by Anna Carven
Varga had always had a rather dry sense of humor. Jia knew her from the times she’d run security in the grease pits on Fortuna Tau. The blond peacekeeper swore like a trooper and had a reputation for not taking shit from anyone. Jia had once seen her flip a man twice her size on his back, after he’d tried to get away with some inappropriate… touching.
Jia had always liked the lady.
“Hey, Sergeant, I need you to do something.” That’s why she felt confident she could trust Varga to understand what needed to be done.
“What’s that, Morgan?”
“I don’t know half of what’s going on, but it looks like someone’s been trying to take us out.”
“We were wondering about that,” the Sergeant growled. “That explosion was too big to be an accident. Those Kordolians with you detained some mercenaries, didn’t they?”
“I think we can all agree that sending mercenaries after a group of elite Kordolian warriors was a stupid idea, but I get the feeling that whoever orchestrated this doesn’t fully grasp the situation, or even worse, they don’t care about the implications. I worry they might try something again.”
“So, what’s your plan, mech?”
Jia inclined her head. “What makes you assume I have a plan?”
“I watched you working in the grease pits. I know how you operate. You’re always the one with the plan. Your colleagues hate you for it, but they have no choice but to go with the flow, because they know you’ve got the goods. You’re too damn competent for your own good. That’s just what I’ve observed, mechanic Morgan.”
“Uh…” For a moment, Jia was speechless. If what Varga was saying was true, then it made a lot of sense. It would explain why most of the mech team were jerks to her, even though Jia usually brushed their bad behavior off by ignoring it and getting on with her work.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the present. “Thanks for the observation, Sergeant. I’ll have to mull on it when we’re out of this mess. And you’re right, I have a plan.”
“I’m all ears, Morgan.”
“We should be within satellite range of Earth now,” Jia reminded her. “I’d imagine at least some of the people onboard have their comm devices handy. Get everyone to turn on their link-bands, their datapads, whatever, and start documenting everything. Tell them to put it on the Networks. Tell them to get in touch with family and friends and tell them what’s going on. Tell all of Earth about the Kordolians, the Xargek, everything.”
“Are you sure?” Varga sounded hesitant. “I thought we should at least go through a debrief with Federation officials before we release that information.”
Jia shook her head. “Someone’s been trying to orchestrate a cover-up. They don’t want any witnesses. But if the truth’s out there, there won’t be anything to cover up. And if we all suddenly die in mysterious circumstances, it’ll look mighty suspicious. So let’s put it out there before the Federation realizes what we’re doing and suppresses the Network in our airspace. The Citizen Discontent Index is the only thing the Federation listens to these days, anyway.”
Varga stared at her for a long moment, her blue eyes hard like glass as she weighed up Jia’s words in her mind.
“There was a bomb on Fortuna Tau,” Jia said quietly. “I saw it with my own two eyes.”
“In that case,” Varga replied, her voice turning cold, “consider it done. We’ll have this shit circulating on the Networks before either the Federation or the Corporation knows what’s hit them. We’ll all lose our jobs, but hell, our station’s gone, so that’s happened anyway.” She glanced over Jia’s shoulder, raising her eyebrows in concern.
Jia looked back and saw Kalan lounging in one of the navigation chairs. With his large size and impassive stare, he cut a rather menacing figure.
“You okay back there, Morgan?” Varga gave her a meaningful look.
Jia smiled sweetly. “I’m being well taken care of, Sergeant.” In the background, she caught a soft rumble of approval from Kalan.
“Huh. Well, stay safe, mech. See you landside, hopefully in one piece.”
“Yeah.” Jia cut the comm. Now all that was left was to make it safely to Earth’s surface.
Oh yeah, and there were supposedly these vicious things called Xargek heading for her precious green-and-blue planet.
She looked towards Kalan, who was sitting back in his chair, half-shrouded in shadow with his long, muscular legs extended in the air, his hands behind his neck.
He was watching her.
His demeanor reminded her of a lazy predator; his violet eyes were hooded, and a hint of a smile graced his dark lips.
He appeared totally relaxed, and yet he was capable of exploding into lethal force at any point in time.
Jia felt totally comfortable around him.
He was her big, silver predator.
Kalan lifted a hand and beckoned for her to join him. She drifted slowly to his side, ignoring the bemused stares of the two Human mercenaries. He was about to say something, when a giant bang resounded through the ship.
There it was again, a hollow, metallic thud.
“Oh, come on,” Jia cried. “What now?”
The attacks just kept coming. First Xargek, then mercenaries, and now…?
Jia really missed the feeling of solid ground beneath her feet. She missed Earth. They were so close, and yet their situation was still precarious.
There was a possibility everything could still fall apart.
The comm flickered to life again, the holoscreen showing a woman dressed in Federation grey. “Black Rhino, we have given you sufficient time to consider your position and prepare for entry. Why are you still stationary?”
The thudding was louder now, and more insistent. Kalan barked something to Lodan in Kordolian.
“Starboard hull,” one of the mercenaries said, his voice laced with tension. “That’s where it’s coming from. Let’s get vision on it.”
The simple desire to survive seemed to have forced them into co-operation with the Kordolians. A three-dimensional holographic view of the starboard side of the hull appeared before them.
And there was a full-sized Xargek gripping the side of the cruiser, slamming its giant claws into the hull.
Of course there was.
For some strange reason, two long black swords appeared to be protruding from the Xargek’s head. Beside it was a large cocoon-like structure made of white, silky strands. It appeared as if the Xargek had busted out of the cocoon, as the strands were torn, flapping gently in the empty vacuum of space. To Jia’s horror, a Human body was wrapped up inside the cocoon. It was unrecognizable; a gruesome mess of torn flesh. She glanced away, unable to stomach the gory sight.
Had the Xargek been hitching a ride this whole time, whilst feeding off the dead Human? Jia shuddered.
“Black Rhino,” the Federation woman blurted in the background. “If you do not respond, we will be forced to take offensive measures. Do you understand?”
“Hey, lady,” Jia blurted, as Kalan and Lodan turned their attention towards the more obvious threat, “just hold on a moment. We’re a little preoccupied right now.”
An alarm went off inside the cockpit. “Warning, hull breach detected. Cabin pressure dropping. Atmospheric leak detected. Use of secondary breathing apparatus is advised.”
Both Kalan and Lodan cursed in their native tongue. “I will try and hold it off.” Kalan pulled Jia down as he unstrapped himself from his seat. “Stay here,” he said softly. “Don’t come out unless I give you the all-clear.” He turned to the mercenaries. “This craft can withstand atmospheric entry?”
“Yeah.”
“Lodan, why don’t we punch it through Earth’s atmosphere at high speed? An atmospheric burn might shake off the Xargek. I’ll try and stop it from getting in.”
“The Humans seem to be sending a contingent of attack-craft our way,” Lodan advised, his voice devoid of any emotion. “What do you want me to do about that?”
; “Let them follow. They can try and chase us through the atmosphere, if they dare, but if they try and cause any trouble, just remind them that we have an entire freighter full of Human hostages sitting in Low Earth Orbit. That should count for something, at least.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kalan retrieved a breathing apparatus from the main cabin and made sure Jia was safely fastened in her seat, handing her the device. “Put it on,” he ordered, as she looked up at him with concern in her eyes.
“We’re going to be going through some big acceleration forces,” he said gently. “I don’t want you to be passing out because the oxygen levels are low.”
“Yeah, but what about you?”
“Don’t you worry about me,” Kalan said gruffly. Her obvious concern for him touched him in a way he didn’t quite understand. Kalan wasn’t used to anyone caring about his fate. His brothers-in-arms looked out for him in their own way, but Kalan was the self-sufficient type. He fought his own battles and generally did the rescuing, when required.
No-one had ever really thought to worry about him.
Until now.
Jia was worried about him, and that pleased him. He was secretly floored by her concern.
For the first time in his wretched life, he felt… worthy of someone.
Another loud clang echoed through the cabin, followed by a metallic tearing sound. The air was becoming thinner, and the cabin pressure was slipping away.
Kalan’s physiology could withstand low-oxygen states for much longer than an ordinary Kordolian, and far longer than a Human. He could hold on until they breached Earth’s atmosphere.
Jia couldn’t.
He nodded in approval as she donned the respirator and activated the small cylinder that supplied the oxygen.
The two Human mercenaries had floated out of their seats and were frantically searching for their own respirators as their faces turned a deep shade of red.
“I will return,” Kalan said gently, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.
He drifted out of the cockpit, making his way to the back of the ship, where the Xargek was trying to breach the hull.
Nythian had disappeared, presumably to deal with the creature, and surprisingly, so had the cowardly Human Station Boss.
The Xargek’s attacks became louder as he neared the rear of the ship. Kalan passed through an area laden with various supplies and weapons, quickly assessing the small arsenal.
The weapons were all useless to him; none would be effective against the Xargek’s tough exterior.
It didn’t matter. He’d seen the Xargek on the holoscreen. It was the red-stripe that had attacked him on Fortuna Tau. And luckily for him, his swords were still embedded in its head.
Bloodlust surged through Kalan as he remembered his battle with the red-stripe. He had unfinished business with the monster, and one way or another, he would get his swords back.
Kalan pulled himself along the wall as the cruiser accelerated, preparing to enter Earth’s atmosphere. The sounds of Callidum hitting Xargek claws reached his ears as he floated into the rear cabin.
The absence of gravity would make things a little more difficult, but Kalan was used to fighting in all kinds of conditions.
The air was moving here, being sucked out of a small hole in the side wall. Nythian was floating in mid-air, his dual swords drawn. As Kalan entered, the Xargek struck again, its sharp black claws tearing through the body of the cruiser, making the hole larger.
“Where the fuck did this one come from?” Nythian was in full armor, his features hidden behind his protective helm. “I thought they stuck together when they traveled through space.”
“It cocooned itself on the side of the ship,” Kalan replied, the urge to fight becoming unbearably strong. “Took a Human body along for the ride. It’s been feeding and regenerating all this time. Careful, Ny, it’s a red-stripe.”
“I don’t care if it’s a fucking Queen. The thing’s gotta die.” As the Xargek struck through the hole again, Nythian countered its claws with his twin swords.
The impact sent him flying backwards. His feet hit the opposite wall, and he bent his knees, about to launch himself towards the creature.
Kalan held up a hand. “Wait,” he said.
Nythian inclined his head. “What are you planning, Kal?”
The urge to kill was consuming Kalan. “This one’s mine, Ny. Back off.” He wanted to finish what they’d started, back there on the mining station.
Kalan didn’t let his opponents escape, ever.
Nythian took one look at his face and nodded. “I’m guessing you don’t need any help.”
“I fight alone. You know that.” Besides, they were in close quarters. “I’ll let you know if I’m dying.”
Nythian offered his swords. “You want these?”
“Nah.” Kalan had his own way of doing things. In a moment of frustration, General Tarak had once told him his stubbornness was both his greatest strength, and his greatest weakness.
“Suit yourself.” Nythian shrugged as he withdrew, the Xargek slamming its claws into the wall behind him. Bit by bit, it was creating an opening in the wall that was becoming larger. As the defect widened, air was being sucked out, causing a great deal of turbulence inside the cabin.
Kalan glanced around. The rear of the ship was some sort of cargo hold. It was devoid of fixtures, aside from several empty crates strapped to the floor. Kalan spotted some loose straps dangling from the opposite wall. He launched himself across, grabbed one of the straps and looped it around his body, securing it with the help of a large clip. The other end was attached to the wall, providing him with a firm anchor.
The last thing he wanted was to get sucked out of the cabin if the Xargek had made a large enough hole.
He grabbed a railing on the wall as the cruiser gained speed, about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
He hoped the cruiser’s heat shields were decent, because there was a breach in the hull now, and things were about to get toasty.
But Kalan had a plan.
He kicked off the wall, drifting close to the breach as the cruiser began to shake. The Xargek smashed its claws into the hole, tearing it a little wider. As it withdrew it caught sight of Kalan, who was now in full armor, his face protected by his exo-armor.
Somehow, the Xargek knew it was him, because it screeched in anger, slamming its claws into the hole with renewed force.
The hole was almost large enough to admit its upper body. Kalan drew back a little, pulling on the strap to suspend himself in the middle of the cabin.
The Xargek struck again, and this time, its upper body entered the hole in the wall. Kalan saw his twin swords protruding from its head. A thin layer of chitin had grown over them. It appeared the Xargek was subsuming them into its hard body.
The cruiser was vibrating now, and it appeared to be traveling at terminal velocity, because there was no more acceleration.
The temperature was starting to rise.
The Xargek flailed and writhed and eventually shook itself free of the hole, rearing back for another strike. They were definitely entering Earth’s atmosphere now, because Kalan was starting to feel the effects of gravity.
The hull of the cruiser must have had fairly good heat insulation, because the only place where the heat could enter was the hole the Xargek had made.
That could end up being a problem, if Kalan didn’t do something about it soon.
The Xargek screeched as it started to burn, and Kalan caught the smell of roasting chitin. It spat corrosive venom at him through the hole. The foul yellow fluid caught Kalan in the torso, burning through his armor in an instant.
In desperation, the Xargek launched itself at the hole again, its claws enlarging the opening. Its head appeared, along with Kalan’s protruding swords. Heat poured in through the hole, along with smoke, which was coming from the Xargek’s burning body.
The monster screamed, desperate to enter the cabin.
Kalan lung
ed forward, ignoring the Xargek’s claws as they struck his abdomen, tearing his flesh. Agony shot through him, but all Kalan could think of was grabbing his swords.
His hands closed around the twin hilts, and he pulled. The swords were stuck fast, wrapped in layers of chitin, but Kalan didn’t care.
The Xargek’s claws were in his belly, but Kalan didn’t care.
He pulled the Xargek towards him, putting one foot on either side of the hole for leverage. The Xargek screamed and spat more venom at him, but Kalan kept pulling.
The temperature was rising, and the Xargek’s outer shell was starting to burn. They were definitely on the re-entry arc now; a great roaring sound surrounded the ship, and everything was shaking.
Heat smacked Kalan in the face; he could feel it even through his exo-armor as he continued to pull.
Still, his swords wouldn’t budge. The Xargek’s movements began to weaken as it succumbed to the effects of the re-entry burn. Kalan continued to pull, letting out a great roar of exertion as he dragged the Xargek’s body inside.
There was the sound of snapping legs as the Xargek screamed in protest. Kalan pulled at his swords again, and this time they came free, the thin layer of chitin shattering as he drew them out, foul, viscous hemolymph splattering all over the cabin. The momentum pushed Kalan back. He flew across the floor, his body pulled free of the Xargek’s claws. The wounds in his belly began to knit together instantly, and Kalan was grateful for the fact that Jia had fed him.
Without the extra protein, he would be looking very gaunt by now, as his nanites became autophagic, consuming his own cells.
The Xargek screamed and flailed about, but its body was wedged tightly inside the hole of its own making, providing an effective plug against the atmospheric burn that was occurring outside.
The heat wouldn’t kill it, but it would weaken it enough to make it an easy target for Kalan. Now, all he had to do was wait as external forces burnt its ass to a crisp.
The Xargek stared at Kalan with pure hatred in its eyes as he moved back against the opposite wall, grabbing a metal railing as the ship completed its re-entry to Earth. It was quiet now, save for a faint clicking sound as it endured the burn.