand to hand combat.”
I grabbed Rosa and moved out of the control room, taking care to use a route that would lead us away from the main entrances so that we would avoid the Sives until we were prepared to face off against them. Terrox and Brailin followed behind Rosa and I, their eyes sharp and watchful. I was aware of Rosa’s fast beating pulse, and again the thought struck me that I had intentionally brought her into this dangerous world.
Just before we turned the corner to the weapons vault, I held my hand out to stop everyone.
“Someone’s already there,” I said cautiously.
I pushed Rosa back behind Terrox, and then I veered around the corner with my fists at the ready. I stopped short when I came face to face with Voxor and Coran. Both were about to attack, as well, before they realized who I wa
s. All three of us dropped our fists in relief.
“It’s okay,” I said, before Terrox, Brailin, and Rosa came around the corner.
“You got Comadin’s message?” I asked.
“Yes, my Lord,” Voxor nodded. “The other protectors should be on their way, too. Has the ship really been breached?”
“I’m afraid so.” I nodded. “We’ll need to fight them off ourselves.”
“With pleasure,” Coran said, licking his lips.
Thankfully, the enemy had not managed to access the weapons vault yet. I pressed in my handprint to unlock the vault, and the moment the doors slid open, my protectors rushed inside. I took Rosa’s hand again and pulled her through the doors. I grabbed a blaster gun and a small, lightweight shield and pressed them into her hands.
“Quatix?” she asked uncomfortably.
“The gun is powerful but simple enough to use,” I told her quickly. “All you do is press this red button at the bottom of the gun barrel. Once it’s on, you can fire — just aim and press the trigger. Understood?”
For the first time since we’d started on this mission, Rosa looked scared. “I’ve never fired a gun before,” she said.
“I’m sorry, my love,” I said, urgency making my words fall flat. “I pray you will not have to use it tonight. But if you run into any Sives on the way to the escape pods, you will need to.”
Rosa frowned. “Escape pods?”
“You are not staying on this ship,” I said firmly, and this time my tone brooked no room for compromise. “You are getting out right now.”
“No —”
“This time you will not move me,” I said fiercely. “I should never have brought you on this mission at all.”
“Quatix — “
“No,” I said, refusing to let her speak.
I grabbed her face in both my hands and pulled her close so that our foreheads were touching. I heard the rest of my protectors arrive at the vault, but I did not spare them a glance.
“Listen to me. You are the most precious thing in my universe. I cannot see you hurt. You must leave, and you must do it now. Get on an escape pod and get as far away from the Zernike as possible. Then you can send a message through to Svante, and they will send a ship through the wormhole for you.”
“Quatix —”
Rosa sounded desperate and panicked, but I would not give in to her this time.
“Has Comadin arrived yet?” I asked.
Comadin moved forward. “I’m here, my King.”
I turned to him. “I charge you with the most important task of all. Get Rosa off this ship safely.”
Comadin seemed to stand a little taller. I knew he wouldn’t want to leave the fight to the rest of us, but I also knew he understood the significance of my choosing him to accompany Rosa off the ship and back to Svante.
He bowed low, and I turned to Rosa. “Do as Comadin tells you,” I said. “And if you see any Sives — kill them.”
I pressed my lips against hers, a kiss that was wrought with fear and pain and uncertainty. Perhaps that was why it tasted so sad.
“Now go,” I said, releasing her.
“No,” Rosa gasped, reaching out for me.
I nodded once to Comadin, and he grabbed Rosa around the waist. “Forgive me, my Queen,” he said as he pulled her out of the weapons vault.
It nearly broke me seeing her leave like that, but it was what was necessary to keep her alive, and that made it bearable. The moment she was gone, I turned to the Protectors. Terrox pushed a giant blaster gun into my hand, along with a Kelt shield.
I nodded to my men. “Let’s do this.”
There was a sense of camaraderie as we left the weapons vault. We were brothers in arms; we had fought many battles together, and each new battle fought only bound us closer together. I heard the sounds of explosions coming from the main solar. Of course the Sives would go straight there — it was the largest space in the ship, and it would allow them to draw us all out.
I held my hand up and turned to the Protectors. “Brailin, Galvanic, enter the solar from the west entrance on the second level. Doreno, Voxor, you go through the East entrance. You four can launch an ambush while the Sives are busy dealing with us.”
Brailin, Galvanic, Doreno, and Voxor left immediately, while I turned to the rest of my men. “Follow me.”
We moved cautiously, wary of lurking Sives down every new passageway we turned into. The ship seemed curiously empty of them, and I hoped that meant that Comadin and Rosa would have no problems getting to the escape pods without interference.
As we approached the main solar, I realized the circular automated door had been blasted apart. There was now a gaping hole surrounded by a heap of sharp shrapnel.
“They’re waiting for us,” I raged.
I walked straight into the solar where a motley collection of Sives awaited us. I counted three Valkredians, three Xehrulians, two Kroteians, and two Mana. I had four Svantians at my back, but even after Brailin and the rest joined us, we would still be outnumbered.
The fact that the Sives had so many different talents at their disposal posed another problem. The pale, fanged Valkredians had telekinetic abilities and dark, moth-like wings that were hidden from view at present. The Kroteians turned their three-eyed glare on me and ground their teeth in my direction. The Xehrulians were most similar to my people in appearance, but their long hair and distinctive markings set them apart. The Mana, small and innocuous as they looked, had elemental control of water and a sadistic nature.
The one thing they all had in common, however, were the full body suits they were all wearing. Black and bulky
“How nice of you to join us,” the smallest of the Mana said as he stepped forward. “This ship is now under the command of King Bis’er, commander of the Sives and Lord of the Galaxies.”
I raised my eyebrows. “King Bis’er?” I repeated incredulously. “He’s styling himself as a king?”
“He is truly worthy of the title,” the sycophantic Mana replied. “He is a true conqueror.”
“He is a coward without honor,” I snarled. “A true king fights with his warriors.”
“A true king does what he pleases,” the Mana replied.
“You speak of tyrants,” I mocked, noticing that Doreno and Voxor had just entered the second level balcony directly above the Sives. “Not kings.”
“Tyrant is the name the weak throw at strong rulers,” the Mana continued. “Allow me to school you in the universe’s greater truths.”
I rolled my eyes. “I hope all Mana don’t carry on as you do,” I said, catching Brailin and Galvanic approaching the balustrade, as well.
“Surrender, false king,” the Mana quipped. “Pledge your fealty to King Bis’er, hand over your kingdom and all its riches to him, and your life and the lives of your protectors will be spared.”
I glanced back at my men, and the lot of them burst out laughing. Their cackles bounced off the walls of the ship and allowed the four protectors on the top level to get even closer without being heard.
“Enough!” the Mana screamed, our laughter piercing through his superior façade. “How dare you —”
“How dare we?” I roared, the laughter sliding off my face. “How dare you! This is my fucking ship, and I’m about to take it back!”
On the last word, I charged forward, acting as the catalyst for the battle. The four protectors I had planted on the level above jumped down into the fray. Brailin and Galvanic fell on the shoulders of two of the three large Xehrulians, while Doreno and Voxor took on two of the Valkredians.
The plan worked as I had hoped it would. The Sives had not expected an attack from above, and they were taken by surprise. It allowed my four protectors and I to close in on the rest of the Sives while they were glancing behind them in shock. As a particularly brutish looking Xehrulian ran at me, I aimed my blaster gun at his chest and fired. The blaster bullet screamed through the air in a plume of red sparks and hit him just above his heart
.
The force of the hit should have caused significant injury, possibly even death, but as the blaster bullet hit him in the chest, the bodysuit he was wearing seemed to cancel out the effect of the bullet. It struck with force and pushed him back a few feet, but the explosion I was waiting for dissipated in his chest as though I had hit him with nothing more than pebbles.
The Xehrulian narrowed his eyes at me, a satisfied smile playing across his features. He straightened up and bounded toward me with frightening purpose. Gritting my teeth, I threw the blaster gun aside and balled my hands into fists.
He collided into me with the force of a dragon, but I was ready for him. I pivoted to the side and managed to grab him in a tight headlock. He struggled under my arm, but I pulled him tighter and used his weight as an anchor to strengthen the kicks I threw at his exposed stomach. He grunted low as he struggled to get out from under me, but I was furious, and that only made me stronger.
The fight waged around me,, and I only caught glimpses of my protectors, all of whom had abandoned their blaster guns. Terrox had one of the Valkredians by the wings, Voxor was trying to subdue both Mana, and Coran looked like he was getting the worst of it as he tried to push back a Kroteian who had him on the ground.
I was about to finish off the Xehrulian so that I could go to Coran’s aid, when I glimpsed the other Kroteian in my periphery. He was charging forward, all three of his dark, pinched eyes trained on me.
I wrapped my arms more firmly around the Xehrulian’s neck and twisted with all the force I could muster. I heard his neck snap, and his body went slack immediately. I shoved his dead body in the path of the approaching Kroteian, and he stumbled and fell, allowing me the opportunity to attack from his blind side.
He roared as I jumped onto his back and grabbed his jaw, forcing it upwards as I bore down on his spine. The sound of his spine shattering was like a metal coil breaking apart. I landed on the ground with the Kroteian’s body cushioning my fall.
Panting heavily, I straightened up and surveyed the fight. Terrox and Voxor were holding their own against their assailants; even Coran had managed to get the upper hand on the Mana he was fighting. It was Brailin who looked like he needed help. He was in the throes of battle with a hellish-looking Valkredian. The being’s wings flapped over Coran, pushing him back against a wall of the ship.