Horizon Down (Galaxy Mavericks Book 9)

by Michael La Ronn

  “Eddie, run.”

  Eddie pulled away from his grandfather just as the man screamed and a Planet Eater emerged from his mouth and roared.

  Eddie fell backward, yelling.

  Zzzt! Zzzt! Zzzt!

  Handcoil bullets zipped past Eddie and tore into Papa Ito’s chest.

  “No!” Eddie cried.

  He watched his grandfather tumble backward out of his wheelchair, his legs and arms flailing.

  Eddie turned and glowered at Miller, who was crouched, his handcoil still in the firing position.

  “Kid, I've seen a lot of grandpas in my day,” Miller said. “And he wasn't well.”

  “Guys,” Grayson said nervously.

  Keltie’s colleagues dropped to the ground, their wispy eyes blazing like black fire.

  Devika, Grayson, and Miller fired at them with precision, striking them.

  Planet Eaters separated from the humans’ bodies. Each of their eyes rolled into the back of their heads.

  Alistair yelled, crawling toward them.

  “We…will…usher in a new world…” he said.

  Smoke leaped into the air.

  “Usher this,” the cyborg said, bringing his boot down on Alistair’s face. A Planet Eater roared from the man’s mouth and chased Smoke. Smoke ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction.

  “I knew all of this was garbage,” Grayson said.

  The Planet Eaters swirled into the sky, roaring.

  Eddie took a final glance at Papa Ito.

  “Thanks, abuelo, for the warning,” he said. In some sick, twisted way, his grandfather had given him a final piece of wisdom.

  Grayson grabbed him and pulled him toward the greenhouse in the distance.

  “We've gotta help Keltie!” he said.

  45

  Claire tightened her grip on Keltie’s hand.

  The white vortex seemed to beckon them.

  “Let’s jump,” Claire said. “One jump and we’ll back to safety. Back home. And we’ll go out for a drink and it'll be wonderful.”

  Keltie stared at the vortex, wishing that she could take Claire home with her.

  If they jumped, it might be her only chance.

  And then she heard something.

  Zzzt! Zzzt!

  Screams.

  Keltie backed away.

  “Were those coil shots?” she asked.

  Before Keltie could say anything else, Claire grabbed her, closing both hands tightly around her throat.

  46

  Will handed the Puente family towels, and they wiped themselves down.

  “You guys were lucky,” Will said.

  Delfino Puente shook Will’s hand for the third time.

  “You have no idea how grateful we are,” he said. “Our family owes our lives to you.”

  Will grabbed a tablet. “If you don't mind, I've got to take all of your personal info.”

  “Delfino Puente. This is my wife, Xiomara, my mother Antonia, and my daughter-in-law, Alma, and grandson, Dylan.”

  Will dropped the tablet, his jaw agape.

  “Did I say something odd?” Delfino asked.

  “You wouldn't happen to have a son named Eddie would you, Delfino?” Will asked.

  Xiomara clapped her hands together. “Have you seen him?”

  “You betcha,” Will said. “That guy’s going places. Can't shoot a handcoil to save his life, but he can pilot a ship with the best of ‘em.”

  Antonia uttered a prayer and dropped to her knees. “Mijo is safe. Gracias a dios, he’s safe!”

  Antonia gave Will a bear hug. The tiny woman surprised Will with the force of her hug.

  “Where is he?” Antonia asked. “Has he eaten?”

  “Don't know,” Will said. “But we’re bound to find him, m’am. I'll make reuniting you guys my priority.”

  Beauregard spoke on the intercom.

  “Gentlemen, we've got an issue. Report to the bridge.”

  Will and Sims dashed through the narrow hallways of the ship and burst into the bridge.

  Commander Mike Ponty was on screen. His wizened face was lined with worry. He looked as if he hadn't slept in days.

  Will and Sims saluted.

  “Sir!” they cried.

  “We just received a report from solar scouts,” Ponty said. “We have telescope photos of Regina VII.”

  “What's going on there?” Will asked.

  “Photos confirm suspicious presence there,” Ponty said.

  Several muddled photos appeared on the screen. Regina VII was a burning circle in the center of the screen, though slightly magnified. The dot was covered with small black marks.

  “Normally we see light variations across the star’s surface,” Ponty said. “But our reports indicate that they are multiplying.”

  “You don't think,” Will said. “It's not—”

  “Planet Eaters, yes,” Ponty said. “And they're eating Regina VII one bite at a time.”

  “Jesus,” Will said under his breath.

  “That star is our livelihood,” a voice said.

  The Puente family was standing behind him. He hadn't even heard them.

  “Nice to see you all,” Ponty said. “Glad you're safe.”

  “What are those things?” Xiomara asked.

  “Planet eating aliens,” Sims said.

  Xiomara gasped.

  “Sorry to be so blunt,” Sims said. “But they’ve already eaten a Kepler and Refugio.”

  Xiomara grabbed Sim’s arm.

  “I'm sorry, did you say Refugio?” she asked.

  Will’s eyes widened.

  Then he hung his head and his heart sank.

  Eddie was from Refugio.

  His family was from Refugio.

  They must not have known.

  “My god,” Will said. “Listen, we didn't realize you were from there. We are so sorry.”

  Sims looked as if he divulged a special secret. He took Xiomara by the shoulders.

  “M’am, that was extremely sensitive of me. I'm so sorry. We should have told you the news in a better setting.”

  Xiomara stumbled back, out of breath. Delfino caught her.

  “Ay, our home is gone!” Antonia said, clutching her chest. “Tragado! Prepárense por Jesus!”

  “What about Papa Ito?” Alma asked. “Do you think he's okay?”

  “Eddie saved him,” Antonia said. “I know it in my heart! They are both safe, I can feel it!”

  Ponty watched the family’s despair and waited for a clear pause.

  “Our condolences to those you may have lost,” he said. “We are truly sorry. It is our mission to provide the navy with any information they can use to save the star.”

  “Can we nuke it?” Delfino asked.

  “They considered it,” Ponty said. “But we can't get the missiles close enough, fast enough. It requires a manned activation from within the danger zone of the star. By the time we could get soldiers there, they'd suffer radiation injuries.”

  Delfino stepped forward.

  “Sir, Regina VII is our star. We know it better than anyone. We are garbage men and women. Have you considered using our transfer station for the activation?”

  Ponty slid back from the desk he was sitting at, as if the suggestion took him off-guard.

  “Why, we hadn't thought of that.”

  “We use state-of-the-art propulsion technology,” Delfino said. “It would be our honor to operate it for you.”

  “But the radiation—” Ponty said.

  “Garbage ships are equipped with cutting edge radiation-resistant technology. Get me a garbage ship and we just might be able to save the galaxy.”

  “A nuclear blast would cause permanent damage, and destroy any living thing in the area,” Ponty said. “And if they eat the nuclear energy…”

  “Damn,” Will said. “That might work. Maybe we've got to destroy what’s inside them!”

  “Beau, get into hyperspace,” Ponty said. “We've got a galaxy to save.”
>
  47

  Keltie and Claire rolled across the floor wrestling.

  Keltie’s heart raced.

  Her best friend was trying to kill her. Claire’s grip was stronger than Keltie ever remembered it. For such a thin woman, she had the grip of an ape.

  “Stop!” Keltie cried.

  She hoped, deep down, that Claire would listen, that she would stop. But Claire grinned evilly, pulling at Keltie’s hair.

  They struck a table, and a potted flower fell on Keltie’s head. Claire rolled on top of her, squeezing at the throat.

  Keltie choked, kicked Claire, and then pulled at the chevron necklace hanging around her neck.

  Claire loosened her grip; Keltie rolled away and threw the necklace in Claire’s face.

  Claire swatted it away and the necklace sparkled as it dropped into the white vortex, gone forever.

  Keltie jumped out of the way as Claire charged her.

  She tripped and fell over another table. Claire punched her in the face.

  Keltie kicked back, then tore Claire’s blazer, screaming.

  They each grabbed each other's hair, pulling and tearing and gnashing their teeth.

  Keltie winced.

  It felt as though her scalp was peeling off.

  She pulled Claire’s hair harder.

  Harder.

  Harder!

  WHACK!

  Keltie stumbled back, dazed, unsure what happened.

  Skin to skin.

  A bruise on her forehead.

  She touched it.

  Claire had headbutted her.

  POW!

  Claire punched her and she stumbled back, tripping over a grate on the floor.

  She struck her head on the floor.

  Claire was on top of her in an instant. She pushed against Keltie’s jaw with the heel of her hand.

  Keltie tasted Claire’s skin—hot. Sweaty. Slick.

  Keltie pushed back against Claire, groaning. Even though she couldn't see Claire, she pushed. Pushed with all her might.

  Meanwhile, her inched closer to the white vortex. Its white ripping tore at her.

  She didn't want to go in there.

  Yet she inched closer.

  Everything went quiet. Keltie stopped hearing. Stopped tasting. She could only feel the beating of her own heart, thumping quickly.

  She summoned the last pieces of strength, her last chance.

  She pushed.

  From her gut. From her legs. From every square inch of her body. She screamed but didn't hear herself.

  Screamed.

  Yelled.

  Pushed!

  Claire fell backward, and suddenly, Keltie was on top of her.

  Keltie pushed Claire, and her friend slid back further than she expected.

  Claire tried to stand, but she lost her balance and fell backward—

  MAWRHG!

  A Planet Eater separated from Claire and rocketed into the air, swirling toward the ceiling.

  Claire’s eyes returned to normal—bright, frightened. She reached out for Keltie.

  Keltie reached for Claire. Grabbed her.

  But her grip was sweaty.

  Finger by finger, Keltie lost her.

  Claire fell backward, into the vortex. Her eyes widened as she took one final look at Keltie. Her eyes turned moist, her gaze soft, and she smiled.

  Then the vortex swallowed her, throwing out shreds of white light.

  “Claire!” Keltie screamed.

  A shrieking sound tore through the air behind her.

  The Planet Eater was barreling toward her, chomping its jaws.

  Someone tackled her, and she crashed to the ground as the Planet Eater zoomed past, accidentally landing in the vortex.

  Grayson lie next to her.

  “So much for that damsel in distress theory,” he said, panting.

  Keltie hugged him.

  “We gotta go,” Grayson said, pulling her up. “Now!”

  Keltie looked at the vortex.

  “She’s gone,” Grayson said. “And she's not coming back this time.”

  Eddie ran into the greenhouse. The rest of the team followed and stopped, looking up at the ceiling.

  “Yo, Xander! Zero o’clock!” Eddie shouted.

  “Zero o’clock?” Keltie asked.

  “Get down!” Grayson shouted.

  They dove onto the floor as the greenhouse roof shattered. Glass rained down on them.

  After the last shards fell, Keltie looked up and saw Florian, Tatiana and Hux floating in the sky, an angel-like glow casting a halo on their faces. They rode the gray Planet Eaters, who were spinning wheels. They rode inside the wheels, arms extended outward to the edges. Their eyes blazed like black fire.

  “I've been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Florian said, descending.

  48

  “You are like flies on the ass of a hippo,” Florian said as he descended.

  He, Tatiana, and Huxley jumped out of their wheels, touching down.

  Grayson pushed Keltie back toward the group. He kept his handcoil near his face, at the ready.

  “Hold your fire,” he whispered to Devika and Miller. “Something’s off.”

  Florian clapped.

  “Let’s have a cheer for the resident genius!” he said. “Bravo! Bravo!”

  Florian gestured to the white hole. “I thought I might be able to get rid of a few of you that way.”

  Silence. Florian stepped toward the hole, leaning forward, sniffing it.

  “Can't you just smell the wonderful odor of vacuum? Because that's where it goes—into space.”

  He laughed crazily.

  “A white hole, a rare beauty of physics—and the only way out of this hell hole. White hole, hell hole, dark matter—ha, ha.”

  “Dark matter?” Grayson asked.

  “That's what they are,” Florian said. “The Purged. Banished from this world by the Crystalith. But they weren't truly banished. You can't destroy matter—it just shifts around. They've waited in this netherworld, waiting for the perfect opportunity. The perfect host…”

  “You're possessed,” Devika said.

  “Possessed?” Florian asked. “I volunteered for this, thank you very much!”

  “What's the end game?” Grayson asked. “What do you gain from all this?”

  “The fear on every face in the galaxy,” Florian said. “When they come to the Macalestern Corporation, begging for safety and security…”

  “There won't be anyone to be afraid if you destroy a star, you dummy!” Michiko said.

  Smoke pointed to Michiko. “What she said.”

  Miller aimed at Florian. “Son, you've reached the end of the line. We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way.”

  Florian folded his arms. “Let’s see what I'm up against. A washed up cop, another cop who might as well be washed up, a soldier with nothing else better to do, a real estate agent who couldn't sell a stick of bubblegum, a shrimp masquerading as a man, a heap of circuits and scrap metal, and a pretty little princess. What am I supposed to be scared of again?”

  Miller fired.

  Zzzt! Zzzzt! Zzzzt!

  The gray Planet Eaters flashed in front of Florian, their zigzagged mouths open; they swallowed every bullet, spitting them out their back end. The bullets got caught in a nearby tree.

  “I love being powerful,” Florian said. “Want to try again?”

  “We've got to take out the Planet Eaters,” Grayson whispered.

  “Any suggestions welcome,” Devika said.

  The sky boomed and filled with light.

  “About time!” Florian said.

  In the sky, a black, swirling ball appeared. It grew bigger and bigger. The sucking mouths gasped.

  MAWRHG!

  BLEGH!

  The ground shook violently beneath them, almost knocking Grayson off his feet.

  “Say hello to the new sun,” Florian said. “They'll give it a good scrubbing as they swallow it. And then t
his place will be a microcosmic solar system, ready to push itself into the galaxy. And then these damn aliens can eat everything!”

  A lantern crashed to the ground, breaking into glass a plastic shards.

  Florian pointed to Keltie.

  “If you think your friend was evil, wait until the entire population these aliens swallowed breaks loose.”

  Grayson wanted to shoot.

  Florian nodded outside to Refugio.

  “The aliens reformulate all that they swallow. Imagine a moon of millions, given to The Purged. A solar system regurgitated in their own image. Regina VII is being replaced in real-time. Soon, this world will push itself into our own, and it will be the one true world.”

  A tear appeared in the dark sky, hundreds of miles long. In it, they saw only darkness, and stars.

  “The transformation begins!” Florian cried.

  “Over our dead bodies,” Grayson said.

  Florian beat his fists together.

  “Challenge accepted,” he said, lunging toward Grayson.

  49

  The GGC Horizon broke out of hyperspace into a semi-circle of navy warships.

  “Right on time,” Beauregard said.

  In the center of the ships was a pistol-shaped garbage ship.

  “That's a good looking ship, fellas,” Delfino Puente said, climbing into a spacesuit.

  “Only the finest garbage ships when the world is at stake,” Beauregard said.

  “Now listen,” Will said, suiting up. “You and I are going to rendezvous with navy engineers. Gotta listen to everything they say.”

  “Won't be a problem,” Delfino said.

  The ship shook.

  “We’re connected to the garbage ship airlock,” Beauregard said. “Gentlemen, good luck.”

  Delfino kissed Xiomara, Alma, Antonia and Dylan before latching his helmet.

  “Be back soon,” he said.

  Will and Delfino stood at the door to the airlock as it opened.

  Will watched the navigational panel as the garbage ship blazed through hyperspace.

  Two sullen naval engineers—a man and woman—sat in the cockpit. Aside from greeting them in the airlock, they hadn't said a word. Their faces were full of worry, full of fear that the plan wouldn't work.