As the enemy ships fired on the Azura, she barrel-rolled out of the way and sped to maximum velocity, leaving the atmosphere. Akrillis felt the anxiety worsen as small, rocky debris began passing them. The boulders were getting larger as they entered the belt—eventually the size of boulders, and then larger than cities. The slaver ships entered the field after them, doing their best to avoid collision. One or two of them rammed floating rocks upon entry. The Azura swerved and swept up and around asteroids left, right, and centre. Akrillis held his armrests tightly, while Vanakis looked to be enjoying himself with a smirk.
“Well, no one can say we never do anything together,” Val laughed.
“Do our activities always have to involve certain death?” His brother questioned.
The Azura managed to scrape an asteroid.
“That was close,” Vanakis chuckled.
Val flew her around and headed straight for their foes. As they approached each other, another Avayan ship was wasted by the debris. Vanakis extended the two cannons from the front of the Azura’s hull and let loose with bolts of Neo-Plasma. Avayan fighters scrambled and panicked, forced to avoid both asteroids and enemy fire. Vanakis managed to deal with a great chunk of them before the Azura took a bad hit in return. She was damaged on the starboard side, and a brief puff of black smoke shot out. The fighters fired as many bolts as they could at their adversary.
As the Tarian vessel avoided both asteroids and oncoming fire, a more problematic issue was occurring inside.
“No, no, no! We are not simply walking away from this,” Akrillis insisted.
“They’re chasing us off like rodents. Take the hint,” Val countered.
“So, we should just give up, just like that?” Akrillis asked.
The Azura rattled as she took fire.
“Now we’re talkin’,” Vanakis agreed.
“We can’t give up. We’ve come this far. I’m seeing this through,” Akrillis declared.
“Or, we could not go back to where the mean people really wanna kill us,” Val suggested with a sarcastic tone.
“Oh, this is hardly the time!” Akrillis pointed out.
“Fine!” Val said.
“Fine.”
“Then let’s stop talking.”
“All right then.”
“I’ve stopped talking.”
“So have I.”
“Good,” Vanakis said.
“Great,” Akrillis concluded.
Another hard blow to the Azura could be felt on the bridge. Vanakis then noticed an opening in a huge asteroid. Akrillis felt his anxiety rise to new peaks when he noticed them heading right for it.
“Oh, no, no!” Akrillis said.
The cat-bobblehead was shaking from side to side, almost as if it objected with the plan.
Val stayed the course, even speeding up with the remaining fighters following closely. With their target now on a straight course at last, the fighters locked on their missiles. They fired several rocket-propelled death bombs, all heading for the Azura’s ass end. The Tarian ship zipped inside the opening of the giant asteroid and disappeared in the blackness. The missiles collided with the rocky walls. The Avayan vessels quickly went inside to investigate the condition of their enemy.
As they navigated the space cave with lights on and trigger fingers ready, the pitch black made it almost impossible. Then the Azura rotated and blinded them with its spotlights before firing upon them.
With all their immediate foes taken care of, Vanakis safely navigated out of the asteroid belt. “Can we go home now?” Vanakis asked.
“We can’t leave those slaves to die there,” Akrillis insisted. “Diplomacy didn’t work; we just need another approach.”
“What about running off and then hoping the problem goes away on its own?” Vanakis said.
“Val this is serious,” Akrillis snapped.
“Yeah, you said that already.”
“We are not giving up,” Akrillis declared.
“Eh, well I think I know someone who may be able to help.” Val finally decided to be of some aid.
“Is he trustworthy?” Akrillis doubted.
“Hell no,” Val chuckled, “but he’s good at solving impossible situations. He’s my heist guy.”
“Your heist guy?” Akrillis wondered.
“Yeah. If I want something I can’t have, he tells me how to get it,” Vanakis explained.
Akrillis was just a little bothered by how happy Vanakis was saying that sentence.
“All right. Where is this friend?” Akrillis asked.
Val worked the navigational computer. “Setting course for the planet Sorgos.”
EIGHT
Hooded and mysterious, the strange being stood in Zurey’s office. His coat almost ran down to his ankles. His entire body was covered. His hood concealed his shadowed face. Only the red glow of his eyes was visible as he looked down at the pendulum ornament on the overseer’s desk. The man tapped it with one of his three fingers, stopping its motion. His boots ran up to his thighs and his hands were gloved. Slade was one of the most notorious bounty hunters in the galaxy. The doors slid open and the man himself walked in, escorted by his personal guards as usual. Slade’s eyes dimmed to nothing, the red glow faded away and his green skin became more apparent.
“I am Zurey Minos, overseer of this facility,” he introduced himself. After he noticed, he was quick to get the pendulum ornament swinging again. “I don’t usually bring in outside help,” Zurey continued. “Especially not bounty hunters.”
Bounty hunters weren’t trusted by many people throughout the galaxy. People didn’t like someone loyal only to the highest bidder.
“But this matter is far too sensitive for a regular approach. No one can know we had anything to do with the death of a Tarian prince,” Zurey told him.
“You want me to assassinate a prince?” Slade responded, his voice rough and crackly.
“Two, actually,” Minos corrected. “They’ve begun to stir up trouble, and they will continue unless dealt with. That’s where you come in, Mister…?”
“Slade,” the bounty hunter introduced himself.
“A Veech. Never encountered one of your kind before, but I’ve heard Veech are deadly. You should have no trouble dealing with those feline scum,” the overseer concluded.
Slade’s eyes once again lit red in excitement as Zurey spoke.
After nightfall, Zurey had visited a security centre in the heart of Omega. He was being updated on any and all current issues within the compound.
“I want it fixed,” he ordered. “And a data report on the southern wing.”
One security officer approached his leader. “Sir, after Section D has been brought to sleeping quarters and head counts complete, we have a missing slave, sir.”
“Missing?” Minos questioned (not something that happened often at all).
“Yes, records name her Laurelle Morra. She’s a young Tarian girl, ten years of age,” the officer explained.
“Such a young slave is a large asset to us, officer. Find her immediately,” Zurey ordered.
“At once,” the officer said, following without question.
Morning arrived in a bright, hot, and sizzling fashion. All the suns burned in the sky.
This system contained three suns, in fact: a central one which the planets orbit and a second and a third, which were much smaller and which also orbited the first sun.
Trydon, who had been looking for Mantis, finally found him in a corner in the yards. “Hey, have you seen Laurelle?”
“No, not since yesterday,” Mantis only just realised.
“I haven’t seen her, either. I’m getting worried,” Trydon looked jumpier and more on edge than usual. After what had happened to her and Mantis, knowing the dangers of these concentration camps made him concerned for Laurelle’s well-being. “I’ve already looked everywhere I could without getting more limbs shot off, at least.”
“The Avayans may have taken her,” Mantis thought.
“For what purpose?” Trydon asked.
“Who knows? We should double-check to be sure. Let’s split up and take a look around,” Mantis suggested.
Trydon agreed.
The two went their different ways. The Zantian wandered the corridors of the facility for hours, eager to find the young girl. It wasn't long before Mantis realised the same guard had been following him the entire time, but he ignored it and continued to search. He tried to act like he wasn’t bothered by it, looking in the sleeping quarters, refinery, and many other unlikely places. The Zantian felt his hopes slide downward as time passed, becoming more worried with each passing minute. Not long after, there were now two guards shadowing his movements. He turned to look behind himself, feeling the sets of eyes as they watched on. Once turning back to look where he was going, Mantis saw more guards. He sighed. He knew what was about to happen.
The Zantian was hung from the ceiling upside-down, dangling and vulnerable. Avayans surrounded him. They watched as he was suspended and helpless. Mantis was still groggy, his eyes were heavy.
“Where is she?!” One guard demanded.
“What?” Mantis said even more confused than before. “Who?”
“The girl! You were seen with her on many occasions in previous weeks. Where has she gone?” The Avayan was clearly frustrated as his loud voice burrowed it's way into Mantis' brain.
“I have no idea. I was looking for her myself,” he tried to convince them, but failed.
“Bullshit!”
Mantis was beaten with a baton while he hung. With his hands tied behind his back, and he was unable to defend himself. “I have no idea! I don’t know where she is!” He eagerly tried to get them off his back.
The guard used his baton to let loose on the Zantian’s thin frame. Mantis screamed in agony. One hard hit to the spine, and Mantis was almost paralysed. The Avayan knew just the perfect spot. The pain shot up Mantis’ spine faster than missiles. The nerve hub in his vertebrae fired agony across his entire body, as he froze from the torment.
Elsewhere…
“According to our records, we’ve had problems with this one in the past. She had been found crawling through air ducts and ventilation systems,” the guard told Zurey.
“Conduct an extensive search of all the ducting. I want her found,” Zurey commanded.
“Yes, sir,” the guard quickly made her way out of Zurey’s office when she suddenly stopped before the door.
“Something more?” Zurey wondered.
“We’ve considered the possibility she may have had help from the outside,” she said.
The overseer instantly dipped his face in a puzzled look. “From our recent guests?” The overseer asked. “You believe these princes could have aided her?”
“If she can’t be located here, sir, it’s quite possible they helped her escape, taking her with them,” she said.
The guard noticed the muscles on his jaw clenched tight.
“They think they can come here and do as they please?” Zurey turned to look out over the facility. “If we don’t get her back, things will become worse. We need to make an example of them.” The overseer turned to lock eyes with the guard once again. “Get me the bounty hunter,” he ordered.
Slade was cleaning his rifle as his ship auto-piloted to his next destination. He sat in the rec room surrounded by skulls of his big game kills, weapons on display, as well as books and filing cabinets. No windows were present; the interior lighting was more than sufficient to see every edge and crack on the dismantled weapon. Beside his desk was a picture of a woman about his age—a Veech, just like him.
Friend? Or a lover, perhaps?
Slade stopped to gaze at the photo. The sudden beeping didn’t phase him or even seem to break his concentration. After a short while of letting it beep on, he finally answered the communication.
“Go ahead,” Slade requested, not keen on hearing Zurey after seeing who was contacting him. He felt relieved that it was merely an audio call and that he wouldn’t have to see the man.
“We have a complication,” the overseer informed him. “These cat vermin have taken one of ours. We need her recovered and returned to us alive. Do what you wish to them. I will double your pay.”
“Understood.” Slade disconnected, sick of hearing Zurey’s voice already.
He took the photo and kept it on his person as he went elsewhere. It was clearly someone very dear to him. Slade entered another room that was filled with gadgets. He used the computer to activate and program several drones. The drones departed from his ship and flew off in different directions through space. The hunt for the Tarian brothers had begun.
This is a really good cookie. Chocolate chip is my favourite!
NINE
The Azura was making its way to Sorgos at full speed as it soared through space. Akrillis was fiddling around on the bridge while his younger brother was down in the cargo bay on the search for something. Large crates, barrels, and other boxes and equipment were littered throughout the gloomy storage area. Vanakis opened a barrel and, inside, were foam-balls protecting its fragile contents. As he dug his arm in, he found what he was looking for.
“Gotcha,” he smiled. He pulled out the bottle of alcohol. “Urnog’s finest.” He turned around, and to his surprise, his eyes met with a small girl.
They stood there for a few moments in silence. Val was in shock at the weasel he saw before him. The girl's fingers were shaking.
“Who the hell are you?” He finally broke the muteness. “What are you doing on this ship?”
She immediately looked nervous and jittery. His tone of voice brought out anxiety.
“Please don’t make me go back,” she begged.
“I don’t care where you go as long as you get lost,” he informed her.
“This is my chance to get away,” she exclaimed.
He grabbed her arm and took her up the deck.
“Hey,” she said as he pulled her.
“There’s been a complication,” Akrillis said. “We’re trying something else—one of Val’s contacts.”
“Be careful. You know what he’s like,” Mera warned her fiancé.
“I know, but right now, it’s all we’ve got. I’ll update you when I can. I love you,” Akrillis told her.
“I love you, too,” she responded.
Akrillis ended the audio connection and sighed. His eyes suddenly widened like never before. His face opened with more emotions than could be described, shock being the most prominent. Akrillis had no idea what to think after he heard a little girl’s moan.
The bridge doors slid open, and in walked exactly what Akrillis had hoped he wouldn’t see. Vanakis had dragged a youthful girl in.
“Oh, get fucked,” he let out once he stood up. “Val, you kidnapped a child?” He immediately assumed.
“What?” Vanakis looked just as shocked as Akrillis by that sentence. “I have no idea how she got here. You’re the one who kidnapped a child.”
“I wouldn’t do such a thing,” Akrillis declared.
“Oh, and I would?” Val questioned.
“How should I know?” Akrillis said.
“If anyone would do it, it’s you,” Vanakis claimed.
Akrillis was now even more confused. “I don’t even understand how you figure that.”
“Oh, c’mon, we all know your part of a sex cult,” Vanakis accused.
“That’s total bullshit!” Akrillis snapped.
“Is it, Akrillis? Is it really?”
“Just stop it,” she jumped in.
The brothers turned to the one acting the most mature in the room.
“You kidnapped such a bright, young thing, you bastard,” Vanakis was quick to continue.
“Oh, shut up,” Akrillis responded. He then bent down to her level. “What’s your name?”
“Laurelle,” she said with a hint of hesitance.
“How did you get here?” Akrillis wondered.
“Sometimes, I go inside
the tunnels and can go to other places,” she said.
“Maybe not so bright after all,” Val remarked after being left confused.
“The tunnels?” Akrillis asked.
“The places where the mean ones can’t go. Where the air flows,” she continued.
“Are you talking about a ventilation system?” Val wondered.
“She must’ve used that to get around where she wasn’t supposed to,” Akrillis pointed out.
“When I heard that Tarians had come, I thought they are here to save us. So, I tried to get to you, but when I got here, no one was here. So, I tried hiding.” Laurelle explained.
The brothers just looked at each other.
“Well, that settles that,” Val said. “Let’s stop at the nearest port and chuck her out already. That smell is gonna kill one of us.”
“What?” Akrillis couldn’t believe his idea. “We’re not just going dump her somewhere. She’ll stay with us—for the meantime, at least—until we can get her back to Jenemi where she’ll be safe.”
Vanakis let out a long, overdramatic sigh-turned-groan, “Fine, but she’s your baggage.”
The ship’s instruments began to beep.
“Well, we’re on final approach to Sorgos,” Val notified.
The huge green sphere overwhelmed their view ahead. Laurelle watched in awe, never seeing such a thing in her entire life, having never left Rynok before. The Azura plunged through the atmosphere. Gliding over green swamps and thick rainforest, Laurelle was speechless. Her wildest dreams could never have prepared her for such a sight.
She was just able to get the words out; reduced to a whisper, “What is this place?” She was awe-struck at the beauty before her, mesmerised at the spectacle of complete tranquillity.
“A shit-hole,” Val destroyed the moment.
Akrillis and Laurelle turned in disgust.
Alpha Nebula Page 8