Solbidyum Wars Saga 9: At What Price

by Dale Musser

  “So, Tibby, are we going to do this?”

  “I don’t think we have any choice,” I said. “I only wish I could finish this knowing what has happened to Lunnie and Reidecor.”

  My comlink beeped. “Tibby here,” I said.

  “Admiral, Ming is calling back for your answer,” replied Marranalis’s voice.

  “Put him through,” I replied.

  Ming’s evil face appeared on the screen adjacent to my desk. He gripped the chair arms as he tried to keep his body from trembling. How long would this walking skeleton keep living? I wondered.

  “So, Tibby, have you reached a decision? I see you have A’Lappe there with you.”

  “I agree to your terms, Ming, on the condition that you free Kalana. Once A’Lappe and I have turned ourselves over to you and after we are certain you’ve honored your part of the bargain, we’ll lead you to the solbidnite field.”

  “You’ll have to do better than that, Tibby. You must address me properly,” said Ming with a grin as he leaned back in his chair.

  I felt the acid churn in my gut as I knelt and bowed before Ming’s image. “Oh magnificent and powerful Ming, Emperor of the Universe, please accept A’Lappe’s and my surrender as your willing servants and guides to the solbidnite in exchange for the freedom of Kalana,” I said.

  Ming smiled. “That’s better, but you still need some work on your address to your Emperor and God. However, I will accept it for now.

  “Tonight you and A’Lappe will board an unarmed transport. No one else, just you two! You will proceed to coordinates I will provide to you. You will be told what to do once you arrive there. Do not try any tricks, Tibby. No cloaked ships with you… no cloaked soldiers aboard your craft. If you do, Kalana won’t look so pretty next time you see her.”

  “My Emperor, may I talk to Kala again before we depart?” I asked.

  “No!” hissed Ming. “But I’ll allow you to see her.” He nodded to someone and the image on my vid screen split to reveal Kala, still in shackles, seated at a table in what appeared to be one of the prisoner holding cells on the GLOMAR ROSA. Her hair was disheveled and she looked as though she’d been crying. The image blanked out again.

  “As you can see, she is unharmed, though she seems a bit sad,” said Ming with a laugh.

  I met with Marranalis and Kerabac one more time to give them final instructions before I left with A’Lappe. In my absence Marranalis would take over as Rear Admiral of the Fleet, or at least what was left of it. I asked if there had been any word from Admiral Wabussie since the taking of the Capitol Station, but no one had heard anything from him or anyone in the FSO or FOI. All of the Leaders were missing, though it was believed that at least two of them may still be alive and in hiding. A few senators had been killed at the Capitol Station, but most had managed to escape. Just like the Leaders, though, their locations were unknown. It was disturbing to me that so many people who had presumably escaped to unknown locations had made no attempt to contact us and that we were left with no idea where they were or what their condition was. Perhaps the silence was some kind of ultra-high-security apocalyptic protocol that had been implemented at the moment of the attack.

  While I briefed Kerabac and Marranalis, A’Lappe met with Rory and Cantolla. He said he had a lot of data to turn over to them that he had been keeping secret, data that would advance the Federation by many generations, if we managed to break them free of Ming’s rule.

  Finally, A’Lappe and Cantolla gave me one last treatment for my nerve condition before we left. It was nearly a full day earlier than it was supposed to be, so I was extremely ill afterwards and was unable to remain in the med unit to sleep off the effects. I tried my best to conceal the agony, but I knew people were wondering why I looked so terribly weak and pale. No doubt they thought it was from fear and worry.

  At one point before we left, Piesew approached me with a tray bearing a glass of juice and said, “First Citizen Tibby, I know First Citizen Kalana would fetch you Okaia juice when you weren’t feeling well.” I was certain that I saw tears welling in his eyes.

  Just before I boarded the ship, Chanina ran up to me in a panic to tell me that her father, Rebadat Tonclin, was missing. He had been at the Capitol Station when the attack occurred. I told her I was confident that he’d been evacuated with the others, but in my mind I wasn’t so sure.

  Finally, A’Lappe and I entered a small transport. A’Lappe sealed the hatch, as I collapsed onto one of the rear bench-like seats. At that moment I felt sicker than I ever had, both physically and emotionally. A’Lappe took the controls and keyed in the coordinates supplied by Ming and we were off. I would have liked to gaze out the window for one last look at the NEW ORLEANS as we departed, but I lacked the strength. Once we were underway and the ship was on autopilot, A’Lappe left the console and positioned himself in a seat across from me.

  “Well, Tibby it’s been quite the adventure, I have to tell you. You’ve been a true friend and I’ve enjoyed working with you.”

  “You’re welcome,” I muttered through chattering teeth. “The feeling is mutual.”

  “Let me see if I can find you a blanket,” said A’Lappe. He went to the back of the ship and fiddled around in some storage spaces, eventually returning with a warm, soft blanket. “Here. See if this helps,” he said as he wrapped it around me.

  “Thank you,” I answered in a near whisper.

  He sat back down and was quiet for short while, and then spoke again. “Tibby, all these years, you’ve been able to detect my presence when cloaked, when no one else could. You would never tell me how you knew. Will you tell me now? I’d like to die knowing the answer.”

  Even though I was weak, sick and tired, A’Lappe’s request made me chuckle a little.

  “I can smell you.”

  “Huh? Smell me? Do I stink?” asked A’Lappe, looking down at himself as if he should be able to see some telltale sign emanating from his body.

  “No, not at all. In fact, your scent is quite pleasant. It reminds me of a plant we had on Earth called cedar. Your aroma is kind of like that, only fainter. I’m not sure why no one else notices it, unless my sense of smell is just more sensitive than others’.”

  “Interesting,” said A’Lappe. “I never would have guessed that in a million years. You have no idea how perplexed I’ve been about that little mystery all these years. All this time it was as simple as the nose on my face – or your face, I guess I should say.”

  A’Lappe didn’t ask any more questions and I drifted off to sleep. Several hours later, I awoke to find A’Lappe sitting back at the controls. I was feeling stronger. I needed a shower but there was none aboard the transport.

  “How long was I asleep?” I asked.

  “Nearly five hours,” A’Lappe responded. He handed me a bottle of water and a weird-looking wrapped food item. “Here, eat this and drink the water. It will make you feel better.”

  “Where’d you get this?” I asked.

  “There’s a small food replicator in the back. Not a great selection, but it’s nutritious. You’re going to need your strength. By the time we lead Ming to the solbidnite, you’re going to be past your next treatment date. You’ll be weak and it may take some work to stay focused toward the end, so you need to at least eat, stay hydrated and rest properly.”

  “How far are we from the coordinates Ming gave us?” I asked.

  “About another two hours.”

  “So where’s he sending us?”

  “It’s a moon about the size of Megelleon. There was once an outpost there, but it’s been abandoned since the Federation quit using starships.”

  “Do you think we’re walking into some sort of trap where Ming will kill us as soon as we arrive?” I asked groggily.

  “I doubt it. He doesn’t have the solbidnite yet.”

  “Good point. I guess I’m not thinking so clearly yet,” I said as I plopped down in the copilot seat. “Have you heard anything from the NEW ORLEANS? Any word on Lunnie
or Reide?”

  “I haven’t talked to them in over an hour. There was no news at that time.”

  “Let me try. Maybe they’ve heard something since then.”

  I called the NEW ORLEANS and had Verona put me through to Marranalis.

  “Admiral, are you alright?” he asked as soon as he appeared on the screen.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit tired. Have you heard anything about Lunnie and Reide?”

  “Yes, Lunnie is safe on Earth. She’d managed to land her crippled ship at the estate, which had just come under attack. She organized the staff and orphans and used the Cantolla Gate that the researchers were using to go back and forth to Earth and got through the gate to the Earth facilities. I’ve not talked to her directly, but I was told by one of the scientists at the Earth lab that she’s there and is helping to organize shelter in as many existing sound structures as they could find in the old city. I don’t think she knows what’s happened with you or Kalana yet.”

  “When she calls, tell her I love her. I don’t know if I’ll be able to contact her after we meet up with Ming. Any word on Reide at all?”

  “All we know is that he apparently managed to get a number of senators and Leader Pheosa off the Capitol Station, but to where we don’t know. There’s been no contact from any of them since the Capitol was taken.”

  “Thank you, Marranalis. Let me know immediately if you hear anything more,” I said.

  “Tibby, take care. We’re all hoping for a miracle here and that you, Kalana and A’Lappe will come through this safely.” There was a break in Marranalis’s voice that I hadn’t heard since Sokaia died.

  “Thank you, Marranalis,” I replied with a tight throat. I wanted to say more, but I simply couldn’t find the words.

  We’re approaching our destination now,” said A’Lappe. “It looks like Ming has a reception committee waiting for us. Over a hundred ships, I would estimate.”

  “You were right, A’Lappe. Ming is so insanely paranoid that he brought his strongest armaments for protection.”

  “I would say so, Tibby. He’s probably right there, inside the GLOMAR ROSA, and there’s the MAXETTE. And I’m sure the FAZTA’MINA is here somewhere too.”

  The place Ming had selected to meet couldn’t have been more desolate. It was a barren moon with no life, though it had an oxygen atmosphere that was at least rich enough to be breathable. The meeting place was the giant landing area of the old abandoned Federation outpost station. Dunes of sand blew across parts of the landing zone, but not enough to render it problematic. Ming had instructed us to land near a ship that would be staged for us there. The location, he said, would be obvious when we arrived. As we approached, we saw what appeared to be the lights of a pair of patrol ships parked on the landing pad. A’Lappe landed in front of and about equal distance between the two. Almost immediately Ming’s grinning face appeared on the vid screen.

  “I see you are finally learning to obey my orders. Now strip off your clothing and march outside. You are going to be searched, so don’t try to conceal anything on your bodies.”

  “What’s going to happen to us?” I asked.

  Ming leaned into the camera and scowled, “Your insolence will get you nothing! You must learn how to address me properly!”

  “I’m sorry, magnificent Ming, Ruler of the Universe! May this humble one inquire as to what will happen to us?” I asked, diverting my eyes downward, trying to play Ming’s game for the moment.

  “No, you may not ask! You will learn to address me properly at all times! This is your last warning! Now go! Unless you wish to see Kalana suffer!”

  Without speaking, A’Lappe and I undressed as instructed. I opened the hatch and we walked onto landing pad. The air was dry and chilly as we stood in the blinding floodlights, waiting for whatever was to come next. We didn’t have to wait long before about a dozen of Ming’s men advanced from the patrol ships and surrounded us. After a quick but embarrassing body search, we were directed to one of the two ships in front of us. We were told that the replicator would supply us with new clothing.

  No sooner were we aboard than the hatch was sealed behind us. I had a difficult time getting my eyes to adjust after being subjected to the bright lights, but something about the ship felt familiar. From the Control Room I could hear Ming’s voice calling to us. A’Lappe and I followed the voice to find Ming’s face peering at us from a large vid screen.

  “I chose this ship especially for you, Tibby, as an appropriate vehicle for your journey to the solbidnite. You will find its weapon systems have been removed and it operates only at standard GW speeds, so don’t bother trying to run from me. Now get yourselves dressed and get underway. I grow impatient with these delays.”

  The vid screen went blank.

  “Tibby, do you notice anything special about this ship?” asked A’Lappe.

  I looked about, still struggling to adjust my eyes.

  “It’s not a standard model patrol ship, is it?” I answered.

  “Look again. Check the control panel,” said A’Lappe.

  I did… and at first I didn’t see anything obviously different, until my pupils calmed down and I finally noticed a few extra buttons and the outdated design. All at once, the hairs on my body stood on end. “It’s the TRITYTE! By the stars, how and why did Ming get this ship?!”

  “Who knows? Maybe its Ming’s sick sense of humor or maybe because it already had its weapon systems removed and only has a standard fusion reactor as a power source and he knows we’re helpless in it,” I said as I looked about. Old memories stirred inside me. This was where it all started – at Mound Island in a swamp back on Earth – and here I was at the end of my journey, stepping back into the TRITYTE, the ship that changed my life forever.

  I went to the cabin where Kala and I had first made love all those years ago. I leaned on my hands over the bed and struggled to hold back a sob. My heart ached. I would probably never see her again, at least not in person. I took some deep breaths and collected myself, knowing I would have to speak to Ming again soon.

  I took a much needed shower, groomed, and got myself a glass of juice from the food replicator to bolster my strength. I started to code in an admiral’s uniform in the clothing replicator and then changed my mind, instead coding in a black uniform of a mercenary cut. No use pretending that I was an admiral of anything anymore. Those days were gone.

  I resolved in my mind that A’Lappe and I would go no further, until Ming lived up to his part of the bargain and released Kala.

  Fully clad, I returned to the Control Room to find A’Lappe already dressed and seated at the console. He looked me over and smiled. “I think you look much better in that outfit, Tibby. I never did like your admiral’s uniform.”

  “Neither did I,” I said. I was about to tell him of my decision when Ming’s image appeared on the screen again.

  “Good, I see you are dressed. You will now depart from the moon and head in the direction of the solbidnite source. If there are any Stellar Cantolla Gates that will expedite our travel, you will provide their coordinates to my crew and they will see to it that the gates are opened for us. Don’t try to escape or I will destroy you!”

  “Ming, we’re not going anywhere until you have released Kalana. Once she is out of your hands, we’ll take you wherever you wish, but we won’t move another millimeter until I know she has been freed.”

  “How do I know you will keep your word and take me to the solbidnite? How do I know this is not some trick, Tibby? After all she is my bargaining tool.”

  “Because you already have us where you want us. You yourself said we can’t get away. We have no weapons and we are in an inferior ship with no shields, a weaker power unit and simple GW drive. We can’t escape.”

  “Ming nodded and laughed his maniacal laugh. “You’re right, which is why Kalana is no longer here.”

  “Where is she?! I swear, Ming, if you have harmed her, you will never get the solbidnite!”

  M
ing laughed and then began coughing. Finally, the coughing fit stopped and looked at me sternly. “I’m tired of playing games with you, Tibby!” he spat. “Your Kalana is safe, I assure you. Now get underway!”

  “Not until I have seen her and know for myself that she is safe,” I declared.

  “Very well, see her you shall. Go look in your cargo hold!” Ming exclaimed. “And then get that ship underway before I take her back!”

  I looked at A’Lappe, who looked back at me wide-eyed. I raced back to the cargo hold and found Kala bound and gagged, propped against the wall.

  “KALA!” I stumbled over myself as I ran to her and pulled the gag from her mouth to kiss her through my sobs.

  “Tib, why didn’t you let Ming keep me? Why are you doing what he wants?” she said as soon as I broke our kiss.

  “I had no choice. Ming has control of everything now. The Federation is gone and – ” I started to say that we planned to kill Ming, but I stopped myself, realizing there may be cameras or microphones on the ship.

  As I untied Kala’s hands, I turned to A’Lappe and said in a low voice, “Do you think Ming has the ship bugged?”

  “I’ll soon know,” he said, and he quickly left the hold.

  “Tib, this is all my fault,” said Kala as she started to weep. “If I hadn’t gone back to the estate to look for Lunnie, I wouldn’t have gotten captured and we wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

  “Yes, we would,” I said. I would have no choice but to do as he says and take him to the solbidnite field. If I don’t Ming will kill trillions of innocent people and destroy entire planets. I can’t allow that to happen.”

  “Tibby, it doesn’t matter anyway. Ming plans to kill you and A’Lappe once he has what he wants,” said Kala, just as A’Lappe returned.

  “The ship is clean, Ming must not have had enough time to plant bugging devices. Either that or he never thought of them in his haste.”

  “Good, I said. “Listen Kala, we know Ming plans to kill us, but we have a plan. It’s going to mean all of us dying, but Ming will die with us and so too will all the men and ships that escort him. I don’t like it, but it’s the only way. I’m only sorry I wasn’t able to save you and A’Lappe from this.”