by Jake Bible
"Not our call," Mug said.
"Not your call? What does that mean?" Roak asked.
Hole and Poq arrived at the same time.
"We have what we need," Hole said. "Motherboard? The mission is complete."
"Complete? This job is not even close to complete!" Roak shouted.
Then DTZ was gone.
"You have got to be Eight Million Gods damn kidding me!" Roak shouted. "Reck? Hessa?"
"I cannot reach them either," Poq said. The android cocked his head and stared at where DTZ used to be. "Have they abandoned us?"
"They sure as terpigshit did," Roak snarled.
"Are we stranded down here?" Poq asked. He glanced at the stacked corpses. "Unfortunate."
The android cocked his head again.
"Roak? Who stacked the corpses?"
"I don't want to find out," Roak said. "Where's the closest hangar?"
"Next section over," Poq said. "They should have at least one ship operational."
"They should," Roak said. "Let's go see if we're right. If so then we're getting the fuck out of here."
"If we are wrong and there is no ship?" Poq asked.
"Then we hope Reck figures out how to rescue us," Roak said.
"If your ship is still intact," Poq said.
"Yeah. That would help," Roak said.
They walked off down the corridor then both slowly came to a stop. They turned back towards the room of stacked corpses.
Squishing noises, sucking noises, squelches and squirts echoed in the room.
The corpses were moving.
As one, all of the corpses' eyes opened. They were bright red.
"He saved the old school tech for the dead," Roak said. "Of course he did."
"Hello, son," the corpses said in unison. Quite a few lower jaws fell off from the effort, creating a dissonant noise that was part speech and part guttural wail. "The predictability is becoming alarming. I'm beginning to think I did not raise you right."
Corpses tumbled to the floor, many of them too decomposed to stand upright. But many more were able to get to their feet and keep their balance.
"How many rooms like this do you think there are on this outpost?" the red-eyed corpses asked. "I can tell you it's more than one. More than two even. Maybe more than three. That's a lot of bodies coming for you, Roak. Running might be a good idea."
Roak lifted his Flott and fired. The laser cluster spread wiped out every corpse that had managed to struggle up onto its feet.
"Oh, that made it worse," Roak said and gagged. "The smell is getting into my helmet."
"But there are no corpses left to pursue us," Poq said.
The sound of wet feet slapping on the floor echoed down the corridor to them.
"No need to pursue us if they're already ahead of us," Roak said. He turned and faced the other end of the corridor, his Flott up. "We should run."
"Towards them?" Poq asked.
"Only way out is through," Roak said.
He started jogging then was in a full-on heavy battle armor-assisted sprint by the time the corpses rounded the turn. Roak fired and kept firing as he ran through the mob of animated dead bodies.
"I miss Jafla!" Poq cried out behind him.
23.
Even with the assistance from his power armor, Roak had to stop and catch his breath after he and Poq cleared the eighteenth corridor of walking, shambling, staggering corpses.
"Feel lucky they're so rotted that they can barely fight," Roak said.
"Barely fight?" Poq asked.
Roak looked over at the android and couldn't help but grin.
"You got some on you," Roak said.
Poq was covered from head to toe in guts, blood, excrement, and bits of skin. His rifle was dripping with stinking flesh. The android shook the mess free of his firearm, checked the barrel, then glared at Roak.
"You do this for a living?" Poq asked.
"It's not usually this messy," Roak said. "Most of the time."
The ever present sound of dead feet flapping against the plasticrete floor of the outpost echoed towards them.
"How many of these bastards are there?" Roak asked.
"We have two more corridors to travel through before we reach the hangar," Poq said. "We should continue moving."
Roak didn't respond. He straightened up and continued jogging.
The next corridor was corpse free, but the last one, the one connected to the hangar, was filled wall to wall, shoulder to shoulder with Father's reanimated minions.
"Surprise!" the corpses all shouted, their decomposed arms raised in the air.
One of the corpses separated from the mob and approached Roak and Poq. Poq took aim, but Roak placed a hand on the android's rifle and lowered the barrel.
"Let the asshole talk," Roak said. "He never quits until he has the last word."
"This is true, son," the red-eyed corpse said. "You see, we do know each other."
"What now?" Roak asked.
He slid a plasma grenade from his belt and hid it behind his back.
"Have you found Mother yet?" the red-eyed corpse asked.
"I'm getting around to it," Roak said.
"You better hurry, Roak," the red-eyed corpse said. "If you don't find her soon then everything I have put in place may get out of hand. It may get so out of hand I won't be able to control it. Chaos will reign supreme in the galaxy and where is the fun in that?"
"You love chaos," Roak said.
"No, son, you love chaos," the red-eyed corpse said. "I prefer order and that is what I am trying to create here. All of these beings are lost without the order that they need. I am very close to providing that for them. But, first, you must find Mother."
"I'll get right on that," Roak said.
The red-eyed corpse pursed its lips. One of the lips came free from the pressure and fell off.
"I think you are lying to me, Roak," the red-eyed corpse said. "Why lie? All you have to do is find Mother for me and I can make everything go back to normal."
"Whose normal?" Roak asked. "Your normal? Because that's a terrifying thought."
Roak chucked the plasma grenade into the center of the reanimated mob. He pulled another and tossed that too.
The lead red-eyed corpse frowned at Roak. Then the mob exploded into fire and flesh.
Roak didn't bother covering his head. He let the mess of body parts wash over him like a putrid wave of corruption.
The lead red-eyed corpse was fully aflame. It shook its head over and over, its red eyes locked onto Roak. In seconds the muscles and tendons in the corpse's neck burned through and the head toppled from the body just before it fell to its knees then collapsed onto its side.
Roak stepped over the smoldering pile of yuck and waded through the rest of the mess to the hangar doors.
"Do you enjoy your work?" Poq asked as they got the doors open and stepped into the hangar.
"It has its moments," Roak said.
"Is today one of those moments?"
"Are you joking? No. Today is not one of those moments."
"Good. I would have been worried about you if you had said yes."
"Yeah, don't worry about me. Worry about that."
Roak pointed to the scene before them.
The hangar was empty except for a small transport. The vehicle looked like it had seen much better days.
"I'll wager a million chits that Father has that transport programmed to be under his control," Roak said.
"I could interface and reprogram it," Poq said.
"He's expecting that," Roak said. "Where's the next hangar?"
"There isn't one," Poq said. "Not intact, at least."
Roak thought for a minute. Then another minute. Then another.
"Roak?" Poq asked.
"Thinking. Hold on."
"No, I believe you should turn around," Poq said.
Roak did and sighed.
The corridor outside the hangar was filled with incoming corpses. They went bac
k all the way to the turn and looked like there was no end to them.
"Frags out," Roak said.
He tossed plasma grenade after plasma grenade into the mass of red-eyed corpses. Even after he and Poq had exhausted their stock of explosives, the corpses still kept coming.
Granted, it was considerably more difficult for the shambling things to navigate around and through the mess Roak had created, but that did not deter them. They literally pushed through until they fell apart and then the corpses behind kept pushing through until some remained intact enough to continue their slow-motion attack towards Roak and Poq.
"Roak?" Reck called.
"Get us out of here!" Roak shouted.
They shimmered and swam then Roak and Poq were in the Borgon's moltrans room.
"All the Hells," Roak muttered. He ripped his helmet off his head and threw it aside. "Reck? Report!"
"Get your ass up to the bridge now!" Reck yelled.
"On it!" Roak replied. "Come on, Poq!"
"May I rinse the horror from my person first?" Poq asked.
Roak took a look at the android and at his own armor. They were both disgusting. And they stank of death.
"We don't have time," Roak said and left the moltrans room.
It took less than a minute to reach the bridge.
"Where in the Hells is Reck?" Roak asked as he stared at the empty bridge.
"I'm in the ship's guts trying to fix the transport tech!" Reck yelled over the comm.
"We're stuck here?" Roak asked.
The ship shook and nearly knocked Roak and Poq off their feet. They both sat down just as the entire ship flipped upside down then right side up then was slammed into a sharp dive.
"You're lucky I was able to moltrans you back to the ship," Hessa said as the ship came up out of the dive, just missing a collision with one of the GF corvettes. "There is intense interference emanating from the GF ships."
"That's called plasma fire," Roak said.
"Not that," Hessa snapped. "There's a strange wave form that is disrupting all signals. I was able to calibrate the moltrans unit to push through the wave form, but the stability is in question."
"Excuse me, but I do not believe you can simply push through a wave form," Poq said. "That defies all known-"
"Was I talking to you?" Hessa yelled.
"Maybe let her say whatever she wants to say," Roak said to Poq. "It's better if she's happy when flying the ship."
"Happy? Happy!" Hessa scoffed.
The Borgon opened fire on one of the GF corvettes as the ship sent several missiles directly at them. Poq stiffened to the point of statuary. Roak sighed and tightened his straps.
Four of the missiles were destroyed by Hessa's shooting, leaving one missile still speeding towards the ship.
"Hessa," Roak said. He kept his voice calm, even, no alarm or worry present. "You got this one?"
"I do," Hessa stated.
The missile continued to race towards them.
"I believe you," Roak said. "Still…"
The ship rolled 360 degrees and the missile flew past, lost from sight in the view shield.
"It missed us," Poq said, his voice void of any and all programmed emotion. "That is good."
"Direct hit!" Hessa shouted. "BOOM, BABY!"
Half the view shield switched to an image of a GF corvette that was coming up quickly on their tail. A good portion of the corvette was missing and the space left was nothing but sparks and quick bursts of flame. Along with a good amount of GF personnel floating out into open space, no environmental suits, their bodies frozen forever.
"I am alarmed by the pleasure you are expressing for the destruction of beings," Poq said. "An AI should not derive pleasure from such an act. An AI should not experience pleasure at all."
"You do you, Poq, and I'll do me," Hessa said.
"Leave her alone," Roak said. "Reck? How are we coming?"
"We're not," Reck said. "Everything I fix just leads to something else breaking. I hate the GF!"
"I thought you put the system in the ship?" Roak said.
"I did, but I had to use GF parts and components!" Reck shouted. "Do you want to debate the supply line or let me get back to work?"
"Work on," Roak said.
"You appear quite casual about this situation," Poq said to Roak. "Considering the disappointing lack of discovery down on Javsatem I would think you would be angry. Or at least showing a higher level of annoyance than your usual level of annoyance."
"Annoyed? At this?" Roak pointed at the view screen and the GF carrier that was taking up most of the image. "It's just one more Eight Million Gods damn day. Nothing new to be annoyed at."
The hangar doors of the GF carrier in the view screen opened wide and dozens of GF fighters streamed from the belly of the huge ship.
"Now that's annoying," Roak said and sat up straight. "Talk to me, Hessa."
"What about, Roak? Any specific subject?" Hessa replied.
"I'm thinking it is time to leave," Roak said. "Screw the transport tech. Get us to the closest wormhole portal and we'll travel the old-fashioned way."
"Oh, wow, what an amazing idea!" Hessa exclaimed.
"I do not believe she feels that way," Poq stated.
"You're probably right," Roak said. "Why can't we use the portal?"
"The GF destroyed it as soon as they entered the system," Hessa said. "They fired missiles directly at it before engaging with us. No more portal. Bye bye."
"Hessa's mental stability is worrisome," Poq said.
"How's your physical stability, Poq? You think that synthetic body of yours will stand up to the extremes of open space?" Hessa asked. "I can moltrans you outside the ship if that would make you happy."
"That would not make me happy," Poq said.
"Told you to leave her alone," Roak said.
"I will do just that," Poq stated. His body relaxed and his chin lowered to his chest.
"Eight Million Gods damn," Roak said. "Did he take himself offline?"
"He did," Hessa said. "Wise choice."
"Ballsy choice," Roak said. He stared at the swarm of fighters that was almost on them. "Kind of wish I could do the same thing. What's the plan here, Hessa?"
"I unload with everything I have," Hessa said. "Then we probably die if Reck doesn't get the transport tech back online."
"Sounds about right," Roak said. "Anything I can do?"
"Shut up and let me handle this?"
"Not my style, but after the day I've had, Hells, why not…"
"Appreciated."
"Don't mention it."
The ship dove as the swarm of GF fighters were within range to open fire. The view screen was briefly filled with plasma fire then nothing but open space.
Except for a dot far off. Then two dots. Then three then four.
Roak seriously debated whether or not to ask Hessa about the dots, but thought better of it. He swiped at the console in front of him and brought up the scanner controls. A few more swipes and he had the dots dialed in as close as he could get them.
"Alright…" he muttered.
"I said shut up!" Hessa yelled.
"Apologies," Roak said and waited for the usual response. There was none and he grimaced.
The Borgon shook hard. Klaxons blared and Roak instantly shut them off. Then he killed the alarm system altogether. He knew they were in deep terpigshit. He didn't need to be deafened with the reality.
Something impacted directly with the ship and Roak gripped the arms of his seat to keep from having his head whipped side to side, back and forth, up and down.
Then his stomach did three flips and Roak felt his body pressing against his seat's harness.
"We've lost grav stabilizers," Roak said. "Sorry. I'll shut up."
"Reck!" Hessa yelled. "Fix the grav stabilizers!"
"Yeah, I'm already on it!" Reck replied. "Hard to fix the transport tech when everything keeps flying around me!"
"Thank you for your efficiency," Hessa
said.
"Um, I could use a little help here."
Roak nearly jumped from his seat, but luckily he was strapped in.
"What in all the Hells?" Roak shouted. He looked over his shoulder at Bhangul who was seated in the weapons seat. "How long have you been sitting there?"
"I came up here to ask a question, but then all of that happened and I took a seat," Bhangul said, several putty arms waving at the view shield. "I meant to say something, but you were busy."
Roak studied the Dornopheous then smiled. Bhangul shuddered and turned away.
"Now you're getting a taste of what my world is like," Roak said. "Not so cut and dry is it, Bhangul? My life isn't as easy as making a few sales and a couple of transactions here and there. I tend to have a little more going on from minute to minute."
"I am sorry I have treated you unfairly," Bhangul said. He waved his arms at Roak. "I could still use some help."
Roak frowned then realized the Dornopheous was tangled up in the seat's harness. There was putty body wrapped up everywhere. It was impossible to tell where the straps began and Bhangul ended.
Roak smiled again.
"Stop that," Bhangul snapped.
"Nothing I can do for you right now, Bhangul, old friend," Roak said. "You're probably the safest being on this bridge. You certainly aren't going anywhere."
The lights went out. All power went out and the bridge became a pitch black tomb.
"Hessa?" Roak asked.
No reply.
Roak could already feel the cold of space start to fight its way through the ship's hull. He wished he hadn't left his helmet down in the moltrans room.
Then the lights came back on and the bridge systems rebooted. Weight returned to Roak's body and he sighed at the familiar feel of normal gravity pressing against him.
Roak was not as thrilled for the return of the images in the view shield.
"I am afraid we may not survive this," Hessa said. "Their numbers are overwhelm-"
A good quarter of the ships were torn to pieces by incoming plasma fire then a Borgon Eight-Three-Eight tore through the swarm of GF fighters and was lost from sight.
"Miss us, Roak?" Motherboard called over the comm.
"Not really," Roak said. "You do know you and I will be having words when this is all done, right?"
"Oh, there will be plenty of words," Gerber's voice responded.