*****
Eve 221 followed Gar-Wan as he hurried through the hive. He was still wearing the armour of the Imperial Guard and it afforded him some respect, the people moving aside as he moved quickly from corridor to corridor.
“Where will he be?” Eve 221 asked when they were out of the way of prying eyes.
“His home is two levels down from the senate, near to the arena,” Gar-Wan replied, stopping before a lift.
“The arena?” Eve 221 asked. It wasn’t a place she had heard mentioned before.
“A fighting pit, where slaves are forced to battle soldiers or each other to the death,” Gar-Wan said with disgust. “It was another of the ancient barbarities we, I was hoping to put an end to.”
“I, I never,” Eve 221 said, lost for words.
As they boarded the lift, the tactical visor in Gar-Wan’s vision began to flash, descriptions of himself and Eve 221 streaming in front of him. “We’ve been discovered,” he said. “They know I’ve escaped.”
“How long have we got?” Eve 221 asked.
“Not long enough,” Gar-Wan said sombrely. “Hurry, this way.”
The lift took them down two levels, opening onto a large hallway decorated with pictures and posters of past victors in the arena. They were all Mori, Eve 221 noticed, with tallies of how many slaves they’d killed in bright red letters beside their names. Some were in the hundreds she saw, filling her with disgust.
Gar-Wan removed the helmet and tossed it aside, the continuous display distracting him. He moved as quickly as he could, through the public hallways which were currently empty, and out onto a wide artificial street complete with a pale orange sky above them.
“Ari-Dun has a large estate on this level,” Gar-Wan explained. “We would often meet there to discuss our mutual interests. I was foolish to believe in him. Someone with his power, his connections, I should have known it was too good to be true.”
“You couldn’t have known he’d betray you,” Eve 221 said. “Let’s just find your family and regroup with Adam 359.”
The street was busy, and more than one person looked with surprise at the Imperial Guard being followed by a slave from the senate level. Gar-Wan did his best to ignore them, but he knew their position would be passed along to security before long. He crossed a courtyard and stepped through a wide open door, the entrance to Ari-Dun’s estate.
The door opened into a large garage, lined to one side by a selection of the small craft Eve 221 recognised from the market. Gar-Wan ignored the vehicles, walking straight past them towards a more ornate door, decorated with swirls and shapes. He stood before it, waiting for it to open automatically as many of the other doors in the hive would. When it refused to budge, he struck his fist against it, calling Ari-Dun’s name.
As Gar-Wan shouted and swore, the small panel to the right of the door sprang to life, Ari-Dun’s face appearing before them. “Gar-Wan?” he said. “Is that you? What an unexpected surprise.”
“Let me in,” Gar-Wan demanded. “I’m here for my family.”
Ari-Dun smiled mockingly. “Of course,” he said. “Come right in, my old friend.”
The ornate door opened slowly, sliding to one side. It led to an artfully decorated entrance hall, a swirling staircase on the left leading to an upper level. Ari-Dun stood ahead of them, smiling, an armed guard stood to either side of him with their plasma rifles aimed in their direction. “Please, don’t mind my bodyguards,” Ari-Dun said. “They’re merely here for my protection. Would you like a seat while you wait for the Imperial Guard to arrive?”
“Where are my family?” Gar-Wan demanded.
“A last request, is it?” Ari-Dun asked. “Come, they’re this way.”
Ari-Dun turned and began walking further into the house. The bodyguards indicated with their weapons that Gar-Wan and Eve 221 should follow him, an instruction they readily obeyed. Eve 221 kept her eyes down, playing the role of slave, right until she was in striking distance of the nearest bodyguard.
With lightning speed, Eve 221 reached out and grasped the bodyguard’s rifle, pulling it forwards and the bodyguard off balance. As he tilted forwards, Eve 221 struck his throat with the ball of her foot, using the momentum to turn and swing the butt of the plasma rifle at the other bodyguard’s head.
Picking up the fallen plasma rifle, she handed one to Gar-Wan while keeping the other for herself, both weapons suddenly aimed in Ari-Dun’s direction. “Where are my family?” Gar-Wan said again.
Ari-Dun took a step back in horror, his bodyguards crawling to their feet and powerless to help him. He had always been powerful and rich, just like his father and his grandfather before him. No one dared deny him, not ever. He took what he wanted and those who got in his way didn’t manage to do it for long.
“Sal-Wan,” Ari-Dun said nervously. “You can come out now. You and your children.”
Sal-Wan and her children stepped cautiously through a door behind him, their faces coming alive as they saw Gar-Wan there to greet them. They ran to him, touching him to make sure he was real and there to save them from their nightmare.
“I’m sorry,” Gar-Wan said. “Whatever they’re saying about me, it’s not true.”
“It’s okay,” Sal-Wan replied, holding her children close to her. “Let’s just leave.”
“Just one second,” Gar-Wan said, stepping to Ari-Dun and striking him with the butt of the plasma rifle. Ari-Dun dropped to his knees, blood leaking from between one of the chitin layers on the left side of his face.
“Now we can leave,” Gar-Wan continued.
Gar-Wan and his family moved quickly towards the ornate door, Eve 221 keeping an eye on Ari-Dun and his bodyguards. As the door opened before them, they stopped dead, Eve 221 backing into them.
“Lower your weapons and surrender,” a voice commanded from the garage. As Eve 221 lowered her plasma rifle and turned slowly around, she was met by the barrels of twenty similar weapons, held in the hands of the Imperial Guard.
*****
Adam 359 and Orlac 552 met no resistance as they crossed the hangar bay and moved through the corridor to the Dorgan birthing room. The newly born Dorgans had already fought and defeated the Mori guards and turned their weapons on Adam 359 and Orlac 552 as they climbed the stairs.
“No, wait,” Adam 359 said, raising his hands above his head. “We’re on your side, we’re the ones who freed you.”
“He speaks the truth,” Orlac 552 said, stepping forwards. “You’re free, and now we’re hoping you’ll help us free the others.” The Dorgans raised their voices in triumph, looking to the ceiling as they shouted and cheered.
“Merlin,” Adam 359 shouted, waving his arms towards the nearest camera.
“Yes, Arthur?” Merlin asked as he appeared beside them.
“How long until all the humans and Dorgans are out of the birthing pods?” Adam continued.
“Perhaps two hours,” Merlin replied.
“Do the Mori know what we’ve done yet?” Adam 359 said.
“Almost certainly,” Merlin said honestly. “But by the time they decide what they’re going to do about it, it’ll already be too late.”
“I hope you’re right.” Adam 359 replied. “I think we should start taking control of the ships, anything with a jump drive. They’ll find weapons and armour there too. Any ship we can’t use to get to Earth, have them destroy it before it takes off if they can. It’ll be easier than fighting them out there where they can manoeuvre.”
“Wise thinking,” Merlin said.
“Have you heard from Eve 221?” Orlac 552 interrupted. “Or Gar-Wan?”
“Gawain removed his helmet,” Merlin replied. “They were free of the cells and on their way to find his wife.”
“Where are they now?” Adam 359 asked.
Merlin’s hologram flickered as he returned to the network. “Oh dear,” he said as he returned to the birthing room. “My report of their success appears to have been premature. They’ve been recaptured by the Imper
ial Guard.”
Adam 359 looked at Orlac 552, his face a mixture of fear and apprehension. “Looks like we get to save her this time,” he said.
Chapter 14
The Message
Earth Year 6238
“Are you sure you can manage this without us?” Adam 359 said. “And lead us to Eve 221 at the same time?”
“Do not let my appearance fool you, Arthur,” Merlin replied, his eyes narrowing. “Age is of no consequence to a Wizard!”
“No, you’re right,” Adam said, blushing. “Sorry, Merlin, I shouldn’t have questioned you.”
“No matter,” Merlin said. “The Imperial Guard are taking Gawain and Guinevere to the Mori-Gran. Take one of the ships to the topmost level and I will direct you from there.”
“Thank you,” Orlac 552 said.
Adam 359 pointed to the nearest Dorgans and shouted, “You lot, with me! We’re starting the fighting early!”
Adam 359 and Orlac 552 led thirty Dorgans down the stairs and back to the hangar bay, where they scrounged and stole any weapons and armour they could find from the docked ships. Once suitably armed, they boarded a selection of fighters and drop ships, rising slowly through the central docking bay.
Adam 359 climbed into the cockpit of the closest fighter, Orlac 552 climbing into the seat behind him. The ship was long and sleek, almost like an arrowhead, made of the same shiny black metal as the rest of the Mori fleet. There were no obvious engines or means of propulsion, but as Adam 359 placed his hands on the central control stick, the ship rose gently and responded immediately to his commands.
Once Orlac 552 was secure, Adam 359 pulled the canopy closed over his head. There was no glass, but as soon as the display software came on line, he had a real-time tactical view of the surrounding area. He could see the Dorgans climbing into their ships and beginning to take off just as he was.
The central shaft of the Mori hive ship was almost nine miles long, black walled, and lined with tens of thousands of brightly lit docking platforms connected by gangways and walkways. From where he sat, it looked like a series of blue and red lines and dots, getting smaller and smaller into the distance but never seeming to reach an end.
The tactical display showed the nearest ships, those occupied and those empty. As Adam 359 looked upwards through the shaft, the tactical display tracked his eye movements and the data became overwhelming. “There are a lot of ships between here and the Queen’s quarters,” Adam 359 said.
“And there’s lots of buttons back here,” Orlac 552 said nervously. “Which ones do you want me to press?”
“None for the moment,” Adam 359 said hurriedly. “I’ve got flight control and forward cannons here, try not to press anything.” Orlac 552 sat back, his hand moving slowly from the series of controls which allowed the fighters to abduct and contain potential slaves.
Adam 359 and the following Dorgans advances as quickly as they could through the central shaft, weaving past docking platforms and walkways. It was when they were about halfway up that the tactical screen in front of him began to flash and alarm as the enemy fighters above him took off, weapons turned towards the stolen ships.
“Merlin, are you getting this?” Adam 359 yelled as he quickly turned the fighter craft away from an oncoming blast of plasma. “We’ll need more ships if we’re having to fight our way through.”
“Fear not,” Merlin replied. “Help is already on the way.”
Adam 359 made a sharp turn to the right as one of the enemy fighter craft flew straight at him, barely dodging the rapid burst of weapon fire which managed to scorch his hull. He watched as the tactical display showed the attacking ship turn quickly, weapons pivoting around to fire again on Adam 359’s fighter. Adam 359 forced the stick forwards, trying to push himself up against the wall of the shaft but he knew it was going to be too late. He squeezed his eyes closed as he imagined the enemy ship firing, felt the blast hit as the craft he was in struck hard against the wall.
“We’re not dead!” Orlac 552 exclaimed. “We’re not dead!”
Adam 359 opened his eyes to see a fighter craft moving past him and engage another of the enemy fighters, the tactical display reporting that the enemy ship behind him had already been neutralised. The blast he had felt had been the shock wave as the ship exploded, throwing him against the brightly lit shaft wall.
“Woo-hoo!” Adam 359 shouted. “Merlin, you’re incredible!”
“Yes, yes I am,” Merlin agreed. “Now make your way to the top as quickly as you can. The fighters we’ve commandeered will deal with any resistance. They’ll focus on the docked ships as well as those already in the air.”
“Remind them not to destroy those with jump drives,” Orlac 552 interrupted.
“You focus on your task, I’ll focus on mine,” Merlin said tetchily. “Contact me again when you’ve reached the top.”
Adam 359 pulled the fighter away from the wall and turned the nose of his ship towards the top of the shaft. “Hold on tight,” he said with a smile as he engaged to ship’s thrusters.
Orlac 552’s screams could be heard as far away as the birthing chambers.
*****
Merlin was busy dividing the humans and Dorgans into divisions, ready to move into different parts of the hive. He’d managed to split himself between each of the birthing chambers, but dealing with so many people at once was exhausting. They were still emerging from the birthing pods, disorientated and overwhelmed by the sight of fellow slaves handing out clothes and scavenged weapons.
Once the cycle was completed, Arthur would have over fifteen thousand highly trained humans and Dorgans ready to fight for him, as well as the slaves who joined them from within the hive. It was a fraction of the number of Mori soldiers and guards, but Merlin hoped it would be enough. He was skilled in all aspects tactics and strategy, most likely from coordinating the Battle of Camlann he imagined.
He dispatched the closest units to take control of the fighters nearest the birthing chambers. Once they took control of the central shaft, it would be easier to escape with as many slaves as possible. He ordered the troops to steal as many fighters as they could, and destroy any remaining drop ships or fighters before they got off the ground. Once they had control of the shaft, those same pilots would take control of the jump enabled crafts and begin the evacuation.
The remaining forces were to advance up through the hive, aiding any slaves as they attempted to leave their masters, arming those who would fight and directing those who would not or could not to the departing ships. It would all begin once he gave the speech.
Merlin cast out fragments of himself throughout the network as he moved towards the communication’s hub. He could have been mistaken, but for a moment it looked as though the security system ignored the fragments completely and began its slow march through the network directly towards him. The security system was learning, too quickly as it appeared, and it wouldn’t be long before the more secure areas of the hive network were completely out of bounds to him.
Once inside the communication’s hub, he uploaded the message he’d prepared and set it to play on a loop through every monitor or speaker within the hive. Once he’d locked out the communication’s hub from any further alterations, he retreated from the network as quickly as possible, imagining he could feel the hot breath of the security system just behind him.
“Humans and Dorgans of the hive ship,” the message began, Merlin’s face appearing on every monitor. “I am Merlin, and I speak on behalf of King Arthur Pendragon, King of the Britons and your saviour.
“As of this moment, you are no longer slaves. You are free, and you owe it to yourselves and your species to stand up and join the fight!
“Abandon your work! Abandon your masters! Take up arms, or make your way to the docking rings, and board the ships waiting to take you home. Do not believe the lies. The Earth and Ma’Han are real, and you will see them again!
“King Arthur’s forces are already advancing throughout the hiv
e. Any Mori who stand aside and allow their slaves freedom shall not be harmed. Any of the overlords who resist will deserve the fate which befalls them.
“Freedom and justice are coming. Stand aside or face their wrath!”
*****
Ul-Dar, Commander of the Imperial Guard, stood before the door to the Mori-Gran’s chambers. He had Eve 221’s neck in his right hand, squeezing just hard enough to remind her that further squirming would be painful. Gar-Wan and his brood mate were behind him, their hands bound behind their backs and their children crying at the rear of the small group.
“Enter,” the Mori-Gran said, opening the enormous double doors with a wave of her hand.
The Mori-Gran’s chambers were the epitome of luxury and exuberance on the hive ship. The door opened onto a large open hallway, the ceiling high above them displaying the orange sky of the Mori home world. Meticulously detailed tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes from the history of their world and the creation of the first hive ships under the Mori-Gran-Ra.
Like the Mori-Gran’s white dress, the whole area seemed bright and unlike anything else on the hive, large screens forming artificial windows which cast a pale orange light into the room. The Mori-Gran glided as she crossed the space towards Ul-Dar, her eight eyes fixed on Eve 221. As she came within reach, the Mori-Gran took Eve 221’s face in her hand and tilted it upwards, scrutinising it.
“Why does Gar-Wan care so much about you?” she asked, leaning closer to Eve 221’s face as she spoke. “You are a most unremarkable species. Ul-Dar, take them to the throne room and wait with them, I’ll join you shortly.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Ul-Dar said. “And the remainder of your Imperial Guard?”
X-Calibur: The Return Page 16