by Dana Kelly
She abruptly ended the call and tapped her commlink. “Think that got under his skin?”
“It sure sounded like it on my end,” said Mike over the channel.
“Yes, he’s flustered.” April’s voice sounded a bit staticky. “Casey, they’ve initiated landing procedures.”
“That’s all right,” said Casey. “I want them to find us. There’s only one place they can land right now, and that’s the starport. It’ll funnel them straight to us.”
“April, it’ll be all right,” said Malmoradan over his commlink. “Mike and I are in position.”
The distinct sound of the lightning gun charging hummed in the background. “Locked and loaded, Captain,” said Shona.
“Good,” said Casey, and she released a calming breath.
Nathaniel whistled appreciatively. “Cartwright, you’ve got some brass ones.” He took a long pull on his cigarette as he closed the distance between them.
“Get ready with the flower,” whispered Casey. Orin nodded, and Casey focused on Nathaniel. “It seemed prudent to remind him of the stakes.”
“I doubt it’ll be much of a deterrent,” said Nathaniel. “The Admiral’s justified dozens of heinous acts, all under the banners of military superiority and galactic security. He won’t have any trouble talking his way out of blowing up your starship.”
Orin stepped close. “That’s never going to happen.” Blue fire burned around his forearms. “Watchtower’s close enough for me to shield her.”
“Maybe I should’ve been a little scared of someone who can block salvos of sunfire missiles, and three-barrel turrets armed with sixteens.” He regarded Orin gravely. “Because that’s what Saxony is carrying. Tell me the truth, kid—how many of those salvos can you eat before you collapse? How many blasts from those cannons?”
Orin swallowed visibly. “As many as he’s got.” He glared down at Nathaniel, moving close. Come on, he thought. Do your thing, you stupid flower!
“Tonight, you’re going to learn why MABAS training is so important, and I don’t envy the tears you’ll be shedding over it,” said Nathaniel. “Before we begin, I want both of you to know if there was any other way, we’d have been fighting on the same side.”
“It’s not too late to join us,” said Casey.
“Yes, it is,” said Nathaniel, and he stood next to Orin.
Admiral Schurke stepped into view from beyond the walls of an abandoned apartment building. Lean and tall, he wore his dress gray uniform, and guttering lamplight exaggerated the depths of his sunken cheeks. It glinted from the scar tissue crossing his forehead. “Your tech asset is to be commended, Officer Cartwright. Triangulating your position proved very difficult.” With a slight smile, he pointed to the nearby lampposts. “But CCTV proved to be most effective. Good heavens! Constable Knox, what brings you here?”
“Just doing my job,” said Nathaniel.
“I certainly hope so,” said Schurke. “Mr. Webb, you’ve already summoned your flames. Did someone upset you? I certainly hope it wasn’t the constable. I specifically asked him not to do that.”
“Stay right there,” said Casey. She put away her phone and retrieved a set of manacles. “Put your hands behind your neck and get down on your knees. Do it now.”
Orin balled his fists, and cosmic fire crept up his arms to his shoulders. “They’re going to bury you in a hole so deep you’ll never see the light of day again. I can’t believe I used to look up you.”
“You should never meet your heroes,” said Schurke. “In fact, I’ve found it’s best if you don’t look up to anyone at all.”
“You murdered my parents!” said Orin. Fire roared from his entire body. “Why?”
“Kinetic bombardment is notoriously lethal,” said Schurke. “As to the wherefore, my reasons are twofold. Every true believer finds their strength in surviving devastating circumstances. Ask yourself this—have you ever met someone with an easy life who really believes in anything? I have yet to. The death of your parents was necessary to summon your strength.”
He held his head high. “But truth be told, using them in such a way was an academic matter, because I was always going to kill them. If someone ever cracked the combination that gave birth to you, the galaxy would be crawling with O-class monstrosities. The Milky Way would burn.”
“That doesn’t make sense. If you’re building a secret army of binaries, why kill my mom and dad?” Orin burned hot, driving Casey and Nathaniel away. “Why? Wouldn’t you want more O-classes under your command?”
“You think my goal is conquest?” asked Schurke, and he chuckled. “I assure you it is not. For far too long, people have worshiped at the feet of monsters, but the things I’ve set in motion will make them see what their gods truly are! In that moment of epiphany, the galaxy will rise up as one and cast out the demons they once praised.”
“If your goal is to recruit me, you’re doing a shit job,” said Orin.
“You’ll join me,” said Schurke. “In fact, your sister’s life depends on it.”
“She’s on the other side of the ecliptic, safely out of reach,” said Orin.
Schurke slowly shook his head. “You have no idea how far my reach extends.”
“That’s enough!” said Casey. “Anton Schurke, by the authority bestowed upon me as a deputy of the Interstellar Police Force, you are under arrest for the murders of Iona Madagan; Martin, Brittany and Gabriela Santos; Aurora and Oliver Webb; as well as twelve Falcon soldiers whose remains are still being identified. Furthermore, you will be held as an accessory to the murder of Thuraya Mir.”
“You can’t be serious,” said Schurke.
Casey took a step closer. “You don’t have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you don’t mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
“You can’t arrest me,” said Schurke. “I’m protected by the Military Court of Law!” He muttered into his commlink. “Although I invite you to try.”
A moment later, fire surged from an alleyway, and Lafuega emerged. Frostshadow dropped from a lightless disk and stood at her side. Stone cracked like distant thunder, and Meteor Mo landed amidst a shower of ash and embers. His silvered skin gleamed. Taking the form of a massive and heavily armored combat walker, Simicron stomped into position as the group’s vanguard. Kodama took rearguard. Tiny forest spirits outlined his body, fading in and out of visibility as Schurke’s team formed a circle around him.
“Join me,” said Schurke.
“I can’t do that,” said Orin.
“You should give it some thought,” said Frostshadow. “It’s too bad your dad turned out to be a traitor, but you don’t have to be.”
“Agent Nikuya,” said Casey. “Vandalizing a dead man’s good name is about what I expected from you. How’s your uncle these days? Oh, that’s right—he’s still in prison for what he did to your mom. Too bad you couldn’t stop him in time.”
“Don’t you ever talk about my mom!” Frostshadow shrieked, and she pitched a shard of black ice at Casey. “Anata e no noroi!!”
Orin vaporized the shard with a blast of blue fire.
Casey glared at Schurke. “I guess you’re not the one charge.”
“No, they answer to me,” said Schurke, and he glanced sidelong at Frostshadow. “You’ve become a liability. Return to the shuttle at once.”
“But sir!”
“At once,” said Schurke.
Her shoulders sank. “Yes, sir.” Frostshadow turned and disappeared around a street corner. Undetected by Schurke or his team, light flashed, followed instantly by a quiet pop.
Malmoradan tapped his commlink. “Got her,” he whispered.
“We’re moving Frostshadow inside,” said Shona.
Casey smiled ever so slightly.
Schurke returned his attention to Orin. “Join me.”
“Never,” said Orin.
“Perhaps I’m being unclear, so I’ll spell it out
for you,” said Schurke. “If you refuse me again, your captain will die first, followed immediately by Watchtower. Then we’ll hunt down your friends, and while it may take some time to locate her, we’ll eventually capture your sister. The torture she’ll endure on her way to death will be legendary. If you still won’t join, something tragic is in store for every place you’ve ever held dear, starting with your residence tower. If you still won’t join… I could continue, but I think you get the idea.”
Orin’s phone buzzed. He glanced at a message from Eridani and smiled. “None of that’s going to happen.”
“Oh?” asked Schurke. “Please, do enlighten me.”
With a confident smile, Orin locked eyes with Schurke. “I know how to beat you.”
Schurke scowled. “Clearly, I’m going about this all wrong. Let’s focus on the positives for a moment. Orin, this is Earth Star. Earth Star, this is Orin. He’ll be joining us as our sixth. Together, we’ll bring an end to all war across the known galaxy, save stranded cats and cute little babies, and so on and so forth. You’ll get your own room aboard Saxony, the star nay’s flagship, and—”
“I’m sorry, did you say earthstar?” asked Orin.
Schurke narrowed his eyes. “That’s right.”
“Like the mushroom,” said Orin.
“Excuse me?”
“See, look.” Orin typed into the search bar and showed the admiral an image of the fungus in question. “Oh wait, I get it! It’s a team of five all-stars based out of Earth. Unfortunately, there are lots of different kinds of stars, so maybe you could use pentacle instead—you know, to avoid confusion.” He pocketed his phone. “Earth Pentacle… No, Earth Star does sound better. Anyway, if I joined, we’d have to rebrand as Earth Hexacle. Is hexacle a word?”
“You mock me,” said Schurke. “I warned you what would happen if you refused me again.”
Orin held up his hands, and his flames subsided. “I didn’t refuse you! I’m thinking about it. Hexacle, I mean. I really want to know if it’s a word or not.”
“I offered you an olive branch, and you cast it into the fire. It seems you lack the proper motivation,” said Schurke, and he looked at Casey. “Constable Knox, if you please.”
“Forgive me,” whispered Nathaniel, and he took off his gloves. He reached for Casey, but Orin lunged, knocking his hand away. They shared an instant of contact, and Orin vanished. His commlink tumbled as his clothing fluttered to the ground.
Chapter 35
Showdown
Shona and Malmoradan set Frostshadow down, watching through the tinted glass of a nearby building. “Orin!” screamed Shona, and she whirled around on Malmoradan. “Orin is gone! Knox just disintegrated him!”
“We don’t know that for sure,” said Malmoradan. “Stick to the plan.”
“But Casey’s all alone out there,” said Shona. “I have to help!”
Sternly, Malmoradan shook his head. “Stick to the plan.”
“You traitor,” snarled Casey. She leapt away and drew her plasma pistol. “I trusted you!”
“I’m sorry,” said Nathaniel. “I had no choice!”
“Neither do I,” growled Casey, and she fired twice. Searing bolts drilled through Nathaniel’s chest, and he toppled backward. “Officer down,” she spat, and she dove for cover behind a parked car.
Schurke tapped Meteor Mo’s shoulder and took a step back.
“Yes, boss?”
“Kill Officer Cartwright,” said Schurke.
Meteor Mo cleared his throat. “Boss?”
“Was I unclear?”
“No,” said Meteor Mo. “It’s just I thought we were the good guys, and killing cops isn’t what good guys do.”
“Officer Cartwright is a very bad apple,” said Schurke. “Now, do your job.” He glared at Lafuega. “You will help him.”
“Yeah, sure,” said Lafuega, and a crown of fire gathered above her head.
Meteor Mo took a deep breath and nodded. Balling his fists, his skin turned to silvered stone, and lava erupted from his legs. With a fearsome growl, he launched skyward as fireballs streaked from Lafuega’s hands.
Scanning her surroundings, Casey flinched as the building behind her exploded, showering her with debris. The cars on either of her hissed as fire flipped them high in the air. An instant later, they crashed down and burned. “April, come in,” said Casey.
“I’m getting a lot of fear from you,” said April. “Almost panic. What happened?”
“Change of…” said Casey, and she glanced up in time to see Meteor Mo barreling down on her from directly overhead. “…plans.” She closed her eyes, and he crushed her skull into her legs as he landed, bursting everything in between.
“Captain!” cried Shona, and she ripped the front door off its hinges.
“To hell with the plan,” snarled Malmoradan, and he readied his lightning gun.
Mike swore under his breath as Shona charged into view, eyes fixed on Meteor Mo. Fire surged from Lafuega’s hands, crawling up her forearms, and she reached back to take aim at Shona. Closing his eyes, Mike bolted from behind an empty trash bin and dove into the path of Lafuega’s fireballs. They struck him square in the chest, burning away his BICOM vest’s outer layer of cloth, and he hastily shrugged out of it. His hair shimmered as flames licked the ends, but it didn’t burn. “Hi,” said Mike as he got to his feet and held Lafuega’s attention. He dropped his ruined vest to the asphalt.
“Hi,” she said, and she turned her head slightly. “No way!”
“No way what?” asked Mike.
“Are you Prince Miguel?”
“If I am, will you stop attacking us?” he asked.
Lafuega regarded him questioningly. “Why would I do that?”
“It’s always worth asking,” said Mike. He kicked a nearby side mirror off its door and caught it. “Ever play baseball?”
“In high school,” said Lafuega.
“I always liked pitching.” He hurled the side mirror at her, but she intercepted it with a bolt of fire, blasting it apart.
Lafuega lowered her chin as flames roared around her. “How’s your catching game?”
“Not horrible,” said Mike, and his throat bobbed.
“Too bad for you, it looks like I’m on a hot streak,” said Lafuega. She brought her hands together, swallowing Mike in a massive cone of fire.
Simicron twisted around as Shona and Malmoradan ran toward him. He narrowed his eyes and instantly took the form of a stunted semi-truck with a spiked grill. Revving his engine, his tires screeched as he lurched forward and picked up speed.
Catching him by surprise, headlights bathed him from a nearby alley as a full-sized semi-truck smashed into his flank, pushing him into the side of a building. Broken bricks rained down around him as Cajun and Nimbus waved from within the cabin. “You’ll have to do better than that,” said Nimbus, and she smiled.
Creaking and sparking, Simicron slowly reverted to his natural state. “Indeed, I now intend to.”
“Shona, stop!” said Malmoradan as she closed on Meteor Mo, and he primed his lightning gun. “Baby girl, don’t make me use this!”
Shona cast Malmoradan a backward glance. “I can’t stop,” she said, and she looked away. “Do what you have to do.” She bellowed as she charged.
“Damn it, Shona, I said stop!” Malmoradan released a primal roar. Gradually, his finger relaxed as he lowered his weapon. “Damn it, Shona. Goddammit!”
The last thing Meteor Mo felt was Shona’s arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as she grappled him from behind. With all her might, she twisted his head completely around. His skin cracked and crumbled as it reverted to normal, and he fell forward, his shocked expression carved permanently onto his face.
Kodama staggered, his mouth agape. “No!” he whispered, and his eyes darted to Simicron. “You will not fall,” he said. Closing his eyes, he lifted his hands, and his forest spirits floated up, gathering in the air overhead. “Help him,” he whispered. “G
o to Simicron. Restore him. Restore…” He felt a light tap on his shoulder. “Yes?”
“Dr. Kwa, you took an oath to do no harm,” said Edison. “The same oath that I took, in fact. Yet here you stand, in clear violation of it, and perfectly at peace with forcing me to violate mine.” He jammed an injector gun against Kodama’s chest and pulled the trigger.
Kodama’s forest spirits glowed brighter, and he quietly chuckled. “Conventional drugs don’t work on me,” said Kodama. “Not when my friends are near.”
“I bet this will,” said April as she ran up from behind. With all her fury, she swung the butt of her rifle. It struck the back of Kodama’s head with enough force to send him to the ground, and she raised her weapon high.
“He’s unconscious!” said Edison. “What are you doing?”
“Just making sure,” said April, and she struck Kodama again.
Simicron studied Nimbus. “You wear the flesh of men but speak with the voice of a machine, yet you are not denshi-tengu. What manner of creature are you?”
“I find it’s life’s little mysteries that keep me goin’ some days,” said Cajun, and he climbed down with a set of jumper cables in hand. He clipped one end to the truck battery and smiled politely at Simicron. “Would ya mind holdin’ these for a minute?”
“You realize this will not harm me.” Simicron took the cables in hand. “If anything, it will supercharge me.”
“I realize,” said Cajun. “I do. I also know ya won’t be able to let go.” He yanked the cords, and the copper leads hooked over Simicron’s thumbs. Electricity arced around him.
Simicron laughed raucously. “What was your plan? Did you hope that by supercharging me I might be moved to show you mercy? How droll! No, I will show neither of you any mercy.”
Cajun nodded at Nimbus, and she slowly depressed the accelerator. “Any battery can be overcharged,” said Cajun. He picked up one of the bricks and walked around to the driver’s side. He propped the brick against the gas pedal and offered his hand to help Nimbus down.