Neverwylde (The Rim of the World Book 6)

by Linda Mooney

  Fullgrath chuckled and reached over to shake the young man’s shoulder. “You got that right, little guy. Allies and friends, right to the bitter end.”

  Chapter 11

  Outpost Delta Six

  For much of the next two hours no one spoke as Kelen piloted them through a sector of space she and her fellow Terrans had never ventured into before. Massapa pulled the emergency rations from the shuttle’s hold and passed them out.

  Unable to remove her hands from the depressions while they were in flight, Dox ventured forward to squeeze the contents of the food and water pouches into her mouth. She started to thank him when she saw him place part of the thick goo onto one finger and shove it inside his jumpsuit. Not saying anything, she continued to keep an eye on the young man’s movements. When he did it again, removing a clean finger after leaving it there for a minute or so, she remarked about it.

  “Dox, what’s inside your jumpsuit?”

  Dox started. His face turned pink, and it was then she knew what he was hiding.

  “Dox, are you feeding Five? Did you bring him with you anyway?” Her questions roused the others, some of whom had begun to nap.

  Mellori grabbed him by the shoulder and gently swung him around. “He brought Five with him?”

  A tiny nose poked out from inside Dox’s jumpsuit, followed by a wide-eyed look of apprehension from the little furry.

  “He held on,” Dox explained. “Wouldn’t let go. Didn’t have a choice.”

  Mellori glanced at Kyber. “Don’t believe there’s a chance we can return the little guy back to his planet, is there?”

  “We have a bigger worry to think about first,” Sandow remarked. He twirled a finger over his head. “This Seneecian shuttle isn’t going to sit well with some people. Once we get on the outpost’s sensors, they might fire first and ask questions later.”

  “I have been deliberating about that,” Kyber admitted. “So far, we seem to have avoided being recaptured. Which means Duruk is going to have to find a way to do damage control once we get out word about the neverwylde.”

  “Why?” Sandow inquired. “Why is keeping the existence of that half planet so important?”

  “Kyber?” Mellori leaned forward in his seat. “Did you know there was such a thing as a neverwylde?”

  Kelen looked over her shoulder to see her husband shaking his head. “No, I did not. But, to be honest, there are many things a D’har is privileged to know that a Por D’har does not. As for why the need for secrecy, I have no idea.”

  “That’s a fair conundrum,” Sandow muttered.

  Jules sat up straighter in his seat. “Reaching the outer periphery sensors of the outpost.”

  “Where is it?” Kyber asked.

  “Ahead twenty-three degrees port.”

  “Kelen?”

  A buzzing came over the console speakers. Gaveer adjusted the input until they could understand the incoming message.

  “Seneecian cruiser, veer off. Veer off. You are encroaching without authorization. Veer off, or we will be forced to fire upon you.”

  Kyber reached for the communications toggle to respond, when Fullgrath snatched his hand and pulled it away. “Better let me. Ain’t no way they’re gonna mistake my voice for a Seneecian,” the man explained.

  Kyber silently agreed and got out of the seat to give the comm over to him. Parking himself in the chair, Fullgrath pointed to the toggle. “This one?” At Kyber’s nod, he flipped the switch.

  “Hey, is this the outpost bordering the Bak Dur Bak system?”

  Several seconds passed. Kelen could only imagine what might be going through the minds of the people overseeing their communications.

  “This is Outpost Delta Six,” came the reply. “This is a territorial post, granted by the Bakkite Grand Council, and maintained by the Terran Spacial Military. Again, we strongly urge you to veer off from your present course, or we will have no choice but to fire upon you.”

  “If ever there was an ‘eat shit or die’ answer, that’s it,” Cooter wryly observed.

  Fullgrath hit the toggle again. “Uhh, Outpost Delta Six, yeah, we’re in a stolen Seneecian shuttle, but I can assure you we’re not the enemy. My name is Lieutenant Winston Fullgrath, military ID number seven two seven Alpha five nine six zero. I was the weapons master aboard the Manta, which crash landed on a remote planet several parsecs from here. We’re asking permission to dock.” He hit the switch to await their response.

  “Jules, distance,” Kyber whispered.

  “Twenty-nine thousand kilometers and closing fast.”

  They could see the distinctive outline of the outpost gradually becoming clearer as they drew nearer.

  “Kelen, dial down the speed. We do not want them to think we plan to ram them or do a fly-by.”

  “Affirmative.” She gradually slowed the craft in anticipation.

  “Lieutenant Fullgrath.” The comm spoke again, and this time it was a different voice.

  Fullgrath opened the line. “Yes, sir.”

  “Our scanners are recognizing eleven lifeforms, maybe a twelfth. Four of which are confirmed Seneecian. Are all of you survivors of the Manta?”

  “No, sir. We do have four Seneecians on board with us. Now, listen, before you go off and start shooting at us anyway, there’s something you have to know.”

  “Are the Seneecians your prisoners?” the voice interrupted.

  Fullgrath glanced at Kyber, who nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “Where is your commanding officer?”

  The weapons master glanced around. In all practicality, they were equal in rank. “Guess you’re talking to him, sir,” he said. “Captain Arvey died at the crash site. Commander Dayall died a few weeks later from injuries he sustained on the planet.”

  “Give me the names of those with you.”

  “Eighteen thousand kilometers,” Jules murmured loud enough to be heard. They were now able to appreciate the size of the outpost. The stationary stronghold was the size of a small city.

  “Uhh, Lieutenant Derric Jules, navigator, Lieutenant Kelen Chambliss, pilot, Dr. Finn Sandow, medical, Lieutenant Paul Mellori, engineering, Lieutenant Jamse Cooter, security, Dox, our isotope engineer, and yours truly. That’s the Terran crew.”

  “And you are in full control of that shuttle?”

  “As we’d say back home, does an autobot shit bolts? Yes, sir. We Terrans are in control. Listen, sir. We crashed several months ago. A Seneecian warship found us, and the D’har was about to kill us outright until we managed to escape in this shuttle. We don’t care if you have fifty armed guards waiting for us on the landing pad. Just allow us to land, and you can take it from there.”

  They waited for an answer. In the meantime, Jules kept them abreast of their distance from the outpost. “Twelve thousand kilometers.”

  “That’s it,” Fullgrath suddenly informed them. “We’re now in range of their weapons. If they’re gonna fire on us, they’ll do it now, before we get any closer.”

  “Maybe they want us to get closer to make sure they don’t miss,” Sandow commented.

  Fullgrath shook his head. “No way. There’s always the chance an approaching ship could try to use itself as a weapon to take out a strategic part of the station. No. If they fire, they’re not gonna miss. Not as long as we’re within ra—”

  “Lieutenant Fullgrath.”

  “Yes. Still here.”

  “Proceed to docking bay nine. Be prepared to be boarded immediately upon landing. Any overt or perceived aggression will be met with deadly force. And if we perceive that you intend on using your ship as a weapon, know that there are three protonic cannons aimed at you.”

  “Gotcha, sir. See you on the flip side.” Closing the link, the weapons master gave Kyber a crooked grin. “Well, it’s not the welcome mat, but it’s better than being space dust.”

  “I agree,” Kyber said. “Kelen, it’s all in your hands now.”

  She flashed him a wide smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll sett
le this baby down so gently, the landing struts won’t even squeak.”

  “I cannot wait to experience it.” Kyber glanced at everyone. “All right. Everyone double-check your harnesses in case she takes us vertical again.”

  “Ha, ha, ha,” Kelen retorted, then concentrated on taking them in.

  Chapter 12

  Sentenced

  These people don’t mess around. Kelen saw the multitude of armed guards standing behind the clear protective barrier that separated them from the airless void of space. There may not have been exactly fifty troopers awaiting their set-down, but it was damn near close.

  True to her word, she set the shuttle down in the center of Bay 9, and Gaveer helped show her how to power down the engine. Once the outer hull doors were closed, the bay depressurized. Everyone got to their feet and got ready to leave the shuttle.

  Fullgrath stretched, then turned to face Kyber. “Argue all you want, but we’re gonna stick to you and the others like power magnets on steel. I think if we present a show of force in protecting you guys, it’ll make the guards think twice about shooting.”

  “What if they think Kyber and them are using us as shields?” Jules brought up.

  “That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Cooter said. “First things first, I think only us Terrans should be packing weapons.”

  “I agree.” Kleesod handed his blaster to Sandow. “We cannot give them any reason to believe we are dangerous.”

  Massapa handed his to Jules. Kelen held out a hand to take Kyber’s. He hesitated, then gave it to her. Their fingers touched, and she almost shuddered. That familiar ache returned with vengeance, sending sheets of heat sliding over her muscles and leaving her weak-kneed. Keeping her face averted, she took care to shove the blaster inside her uniform. It would not do either of them any good for her to show him how she felt at the moment. She needed to remain calm and clear-headed, and aware of everything that was about to take place in the event they needed to take action.

  “Do we need to surround them?” Mellori brought up. “Keep them in the middle?”

  “I think that will only make the guards believe they’re using us as shields,” Fullgrath surmised. “I think if two of us each stick with one of them, we should be all right.”

  “Okay, then. Let’s disembark,” Jules remarked, and took a stand next to Massapa.

  Fullgrath and Mellori braced Kleesod, and together exited the shuttle first. Sandow and Cooter hooked up with Gaveer. Dox joined Jules next to Massapa, leaving Kelen and Kyber to themselves.

  A small decontamination bubble was erected and attached to their hatch. Two at a time, they entered the structure to undergo a quick sterilization. The guards were surrounding the shuttle as they exited and gathered to wait for everyone to finish being sanitized. Easily noticeable was the fact that all weapons were trained on them.

  Fullgrath stopped at the bottom of the ramp to wait for someone of significance to approach. It didn’t take long. A man wearing a colonel insignia strode forward. Both Fullgrath and Mellori saluted, even though the man was not their military superior.

  Kiss ass every time you can, Kelen mentally noted. She and Kyber stood at the rear, observing every reaction. She couldn’t help but notice he was keeping his hands away from her for appearance’s sake. There was no way of knowing how the guards would react to seeing him with his hand to her back, as he preferred to do. Or worse, around her shoulders.

  The colonel returned the salute. “I’m Colonel Pfeiffer. I’m in command of this outpost. Which of you is Lieutenant Fullgrath?” His eyes roved over everyone in view. Kelen recognized the voice of authority they’d heard over the comm link.

  Fullgrath took a half step forward. “I am, sir.”

  “Are you armed?” The man minced no words.

  “We are.”

  “Hand them over.” No please. No nice request. Any hesitation would have disastrous consequences.

  Everyone removed their blasters, passing them down to a nearby guard who confiscated them. The colonel eyed them again, and Kelen could tell he was acutely aware of their dirty and ragged appearance.

  “You said the Seneecians were in shackles. I don’t see any restraints.”

  Fullgrath gave a slight shake of his head. “You asked if they were our prisoners, which they are. Nothing was said about having them in restraints.”

  “They must be placed in restraints,” Colonel Pfeiffer ordered and gestured to someone on the side.

  Fullgrath began to protest. “That won’t be necessary.”

  But Mellori quickly intervened. “Hold off.” The engineer turned to Kleesod. “If it will help to calm their fears, would you mind being in restraints?”

  Kleesod turned around to check with Kyber. At Kyber’s nod, he gave Mellori the go-ahead.

  Another guard stepped forward with shackles. Kelen noticed Kyber and the others didn’t say anything or make any moves that could be interpreted as threatening. She also saw the colonel staring at the emblems on each Seneecian’s upper chest. Pfeiffer’s eyes widened slightly and he gave Kyber a hard stare.

  “Done, sir,” the guard announced when he was finished. Pfeiffer gave them a final scrutiny and crooked a finger in their direction.

  “Come with me.” Pivoting on his heel, he left the landing bay. The others followed in single file. Kelen took position behind Kyber, and several guards brought up their rear.

  Because all of them wouldn’t fit in one, they had to take two elevator cars to another part of the station. Along the way, people stopped to stare at the imposing Seneecians. In spite of their restraints, they walked confidently with their heads up.

  Walking behind her husband, Kelen allowed herself the opportunity to study his body. It was evident by the way he held himself and by his stride that he’d been healed of the wounds he’d suffered on the planet. He was also back in his dark red uniform, and looked very much the way he had when the Terrans and Seneecians had first encountered each other soon after crashing.

  Despite her silence, Kyber must have sensed her scrutiny and glanced back at her. She threw him a quick smile, which he didn’t return. The omission slightly stung, but she shook it off. They had to be very careful not to divulge any information that could be construed the wrong way.

  Eventually, they arrived at a small auditorium. On the short stage, a table had been set up, along with several chairs. Kelen and the others were led to the two rows of seats directly in front of the stage as several officers entered from a side door and sat in the chairs. At the same time, two rows of guards sat behind them, and more took a stance around the room’s perimeter, every weapon at-ready.

  Pfeiffer sat at the table in the center chair. He rapped the surface with his knuckles and the room grew silent. Checking around the auditorium, he cleared his throat.

  “This meeting will come to order. I have called this hearing for two reasons.” The man’s gaze dropped to those seated in front of the stage. “Lieutenant Fullgrath, please stand.”

  Fullgrath got to his feet and clasped his hands in front of him.

  “You said you are currently the highest ranking officer, is that correct?”

  “Actually, Colonel Pfeiffer, all of us survivors, with the exception of Second Lieutenant Dox, are lieutenants. I just happened to be the closest man to the helm when we were hailed.”

  “Who is the high-ranking officer for the Seneecians?”

  Kyber slowly got to his feet. At the same time, the men at the table could be seen inserting translating earbuds into their ears. Kelen bit back a smile when her husband casually remarked, “There is no need for those. We can speak Terranese.”

  The astonishment on the officers’ faces was priceless. Clasping his hands together and setting them on the table before him, Pfeiffer cocked his head.

  “State your name and rank.”

  “I am D’har Kyber Nau Kil, formerly of the Seneecian warship Ist Umberu.”

  Pfeiffer pointed at him. “Your emblem is that of a Por D�
�har. According to my information, that’s a rank below D’har.”

  “It is. I earned my new ranking while on the planet where we crashed. I have not had the chance to change it.”

  One of the officers leaned over to whisper in the colonel’s ear. Pfeiffer nodded, then made a few movements over the table’s surface. Although she couldn’t see the embedded screens in the tabletop, Kelen believed there was one in front of every officer.

  “Until your new ranking is confirmed, I will refer to you a Por D’har,” Pfeiffer stated.

  Kyber gave a slight nod of acceptance.

  “I am letting all of you know now that prior to our sensors picking up your space craft, we received a wideband dispersal message from an unidentified Seneecian ship. Let me read it to you.

  “’This is a Code Five alert. Be aware that a group of wanted criminals have escaped from Seneecian custody. They are guilty of assault, theft, murder, and treason. The group consists of four Seneecians, led by Por D’har Kyber Nau, and seven Terrans. These are dangerous felons and must be approached with extreme caution. Shoot on sight. Do not try to apprehend. Shoot on sight.’”

  He clasped his hands again and looked up at them. “I guess it’s obvious that we did not shoot on sight even though we suspected you were these wanted criminals mentioned in this message. I’m letting you know that we have sent a message back along that same wideband to let whoever broadcast it know that we have located you.”

  She heard the sound of finality in his voice, and cold fear began to creep into her lungs, stealing her breath. At the same time, an invisible hand slid its icy fingers around her heart and began to squeeze it. Dread, like a black blanket, settled over her as Kelen listened to the officer’s next remarks.

  “What happens in these next few hours will determine whether or not we will return you to your people, or if you will face charges here. As for you, Lieutenant Fullgrath, you and your fellow crewmembers have already been tried and convicted of treason. You each have been sentenced to spend no less than forty, and no more than eighty years on Orboros. Your sentences began the moment you set foot on this outpost. We have contacted Central Command to make them aware of this situation.”