Heretic

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  Li’ara turned to face the bounty hunter. “Is this about Kalian, or you?”

  Roland pinched his eyes. “I know, you were healing, and I get why you kept yourself hidden. Sef needed your keener detective skills or whatever. I'm just not convinced he isn't the enemy yet. It wasn't that long ago they wiped out the human biosphere and took a crack at the Conclave.”

  “The way you feel about him is the same way Captain Fey and the council feel about you. One day you’re causing more trouble than the top ten criminals in the Conclave, the next you’re helping to save the universe. People are complicated, Roland. If you spent any time around them you might have figured that out by now.”

  “You don't seem so complicated, Mrs do-right. You wear your sense of duty like a fucking badge. You give me any scenario and I’ll tell you what decision you’re going to make, just like the kid!” Roland had found Kalian to be the most predictable of all people, though, with his level of power, that was definitely a good thing.

  Li’ara was finally rising to it. “The survivors of Earth and Century have lived under nothing but constant threat since we arrived here. Doing the right thing is the only thing that’s keeping everything together, getting things done.”

  Roland laughed to himself. “There’s been times where my involvement was crucial to keeping things together… and I always do things the wrong way. My way gets things done!”

  “Whatever you say, Princess…” Li’ara turned away from him again.

  Roland sighed with the feeling that he had lost that battle. By the time he had finished his drink, the planet had swollen to the size of the viewport. White clouds swirled over every part of the world, revealing pockets of blue in between.

  With his usual grace, Ch’len plonked him himself into his chair, which levitated to his console. “The surface is entirely water-based. No land masses at all except for…” Ch’len laughed to himself. “I can’t believe we didn't know how powerful these scanners are!” The viewport altered until a single quadrant on the planet was magnified for all to see. “That must be where they’re keeping them.” The smallest of platforms could be seen through the gap in the clouds. “It’s completely silent though. No active arrays or outgoing transmissions.”

  “Any defences?” Li’ara asked. “No patrols or orbital platforms?”

  Ch’len checked his screen again. “Nothing. It's completely unprotected.”

  “What?” Li’ara didn't believe it.

  Roland added, “It makes sense if it’s supposed to be a big secret. Anyone who miraculously stumbles across this system wouldn't detect any ships or transmissions. They’d have to scan the planet like we have to find the base, and who’s gonna’ scan a world without any land? They’d sail right past. That planet’s an island in the stars.”

  Li’ara raised an eyebrow. “Well if there are no defences up here, you can bet that base is kitted out to repel intruders.”

  Roland heard the familiar sound of heavy feet before the door to the bridge opened. “That’s why we brought him, isn't it?”

  Sef strode into the space between the bounty hunter and Ch’len. The goliath stood perfectly still, staring at the base.

  “Penny for your thoughts…” Roland said casually.

  Sef remained silent for a moment longer. My brothers and sisters are on that planet. I can feel their unique physiology from here.

  “What about any defensive measures?” Li’ara asked.

  I will need to be much closer for that level of detail.

  Roland swivelled in his chair to see Ch’len beyond Sef. “Stealthware active?” A single nod from the small alien told him it was. “Then let’s take a closer look shall we…”

  The Rackham hit the atmosphere and pushed through until the clouds engulfed it. Once inside the protective shell, the viewport gave way to a horizon of stormy waters. Giant waves dominated the surface of the ocean world, with most being several miles in height.

  “It appears there’s been some kind of gravitational hiccup,” Ch’len explained. “These waves aren't natural according to the planet’s solar positioning.”

  “What could cause that?” Li’ara came to stand by the Ch’kara’s console.

  “A Gomar…” Roland commented, dryly.

  Sef looked down at him, but his features were concealed within his black helmet. No thoughts were projected into Roland’s mind and the Gomar returned to staring at the waves.

  “It’s unlikely,” Li’ara replied, scanning the data. “I can't imagine they’ve taken the Gomar out of their Rem-stores.” Li’ara stopped and looked closer at the data. “The atmosphere is breathable…”

  Even Roland knew that couldn't be possible. “There’s no plant life, Red.”

  “I can see that…” Li’ara’s response came through a clenched jaw.

  Ch’len explained, “There are atmospheric scrubbers at both poles. I am really loving these scanners!”

  Roland ignored the alien’s comment and brought up a holographic schematic from a scan of the base. “It looks like there’s only one way in. The platform on the top.”

  “Landing and gaining access is going to be impossible with those waves...” Li’ara had pretty much taken over Ch’len’s console, much to the alien’s dismay. “They get battered every fifteen minutes by a wave that could carry the Rackham away and kill all of us. It might take us longer than that to gain access.”

  Roland looked up at the destructive giant that stood next to him. “I don't think it’ll take that long.”

  Have the Rackham positioned above the platform. I will take care of the rest.

  Roland looked to Li’ara, ensuring that she had not only heard the Gomar but also agreed with him. The red-head gave him a short nod, clearly trusting him more than Roland did. The bounty hunter was just excited to see what spectacle Sef made of it all.

  After informing Ch’len of the plan, the ship was positioned a mile above the platform. They didn't have long before the next wave hit and swallowed them all. Roland used the link in his head to instruct the Rackham to fly above the waves and remain hidden, once they departed. Ch’len would obviously remain onboard, useless as ever in these scenarios.

  The ramp lowered in the hold and the three walked to the edge, pushing against the strong winds. Sef didn't appear to notice the resistance, however. The Gomar stopped at the edge and looked down, to where the base’s platform was barely visible. Again, Roland looked to Li’ara and made sure she was onboard with this part of the plan. The bounty hunter had done something similar in a vacuum, with Esabelle, when they were fleeing Krono Towers on Shandar - it actually proved to be an amazing escape technique. Now they were about to use it as a breaching technique.

  Step off…

  Sef’s words preceded his own step, which took the hulking Gomar beyond the ramp. Roland and Li’ara took a breath and followed him over the edge. The drop was dizzying and the feeling of free falling sent a tingle from Roland’s feet and into his stomach. The bounty hunter tried to keep his body vertical, with his limbs tucked in. Sef dropped quicker than they did and Roland could see the wave approaching, as the Gomar drew ever closer to the platform. A quick glance told of Li’ara’s comfort, or at least her stubbornness to express any discomfort. The air rushed past their ears, preventing any sound of the tumultuous waves from reaching them.

  Sef’s landing was visible from above, due to the dented impact he made on the platform. For just a second, as that was all Roland had, the bounty hunter was concerned that Sef would let them hit the platform with the same kind of velocity. Clearly, the Gomar had slowed his own descent towards the end, but his armour had taken some of the brunt. Roland and Li’ara would be broken in half.

  Finally, both Roland and Li’ara felt the invisible resistance that slowed their descent, and for just a moment, it felt as if they were really flying. Both humans landed on the platform with ease and no broken bones.

  The bounty hunter howled with glee. “We should do that again!”

&nbs
p; Before anyone could reply to the ridiculous comment, four cannons popped out of the platform with incredible speed. The three were instantly surrounded and the cannons unleashed their intrinium without pause. Roland dived to the floor and tucked into a roll, bringing up his Tri-rollers in both hands. Li’ara however, just stood perfectly still without a care. The cannon’s intrinium bolts hammered at an invisible field that surrounded the three intruders. Translucent waves spread out across the field with every blow, but Sef remained in place, with his hands outstretched.

  Roland slowly stood up, realising that his overreaction now appeared somewhat stupid. “How did you know he was going to do that?”

  “Trust…” Li’ara’s smile was unbearable.

  Sef clenched both of his armoured fists and telekinetically crushed the cannons. They imploded in a shower of sparks and miniature explosions.

  The approaching wave blocked out the sun. Roland looked up and saw the Rackham shoot out of the area. He mentally commanded it to activate all stealthware protocols and vanish from sight.

  The Gomar marched towards the other end of the platform and reached out with one hand and made a lifting motion. Roland watched and heard the Translift being wrenched to their level. A flick of Sef’s fingers opened the doors and the three happily stepped inside. It was only a few seconds after the lift dropped into the base that the mighty wave crashed into the facility.

  Doctor’s Bal’s finger hovered over the self-destruct button. After being activated he would have to input his code and verbally command the walls of the installation to explode, killing them all. Gelda, his Atari assistant, stood by his side, frozen in terror, along with the other scientists. There were no guards to protect them, only automated weapons systems. Bal was deflated, aware that those defensive measures had been rigorously tested and that no living Conclave member could survive them.

  But nowhere was Gomar-proof.

  Not an hour earlier had the doctor been contacted by High Charge Uthor and told of the loose Gomar and his human companions. Apparently, a fleet was on the way to assist them, but looking at the progress the intruders were making, Bal knew it wouldn't be in time. He couldn't bring himself to blow up the base, however, and not just because of the great work they were doing, but also because the Trillik just didn't want to die.

  “If they make it to the lab doors… I’ll input my code.” Bal gave the team an apologetic look.

  The red-headed Gomar behind him was still inside her Rem-store, along with the newest test-subject, whom they were yet to prise from their pod. The female had stirred when the base was first attacked, leaving the team no choice but to increase her doses of sedatives. They had been so close to figuring out how to remove the exo-suit; now it would all be for nothing.

  Roland was already promising himself to never go anywhere with a Gomar or a Terran or anyone with special abilities ever again. Besides taking him to some of the worst places the Conclave had to offer, accompanying them into a fight was like marching into battle behind a tank.

  Wait! Sef projected into their mind.

  Roland stopped at the next corner with his Tri-rollers either side of his head. Li’ara’s rifle was still smoking from the fight between them and the never-ending pop-out cannons. Thankfully Sef had disabled most with directed EMPs.

  “What’s wrong?” Li’ara asked, crouching beside Roland.

  The walls are lined with explosives. On every level… Sef sat down on the floor and rested his hands on his knees.

  “What are you doing?” Roland hissed.

  I will disable the bombs, but there are too many for me to continue fighting at the same time. My skills have never required such acute direction. I must concentrate if I am to prevent them all from exploding.

  “Acute direction?” Roland mouthed at Li’ara.

  “Savrick used him, and most of the Gomar, like blunt instruments. Even Kalian has finer control than they do.”

  “Whatever, let’s just get on with it. Shooting machines is boring as fuck!”

  The humans ran on, leaving Sef to deal with the unseen threat of implosion. They had already descended into the bowels of the installation; more than once they came across a terrified scientist, running for cover or trying desperately to seal the door between them. It was clear when they had reached the chamber housing the Gomar.

  “Why is there always a big fuck-off door?” Roland tapped the barrel of his Tri-roller against the shiny surface. “It’s like they’ll never learn that we just don't give a shit.”

  Li’ara raised both her eyebrows in surprise. “And how exactly are we getting through this door?”

  “By being good at what I do!” Roland removed the Terran blade from the base of his back. “I don't keep that methane cloud around for nothing, you know. I’ve always got Len working on my shit… especially after encountering that door at Protocorps.”

  The bounty hunter thrust the base of the hilt into the console beside the heavy door. Black veins sprouted from the end and zig-zagged across the glass screen. The glass cracked where the nanocelium entered the hardware and went to work on gutting the system.

  “This’ll just take a minute…” Roland leaned against the wall.

  The lights inside the console flickered and the inner workings of the door rotated this way and that until a hiss was produced at the seams. It turned out that the door was actually three doors, one layered behind the other.

  Two more cannons dropped out of the ceiling and opened fire immediately.

  Roland dashed to the side of the door, retrieving his Terran hilt, and bringing up one of his Tri-rollers. Li’ara copied his movements on the other side of the door, except she had managed to get a shot off before taking cover. One of the cannons was damaged, unable to rotate and move between targets.

  “There’s just no thrill in blowing these things up!” Roland dived across the threshold and fired both of his guns at once. The intrinium bolts reduced the undamaged cannon to slag, leaving the broken cannon to continue its barrage against the wall. Roland strolled into the lab and casually shot the machine.

  Inside the lab, a Trillik scientist was fervently pressing a solid button on his console and verbally ordering something to self-destruct. The other scientists and a particularly attractive Atari were all cowering at the far end of the room with nowhere to escape. Roland’s assessment of these people was fleeting, due to the centrepiece of the lab. A typically beautiful Gomar was upright, inside her Rem-store, and connected to an array of machines via intravenous lines. Another stood beside her, but still hidden inside their armour and Rem-store.

  Li’ara followed the bounty hunter in. “Well, that was easier than the last place we broke into…”

  Roland cornered the Trillik. “You can't blame the eggheads, Red. They don't know any better! I realise that secret bases are best-kept secret when as few people know about it as possible, but you can't replace grunts with static cannons. They’re just… predictable!”

  Li’ara glanced at Roland, before focusing on the two Gomar. “Didn't your mother teach you not to play with your food?”

  Roland was inches from the terrified Trillik. “Where’s the fun in that?”

  “Where are the other Gomar?” Li’ara asked.

  The Trillik held up his hands and slowly reached for one of the holograms above the console. The glass wall behind him changed from translucent to transparent, revealing the other nine pods.

  “What are you going to do with them?” the Trillik asked.

  Li’ara looked from the pods to the scientist. “We’ll start by waking them up - all of them.”

  “Doctor Bal!” the Atari cried.

  The Trillik raised his hand to silence her. “You can't be serious? You know better than anyone in the Conclave what these monsters are capable of. They destroyed your entire civilisation!”

  “You know how it is Doc,” Roland twirled his gun in the alien’s face, “the enemy of my enemy…”

  All four of Doctor Bal’s black eyes na
rrowed, pulling on his brow. “What does that mean?”

  “It’s… you know…” Roland couldn't be bothered explaining the human phrase. “Just wake -”

  The entire facility shook and the overhead lights flickered on and off.

  “Was that a wave?” Roland asked, looking back at Li’ara.

  Doctor Bal slowly shook his head. “That’s never happened before…” The Trillik started to access the camera feeds around the installation. Roland was sure to keep his Tri-roller aimed at the alien.

  “The bombs?” Li’ara asked with some alarm.

  “No,” the Trillik answered. “Your friend has seen to those apparently.”

  The holographic feed showed a new ship on the platform above. It had no insignia or designation to indicate its purpose.

  “Supply run?” Roland asked.

  Doctor Bal shook his head and his twin-tail coiled around his leg. “We just had one. Besides, it wouldn't explain the tremor.”

  The installation shook again, more violently this time. The lights flickered and the consoles cut out for a second. Roland gripped the scientist by his coat and pressed the Tri-roller into his back, ensuring no attempts at escape. Doctor Bal raised his hands again, before going back to the console. Li’ara looked around the Rem-stores and checked on the other scientists.

  The Trillik gasped, drawing their attention to the holographic screen above the console. Sef was easily identified in his hulking armour, but it wasn't the sight of him that opened a pit in Roland’s stomach.

  Sef was having his ass handed to him by Malekk.

  The infected Terran dented the nanocelium armour with every blow, knocking the Gomar to his knees. Sef fired balls of super-heated plasma into Malekk’s chest, but the Terran absorbed every hit, allowing the plasma to burn away the flesh. Sef slammed his fists into the floor, clearly enraged, and launched his whole body down the corridor. The feed blinked out and the facility shook once again, almost knocking them all off their feet.