Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 2: The Apex Predator

by T. R. Harris

  “Okay, boss,” said Doug Cromartie. “Just tell us what to do.”

  “Very good, and Cromartie I need you to play a very important part in this play. Since they’ll be watching, this is the op….”

  Chapter 20

  Monick Bor’nick looked up from the monitor, revealing extremely large eyes set on opposite sides of his narrow, boney head. “You should see this Kronis. You knew the Ma-Jor better than the rest of us.”

  The slow, cumbersome scientist shuffled over to the monitor where he focused his incredibly acute sight on the grainy image. The camera was mounted high above the floor of the hangar allowing one unit to cover the entire area. What he saw was a group of the emaciated prisoners huddled over the supine Nigel McCarthy, striking him with clubs and feeble kicks.

  “Why are they attacking their leader?” Kronis was truly baffled. He knew that prior to this the Ma-Jor was a hero to the other Humans, almost a mythical figure who had led them in a long series of successful operations. And now this….

  “Replay the prior events, Monick. I have curiosity.”

  “I, too,” the second scientist acknowledged as he reset the digital recording for a few minutes before this. There was Nigel McCarthy standing with a group of the strongest survivors, when suddenly an animated argument had ensued. The much stronger and healthy Ma-Jor had fended off the earliest attacks by the weakened prisoners, when one such Human stepped up behind the Ma-Jor and hit him across the head with a metal rod. McCarthy fell to the floor, where the others could more-easily stomp on him.

  The Ma-Jor managed to crawl to the large double doors to the store room and reached a hand up to the intercom box set in the wall next to the doors. The scientists could now hear his voice on the recording. “Help! Please help!” the severely injured Human cried out.

  Just then another of the prisoners stepped up and kicked the Ma-Jor in the side of the head. “You ain’t giving up our treasure to these aliens. We’ll kill you before we let you.”

  Treasure!

  Both the scientists looked at each other with shocked surprise. Then Kronis sent a mental command to the collars of the prisoners. Now in real time, the scene within the makeshift prison showed all the conscious Humans writhing on the floor grasping their necks.

  “Let us investigate this claim of treasure,” Kronis said as he led the other, much skinner scientist out of the laboratory. “The Humans do have a habit of hiding items from others.”

  It was only a short walk from the lab to the hangar. Monick released the security latches on the wide, heavy doors with a command through his medallion and the Mutt ’n Jeff aliens entered the room. Kronis released the pressure on the security collars. Monick bent down next to McCarthy and began to examine the nearly unconscious Human. He slapped him once across the face. “Speak, Ma-Jor. What is this treasure you speak of?”

  “Don’t tell him!” one of the other Humans called out.

  The Ma-Jor’s eyes fluttered open. “For my freedom….”

  “What for your freedom?”

  “I will give you the treasure.” And then his eyes closed once more.

  Kronis lumbered up to the crowd of disgusting and filthy Humans and called out to three of them. “You, come and assist moving your commander to the laboratory,” he ordered. “Hurry, or else I will tighten your collars and not let up this time.”

  Garrett, Cromartie and Cameron climbed to their feet and did the best they could to move the now-unconscious body of Nigel McCarthy. They had a difficult time half-dragging, half-lifting the muscle-bound Englishman on the short journey to the series of brightly-lit rooms that made up the sanctuary of the scientists. They all squinted from the painful intensity of the light, of which they hadn’t experienced in almost four months. They placed McCarthy on a table with a thin pad as a cushion.

  “Return to the hangar now,” Kronis commanded. The three Humans hesitated as they looked first at the body of Nigel McCarthy and then at the two aliens. Just then, the third scientist entered the complex. He was tall and slender, with large ears and a double row of boney plates that stuck out from his back. He wore the medallion prominently on his barrel chest.

  Reluctantly, the three prisoners returned to their prison without supervision, knowing all it would take would be a thought by the aliens and the collars around their necks would tighten, this time not to loosen up until they were all dead. The thought was a great motivator, and the aliens knew it.

  Chapter 21

  Adam Cain…

  “So what are we going to barter with?” Sherri asked. “We don’t have a clue what these green bastards find of value.”

  “Grab a video camera,” Adam said. “Let’s start taking pictures of just about everything aboard the ship that isn’t crucial. I’ll take the camera to the nearest bar and see if I can find something these aliens want.”

  “You mean we’ll take the camera; I’m not staying here while you go have all the fun.”

  “This may not have dawned on you yet, hot-shot, but we’re in some pretty deep trouble. These O’mly look tough – tougher than most – and they’re not into playing games. And with this assumed-Kracori fleet out there somewhere, we don’t have a lot of time to mess around. If the Earth is their target, we may be the planet’s only hope of warning them before it’s too late.”

  “I know all that, so stop lecturing me and start filming.” Sherri reached into a drawer in the stateroom they were in and pulled out a pair of her panties. She held them up and smiled. “I wonder what they’ll give me for these? I know some people back on Earth who would pay a pretty penny.”

  “You are one sick puppy, Ms. Valentine,” Adam said as he lifted the camera and pressed record. What the hell, maybe the O’mly are perverts, he thought. After all, a lot of the old stories of alien abduction did involve tales of sexual perversion….

  Adam placed a number of small items in a backpack – items for immediate barter, including one of the special flash weapons they carried – and then with Sherri carrying the video camera, they left the Pegasus and headed into town.

  ********

  It wasn’t far beyond the gate to the small landing field that they entered the repair and warehouse district for this part of the city. The island where the city was located was large, with a low-lying hill rising up from its center. Tall trees and squatty palms covered the hill, as it appeared the O’mly had done nothing to claim the land for their city. Instead, the living space for the native Prime species consisted of the long, triangular-shaped protrusions jutting out from the island along with a few, unobtrusive roads joining the triangles with each other.

  With land available for their settlements, it was obvious the O’mly chose not to use it, probably from some reverence for dry land. As they walked along an avenue boarded by charcoal gray buildings, Adam found this to be disingenuous. After all, the raw material for their buildings and other technology had to come from the land – unless it came from under the sea….

  The two Humans rounded a corner and came upon a large, open plaza that ended at the sea. There were several steps leading down into the water – and several O’mly, wearing what looked to be neoprene outfits were either entering or leaving the water. They appeared completely at ease with life above or below the waves, which made Adam wonder how much of their civilization was located underwater and therefore out of view.

  Since neither Sherri nor Adam could read alien, Adam had to open several doors to the nearby buildings and peer inside before he found what he was looking for. They entered the bar, and found it to be like so many others on Earth and throughout the galaxy. Nearly all Primes were affected by alcohol, or other drugs all lumped under the heading of intoxicants, and each culture had their gathering spots where those wishing to partake could congregate with other like-minded beings. This one was a little classier than most Adam had frequented; there was actually entertainment provided – which in reality was in the eye and the ear of the beholder. The sight of the two pasty-looking, multi-brea
sted O’mly females on the stage nearly made Adam vomit, as he unfortunately discovered where O’mly gills were located. It may have seemed like the epitome of biological efficiency that the lungs, gills, reproductive and waste-removal organs were all located in essentially the same spot, but it made Adam gag at the thought of … well, everything.

  Adam Cain would be forever amazed at the infinite variety of life in the universe, as well as the myriad of ways there were of building a body.

  Luckily for Adam and Sherri, there were a number of other species represented in the bar, although none of which Adam recognized. With this entire mini-interstellar alliance existing so close to Earth – in relative distance to the rest of the galaxy – it was odd, however, that Humanity had not stumbled upon the O’mly in the ten years or so they had been building their empire. Even if a race with gravity-drive wanted to stay hidden, it was very hard to do so, especially in the wide-open spaces of the Far Arm. This was just another testament to the vastness of the galaxy.

  Adam sensed a number of energy weapons in the room, in addition to surveillance devices, power equipment and food/beverage processors. The ATD took all this in and immediately began to map hacking paths into their processors. Even though the technology was foreign, the basic operation of electricity was universal. If needed, Adam would be able to take control of nearly everything within the room.

  In Adam’s vast experience in dives like this, he knew there would always be an operator of some kind who would be a semi-permanent fixture – the bookie, the loan shark, the drug dealer. This person was always on the lookout for a score of some kind. Adam scanned the room until he came upon the most likely suspect.

  Unfortunately, the creature was an O’mly, yet the two bodyguards flanking him were of another race; leathery-looking beasts with gaunt faces and gray – almost white – steely eyes. Their bodies were sinewy, their muscles firm. The O’mly crime boss appeared completely at ease as he sat in a booth at the far end of the room, a vantage point where he could watch the entire bar.

  Adam and Sherri approached slowly, both keeping their eyes down and barely glancing up at the O’mly. The two guards stood and flanked them.

  “What are you?” the crime boss asked. This seemed to be the most-common first question asked throughout the galaxy.

  “We are Jusepi,” Adam said, keeping up the lie.

  “I’ve not heard of you. I am Urous, what do you want?”

  “We arrived with the Kracori fleet earlier this day, yet our ship is in need of repairs and unfortunately, we do not have any korlons with which to pay.”

  “Can the Kracori not assist you? It seems that if you are with them, then who would dare charge you for the repairs?” The O’mly’s voice displayed suspicion and distrust.

  “Our communications are down and the lead supervisor at the landing field is holding our ship as collateral, at least for arrival and departure fees. Perhaps you know of this O’mly?”

  The crime lord stretched out a wide smile, and his demeanor relaxed. “Yes, I know of him!” The creature let loose with a vibration from deep within his throat – an O’mly laugh? “If he did not work for the government, he would surely be a major competitor of mine; an unscrupulous mid-lander who would trade his entire school for a profit.”

  He motioned for the two Humans to sit down across the table from him. The guards remained standing. “So you have come to me to ask for credits. Do you propose a loan or barter? Just to let you know I do not loan credits to off-worlders; you can understand why. But I see you carry pouches with you. What have you brought?”

  The quickest solution to Adam’s predicament would be to walk out of the bar with cash in his pocket, so he laid the backpack on the table top and opened it. He withdrew an MK-64 bolt launcher, the top of the line in hand-held flash weapons and available only to the elite military of the Expansion. Adam could detect other flash weapons in the room, including those carried by the guards and by Urous, so he wasn’t sure if the O’mly would appreciate the uniqueness of the weapon.

  Urous took the handgun and his eyes widened. He turned it over in his hand, admiring the construction and smooth metal construction. “I am not familiar with this model. Is this Kracori?”

  “No, it is for the top military in the Expansion—”

  “The Expansion; I have heard of this! It spans most of the galaxy. And why would you have a specialized military weapon … unless you are military as well.” The alien’s grip on the MK-64 tightened and Adam could sense the guards tense.

  “I – we – advise the Kracori regarding weapon’s technology throughout the galaxy,” he explained. “I have access to any number of advanced weapons and instruments. I would not normally offer such a device for sale, but as you can understand, I am desperate.”

  “You have been to other parts of the galaxy, to the Expansion and parts where this weapon is made and where the Kracori spawn?”

  “Yes, we have.” This might be the key to gaining the alien’s trust and acceptance. Urous was obviously curious about the galaxy beyond their small alliance. “But I was told the Kracori and the O’mly are allies and as such know all about one another.”

  Again the deep-throat vibration. “Who can ever be allies with the Kracori? They are a brutish race only interested in the Kracori. And yet you are affiliated with them … you Jusepi.”

  “It is only because of our common enemy, the Humans. We are at war with them, as are the Kracori.”

  “Ah, yes, the parasites. We have heard rumors of them; vile bugs who carry deadly diseases. Since the O’mly lack a substantial defense force of our own, we are counting on the Kracori to protect us from this plague that is infecting our part of the galaxy.”

  “Yet the Kracori are preparing to leave, to take the battle to the homeworld of the Humans. Are you aware of this?”

  “I am aware of everything, off-worlder. You have arrived with the last of their contingent. Even though their presence here has been good for my business, I will gladly see them leave.”

  “And leave your world defenseless?”

  “If they achieve their objective, then we will have nothing to fear from the Humans. A defense will not be necessary. Now, let us return to business. This talk of politics is boring me.”

  Adam nodded. He pointed to the weapon still in the alien’s hand. “I see you are familiar with flash weapons.” He indicated the weapons holstered by Urous’ guards. “I do not know where your weapons originate – either with the Kracori or locally – but this one is far superior to anything you have.”

  “We had primitive weapons of our own until the other dry-worlders came and helped improve upon them.”

  “Others?”

  “Yes, the silver creatures. They have since left; it has been ten, fifteen years or more.”

  “The Klin?” Adam had to keep his emotions from exposing his shock, although it should have come as no surprise. The Klin had been watching the Earth for hundreds of years. It only stood to reason that they would know of all the advanced civilizations in the region.

  “You are very well-knowledged about the alien races who have visited us. Have you had experience with the silver – the Klin – before?”

  “Only in passing,” Adam said quickly. “They are another of the advanced races from the part of the galaxy called the Expansion.”

  “Expansion … I do not like the sound of that word,” said Urous, frowning. “It implies a spreading of its influence. The O’mly are not anxious to become absorbed into any outside affiliation, not if it involves so many alien – and advanced – races. It will place the O’mly in a position of servitude.”

  “That is the history of the Expansion,” Adam said. “Yet with more weapons like this, you will not have to be placed in that position. Let me explain: Where most hand-held flash weapons have a maximum Level-One capacity of five bolts per charge, the one you are holding has twenty-four.” Adam saw the look of shock and awe on the alien’s face. “That’s right, twenty-four deadly bol
ts. And then at each lower setting, you double that. Level-Two can kill most creatures, and you will have forty-eight bolts available. And the effective range is nearly double, making this handgun almost as powerful as a Xan-Fi flash rifle.”

  “Xan-Fi?”

  “Forgive me; it is a brand of flash rifle used in the Expansion.”

  Urous looked up from the weapon and narrowed his eyes. “Where exactly do the Jusepi come from? I assumed you come from the Arm, and not from this so-called Expansion.”

  “Yes, we are of the Arm. But as I said, we are advisors to the Kracori regarding weapons systems. We have traveled extensively throughout the Expansion, gathering intelligence and securing exotic weapons for our client and ally.”

  Urous stared at the two Humans for a moment longer before finally nodding. “You are aware that the sale of weapons is an illegal activity on Aslon? Just the offering of this weapon to me can place you in containment.” Adam remained silent, waiting to see where Urous was going with this. “What is it you wish for this, and do you have more?”

  “I have three more on my ship.” He smiled at the alien. “I would, however, wish to keep one for myself. I will sell you this one for a thousand korlons. That will be enough for the docking fees and for the repairs we need.”

  Urous vibrated in his throat again. “One thousand! That is far more than you require for the docking fees – unless our friend Limous is looking to extort even more than usual from you. And the repairs – I can rebuild an entire spaceship for that much.” Urous looked at the MK-64 again. “I will give you three hundred … and I will not report you to the authorities. I believe that is a bargain. And I will pay the same for two more of these. With that you will have almost your one-thousand korlons.”

  Adam looked to Sherri. He frowned, just for effect. He knew he would take the credits; he just needed to make Urous believe he knew he was being robbed. Creatures like Urous needed to feel superior to their customers.