Star Cruiser Titan

by C. G. Mosley

  Sabre glared at her and held his hands out. “Alright, so get to the point. What is it you want me to do?”

  Again, she pursed her lips as she considered the question. “At this point, you go, and you talk to Howler. You tell him whatever you’ve got to tell him to get his head right.”

  “And if he shuts me down?”

  “Then you go back to Stellick and you tell him how you really feel.”

  Sabre laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Banshee asked, clearly unamused.

  “Oh nothing,” he quipped. “It’s just that you make it all sound so easy. You’re not the one Howler is going to punch in the face…I am.”

  She squinted at him and snorted. “I’ve been punched by plenty of men and women too. I’ll have you know that the women hit harder. Be a man and handle this.”

  Banshee spun on her heel and strutted away leaving him there dumbfounded.

  ***

  “I’ve got everything you need,” Amus said as he spread multiple documents all over the table. “Brave Avaxians died to get this sort of intel.”

  Captain Hightower looked over the various photographs and blueprints. He was pleasantly surprised to see that the intel he’d been provided far exceeded what he’d expected to actually get. Before him, it seemed there was a wealth of information on the Voyager class starship—and specifically the Polaris.

  “The captain of the ship is a Kaloian named Stuart Lord,” Amus said, sliding a picture of the man across the table.

  Hightower was surprised to see that the Kaloian appeared very young…much too young to be given captaincy over such an important starship as the Polaris. It was clearly a testament to his intellect and Hightower made a mental note to not underestimate him.

  “It’s going to be challenging enough to get the star chart and freeing my father,” Amus said. “But to make matters worse, the brig is located on the bottom deck while the chart is most likely going to be kept on the top deck near the bridge.”

  Drago licked his lips with his pointed tongue and let out a low growl. “Stop trying to find reasons for us to fail,” he said.

  Amus glared at him. “I’m just stating facts,” he snapped back.

  The Bothian rolled his eyes and drummed a claw on the table.

  “This is going to be extremely helpful,” Hightower said as he glanced over the blueprints to the Polaris. He then looked to Commander Stellick, who was seated at the opposite side of the table. “Stellick, you need to study every document in here backwards and forwards until you know it by heart.”

  Roger nodded. “With all due respect, I think we both should,” he shot back.

  “Don’t worry about me, I’ll know it,” he assured him, and then he glanced to Drago. He was still tapping a claw on the table. “You should study it as well.”

  Drago snorted and waved him off. “Captain, I will follow you and I’ll be there to clear a path when needed. There is no need for me to memorize all of this.”

  Hightower glanced over at Roger. He shrugged and answered with a smirk.

  Fully aware that there was no point in arguing the matter further, Captain Hightower returned his attention to Amus. “Do we know when and where we will be able to board?”

  The alien’s dark blue lips curved upward, and he showed his pointy teeth. “In two days Polaris will be in deep space and at its furthest point from any other Supreme Regency starship. We’ve discovered that its mission is to send down multiple scanning probes in a grid pattern around the entire planet.”

  “What are they looking for?” Roger asked.

  Amus shrugged. “My guess would be the resource they’re missing for their precious elixir. I doubt they’ll find it on Pana. It’s a planet covered in jungle and considered extremely dangerous.”

  Hightower raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous how?”

  Amus narrowed his eyes. “It’s said that it’s inhabited by savages—or, well, cannibals.”

  Roger shuddered. “So, I guess that’s why they’ll be sending down probes instead of putting boots on the ground.”

  “Well, yes and no,” Amus answered. “The probes obviously cover much more ground in a shorter amount of time and they’ve been proven to be extremely accurate. However, there is no doubt that the savage tribes that inhabit Pana made it an easy decision.”

  “So, when is the best time for us to strike?” Roger asked as he leaned back in his chair.

  “We wait until they send down their probes,” Amus answered. “The ship has to remain stationary for the data that is collected to be as accurate as possible. Sending out multiple probes to monitor an entire planet takes a great deal of planning and time. The crew of the Polaris will be very focused on getting it right the first time. When your fighters attack, trust me, they will be caught completely off guard.”

  Captain Hightower sat motionless but continued to study all the intel displayed before him. Roger could see the wheels turning in his head.

  “Captain, what are you thinking?” he asked.

  Hightower looked up at him abruptly. He smiled slightly and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I think we’ve got a good plan—until we get to the part where we have to leave. We haven’t discussed that part very much.”

  Amus looked at him, confused. “Captain Hightower, it’s quite simple in theory. We split into two parties. One party goes to get the star chart. The others then go down to the brig, incapacitate the guards, get Ralu into one of their uniforms, and then we all regroup and sneak out the same way we came in. All we need is for your fighters to keep all of the attention on them while we complete these tasks, and everything will fall into place.”

  The captain glanced over at Roger and laughed. “You hear that Roger?” he asked skeptically. “Everything will just fall into place…we have nothing to worry about.”

  The large Bothian watched the exchange with great interest and suddenly began laughing too. “You humans worry too much,” he barked. “As I said before, I will follow you and I will clear the path when needed. You have nothing to fear.”

  Hightower sighed and began to gather up all the documents spread across the table. He glanced up at Roger and said, “I mean it, Stellick. I want all this memorized.”

  Roger nodded. “I’ll begin tonight,” he said.

  “And your team is ready?” the captain asked, almost as an afterthought.

  “They are,” Roger answered. “Tim’s got our birds fully loaded and I’ve got what I believe to be the best five pilots on the ship. If there is time to be bought, they’ll give us plenty to complete this mission.”

  Captain Hightower stood from the table and tossed the compiled file across to Roger. “You know the odds are great that we could lose one or more of them,” he said, sadly. “Are you certain you’ve got the best five?”

  Roger stared him in the eye and briefly considered each of his choices. The only one that seemed to worry him was Howler. “I’m certain, sir,” he answered confidently. “My pilots will be ready, and I think you underestimate them,” he added.

  The captain raised an eyebrow at him. “How so?”

  “I think the odds are greater that all five of them will return back to the Titan,” Roger replied.

  Captain Hightower kept his eyes focused right on Roger’s. “Very good,” he said. “I expect nothing less.”

  Chapter 27

  Benedict Drayton held up the tiny vial of white liquid and then withdrew the appropriate dosage into the syringe. He then looked down on the unconscious body of Jado Baylor. The young Kaloian was lying on a metal table with a portion of his brain exposed. Benedict glanced at the syringe and then back to Jado. The physician was very cognizant of the fact that what he was about to do would probably kill his unwilling subject, but the decision had not been his own. Romulus Shade was desperate for answers and was willing to get them by whatever means necessary. It surprised him that the Potentate was willing to give up some of the remaining stock of elixir to see what effect it would have on Jad
o’s brain. Injecting the elixir directly into the brain of a subject had never been tried before, but since it seemed Jado had nearly fulfilled his usefulness, Romulus felt it was a worthy endeavor.

  Without contemplating the matter further, Benedict suddenly thrust the needle into the exposed portion of Jado’s brain. He began pushing the plunger in at a gradual pace and knew it would not take long before he knew if Jado survived the ordeal or not. At first, there was no response at all and in fact, a lot of the elixir seemed to ooze right back out of the tiny hole in which it was injected. Benedict used gauze to dab the excess fluid away and then proceeded to replace the portion of Jado’s missing skull. Within a matter of seconds, the physician managed to weld the flesh and bone back together with a laser. Once finished, he placed his surgical tools neatly onto a nearby metal tray and then removed his gloves. Jado still remained motionless and it seemed all life had left him.

  “Thank you for your sacrifice,” Benedict said, lowering his head.

  He then turned away and headed for the exit. The potentate would not be happy to hear of Jado’s passing but Benedict hoped he’d be able to show him that it wasn’t a complete loss. Though he was dead, Benedict would still be able to conduct more studies on Jado’s body. The key to how he was able to unlock the ability without the aid of the elixir was still there, he just had to find it. As the door in front of him slid open, Benedict heard a shuffling sound behind him. He paused and turned to look over his shoulder. Jado’s body was shaking slightly.

  Dying tissues contracting…nothing more, he thought as he again turned away.

  “He-Help m-me,” Jado called out suddenly in a sickening groan.

  Surprised, Benedict dashed back to the table. “Jado, do you hear me?” he asked.

  “Wh-what have you d-done to me?” Jado asked. His tone was a mixture of fear and anger.

  “I injected some of the elixir into your brain,” Benedict replied. “Are you able to use your ability?”

  Jado suddenly opened his eyes and glared at the physician. His right eye was grayed and blind but still, it glared at him. “Why?” he asked, now clearly angered.

  Benedict was taken aback by the question. “Why?” he asked in return. “Because we are trying to help you harness your power. If we can help you do that, we’ll be able to help others do it as well. It’s for the betterment of all Kaloians.”

  Jado sat up straight on the table and reached out, wrapping his fingers around the throat of Benedict.

  “What are you doing?” Benedict rasped as he tried to pry the fingers away.

  Jado kept his hand firmly around his captor’s neck as he swung his legs off the table and stood.

  “Let me go,” Benedict said, still struggling to get the words out.

  Jado cocked his head to the side, took a deep breath and released his grip. Benedict fell backward and gasped for air. He clutched at his now sore throat and glanced up at Jado. “The potentate will not be happy when he learns of this…this assault!” he spat with fury.

  Jado stared at him. “You wanted to unlock the secret of how I used my ability? Well, I think you succeeded.”

  Benedict stared back at him, bewildered. Suddenly, he felt his body begin to float off the floor.

  “W-what are you doing?” he asked, now panicked.

  Jado’s good eye watched him intensely but he said nothing. Benedict continued to float until he reached the ceiling.

  “Release me!”

  It came out more like a plea than a demand. Benedict then began to feel pressure around his skull.

  “Please…no,” he said, unable to conceal the pain.

  Jado looked on as the physician opened his mouth to say more, but before he could, his head imploded.

  ***

  Malcolm Steiger was impressed with how quickly he’d adapted to his new legs. In only a weeks’ time he’d figured out how to walk briskly and was ready for the next challenge: climbing stairs. Benedict Drayton was a very gifted physician and it was easy to see why the potentate had employed him to be his own personal doctor. Though he was grateful for the new legs, he was now full of newfound hatred for the man responsible for putting him in that condition. He felt as if he were a prisoner in the palace and wondered what his future may be. Malcolm vowed that the first opportunity he found to escape, he would take full advantage of it.

  The room in which he now found himself, was windowless but furnished with all the luxuries necessary to make him comfortable. His best guess was that he was being held on the upper level of the palace which would only compound the complications he would face if there was any chance of escape. Once a day, Benedict Drayton would visit, supply him medicine, and coach him on the use of his new cybernetic legs. Afterwards, he’d leave him instructions on a particular exercise he wanted him to practice until their next meeting. As much as Malcolm wanted to do anything but cooperate, he also knew that if he was going to get away, he’d need his legs to do so. So, rather reluctantly, he followed every instruction he was given. His time would come and when it did, he would be ready.

  Suddenly he heard screaming. Malcolm made his way to the door, his new metallic feet clanging with each step. He then put his ear against the door and listened. He heard more screaming, and then a sickening thud that sounded like flesh being pummeled. Now there were footsteps (it sounded like bare feet) and they were approaching his door. Malcolm instinctively stepped back and looked around the room for something that would serve as a weapon. Within seconds he settled on a metal stool. As soon as the footsteps reached the other side of the door, they ceased, and it was clear that whomever was there was interested in the contents of his room. Malcom gritted his teeth and gripped the stool tightly. Something told him that he was going to have to use it.

  As he watched, unblinking, the metal door began to creak and vibrate. Without further warning, it suddenly tore loose from its frame and rocketed across the room, narrowly missing Malcolm in its trajectory. Without thinking, Malcolm threw the stool in the direction of his unknown visitor. He then watched in utter amazement as the stool stopped in mid-air.

  “Jado?” Malcolm asked, looking past the floating stool.

  His former crewman stood in the mangled doorway and stared at him. One of his eyes was grayed and dead. His head was hairless and now melded together in a bloody pulp. The only clothing he wore was the underwear around his waist.

  “Captain Steiger,” Jado replied. “I’ve come to free you from this place.”

  “What have they done to you?” Malcolm asked. “Did the potentate do this to you?”

  Jado cocked his head to the side and stared at him, expressionless. “His physician did this to me.”

  Malcolm’s brow tightened. “At Romulus Shade’s command I’m sure,” he replied. He then glanced over at the stool, still floating in the air. “Jado, how are you…?”

  Jado, suddenly remembering the stool, turned his attention to it and allowed it to float slowly to the ground. “Come, let’s leave this place,” he said.

  Without saying another word, Jado turned away and Malcolm chased after him. Once in the hallway, he discovered that he’d been correct in assuming he was being held captive on the upper floor of the palace. As they approached the spiraled staircase that led downward, they were met by four armed palace guards. Jado slowed his pace but did not stop moving forward. The guards shouted a command for him to stop and lifted their plasma rifles as they did so. Malcolm expected that this would be where he’d surely meet his demise but was shocked and amazed to see that instead the guns held by each guard suddenly twisted violently as an unseen force ripped the weapons from each man’s grasp. As Jado continued to move forward, all four men—two on the left and two on the right—were suddenly thrust hard against the walls next to them.

  As Jado began his descent down the stairwell, Malcolm quickly retrieved one of the discarded plasma rifles before continuing after him. Miraculously, they met no new opposition until they reached the bottom floor of the palace. It was
there that Hugo Horne and at least twenty more armed guards were waiting.

  “Stop right there!” Horne commanded with authority.

  Malcolm was shocked to see that Jado complied. He held up his rifle, ready to fire when necessary.

  “I have no desire to hurt any of you,” Jado said, seemingly taking a moment to look each guard in the eyes. “None of you have caused me or the captain any harm. Allow us passage so that we may see the potentate.”

  Hugo Horne raised one of his bushy eyebrows and stared at Jado incredulously. He then looked to the soldiers on either side of him. Slowly and softly, they began to chuckle. The chuckles soon evolved into roaring laughter. “Do you really think we’re going to allow you to see the potentate?” he asked, breathless.

  Malcolm kept his head pointed straight at the guards, but he allowed his eyes to drift over at Jado. As he expected, the young Kaloian was not amused. His brow tightened, and his mouth became a straight line.

  “So be it,” he whispered.

  At that moment, Hugo Horne’s rifle was torn from his grasp in the same fashion that Malcolm had witnessed with the guards at the top of the stairwell. Malcolm watched the weapon whirl through the air until it crashed into the wall near him, seemingly rendering it useless. At that exact same moment, the other twenty guards turned their own weapons onto each other. Malcolm could see by the expressions on their faces that they had absolutely no control over their actions. He wanted to close his eyes because he knew what was coming, but somehow, he forced his eye lids to remain opened. The next few seconds became a horrifying spectacle of terrified men falling to the ground in expanding pools of blood, plasma rifles still smoking in their grasps.

  The display startled Hugo Horne severely, and he literally ran toward where Jado and Malcolm stood to get away from the carnage. Once it was over, he looked over at Jado, his bottom jaw drooping.