Exploration

by Sarah Noffke

  Once he met up with Julianna, the two ducked through the hole he’d made.

  “Load up the ships! The operation has been compromised! I said now!” a voice called in the distance.

  Eddie ran through a darkened corridor toward a door filled with light that would surely empty out into the large warehouse.

  “Yes, I heard the blast. And the fleet says they’re under attack. Move faster!” the voice yelled again.

  “General Vas, this isn’t going to work,” a chilling voice said. Eddie halted, Julianna beside him. In the dark of the corridor, he could make out the whites of her eyes. Stopping whatever was about to happen was important. They were gearing up for something major. But Eddie’s mission was to collect the intelligence as well as stop them.

  “What do you mean? I’ve done everything you’ve asked,” the general said, his voice gruff.

  “And yet we still don’t have the third tri-rifle.”

  “Third,” mouthed Julianna to Eddie in the dark corridor.

  He nodded his head in understanding. Things just got a bit more interesting.

  “I’ll fix that. Just give me a chance. Don’t renege funding. We need it,” begged General Vas.

  “It might be too late for that. Charles just informed me there are intruders in the building.”

  Eddie shot Julianna a glance, who nodded her affirmation. He sprinted forward, pausing at the door, gun at the ready. Taking a short breath, Eddie swiveled around the door frame, throwing his gun out and aiming at the sight before him.

  “Freeze!”

  Soldiers everywhere paused and regarded Eddie and Julianna with mild interest. Overhead, the roof had retracted and ships streaked through the air, shooting at each other. A giant ship, twice the size of the Q-Ship, hovered just off the ground. Beside it, a Stingray, a little larger than the others, sat.

  On the ramp to the large ship, a man stood in a blue hat and a suit. He lowered his chin and seemed to smile when he laid eyes on Eddie and Julianna. “Well, well, well, look who has decided to join us. Bring me my gun?”

  “Who are you?” asked Eddie, swiveling his gun to General Vas who stood closer, a strange smirk on his face.

  “That’s not relevant. You were supposed to bring my tri-rifle. Well, someone was supposed to bring it,” the man said.

  “Men, apprehend them,” said General Vas to the Trid standing around him.

  Julianna fired her weapon in quick succession, and the three soldiers dropped one after the other. Everyone else froze, none of them with their guns at the ready.

  “Thing is, we came to apprehend you. Where are you keeping this arsenal of tri-rifles?” asked Julianna.

  “Good ears, Commander Fregin,” the man in the blue hat said, still grinning strangely.

  “Who are you and why are you working with the Trid and the Brotherhood?” asked Eddie.

  “Working with?” The man laughed, taking a step backwards. “That’s funny. I’m not working with them. They are working for me. You should have figured that out by now.”

  “For you?” questioned Julianna. “Why would they work for you?”

  “Why don’t you ask General Lance Reynolds that? I’m sure he’ll know why.” The man disappeared into the ship as it rose off the ground, the ramp closing. Eddie and Julianna slunk back from the heat of the boosters. At the same moment, General Vas climbed into the Stingray.

  “To the ship!” yelled Eddie.

  In unison, Julianna and Eddie spun around, racing toward the ship. Wind sprayed across Eddie’s face as the ship rose high into the air. The stranger’s ship was easily double the size of the Q-Ship.

  “Pip has the ship ready to go. It’s uncloaked,” said Julianna as they ran.

  “Perfect.” Eddie pushed forward faster, trying to keep pace with Julianna. They rounded into the alleyway, and he dived into the Q-Ship. When he was mostly in his seat, the ship rose off the ground and zoomed after the larger ship. Eddie flipped on a switch.

  “Carnivore, this is Black Beard. You read me?”

  “Copy,” Lars’ voice came over the speaker.

  “We’re taking off after a new spittle fuck.”

  “I see your position,” said Lars.

  “You see that Stingray that’s larger than the rest?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “That’s Vas. I need you to go after him. We need the fucking Trid alive.” Eddie took the ship in the path of the larger one. He needed to make up for lost time, which didn’t seem to be a problem. The Q-Ship was faster. And it could get even faster, if necessary.

  “You got it, sir.”

  Julianna leaned forward. “Just get a little closer and I’ll have a clear shot.”

  “A little closer? How about a lot?” Eddie ignited the thrusters, tilting the ship to the side, catching the jet stream. The Q-Ship sped forward. Now they were just behind the ship with the mystery man on it.

  “Pip can’t get a lock on the ship’s transmissions,” said Julianna.

  “Sounds like you’re going to have to shoot and ask questions later. No chance of surrender for this fuck head.” Eddie flew the Q-Ship upward, in quick pursuit.

  “Igniting rockets in three, two, one.” Julianna pulled back on the trigger, firing off a single rocket. It exploded several feet from the ship.

  “What the fuck was that?” asked Eddie.

  “The ship appears to have a barrier shield. I’m not able to get any information on the system data, though,” said Pip.

  “Fuck! That’s going to make this whole ass-kicking thing a bit more difficult,” said Eddie.

  “Drop us down. A lot of times those shields have a weak spot. Usually on the ship’s underside,” said Julianna, her eyes intently focused.

  “You got it.” Eddie pushed the throttle forward, dropping the ship down instantly as he turned the bow vertical. The bottom of the other ship came into view. Julianna fired off several rounds. They raced after the ship, tracking it. Each exploded before they connected with the target.

  “Damn it!” yelled Julianna.

  “I want one of those barrier shields,” said Eddie, impressed.

  “I’m currently sifting through all channels, not able to connect with the ship, nor can I find any usable information on how to bypass a barrier shield,” said Pip.

  “That just means you have to search harder,” implored Julianna.

  “In the meantime, we’ll have to keep trying from every angle.” Eddie pulled the ship up above the target. It didn’t move as swiftly as the Q-Ship.

  Julianna sent a barrage of rockets at the ship, but they exploded like the others. “I’m trying one of the missiles.”

  “That’s her way of saying she’s not playing around. Pip, get in there, already!”

  The missile sped in the direction of the ship, and then turned abruptly and raced in the opposite direction before exploding in the air. “Fuck! What’s up with that guy’s ship?” asked Eddie.

  “His defense network isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen,” said Julianna.

  “Well then, that just means we’re going to have to knock him out the old-fashioned way.” Eddie pulled back on the throttle taking the Q-Ship forward, it sped up, edging in quickly on the mysterious ship.

  “If you mess up this ship—”

  “Hatch will have my ass.” Eddie completed Julianna’s sentence. “But if I don’t use the Q-Ship to ram, then this guy is going to get away. You heard him, he’s apparently behind this all.”

  Eddie’s knuckles went white on the controls. The ship might have a barrier that protected it from an arsenal, but it couldn’t hold up against an attack by a large vehicle. Eddie pulled the Q-Ship alongside the enemy, preparing to knock him in the side. They were seconds away from exiting the Axiom 03’s atmosphere.

  “Why isn’t he trying harder to flee?” asked Eddie.

  “Because he knows we can’t touch him, maybe,” said Julianna, doubt in her tone.

  “Yeah, but he must know what we’re planning to
do.”

  “True, but we don’t know it will work. And the collision could have just as severe damage on us,” said Julianna.

  “I’m counting on it breaking down his barrier shield, and then it’s your turn, Strong Arm.”

  “I think that’s a good theory.”

  “Get ready for impact,” warned Eddie.

  “Ready,” called Julianna.

  He drew the controls to the side, and the Q-Ship pulled away slightly. Eddie was just about to yank the controls the opposite direction, and the Q-Ship into the side of the enemy, when he lost control over the Q-Ship. On its own, the Q-Ship slowed, pulling away from the enemy.

  “What the hell is going on?” asked Eddie, staring down at the controls.

  “I’ve taken control,” said Pip.

  Eddie was suddenly overwhelmed by his anger. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Or whatever it is you have?”

  “You can have the controls back, but I had to stop you before it was too late,” said Pip.

  The foreign ship was now far off, racing toward stars and moons and the great expansive space where it could hide forever.

  “Why did you do that?” asked Eddie, his face full of heat. He spun around to Julianna. “Did you authorize him to take over?”

  She shook her head, looking as confused as him. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

  And then the ship in front of them opened a gate and jumped right before their eyes, disappearing and leaving only empty space.

  Eddie banged his fist on the dash. “Well, fuck! Now we’ve definitely lost him.”

  Julianna flipped on the intercom. “Carnivore, do you have tail on General Vas?”

  “Yes, he’s just ahead of me. Given me the slip a few times, but I haven’t lost him yet,” said Lars.

  “Good work. Pip, grab Carnivore’s coordinates and reroute us to intersect,” said Julianna.

  It was a good thing that Julianna had momentarily taken over because Eddie was seeing red. Not in all his years flying had he ever had something like this happen. Pip, a fucking E.I., had ruined their chances of catching this guy. Even more infuriating was that he’d taken over the controls. He’d have to have Hatch disable Pip from the Q-Ship. This could never happen again.

  “We’ve got a lock on your position, Carnivore,” said Julianna.

  “I see you.” Lars flew close behind the large Stingray, which kept looping through the air, trying to use its speed to throw off the Black Eagle. Lars didn’t look as though he’d be easily dissuaded.

  “We might have lost the large ship, but we can still get Vas.” Julianna was trying to encourage Eddie out of his anger.

  “Yeah, good idea,” he said. “Carnivore, we’ve got this. Go back and fly over the Brotherhood. I want a report on what they’re planning.”

  “Copy,” said Lars.

  Eddie flew the Q-Ship closer to the Stingray. It was fast, but it didn’t have the arsenal that he did. “Pip, don’t fucking interfere this time. Got it?”

  “Vas is headed for Axiom’s second moon,” informed Pip like he hadn’t heard Eddie.

  “What’s on that moon? Can you get a read?” asked Julianna.

  “In process. Currently, it doesn’t appear to have any colonization, but I’ve found a foreign infrastructure.”

  “Find out more,” yelled Eddie.

  The Q-Ship followed easily behind the Stingray, catching it every time it feinted to the side and looped back the opposite direction.

  “Does this guy actually think this shit will work?” asked Eddie.

  “I don’t think so. Again, I get the feeling that we’re being set up,” said Julianna.

  “Then fire on the fucker.”

  “But we want the guy alive.”

  “So that you know where the artillery is that he’s been collecting,” said Pip.

  “Exactly.” Julianna pushed back into her seat, looking uncertain.

  “I think I’ve located it,” informed Pip.

  “You what? Where?” asked Eddie.

  “I believe that moon up ahead is stocked with Vas’s arsenal, which would include the other two tri-rifles, as well as many weapons of mass proportion,” said Pip.

  “I don’t get it,” said Julianna, her brow wrinkling. “Why would Vas lead us to their artillery?”

  Eddie jerked the Q-Ship to the side, following behind the Stingray.

  “I have a clear image of the weapons located on this moon. The tri-rifles are stored there as well as a missile launcher with three nuclear warheads,” said Pip.

  “Oh fuck!” Eddie pulled the Q-Ship back, giving the Stingray some distance. “It was a trap. I knew it.”

  “What’s the projectile on the launcher? Can it reach us?” asked Julianna.

  “Yes. I think that the launcher is warming up and should have a missile headed this way in only a few seconds,” said Pip.

  Eddie pulled the ship around. “I can out run a nuclear missile but it doesn’t mean I want to. Damn it! We’ve lost both Vas and mystery fuck head.”

  “The nuclear warhead has been launched,” informed Pip matter-of-factly.

  “Alright, hold on to your asses. This is going to be a bumpy ride,” said Eddie, shaking off the frustration.

  “Teach.” Julianna looked suddenly more serious than he’d ever seen her. “Hit the red button.”

  Eddie’s eyes swiveled down to the red button, the one that would jump the Q-Ship, only once, but it had that option. “Wait, you told me never to do that.”

  “I’m saying to do it now.”

  “But we are too close to that moon. If we jump right now then it will destroy the moon and…” Eddie trailed away as it dawned on him. The emergency gate jump would destroy the moon, Vas and all of the weapons used for mass destruction. Most importantly, they would jump to a safe location.

  “Exactly.”

  “Missile is in fast pursuit. It will make contact in fifteen seconds,” said Pip.

  Eddie typed a set of coordinates into the gate screen. Usually, it defaulted to the closest system, but it could be specified.

  “Ten seconds until impact,” warned Pip.

  “Relay our location to ArchAngel. Tell them to meet us at home, Pip.” Eddie didn’t take another moment to consider. He slammed his hand down on the red button. It stuck for a second, most likely due to not being used before. A bright red film covered the screen.

  “Gate sequence initiated,” said Eddie. “It will commence on my count. Five, four, three, two, one.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Q-Ship, Paladin System.

  It didn’t matter how many times Julianna had been on a ship when it passed through a gate, she never got used to it. The Q-Ship shook just before, rattling so loudly she wondered if it would split in half. This was the first time she’d ever been on a Q-Ship when it jumped. Usually, the drop ships didn’t have that kind of technology, but Hatch had created this one… Well, he’d created the first that this one was based upon.

  The Q-Ship disappeared. Julianna fell through blackness like suddenly being stuck in a dream. A bright light. A searing pain. A loud snap. And bam, she was floating through space, sitting on the Q-Ship like before. However, the planetary placements were definitely different here. The moon was gone.

  “Report, Pip,” she said, the anxiety in her voice palpable.

  “The jump was a success. We’re located in the Paladin system, just off Onyx station.”

  “Woohoo!” Julianna couldn’t believe the exclamation that fell from her lips, but it was a real possibility something lethal could have gone wrong.

  She turned to Eddie to find his face covered with lines she hadn’t seen before. He wiped his hand through his hair.

  “We did it, Teach! We’re alive.”

  He nodded, a sobering look in his eyes.

  She flipped on the comms, but it was slower to connect than before. “Carnivore, do you read me? Strong Arm here.”

  Static followed Lars’ reply, “I’m here, Strong Arm
.”

  “We had to open a gate. As soon as we are on board, we’ll have a transport ship sent for you. Stay low and out of trouble.”

  “Not going to be a problem.” Lars sounded dull, his voice disappointed.

  “Explain, Lieutenant.”

  “I circled back to observe the Brotherhood. I don’t know how, but they’d cleared out. More importantly, Commander Lytes was gone.”

  “Fuck.” Eddie slammed his fist down on the controls again. He wasn’t dealing well with this defeat.

  “We’ll find them. Stay on the radio and wait for word from the transport,” said Julianna before flipping the switch. She turned to Eddie when she was sure the radio had disconnected.

  “We destroyed the arsenal, Teach. That’s a great accomplishment. And Vas is dead. There’s no way he could have survived the blast that was created when we jumped so close to the moon. It would have obliterated everything,” said Julianna, trying to pull Eddie out of his disappointment.

  “Yeah, that’s something to celebrate. It’s just that we lost… Wait a second.” A strange expression covered his face followed by a dawning. “Jumps that happen in close proximity to other objects create a blast…so…”

  “Right,” Julianna drew out the one word. “That’s common knowledge. That’s why we jumped close to the moon, to destroy it and Vas.”

  “Pip, did you know that the enemy ship was about to open a gate?” asked Eddie.

  “No, I didn’t, in fact, know that the ship was about to jump. As I reported, I couldn’t connect with the enemy ship,” said Pip.

  “However, you took over the controls and pulled us far enough away from the ship that we weren’t affected when it jumped.” Eddie drew his chin up, like looking for Pip, which was impossible.

  “That is correct.”

  “Why did you do that?” asked Eddie.

  “Because… I had an inclination that something was about to happen. You might say a gut feeling.”

  “Pip, I do believe that we can credit your gut feeling with why Teach and I are still alive.”

  Eddie wiped his hand across his forehead. “It’s true. I was pissed. Fucking pissed. However, now that I look back, if we would have pursued that ship, then what happened to Vas would have happened to us. Easily.”