The Soldier: Escape Vector

by Vaughn Heppner

  “Interesting,” Uldin said. “You fear to anger me. Don’t you realize that Rhunes do not know anger?”

  “You’re not human, then?”

  “I’m a Rhune. We are as different a species from Homo sapiens as you are from lemurs.”

  The boast settled the doctor’s jitters. He didn’t believe it, of course, as he knew himself far more cunning than anyone he’d ever met. Keep him talking, and keep learning.

  “Are you saying that you’ve advanced beyond Homo sapiens but were once like us?” Halifax asked meekly.

  “For a Class Three mind, that is an astute guess,” Uldin whispered. “Rhunes are higher and different from Homo sapiens as Homo sapiens are from Nyanzapithecus alesi.”

  “Uh, I’ve never heard of them.”

  “Nyanzapithecus alesi was a breed of Miocene ape from Africa. They were the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees, one they shared many millions of years ago.”

  “Oh.”

  “Dr. Halifax, I’m not sure you’re fully utilizing your Class Three mind. I’ve just given you amazing data. Can’t you extrapolate from what I just said?”

  This was happening too fast, Uldin a bit too intimidating. “I don’t understand,” he admitted.

  “This is rare indeed. I may have erred concerning you. Perhaps I should reclassify you to a Class Four mind. It is a pity. I’d hoped—”

  Halifax looked up, astonished, as a realization hit him. “You know about Africa and prehistoric Earth. Yet, you spoke about space-time continuums.”

  “Go on.”

  “I-I don’t know. I suppose—oh. Rhunes…traveled here from our continuum but have become trapped in the pocket universe.”

  “You’re correct about that. Continue.”

  Halifax shook his head. “I don’t know enough to extrapolate further. You’ve suggested that Rhunes are superior to humans.”

  “I stated that as a truth because it is true.”

  The idea Uldin could be right rattled Halifax’s confidence. A thought came to his rescue.

  “Wouldn’t such evolutionary advancements take millions upon millions of years to achieve?”

  “Some would think so.”

  “But…” Halifax frowned until he brightened. “This isn’t a matter of evolution, but design. You Rhunes have experimented upon yourselves in order to turn yourselves into what you are presently.”

  “A crude way to say it, but why should I object to essential truth?”

  Halifax tried to think through the implications. Uldin had healed him earlier. The Rhune had done so with a touch. His collarbone had turned incredibly hot during the process.

  The doctor put his hands on the table, shaking his head as he tried to wrap his mind around the bewildering concepts. “It would appear that Rhunes are experimental men given vast power. I don’t understand how anyone could mutate people like that, giving them godlike abilities.”

  “What you can or cannot conceive is immaterial. Your spacecraft is the thing. You could be important as well, but it would have nothing to do with your intelligence or lack thereof.”

  “Could you enlighten me?” Halifax asked meekly.

  “Perhaps later,” Uldin whispered. “At the moment, I’m awaiting confirmation.”

  Halifax tried his hardest to decipher what Uldin meant by that, but he could not. He didn’t know if he should ask about Cade. Uldin clearly thought highly of himself, about Rhunes, in general. Was that arrogance or simple truth? If Uldin was so superior, why was he sticking around to talk to such an inferior like him?

  Am I missing something? Why do I feel as if I am?

  A chime sounded.

  Uldin nodded.

  A door opened, and another Rhune in a black robe entered. This one was younger than Uldin, but had the same thinness. He had short black hair and shining instead of dark eyes. His cheeks and eyes were also sunken. He had a symbol on the front of his robe, a bright dot with outward radiating wavy lines.

  “The vessel is aligned with our former space-time continuum,” the new Rhune said in a low voice. “It is, however, at least one thousand years ahead of us in colloquial time units.”

  “What about him?” asked Uldin, as he pointed at Halifax.

  The new Rhune removed a small box from a sleeve and advanced upon the doctor. The Rhune aimed the box at Halifax and pressed a button so the box made warbling sounds.

  Halifax sat utterly still, petrified.

  The box switched to a beep.

  The new Rhune examined a tiny screen on the box, saying, “He’s a match, Magister.”

  Uldin nodded, which seemed like a profound gesture, one of deep feeling. And yet, there was no change of expression on the Rhune’s face.

  “May I present another datum?” the new Rhune asked.

  Uldin inclined his head.

  “The space-wreck contains an Intersplit engine,” the other Rhune said in a blank voice. “The engine is damaged, slagged in places, but Otho believes he can repair and then duplicate it.”

  “So…” Uldin said. “The project starts to become achievable. Did Tarvoke understand that? Is that why he tricked the Eagle-Dukes into firing upon the ship?” He fixed his level gaze upon the doctor.

  Halifax looked up. There was something deadly in the Rhune’s gaze, as the inky eyes swirled with power. Halifax dearly wanted to look away but could not. The eyes grew—or so it seemed—until they filled the doctor’s vision. The hypnotic swirling made his mind throb and then turned it numb. Halifax tried to object but couldn’t speak. The “I” of his ego plummeted into a dark mental haze. At that point, his vision dimmed, and the vast swirling blackness of Uldin’s orbs shrank. The doctor now saw Uldin as from a great distance. There was a sharp pain in his mind. Halifax resisted. The sharp pain struck again and again. The doctor was unaware that he was rubbing his forehead. He thought he could hear himself droning on and on about something. He struggled to know what and soon realized he spoke about what had happened to Marcus Cade and him since entering the Vellani Rift. Halifax wanted to weep. He wanted to stop talking. Instead, he continued to speak in a droning voice, telling Magister Uldin everything.

  What did it all mean? Halifax didn’t know even as his voice became hoarse from his long talking stint. The Rhune had said he was superior to men as men were to ancient Nyanzapithecus alesi. So far, Uldin had proven correct about that. Yet, how had Rhunes come about? Halifax was certain he was missing something. Would Uldin give him time to figure it out, or discard him like a used carton?

  One thing bothered Halifax. If Rhunes were so superior, why had they allowed the Eagle-Dukes to do what they had to the Descartes? And why did the Rhunes let Tarvoke rule space?

  There was a mystery here, possibly several, and if he could figure them out, he might yet find a way to profit from all this.

  As Halifax wondered these things from his deep mental haze, he continued to babble about what he knew concerning the trip to Coad to Magister Uldin.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Cade kept a hand on the bamboo rail as he strolled around the gondola on the outer walkway. The wickerwork material at his feet creaked at his passage. He looked down at the ocean. He could jump and survive the drop. Where would he swim to after that? Perhaps sea-beasts would devour him before he swam too far. That was a negative attitude, but in this instance, probably correct.

  He continued along the outer path. In a small way, it reminded him of the station on Wayfarer III two kilometers above the surface. It had been a relay station with powerful winds gusting over it. There, his drop team had fought cyborg troopers. Both sides had lost combatants who dropped over the edge, plunging the two kilometers to the ground.

  The remembrance brought a tightening to his gut. Looking down from the edge of the relay station—

  Are you a coward? Were you afraid? Yes, he had been afraid, and he’d fought back then. He would do so again here.

  The soldier let go of the bamboo rail. That started a murmur among the crewmembers wa
tching him from the safety of the upper deck. Point proven once again to himself, Cade grabbed the rail and vaulted back onto the gondola proper, the upper deck.

  Velia began to clap. She’d kept pace with him from the deck. She wore a white blouse with puffy sleeves, the upper buttons undone. She had a wide floppy brimmed hat and scarlet pantaloons with pistols thrust through the slash-like belt around her narrow waist.

  “You’re a natural airman,” she said, stepping near, putting an arm through one of his.

  Cade liked the touch and the compliment, and that made him angry. You made an oath to Raina.

  “Tell me about your world,” Velia said.

  “What? Oh.” He should move his arm, but he would get nowhere with her if he did. “I’m more interested in your world,” he said. “For instance, your brother is the captain of the Day Star and belongs to Lord Magnus’s host. Atticus, the captain of the Storm Rider, also belonged to the host.”

  Velia laughed with an easy lilt, using both hands to clutch his arm, pushing her warmth against him.

  He automatically leaned against her, even though he should hold himself stiff or push her away.

  “You’re too suspicious about us,” she said. “Live a little, Spaceman. Enjoy the bounty of your strong and handsome body.” She squeezed the arm. “We could go below decks into your cabin.”

  The temptation stirred his groin, and he realized that was exactly what he could do if he desired.

  “In time,” he said, telling himself he was using this as a ploy, but wondering if he was lying to himself in the hope passion would overcome his better judgment.

  Velia looked up into his face, her hands tightening even more around his arm. “Do you really mean that?”

  What in the hell is wrong with me? If you really want to screw her, to break your word to Raina, go ahead and do it like a man. But know this: it means you’re giving up. Have you given up, Cade?

  He almost spoke then, until the pragmatic side of him intervened. For the sake of good relations with her brother, he didn’t want to spurn her offer in a way Velia might consider rude. Dorian had freed him and returned the boot knife. If Velia went crying or raging to Dorian, the captain might change his mind.

  Cade bargained with himself, telling himself this was just tactics. He forced an easy smile as he looked down at her and winked.

  Velia laughed, rubbing his arm. “So, you’re a man after all with a man’s delight in a beautiful woman.” She grinned. “I imagine you’ve forgotten all about the stupid oath to your wife.”

  That was too much. Shame welled like a geyser. An oath was an oath, and he loved Raina. Cade jerked his arm free.

  Velia stiffened, staring at him, pouting. She stamped a booted foot. “You shouldn’t do that to me. I’m ready to fall in love with you. Do you know what that means? We’d lie naked on your bed and make passionate love. But if you’re going to spoil it every time by—”

  I’m sorry Raina. This is tactics. But I know what I’m doing now.

  Cade grasped Velia’s upper left arm and forced a smile on his face even as he lifted the minx up onto her booted tiptoes. “I’m Marcus Cade,” he said in a heavy voice. “I’m the predator and you’re the prey. I chase when I desire to chase. Pouting and complaining won’t move me. Shaking your tail for me—”

  “Tail?” Velia asked, interrupting.

  He had his plan, and he could say the words now because he knew he’d never bang this little minx.

  “Shaking your ass to entice me will go much farther than your nagging,” Cade growled.

  Velia’s eyes shone as she smiled, and as she tried to push forward to kiss him. He held her back one-handed, increasing the strength of his grip.

  “You’re hurting me,” she said.

  “That’s right. Until you learn the lesson I’m teaching.”

  A frown appeared on her face. “Stop it, Marcus. Stop it before I order my bother to shackle you to a post and have him whip your back into bloody tatters.”

  Playing a hunch, Cade gripped even harder.

  The imperiousness on her face faded into worry. She might whimper, but he sensed steel in her will.

  At that point, Cade released her.

  Her boot heels hit the deck, and she gingerly touched her upper arm. A second later, she looked up. “You bruised me.”

  He held her gaze a moment longer and then turned and looked out over the boundless ocean.

  “That was a foolish thing to do,” she said. “Don’t ever do it again.”

  Without looking at her, he shrugged.

  “You’re a moody son of a bitch, aren’t you? What’s gotten into you now?”

  He judged the moment right and faced her. “You want the truth? Your lies annoy me.”

  Her pupils darted back and forth as she studied his rugged features. Her intelligence was obvious, the spinning wheels in her mind clear by her demeanor. “Oh. Do you mean what I told you about Captain Atticus kidnapping me?”

  Cade nodded.

  “You’re right. Atticus never did that.”

  He kept staring at her.

  “It was a good story, though,” she said with a grin. “You have to admit that.”

  His expression remained the same.

  It seemed like she was going to feign anger again, and then thought better of it. “Fine,” she said. “You’re worried about your future. I can understand that. You’re a logical man—most of the time, anyway. The truth, as you say, was that I was a liaison from Lord Magnus to Captain Atticus.”

  Cade hadn’t expected that. He was learning more by playing rough and keeping silent. Keep doing the same thing. Thus, Cade shook his head.

  “Are you calling me a liar?” she demanded.

  He said nothing.

  “You bastard,” she cried, swinging a hand to slap him across the face.

  He caught her wrist and threw it back contemptuously.

  She massaged the wrist before peering at him in a new, speculative manner. “You’re different from yesterday. What’s brought about the change?”

  Hardball, she likes a man playing hardball. On impulse, he touched his upper arm where he’d received what he’d thought was an insect bite yesterday.

  There might have been a hint of alarm in her eyes, although it disappeared instantly. “I don’t understand what that’s supposed to mean.”

  He did as a suspicion bloomed into certainty. “When I first met you—when you lay upon a cliff aiming a pistol at me—I felt a sting in my arm. Seconds later, I collapsed, unconscious.”

  It took a half-beat before she said, “Yes, I remember you fainting. It was most odd. What kind of insect bit you?”

  She’s playacting. That means— “No insect bit me, but a biodegradable sliver from a needler.” Damn, she has a needler. How did she get a hi-tech item?

  Velia’s features hardened, and it seemed she might yell for help. He needed more time to think through the implications.

  “Let’s have an honest talk,” he said. “I’m here to help. In fact, it’s why I came to Coad.”

  She searched his face until understanding shined in her eyes. “Ah. So you did come from Tarvoke, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” he lied, deciding the moment of decision was upon him. He needed just a little more information before he made his choice about what to do next, though.

  “I must tell my brother about this.”

  “Wait,” Cade said, reaching out like a cobra, taking hold of a hand. What can I say? What would Halifax say? Ah, the doctor would let the other person’s imagination do the work for him. “I’m supposed to tell you that Tarvoke has changed his mind.”

  Velia cocked her head, frowning at him. “If that’s true, why would you tell me?”

  Cade had no idea, knew he had to keep the ball rolling and said, “I…I don’t really have a wife. I just said that to give myself time to think.”

  Velia stared at him, and laughed, shaking her head afterward. “Cade, Cade, Cade, you can’t really be tha
t stupid. You think I want to sleep with you that badly?”

  With a tug, he pulled her close so her breasts pressed against his chest. This was playing with liquid fire, but he stumbled onto secrets. It was time to push his hand. He stared down into her eyes, and in a seemingly impulse move, he swept her up and kissed her passionately before releasing her.

  Her eyelids fluttered as she blushed and then looked around. “Cade,” she said, putting a hand to her hair, running her fingers through the long tresses. “You can’t do that in front of the men. It’s improper. Besides, you don’t want Dorian to kill you.”

  “Why would he? He’s your brother.”

  Velia opened her mouth, paused and then closed her mouth. “Of course he is.”

  “You mean he isn’t?”

  “He’s my second cousin,” she whispered. “But we pretend to be brother and sister.”

  This isn’t fire but a live grenade. What did it mean? “Did Dorian send you to Captain Atticus?”

  Velia blushed once again. “You’ve already guessed the truth, I warrant. I went to Atticus as his lover and wormed my way into his confidence. Atticus was a leader of one of the factions swirling around Lord Magnus. Dorian leads another faction. I did poison most of the landing party. I did that after the Rhunes destroyed the Storm Rider.”

  “No…” Cade said. Remember, she owns a needler. “I don’t believe any of that.”

  Her eyes widened. “But it’s true.”

  “Maybe some of it is, but not all.”

  “Where do I lie?”

  How does Halifax do this? My mind’s reeling. “Uh, about your second cousin Dorian being one of the faction leaders. He isn’t. He’s…a spy for someone else completely.”

  Velia’s features became pale as her mouth dropped open. “What are you suggesting?” she whispered.

  “Tarvoke knows,” Cade said, having no idea what that could mean.

  Velia shook her head. “This has nothing to do with Tarvoke.”

  “Doesn’t it?”

  Velia considered that. “Yes, yes, in a way I suppose it does. The Rhunes want off planet so they can—” She stopped as she peered more closely at him. “You double-dealing son of a whore,” she said without rancor. “You tricked that out of me. You’re cleverer than I thought. You didn’t really come from Tarvoke, did you?”