Universe in Flames 3: Destination Oblivion

by Christian Kallias

  Obviously tonight was not the night for drowning his sorrow in alcohol and forgetting the past. But the cry for revenge, the absolute hatred he harbored towards his brother, was tickling way too much within his soul to just ignore all this. It could very well be a trap, a clever setting designed by Argos to get his hands on Chase, for whatever reason he needed him alive. Chase decided, however, that knowing this could be exploited in his favor.

  “I’m in,” said Chase coldly.

  “Seriously? You seemed really pissed a moment ago. I thought you might just lose it and destroy the bar with your bare hands.”

  “The thought had crossed my mind,” said Chase, calmly now, “however, I know better now than to let my rage dictate my action. Most of the time, anyway.”

  “I’m not really sure I want to ever witness the moments where you do let rage control you.”

  “Then you really have to ask yourself if I’m the right partner for the job. Because if we meet Argos, you will see much worse than you can possibly imagine. I will kill him, as brutally as possible and no matter the cost.”

  “Wow! I’ve never met someone so determined to end the life of his own brother. What in the blazes did he do to you?”

  Chase’s eyes started blinking again, but he tried to not let his rage unleash the wave of emotions currently overwhelming his soul.

  “Forget I asked,” she said.

  “Still want me along?”

  “Well, if you can take the beatings I saw you take and still stand like nothing happened, and still kill some of the ruthless fighters I’ve seen in a place like this without breaking a sweat, you’re probably the right man for the job. But let me ask you this.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Will you be able to do it without killing me in the process?”

  Chase looked into her eyes. He could see genuine concern mixed with fear, though she was good at masking most of it.

  “Let’s look at it this way. If you get me to Argos, believe me, the only being in the universe that could protect you from him is sitting in front of you.”

  “Why don’t I like the sound of that?”

  “Look . . . Huh, I realize I don’t even know your name.”

  “My name is Keera, Keera Hawking.”

  “Look, Keera, I want you to understand that you were right to question your warrant. Argos is the most dangerous man in the universe right now.”

  “Looks to me you could be a close second.”

  “I only live to kill him. That’s my goal in life now. So yeah, I could very well be. But if you help me locate him, I will do everything in my power so nothing happens to you. But you need to understand that I can’t guarantee it. I . . . I already lost . . .” Another tear ran from his eye.

  “He killed someone you cared about, didn’t he?”

  “Worse. He made me kill the most important person in the world.”

  Her eyes widened. “Damn! This is seriously fucked.”

  “You may want to reconsider this mission if you value your life, Keera.”

  “Yeah . . . I don’t know why, but the pain I see in your soul is so strong, I actually feel like this meeting was no accident. It’s like I needed to meet you to even attempt this. Like the universe brought you on my path.”

  Chase felt like commenting on that one. His faith in the universe had been shattered beyond repair of late. He no longer cared if the universe went up in flames right now, as long as Argos was one of the casualties. But if this was an elaborate trap to get at him, the less he showed his doubts the better.

  “Perhaps it is,” he said, attempting a smile. “I just want you to understand the danger you would be putting yourself in.”

  “I get it. And perhaps there will come a time when I will want to reconsider. But right now I feel compelled to go ahead. That is, if you’re willing to partner with me? I can give you half the warrant. I was more inclined to propose twenty percent at first. But it looks like you’re gonna be the one to take him down and do the heavy lifting, so that’s only fair.”

  “I don’t want money. Just get me my ship back and let’s track my brother. Once I’ve killed him—making sure he suffers as much as possible—then you can take his body and cash in your warrant.”

  “Look, I get it, you hate the guy, and under the circumstances I can’t blame you. But we’re talking millions here. You may want to reconsider.”

  Chase didn’t care for money. It was something he had never really needed or used before he lost Sarah. Sure, the Alliance had to trade on rare occasion, when they needed to acquire something from the outer worlds, but money had no value to him personally. However, it was perhaps better to show some interest, just in case Keera wasn’t who she said she was.

  “Perhaps I will. I’m not doing this for the money, though.”

  “I get that. It’s actually refreshing for once.”

  “When do we get out of this hellhole?”

  “I need to get your ship back. Shouldn’t take long. I also need a few hours to get some supplies and cash in my previous warrant. Meet me in docking bay seven tomorrow morning, 0800 sharp, okay?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Great, see you soon then . . . partner?” she said with a smile.

  “Yeah, see you soon, Keera.”

  He watched her walk away. Her figure was stunning. Her long, green hair flowed down her back. She walked with a sexy allure, but also a determined assurance that Chase found endearing.

  I sure hope you’re not in league with my brother, or there will be hell to pay, Keera. I would really hate to hurt such a wonderful creature.

  C H A P T E R

  II

  Aphroditis took a step down from the subspace holo-transmitter platform. The bright-blue light cylinder that engulfed her moments ago faded away. She shook her head in desperation.

  “He told you to piss off, didn’t he?” inquired Ares.

  “Oh, you’re here. Yeah, pretty much.”

  “Look, we’ve tried again and again. It’s clear he doesn’t want anything to do with us anymore. So what do we do now?”

  “I don’t know, but without him I fear all is lost.”

  “Don’t want to be an ass, but if you hadn’t filled his head with the fact he was the universe’s only hope—something I’m still not inclined to accept by the way—perhaps he wouldn’t have taken that shot.”

  “I did not tell him to do so . . .”

  “That’s not what he told me.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “I thought you two had discussed this. He told me you told him clearly that he had to kill her or all would be lost.”

  “I never had that conversation with him. When I discovered that our communications had been intercepted I tried to warn him, but we got cut off. It’s ironic, though. I was calling him to warn him that our communications might not be secure anymore. Do you think . . .?”

  “Yeah, who else? Argos must have found a way to communicate, and most likely impersonate you. That’s the only thing that makes sense right now.”

  “If that’s the case we may be in great danger. He might have managed to locate us, and if he has, I don’t have to tell you what will happen.”

  “No you don’t. But it’s been three months, so if he knew where to find us, I think he would have come for us already.”

  “Unless he’s been too busy with something more important.”

  “If that’s the case, we should pack up and leave this place and soon. You know as well as I do that I can’t take on Argos, no matter how powerful I am. This is one Fury I know in my guts I cannot take down.”

  “And the only other Fury who could is currently hating us, thinking we gave the kill order on Sarah.”

  “If it was only Sarah . . .”

  “What? What are you talking about? Am I the last one to know anything around here these days?”

  “She was pregnant. Surely you knew that?”

  “Oh dear.”

  “Yea
h, you can say that again.”

  “I’m starting to understand how he feels.”

  “We need to find a way to tell him it wasn’t us.”

  “Somehow I think that ship has sailed. He doesn’t seem to be in a very receptive frame of mind at the moment.”

  “I think he hates you more than me. While the two conversations I had with him weren’t of the pleasant kind, at least he talked.”

  “Yeah, he just blows me off. I don’t think he realizes it but he has the ability to terminate our communications now. What do you have in mind?”

  “Use his resentment for us as a way to talk to him and explain what happened. Perhaps when he sleeps . . .”

  “What if he doesn’t believe you?”

  “Then we wouldn’t be worse off than we are at the moment.”

  “Right.”

  “I’ll try establishing contact with him in a few hours, but after that we’re leaving.”

  Aphroditis looked grave but nodded in agreement. “There’s one thing that bugs me, though.”

  “Only one?”

  She gave him a look.

  “What is it?”

  “I keep getting these visions and fractured pieces of potential future timelines, which is why I advised Chase in the first place; but I didn’t see Sarah’s death coming.”

  “So?”

  “I don’t know. It bugs me, though . . .”

  “Look, as you say, you see possible future events, but obviously things aren’t set in stone. For now the Alliance seems to be kicking the Zarlacks at almost every encounter. Perhaps Chase played the role he had to play.”

  “No. I can’t put it into words, but he’s not done yet. I do feel a very dark shroud around him. Something is about to go terribly wrong.”

  Ares exhaled deeply and shook his head.

  * * *

  Daniel opened a channel. “Status report.”

  “Nothing to report, boss,” answered Fillio cheerfully. “Boy am I glad this is our last chaperone run. I had just about enough of escorting quadrinium transports.”

  “Yeah, I hear you. The jumpgate should be operational by week’s end.”

  “Any reason they send us and not other pilots?”

  “Actually, that was my choice. I requested this assignment.”

  “Really? Mind if I ask why?”

  “Ever since Chase left us . . .” Daniel couldn’t let himself continue.

  “You’re alright?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, I never expected this to happen. It’s all my fault.”

  “What do you mean? Why would it be your fault?”

  “I told Chase not to kill Argos. He said that would have killed Sarah.”

  “Look, that was a tough call to make. You thought what you did was right at the time.”

  “And in doing so I sealed Chase’s fate.”

  “How exactly does that link to us doing these runs?”

  “It’s stupid, but I need to fly a ship as often as possible. When I’m on board Destiny or on Earth all I can think about is this whole mess.”

  “Daniel, it’s not your fault.”

  “And yet my best friend, my brother even, is gone.”

  “Perhaps he will come back. Give him time.”

  “Not before Argos is killed, or . . .”

  “Or Argos kills him.”

  “Yeah,” said Daniel, with sadness and remorse weighing heavily on his heart.

  The long range sensors flashed in Daniel’s HUD.

  “Heads up. We have company.”

  “I see them. Geez, that’s a lot of bogies.”

  “Alright, let’s be smart about this. You cloak now and get the drop on them from behind.”

  “Right. Make sure you have them well occupied. You know as well as I do that the StarFury doesn’t have shields once I de-cloak.”

  “I know. Don’t worry. I’ll take them for a wild ride.”

  “Roger that, boss. Cloaking now. See you on the other side.”

  “Be careful.”

  “Says the man who decided to go face to face with two squadrons without his wingman.”

  “Right.”

  Daniel adjusted his vector towards the two incoming squadrons of Zarlack fighters. He engaged them and targeted the first three fighters with laser fire and missiles, and dispatched them quickly before veering to the right. He deployed his drones and they pounded laser fire on the aft shields of his pursuers. They locked onto his craft and fired missiles. Daniel deployed countermeasures and, as soon as the missiles impacted with them, he boosted his shields, cut engines and activated reverse thrusters at maximum power. The rest of the first squadron passed in front of him and he assumed the position of hunter instead of prey. He locked onto his next kill and quickly depleted its shields. He locked onto the next ship while he let his drones finish off the previous target, which didn’t take long. It exploded with a bright and satisfying bang.

  The drones rejoined formation with Daniel’s F-147 and quickly dispatched the next Zarlack fighter, blowing it out of the sky. It took some pretty fancy flying, but soon Daniel had eradicated an entire squadron with little or no damage to his own ship. But was now being pursued by no less than six fighters.

  “Where are you, Fillio?”

  The other F-147 de-cloaked behind the enemy fighters and Fillio started picking them off one by one. By the time they realized what had happened, she had destroyed four of them. She veered off course to let her shields charge.

  “Mind taking care of these last two?”

  “On it,” replied Daniel as he engaged with the nearest enemy craft.

  He locked onto one enemy and sent two missiles, the first draining most of its shields, while the second tore off its wing, leaving the craft spinning uncontrollably into the darkness of space. The last Zarlack starfighter had since broken off and tried to run for it at max burn.

  “Not so fast, you son of a bitch.”

  Daniel microjumped and in a millisecond was right on top of the ship. He pounded it with laser fire. The ship tried to go evasive but there was no escaping Daniel’s lock. Not willing to waste yet another missile, he kept at it with lasers. Soon the enemy craft’s shields were down, and each successful hit sent debris and smoke in its wake. After thirty seconds, Daniel redirected almost all power to his weapons and fired two supercharged lasers, which tore the ship in half upon impact, followed by a fiery explosion.

  “Having fun?” inquired Fillio.

  “Wouldn’t go that far, but at least it distracts me.”

  “I understand how you feel. He’s my friend too, you know. I was really surprised he left us.”

  “I can’t blame him for that. I just wish I knew he was okay.”

  “Perhaps we should try and locate him?”

  “I don’t think he wants to be found.”

  “Screw what he wants. What about what we want?”

  “Point taken. Perhaps we can ask Ryonna and Tar’Lock to go look for him.”

  “Yeah, if there’s anyone who knows how to get things done outside of Earth Alliance territory, it sure is those two. But you should go as well.”

  “Alright. I’ll ask the commodore once we get back.”

  “Speaking of . . .”

  “Yeah, let’s regroup with the transport and finish this boring run.”

  “Boring, huh? Roger that.”

  * * *

  Chase descended to the lower levels of the Ponos station. The lift doors opened to reveal a very dark hall lit with very few lights, in low-power setting; just enough to see a few feet in front of him.

  He walked straight down the hall. After a minute a shadow passed in front of one of the lights and stood there. It was humanoid. It held a knife in one hand, which was shaking slightly.

  “Out of my way if you value your life,” said Chase casually.

  “No way, man. You need to give me your possessions or I’ll cut you.” The man waved his blade nervously.

  “Look, I get it. This is a shitt
y place, and you’re doing what you can to survive, but believe me, take my offer and move aside.”

  “I don’t fear you!”

  “And yet you should.”

  “You think you’re tough, but I have the knife, bitch!”

  “In this case it’s as useful as an air conditioner on a subzero planet, so I suggest you put it down before you end up wearing it.”

  The man looked puzzled, trying to figure out Chase’s pun. When it finally hit home he made a face and spat on the ground.

  “You asked for it, man,” he said, feigning confidence.

  Chase shook his head from side to side, and then lifted one hand and made a gesture inviting the thief to attack him. He threw himself at Chase, blade first, going for the heart. Chase’s reaction was immediate. He caught and stopped the incoming blade between two fingers. He exhaled, still shaking his head.

  The man watched in terror, still trying to make the blade advance, but it wouldn’t budge at all. Chase slowly raised his other hand and made a fist in front of the man’s face. The man swallowed heavily.

  With a swift movement Chase sent him flying towards the nearest wall. He impacted it a good three feet above ground level before the blade he had used to attack Chase came at lightning speed and pierced his left shoulder, before he hit the ground. Blood flowed from the wound. The man screeched in agony, artificial gravity trying to pull his body down but the blade preventing him. Chase resumed his walk and stopped at his level.

  “Don’t kill me, please,” implored the man.

  “I never intended to kill you, fool. Believe me, if that had been my intention you’d have been dead before you uttered a word. Now, I’m looking for some recreational drugs. I’ve been told I can find them on this level, and you look like someone who uses, so would you be so kind as to point me towards your dealer?”

  “Will you let me down if I tell you?”

  “Are you really in a position to negotiate?”

  “Fair en—” Before he could finish the blade started cutting up and extending the wound, as gravity slowly pulled the man downward.