Quantum Chaos: A Roak: Galactic Bounty Hunter Novel

by Jake Bible

  "Do not worry, Roak," Poq said. "I will get us there."

  Floor by floor, landing by landing, Poq demolished every being in their path. Bodies fell and it took all of Roak's attention not to slip and fall on the gore and guts. Attention that he needed to use to watch their six in order to make sure they weren't going to be attacked from behind.

  Two more floors and Roak risked a look over his shoulder. The controlled beings were still in pursuit, but the carnage that Poq was creating kept most of them slipping and sliding back downwards. None of the beings was intact enough to be able to scramble over all the corpses Poq was churning out.

  There was something to be said about having an android on your side, Roak thought.

  "We are out of the atmosphere," Nimm announced. Roak was almost startled by the interruption. "Oh…"

  "Nimm? What?" Roak asked. "What does ‘Oh’ mean?"

  But Nimm did not respond.

  "Nimm? Hessa?" Roak shouted. "What is going on?"

  "Skrang," Hessa replied. "Two destroyers."

  Two destroyers…

  "The same ones that were over Chafa?" Roak asked.

  Hessa did not respond.

  "Hessa? Are they the same ones that we saw over Chafa?"

  Still no response.

  Then the screaming from below started.

  Roak jumped and spun about, his Blorta aimed down the stairs. But there was no need. Not one of the controlled beings was pursuing them. They were all too busy writhing in pain on the stairs and landings.

  Then the screaming from above started.

  Roak turned back around and grabbed a still Poq. "What the Hells is going on?"

  "I believe Father's control has been interrupted," Poq said. "Which is leaving these beings alive and fully aware of their agony. The poor creatures."

  Poq slammed a fist into a crying Ferg's face and crushed its head.

  "What the fuck?" Roak yelled. "If it's not controlled anymore then why kill it?"

  "Mercy," Poq said.

  Roak grabbed the android's arm. "We can walk around them. No need to keep killing."

  "But, mercy," Poq stated and obliterated a Halgon's head.

  "Stop!" Roak said and pushed past Poq. "Come on. Let's go."

  Maybe there wasn't something to be said about having an android on your side, Roak thought.

  Roak led the way. He ignored the pleas and cries for help from the smoldering beings. Hands, tentacles, claws grasped at Roak's armor, imploring him to stop and help them. Some even asked to be killed to ease their suffering. But Roak kept moving. He couldn't stand being in that stairwell another second.

  Finally, thankfully, they reached the top and Roak shoved the door to the hangars open and stepped into almost fresh air. There were blackened corpses everywhere. It looked like a few beings had the idea to escape the fire ants by flying away from the doomed building, the doomed base. They didn't make it.

  Which meant…

  "We've got ants!" Roak yelled.

  He squeezed the Blorta's trigger at the creatures that quickly made themselves known, drawn to the sound of Roak crashing through the door.

  "Which way?" Roak yelled.

  Poq joined him and studied the hangar.

  "That one," Poq said. He pointed at a GF speeder a few meters away. "That will suffice."

  "Why not these ones?" Roak asked, still blasting away at the incoming fire ants. "They're closer!"

  "They are out of commission," Poq stated.

  One of the speeders closest to Roak sparked and smoked as several fire ants fell from underneath the vehicle.

  "They are trying to nest," Poq explained. "We should hurry before they take up residence in our targeted speeder."

  "We should hurry for a lot of reasons!"

  Poq walked toward the chosen speeder without a problem. The fire ants weren't interested in his synthetic body. They were way more interested in Roak's living body even if it was encased in gore-covered light armor.

  Reaching the speeder, Poq activated the side ladder and climbed up into the small cockpit. Roak fired, kicked, fired, stomped, fired, and crushed every last fire ant in his way. It took considerably more effort than Poq used, but he finally was able to get to the ladder and up into the cockpit.

  The speeder was a two-seater, built for fast travel and maximum firepower. Roak knew from experience that the little GF speeder could haul ass and kick ass in equal measure. He'd used a couple before in the past and was never disappointed with their performance.

  "I will fly," Poq said.

  "Probably best," Roak said and collapsed into his seat.

  The cockpit slammed shut, crushing a couple of overachieving fire ants.

  There was no countdown, no checklist, no warning at all as Poq powered up the engines and lifted off from the hangar. They sped out the hangar doors and were flying over Jafla Base before Roak could get clicked into his harness.

  "I cannot reach Hessa or the others," Poq said. "In fact, all communications on the planet have ceased."

  "That's weird," Roak said. "Are they being jammed?"

  "No," Poq replied. "They are simply not operable."

  "Even mine," Roak said. "Hessa's comm shouldn't be affected."

  "Yet it is. Your use of the word weird is apt."

  The sky around them was filled with escaping ships and Poq struggled to avoid random collisions from panicked fighters, speeders, transports, and shuttles. Roak hung tight to the armrests of his seat.

  It only took a few minutes before their speeder left the atmosphere and was finally free of Jafla. But Roak saw that the chaos was worse in space. Countless fleeing vehicles raced towards the closest portal, creating a queue jam like he'd never seen before.

  "Do not worry," Poq said. "I know of a different portal we can use."

  The android piloted the speeder away from the chaos and around to the other side of the planet. Then they raced across empty space to a far, far, far off light.

  "I didn't see any Skrang," Roak said. "Did you?"

  "No, I did not," Poq said. "Nor are there any Skrang vessels on the scanners."

  "Then what in all the Hells were-?"

  "Roak!" Hessa's voice bellowed in Roak's ear.

  "Eight Million Gods dammit, Hessa!" Roak cried. "Turn down the volume!"

  "Sorry. Sorry," Hessa apologized. "I am just so happy to be able to communicate with you again. I was being blocked."

  "All communications were being blocked," Roak said. "How's everyone doing?"

  "Yes, well, about that…"

  "Hessa…"

  "I have lost track of the 714," Hessa admitted.

  "Roak," Poq said.

  "Hold on," Roak replied. "Hessa, what do you mean you lost track of the 714? Where is it?"

  "I believe the Skrang took it," Hessa said. "Then they left. As soon as they were gone, I was able to communicate again."

  "Roak," Poq said.

  "Hold on!" Roak shouted. "So the Skrang were the ones blocking all comms? Even yours? When did they develop tech like that?"

  "Roak!" Poq shouted.

  "What is it? Did you forget how to fly?"

  "No, I did not forget how to fly," Poq replied. "I simply wanted to alert you to the fact that we are now being pursued by the ships that were fleeing Jafla."

  "What?"

  "Communications are no longer blocked," Poq stated matter of factly. "It stands to reason that all of those beings are now under Father's control once again."

  "You have got to be kidding me."

  "I am not. Wait. That is one of those sayings. You are expressing disbelief, not questioning my sincerity."

  "How many ships are after us?"

  "All of them."

  "All of them?"

  "All of them."

  "Sure. Why not…"

  19.

  The speeder rocked and shuddered as it took plasma fire from the pursuing ships. But the vehicle's shields were almost as powerful as its engines and weapons, so it took the beat
ing and kept on going, headed straight for the far, far, far off light that was the far, far, far off portal.

  "Are we going to make it?" Roak asked.

  "There is a less than six percent chance that we will achieve our goal," Poq said. "We are faster than the majority of the ships pursuing us."

  "And the minority?" Roak asked.

  "They are faster than we," Poq said. "Currently, the slower ships are blocking their path which is why we have a less than six percent chance. It would be less than one percent without the chaos they are creating for themselves."

  "Father never was great with ships," Roak said.

  "Roak?" Hessa called.

  "Yes, Hessa?"

  "I cannot find the Skrang anywhere," Hessa said. "I am bouncing scans through every possible wormhole portal and I cannot see them. They are either shielded from scans, cloaked in some new way, or they have moved completely out of range. I do not know where they transported to."

  "Only two directions they can go to get completely out of your range," Roak said. "The Edge or Skrang Territory."

  The ship shuddered again and again.

  "Shields are holding," Poq announced. "I thought you would want to know."

  "Yeah, thanks for the info," Roak said. "How long until we reach the portal?"

  "We will not reach the portal," Poq said.

  "If we manage that less than six percent chance then how long until we reach the portal?" Roak asked.

  "Two point eight hours," Poq said. "If we are able to maintain current speed."

  "Can we increase the speed?"

  "Not if we would like to keep the integrity of the aft shields."

  "Current speed it is."

  "I will attempt to scan the Edge now," Hessa said.

  "It's too far out," Roak replied. "It's called the Edge for a reason, Hessa."

  "I'm still going to try," Hessa snapped. "Those are our friends they have."

  "Well…"

  "Roak!"

  "What? Yeah, sure, Nimm is a friend, but the rest…?"

  "Yellow Eyes, Roak. He is a friend. A trusted friend."

  "Sure. Yellow Eyes too. But Meshara is who she is and Kalaka is just some corrupt GVD."

  "He is not as corrupt as you believe him to be," Poq interrupted. "The being is, using one of the terms I have just learned, walking a fine line between worlds. In order to do his job, he must continue the illusion of full corruption."

  "But he's still corrupt," Roak said.

  "It is complicated," Poq said.

  "Just fly the ship," Roak replied.

  "I cannot scan the Edge," Hessa said. "Do not say a word, Roak."

  "Don't need to."

  "I will attempt to scan Skrang Territory."

  "Good luck with that."

  The speeder rocked to starboard and started to dive. Poq struggled to regain control and right them.

  "That's not good," Roak said.

  "We sustained some minor damage," Poq said. "I have repaired it."

  "Repaired it? How?" Roak asked. "Does this speeder have bots?"

  "It does," Poq stated. "Repair bots are standard on all Jafla PD and GF vehicles. Even small vehicles such as this speeder."

  The speeder shook once more as a barrage of plasma fire impacted the aft shields. Poq sent the vehicle into a steep climb, avoiding a second and third barrage that followed directly behind the first one. Roak hung on. Even with the grav dampeners, the g-forces were brutal in the small vehicle.

  "I am unable to scan Skrang Territory," Hessa said.

  "Wow, really?" Roak replied.

  "You know what, Roak? I was sad when I thought you were going to die back there," Hessa said. "I am rethinking that feeling now."

  Roak couldn't help but smile to himself.

  "I will continue my search," Hessa said with as much attitude as her AI voice could create. "You continue doing whatever you are doing."

  "Trying to stay alive?" Roak responded.

  "Yes. That," Hessa said. "Do that."

  Poq reversed the climb and sent the speeder into a brutal dive. Roak groaned as his seat's harness pressed into his wounded shoulder. The speeder shook hard then began to spin out of control. Poq was able to get the speeder under control again, but not before it was nailed with several plasma blasts.

  Klaxons blared.

  "That is unfortunate," Poq stated.

  "Just spit it out, Poq," Roak snapped.

  "Spit it…? Ah, another saying," Poq replied. "We are losing shield integrity."

  "On which part of the ship?"

  "On the entire ship."

  "Shit."

  "That is one word that could be used to describe our situation. I have learned many other words that can be used. Shall I list them?"

  "Why would I want you to list them?"

  "Roak, be nice," Hessa said. "He's trying to express himself and communicate with you using the words and sayings you asked me to teach him."

  "I have too many AIs in my life," Roak muttered.

  "I heard that," Hessa said.

  "I'm sure you did," Roak said.

  Poq put the speeder back on course for the portal.

  "How long?" Roak asked.

  There was no response.

  "I'm talking to you, Poq. How long until we reach the portal?"

  "One point seven five hours," Poq answered. "But, as I have stated previously, we are not going to make it."

  "Hey, Hessa?" Roak called.

  "What?" Hessa asked.

  "You remember when I killed Wrenn?" Roak said.

  "The first time or the second time?" Hessa asked.

  "Right. I forgot about the first time," Roak responded. "The second time."

  "You killed Mr. Wrenn of the Shilo Syndicate?" Poq asked. "Twice?"

  "It's no big deal," Roak said.

  "Because he barely had anything to do with either death," Hessa said. "He required rescuing both times."

  "I don't think I required anything, thanks," Roak snapped. "But the second time, do you remember what we were up against?"

  "It was you and Yellow Eyes that were up against it," Hessa said.

  "Stop with the useless disclaimers!" Roak shouted. He took a deep breath. "The bots, Hessa. I'm talking about the bots."

  "That was quite the circuitous route to take to get to that revelation," Poq stated.

  "Sometimes he just can't spit it out," Hessa said.

  "Hey! Back to me!" Roak took another deep breath. "This ship has bots, Hessa."

  "Yes, all GF vehicles are equipped with repair bots," Hessa said. "This comes as a surprise to you?"

  Roak took a third deep breath.

  "Do the bots on this ship have cutter blades or blow torches?" Roak asked, once calmed.

  Or as calmed as Roak could get.

  "I believe they are all equipped with cutter blades, blow torches, and many different tools that would be useful in repairing a ship on the go," Hessa said.

  "If you are asking me to repair the shields using the bots, please know that I have already communicated that order to them," Poq said. "It would have been negligent of me not to."

  "Will they be able to fix the shields?" Roak asked.

  "Probably not," Poq replied. "The damage is considerable. We'll need a dry dock in order to execute full repairs."

  "Then let's cut the bots loose," Roak said.

  There was silence from both Poq and Hessa.

  "Let me explain," Roak said.

  "Please do," Poq said.

  "I can't wait to hear this," Hessa said.

  "Eject the bots from our ship and send them at the ships following us," Roak said. The speeder shuddered and louder klaxons blared. "Rephrase. The ships attacking us."

  Poq cut the klaxons. "We are sustaining damage and you wish to eject the repair bots that can help fix that damage?"

  "I'd rather not," Roak said. "But I have an idea."

  "I think I know where you're going with this," Hessa said. "You eject the bots and have them attack
the ships behind you. They inflict enough damage to some of the other ships that there will be enough crashes and impacts between the pursuing ships that they will no longer be able to effectively pursue you. Is that it?"

  "That's the idea," Roak said.

  "That's a horrible idea," Hessa replied.

  "I am in agreement with Hessa," Poq said. "I do not see the merit in sacrificing our repair abilities for a plan that has incredibly poor odds of being successful."

  "Trust me," Roak said. "It'll work."

  "I do not trust you," Poq said. "No offense, but I do not know you enough to trust you. I only know your reputation and the actions I have witnessed in the short time we have been together. Nothing in either your reputation or my observations allow me to believe your plan will work."

  Hessa didn't say anything. Roak smiled.

  "Hessa?" Poq called. "Since you are exponentially more familiar with Roak and his strategic thinking, please explain to him the problems with his plan."

  "It might work," Hessa said quietly.

  "Excuse me?" Poq asked. "I have processed more than eight million different scenarios in the time since Roak broached the subject and not one of those scenarios is viable. We lose our repair bots and end up destroyed without destroying our pursuers. It is a bad plan."

  "But you processed eight million scenarios without a full set of proper data," Hessa said. "You admitted it yourself. You do not know Roak."

  Roak continued to smile, happy to let the AIs work it out between themselves.

  The ship took a wicked hit to the port side and was sent into another spin.

  Roak was no longer happy to let the AIs work it out between themselves.

  "Hessa, you know what to do," Roak said.

  "Does she?" Poq asked.

  "Do I?" Hessa asked. "I suppose I do."

  "How much time do you need?" Roak asked.

  "There are sixteen bots," Hessa said. "Give me sixteen minutes without the ship taking damage."

  "Poq, can you give her sixteen minutes without the ship taking damage?" Roak asked.

  "I ain't no mind psychic," Poq said. "How do I know?"

  "Too much, Poq," Roak said. "Maybe leave the sayings and slang for another time."

  "I do not know if I can grant Hessa sixteen minutes without the ship taking damage," Poq said. "But I will try."

  "Now you're learning," Roak said. "Hessa. Do your thing."