HAB 12 (Scrapyard Ship)

by McGinnis, Mark Wayne

  Billy and Orion had taken up positions in front of the windows, while Jason leaned in close to Ricket’s shoulder.

  “How do we get around that?” Jason asked. “That seems like it would be an insurmountable problem.”

  “It is, actually. There is no way to alter their code or to jail-break it, as you would say.”

  “So what are you doing then? That obviously hasn’t stopped you.”

  “I’m starting over. I noticed their core software allows for periodic soft-updates. In effect, I’ll be replacing one version with a whole new one. I’m writing just enough new code to keep the sub-stations and array operational, but that’s about it. It only needs to operate for several minutes. Enough time to cycle on and off each of the lasers, upload the latest version, and power back on.”

  “So how does that help us?” Jason asked, looking back at the window where more security hover drones were lining up.

  “When they cycle back on, four of them will no longer be positioning their individual mirrors in the direction of that central point in space. They have been assigned a new set of coordinates. These mirror arrays will now target a sub-station on one of the neighbor planets.”

  “Not just one, but four sub-stations will be destroyed?”

  “That is correct.”

  “Where is Halimar in this scenario?” Jason asked.

  “Last, of course, although we will need to make haste to evacuate this facility.” Ricket turned to face Jason, no longer keying in information.

  “We’ve got a lot of company out there,” Orion said. “In addition to security hover drones, there’s more pill-bug guys, as well as armed Craing soldiers.”

  Jason was hailed.

  “Go for Captain.”

  “Captain, I guess you could say the shit’s hit the fan,” Rizzo said, sounding out of breath. “We’ve had to pull back; there’s two battle cruisers hovering above the sub-station and one is on the ground. Armed combatants are filing into the facility from multiple sides.”

  “Where exactly are you now, Rizzo?”

  “We’ve found cover in a barn-like structure—about ten miles away, Cap.”

  “Hang tight there—looks like we’re almost finished here.”

  “Cap,” Billy said, pointing to another monitor. They were looking at video footage of the outside of the facility. A red banner with bold symbols scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

  Ricket said, “That’s local news footage, the equivalent of your CNN.”

  The feed changed to what looked like overhead security footage of the inside of a facility.

  “That’s us!” Orion exclaimed. The announcer was talking excitedly and the video had zoomed in on Ricket sitting at the workstation.

  “What is he saying?” Jason asked.

  “They’re reporting that after analysis of the security footage, they’ve definitively concluded it’s Emperor Reechet—that their emperor has returned. Apparently, this is causing quite a stir…”

  Jason continued to watch Ricket, his head turned upward toward the display. Time and time again his loyalty had been put to the test. At some level, wouldn’t he have mixed feelings? This is—was—his home wasn’t it? Will there come a time when he chooses Craing over human? There was still so much Jason didn’t know about his father’s relationship with this part alien, part mechanical being. What had inspired Ricket’s seemingly unfaltering allegiance to him fifteen years ago?

  The news feed had changed again, this time showing open space and a group of small vessels.

  “What’s the announcer saying?” Jason asked excitedly.

  Ricket said, “The Emperor’s Guard are minutes from leaving Craing space. They’ve held up temporarily.”

  “Because you’re here?” Jason asked.

  “That’s a possibility. Me being here has complicated things. Under normal circumstances, their directive is to stay with their charge, the emperor. Leaving the star system would violate that. High Priest Lom’s successor and his brethren without doubt would want the fleet to continue on to Earth. Now that my presence here among the Craing worlds is public knowledge, they have a dilemma,” Ricket said.

  “It seems to me we have an opportunity here. If you’re up for it. I mean, as far as the populace is concerned, you are their emperor, yes?”

  “Yes. Their perception is that I am Emperor Reechet.”

  “Why not give them their marching orders? You … we … may not have an opportunity like this again,” Jason said, wondering if he was crossing the line into an area with which Ricket would be uncomfortable.

  The room had gone quiet. Billy and Orion, as well as the Craing lab workers, had their full attention on Ricket. He looked directly at one of the workers and spoke in their native language. Flustered at first, the worker stuttered, hemmed and hawed, then nodded agreeably.

  “What did you ask him?” Jason asked.

  “If their security system records audio as well as video.”

  “… And?”

  “Yes, it does,” Ricket replied.

  “You don’t have to do this. It’s not for me to tell you to do this,” Jason said.

  Ricket got up from his chair and stood beneath the security camera. He began speaking in his native tongue. In unison, the workers in the room fell to their knees with their heads bowed. On the other side of the glass wall, the Craing there did the same. Ricket continued to speak softly but with determination. Jason had no idea what he was saying. The news feed was now live and showing Ricket addressing the Craing populace. It was uncanny how similar this was to a typical Earth news report, even down to multiple video-feed windows being displayed. They showed what appeared to be the reactions from other locations, other Craing worlds. Jason imagined thousands, millions of Craings had stopped in their tracks. The feeds kept changing. Crowd after crowd, all on their knees, heads bowed. Mesmerized, they saw that their emperor had returned and was addressing them. With his palms up, Ricket gestured to the camera for everyone to rise up. Jason watched the Craing workers in the room, their faces expressing a mixture of fear and astonishment. Whatever Ricket was saying blew their minds—and one by one they stood. They looked to Ricket and then to one another. Astonishment had turned to something else. An expression on the Craings’ faces Jason had come to recognize: They were smiling—some were laughing. The feeds from around the star system reflected the same response. The populace was now on their feet. Cheers and clenched fists were raised in triumph. Then the feeds all went black. The news bulletins went quiet.

  “What the hell did you say?” Jason asked, bewildered.

  There was that same expression. Jason wondered if he’d ever seen Ricket smile before.

  “I’ve started something.”

  “What?”

  “A revolution.” With that, Ricket turned back to the console and entered one more set of commands.

  The display above him changed—specifically, something on Halimar’s neighboring planet. The blue vector line from its south pole sub-station out to the mirror array, and then out to deep space, disappeared. Then the icon representing both the sub-station itself as well as its corresponding mirror array out in space disappeared. Several moments passed before the icons returned. The blue vector line reappeared from the sub-station to the mirror array, but it no longer extended out to space. A new vector line connected the mirror array to another planet on the far side of the solar system—to that planet’s south pole sub-station. Moments later, that sub-station icon went dark.

  “The process has begun. The wormhole has collapsed. The Craing can no longer travel to the far reaches of the universe.”

  Jason stared at Ricket in disbelief. What he’d just accomplished would change the lives of millions, perhaps billions across the universe. For those on Earth it meant no less than their survival.

  “Captain, within five minutes, this facility will be destroyed,” Ricket said.

  “Let these people know they need to evacuate—get far away from the sub-statio
n.”

  Ricket spoke to one of the lab workers. In a frenzy, he turned to his other coworkers. Someone activated another alarm. Mayhem broke out on the other side of the glass wall. Only the security hover drones remained at their posts. Jason checked the display again. Three sub-stations had been destroyed.

  “We need to get out of here, fast.” Jason noticed new phase-shift coordinates had been entered into his HUD.

  “We are all set, Captain,” Ricket said.

  “One question. What’s happening with the Emperor’s Guard? Jason asked.

  “I no longer detect them within this star system, sir.”

  “Damn! So they made it out before the wormhole closed down?”

  Ricket didn’t answer right away. “Yes, I believe so, Captain. In all probability, they will reach Earth within the next day or two.”

  Chapter 26

  They’d phase-shifted five hundred feet from the side of an old barn. Five Craing battle cruisers now hovered in the air. Four were on the ground. The sub-station’s alarm klaxon howled in the distance as Jason answered an incoming hail.

  “Go for Captain.”

  He saw a large wooden door slide open. Rizzo peeked out and waved, “We’re inside here, Cap.”

  Jason, Orion, Billy and Ricket ran. Halfway to the barn, ten miles across the open field, an intense white light engulfed the sub-station. Their helmet visor-shields compensated for the intensity of the flash. The ground beneath their feet shook violently. They watched spellbound; within several moments nothing remained of the distant facility. Like a blast furnace, the heat wave that followed seeped through Jason’s less-than-perfect condition battle suit. HUD readings spiked, then returned to normal.

  The small Craing cargo ship took up most of the open space of the barn. Jason found Dira attending to Traveler. Rustling Leaves, the other and last of the surviving rhino warriors on the team, sat upon something similar to a bale of hay. Dira had removed her battle helmet, and her hair was moist with perspiration. Both of Traveler’s legs had been elevated, and she was in the process of cleaning the wounds. They both looked up at Jason’s approach. He knelt down next to them.

  “How’s your patient?” Jason asked, giving Dira a quick smile and gesturing to Traveler.

  “He’s hanging in there. Without nanites, I’m forced to use old-fashioned medicine to fight off some pretty aggressive infections. My guess, those arrows were tipped with poison.”

  Irritated, Jason said, “We’ll have an opportunity to speak with Wik-ma again. I’m betting he has an antidote for that poison.”

  “I’m sorry, Traveler, Stands in Storm did not make it. He died in battle. A brave warrior to the end.”

  “That is good, Captain. Stands in Storm was a friend, but he lacked real skill with the heavy hammer. I’m surprised he survived this long. I will miss him, but now things will change.”

  “How so?”

  “He was my brother. I am obliged to take his wife and child on as my own.”

  “Well, I’m sorry for your loss—but happy for your gain as well,” Jason said, not real sure he was offering the right sentiment.

  Traveler propped himself up on his elbows, a curious expression blossomed on his deeply creased face. “I look forward to breeding with her. Yes, thank you, Captain Reynolds—this is a good day.”

  Dira and Jason exchanged glances. She bit her lip to keep from smiling.

  “You’ll need to prepare him to move. This place is on the verge of anarchy—best if we’re not around,” Jason said, noticing that Gaddy was standing close by.

  “What you do? We hear reports, but cannot believe it true. Tell me now what you do.”

  “We did what we came here to do.”

  “No trick talk. Is it true?”

  “Is what true?” Jason asked, getting back to his feet.

  “Emperor Reechet has evoked, is that the word? Evoked? He has evoked Ramp-Lim.”

  “If that means he’s freed the people of the Craing worlds, yeah, he probably did.”

  “You do not say this so casually. There has never been a Ramp-Lim. Thousands of years, never a Ramp-Lim!” Gaddy seemed on the verge of an all-out rampage.

  “I thought this would be a good thing, no? Isn’t this what you wanted?” Jason asked.

  “A good thing? A good thing? You ask such a stupid question as this?” Gaddy replied, looking around to the others as if Jason was a total idiot.

  “This is best thing to ever happen to Craing people!” Gaddy was smiling now. “Our ancient teachings, written thousands of years ago, spoke of this day. Ramp-Lim means beginning of the end. Nothing will ever be the same here among the Craing.”

  Moving fast, she took two quick steps and leapt into Jason’s arms. She kissed him square on the lips, brought her face away and looked into his eyes. “I thank Emperor Reechet, and I thank you, Captain Reynolds.” She jumped down and scurried off into her ship without looking back. Jason saw Dira in his peripheral vision, her hand back up to her mouth. “Don’t even say anything.” he said, and headed off to look for Ricket.

  Jason was having a difficult time keeping his mind off of his family and the plight of The Lilly. In all probability, Mollie and Nan were fine. Pirates were a nasty bunch no matter how you looked at it, but in most cases they could be reasoned with. Or paid off. He needed to get back there, as soon as humanly possible.

  Ricket was talking to the three Craing dissidents. Seated before him like grade school students, each had questions. Ricket spoke softly and gave them his full attention. Again, Jason wondered if Ricket was making a choice. He was Craing. They needed a leader—was he blind to that?

  “Cap, there’s no way we can make a move with those battle cruisers hovering overhead,” Billy said, standing next to Orion and peeking out the barn door.

  Jason joined them, took a look up at the sky and nodded. “Guess we’ve kicked the hornet’s nest, huh?”

  Jason noticed Orion had Stand in Storm’s wider belt slung over her shoulder.

  “I grabbed it after he fell. It’s a little beat up, but I thought it might come in handy.” Orion handed Stands in Storm’s phase-shift belt, along with his wristband control unit, over to Jason.

  “Good thinking, Gunny.” Jason looked for Ricket and found him at his side. How does he do that? “Any way we can make use of this? Perhaps jury rig the ship?” Jason asked, holding up the belt.

  Ricket took the belt and the control unit. “Depends on whether I can interface to the ship’s power control unit.” He looked at it for a moment, shrugged, then scurried off in the direction of the ship.

  “Guess I’ll see if I can give him a hand,” Jason said. “Let me know if anything changes out there. I have a feeling we’ll need to move out of here soon.”

  Jason found Ricket talking to Gaddy. She had come up with some tools, and they were accessing the main drive beneath a floor panel at the rear section of the ship. When she got up to leave, Jason sat down in her place.

  “This might work,” Ricket said, angling his head deeper into the compartment. Jason found what looked to be a flashlight in the box of tools and handed it over to him. Ricket pulled his head back out and concentrated on the belt, stripping the backing off the clasp casing.

  “Don’t you need wires or cables?”

  “No, it won’t be necessary to hardwire anything. Even this old ship uses wireless interface modules. It’s more a matter of interfacing frequencies and data rates. And as long as the belt’s circuitry is making contact with the ship’s power storage unit, similar to a battery, the proximity alone will drive the belt’s phase-shift capabilities. This should work surprisingly well,” Ricket said.

  Jason wanted to take advantage of this alone-time to speak with Ricket. In light of what had happened—and what was going to happen on his home worlds here—he wanted to clear the air.

  “You mean a lot to these people. What you started … They’ll need help,” Jason said.

  Ricket brought his attention away from the belt
and looked at Jason. “Are you asking me if I’m staying?” he asked, somewhat perplexed.

  “Well, yeah … These are your people. This was your home. I just assumed— ”

  “Captain, this body—this quasi-mechanical organic construct—is not the Emperor Reechet or even the Scientist Reechet they believe me to be. That being died well before your grandfather discovered me beneath the scrapyard. But even if I were still that being, the last thing the people of the Craing worlds need is another emperor. With your society’s faults, and there are many, your democratic process achieves things that this society has just now begun to hope for. The Craing people are aware of Earth. They have been for a long time. Now, the seeds of freedom are taking root here as well. Glenn and the other overlords … Gaddy and the other dissidents—they will be the future of Craing. As for me …?”

  Jason continued to watch the mechanical-alien cyborg talk. Small, intricate, mechanical devices beneath his near-transparent skin were constantly moving, always at work doing a thousand different things all at once. But Ricket was far more than the accumulation of sophisticated parts. Ricket, seeming to contemplate his next words, began to speak again.

  “I was destined to spend an eternity beneath rock and soil. Aware just enough of my surroundings to be miserable, but incapacitated enough not to be able to move. I’ve yet to discover the events that led to me being here, but it was the worst hell one could possibly imagine, Captain. When your father unearthed The Lilly and reactivated me, I was reborn. Right then and there I dedicated my life, my new life, to your father, and now you, my brother. Wherever that takes us.”