The Seryys Chronicles: Death Wish

by Joseph Nicholson

  “How did you know Khai?” Dah asked.

  “I knew him when he was a little boy. His father was killed by a burglar hopped up on who-knows-what. He would come into the diner where I worked every now and then and I would buy him a piece of pie. That is, until the military picked him up and took him to Gor’Tsu Gorn Planet to be trained to kill.”

  “He was an orphan. All orphans become wards-”

  “I know what happens!” she snapped. “He was a sweet boy. He wouldn’t’ve been a killer, if it hadn’t been for the man who ‘recruited’ him.”

  “Why didn’t you take him in? The state surely would’ve given him to you, if you wanted him.”

  “I had several children of my own,” Joon said with sorrow in her voice. “I couldn’t afford another mouth to feed. I was single mom already.”

  “I thought you were married?”

  “He was my second husband, my first died in the war.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry,” Dah said.

  “It’s okay. Just… not something I really enjoy talking about.”

  “Then I’ll drop it,” Dah said, setting down his glass.

  “Thanks,” Joon replied, doing the same.

  Joon put the brew away and locked it up, then followed Dah back upstairs to join the others.

  Three more had arrived by the time they came back, the rest were landing.

  “We can’t go home,” one of them said.

  “I know,” Dah said, not showing an ounce of smugness.

  “We know you need our children,” one mother said. “Just… please, bring them back.”

  “I would gladly give my life to save theirs,” Dah sincerely stated.

  “We know,” she said back.

  “Now, we have work to do, plans to make. We should start immediately…”

  “You can’t go!” Brindee cried.

  “I have too, Brindee. You know that,” Khai said calmly.

  “What about all that talk about having someone to live for?”

  “That is why I won’t die,” Khai responded, a roguish grin creeping across his face.

  “That’s not what I had in mind,” Brindee retorted. “I meant not going at all.”

  “I have to help my people, and yours. I can’t do that here.”

  “Do you have a death wish?” she snapped. “Because it sure appears that way!”

  “No, I don’t,” Khai said softly. “Not anymore.”

  “I want to be with you!” she pleaded.

  “I know that! And I want to be with you, but some things can’t be stopped. My friends need me. If I save the Prime Minister’s life, he may be willing to open negotiations with your people. Isn’t that worth it? I mean, you do realize that we would never be accepted in either culture. We would be outcasts.”

  “I would forsake everything to be with you,” she proclaimed.

  “And I would for you, too. But I have to at least try. I can’t let Trall destroy everything I’ve fought for my whole life.”

  “I know,” Brindee said sadly. “How will you find us once you’ve finished?”

  “I have your current coordinates and I’ve had my ship’s computer calculate your current drifting speed and bearing. I can make a good guess on where to jump and then all I have to do is look for a giant, drifting station in the middle of nothing.”

  “I suppose that would work,” she said, trying not to show her fear of losing him. “When will you depart?”

  “Tomorrow morning,” Khai answered, “once my ship is finished. I had them install a pop-hatch above the cockpit. The last-minute modification added a day to the repairs.”

  “What would you need that for on a ship designed for space travel?”

  “You never know...”

  “I see.” She smiled mischievously. “What are your plans until you leave, then?”

  “I don’t know.” He smiled back. “You have anything in mind?”

  “I might,” she said suggestively, leading him back to her quarters.

  “I hoped you did.”

  That night was the most amazing night of his life. They were connected on a level only achieved by those who were made for each other. The next morning came way too quickly. They remained intertwined the entire night, only stopping when the call came indicating that Khai’s ship was complete, fueled up and ready to depart. He dressed in silence, Brindee was not happy with him leaving and it was obvious by her body language. She sat on the edge of the bed, arms folded, looking down at her feet.

  “Must you leave so soon?” Brindee groaned.

  “Yep. I have a world to save… two actually.”

  “Be safe,” she pleaded, “and come back to me.”

  “I will,” he assured her. “I have no choice.”

  “I love you. I know that’s crazy, but it’s true!” she revealed.

  “I know,” Khai responded. “I love you, too. I will be back for you… sooner rather than later, preferably.”

  “I will be waiting,” she said.

  “I know.”

  With that, he walked out. He stalked through the labyrinth of corridors and made his way to the Hub. There were thousands of people walking about, interacting with each other, laughing, loving. He envied them. He was most likely heading to his death, but he had to try. To do nothing made him no better than the evil that threatened to tear Seryys apart.

  As he entered the hanger, Sibrex was waiting there for him.

  “Seeing me off, are you?” he said casually.

  “More or less,” the old Vyysarri said with a shrug.

  “What does that mean?” Khai was clearly confused.

  “Is it not obvious?” Sibrex looked at Khai’s bewildered face. “I am coming with you.”

  “Oh no you’re not!” Khai chuckled.

  “Yes, I am,” Sibrex insisted. “If you don’t like that, I’ll just take your ship.”

  “Well, it’s hard to argue with that. Welcome aboard the Star Splitter.”

  “Thank you, Colonel Khail.” Sibrex strolled up the ramp into the ship. Khai followed him. “Not very comfortable, is it?”

  “Well it’s not a star cruiser, obviously, but she’s got a lot of heart,” Khai defended the ship. “And keep your voice down, she’s kinda sensitive.”

  “I am not,” Joon replied with righteous indignation.

  “See?” Khai said ruefully. “Get your stuff stowed. We’re leaving in five minutes. Joon, run pre-flight checklist.”

  “Running now, Khai.”

  Khai worked his way up to the cockpit; the pop-hatch was installed, the damage was repaired and the engines were warming up. He sunk into the chair and grabbed the controls. “You ready yet, Sibrex.”

  “I am,” his deep voice rumbled behind him, prompting a slight jump.

  “Whoa!” Khai shouted. “You can’t sneak up on me like that.”

  “My apologies,” he said. “Next time, I will announce my presence beforehand.”

  “You don’t have to do that. Just… don’t be all sneaky-like.”

  “As you wish,” Sibrex complied.

  Khai pulled back on the yoke and the ship lifted up on its hoverpads. The ship thrummed as he throttled it forward to exit the hanger and through the force field. The ship bucked lightly as they passed through and the ship’s artificial gravity kicked in.

  “Punch these coordinates into the navigational computer.”

  “These are not the coordinates for Seryys,” Sibrex pointed out.

  “I know. It’s a small colony just outside the Seryys System. I don’t want to come out of a black hole into the middle of the Seryys Combat Defense Fleet. This way we come out beforehand and flying in on thrusters. Sure, it’ll take another two or three hours, but this will help us avoid a grand entrance. I’m saving that for later.”

  “A wise plan,” Sibrex complimented. “The coordinates are set. Shall we the make the jump?”

  “Let’s get this over with,” Khai growled.

  The Eve’Z
on Drive opened a micro-black hole and the console in front of Khai stretched out before his very eyes. The maw swallowed the ship like the waves of a turbulent sea. An instant later, they emerged on the other side. With one powerful burst from the thrusters, the ship sailed out toward a date with disaster.

  Two hours into the trip, Khai was able to plot their trajectory and they would be arriving at Seryys within the hour. He called out to Sibrex, asking him to come to the cockpit and he heard obnoxious stomping coming back into the cockpit. Sibrex entered and sat down next to Khai.

  “What was that about?”

  “What?” Sibrex asked, genuinely confused.

  “The stomping. What’s with the stomping?”

  “I was merely trying to adhere to your request, to be less ‘sneaky-like.’ Is that not what you wanted?”

  Khai laughed so hard, his belly hurt. “That’s perfect, Sibrex! Keep it up!”

  “Was I amusing to you just then?”

  “Actually, yeah. That was funny.”

  “That was not my intention.”

  “I know,” Khai said, wiping tears from his eyes. “It’s just… never mind. Can you take the controls for the remainder of the trip? I need a power nap.”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You are welcome. Feel free to sneak up on me when you are ready to take over.” Sibrex’s voice rumbled through a full-bellied laugh. Khai just stared at him. “That was a joke.”

  “Oh,” Khai said, forcing a smile and a strained chuckle. “Very funny.”

  Within the hour, Sibrex called Khai into the cockpit again. He yawned as he entered.

  “That was quick,” Khai grumbled. “It felt like two minutes.”

  “I assure you, it was just less than an hour,” Sibrex told him.

  “All right,” Khai said. “First thing we need to do, is contact a friend of mine.”

  “Do you think it’s wise to contact anyone this close to Seryys?”

  “Relax, old man,” Khai chided. “It’s a secure unit dedicated to his. It won’t be traced.”

  “Who is this friend?”

  “His name is Dack’Tandy Dah. He’s a captain in the Seryys City Police.”

  “And he will help?” Sibrex asked. “It seems unlikely that a police officer would aid you in such an illegal act.”

  “He’s the one who helped me destroy the Hammer Cannon. I’m pretty sure we can count on him to help.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Joon,” Khai called out. “Send a signal to Dack’s com unit.”

  “As you wish.”

  A moment later Dah’s voice came over the channel.

  “Tell me I’m not dreaming!”

  “Okay, you’re not dreaming. That was easy. Anything else I can do for you?”

  “I thought you were dead!”

  “Well, for a while, I thought I was, too. But I was found and nursed back to health.”

  “Who do we have to thank for that?”

  Sibrex looked at Khai with concern furrowing his snowy brow. “Uh… that’s a little complicated. It would be easier to explain in person. Where are you?”

  “I am at Joon’s place on Seryys Four.”

  “What the hell you doing there?”

  “Uh, it’s a long story. Should we meet up somewhere?”

  “Yeah. The Honorifical Office in twenty minutes. I’m about to make my grand entrance. Wouldn’t want you to miss it.”

  “What’re you planning, Khai?”

  “Just meet me at the Honorifical Office in twenty minutes. Got it?”

  “All right. Am I bringing backup?”

  “If you got it,” Khai admitted. “But if not, just you would be fine.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “Good man. Khai out.”

  The channel closed and Sibrex looked at Khai. “Why is he worried about you? Should I be worried?”

  “No,” Khai laughed uncomfortable. “Why? Don’t you trust me?”

  “I did,” Sibrex admitted. “But now, I’m not so sure.”

  Khai looked at him with righteous indignation, but there was twinkle in Sibrex’s eye that gave it away. Together they laughed so hard, tears rolled down their faces. Then, instantly, Sibrex’s jovial disposition vanished. “Seriously, what are you planning?”

  “There are two parachutes in the back,” Khai said, jabbing a thumb toward the rear compartment. “Grab them will you?”

  “Why do we need parachutes?”

  “Don’t ask stupid questions! Just do it! I’ll fill you in as we enter orbit.”

  Without another word, Sibrex stood and walked to the back. It took him a few minutes to find the parachutes, but Khai knew exactly when he found them because he promptly started stomping back to the cockpit.

  “I have the parachutes,” he stated.

  “Good. Put one on and then take the controls while I put the other one on.”

  Once that was done, they were dropping into low orbit of Seryys.

  “Khai?” Joon’s voice called out.

  “Yeah?”

  “I have Captain Dah on the channel for you.”

  “Khai, we’re here.”

  “Who’s we?”

  “Oh, just some new friends I’ve made while you were screwing around out there. I have to tell you, though. I have Puar’s location. He’s holed up in some presidential bunker.”

  “In Kal’Hoom Canyon?”

  “Yeah! How did you know?”

  “I’ve been there before, but I’ve never had to storm the castle.”

  “Thought you might want to know, that’s all.”

  “That’s great news! One less thing to beat out of Trall. So, if you feel inclined to help, I could use it when I land.”

  “Just tell me where!”

  “You’ll know where when you see it. Khai out.” Khai looked over at Sibrex, took a deep breath and blew it out. “Uh, you might want to strap in… this is gonna get a little bumpy.”

  “Indeed.”

  Most ships, the Star Splitter included, came equipped with deceleration jets that slowed ships during reentry. Khai shut them off to become a harder target to hit and the ship began to rumble like the ground during a desert bull stampede. The canopy was awash with red fire as the Ti’tan’lium on the nose became super-heated. Their stomachs did handsprings indicative of a freefall. Khai fought the controls as sweat ran down his face, arms and back from the extreme heat.

  With one final buck that jolted them both into their restraints, the Star Splitter dropped into the lower atmosphere and then it was smooth sailing for a while. The sun had just set a few minutes earlier, and they cut through the twilight sky like a bird of prey stalking its meal. Eventually, however, the atmospheric fliers caught up to him and opened fire with rapid-fire laser cannons that pelted the ship’s shields. Khai banked hard to the right and then to the left, trying to shake the jets. They stuck to him like glue. Normally under these circumstances, he would have come to a complete stop and let them pass by and then give chase. But he needed to get to the Honorifical Office. Being the top room of the Hall of Justice, it was an easy target.

  His destination became visible, his heart began to race. He was going to get that son of bitch and end his reign of terror and corruption. As they approached, the ship bucked as the jets kept scoring hits on the ship’s hull. At this point, they were so close that Khai didn’t care. They could blast the ship apart as long as it made to the Honorifical Office. The ship bucked again and an alarm sounded within the cockpit.

  “The rear shields are gone,” Sibrex announced. ”Shall I divert power from the front shields compensate?”

  “Do it.” Hold together, baby

  Khai pushed the ship to full throttle and they heard the faint pop of breaking the sound barrier. The blasted jets kept up with them. Another alarm sounded.

  “What’s wrong now?” Khai asked, his plan starting to unravel.

  “They have a missile lock on us.”


  “Shit! What’re the shields looking like?”

  “The rear shields are at seventy percent. I do not believe they will withstand more than one or two impacts.”

  “That should be all we need. Go ahead and get unbuckled,” Khai ordered, freeing himself from the restraints. Sibrex followed suit.

  “Are you planning on crashing?”

  “Yes,” Khai said, his arms shaking while he piloted the ship. “Why? You getting too old for this shit?”

  “No,” Sibrex said, almost offended. “I am only a hundred and thirty-two years old!”

  “Only?” Khai marveled. “How long do you people live?”

  “Roughly two hundred to two hundred and twenty years. So you see, I am still young.”

  “Damn!” Khai growled. “Okay. Get ready to pop the hatch.”

  “The hatch?” Sibrex asked. Khai motioned upward with nod. “Ah! I see.”

  The ship rocked hard to the right and the shields failed. Another impact caused the ship to roll off course. Khai held fast and got the ship into position.

  “Blow it!” Khai shouted.

  Sibrex hit the button and the emergency hatch popped off and was whisked away by the wind rushing by. The cockpit roared. Joon was saying something angry as Khai held up three fingers. Sibrex nodded. Khai counted off and mouthed out the numbers. One… two… THREE! Together they jumped and were sucked out of the ship only seconds before it buried itself all the way into the building. Instantly, Sibrex and Khai pulled their chutes and drifted quickly over the Honorifical Office. Just over it, Khai cut his chute loose and dropped into the hole the ship made. He landed and rolled to his feet.

  Trall sat on the floor, leaning against the wall near the back of the office. Blood flowed from a gash on his forehead deep enough to show skull. Ten Kyyl’Jah Assassins lay dead on the floor all around the office. Seconds later, Sibrex made his landing. Khai helped him to his feet and they approached the newly-appointed Prime Minister, Tran’Ri Trall.

  “Please,” he cried, raising his hands. “D-d-don’t kill me. I-I beg you!”

  “Oh, you’re not going to live after today, Trall. So you should at least die with some fucking dignity.”

  Instantly the helpless facade dropped from his gaunt face and there was only anger and rage.

  “Damn it, Khail! How is it that you are both still alive and thwarting my plans?”