by T. R. Harris
Hydon nodded to the technician seated in front of him and the tech opened the channel. “This is Lord Hydon,” he said into the room. “I commend you on your rapid discovery of my presence.”
“You can thank the spies we’ve had in place on your world for years. The few prisoners we have taken so far have not been very cooperative. Not yet.”
“You will find that Juireans do not make good prisoners. What was your name? I was not paying complete attention when you spoke it earlier.” Adam didn’t know if Hydon was being intentionally provocative or not. Either way, he liked it.
“My name is Jonnif, and it is a name your people will long remember.”
“That may be so, but for now it is unimportant. What do you want?”
There was a long moment of silence before Jonnif replied. Adam could only imagine the look on the Kracori’s gray face. Adam was really beginning to like Hydon, even though he was sure the Juirean was just being a Juirean. Even still, it sounded like something Adam might have said….
“I want you, Lord Hydon; that should be obvious. We have control of your planet, as well as the Sector, with all the resources that have allowed your bastard race to maintain control over the galaxy for so long. It is all under the control of the Kracori—”
“And your Klin masters.”
There was another moment of silence. When Jonnif spoke again, Adam could almost hear the joy in his voice. “You appear to be misinformed, Lord Hydon. The Kracori no longer follow the dictates of the Klin. They served us as long as was necessary, but now it is only Ludif direction we follow. And it is our very own Ludif Council who will take immense pleasure in gazing upon the glorious being who is the Juirean Elder, be he dead or alive.”
Jonnif paused again, expecting some defiant retort from Hydon. When none came, he continued. “You are simply a symbol, Hydon, a symbol of Juirean dominance of the galaxy and how it has survived for far too long. The presentation of your body – living or dead – to the Ludifs will demonstrate to all just how unimportant you are – how unimportant all Juireans are from now on. Your end has come, Lord Hydon. Your legend has been broken. Many of your kind may still exist on other worlds, but without legend you have nothing left. You will all be replaced by the Legend of the Kracori.” Jonnif’s voice had climbed to an angry crescendo. Now he paused, letting his remarks settle so all the creatures listening throughout the complex could grasp their significance.
“If that time comes, Jonnif,” Hydon began, “I will not leave any of my physical being for you to present to your Ludifs – whatever they may be.”
“Your attempts to insult me are not working,” Jonnif said. Adam saw a genuine look of shock cross Hydon’s face. So he wasn’t doing it intentionally. Damn! “And your reaction has been anticipated. That is why I’m making this offer to all your fellow captives within your death chambers: Present to me the body of Hydon Ra Elys, either dead or alive, and I will guarantee that all the rest of you in the bunker will be set free, and that applies to all the Juireans as well. While others of your kind will be relentlessly hunted and eliminated by the Kracori, you will all be given amnesty. All you need do is surrender Lord Hydon to me.”
Adam was closely watching Hydon’s face as Jonnif made his offer; he detected no concern whatsoever. And none of the other Juireans in the room were showing any signs of shifty eyes or furtive glances Hydon’s way. Finally, Hydon chose to speak.
“You do not know Juireans very well,” he said. “The preservation of our own selves is of little concern to us. The offering of bribes has no effect on Juireans. I’m afraid this strategy will not provide the results you seek. You will not get my body.”
When Jonnif’s voice came once more through the speakers, his tone was softer, more cadenced. “That is what you think now. Once your people have been confined in their metal grave for more time, you may find that self-preservation can be a very effective motivator.”
“You may believe you are gaining leverage, Jonnif, but I know my people. Do what you must, but you will never lay eyes upon my intact body. In addition, your time on my planet is limited, so you will not gain any long-term advantage from your actions this day. All you have done is shown yourselves for what you are: animals fit only for extermination.”
“It is your race, Hydon, which is in the process of being exterminated. And speaking of our tenure upon your world, it may be permanent, or it may not. That remains to be seen. With regards to the Humans, I also have knowledge that there are some there with you, a circumstance I find curious, yet not concerning.”
Hydon looked at Adam, who raised his eyebrows in a display of surprise. The intel the Kracori had on the operations of the Juireans, including right in the very heart of their capital, was impressive.
Jonnif was continuing: “Since I personally have never met a Human, I will amend my offer. Bring me the Humans, especially the one named Adam Cain, and I will include a sizeable monetary bonus along with the offer of amnesty. This Adam Cain is the only Human name I have heard, and I am curious to see just how imposing he truly is, along with the others of his kind. They will be sport for me and my Ludifs, so only live Humans will satisfy the amendment.”
“Jonnif, your bombast is becoming boring. I will now end this conversation; it has become pointless and immature.”
“As you wish, just let it be known that my offer of amnesty will last for only ten Juirean days. In summary, for all who are listening: for Hydon, amnesty for all; for the Humans, credits for whomever brings them to me personally and alive.
Hydon tapped the technician on the shoulder and the channel was cut. He stared at the floor for a few moments before turning to Adam.
“With the provisions we have, the occupants of the bunker can survive for more than a year—”
“Aren’t you concerned about a revolt down here, about someone taking Jonnif up on his offer?” Riyad asked.
“Juireans will not betray other Juireans simply to save their own lives. However….” Hydon nodded to the Guard Commander who had led them to the command center. The Juirean drew his weapon and leveled it at the Humans. “.…with your people I am concerned.” He turned to Adam, who looked at Hydon with a look of sickening resignation.
“I apologize for this action, Mr. Cain; I’m sure you understand. You Humans are the unknown variable here. I cannot risk leaving you armed as we await your fleet. Apparently, we are under no threat of attack while in the bunker, so your weapons will not be necessary. If that changes, then I will reconsider my decision. Until then, I will ask that you surrender your weapons without resistance.”
Adam and the others were wearing only MK’s holstered around their waists, having left the larger flash rifles in the barracks. Adam understood Hydon’s position, and with McCarthy being the loose cannon that he was, it made perfect sense. At least this way, Adam wouldn’t have to disarm Nigel and his men himself….
As he surrendered his MK to the Guard, Adam looked over at Tobias and Riyad, who were in the process of doing the same. “McCarthy’s not going to like this,” he said to them. And then he turned to Hydon. “How many Juireans did you say you had down here?”
“Three hundred. Why?”
“I hope it’s enough.”
Chapter 15
Nigel McCarthy had noticed the Juirean Guard come to summon Adam, and he had followed him to the command center. Leaning nonchalantly against the cold metal of the corridor wall, McCarthy had been left unmolested and was able to listen in on the conversation inside the command center. Once the technician had cut the transmission with the Kracori, he rushed back down the corridor to avoid being spotted by the other Humans and returned to his barracks, all the while with possibilities exploding in his mind.
A full pardon and a shit-load of money, simply for turning Hydon over to the Kracori – and for solving my Adam Cain problem once and for all. What could be better?
As he entered the barracks, he met the eyes of his men, each one conveying the same silent message: Here
was the opportunity they had been waiting for.
McCarthy knew they could never return to Earth; they had been too involved with the traitorous Klin for that fact to be ignored if they ever did. So the arrival of the Human fleet was not something any of them relished. For weeks, McCarthy had been racking his brain trying to find some way out of their current situation, and now this Kracori Jonnif had just handed it to him as sweet as could be.
However, McCarthy knew he had to act fast. The Kracori did say he wanted all the Humans – which included McCarthy and his men. Yet Adam Cain was his true prize. Besides, after having worked with the Klin for so many years, McCarthy was sure he could also convince the Kracori that he could be of value to them as well. Jonnif did admit he’d never met a Human before, so McCarthy could provide him with first-hand experience and counseling, just as he had done for the Klin.
But Adam Cain would immediately be on guard for any betrayal by the Juireans – or the other aliens in the complex – but especially by him. The American was no fool; he would be suspicious of McCarthy straight away.
Carter Thomas approached him. “What’s the op, sir? Extraction will be the problem.”
“I know. We simply can’t parade the Juirean and Cain down the tunnels; they have explosives in them. But there is something called a boring pod down here that we can use.”
“What’s that?”
“Something that can move through solid rock. It’s Hydon’s escape option. We need to find and secure it. Have you seen anything like it over the past few days?”
His men had gathered around the cot where McCarthy sat. “I saw something that looked like a small submarine the other day,” said the Aussie Zack Baker.
“Where?” McCarthy queried.
“Just past the mess hall, back in the workshops and such.”
“Guarded?” Thomas asked.
“Not at that time. It may be by now.”
“Baker, you and Amarillas get over there. Position for action, but don’t do anything until we get there,” McCarthy commanded.
Then he looked at the others. “We need to grab Cain and his people and then figure out a way of getting close to Hydon. The bugger didn’t seem that concerned about his own security, so it shouldn’t be too hard. But then we need to move him half way across the bunker. It could get dicey, mates.”
“Just a walk in the park, sir,” Carter Thomas said, flashing his impossibly bright smile. “And it sure beats the alternative.”
“Roger that,” a chorus rose from the other men.
“Gear up,” Nigel said. “First stop, Cain’s barracks.”
Chapter 16
It took Jonnif several minutes to calm down after his conversation with the Juirean Elder. His aide Mininof stood beside him, watching his expression.
“Now you give it time,” Mininof said. “You have given all those trapped in the bunker much to think about.”
“I refuse to be dismissed so disrespectfully! Hydon is without legend, and I am the one standing in the ruins of his capital. He has no place to be condescending.”
“Just give it time, Jonnif. I’m sure that even now the seeds of rebellion are being planted. Hydon may have no real value to us strategically, but just knowing that his own people may soon turn against him must bring you great satisfaction.”
“It does,” Jonnif said with a grunt. “But I would have enjoyed it more if I’d heard fear in his voice.”
“You may still get the opportunity to experience that fear, and possibly in person. Patience, Jonnif. In the meantime, we must begin preparations for the arrival of the troop ships. There are still a lot of Juireans left to kill, here and elsewhere.”
With that comment, Jonnif of the Kracori smiled. The killing of Juireans had become his new favorite pastime. Eating them was his second best.
Chapter 17
The Guard Commander and a squad of five other Juireans accompanied Adam and his team back to their barracks. On the way, Adam wasn’t sure if he should warn the Juirean that McCarthy may not take too kindly to be disarmed. He was hoping his distrust for the hulking Englishman wasn’t clouding his judgment. He knew Nigel would protest having his guns taken away, but would he really go all the way and try to take Hydon – and Adam, too?
Adam saw the logic in having the Humans disarmed. They had no need for them as long as the bunker was secure, and Hydon did say he could have them back if the bunker came under attack. Still, he didn’t feel comfortable without have at least a sidearm resting on his hip. All they had to do was just hold out long enough for the fleet to arrive and then everything would be fine.
Adam had left Chief Rutledge and Petty Officer Tindal in the barracks with Sherri and the two aliens. All of them seemed to get along fairly well and he’d seen marked improvement in all of their moods once they moved from the other barracks. They could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though the surface of Juir was now a smoldering wasteland, they appeared to be safe and secure down in the bunker. And with the truce brokered between Adam and Hydon, within a few months, the Kracori would be on the run – from both Human and Juirean forces. The war would be over and they could all go home.
Adam sensed the tension the moment he entered the barracks. The three Humans were sitting on a pair of cots at the far end of the room, while Kaylor and Jym stood against the side wall. Behind them were the white sheets the aliens had draped around their cots. All of them wore solemn, serious expressions.
Riyad and Tobias sensed it too, but before they could react, four of McCarthy’s men appeared behind them, while two more burst through the sheets behind Kaylor and Jym, flash rifles level and ready.
The Guard Commander went for his MK sidearm, but even before it cleared the holster, the Humans behind them had smashed the stocks of their rifles into the heads of all the Juireans. They fell into a silent heap in the door to the barracks.
With Adam, Riyad and Tobias unarmed, the three of them simply raised their hands in surrender
McCarthy came forward to face Adam, a large grin on his face.
“This is crazy, McCarthy,” Adam said flatly, although he knew no amount of reasoning would stop the chain of events the Englishman had just set in motion.
“Maybe so Cain, but in the immortal words of Don Corleone, ‘He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.’”
“This is going to get bloody.”
“That’s aces by me. Now get over there with the others.”
McCarthy’s men stripped the unconscious Juireans of their weapons and then did their best to place their new cache anywhere they could on their bodies – one can never have too much firepower.
“Is Hydon still in the command center?” McCarthy asked Adam.
“He was when we left. So it’s not just us you’re after? Now you’re just being stupid.”
Nigel told two of his men to stand guard over the prisoners and then left with the remaining four. Five men up against three hundred Juireans – McCarthy just might have a chance, Adam thought sardonically. For the time being, Adam would just wait it out and let the Juireans do their job. If McCarthy and his men got killed trying to take Hydon, well that would be a problem that just took care of itself….
The word had not yet spread through the bunker that the Humans should not be carrying weapons, so McCarthy’s small team was able to easily stroll through the main chamber of the bunker and to the command center without question. Not a single Juirean gave them more than their customary glance as they passed in the hallway. In five days, most of the occupants of the bunker had become accustomed to seeing the Human aliens among them, at least in the public spaces.
The command center was another matter altogether. While eavesdropping a few minutes before, McCarthy had acquired a lay of the land. Now he confidently walked straight in and approached Hydon – still at the command console – while his men stationed themselves at the doorway.
Hydon and Yol-fin saw McCarthy coming; they also noticed he was still armed. Momentarily confuse
d, they hesitated raising the alarm. Nigel took the opportunity to rush up to Hydon and slip in behind him, clamping a massive arm around the alien’s chest. Nigel McCarthy stood nearly six-and-half-feet tall, but still the Juirean towered over him by a good eight inches. Hydon began to struggle, but his eyes grew wide when he found he could gain no ground against the Human’s incredible strength.
McCarthy let out a small laugh when he felt Hydon submit, an then he whispered in Hydon’s ear, “Now you know what your people have been up against. Pretty impressive, isn’t it, mate?”
Unrestrained, Yol-fin cried out, “Guards, protect the Elder!”
A dozen heads lifted from their consoles, the words of alarm not registering right away. Yet a few did react quicker, only to be the first to be cut them down by the brilliant bolts from the Human’s flash rifles, some before they could even lift from their chairs. A level-one bolt even caught Yol-fin center mass, cauterizing the hole it left before his body even struck the floor.
In a few seconds, the four Human gunmen had struck down all the aliens in the room except Hydon, but not before an alarm sounded. McCarthy flung the unarmed Juirean toward the corridor, where two of his men grabbed him by the arms. Several Juirean Guards were running down the corridor – but away from the command center. McCarthy smiled. They think we’re under attack from the outside. Let them keep thinking that.
“Stand back,” he said to his men, and they all moved farther back into the command center. Within seconds, the corridor was clear with all the aliens running toward to the main entrance to the bunker.
“Move out. Thomas and Sato, take point.”
At the end of the long corridor their luck ran out. Three Juirean Overlords – signified by their blue manes – were heading for the corridor, each followed by a yellow-haired counselor. The eyes of the Overlords grew wide when they saw Hydon held securely by his two Human guards.