Dark Stars- Firelight

by Matthew Tonks

  “I should’ve known he was a stinking clone,” Zander says through clenched teeth, he glances over to Gadamrie as he grips his blaster tightly. “You got something left in you?”

  “Enough,” she says, placing a hand on his shoulder and the two disappear.

  “DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!” Quinn screams out as the soldiers open fire.

  Zander feels his head explode as the colour is ripped from everything except him and Gadamrie. Blaster shots pass through him, like a cool breeze. He looks over to Gadamrie, her face shows her struggle, her energy almost drained. He grips her hand and charges forward through the dreamlike landscape, passing through The Federation Soldiers as if they were nothing. He feels Gadamrie lose her footing and catches her as they both crash to the ground in a heap.

  “I’m sorry my love. I-I-I, I don’t think I can hold us here much longer,” she says weakly.

  He looks down the hallway, then back at her, “A couple more seconds, we just have to get throug…”

  She places a finger to his lips and smiles. “Shhhh my love, you must go, I, I am too weak. Find Touvler, free him and get off this sardine can, as you call it. Warn the Priestess, if, if,” she takes a deep breath and smiles once more. “The first time I saw you was with a thousand eyes, and I knew I would gladly give my life for you,” she says as they kiss. Tears stream down his face, splashing onto hers.

  “There has to be another way. I can’t lose you,” he says, cradling her weakening body.

  “You won’t. Be brave my human, for you carry something special inside of you, something wonderful. Now, help me to my feet then go before my energy is depleted,” Gadamrie says, as she runs a hand across his face and they kiss one final time. He pulls her to her feet and squeezes her tightly, before turning towards the horde who continue to fire, letting the hate that burns through him aim itself directly towards Quinn.

  “How long will I have?”

  “A handful of seconds,” she says softly, pulling a golden bracelet from her arm and places it on Zander’s.

  “That’s all I need,” he says, as he pulls a small metallic cylinder from his side. He looks towards her one last time, and smiles, yellow tears run down her face as she pulls a similar object from her side. She nods towards him as large metallic like blades appear from within the cylinders. “I’ll see you somewhere soon,” he says, before he turns and charges forward, as the world explodes with colour and light. The Federation Soldiers don’t know what hit them as Zander forces his way through them, slicing a pathway of blood towards Quinn. It only takes a few seconds before he feels blaster fire rip into his side, sending him crashing to the ground. He clenches his teeth together as he drives his fists into the floors metal surface screaming and forces himself up as soldiers come from every angle to tackle him to the ground once more. For several moments everything goes silent, then Quinn strides towards him as the soldiers pull the struggling Zander to his feet.

  “How pathetic, did you really think that would work?” Quinn asks.

  A tear runs down Zander’s cheek as he closes his eyes tightly. “I knew it would,” he says softly, as a warmth hits his back, then screams fill his ears as everything is engulfed in a white-hot light that lasts for a few seconds, and then is gone. Slowly he opens his eyes, around him lay the burnt remains of The Federation Soldiers and Quinn. Nervously he turns around to see the charred remains of Gadamrie. He feels his lower lip quiver and the wetness of the tears that cascade down his face.

  “ZZZZZEETTT…. Captain Kane, do you copy?” Sin’s voice says.

  He wipes the tears from his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket and draws back a large breath. “I’m here, what the hell happened?” He says as he slowly moves down the hallway, blaster at the ready.

  “A defence mechanism from the destroyer interfered with our communicator. I have now convinced the destroyer to disable the device and also give me the precise location of Mister Touvler,” Sin replies.

  “How did you… No wait, I don’t want to know. I still remember what you did for that battleship in the Nourus Quadrant.”

  “Sir, I detected Miss Gadamrie’s expiration, I would just like to off…”

  “Save it for later. Just tell me how I get to Touvler and get us off this hunk of junk.”

  “Of course. I have already taken the liberty of mapping out a path to Mister Touvler, one that will give you the least resistance. Once you have him, getting off the said ‘hunk of junk,’ might be a tad harder as alarms are slowly popping up across the ship.”

  “Just find us a way off, we’ll handle the getting there okay?”

  “Of course Sir. I will map the quickest route,” Sin replies. “May I ask you to be careful Sir. This is not coming just from me, but Betha also wishes me to pass on that she hopes for your safe return as well, considering your condition.”

  “Tell Betha not to worry about my CONDITION, I’ll be fine. You two just be ready to get the heck out of here when we get our tails off this piece of scrap okay?”

  “Of course Sir. I have uploaded the route to Mister Touvler and will work with the destroyer to locate you a way off.”

  A blue light on Zander’s bracelet flashes, signalling the arrival of Sin’s data. “Overlay visor,” he commands, as a visor like screen appears before his eyes, acting like a pair of glasses, outlaying the route to Touvler. Quickly he makes his way through deserted corridors, noticing as he moves the ship's cameras pointing towards the ground. He allows himself to grin, knowing Sin obviously worked his magic once again. The screen glows red signalling for him to stop, quickly he rips a vent covering from the side of the corridor and slides in, then replaces the covering and seals it back in place. The sound of a dozen or more Federation Soldiers charge down the corridor, as Zander quickly crawls down the duct for several sweaty minutes until he comes to an opening. His eyes widen as he looks around the large shaft that has a small rim running around the sides that the vent and several other vents connect to.

  He tilts his head upwards and then downwards, focusing on the map in front of his eyes he lets out a nervous laugh. “Sin, you can’t be serious?”

  “I’m sorry Sir. Is there a situation?” Sin’s voice asks.

  “Damn straight there’s a situation. Your map’s telling me to jump down into the main air vent,” he says as he settles himself on the ledge, peering over once again. Zander tightly squints his eyes, hoping this time to see the bottom, but still only sees darkness.

  “That is correct Sir. If you read my instructions, they tell you if you use maximum power and leap at an angle of at least one hundred and thirty-six degrees you will come into contact with the air duct for level two hundred and seven at some stage of your descent. My calculations based on your current weight put it at about fifteen seconds from when you jump from the coordinates. Once you have successfully made the jump and landed safely, Mister Touvler is only two corridors away from where the vent comes out.”

  “Maximum power? What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

  “The information has been tailored specifically to you Sir. If you jump at full strength, you will complete the task successfully.”

  Zander stares into the darkness with his mouth hanging open. “Is this seriously the safest route to Touvler?”

  “Sir, I would like to take this moment to point out you requested the quickest, not the safest.”

  “Of course I did,” Zander says as he nervously presses himself against the wall, and shuffles towards the jumping location. A few nervous minutes later, he takes three deep breaths, closes his eyes and pushes himself off the ledge as hard as he can. Tumbling helplessly into the darkness of the shaft, he slams quickly into the metal tunnels side, dazing him for a moment, before he feverishly grabs with his arms, trying to make contact with the vent’s entrance. His arm tears out of its socket as he somehow grabs hold of the shafts edge, and hangs there for several moments, sweat dripping from his exhausted body.

  “Sir. I hate to be the provider of bad new
s. But the angle you pushed yourself off from, was incorrect,” Sin says.

  “YOU’RE TELLING ME I MISSED!”

  “Not exactly Sir. You unfortunately hit the side of the shaft earlier than anticipated and are therefore hanging onto the incorrect floor’s ventilation shaft.”

  He peers down into the darkness, letting out a groan, “How early?”

  “Seven floors Sir.”

  “Great,” he says through clenched teeth. “I’m not sure I can do this again.”

  “Sir. You must, if you were to attempt rescuing Mister Touvler from this position, you would not be successful.”

  “Okay, new game plan. I’m going to pull myself up into this duct, and you’re going to think of another plan,” Zander says, as he tries to pull himself up into the vent.

  “Sir. You must believe me, there is no other way,” Sin says.

  Zander rolls his eyes, biting his bottom lip. “Just do me one thing.”

  “Of course Sir.”

  “Next time I ask you to find me a way out of somewhere, remind me of this moment,” he says, as he lets go dropping like a stone.

  “NOW SIR!” Sin yells out, Zander reaches frantically for the vents opening, screaming in pain as he feels his arm tear further from its socket.

  “P-P-Please tell me I’ve got the right level this time?” Zander asks weakly, hanging from the opening.

  “You have been successful Sir. Once you reach the end of the ventilation shaft, Mister Touvler is two corridors to your right.”

  “How’s everything looking otherwise? You still buddy, buddy with the destroyer mainframe?”

  “Of course Sir. We have formed a quick bond, and he has been very helpful.”

  “I still don’t want to know what you did for the big guy,” Zander grunts as he pulls himself up into the vent and begins to drag his busted aching body towards the opening. “Tell me when I’m clear.”

  “There appears to be no one in your immediate vicinity Sir. The path to Mister Touvler is clear,” Sin replies.

  “Are you sure?” Zander asks surprised. “Not even guards at the entrance to his cell?”

  “No, there appears to be no Federation Soldiers anywhere,” Sin replies.

  “Something about this just doesn’t feel right.”

  “The destroyer has assured me that there is nothing unusual happening. Please Sir, if you are to make your move you must make it now.”

  “Okay, okay,” Zander says as he forces the vents cover off and falls out onto the floor of the corridor in a sweaty bloody heap. He lies there for a few moments before Sin’s voice snaps him back to awareness.

  “Sir. You must move now. I have detected movement three corridors away coming towards you. You must hurry!”

  “I thought the area was clear?”

  “So did I Sir. It would appear that the destroyer was not telling the truth. We have been set up,” Sin says.

  “Not you brainiac, I’m the one who’s been set up,” Zander growls, he looks over his shoulder, as footsteps approach his position. Quickly he takes a step back, firing the blaster at the door’s touchpad, and the door springs open. He rushes inside, his mouth instantly drops open in shock, and he feels his stomach turn violently. Lying before him on a medi-pad is Touvler. His broken bloody body is riddled with tubes and wires, shoved into every orifice imaginable as machines keep his life signs stable. Zander clenches his teeth in anger, knowing full well Touvler’s been dead for some time.

  “Here we are once more old-friend,” Quinn says from behind him.

  Zander spins around to face him and a group of Marauders, the elite of all Federation Soldiers.

  “I see you brought more friends this time.”

  “I thought I’d bring my own so you didn’t feel alone, considering yours keep dying.”

  “The next time I kill you, I’ll make sure you don’t rise again.”

  “Ever the antagonist,” Quinn says with a smile on his face. “Don’t worry, he never gave up your secret. Loyal right until the end, it was pathetic,” Quinn says with a snarl.

  “WHAT’RE YOU TALKING ABOUT!” Zander yells. “WHAT SECRET?”

  “Don’t play me for a fool Zander. We are beyond those sort of games now. I know you’re hiding something, why would the others be so protective of you? I think The Priestess entrusted you with something back on Loker Twelve. Something that could be a danger to The Federation, and I will have it.”

  “You’re crazy Quinn, The Priestess gave me nothing. MY FRIENDS were protective of me because I’m carrying Gadamrie’s seed you dick!”

  Quinn’s face softens, and his eyes widen. “What? You’re carrying that things child? That’s preposterous! Gadamrie is Asexual, she doesn’t need another to reproduce. Doesn’t she just lay eggs that hatch into new host bodies?”

  “Did you learn anything about any of us while you were part of my crew? It’s not her child, it’s HER. It’s how Gadamrie reproduces with other species. That’s why she was so protective of me, she just wanted to keep me and her egg safe!”

  Quinn’s face twists with anger. “No Kane, everyone dies who challenges The Federation!” He says, as he raises his blaster.

  “Remember Palcram Zelta?” Zander says.

  Quinn’s head tilts to the side, and his face shows his confusion. “Of course I remember that backwater system. You almost killed me with your stupidity.”

  “My stupidity saved you. It wasn’t my fault you couldn’t hold your breath.”

  “Why bring this up now, it won’t change anything. I’m still going to kill you.”

  “I never intended it to change anything. I just thought I’d give you a heads up as to what’s coming,” Zander says with a wry smile. “SIN, NOW!” He screams. It’s then that Quinn notices Betha through the porthole window, holding a position alongside the destroyer. He stands there frozen as two harpoons fire towards them. As Zander draws in three large breaths, the harpoons tear through the hull of the ship sending the room into a spin. One of the harpoons digs itself into the hull, then tears back ripping a hole in the side of the ship, while the other burrows its way into Quinn’s chest. Zander tightly latches onto the metal cord attached to the harpoon and is quickly pulled back on board Betha, with Quinn’s corpse still attached to the end. The hull seals and Zander crashes to the floor, his lungs burn as he fights the urge to breathe.

  “The room is sealed, and the oxygen is now at breathable levels,” Sin says.

  Zander exhales and sucks in a deep breath, then lets it out again just as quickly, and sucks another in. He rolls onto the floor on his back, as he continues to inhale and exhale as if each breath was his last. While he lies there the cargo bay doors hiss open and footsteps run towards him.

  “Zander, you crazy human. What the hell were you thinking?” A voice calls out.

  “T-T-Touvler?” Zander mutters weakly.

  “Who else would it be you rat biter?” Touvler says as he pulls Zander to his feet.

  “W-W-What the hell’s going on?”

  “You just took a walk outside Betha without a suit on, that’s what’s happening.”

  “B-B-But the destroyer, and Quinn…”

  “I don’t know what you’re smoking human, but we’re out in the middle of the Segraz Quadrant, alone.”

  “B-But it all felt so real,” Zander says in disbelief.

  “I did warn you of the effect carrying my seed would have,” Gadamrie says from the doorway. Zander staggers towards her and grips her tightly, tears of joy running down his face.

  “It felt so real.”

  “Of course it would,” she says pulling away from him. “Let’s get you to the infirmary, and get you checked out,” she says as she guides him down the hallway.

  “I’m afraid the injuries are more severe than we first thought,” Sin’s voice echoes around the room. Zander’s face screws up in confusion as he looks around in a daze, while Gadamrie stares at him.

  “Are you okay?” She asks, her voice distorted and
distant.

  “I-I-I, I just thought I heard Sin,” he says, meeting her concerned gaze with an uneasy smile.

  “You’re obviously hearing things. Let’s get you looked at, I want to make sure there’s no permanent damage,” she says.

  He suddenly feels lightheaded and loses his balance crashing to the floor in a heap, and as the darkness takes him, he hears Sin’s voice once more.

  “Yes, the seed is intact and alive. Yes, yes, I know we must hurry, but that part is your job. I’ll do what I can to stabilise Captain Kane, but you need to get us to Galder Seven before we lose them both.”

  ***

  Zander slowly opens his eyes only to be greeted by darkness, and the hum of machines vibrating, as well as the slow steady breathing of someone else within the room.

  “You’re finally awake. We didn’t think you were going to make it there for a moment,” a woman’s voice says from somewhere in the darkness, the voice sounds different, yet somehow he recognises it as Gadamrie’s none-the-less.

  He tries in vain to lift his head, but the pain is too much and he lets it fall back into the pillow. He attempts to wet his dry lips with his tongue but finds it almost as dry. “H-H-H…” His throat feels like it’s on fire, and he quickly swallows to quell the burn but instead feels like he’s swallowed a mouthful of razors. “H-H-How long?” He manages to say finally.

  “Four days,” she replies.

  “Four days,” he repeats as he tries to sit up, the pain once more shoots through his body, and he collapses back onto the bed, stiffening with agony.

  “Try to relax, you’ve been through a lot,” she says.

  “H-How did, how did you make it out? I-I-I, I saw you light yourself up.”

  “That doesn’t matter right now,” she says as her voice slowly comes closer, he sees her silhouette standing a few feet from his bed.

  “But I saw you die,” he says, straining his head up from the pillow once again, fighting back the pain.

  “Shhh my love,” she says, as she steps out of the darkness. He freezes in place as he looks at her, her face is not that of the woman he remembers, but more like his, more human. “What’s wrong Daddy?” She says.