Farkak was near the airlock. He had the laser pistol in his hand pressed against the back of Shaltia's skull. He had positioned himself behind Shaltia so that a clean shot would be hard to take. A hastily wrapped stump extended from his shoulder a few centimeters. The bandaging was crimson with blood seeping from the wound. Cooper dropped to one knee and raised the Smith & Wesson.
"Cooper, why don't you drop that gun right there?"
"Because I plan to kill you with it."
Farkak laughed. "You will risk your pretty little Shaltia here."
"Nope. You can't kill her, or I'll put a bullet between your eye," Cooper said. "And since you are down an arm, you can't shoot me without moving the pistol, and if you move the pistol, she's going to kick your ass all over this ship."
Farkak stared down the corridor into Cooper's eyes. He didn't flinch, but Cooper sensed it. The sense that the game was his to win or lose. Farkak was betting too much on this hand, and Cooper was certain he could read the engineer. Farkak couldn't move without losing the only ground he had. Cooper knew that as long as Farkak thought he was in control, Shaltia was safe. If he decided to just die, then Shaltia's life wouldn't matter anymore. That was not an option Cooper wanted to ponder.
"Cooper," Learra cried behind him.
Taking a quick glance, he saw a black shape hit him from behind. Rolling to the floor, he prepared for another attack, one that didn't come. Instead, Brute ran past him toward Shaltia. He jerked the weapon up.
"No," Shaltia yelled as Farkak moved the laser pistol to fire at Brute.
Cooper put the sights on Brute and saw Farkak toss a canister down the hall. A quick pop resounded, and the corridor filled with a cloud of Methropoline. A figure collapsed to the floor, and Cooper realized it was Shaltia, rendered unconscious by the aerosol.
"Learra," he called to the girl who was running toward him already.
"I'm sorry, he rushed by so fast."
"Don't worry. I'm going after Farkak. You have to get Shaltia on board the Alura."
"Alura," he called to the ship, "you let Learra carry Shaltia to the Med Bay."
"Yes, Cooper."
"Take care of them, Alura."
He squeezed Learra's hand and took a deep breath. Holding the air in his lungs, he rushed through the cloud of Methropriline after Farkak and Brute.
The Pressure Is On
Laser blasts echoed through the corridor ahead as Cooper dashed after Brute and Farkak. Turning a corner, he found an empty walkway leading to another cargo area. Pallets filled with bags of feed were stacked to the ceiling. This had been the feed store for the livestock. Most likely the colonist had enough for the journey and a few years supply in order to get the farms established.
Cooper stepped into the bay. He held the Smith & Wesson up and waited for Farkak to stick his head out. Brute was nowhere to be seen.
"Farkak, come on out," Cooper said.
A blast struck a pallet near Cooper's head. He ducked behind a stack of feed. Peering around the bags, he looked for the engineer.
"Look, Farkak, you fucked up. Toss out your weapon, and we can work something out."
"Like what, you shoot me in the head," a shout came.
Something like that, Cooper thought. Instead, he said, "No, like I drop you off somewhere. Better me than our other friend."
Farkak didn't answer, and Cooper thought he might be considering his offer. Until the pallet, he was crouched behind exploded as Farkak fired a laser cannon at him. The debris rained down on him covering him.
A roar reverberated off the walls. Farkak screamed. A crash sounded a second later.
, "Cooper pushed up through the backs of corn and seed until his head burst up from the pile. Farkak was standing back up as Brute stalked toward him. He fired the laser cannon, and the blast knocked Brute across the room. The hybrid was back on his feet and charging the engineer again. Farkak fired again. The blast knocked Brute down, but it only slowed him down.
Cooper watched with awe as Farkak fired four more cannon shots. Each time the Brute would charge as if the blast was only a minor inconvenience. He wanted to rip Farkak apart, and Cooper thought for a second that leaving them to fight it out seemed like the best idea.
He pushed the burned and broken backs of feed off him until he was clear. He was going to make a run back to Alura and leave Farkak to run the charge out of the laser cannon and be faced with the Brute's claws.
Another blast sent Brute to the ground, and Cooper watched Farkak toss the laser cannon aside. He gripped the plasma blaster that he had taken from Shaltia in his one hand.
"Farkak, don't," Cooper shouted.
The traitorous engineer took aim ignoring Cooper's warning. Cooper jerked the pistol up as Farkak pulled the trigger. The plasma blast exploded from the barrel. Cooper fired the Smith & Wesson twice striking Farkak in the chest with both shots. The plasma blast struck Brute and carried him through the bulkhead behind him. The hull ripped open, and the pallets began sliding toward the breach.
"Alura," Cooper yelled into the comm, "I have a breach."
The vacuum was pulling everything toward the breach. As the pallets crushed around the hole in the bulkhead, the suction slowed as the debris clogged the breach. Cooper ran for the door.
"I can seal that area off," Alura answered.
"Wait," Cooper screamed. The clogged hole cleared and the vacuum pressure increased. Cooper grabbed a conduit and held on as the vacuum pulled him.
"You have to leave the area so that I can seal it off," Alura said.
"I'm trying," he yelled.
The pressure stopped as the breach clogged again. Cooper's feet moved quickly as he ran for the door. He slid through and his the door panel closing it behind him.
"Seal it, Alura," he said.
"The area is sealed."
Cooper dropped to the floor and leaned against the wall breathing heavily. He held the Smith & Wesson staring at his reflection in the barrel. Farkak wasn't a great loss at all, but Cooper felt sorry for Brute. Even if the blast didn't kill him, the emptiness of space probably crushed him. The poor creature didn't deserve to die that way just because he was a guinea pig for some scientist who wanted to recreate life.
"Alura, how is Shaltia?" he asked.
"Captain Shaltia inhaled a high concentration of Methropriline. She will likely be unconscious for a while. She is being administered fluids to help stabilize her system from an overdose and to maintain her hydration."
"How is Learra?"
"She is still in the Med Bay with Captain Shaltia," Alura said. "Fucking Schwarz is hailing again."
"Fucking Schwarz," Cooper mumbled. "I'm on my way."
Negotiations
"Schwarz," Cooper said at the holographic face that appeared on Alura's comm station.
"Montbarts," Schwarz said, "what is going on over there? There was a hull breach."
"Yes, there was."
Schwarz flashed a glare of irritation. "What happened?"
"Oh, well, that was the traitor that you were going to pay to kidnap the slaves that were kidnapped from their home. He blasted a hole in the side of the cargo bay with a plasma blaster."
"Why the hell would he fire a plasma blaster on a ship?" Schwarz asked.
"Oh, because your merchandise was not asleep, and the bastards put up a hell of a fight. I think Farkak was desperate at that point."
"Where is my merchandise?"
Cooper leaned back in the captain's chair. "Since your merchandise took a plasma blast at about ten meters, I would guess he is in molecular form now. If not, then you might be able to pick up a corpse floating around out there."
"Fuck," Schwarz said. "What about the other piece?"
"Here's the deal, I have a stasis tube in my freight bay. I am going to put it on the Burnside's shuttle and launch it. The only way that you get it is when I lower my shields, however, if the Skolean blast me before I raise my shields again, then the shuttle goes too."
"Fine, Montba
rts. I'll keep the Skolean off you. Send the shuttle out."
"Not right now. I'm exhausted, and you can't break through my shield. I'm going to take a nap."
"Montbarts, I don't have all day."
Cooper smiled. "You do if you want what I have."
He cut the transmission and stood up. Checking in the Med Bay, Cooper found Learra sitting in a chair watching Shaltia.
"Learra, you don't have to stay here."
"Someone has to watch her," she said.
"Have you met Alura yet?" Cooper asked.
"Who?"
"Alura. The ship."
Learra shook her head. "How do I meet a ship?"
"Alura, will you introduce yourself to Learra?"
"Yes, Cooper. I am the Alura. I am an artificial intelligence that runs the Deneb class vessel that you are on. Despite what Cooper says, I am not a ship. My existence is in a core that is embedded in this vessel. I can operate all areas of the vessel."
Learra's eyes moved around as she listened to the computer talk.
Alura continued, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Learra."
"How does it talk?" Learra asked Cooper.
"It's complicated. Just say 'hello' back."
"Hello," Learra said.
"Alura, Learra is now a part of our crew. She is going to be with us for a bit. Please grant her whatever permissions she needs. Let's wait on any vital systems until she has some training."
"Yes, Cooper."
"Learra, come on," Cooper said. "Let's get you some quarters so you can rest too."
"What happened to Brute?"
Cooper's head drooped. "Farkak killed him. I'm sorry. Farkak's dead too."
"What are we going to do?"
"We are going to rest for a minute. I want the two ships out there to get antsy. Then we are going to get out of here."
Learra nodded.
Cooper said, "Alura has ten cabins, so we can expand our crew to ten if we want. Twenty if they like each other. Thirty, if they like each other a lot."
She just stared at him. He continued, "I'm putting you in this cabin. Shaltia is two doors down. I'm down those stairs and to the starboard."
"Starboard?"
"Right."
She nodded.
"Listen, Learra," Cooper said. "I'm going to try and get you home. Until then, you are part of us. Now, just get some rest. Once we get away from here, we can get you more clothes or whatever you need."
Wrapping her arms around Cooper, Learra said, "Thank you, Cooper."
He patted her on the back. "Don't sweat it, sweetie. I'm going to put you to work to earn your keep."
Learra disappeared into her new quarters. Cooper walked up to the bridge.
"Alura, let's hail the Skolean captain."
The holographic image of the white-skinned Korlich appeared.
"Do you seek to surrender?" Korlich hissed through his teeth.
"I don't, Korlich. I plan to leave. However, I'm going to give you what you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"I assume you are seeking the hybrid creature," Cooper said.
"We want the wormhole technology. What is this hybrid?"
"Oh, well the wormhole doesn't work," Cooper bluffed. "However, you are welcome to the device."
"Wait, human. What is this hybrid?"
"The hybrid is a genetic feat. A super soldier. I have him in a stasis tube. That has been what is taking so long. The damn fool Farkak that was going to sell you the fake wormhole generator, let the thing wake up."
"Where is Farkak?"
Cooper grinned. "Oh, I killed him. He wanted to sell the hybrid to the captain of the other ship."
Korlich hissed again. "I want this hybrid."
"Here's the deal," Cooper said. "In a few hours, I'm going to launch a shuttle from the Burnside. The hybrid will be on board and in stasis, along with your 'wormhole' tech." He used air quotes around wormhole. Cooper continued, "When I launch the shuttle, we will lower our shields and disengage from the Burnside. If you want your loot, then you best make sure that the slaver ship doesn't try to destroy us. The first shot against my hull and I'll destroy the shuttle and everything in it. Once you take out the slavers, you can have the shuttle, not to mention whatever else you want on the Burnside."
Korlich sneered. "That is adequate. We will ensure your safety from the other vessel."
Cooper tilted his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Korlich."
He cut the transmission.
"Cooper," Alura said, "the wormhole generator appears to be functioning."
"Oh, good. Where is it?"
"There is a metal box under the navigation station," Alura said.
"Perfect, can it be installed?"
Alura answered, "Theoretically. However, I thought you were giving the technology to the commander of the Skolean vessel."
"Nope, that baby might be our ace in the hole."
Are We Doing This?
Four shots of Jack Daniels and a bowl of oatmeal later and Cooper found a warm belly and the berth in his cabin. He closed his eyes and quickly let the exhaustion and whiskey lure him to sleep. Mitch had curled up on the deck beside him and quickly started snoring as well.
"Cooper, wake up," Alura said.
When his eyes opened, he rolled out of the berth. His feet touched the floor. The bulldog popped his head up to see if his attention was needed. Cooper scratched his head and gave him a wink. Mitch blinked his eyes and dropped his head back down. The canine was in no rush to wake up yet.
"Alura, how long have I been asleep?"
"Six hours, forty-two minutes."
"How is Shaltia?"
"Captain Shaltia has just regained consciousness. She has no lasting effects from the Methropriline."
"Great, now it's time to get these monkeys off our backs," he said as he slipped his boots back onto his feet. Feeling rested, Cooper thought that perhaps this whole thing could be past them in a few hours and he could get a warm shower to clean the stench of the last day. Maybe a nice, warm meal.
Stopping in the galley, Cooper grabbed two cups of coffee and then headed toward the Med Bay where he found Shaltia still sitting on the bed.
"What happened?" she asked.
Handing a steaming cup to her, Cooper answered, "It's a rather long story, but we are about to get out of here now that you are up."
"I remember Farkak jumping me. Then, he threw one of the canisters."
"Yep, he gassed you."
"That fucker. I'm going to kill him."
"Too late," Cooper said smugly. "Look we have stuff to do, come on."
Shaltia slid off the bed and followed Cooper to the bridge. "Shal, jump on the nav station."
Shaltia obeyed and asked, "What are we doing?"
"Just hang on. I'll answer all your questions when we don't have two ships wanting to blast us. Alura, fire up the shuttle."
"Yes, Cooper."
"Open a channel to Schwarz."
Schwarz's face appeared.
"Montbarts," he said.
"Shuttle is coming your way. Shields will be dropping in less than a minute."
"Good, I will give you the time you need."
"End transmission, Alura," Cooper said. "Now, Korlich."
Korlich's head appeared.
"Korlich, the shuttle is launching. Prepare to protect us or you lose your prize."
"I will do as I swore, human."
"End transmission, and launch shuttle."
Shaltia looked at him. "What shuttle?"
"The Burnside's. Don't worry, yet. We are dropping shields in thirty seconds. Be prepared to detach airlock."
"Yes, Cooper," Alura said.
"Shaltia, watch the sensors. If either of them fires on us, we are destroying the shuttle."
She nodded in confusion.
"Shuttle is clearing the cargo doors," Alura said.
"Drop shields," Cooper said.
A blast from Monstro toward the Skolean cruiser indicated t
he battle was commencing. The Skolean fired back.
"Airlock," Cooper said.
Shaltia watching the screen said, "The Monstro is taking a beating from the Skolean cruiser."
"How are they holding up?"
"My readings say their shields are down seventy percent. The Skoleans are targeting their shield generator."
"Gee, I hope Schwarz makes it."
As Cooper said that, a torpedo from Monstro fired out and hit the Skolean's deflector dish. A second torpedo struck the engine nacelle.
"Shit, Schwarz is hitting back," Shaltia said.
"Airlock gangway will be fully retracted in twenty seconds."
Cooper smiled. "Good, do we have a course laid in?"
"Yes, the course is set."
"The Skoleans just hit Schwarz's engines. He isn't going anywhere."
"Perfect," Cooper said.
"They still have weapons, just no engines."
"Then, Schwarz can still bite."
"The Skoleans will destroy him."
"The gangway is retracted," Alura informed.
"Good, shields up. And hail Gorlich."
Gorlich's holographic face said, "You have been defended. We are preparing to destroy the slavers."
Another blast from the Skolean ship tore through the hull of the Monstro.
"Gorlich," Cooper said, "let them be. Your prize awaits you."
Gorlich's yellowed teeth glowed when he smiled. His voice commanding his helmsman to intercept the shuttle. Cooper cut off the transmission.
"Fucking Schwarz is hailing us."
"Go ahead," Cooper said grinning at the slaver's moniker.
"Schwarz," he said to the hologram. "You guys took a beating, but it looks like the Skoleans are intercepting the shuttle."
"We could use your help," Schwarz said. "My ship has taken a lot of damage. Their next strike will be lethal."
"Of course," Cooper said with a smile. "Consider the help already given. I wish I could stay and help you affect your repairs, but surely you can salvage what you need from the Burnside. You guys have a great day."
Alura's Bind_Book One Page 13