Star Sailor #1: The Wolves of Sahlam

by Chris Fox

apologize for their actions if they fail. I'm sure their success at dominating this planet's forests is evidence of their effectiveness."

  "If you say so, doctor."

  "Worry not, General. These hybrids are the most effective killing machines genetic manipulation can make."

  As the doctor patted the general with comfort, the glass doors to the room were shattered and blown off their hinges into thousands of pieces by an immensely powerful sonic blast. Instinctively, the general dove behind a terminal and produced his sidearm, while on a different instinctual level, Doctor Ofreska ran for his life, taking a panicked leap to the largest computer terminal lining the walls of the room, and pulled himself up. The general, wide eyed, stared straight into the face of a hybrid wolf, black fur, teeth bared, barking madly at the ceiling before it turned its ruthless red eyes to the General. The wolf pack was clamouring in the hallway, but all sensing the alpha's new target, raced into the control room.

  The General feebly began shooting at the wolves. He did not last more than a few moments before his screams and the violent barks and growls of the wolves were the only sound that filled the large room. The alarms were blaring by the time his screams subsided. The other doors to the control room opened with soldiers rushing in, fully armed with assault rifles, only to find themselves retreating from the wild canines, locking the doors behind them.

  "Oh my stars, oh my stars..." Doctor Ofreska clamoured as two of the wolves turned their attention to him, jumping and snapping at him with their hungry jaws. Unable to reach the height, the creatures used their intellect to find a new way to climb higher while their alpha fed on the General, the remaining wolves guarding their leader and their kill. They all growled as a figure appeared in the broken doorway. One of the guarding wolves charged, only to be shot down by a powerful blast from a sonic emitter, sending out a powerful blast of sonic energy that hurled the creature into a computer terminal. The beast whimpered and limped back into a defensive position near the alpha, as another guarding wolf growled at the figure in the doorway.

  "I see your puppies aren't very well trained, Doctor Ofreska," Najima called to the terrified hostage across the room.

  "You! Why would you do this? What have you done?!" Ofreska cried.

  "I released your filthy creations and allowed you to see them as the townspeople of this planet see them: as an abomination of nature that wants nothing but blood; something to fear. Why? Because you are a filthy creation, you sad excuse for a geneticist."

  Ofreska's pant’s leg was snagged in the jaws of one of the jumping beasts, although the doctor held firm to his position of safety, letting the fabric leg rip into the beast’s mouth. "How can you have done this?!"

  "I have my ways," Najima replied plainly, not particularly thrilled to mention the part where she had to sprint away from six hungry wolves through the very close corridors of the facility after releasing them from their cage, which the Subedar so graciously showed her to before being locked in a storage closet. The Subedar also granted her the use of his sonic emitter, which conveniently opened the cage of the wolves by snapping the locks with its powerful energy. The rush down the halls away from these beasts was terrifying, and it was no easy feat to jump up the straight walls of the corridors and hold her body tight to the ceiling until the wolves chose an easier target, the General. Instead of explaining, Najima gave Doctor Ofreska a quick nod.

  "You must stop them!"

  "And why would I do that? So you can continue to create these abominations for whatever sick purpose you can imagine?"

  "You are an Imperial! You cannot let me die! I am with the Imperial Army!" the doctor pleaded.

  "I am an Imperial by birth. Space is my home. I take no sides."

  "You must save me based on principle, then! You can't let a human die!"

  Najima shook her head. "I am acting on principle. If you operate here, you will make more 'brids, and more people will die senselessly. What you’ve done to these monsters is an injustice to nature. So I'm punishing you on that principle as well."

  "Do you have any idea who I am?! Do you have any idea whom I work for?! There are hundreds of microcameras in this facility. Your face is captured for all to see! You will be hunted down, and you will be killed, if you do not save me at this moment!"

  "I'm sure hearing me on trial at the Tribunal for stopping an Imperial plot to invade the Commonwealth and attack them with illegal hybrids will play well to the public."

  The belligerent Ofreska stammered as the wolves began to angle their jumps, getting ever closer to his position. "Who are you?! Who do you think you are, you ignorant child?!"

  "My name is Najima Dezetoiles. Don't forget me." And she left Dr. Ofreska to his fate.

  ∞∞∞

  It was nearly nightfall by the time Najima had returned to the town. She had made her way out of the facility surprisingly casually. She let the hybrids roam outdoors, causing sheer chaos among the guards throughout the compound, giving her time to retreat and scale the escarpment to safety. Once back at the town, Najima explained the entire situation to the mayor and the townspeople who hurried to hear from her. As she was told by the Subedar Najima had freed herself from, Najima relayed the plot to use local animals to create hybrids as a way to cause chaos in the Sahlam system. In short order, the local Commonwealth Quadrant offices were called informing them of the emergency, and a unit of soldiers were due planetside by dawn to purge the complex and detain any remaining Imperial soldiers.

  "You'll want to stay on your guard for some time," Najima warned the townspeople at the end of the second dinner they held in Najima's honour. "I had to let the creatures free from their cage to escape. If they make it out of the complex they'll be wandering the woods, and could attack more people. I'm sure the Commonwealth army will be able to locate and put down the poor creatures." Although it was late into the night, the large dining hall in town was still full of guests eager to make toasts to Najima's heroism.

  The mayor, red-cheeked with celebratory liquor, spoke to both Najima and the crowd. "We have faith in our government, Najima. But truly, we cannot thank you enough for what you've done. I must admit, I did not think you would succeed, nor that we would ever see you again. I am very thankful that I was wrong." Here, here! chanted the room.

  "I can't thank your town enough for all the kindness it has shown me. I felt very welcomed." Najima rose, although admittedly a little wiggly after some healthy doses of red wine. "However, I must take my leave."

  "Ah yes," the mayor said loudly, clearly making the call to end the festivities for the evening. "You have had a very trying time today. I'm sure we can all respect that our heroine needs a good night's rest."

  "I'm sorry, saar. But I mean that I must take my leave of your town," admitted Najima, to a murmur of confusion around the room. "I will be leaving tonight, immediately after I can restock a few supplies."

  Many calls came from around the room, "No! But you've only just returned! Don't leave Najima!"

  The mayor seemed very confused. "Matam Dezetoiles, please, we would be humbled to have you remain in our town."

  "I'm sorry, saar. As said, I was merely passing through when I arrived. I've stayed much longer than planned. I must go."

  Reluctantly, after several rounds of questions to the same response from Najima, the crowd began to submit to Najima's decision, and they walked her to the docks where her raft waited for her, the air still fresh with the salty oceans on the warm summer night of the planet of Sahlam. As the townspeople began to untie Najima's raft, the innkeeper gave her some linens, the local grocer stocked her well with food and supplies for her trip, while others showered her with thanks. "If you ever return to the Sahlam system," the mayor called, "you will be welcomed back as if this were your home."

  Najima hopped off the dock onto her raft, and smiled back at the crowd. "And I will be happy to be so welcomed. Thank you for everything you've done for me while I was here."

  "Why do you have to go? Where are y
ou going?" cried one of the children in the crowd.

  "I'm going because I'm looking for something. And I'll tell you where I'm going when I get there. Alvida!" Without a wave and not a moment’s hesitation, Najima pushed her raft off the pier and into the wavy waters. Checking the tethers on her supplies, and tying herself to her raft’s mast, she turned once more to the waving crowd. With a final wave from Najima, she activated the anti-gravity engine on the raft, lifting out of the water and into the air. In mere moments she was high above the docks, then the town; then the country, the continents, and the world itself. She passed beyond the atmosphere and the deep, dark blue sky until it turned to nothing but blackness and starry light.

  After using the small rockets on her raft to gain momentum, and adjusting her sails to catch the solar winds, Najima collected her things, and tidied her raft with her new collection of food safe in her portable refrigerator. She then took a blanket, leaned against the mast of her raft, curled up, and produced her journal and a pen. It's good to be fed! she wrote as she passed near the underside of the sandy, tan coloured moon of Salem II. I do admit I've had a bit to drink tonight, so hopefully my writing isn't too sloppy. But what an adventure I had today... And so forth, as Najima sailed off into the depths of space.

  The Universe of Star Sailor is