STAR HOUNDS -- OMNIBUS

by David Bischoff

  From spots of emerald green off to the far end of the bubble, just past halos of dun brown, a cool magenta emerged. It spread quickly. Like the jaws of some space dragon it grew—sharp, vivid, and deadly.

  A spike! A quantum spike! There was no mistaking it. But it wasn’t the data provided by his vu-tank that had confirmed this most unexpected event, nor was it his mind.

  It was his gut.

  Intellect was overpowered by an instinct for survival, the same instinct that would be triggered by the sight of a wolf in the woods or a shark in the sea.

  “Jump!” he cried. “Jump!”

  “Engaging now!” cried Number One.

  The spike grew with a flash of speed that was startling. It seemed to reach out from the depths of Underspace with angry teeth. Reached out and opened hungrily—just for him, just for Zox.

  Quantum spikes were essentially tears in Normality, tears in the very fabric of the universe. If in Underspace, ships could dart just within or below the skin of the universe to emerge elsewhere, “spikes” simply ripped that skin apart. Astronomers could see them at the edge of the known universe, snapping at whole galaxies, devouring them, sending them to—

  To who knew where?

  “Damn it! Why was I not warned about this!” cried Dr. Zox.

  “But, sir!”

  Excuses died in the whirlwind that shook the Prometheus.

  Zox had disdained halters for any of his sensory extensions. Who cared if they were damaged? he often thought. They were mere objects. But this situation was different. More violent than anything he had previously encountered, his dainty multi-armed sensory casing was torn from its control pedestal and slammed against the side of the bulkhead. Through a veil of oozing liquid, he saw the holo-bubble twist and distort.

  And as though seeking him and him alone, red teeth reached out for him and snapped closed.

  Chapter Two

  Ah … lovely … !

  The warm water caressed her naked body like a lover. Bubbles thrummed up her sides, dancing with delight across her hips and breasts—and, delight of delight, between her toes.

  “Ah. Oh, this is nice,” she murmured softly to herself, chin just above the water line.

  Laura Shemzak let the words drift out of her mouth languidly, a gentle whisper that seemed to wallow up towards the sky. Colored like an anemic gray lid, the sky was not all that it seemed. It was a sky that was not really there.

  Sky, after all, implied a planet and the atmosphere of a planet. They were not on a planet. They were in Omega Space.

  The crew of the starship called Starbow were no longer amongst the stars but nestled in someplace adjacent. Adjacent to the universe that held the Earth and the Milky Way, adjacent to the universe that held their enemies, the Overfriends.

  Laura Shemzak lay back and sighed.

  As the tingly bubbles of the pool raced up along her body, beading at the surface and releasing fragrant gases—roses? lilacs? her own feminine essence?—she tried just to relax and not think of anything. Let her mind exists alone and untroubled. A Zen mind, peaceful and at one with the universe.

  Whatever …

  She just didn’t want to use this downtime to agonize and ruminate too much. Rest—that was what she needed. Rest and relaxation …

  She looked up at the “sky,” which shifted in mass of dead photons.

  “Head’s up!” came a cry.

  “What—?”

  A figure streaked into her field of vision. All of her defenses were down. For a nanosecond, Laura Shemzak almost lifted her internal defense arrays. But no sooner had the impulse hit her than she manually overrode it. She recognized the owner of the voice.

  The figure—a lithe, nude body, pale and smooth as a worm—leaped up and arced. Hands grabbed feet, head tucked. And down it came, a weapon of somewhat less than mass destruction.

  “Cannonball!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.

  “Dammit!” cried Laura, shutting her eyes tight.

  Her highly calibrated vision caught all the nuances of a hundred and seventy five pound mass impacting upon the water’s surface. Raucous tension, as waves propagated from the pool’s center. She sensed the water arcing out, racing her way and—

  Slap!

  The water smashed against her face, drenching her. Water went up her nose and—despite her best efforts—into her eyes. A wave lifted up and washed over her head, leaving her sputtering.

  She opened her eyes, waiting for another attack. For a moment the surface of the pool was calm. But then a head and a pair of shoulders erupted through the surface.

  “Wow! The water’s awesome!”

  “Calspar Shemzak,” she spat. “That was not only annoying. It was rude and uncalled for.”

  The man, his hair draped over his eyes, just laughed. “Oh, come on. We’ve got this time to ourselves. Let’s have some fun!”

  “I’m glad it’s fun for you. It sure isn’t fun for me. In case you hadn’t noticed, I was attempting to meditate.”

  “Meditate!” Cal sputtered, withholding a grin. “Ah c’mon, that’s not meditation. You’re soaking in the tub. You’re rubbing the dub.”

  “I need some downtime … after all we’ve been through. Considering our options, given the situation we’re in … ”

  “Oh, right. And I suppose you’re also sitting there thinking up the necessary quantum stasis penetration equations that will get the Starbow out of Omega Space.”

  Laura didn’t have any response to that. She was distracted. It had suddenly come to her awareness that Cal was in this pool with her, very close—and that he was just as naked as she was.

  “Cal. I’m not in the mood.”

  “Why?”

  “I mean—we don’t have any clothes on.”

  “Well … that normally doesn’t constitute a negative.”

  She grew an edge to her voice. “Not now, Cal.”

  “Oh, come on, Laura! We’re flesh and blood! Didn’t you miss me … while we were apart so long?”

  “Of course I did, in the begi—”

  He splashed some water at her, laughed, and did a breast stroke, swimming up closer to her. He was a strapping handsome lad, a tow-headed blonde with blue eyes. Although they were supposed to have been brother and sister, there was no way that anyone would have supposed that they could have been more than fraternal “twins”—and the concept of “twins” was archaic, given the level of cloning employed throughout the Federation.

  She peeked furtively at his features. Though they were proportional and handsome, he had that rakish cast that gave him a bad boy look, helped by an overhanging brow and a big, cocky smile. And his body had changed since she’d last seen him, before that whole business with the Jaxdron. He’d exerted himself, and exercised at some ungodly pace. And apparently the Jaxdron, during their “games” with him, had supplied him with growth hormones and mild steroids. The result was a splendid, athletic body, with large muscular shoulders, carved abdomen, narrow hips and slender, perfect legs. She could see all these clearly now through the crystalline water, along with some other prominent masculine attributes. And she had to look away.

  “Oh, come on, Laura. It’s like a walk in the neighborhood: you’re not going to see something you haven’t seen before! And besides, it’s not like I’m some alien predator or anything. I just want to be with you! You know … like the old days.” He laughed and kicked his feet, splashing the water. “You don’t really want to be by yourself. Do you?”

  She tucked her legs up and drew her hands over her breasts.

  “Whatever.”

  He winked at her, and got closer.

  She shook her head. “Cal, so much has happened. I did miss you, in the beginning … but things aren’t the same anymore.”

  His smile turned into a frown. A worried expression stole over
his face. “Whoa! Whoa! What’s that supposed to mean, girl? You haven’t found someone else, have you?” Cal struck a pose and flexed his newly cast body. “Who else but me can handle an iron woman like you, anyway?”

  Laura laughed. She laughed not just because she found the reference to her inner robotics funny, but because of the way Cal said it. She was immediately disarmed and thus able to shake off her alarm at the sight of Cal’s remarkably virile nudity, so that she could simply see him as the boyish bozo he was.

  “Oh, Cal. You just push my feelings to the edge. Every button in my cybernetic body. Get out of here!”

  “Yes, yes! How rude of me! I forgot the power of my physique on the weaker sex.”

  “What an ass!”

  “Oh, did you notice that too?” He turned to display his posterior invitingly. “Nice one, eh?”

  He grinned a grin, then reared up his rosy buttocks.

  She pushed him away, smiling. “Spare me.”

  “Very well.”

  “The Jaxdron did give you a workout, though, didn’t they?”

  “They fed me some kind of special nutrients too. Built me up for those absurd athletic games they put me through. I’d still be jumping and thumping if they had their way!”

  “You do look good. But why don’t you show your pecs and abs to the other gals on the crew, huh?”

  “I only have eyes for you, sis.”

  “With Silver Zenyo waving her boobs in your face? You haven’t noticed that, perhaps?”

  “Well … she’s a blonde,” Cal teased. “I’m not sure I like blondes.”

  “I’m sure she’d do a hair zap if you ask her to. What color do you prefer? Vermilion? Azure?”

  “Hmmm … I wonder what else she’d do if I asked her?”

  “Anything, I’m sure.”

  Cal was silent for a minute. Laura could almost see the mechanics of his male mind at work. Or so she imagined.

  “I don’t know, sis. Maybe I’m jealous.”

  “Jealous? Of what? My popularity? They all love me, you know.”

  Cal frowned again. This time, it made Laura nervous. She was beginning to feel trapped in the conversation. If she was unable to spin it in her favor, it might enter territory she had hoped to avoid.

  “I’m not jealous of everybody. Just one person.”

  Laura’s heart skipped a beat. “One?”

  “That’s right. Good ole Cappy.”

  “Cappy? You mean Northern?”

  “Yep. Captain Tars Northern.”

  “You gotta be—You think I’m pining after that bastard? You’re crazy!”

  “You’re not just pining! It’s becoming clear to me now. You’ve been thinking about him so much that your nethers are starting to heat up this here pool!”

  “That’s not only utter nonsense, that’s—Anyway, it’s none of your damned business.”

  For a brief moment, Cal gave Laura a steely glare, before brightening. “Ha! Got ya! Got you where you live, girl!” He sniffed, leaned back against the side of the pool and closed his eyes. “So it’s Northern, eh? Well … he’s a good-looking alpha male. Quite sensible, I suppose. Your instincts say you should mate and procreate with him. You’ve got a lot of circuitry inside you, sure, but you’ve also still got all your wetware. Inside and out!”

  “Thanks for that.”

  “Anytime.”

  She sighed. “Look, Cal, I wasn’t sure how to break this to you. But honestly? Nothing’s going on between me and Northern. Well … nothing yet. But I’ve got other more important agendas. And … and Northern annoys me anyway.”

  Cal did his best to hide his feelings. His Cheshire Cat grin concealed the bleeding caused by the unexpected wound to his heart. Laura and Northern? He so much wanted to know more about all this. When and how? But maybe … maybe now wasn’t the best time to ask.

  “Agendas? Uh oh. You’re getting serious on me.”

  “That’s right, because it involves our past.”

  “You mean our beloved Overfriend?”

  “Yes, Zarpfrin.” She hissed the name through clenched teeth.

  “Laura, we shouldn’t put the topic of Northern aside just yet, but I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Zarpfrin. Don’t you think you should let that go? Just forget him and get on with our lives?”

  “You want me to let Zarpfrin go?” She turned on him viciously. “After all that’s happened?”

  “Look, maybe you’ll get your revenge. Maybe you’ve already gotten your revenge.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean, don’t you think Zarpfrin is writhing right now? Don’t you think he’s cooking in his juices?”

  “I don’t think he cares! He’s got his own goals, and we were just pawns. For all he knows, we’re dead!”

  “I don’t believe for a minute he thinks that!” Laura shot back.

  “I’m sure he has employed his master mathematicians and statisticians to deal with the matter. And I’m sure he’s taking all precautions. But I don’t think that you should dwell so much on him. We’re young and we’ve got our whole lives to live. Maybe here, but also maybe amongst the stars.” Cal draped a weary hand across his brow in a comic manner. “I would sooner lose you to the rough and tumble arms of Captain Tars Northern than to a life like Captain Ahab’s!”

  “Who?”

  “Captain Ahab. From a famous 19th century novel by Herman Melville. Sea captain loses leg to a great white whale. Pursues relentlessly. I’ve seen several movies based on that novel, needless to say.”

  “You’re saying I’m obsessed? Me? Like this … this Hay-hab fellow?”

  “Ahab—but yes!”

  “Well, all I can say is that I was obsessed before, obsessed with saving you from the Jaxdron. Are you still being held by the Jaxdron now, smarty pants?”

  She splashed water in his face using both palms.

  “Hey, cut that out!”

  He splashed her back playfully, then grabbed her. They stood frozen, naked and intimately close.

  “Say, you know how when we were kids I used to tickle you—and you wiggled and laughed like crazy? Wonder if you’re still so ticklish?”

  Cal’s fingers leapt to action. They wiggled across her stomach, then frisked her sides.

  Tender agony shot through her body. She wriggled away, laughing despite herself.

  “Cal! Stop it!”

  “You do feel it, then!”

  “Stop it, damn you!”

  “Ha ha! Okay. One more little touch.”

  Cal jabbed. It was a more ferocious, delicious agony this time, sending sparkles from head to toe. But then he laughed again, relented, and ceased his attack.

  “I love you, Laura. I always will … ”

  The next thing Laura knew she was wrapped in his arms, and she could feel his hard chest against her body. Her small breasts squashed against his smooth skin. Despite herself, she could feel her nipples harden with excitement.

  She couldn’t stop herself, and pushed against him. “Oh, Cal … I’m not sure about anything now … ”

  “It’s just me, sis,” he said, gently stroking her cheek.

  “I guess … ”

  She let him hug her a bit more and he pressed against her. Stars, he was hard all over! And, as he leaned over her, she could feel another hardness in him, pressing again her thighs. Despite herself, she thrilled and—

  It came.

  An explosion, or booming, in the far distance, somewhere in the gray non-sky of Omega Space. But it was an odd sound, an explosion that sounded more like an implosion of sorts.

  And as Laura looked up through the mists that rose off the pool, she could see the eruption in the sky. Something strange was taking place. Looking back at Cal, she realized that he too had been distracted at the wors
t possible moment, his face no longer at the edge of sensual bliss.

  “Uh oh,” said Cal.

  Chapter Three

  He thought he knew the quantum forces forward and backward, as though he could hold them in his hands like putty, to be shaped and used as he wished. But now, for Dr. Harla Zox, it was more like he held a brood of coiled, deadly pythons, opening their fanged mouths and racing to devour him.

  “No!” he cried.

  “Evasive maneuvers, my lord?” cried Brilliantine.

  “No!”

  “But what then, mon capitan?”

  Dr. Harla Zox attempted to communicate but could not. He could not, because he was … uncertain.

  Were the secrets hidden from him, cached in reservoirs of a nervous system he no longer had? Was it enough to be just a brain attached to a machine? For years, this niggling doubt had troubled him in black moments, though he had easily pushed it back with his arrogance. Now, though, confronted with the abysmal prospect of annihilation, the black doubts flared more powerfully and painfully than ever before.

  “No!” he cried, his will resolute and indomitable.

  “What?” cried his Number One, sequestered away in the confines of his own ship compartment. “Mon capitan. We must retreat.”

  And then it came to Dr. Harla Zox, came to him like the flashing of a nova, a burst of cosmic force.

  The solution.

  “No! Full jump-stasis realignment. Heading—directly into the approaching shockwave vector.”

  Flustered objections were aroused. And not just from the Number One, but from the entire crew. Was Zox mad? The furor roared up as the ship rocked hard and furious.

  But Dr. Harla Zox ignored them. Instantly seeing that there might be opposition, he used emergency override for all bridge controls. Thrusters soon came to life, realigning the Prometheus. Dormant engines pulsed with energy. Jump algorithms converged.

  No, he thought. Their only hope was not to retreat. Here before him, now, in the flare of destruction, was the heart of truth that he had so long sought.

  Gamma Space.