by T. R. Harris
This was another clue. Whoever controlled the ship knew of his artificial telepathy device. Since Nigel McCarthy had a counterfeit ATD of his own, this was just one more check in McCarthy’s box. But where the hell did he get a ship like this? According to Kroekus, he had come to Tanic with three concentrated-array starships, each a little larger than the Pegasus and carrying a compliment of thirty or so other Humans.
This ship could carry five thousand or more.
“What are you going to do, Adam Cain?” Nurick asked. “Who are those aboard such an incredible ship? They apparently know you.”
“I have an idea, but we’ll know soon enough.”
“Have you counted the ring-ports?”
Adam hadn’t, too engrossed as he was in his own thoughts and curiosities.
“I see eight on this side alone; there must be matching ports on the other side.” Nurick said.
This got Adam’s attention. Sixteen focusing ring ports! It was now Adam’s turn to declare that to be impossible. Yet here was the proof right in front of him. Who was capable of such a technological feat?
Adam’s stomach suddenly tied up in knots. The Klin? Could the Klin be behind such revolutionary advancements in starship design and propulsion? It wouldn’t be the first time they had surprised him with their capabilities.
The dark hull of the giant ship was now sliding past as the magnetics guided the Pegasus toward a gaping opening with brilliant white light streaming out. The landing bay was just as huge as everything else on this side of the ship and Adam could see that there were matching doors to other bays both above and below the one they were now entering. And this was just the portside landing bays. Six bays in total, reminding Adam more an aircraft carrier than simply a very large battleship. So he wasn’t surprised to see the interior of the landing bay stocked with row upon row of small two-man fighters, along with a sizeable compliment of other ships, each about half the size of the Pegasus.
Within this one ship was an entire fleet of warships. And that was assuming there was only one ship like this under the command of—well, he would soon find out.
The Pegasus was released from the magnetics and a space-suited crew came with a tractor and placed the ship near the right wall of the cavernous chamber. The huge articulated doors to the bay were soon shut and atmosphere returned to the bay, as dozens of crew—representing several different species—flooded the vast room and set about resuming their duties. Adam recognized most of the aliens, yet he saw no Humans among the mix.
Through the forward viewport, Adam and Nurick saw a small delegation of five crew approach the Pegasus. A quick check of the readings showed an acceptable atmosphere and pressure had been established in the bay, although Adam did take note of the reduced gravity of the huge ship. It hovered around eighty percent of Earth, according to his meter, so definitely not a Human ship.
He looked over at Nurick, whose small, beady rat-eyes were now larger than he’d ever seen them. “Might as well get this over with,” he said to the Vicorean. “But don’t volunteer any information.”
“About what?”
“About anything. Let them ask the questions, and then be short with your answers.”
“That will not seem to very cooperative. They may take offense to this line of conversation.”
“You would be surprised how much they already know. What I want them to do is tell us. That way I might be able to find a weakness in their knowledge and exploit it.”
“More optimism, Adam Cain, and even considering our present situation, you refuse to quit, even against such overwhelming odds? As I have said before, this seems to be a serious character flaw in your species.”
“It’s called being stubborn. Just do what I ask and we may get out of this alive.”
“I do not see how.”
“And that is what sets our species apart, Nurick. For Humans, it’s never over until the fat lady sings.”
Adam smiled at the look of absolute confusion that now crossed Nurick’s face. He knew it would; that was why he said it.
May as well start this new off adventure with a smile on my face.
145
Adam undogged the hatch and slid it aside. The five aliens on the metal deck stepped forward. They each wore dark green uniforms, with armbands of various colors signifying rank. The alien with the red armband stepped forward.
He eyed Nurick with curiosity, and then referred to a datapad in his hand before turning his full attention to Adam. ‘You are Adam Cain.” It was a statement, not a question, and the officer seemed slightly startled by the revelation.
“That’s right, and I want to thank your commander for saving my life. So when do I have the pleasure of meeting him?”
“Soon, and who is this?”
“Nurick Nur, a power-module dealer from the planet Vicor.”
“What is he doing aboard your ship?”
“That’s a long story. Just say it was an accident and leave it at that.”
The officer lifted the datapad toward Nurick and took his picture.
“Follow me. Once the Vicorean has been scanned for biohazards, you will be taken to the command center. At that time all your questions will be answered.” He turned to two of the other crewmembers with him and nodded; they rushed past Adam and entered the Pegasus.
Adam jaw tightened. He had no idea what they would do aboard his ship, even though he suspected they would tap into his computer system—and more. And with the prevailing damper over the functioning of his ATD, he couldn’t disable the system like he had on Karlis. It would be open to all.
Thirty minutes later Nurick had been scanned and cleared of any contagious diseases or parasites, and after a series of elevator rides that seemed to go on forever, the pair was escorted into a large conference room with a wall-length viewport to the outside. The Krinus/Tarantula Nebula was on full display, with its vibrant colors casting a kaleidoscopic pattern throughout the room. Adam stepped up to the vast window, where he witnessed no fewer than ten of the small two-man fighters going through various flight exercises. These were combat maneuvers they were practicing, yet against what enemy Adam didn’t know? Not yet.
Adam stepped away from the window and surveyed the room. There was a large marble table dominating the center and lined with three distinct sizes of chairs. There were four truly massive ones, then some that could accommodate a seven-foot tall Juirean with ease, along with a dozen of Human size. The wall between the conference room and the interior of the ship was made of glass, so Adam could clearly see other members of the crew moving about, with none paying him or Nurick any attention.
At the far end of the room was a darkened area, a recess of some sort which Adam hadn’t noticed when he first entered—distracted as he had been by the view of the brilliant nebula. Now he focused his attention on the dark recess.
There seemed to be a flicker and then a movement coming from the darkness; something was in there. He tensed. Whatever it was it had been there from the moment they entered the room—silent, observing.
And now a figure step forward, out of the darkness and into the colorful glow from the Nebula.
Adam’s knees suddenly grew weak and he stumbled forward, resting both his hands on the table to maintain balance. Nurick noticed Adam’s reaction and followed his gaze to the figure now standing at the other end of the room, smiling.
“My friend Adam Cain, I assume from your reaction that I am the last person you expected to see.”
“That is an understatement,” Adam managed to say. His heart was in his feet, and an overwhelming feeling of despair flooded his senses. Adam pulled back one of the Human-size chairs and fell into it. “I suppose this whole emerging-from-the-darkness thing is your typical way of making a grand entrance. Well, I must say, you’ve made an impression.”
“I equate it more to a rebirth of sorts, a coming back to life after a certain death.”
Nurick’s curiosity was bubbling over. “Who is this creature, Adam Cain?
You apparently know him.”
“Unfortunately, I do,” Adam said. And then he feigned a smile. “Nurick Nur, let me introduce you to the former supreme leader of the Milky Way—I mean the Silean—Galaxy, none other than the honorable Kroekus of Silea. You may not be familiar with the name, yet nearly every living creature in my galaxy knows it intimately. I must say, Kroekus, you’re looking absolutely svelte these days.”
The smile did not leave the Silean’s face. “Four months on a crash Juirean diet will do wonders for a person’s weight, even though for a Silean, this is not the most-desirable of outcomes. I assure you, I am working on getting my weight back up. My females demand it.”
Adam’s initial shock had subsided, replaced now with a sick resignation. He leaned back in the chair and propped his left leg up on the chair next to him. “Take a seat, Nurick. My old friend Kroekus obviously has one hell of a story to tell. You may as well get comfortable.”
Kroekus laughed. “You know me all too well, Adam. Refreshments!” the Silean announced to the room. A moment later, four attendants entered with plates of food—Human, Silean and even Vicorean—along with drink and even a selection of sweet desserts.
Kroekus joined them at the table, and without preamble, began to devour his food. Adam was hungry, too, and therefore saw no reason not to enjoy a last lavish meal on Kroekus’s dime. Once the other two aliens in the room were happily munching away, Nurick relaxed enough to do the same. It was a full five minutes before Adam spoke again.
“So the Juireans couldn’t hold you,” he said matter-of-factly. “However, that doesn’t explain this ship.”
“They did keep me for four months, and for that I have you to thank. I must say; however, it was a great test of my personal courage and willpower. During my stay, I managed to impress even myself.”
“You’re welcome,” Adam said with a smile.
“It would have been more impressive if my ordeal had been voluntary, yet we both know that was not the case.”
“Please forgive me, but I am at a loss as to the context of this conversation.”
Kroekus glared at the Vicorean. “Is this your new Kaylor? I suppose everyone needs a pet.”
“I am no one’s pet!”
Adam silenced Nurick with a firm shake of his head. “Chill out, Nurick; Kroekus is not someone you want to piss off.”
“Chill…piss, I do not understand?”
Kroekus smiled at Nurick. “Are they not entertaining—the Humans? They have such a wonderful way of expressing themselves. I find it particularly entertaining observing the reaction of others to what they say and how they say it.”
“I still do not understand—”
The smile vanished suddenly from the Silean’s face as his eyes bore into Nurick. “That is because you are not privy to such that Adam and I have shared—”
“I turned him over to the Juireans,” Adam interrupted. “The Juireans are the main race in the Silean Galaxy, and my old friend here committed crimes not only against them, but against my race as well. As a result, he spent a little time as a guest of the Juirean prison system—much less time than any of us expected, I might add. So now you’re free and here in the Cloud, Kroekus. How did that happen?”
The smile returned to Kroekus’s round face. “One does not reach my level of power and wealth without having allies spread across the galaxy. And since my wealth was once beyond compare—and still is—there is nothing that cannot be bought, even freedom from a Juirean prison.”
Adam knocked on the top of the marble table. “And this?”
“The greatest starship ever built—and for the most credits, I might add. No expense was spared in its design and construction. It costs more than the gross economic output of several industrialized planets. Only I have the resources for such a construct, and as you have seen, this single ship is a fleet unto itself.”
“And how did you manage to find me out of this entire galaxy? I can’t believe it was pure luck.”
“You seem to forget, Adam, it was I who built the Pegasus. I have always known where you are. There are at least four tracers aboard, devices hidden even from your telepathy device. You see, there is nothing in this galaxy—or the other—that I do not control.”
Adam frowned. He was working the timeline out in his head and the numbers weren’t adding up. “You were with the Juireans for two months before I left for the Cloud, and you say you spent four months in their jail….”
“It took only four months to make the journey here, if that is your question.”
Adam’s jaw fell open, as did Nurick’s.
“That is what a concentrated-array of sixteen focusing rings will do for a ship. Nothing comes close to the speed of this vessel, nor the firepower she carries.”
“And now you’re here to join forces with your partner-in-crime, Nigel McCarthy—”
Kroekus’s bellowing laugh—one that often made Adam believe the huge Silean was choking to death—now filled the room. “My friend Adam Cain, McCarthy is a Human, just like you. I therefore trust him as far as I could throw him, to use one of your more graphic Human phrases. He has served his purpose in the past, and I am using him even now to soften up my newest conquest, even though he does not realize that is his role. But partners: never. Now I long to witness his expression when I appear before him.”
“He doesn’t know you’re here?”
“He still believes me to be locked away in a Juirean prison. My spies also confirm that he is still under the mistaken belief that he has this entire galaxy to himself.”
Adam couldn’t keep from smiling. He knew his days were numbered, but it was reassuring to know that so were Nigel McCarthy’s. “I know it may be too much to ask,” Adam began, “but is there any chance I could stick around long enough to see your reunion with Nigel.”
Kroekus skewed his face. “That I had not considered; however, it would be a delight to the senses. Two mortal enemies—warriors both—facing their ultimate demise at my hand. The surprise of seeing me would be shock enough. Yet for Nigel to see you with me, well that would be priceless. You have yourself a deal, Adam Cain.”
But then the huge Silean leaned forward and his expression turned to stone. “I must warn you, Adam Cain: Do not to try any of your Human super-being antics on me. You are buried deep within my realm now. Every creature aboard this ship owes his or her considerable fortune to me, as I also support their families across two galaxies. You will find no allies here.”
“I came here to put an end to Nigel McCarthy—one way or another— even if I didn’t survive the mission.”
Kroekus’s face lit up. “Ah, then that gives me another idea: A death match, one between you and Nigel. That would bring me such pleasure, and for my crew, as well.”
“And the winner goes free?”
“Regrettably, my friend, you ask too much. All I can offer is a moment of reverie for the victor to savor the moment. After that, it will be my delight to terminate—by my own hands—the life of the survivor.”
“Fair enough, Kroekus,” said Adam with a smile. “Just give me a chance and I promise I'll put on one hell of a show.”
146
Once the pair had been fitted with combination tracing and electro-shock devices around their ankles, they were set up in separate staterooms adjacent to one another and allowed to roam the ship with very few restrictions. Kroekus’s massive vessel already had its own security protocols in place, with only certain personnel allowed within the engine and weapons compartments. Leaving Nurick to his own devices, Adam explored the ship, finding these restricted sections and testing their security.
It was obvious by the amused reaction of the alien guards he approached that they had been fully briefed, not only Adam’s status aboard the ship, but also his abilities. The guards drew weapons, conspicuously set at Level-One, and instructed him to remain at the far end of the corridor otherwise they had permission to open fire.
Adam saluted the guards and moved off, con
tent now to find one of the numerous mess decks the craft offered. He was hoping they had a self-serve processing station, since the formula for dark ale was something he’d made a point of memorizing. In light of his current situation, there wasn’t much to keep from indulging once more.
With Kroekus offering a final solution to the Nigel McCarthy mission, Adam was left with nothing to do but wait. Having the chance to end McCarthy’s like by his own hand was something Adam found exciting. It’s what came afterwards that Adam found to be a little problematic.
And then he had Kroekus to consider, as well. The reason Adam’s mission didn’t include a reckoning with the Silean was that he had already been taken care of—or at least that had been his impression. But now, if he wanted complete closure, he would have to deal with both McCarthy and Kroekus.
As Adam waited for the computer to process the formula he’d entered for the beer, he reached down and rubbed the security anklet he wore. He once had a similar device attached many, many years ago, at a time when his friend Riyad Tarazi was not a friend, but rather a foe. He’d been able to cut through the strap back then.
With the tart taste of the ale sliding down his throat, Adam wondered what he would do if he were free of the device? He was aboard a massive starship controlled by his adversary and crewed by as many as five thousand loyalists. The ship’s security set-up was top-notch and professional, and Kroekus—probably more than anyone else in this galaxy—understood the Humans’ inherent advantages over other aliens. He would not let Adam get too far out of line before reining back him in.
The one consolation he had was that Kroekus wouldn’t do anything bad to him until he had Nigel, so Adam had time to gain intelligence, weigh his options and devise a plan.
But at that moment, as he rested in a soft chair in a very nice lounge area, Adam wondered if he could truly work on devising such a serious and complex plan of action—and with all the pressure associated with it—while sober? He reasoned a little lessening of tension would work wonders in allowing the ideas to flow freely. So another beer was called for, with another for insurance.