Alien Outcast

by Tracy St. John

  * * * *

  Nako whooped with glee as the weapons command center he manned displayed the demise of a hunter-killer he’d attacked. There was no room for celebration, however, not with shots coming in from all sides. With the death ship’s disappearance, chaos reigned, and Nako had his hands full getting the raider out of harm’s way.

  Atar reported, “The Basma’s fleet is breaking away, Captain. They’re retreating from the fight.”

  “I should have known that fucker would give up too easily.”

  However, Maf’s withdrawal gave Nako’s raider some breathing room. Most of the hunter-killers chased after the fleeing vessels, while others went into a search pattern, no doubt trying to find their missing death ship.

  Nako eyed his readouts. The engine that had been operating at half power had quit entirely. Hull breaches were reported near the shuttle bay and the already useless dining hall. He’d lost three of his five blaster arrays during the fight.

  “Helm, keep your sensors peeled for the death ship. If it comes out of phase, tell me immediately. Meanwhile, take us out of the Bi’isils’ firing range and keep us there so we can get finish getting those hull breaches sealed and at least one more weapons array on line.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Nako contemplated his next move. As long as the death ship remained in phase, he didn’t have to risk the raider to defend it. Terig had hoped that once it was out of sight, he’d be able to wrest control of it from the Bi’isils. If possible, he’d fly it to the Boneyard, the fleet’s salvage station in the remote corner of Empire territory near Galactic Council space. With scant colonies in that sector, it was the safest place within the empire’s borders for the deadly cargo.

  Nako studied the heading Maf’s fleet had taken, frowning over what he saw. The vessels weren’t heading back to the Laro Station area, as he’d supposed they would. Instead, they were going deeper into Bi’isil space. What was that lunatic up to now?

  The floor beneath his feet shook at the same instant multiple thuds rent the air. Sirens went off, warning of the strike. He bent to the weapons command podium.

  “Damn you, Maf. You are a petty bastard to send a fighter after me.” Nako triggered a barrage of blaster fire at the single-man attacker. He cursed as the shots went wide. The fighter had targeted his weapons lock and knocked it out.

  “Com coming in from the fighter. Audio only.”

  “Pipe it in. While the idiot’s taunting me, I’ll recalibrate and spread his carcass through the system.”

  “Com open.”

  Instead of some fool insulting him, Nako’s ears were greeted by high-pitched cackling. As he worked the weapons lock, he bellowed, “Who is the fool who demands I kill him today?”

  “Kill me? Good luck with that, Captain.” A female’s purring voice responded, shocking him into staring open-mouthed at the com speaker set in the ceiling. “In my experience, Nobeks, including dual-breed Nobeks, have always had bad aim.”

  “Matara Feyom?”

  “Surprise, asshole. I’m going to serve up your carcass to the Basma for phasing those infected Earther cunts.”

  “Matara, they don’t deserve to die.”

  Atar broke in. “She’s closed the com channel, Captain.”

  The fighter opened fire again, but Atar evaded her as she swooped past. He glanced at Nako. “She’s coming around for another pass.”

  “Shit.” He had the weapons lock online once more but hesitated to use it. “Is she going to force me to kill a woman?”

  “She is a traitor, Captain. And not an honorable woman for all her good looks. You should blast her into bits.”

  Nako regarded Atar with surprise. “You hold strong opinions about this.”

  “She belongs to my uncles’ clan. Trust me, Captain, the family wouldn’t miss her.”

  “This universe has come to an ugly pass when I’m lauding Tragooms and shooting at females.”

  “She’s not giving you a choice. She’s homing in, targeting our engines.”

  Nako managed to aim just right when Feyom came within range, disabling the fighter without destroying it. Atar opened the com so Nako could hear the litany of abuse she unleashed.

  After a few seconds, the Dramok said, “Shut her off. To my knowledge, she hasn’t met my parents, so I doubt she can cast such judgments on them. And my cocks are much bigger than she supposes.”

  “I don’t remember ever hearing such profane language, even after five years on this raider.” Atar looked amused. “Are we leaving Feyom here to rot, Captain?”

  “I suppose we should take her on board. Otherwise, she might end up with a Bi’isil collar.”

  “I won’t tell if you don’t. Though I hate to feel this level of sympathy for Bi’is.”

  “Fuck, you’re a cold bastard, Atar. Is she really that bad?”

  An arched eyebrow was the only answer his crewman offered.

  Nako snorted. “We’re picking up your kinswoman. Have a team dispatched to the bay and give Sesin an undeserved thrill by tossing her in the brig.”

  “Moving to intercept and collect the fighter. Captain, I read three hunter-killers heading in our direction. They’ll be within firing range in two minutes.”

  “Is there any sign of the death ship?”

  “None. The transport is still phased. Maybe the weapons commander and his team have taken control of the vessel as we hoped they would.”

  It brought Nako to a decision. “I hate being a spectator. Let’s chase down Maf and see where the fuck he’s going.” To ignoble death, if he had any say in the matter.

  The door behind him opened. Normally, Nako didn’t mark the comings and goings on the bridge, but a familiar heavy thud—notable on a craft crewed by silently-moving Nobeks—got his attention.

  As expected, Ulof stood near the entrance. What wasn’t expected was Piper there next to him. She gazed in fascination at the operation stations and large vids at the front of the space before looking at Nako. She smiled, and he warmed at her regard.

  “We can leave if you prefer, Captain.” Knowing they were heading into a fight and that he had no business stepping into the command post at such a precarious moment, Ulof readied to yank Piper out at a moment’s notice.

  Piper quickly added, “I asked to come. I hate not knowing what’s going on. And I—I wanted to make sure you’re all right.”

  Nako’s heart swelled, warning him he was in danger of reacting in a sentimental fashion. He scowled. “You can stay, as long as you don’t get in the way.”

  Piper’s wink told him she wasn’t fooled by his brusque demeanor. Ulof grinned. Nako huffed and returned his attention to the weapons console.

  Atar gave him something to focus on. “Matara Feyom has been collected. Security reports that they’ve confiscated a blaster from her possession and are escorting her to the brig.”

  “Did she give that weapon up willingly?”

  “Not at all. But no injuries are reported. We are now pursuing the Basma’s fleet.”

  “What about those hunter-killers that were taking an interest in us?”

  “Not following. They’ve returned to the search pattern, trying to find their missing transport. No sign of the death ship.”

  Behind him, Piper whispered Nako’s greatest wish. “I hope Terig is okay.”

  Chapter 23

  Terig flung his last Bi’isil across the transport’s bridge. He was disappointed in the contest to gain control over the death ship. The enslaved Tragooms had put up a decent battle, and his bared arms bled from a couple of brag-worthy wounds that would add to his scar collection. He’d faced worse in training camp, however. It was obvious that those manning the transport hadn’t expected a real face-to-face clash. The Bi’isils crewing it had been low-ranking creatures reliant on the strict ritualized routines. Once the Tragooms had been dispatched, the Bi’isils had been easy to overcome.

  Terig fought the urge to duck beneath a ceiling far lower than what he was used to. He co
uld stand up straight, but everything was sized for the far smaller Bi’isils. Sweating in the heat that Bi’isils preferred, he bent low to plug his handheld in to the systems and ran the program to access them. While his device worked and his men assumed stations to pilot the vessel to the Boneyard, he reflected on the Tragooms he’d killed. He’d imagined each to be a member of Ob’s family, the ugliest of the lot as his father, who’d sold him into slavery. Taking vengeance on Ob’s behalf had been a privilege.

  The handheld beeped, confirming Terig had circumvented the safeguards of the transport’s commands. He gave his team access, and they bent to their own handhelds, also connected to the various Bi’isil bridge stations.

  Terig scanned the interior to see who was left on board and spoke to the Nobek at his side, waiting for his command to finish the job of claiming the death ship. “I’m getting life signatures of about a dozen remaining Tragooms and three Bi’isils. Clean them out. As for—there they are. One hundred and seven Earthlings, all concentrated in one hold. The life signs are strange, though.”

  Nobek Zelan, who could translate some Bi’isil, pointed to the vid command. “Live monitoring of that area is available, Commander.”

  “I’m glad you came along for this. I hate figuring out Bi’isil readouts. Bringing vid up.”

  The image holographed before them. Terig eyed the containment pods stacked within the cargo holds. “No wonder the life signs seem odd. The women are all in stasis. Locate and read the captain’s mission to me, Zelan.”

  “Got it. He was to fly the transport to Laro, bringing the expected supplies in. While Maf’s men were distracted with proper rituals and an inventory of the supplies, the Bi’isils would secretly offload the women into a cargo hold. They’d set the stasis chambers to wake and release the Earthers once the Bi’isils were gone.”

  Terig laughed in disbelief. “Maf’s men wouldn’t have had a clue why Earther women were suddenly wandering around the station.”

  Zelan’s face tightened with anger. “The traitors would have likely interrogated a few and killed the rest on Maf’s orders. Assholes.”

  “It would have been enough to set the virus loose on them. And from there, the rest of the empire.” Terig eyed the vid once more. “It could be that as long as those Earthers are in the capsules, they pose no threat of contamination. In that case, our scientists could figure out if Piper’s less serious illness could indeed be used to vaccinate the population so those women could live without endangering our people.”

  He sent Zelan out to finish cleaning up the Tragoom and Bi’isil issue. “Helm, have you managed to track down our raider?”

  “Yes, Commander. It’s apparently chasing after the Basma’s fleet.”

  “What about the Bi’isils?”

  “Half continue to attack what remains of the traitor’s ships. The others are in a search pattern, no doubt looking for us.”

  Terig frowned at the course Maf’s fleet had taken. “Look at that maniac’s heading. He wouldn’t dare. Would he? Call up a chart. Show me what’s in their path.”

  When the star map of Bi’isil space came up, the entire party on the bridge cursed. Terig’s worst suspicions had been realized.

  “That asshole. He’s going after the lab station. That’s as good a declaration of war between the empire and Bi’is.”

  Nobek Ruek at the helm shot him a look. “Sending us infected Earther women wasn’t?”

  “Good point.” Terig growled at the readouts.

  “Heading, Commander?”

  He had his instructions, to get the deadly virus out of Bi’isil territory and as far away from the center of the Kalquorian Empire as possible. Chasing after Maf, in the hopes of helping Nako stop him—which was no doubt why his Dramok was following—was a suicide mission. Much as the ill-fated battle that had led to Terig’s dishonor had been.

  But Piper and my clanmates are going. I should be, too.

  * * * *

  “The Basma’s fleet is on an attack run to the lab station. We’re following, though I don’t know what the hell we’ll do when we get there.”

  Nako’s announcement brought Piper close to disbelieving laughter. She was heading back to where she’d started from. Talk about coming full circle.

  Not so funny, even in a dark way, were the carcasses of vessels Nako’s raider had to navigate through. Destroyers, fighters, and Bi’isil hunter-killers littered their route, showing the deadly struggle that continued as Maf persisted in his campaign for vengeance.

  While her heart ached for the Kalquorian dead, Piper’s most prominent concern was for the amount of hunter-killer debris they swept past. “Is it because they’ve been blown into so many pieces, or is that a huge number of Bi’isil spacecraft? It seems far more than what there should be.”

  Nako’s expression was unreadable. “You’re right. More Bi’isil craft have joined the battle to keep Maf off the lab.”

  “Where are they coming from? There are never that many Bi’isil warships around the station.”

  “My guess is that Bi’is has assembled a large invasion force outside of our border sensor range. I believe our enemy planned to hit the Kalquorian Empire once the virus was introduced and spreading. Given how fast the infection moved from you to my crew, they wouldn’t have had to wait long.”

  “But—but with the other virus being so fatal, why would they need a fleet this size? Especially since they plan to send in more infected Earther women later?”

  Nako snickered, but it was an ugly sound. “The Bi’isils are meticulous. My guess is they planned to give the lethal version a few weeks to sweep through the empire. With everyone weakening and dying, it would have been simple to come in and finish us off.”

  Piper swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. “Wouldn’t that incite the Galactic Council to respond? Member planets aren’t supposed to assault each other.”

  Ulof barked a harsh laugh. “What would Bi’is care about sanctions from the council when they’ve finally gotten rid of Kalquor?”

  “And claimed our mines with all those riches to boot?” Nako tapped his fingers hard on the weapons control console. “Between their kingdom and our empire, Bi’is would become a power unto itself. With us out of the picture, they’d be an even match to all Galactic Council’s combined forces. Maybe even stronger. They’d have nothing to fear from anyone.”

  “Maybe that’s what they’ve been after all along? This longstanding grudge was perhaps a cover for grabbing more dominance over everyone else?” Piper guessed.

  “Who can say? Maf coming to them for help, or accepting their offer of help, whichever way it happened, was like handing them the empire on a platter. And now they’re handing Maf his ass, aren’t they? He’s losing a lot more ships than they are.”

  The helmsman interrupted their conversation. “All ships have slowed, Captain. Scattering into attack patterns. We’re within view of the lab station.”

  “Full stop. Put it on vid.”

  Even Piper, with her limited knowledge of combat, could tell the Basma’s fleet was badly outmatched. The destroyers continued to live up to their name, demolishing the hunter-killers as they blasted and fired pulse cannons with deadly accuracy. However, the Bi’isil vessels were like a swarm of bees, an overwhelming number that darted and took the Kalquorians out at an alarming rate. There were too many for Maf’s fleet to stand against.

  Atar swore. “Even more hunter-killers moving into sensor range. Look at these numbers!”

  Nako’s demeanor was stoic but resigned. “While we’ve been distracted, first fighting a war with Earth and then among ourselves, Bi’is has been building an armada. There’s the invasion force, heading in to use Maf for a little target practice before moving on to the empire.”

  “And that must be the transport with the second wave of infected Earther women.” Piper watched as the supply vessel hurried to get behind the attacking lines of hunter-killers.

  “Get a lock on that vessel and track it,
Atar.”

  “Power signature identified and noted to our records. Captain! A ship just appeared on our starboard bow!” Atar swore again, then relaxed. “It’s the death ship, sir, coming out of phase. Weapons Commander Terig is hailing us.”

  Despite the growing dread of the situation, Piper’s spirits lifted to hear Terig’s voice. “Are we joining this party or taking bets?” the Nobek boomed over the transmission.

  Nako glanced at Piper for a moment before he found a chuckle. “I should have known you’d disobey orders and follow us here.”

  “That’s what you get for putting me in command. Although I did consult with my team before we charged in. They threatened mutiny if we sat this out.”

  “Did you take the Earther prisoners into account?”

  “Their stasis capsules were placed on our shuttle, which is phased and on its way to the Boneyard.”

  “Excellent call, Commander. As for the Basma’s war on the lab, though I love fighting impossible odds, we’ll hang back and report to Admiral Piras on what happened here.”

  “I agree there’s not much a busted raider and a Bi’isil transport can do in any case. I’m still surprised that you decided to sit this one out.”

  “I have the welfare of the woman on this ship to consider. Though she’s itching to fight, I have no intention of chancing her on a moment of glory.”

  Nako’s warm gaze enfolded Piper. Did she mean that much to him? For this fierce man to stay out of a war he obviously wanted to go into?

  “Understood, Captain. And I wholeheartedly agree.”

  “We’ll leave in a few minutes. At my order, phase the transport and head to the Boneyard. Keep those women safe, Commander. I don’t want our evidence to the Imperial Fleet and the Galactic Council to be lost.”

  Atar spoke. “Wide announcement from the Basma, Captain, breaking into all channels.”

  “If that gurluck is surrendering, I’ll open fire on him myself. Pipe it through.”

  The traitor’s voice filled the bridge. “This is Dramok Maf, the Basma, and leader of our glorious campaign for a pure Kalquorian Empire. My destroyer has taken a direct hit to the engines, which are overloading. Destruction is imminent. At the moment of my death, I wish my brave and committed followers to know that it has been my distinction to lead you. You noble Kalquorians, who trusted my vision, will live on in legend. I commend you to our ancestors. You are the best of our people, and you will not be forgotten. As my final act, I vow this evil from our enemy will not stand.”