The raptors hesitated, sensing danger. Their confusion intensified when the prey took an aggressive position. This kind of creature was usually no more than a hard-won meal. Why, then did their instincts tell them differently?
Peter was a little freaked out by the way they looked at him. He heard a rustle above his head, and a single leaf fell. He pinpointed a motion, acting in the nick of time when a raptor leapt out of the tree with its claws aimed directly toward his face.
The raptor was somewhat surprised to find itself plucked out of the air in mid-attack.
However, it didn’t have long to process the shock.
Peter roared into the raptor’s face and tore it asunder.
Then he flung the two halves at the attackers.
The raptors were incensed. They ran, screeching, at Peter, giving Kel’Len and the now-naked Gibbons a chance to get the injured Guardians to safety—exactly as he had intended.
Qu’Baka, Lavafall, Camp
The battle was over by the time light returned to the underworld.
Michael moved around the outside of the tent, his mind on making some order out of the destruction that heralded their first morning on Qu’Baka.
He glanced to his left, where Bethany Anne was burning the dirt off each item she retrieved with Etheric energy before packing it into the box or crate it had come in. Your lesson in getting along appears to have been successful.
Bethany Anne hadn’t missed the new atmosphere of cooperation when they’d walked back to what was left of their tent in the predawn. This was almost too easy. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.
There’s nothing like a common enemy to bring an end to petty squabbles. Michael snorted lightly, distracted momentarily from retrieving the scattered parts of their camp kitchen from the ground around the tent by Bethany Anne’s smile. Maybe look a little less pleased, he suggested. Since we’ve just been “attacked.”
Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow, her smile remaining just as bright. Why should I? It’s not like they didn’t need a kick up the ass to move things along. They should be thankful I intervened. Besides, Gabrielle did well to save our equipment from being damaged.
Michael’s mouth twitched despite himself. I don’t disagree with your methods. They, however, might. He picked up the last item, a metal serving spoon, and got to his feet to dump his armload in the plastic bin on the table.
Bethany Anne followed Michael’s gaze to the mixed company putting their shared efforts into righting the camp. She shrugged, selecting the next item from the plastic bin. I suppose I’m satisfied with the result, if not the mess they made learning to bond.
Michael turned to examine the tree line, feeling a familiar mind at the outer boundary of the camp. “Mahi’ is back already.”
Bethany Anne dropped the powerpack she was holding on the table and wiped her hands off. “That was fast. I thought she was kidding about getting there and back in one night.” She folded her arms when Mahi’ exited the jungle on a zippy little hoverbike. “Well, now we know how she did it.”
Mahi’ parked the hoverbike at the edge of the tented area and hurried over to Bethany Anne and Michael. “I see you took care of the division between our peoples,” she offered cheerfully in greeting. “It is good to return to harmony.”
Bethany Anne smiled at Mahi’s air of contentment. “How was your uncle?”
Mahi’ grinned. “He is as fat as ever and as well as can be expected. We are to meet his people on the outskirts of the Citadel at last light.” She looked at the cleanup crew with interest. “This, I cannot believe.”
Michael bent and touched a finger to the raptor carcass by his feet to push it into the Etheric. “Indeed. The bravery of the warriors was song-worthy at times.”
Mahi’ smiled. “You will have to tell me the details so the moment can be recorded by our historian.”
The historian in question, a skinny adolescent female with a shock of golden fur, appeared to be getting plenty for the record without any assistance from those around her. She tapped her wrist-holo ceaselessly, never taking her eyes from whoever was speaking.
Bethany Anne waved a hand. “No need. It’s all on video.” She wrinkled her nose when the wind shifted. “Which I will get you just as soon as we get the stink cleared out of this camp. Our people need food and rest before we head for the Citadel.”
Somehow, all Bethany Anne had to do was raise her eyebrow to inspire the now-unified expedition party to light a fire under their asses.
A new fire was built and lit, logs salvaged from the wreckage at the tree line and placed around it.
A few smaller fires appeared, each tended by an owner who swore their camp cooking was the best. Organization out of chaos.
The move to accommodate Bethany Anne’s wishes gave her and Michael the space to walk through and rid the camp of dead raptors.
Once the ground had been cleared and the detritus removed to where it wouldn’t attract more predators, the expedition party found themselves gathered around the fire in the center of camp.
Peter rolled the last log smoothly from his shoulder to the ground, completing the circle. “We’re done,” he called to Bethany Anne.
Bethany Anne waved everyone over. “Bring it in. Time to discuss our next steps.”
Mahi’ was surrounded by her people, each with a tale of the night’s battle. “Where is my brother?” she asked, looking at the gathering. “And my nephew?”
Kel’Len had no answer. “They were gone by the time we got back to camp.”
Peter glanced around, feeling another absence. “Come to think of it, where’s John gotten to?”
Bethany Anne’s eyes unfocused for a moment. She returned less than impressed. “John went after Da’Mahin.” She jerked a thumb in the general direction of the mountain. “Who went after Chet.”
Da’Mahin hadn’t proven to be the hardest to track.
John had no trouble spotting where the Baka had left the mountain trail or following the path he had torn through the previously virgin jungle.
He picked his way along the path with all the silence his training afforded him.
The wanton destruction to the foliage concerned him deeply. This path had been made originally by Ch’Irzt and widened by Da’Mahin’s passage sometime later. What he didn’t want to see was an end to either trail.
John. Where are you?
Relief flooded in. You done playing with the local wildlife?
We’re done herding dinosaurs if that’s what you’re asking. We’re back at camp. What’s up, and why are you halfway into that damned mountain range?
Michael interjected, You’re tracking him?
Yeah, John confirmed. I’m tracking Da’Mahin, who’s tracking his kid.
He paused to send stills of the claw marks in the surrounding trees to Bethany Anne and Michael through his HUD. Dunno, it looks to me like the kid’s lost his shit.
Michael made a sound of concern. I touched the youth’s mind just now. He is by a body of running water. Da’Mahin is almost upon his location, so I suggest you hurry.
John picked up his pace when he pinpointed the faint rush in the distance. You'd better save me some of whatever's cooking.
Maybe, if you get back fast enough, Bethany Anne teased. Stay sharp up there. Preferably, I want you all back in one piece, but I won’t be bothered if that asshat has a collision with a branch or two on the way back to camp.
John grunted, finding the prospect amusing. His humor only went so far. If anyone understood what it was to have someone in the family suffer from a terminally poor decision-making ability, it was him. Give him a break. I feel kinda sorry for the guy.
I can’t wait to hear what changed your mind about him, Bethany Anne shot back.
John snorted. It’s gonna have to hold on until I get the asshole back to camp. He wasn’t pissed about Da’Mahin’s instinctive dash to protect his son. It wasn’t for him to question anyone else’s parenting methods—unless, like now, they
were fucking things up for the rest of them.
He heard Da’Mahin chewing the kid out before he got close.
Ch’Irzt stormed out of the hanging branches, his face set in a snarl.
John put a stop to his escape with a hand. Without a word, he turned the youth back around and force-marched him through the branches to Da’Mahin.
Ch’Irzt tried to shake John off, with no success. “Let me go!”
John gripped the loose skin at the nape of Ch’Irzt’s neck a bit tighter and swept a foot to sit the squirming youth down in front of Da’Mahin. “You will sit your ungrateful ass down and pay your father the respect he’s due for trailing you out here.”
Da’Mahin put a hand to his head and sighed. “I do not need your help to discipline my son.”
John lifted a shoulder. “The kid almost crashing into me says different. Word of advice from someone who went through this, times ten. Don’t take his shit for a second. You know he can do better? Make him prove it.”
He stood back and folded his arms. “I can give you a few more minutes. We need to get back to camp before they leave.”
Da’Mahin looked long and hard at John before nodding in understanding. He gestured roughly for Ch’Irzt to get to his feet. “Your punishment, as well as anything else I have to say, can wait until we are back with the group.”
Beyond Federation Borders
A Gate spiraled open and spat out a single ship.
This was a sad day for Leath, although no Leath knew it yet. Least of all the crew of the prospecting ship Garrulous, who was about to die for their efforts.
The expedition began well enough.
Initial readings on arrival in the Kuiper belt of the rocky system showed an abundance of mineable materials, including three large deposits of extremely valuable dysprosium.
Their orders were clear—strip the system of anything it was worth the resources to take. The crew celebrated their good fortune and got to work making preparations for the next shift to begin the harvest before they clocked out.
Captain Glureg knew better than to interrupt the sleeping and eating schedules of his crew, a lesson learned quickly by any green Leath with an eye on advancing through the ranks. Setting up the staging post was the first step, but only after the changeover period had been observed.
Unlike many of the recent startups, his operation had the advantage of experience. Prospecting had been a blessing, a reprieve from the tedium he’d been tricked into in the name of retirement when the Federation had ruled in favor of military consolidation some years back.
A veteran of many wars, most notably the war of Empire that had concluded with the formation of the Federation, Glureg knew how to get the best out of any crew. That over half his crew were scientists had no bearing on the running of his ship. He expected the same discipline from his thinkers as he did from his fighters, which was the same as he expected of himself.
Glureg’s musing was cut short by his arrival at the officers’ mess.
Same as every second shift, he was escorted to his personal table by his staff secretary and served the meal he ate every day with his second-in-command, Lundren.
Routine.
Lundren ran briefly through the shift schedule as they ate, with Glureg interceding at regular intervals to give his orders in regard to the construction of the staging post.
Then the two left the officers’ mess to begin the shift inspection.
Lundren walked the appropriate three paces behind his captain, his attention on his datapad rather than the route his feet knew from repetition. “I suggest we alter our usual schedule, Captain. Lieutenant Frax is ready to depart with the first load of drilling equipment.”
Glureg nodded and made the adjustment to his to-do list. “Very well.”
Lundren frowned. “Construction of the staging post is projected to take two cycles. Perhaps you should think about having the Loquacious join us once they have completed their survey of the Nine Moons system?”
“What we need,” Glureg told his second-in-command as they made their procession, “is to learn from the humans. They hardly ever go to the expense of building from scratch.”
“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, Captain?” Lundren inquired, a grin exposing his lower tusks.
“That we hollow out an asteroid and add the savings to the crew’s share?” Glureg laughed aloud at the look of disappointment on his subordinate’s face. “Surely you didn’t think we’d keep the profit all to ourselves?”
Lundren shrugged to indicate he had. “Why share it?”
Glureg shook his head. “Can you guarantee perfect silence when we return to Leath any other way? You have a lot to learn—”
He was cut off when the ship lurched and dropped into darkness, unbalancing them both.
Lundren crashed into Glureg, sending them both tumbling to the deck.
Glureg untangled himself from Lundren as they fell. He tucked and rolled to his feet in a practiced movement, avoiding the embarrassment Lundren suffered when he crashed into a wall panel.
Nevertheless, the sudden movement wracked him with pain. Muscles and joints that hadn’t been stressed in a long time cried out as Glureg steadied himself.
Lundren called, “Captain? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Glureg told him roughly. “Are you injured?”
Lundren snorted. “Only my pride.”
Glureg felt around in the darkness until he found Lundren's shoulder. “Here, take my hand.”
Lundren accepted Glureg’s help and got to his feet.
The emergency lighting kicked in. Lundren brushed off his uniform and looked at Glureg, who was still shaken by the impact. “Captain, what was that?”
Glureg touched his earpiece to indicate Lundren listen in. His heart fell as the ship’s EI informed them that the ship was under attack. “We’ve been boarded. We need to get to the bridge and get a message to the Secretary.”
That was too much for Lundren’s mind to comprehend. “The Secretary? Who is capable of boarding us?” His eyes bugged out of his head as panic took over.
Glureg jerked Lundren’s sleeve to snap him out of his shock. “Move!”
They crossed the ship, their route diverted multiple times by sealed bulkheads that protected the rest of the ship from being pulled apart.
Glureg’s heart rate skyrocketed, and his balance was thrown off by the corridor floor rippling beneath their feet. “Keep going!” he called back to Lundren. “We’re almost there!”
They entered the bridge corridor, ducking to avoid being burned by the sparks raining all around them.
Glureg shouldered his way through the crowd around the bridge door. “What are you all doing?”
The crewmembers regained a little of their composure at the sight of their captain.
They ceased their pleas to be let in at the bridge door and turned to Glureg, all yelling at once about tentacled aliens from nightmare tearing their colleagues to pieces with uncountable, insatiable mouths.
Glureg knew his ship was lost when his chief engineer, a stalwart Leath who had served under his father’s command, held up his empty hands in defeat. “Tell me there’s something we can do,” he asked with little hope.
“They’re in the reactor chamber,” his engineer informed him. “We’re done.”
Glureg shook his head, refusing to accept a painful and dishonorable death for his crew. “I’m giving the order to evacuate. Get them to safety. I’ll take care of the monsters.”
Lundren snapped out of his stupor at last as Glureg’s meaning became clear. “Captain! Surely you don’t intend to—”
Glureg cut him off with a ringing slap across the jowls. “You are in no position to speak to my intentions, Lundren. See to your duty. Leave me to tend to mine.”
Lundren nodded, touching his fingers to his stinging cheek. “Yes, Captain.” He turned back to Glureg as he ushered the crowd toward the escape pods at the opposite end of the corridor.
<
br /> Glureg paused before entering the bridge, seeing Lundren hesitate. “What is it?”
Lundren dipped his head to acknowledge Glureg’s sacrifice. “I… I wish you safe passage to the next life, Captain.”
Glureg held his emotions in check as the bridge door cut him off from the rest of the ship. He made his way to his chair and prayed for the remainder of his crew to get clear of the ship while the EI continued pouring ever-bleaker reports into his ear.
The invaders continued to encroach, gaining on the bridge one deck at a time.
Glureg saw them now. He wished he was blind the instant the EI put the images onscreen. Masses of tentacles, too many for his mind to make sense of. They filled him with creeping dread.
Glureg’s legs failed him for the first time in his life and he collapsed against the main console, breathing heavily. “Initiate self-destruct protocols,” he ordered.
“Authorization required,” the EI intoned as a flexible tube was pushed out of the console toward him.
Glureg missed the breath analyzer with his first grab. He clenched his hands to steady them before making another attempt.
“DNA authorization accepted, Captain Glureg.”
The EI sounded shrill to Glureg’s ears. He dropped the tube, staring blankly at the monitor feed as it was retracted. “Are the crew out of range?”
“They are,” the EI confirmed. “However, the enemy is moving to intercept the escape pods. Their chances of survival are dwindling.”
Glureg closed his eyes and worked to let go of the shame he felt for failing to protect his crew. “May I be forgiven for this.” He bowed his head, knowing there was no other way to prevent this vicious species from finding the Federation. “Activate the self-destruct protocol.”
13
Red Rock
Lance was enjoying a quiet breakfast in the communal dining hall until Harkkat arrived to fill his thinking time. With more nonsensical schemes favoring the Leath over the rest of the Federation, he could only assume.
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