“Why? What’re you on the run from?”
“Our own people,” he said frankly. “We are an undesirable caste of Vyysarri who are mostly imprisoned for our beliefs.”
“Whoa, slow down,” Khai said, adjusting on the bed and flinching as another Vyysarri doctor drew some blood. “You mean, you’re on the run from your own government?”
“We are,” Sibrex admitted.
“So am I,” Khai said.
“What have you done that has you on the run from the Seryys Government?”
“I destroyed the Hammer Cannon to keep it from falling into the wrong hands,” Khai said, rubbing his arm where the needle pricked him.
“The Hammer Cannon…” Sibrex looked almost nostalgic for a moment.
“You’re familiar with it?”
“Oh yes,” Sibrex said. “I was on the team that developed it. I am pleased to hear it was destroyed.”
“Why?” Khai asked, confused as ever.
“That is why I am here. I defied my government when it came to the use of the Hammer Cannon—amongst other methods. I was not interested in genocide. Not even when it was our sworn enemy.”
“You’re an awful decent person… for a Vyysarri.”
“As I said,” Sibrex repeated, “not all Vyysarri are blood-thirsty killers. In fact, most of us are just civilians.” Sibrex finished patching up some of the superficial wounds. “There, now follow me. I will give you a brief tour on our way to what will be your quarters as long as you are here.”
“Uh, thanks, but I really need to get going.”
“You’re not fully mended yet, sir. And your ship won’t be repaired for at least another week. The damage was quite extensive.”
“You’re fixing my ship?”
“Of course. It was damaged.”
“Why? Why are you showing me so much kindness?” Khai stopped walking.
“Because I hope that you will return the favor in due time,” Sibrex said honestly. “Now, come. Your quarters are over here.”
They emerged from a corridor that was apparently the medical wing, as injured people were being carted in and bandaged people were leaving. The corridor opened into a vast expanse of several hundred levels. People, from children to the super-elderly, walked about. It was the first time Khai had ever seen a Vyysarri child; they looked and acted much like Seryys children. He was having trouble wrapping his brain around the idea of “normal” Vyysarri, as in regular people just going about their lives.
“This is the Hub, where all Vyysarri congregate to trade and purchase goods. It is also where we educate our young. Over there, see?” Sibrex pointed to a gathering of children, which Khai would have guessed were in the range of eight to twelve years of age, who were all sitting around a very elderly Vyysarri female—something else Khai had never seen—who was telling an apparently entertaining story. The children laughed wildly as she spoke.
“How many of you live here?”
“Roughly fifty thousand… give or take a few. Our population is ever expanding. You are free to roam this area as much as you please. But, please, for your own safety, stay out of the feeding area; you will not like what you see.”
“You still drink blood?”
“Yes,” Sibrex said, his tone of voice almost regretful. “We have to.”
“So, what am I supposed to eat?”
“We have some food stocks. It may not be much, but it will suffice until your ship is repaired.”
“How is it possible that you have food stocks when you don’t eat it?”
“This colony used to be a military installation. Several hundred years ago, it was abandoned and left to decay in space. My people found it and refurbished it. Now we call it home.”
“You didn’t really answer my question,” Khai pressed.
“Quite right. It used to be a research and development facility. It was here that the Hammer Cannon was designed and manufactured. When your people captured the ship, we abandoned the project and left the station to rot. I went into hiding for years, but one day, I found it again and that is when I founded this society for people who opposed the war.”
“Why would you oppose a war your people started? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Oh, my young one,” Sibrex actually had pity in his eyes. It angered Khai. “That is a story for a different day. Follow me. We are almost to your quarters.” Sibrex led Khai into a network of corridors and intersections. After a few turns, they came to what looked like a detention center. There was a bunk made up with blankets and other basics. “This is where you will stay. I apologize for keeping you here, but we have little room.”
“This is why you have food reserves, huh? You used to have Seryys prisoners here.”
“Yes,” Sibrex answered sadly. “Most of them were tortured to death. The food is dry-frozen, that way it stays good forever.”
“Is that why you really left? You didn’t like the torturing of the Seryysans.”
“That is part of it. But I learned the truth, and I could no longer continue to fight.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That… is a story for another day. Now, get some rest we will speak more tomorrow. We have much to discuss. You have brought us an opportunity. Good night, Colonel Khail.”
“Just… call me Khai.”
“As you wish, Khai. Sleep well.”
Chapter Sixteen
It was unanimously decided that, due to his recent injuries, Dah would lead the defensive from a secured location behind the scenes. Each Agent was posted at their family’s home with six others from the police department. Byyner came through on his word and supplied all the men he promised, including Puar, Brix, and Naad, they were the team leaders for each unit along with the Agents. Dah’s intel indicated that the attack was going to be comprised mostly of Special Operations Soldiers accompanied by Kyyl’Jah Assassins. To Dah’s relief, no Agents were going to be involved with the attack on these homes.
Dah was in Kay’s ship hovering above the city, the back area of the ship behind the cockpit was like a miniature bunker lined with monitors, computers and communication consoles. There was even a secondary pilot’s station in the event that the cockpit was compromised. The sensor package on her ship was top-notch; he could monitor the movement of nearly anyone from that seat. So far, it had been eight hours since they set up the motion trackers and nothing so far.
“Cap’, you sure about this?” Puar’s voice came over the radio. “We’ve been out here eight hours and nothing.”
“Listen, the Agents who asked for our help wouldn’t have if they weren’t sure about Trall’s attack on their families. I would’ve thought that you of all people would be more willing than most to help out, given your current situation.”
“Hey! I want to find my brother just as much as—if not more than—the next guy. I just don’t think Trall is that stupid… or that brass.”
“If the Agents said they’re coming, they’re coming. Now cut the chatter before I…” A blip showed up the radar heading in from the south of Naad’s position. “Naad, they’re coming your way. Heads up, everyone. Looks like they’re coming. Stay sharp!”
Four blips appeared in each of the areas. The families were spread out across the city. Most resided within the Residential Sector but were randomly dispersed. One was on the southernmost end of the Residential Sector, skirting Corporate Sector. There was one in Seryys Heights and even one in the RLD. Dah’s men were positioned as close as possible to each family. However, some of the families weren’t easily accessible. The family in Seryys Heights was in a gated community, so the soldiers had to find a more discrete way in and now they were waiting in the sewers beneath the house.
The radar beeped again and then there were eight each, then ten!
“Shit! Heads up, everyone! You will be meeting heavier opposition than we originally anticipated; apparently Trall learned from his last mistake. We need to move these people somewhere safer. I want you to hold ou
t as long as you can while I get a bigger ship.”
The sleek, black ship cut through the night sky as it soared for the Police Impound Lot. Dah remembered that a large smuggling ship had been confiscated two months ago and was due to go to an auction to fund the smuggler’s defense. It would be perfect for getting those people out safely and comfortably. It even had a small hanger big enough to house Kay’s small ship.
As he flew, Dah pulled out his com unit and keyed in an identification code. He then plugged the unit in the communications console and the unfamiliar face of an older woman filled the screen.
“Who is this?” the woman demanded curtly.
“My name is Captain Dack’Tandy Dah of the Seryys City Police Department and I-”
“Look,” she interrupted rudely. “I’m not in that business anymore. I stopped smuggling weapons when my husband died. Why can’t you just leave me the hell alone? I don’t have time for glory seekers! Now, goodbye!” the woman started reaching out to close the channel.
“Wait-wait-wait! You misunderstand. I’m a friend of Colonel Khai’Xander Khail! The ship you modified, the Star Splitter, was mine. I’m the one who helped him destroy the Hammer Cannon.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “How did you get this ident?”
“Khai gave it to me in the case of an emergency. And I have one.”
“Where is Khai?”
“I don’t know,” Dah said sadly. “I haven’t heard from him in several days. This is the second time he’s died.”
“Then what do you need from me?”
“Refuge. I have seven families that need a place to hide out until things calm down here.”
“Why do they need refuge?”
“They’re marked for death. Prime Minister Trall ordered their deaths for the failures of their children. I’m trying to protect them, but Trall sent far more men than I anticipated. I’m on my way, right now, to steal a ship from the impound lot to carry them all. It would be nice to have a place to bring them.”
After a long few moments, and a very heavy sigh, she said, “All right. A friend of Khai is a friend of mine. When will they be here?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Dah admitted. “But I should have the ship within the next five minutes.”
“Okay. I’ll have some warm beds ready for you when you arrive.”
“Thank you, Joon. You’re a lifesaver! I owe you one!”
“We’ll square up later. For now, just get those people here safely.”
“Will do. Dah out.”
Dah swung the ship in low around the impound lot and landed at the front gate. A security officer approached the ship, his hand resting on the butt of his sidearm.
“You can’t park that here!” he shouted over the hum of engines. Dah emerged from the ship, his face troubled. “Sir! I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you.”
“It’s fine. But I need to ask you a favor.”
“What is it, sir?”
“I need that smuggling freighter we impounded a while back.”
The security officer frowned. “You know I can’t do that, sir.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” Dah said, sighing and taking a step closer to him. “Unfortunately, peoples’ lives depend on it.”
“Why is that unfortunate?”
“Because I have to do… this!” Dah struck the man in the throat just hard enough to incapacitate him, but not kill him. The man dropped like a bag of bricks.
Dah used his code to open the gate and then piloted Kay’s ship in. He landed it right next the freighter. Dah had to admit, it was a good ship, sturdy and well-armed. It was fifteen feet tall, sixty feet wide from wingtip to wingtip and seventy feet long. The front of the ship was flat like a bus and the cockpit was located there. The bus-like body of the ship was twenty feet wide. On either side of the bus-like hull were what, from the top of ship, looked like half circles, each fifteen feet wide, with recessed gaps between the half circles and the bus-shaped portion. The wings were mounted atop the ship like a spoiler of a sporty hovercar near the rear of the ship that curved smoothly downward. The wings housed some serious weaponry. Hanging from the bottom of each wing were cannon turrets and missile launchers. At the aft of the ship were the engines. Rated at those of a capital ship, those engines could move that small ship so fast it would break apart.
Located on the side of the ship was the loading dock that fed directly into the small hanger. There was once a hovercar in there, but that car crashed and the pilot was captured during a high-speed chase. Dah piloted the ship in and used his code to power up the big ship.
“Welcome aboard the Bolt Bucket,” the computer said as the ship started up.
“Bolt Bucket, huh? Well, at least the guy had a sense of humor.”
“I don’t particularly like the name, but he took care of me.”
“Are we ready to fly?”
“Affirmative.”
“Great.” Dah pulled back on the yoke and the ship lifted up on its hoverpads. He spun the ship around and left the impound lot.
“Captain Byyner?”
“Yes, officer?”
“I have an unauthorized launch from the impound lot over in East Seryys Residential Sector.”
“By whose authority?” Byyner demanded.
“Uh…”
“The code. Whose code was used?”
“Captain Dah’s code is what activated the ship. Shall I call in a pursuit?”
“No,” Byyner said with a grin.
“Sir?”
“You have a hearing problem, officer?”
“Uh, no, sir. I don’t.”
“Good. Let him go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Give ‘em all hell! Byyner thought.
“Dah! Where the hell are you? We’re getting creamed out here!” Brix’s strained voice came over the radio.
“I’m on my way. I’ve got a ship and I’m picking you all up! Just hang in there a little longer. Get the families out for pickup!”
“We don’t have a little longer!” Brix yelled over the sound of gunfire. “We’re pinned down by military forces and we can’t retreat anymore! These assassin guys are practically dodging our bullets!”
Checking the map, Brix and his team were not the closest, but it sounded like he was the most in need of a pickup.
“Okay, Brix. I’m coming to get you first! I’ll be there in two minutes tops! I need you to not die in that amount of time. You think you can swing that?”
“Yes, sir, I can!”
“Good. Dah out.”
Dah punched the ship’s throttle and was forced into his seat. The whole ship shuddered as it sped towards Brix’s position. He swooped down low, skimming the building tops.
Brix, the Agent and only a few of the police were left. They had the family out in the open and were trying their best to defend them, but they were getting overwhelmed and fast. Dah armed the cannons and opened fire on the ground between the soldiers and police, then landed in the debris field where he fired. The main ramp was already down as the ship touched down.
“Get in!” Dah yelled into his throat mic.
He heard the thumping of several sets of feet running up the ramp along with the sound of bullets ricocheting off the hull of the ship. After a few agonizingly long seconds, Brix gave the signal.
“We’re all in! Get us the hell out of here!”
“With pleasure!”
Dah yanked back on the yoke and the ship hefted off its landing skids, bullets still clanking against the hull. Dah homed in on the closest team and headed for them. Brix came up to the cockpit and sat in the seat next Dah.
“Thanks for the speedy getaway,” he said, slumping down in the seat.
“No sweat,” Dah responded, not taking his eyes off the canopy. “Is the family secure?”
“Yes, but they’re scared and trying to resist.”
“Damn,” Dah whispered. He was worried about that. “Can you fly a ship like this?”
�
��No,” Brix said honestly. “And I won’t try. But if you would like me to bring them up here, I can.”
“Go get them.”
“Yes, sir.”
A moment later, Brix came back in with a man, a woman and one other child.
“What is the meaning of this?” the man demanded. “Who are you people?”
“Sir, my name is Captain Dack’Tandy Dah of the Seryys City Police Department. I am here because your missing son is not missing at all. He is one of the people back there right now.”
“Bull shit!” the man yelled, nearly foaming at the mouth. “He was kidnapped!”
“Your child is back there right now, he’s here to protect you. He was taken from you by the government and trained to be a killer.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Go back there and find out, then!” Dah yelled. “Go back there and call out his name. I guarantee he’ll respond. Brix, go ahead and take them back there. Help them find their son.”
“You got it.”
After about two hours, Dah had finally rounded up everyone. They lost ten police officers in the various skirmishes, but the Agents, and their families, were safe and sound. Some of them gladly boarded the ship, while others had to be subdued and dragged aboard. As Dah was making for orbit with almost a whole squad of atmospheric fliers on his tail, Kay came to the cockpit and sat beside Dah.
“I know you have already done a lot for me and my friends, but there is one more thing that I would ask of you.”
“What’s that?” Dah was almost afraid to ask.
“Can we pick up my family, too?”
“Are they not safe?” Dah asked, trying fruitlessly to dodge the rain of bullets peppering the hull.
“No,” Kay said fearfully. “And I didn’t get a chance to see them when we fended off the others.”
“Why not?”
“Because you were gravely hurt and I couldn’t justify letting you die to speak with my family.”
“Wow,” Dah gasped. “I… I had no idea. I really do owe you one, don’t I?”
“Not really,” Kay said, looking down at the communication console. “It’s still your choice.”
The Seryys Chronicles: Death Wish Page 24