"Spinner wings reduced by forty per cent," Pog mourned. "Outer skin integrity decaying."
Sabre opened his eyes to look at the screen. The suns had moved off it, and it showed only blackness as they headed for the invisible point where a hole had been torn in space. The light grew dimmer and the temperature rose. Sabre tried to sort through the jumble of data streaming through his brain, part cyber, part alien, most of it beyond his ability to discern due to its garbled nature. Asys was filled with pain and panic. Her thoughts dominated the cyber, utterly overwhelming its lesser psyche, which could not cope with the presence of such an advanced and oddly emotional machine intelligence.
Sabre wondered if Asys really was a machine. Just because she was a metal-based life form did not necessarily mean she was. It seemed to him that she possessed all the traits and emotions of an intelligent biological species unknown to the cyber. He tried to project soothing, calming emotions to her, since she could not understand his thoughts. Sabre was keenly aware of Tassin clinging to him, shaking with terror and gasping in the heat. He longed to offer her more comfort than his arm around her, but Asys needed him more, and their survival depended on her.
The silver ship's course remained correct. Even the intense buffeting did not force her from it, and he realised that Asys was an amazingly powerful space faring entity. Any normal ship would not have been able to maintain a stable course under such extreme conditions.
"Asys will start to die in approximately four minutes," Pog stated.
Sabre glanced inwards at the graphics. "Come on Asys, you can do it. Only a few more seconds."
"Asys suffers."
"Asys is strong and brave; she can do it."
"She requires more power."
"Three more seconds, Pog. Two, one, now."
A star field filled the aperture, and Sabre slumped. "We did it. We're out."
The temperature dropped, and everyone sagged with relief.
"Asys requires more power."
Sabre tried to shake his head. "Tell her to release me."
"Asys will start to die in less than three minutes."
"Tell her to release me."
After several tense moments that spoke volumes of reluctance, the metal finger released the brow band and sank back into the bottom of the screen. Sabre rubbed his neck.
"Asys will die in two and a half minutes," Pog insisted.
Sabre pulled a laser power pack from his belt and pushed it into the floor. "How long does that give us?"
Pog paused. "Strange food. Unpleasant, but nourishing. Two hours at cruising speed."
"Tell Asys to find food."
"Already she seeks it."
Sabre turned to Tassin. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, easing her hold on him. "I thought we were going to die."
"It was a close call."
Tassin glanced around at the glowing walls. "What happens now?"
"Asys will find food, then take us to an inhabited world."
"Could she take us to Omega Five?"
Sabre repeated the question to Pog, who appeared to ponder it.
"Asys does not know that planet. Is it close by?"
"No, it's on the Outer Rim."
"The agreement was transport to the nearest inhabited world."
"Yes, it was."
"Asys will honour the agreement."
Sabre glanced at Tassin. "I guess you have your answer."
She sighed, leaning against him. "Yes."
He brushed the damp hair from her brow, glancing at Tarl and Kernan. "I suggest we all get some rest."
A touch on Sabre's shoulder woke him, and he opened his eyes and sat up, pulling free of Tassin's hand. A quick glance around the room assured him there was no danger, and he turned to her with raised brows.
"What?"
"It's Kernan. You have to stop him."
Sabre glanced at the mercenary, who ate a piece of bark while Tarl argued with him in a hushed tone. The men stopped and looked at Sabre, Kernan's brow furrowing.
Sabre sighed and rubbed his face. "Kernan, put it away. We're going to need that to synthesise food for you."
Kernan shook his head. "I'm bloody hungry."
"Have some rations."
"That only makes me hungrier."
"You've got to keep some of that."
"I need to eat!"
"And when it's finished, you'll starve."
Kernan scowled. "That seems inevitable." He raised the last chunk of bark towards his mouth. Sabre uncoiled like a striking cobra, snatching it from him. He settled back beside Tassin and tucked the piece of bark away in a nearby pack. Kernan's scowl deepened, and he made a grab for the pack. Sabre yanked it away, confronting Kernan, who sat down again.
"Bloody cyber. I need that damned food!"
"You'll get some when we find a civilised planet and make a substitute, but without a sample that will be impossible."
"You know what's in that stuff."
Sabre shook his head. "The chemicals are alien."
"I could starve before we find a planet."
"And if you eat the last of that food, you'll starve anyway. At least this way you have a chance."
"You don't know what it's like to be this hungry."
"Actually, I do. Drink some water, it will help."
Kernan cursed, glaring at Sabre. "How long have we been cooped up in this chunk of animated metal? A week? How long before we find a planet?"
"It's only been three days." Sabre turned to the robot, studying him with a frown. Pog's extremities and half of his torso had melted into the wall and floor. "Pog, what's happening to you?"
"My mother no longer needs me. I am being reabsorbed."
"How will I communicate with Asys?"
"That part of me will remain until you leave."
"How long before we leave?"
"Asys has finished feeding. She seeks a world for you now."
Sabre nodded, glancing at Kernan. "Let's hope it doesn't take too long. That little bit of bark won't do you much good anyway."
Kernan grunted and flopped back, making the floor flinch. Sabre tucked the pack under his head and settled down. Tassin used his shoulder as a cushion.
"Asys has found a suitable world for you." Pog's deep voice jerked Sabre from his doze, and he sat up. Tassin yawned and rubbed her eyes. Kernan stretched and scratched, and Tarl rubbed his face.
"Does she know what it's called?" Sabre enquired.
"No. But the inhabitants appear to be engaged in one of your kind's favourite pastimes."
"Ice ball?" Kernan hazarded.
"Conflict."
"Then it's not suitable," Sabre said.
"It is civilised, and inhabited by humans. It fits the criteria of the agreement."
"It's dangerous. We could be killed."
"That was not a criterion."
"It should have been," Tarl said.
"But it was not. Asys longs to be rid of you. She is most grateful for your help, man-machine, but your presence causes her great discomfort."
Sabre shook his head at Tarl when he opened his mouth to protest further. "Leave it."
"But -"
"She could kill us easily. Be glad she's stuck to the agreement."
"You could force her to take us somewhere safe, you -"
"No." Sabre frowned. "We'll take what she gives us."
"Asys does not wish you harm," Pog rumbled.
"Will she take us somewhere safe?"
"She regrets, you must leave here."
"Will she land on the planet?"
"No. Now that she has power, she will transport you to one of the ships nearby."
Sabre glanced at Pog. "She can translocate us?"
Only the robot's head remained. The walls and floor had absorbed the rest of him. "Yes."
"Does she have weapons?"
"She can form destructive forces, yes."
"Could she translocate us to the planet?"
"No, that is too far. You sh
ould stand up now, and gather your possessions."
The cyber rose to his feet, drawing Tassin up beside him, and the two men stood, picking up the packs. "I ask Asys to send us to one of the smaller ships."
"As you wish. Asys bids you farewell."
"I thank her for her aid."
Chapter Seven
Sabre pulled Tassin into his arms as the glowing room vanished in a swirl of dark dizziness and biting cold. They floated in nothingness, then a floor hit the soles of his boots. He bent his knees to absorb the impact, cushioning Tassin as he fell. His elbow struck the floor, sending a shocking pain up his arm, and Tassin gave a soft grunt. Sabre released her and sat up, glancing around at an empty mess hall, then inwards at the scanner information. Glowing dots marked the movement of men in the corridors outside, some running. Smoke fouled the air, and the thuds of explosions shook the ship. He stood up and helped Tassin to her feet, and she hugged her ribs. Tarl and Kernan sat up, rubbed bruises and looked around at the pale grey walls, black plasfoam floor and multitude of metal tables and chairs. A glowing yellow ceiling cast uniform light over black-topped counters and food dispensers, and two closed doors had access panels next to them.
"Now we're in the shit," Tarl muttered.
Sabre turned to Tassin. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, biting her lip.
He studied the drab, functional room again, his eyes lingering on some bold red writing on the wall. "We're in deeper shit than you think, Tarl."
"Why?"
"These are Trykons."
"Oh, god. That's just great."
Tassin glanced up at Sabre. "What are Trykons?"
"Madmen," Tarl said.
Sabre nodded. "Pretty much. They're descended from a warrior caste that broke away from mainstream civilisation decades ago, because it was too peaceful. They live to fight. And they use cyber enhancements."
"Like you?"
"Not exactly. You'll see."
"So what's the plan?" Kernan asked. "Take over the ship and get the hell out of here?"
Sabre shook his head. "Impossible. There's got to be several hundred seasoned warriors on this ship."
"Great. Bloody marvellous. So what do we do?"
"There's only one thing Trykons respect. And I doubt they've ever encountered a cyber before."
"What do they respect?" Tassin asked.
"Prowess."
"You mean..."
He nodded. "My kind."
Tarl looked concerned. "You're not at full strength, are you?"
"Eighty-four per cent."
Tarl dug in his pack and pulled out several food bars. "Here, eat these."
"There's no time."
"Who knows how long we have before we're discovered? Just bloody eat it, will you?"
Sabre took a bar and ripped off the plastic covering, biting off half of it.
Tassin gazed at him with anguished eyes. "Isn't there another way?"
"Not that I know of."
"You can't do this. There's got to be another way. Find a life pod and escape... something."
"Even if this ship has life pods, which I doubt, where would we go? They'd use us for target practice."
"Why don't the Overlords stop this fighting?"
"They can't," Tarl replied. "The only way to stop Trykons fighting each other is to kill them all, and, since they only fight each other, there's no point. When Overlord Tobaron came to this system several decades ago, the Trykons stopped fighting each other just long enough to explain it to him, then challenged him to wipe them all out or piss off. He left, and declared an embargo on the planet.
"No ships come here, and the Trykons aren't allowed to leave. Since they're constantly killing each other, they don't have a problem with overpopulation, so they have no need to invade other systems or colonise new worlds. They're mad, all of them. Even their women are warriors. If they don't fight, they don't breed, that's the law. Weak, malformed or handicapped infants are killed at birth, and any weaklings die during their childhood warrior training, which starts at five, I believe.
"Only the strongest of either sex breed, which also means the largest, resulting in a race of near giants. I don't think there are any Trykons less and two metres tall. They also use growth hormones and steroids, causing low fertility. There are four clans, which constantly fight for superiority. There used to be six, but two have been wiped out. The strongest clan rules the planet and makes the laws. Leadership within the clans is also decided by combat.
"All disputes are settled by it, and even pair bonding. A woman may choose a spouse she likes, but if another warrior defeats the man she's chosen, she must bond with the victor. Unless, of course, she can beat him, but that's rare. The good news is that Trykons don't use lasers. They consider them to be weapons for weaklings. They use bladed weapons, crossbows, and occasionally, projectile weapons."
Tassin turned to Sabre with wide, horrified eyes. "We've got to find another way out of here."
"There is no other way."
"Surely if we asked them for help...?"
Tarl shook his head. "We'd be branded as weaklings and used for sport."
"What if Sabre loses? He's not at full strength."
"Even at eighty-four per cent, a Trykon stands no chance against him. It's what he's..." He trailed off, shooting Sabre a guilty glance.
"It's what I'm designed for," Sabre finished for him. "And he's right, it's the only way."
"It's not fair," Tassin said. "It's always you who has to suffer every time we get into trouble. At least we must rest here until we're found, so you can regain some more strength."
Tarl shook his head again. "Bad idea. If they find us here, we'll lose status. We have to take the fight to them to prove our courage."
Sabre finished the last food bar and drew his lasers, handing one to Tarl and the other to Kernan. "If I use these, I'll lose status, but you'll never have any, so it won't matter if you do."
"What about me?" Tassin demanded.
"You're going to be a non-combatant. Females are allowed to be. They just can't breed if they are."
Tarl tucked the laser into his pocket. "Sabre, I know you're a gentleman, but here you're going to have to act like a tough guy. You realise that, right?"
"I'll do what's necessary."
"Good."
Sabre turned to Tassin and held out his hand. "Ready?"
She took it, looking sad. "As I'll ever be, I suppose."
Tarl eyed them. "Sorry, guys, but public gestures of affection are considered a sign of weakness."
Tassin tugged her hand free, and Sabre headed for the door, which slid open as he neared it. He entered a narrow, poorly lighted corridor, Tassin close behind, Tarl and Kernan flanking her. The thuds of distant explosions had lessened, and only occasional shivers ran through the floor. Black scorch marks marred the utilitarian dull grey walls, and their boots clicked on a scuffed metal floor. Many glowing dots moved on the cyber's scanners, none close enough to be a threat yet, but Sabre watched them.
The scanners went blank, and he stopped, frowning. The cyber changed the frequency to try to rectify the problem, and Sabre caught a glimpse of five dots closing in on their position.
"What's wrong?" Tassin asked behind him.
He turned his head. "They've detected us, and they're jamming my scanners. Two men are approaching from behind, three from in front. Don't do anything unless they attack."
Kernan and Tarl nodded, fingering their lasers. Sabre watched the scanners' blank field while the cyber continued to change frequencies in an attempt to circumvent the jamming. Another brief flash showed the men's position, almost on top of them. Sabre focussed on the real world as two men stepped out of a doorway a couple of metres ahead of him, and a third appeared around a corner further down the corridor. They were all clad in full body armour, only their heads bare.
Their brutish features bore the scars of many battles, and one had a scanner emitter sprouting from the side of his head. The other had
an ocular enhancer over one eye and a robotic arm. They stopped and eyed the intruders without hostility or alarm. Sabre glanced around when two more men appeared from a doorway behind him. One had a jammer attached to the armour on his left shoulder and a synthetic eye; the other had a partially metal-plated skull and a robotic leg. The fifth man joined the first two, and Sabre turned to face them. Narrow scars covered the newcomer's face, which looked like it had been shoved into a combine harvester or flay field. He had a brow band similar to Sabre's, except it had a tiny red light that traversed from one end of it to the other in a scanning motion.
The man with the scanner emitter on the side of his head smiled, revealing metal teeth. "Well, it seems we're being invaded by midgets, Hallel."
The Trykons' harsh, guttural language, Mortrek, was a mutated form of Anglo, and not easily understood without a cyber's training.
Sabre met the man's eyes with a cold look and replied in the same tongue, "Take us to your commander."
"Or what?"
"I'll have to find him myself."
"Who says we'll let you?"
"Who says you can stop me?"
The man's eyes raked Sabre, and he chuckled, his smile pulling at his scars. "You're a bit small to be making threats, little man. What the hell are you doing on this ship, and how did you get aboard?"
Sabre shrugged. "I need a ship. This one will do."
"So you're just going to take it over, I suppose?"
"Something like that."
The warrior guffawed, elbowing the man with the brow band, whose name seemed to be Hallel. The man with the optical enhancer was less amused, and his lip curled.
"You have a big mouth for such a weakling, and you're the smallest of your midget army. Apart from the female, who looks too weak to even provide us with much sport."
The Cyber Chronicles VI - Warrior Breed Page 8