by Max Jager
Olive skinned, dark red hair, ears looking like maple leaves, a series of ridges on the bridge of their noses, along with red eyes defined the Selantrian's. They also wore cybernetic implants in their right ears. Selantrian's were a race of "tech's" second only to the androids of Xandrus. These were the people who would set these learned men from earth straight. Matt hoped that professor Strijac didn't manhandle them too much.
After clearing security, they were met at the terminal by professor Strijac's assistant, a female whose red hair was short and very spiky. As a rule, Selantrian's only averaged around five feet however the female who introduced herself as Bejoc.
"Greetings earthlings my name is Bejoc, I am professor Strijac's assistant. He is very anxious to meet all of you, come I have transport. By now, Matt was used to all of it but he snickered to himself as he observed the three men continue to stop and gawk at all they saw around them.
"Are they all right?" Asked Holliqua pointing to the men. With a chuckle, Matt replied.
"Bright lights, big city Holliqua, everything they have always believed is being tested one way or the other as we speak. I guarantee that once we leave here these men will never look at the universe the same way again."
Bejoc directed them to what reminded Matt of a carnival ride. A large disk with incredible soft bench seats in a semi circle. When you sat down you had the feeling that even if the craft were to flip over you would remain in your seat. An even more incredible feeling was that although the conveyance was open, without a roof you felt as though you were completely enclosed. In fact, it seemed to be misting outside but once everyone sat down and the craft rose in the air everything felt completely dry. Once again, they got another ariel view of the city albeit a closer one this time. Until they arrived at the university, all Matt heard was;
"Amazing," "Awesome, simply incredible," "We were wrong, we were simply wrong." As a teaser, Matt leaned over to Doctor Frick.
"Wasn't there an old radio show that spoke of living in a million could-be years, on a thousand may-be worlds?" Frick looked at him,
"To think that when I first received your information I thought it was the work of a hoaxer."
They met professor Strijac at a small reception room, and while Bejoc left to bring refreshments professor greeted Matt first.
"I didn't forget you professor," he said as he began the round of introductions. "This is Doctor Norman Frick, Doctor, Allen Westcott, and Doctor Gary Simmons of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. You told me once that you would like nothing more than to meet some learned people from earth; well here they are." The look in the professor's eyes told Matt all he wanted to know, the professor was simply thrilled to finally meet fellow scientists from earth.
"Please, everyone take a seat, my assistant will be here shortly with refreshments, oh there is so much to discuss." Eventually the conversation had become more technical, Amber opted to stay, but Matt and Holliqua decided to look around a little before rejoining the group.
Chapter 129
Titan Stand Chapter 129
Matt and Holliqua strolled around the campus spending time together, and enjoying the day. They were sitting in in an outdoor café enjoying Selantrian wine when they were approached by three students who began to harangue them.
"You are one of those humans are you not?" Asked one of the male students. Matt didn't say anything at first not sure what these students were up to.
"Who wants to know?" He then asked.
"I am Reenis Poika of the student committee, and I want to know why you are consorting with this Malhazar Whore?" Matt almost came up out of his chair, but Holliqua, sensing trouble at the start, held his arm.
"Please Matt, no. We are guests here, if you make trouble, it would reflect back to professor Strijac." He glared at her but made no effort to stand.
"Murdering assassins is all they are!" shouted the student, with the other two joining in. All the while Holliqua said nothing just glaring daggers at them.
"What's your problem asshole?" Snarled Matt.
"Malhazar's are the scourge of the universe, they should be shunned."
"Is that so?" Snarled Matt, "I take it the three of you are students here at the university?"
"We are," replied the female student, "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Why exactly are they the scourge of the universe?" He calmly asked.
"Because they have murdered thousands of innocent people in their lust for power," she continued to whine.
Holliqua started to protest again but Matt cut her off. He then stared at all three students.
"You know back on my home planet of earth I would expect someone in college to talk shit like you. However, compared to Selantria we're a bunch of morons. Hell! People there don't even realize people like you even exist. I cannot for the life of me figure out how people who are supposedly so smart can be so stupid. Now if you don't mind, we were enjoying a nice afternoon together."
"Are you calling us stupid earthling?" Matt just looked at them and shook his head, turning to Holliqua who was wishing that all of this would just go away.
"I think this kid only proves the fact that intelligence is born into people and not something some professor can teach you." He then turned back to the three students.
"Look, Reenis, or whatever your name is, I don't want to start an intergalactic war between Selantria and earth but if you don't leave us alone I'm going to belt you." The students stepped back in horror as Matt made his threats. Finally, the three muttered something and moved off. As Matt returned to his seat, Holliqua finally spoke up.
"Oh Matt, you don't know how close I came to tearing those little gits apart. If we had been at someplace like Fort Kamata I certainly would have."
"I had an idea that's what it was," he replied. Well like I told them the only reason I didn't kick their asses was because we are guests on their planet."
"Lets leave here," she replied.
The mood had now changed, Holliqua was now back to her glum and moody outlook on things as Matt tried to think of a way to cheer her up.
"They all hate us," she murmured, "Nobody appreciates what we did for them. While they talk, we get in there and get the problem solved." Just for a moment the image of Larry the cable guy and his "Git-R-Done," motto came to his mind forcing a stifled chuckle from his throat.
They continued to wander around for a little while longer with Holliqua getting dirty looks but no one else attempted to bother them.
Eventually making their way back to where they left their friends Gary Simmons spoke for all of them.
"We've been talking with professor Strijac and have all decided to stick around here for a month or so, I hope you don't mind?" Matt looked at Frick and Westcott who were nodding in agreement.
"It's true Matt said Doctor Westcott, the professor wants to put together a symposium dealing with both our worlds, the things we can learn is absolutely astounding."
"So I take it you guys will be staying here for awhile?" Asked Matt.
"If you don't mind," replied Doctor Frick.
"Don't worry about them," quickly added professor Strijac, "I'll see to it they have transportation back to…What is it? Endor?"
After further arrangements were made Amber told Matt,
"You and Holliqua might as well head for the Nora-Lee, I want to check with someone I know about another fuel depot that doesn't charge so much, I'll be along." With that, Matt and Holliqua set off for the university landing area.
"Don't turn around," hissed Holliqua, "But we're being followed."
"Those kids from earlier," he replied.
"No, these are professional's, I can tell. See that alcove just ahead?"
"Yeah."
"Someone is going to jump us, I notice you don't have your gun, do you have a knife?"
"Yeah, it's not a big one but it will cut the shit out of someone."
"Good, get ready, here they come."
Matt
had a Gerber Linerlock in his back pocket, which he reached behind him and flipped it open. At that moment their pursuers made their move but rushing he and Holliqua. While returning from earth Donald Falkner the ex-special forces man taught him a few basic knife moves, although dropping to the ground wasn't one of them. Matt felt the air above him as someone took a swing at what they expected to be someone standing there. Although Matt had surprised them, that surprise didn't last long as they reached down to grab him. For Matt time seemed to stop and his world reduced to just him and whoever it was that was trying to kill him. Lunging up blindly his razor sharp blade slid across what felt like clothing but that was only for a fraction of a second as his knife sunk into flesh.
A loud scream, followed by a renewed attempt to pull him up told him that his knife had done damage. He tried to roll away but something was stopping him. "Fuck!" was all he could think of "This ain't working."
Suddenly a large hand grabbed him by his jacket along with the feeling that his arm was being restrained. When he felt the knife drop from his hand, he knew he was finished. Suddenly a wretched gasp and something warm splattered across his face. Since they were in near darkness, he had no idea what it was.
"Matt! Get away, NOW!" A million things were going through his head, but he could do nothing else but obey.
"It's over, they're dead," came Amber's voice
"What the hell?" He thought, "Where did she come from?"
"Then he felt Holliqua's arms around him,
"You're safe, your safe, oh Matt you're safe."
The area was then revealed by the light in Amber's wrist device. Holliqua checked him over like a regular mother hen while Amber announced.
"Good thing I changed my mind and decided to tag along. Looks like Vel'Takz to me."
"Raiders," added Holliqua, I recognize this one too, names Demjacla, now I have one less counterpart." Looking at their handiwork Matt could see three of them one which Amber had claimed had a snapped neck. The one Holliqua identified as Demjacla was slit from belly to brisket a widening puddle of pinkish blood forming under his body. For some reason the words to a song Matt remembered came to mind.
"The only part that wasn't bloody was the soles of the big man's feet."
"D-did you do that Holliqua?" He stammered.
"All but that cut on his arm," she slowly replied, "Looks like you cut him clear to the bone. That wound alone would have finished practically anyone else, but the Vel'Takz have a high energy reserve, that's what makes them good assassins, however they are but amateurs compared to we Malhazar's. Come, let's leave here immediately."
"Aren't you going to check them for ID?" He asked.
"They won't be carrying anything, come let's hurry."
As they moved quickly towards where the Nora-Lee was sitting a million thoughts raced through Matt's mind. The most pressing were the images of her as he struggled with his attacker. Because it happened in semi darkness, it was hard to see much. But someone was damn sure doing a lot of fancy jumping around.
They wasted no time lifting off with Amber worried that they might very well be attacked.
"They won't risk attacking us out here," said Holliqua, "Too many company security vessel's around. No, they will make another attempt at taking us once we're back on Endor."
"I thought you and your people took care of those damn raiders?" Exclaimed Matt.
"Oh we did," replied Holliqua, her voice sounding testy. "And it would appear that they haven't learned their lesson. That's for another time though, it's clear that the tok's have found new holes to crawl into. Don't worry, we'll root them out, but right now we need fresh intelligence."
"So how do you think they'll come at us?" He asked. Holliqua answered immediately,
"First of all, now that their attempt to snatch us has failed, they will send a specialist, who may, or may not be a Vel'Takz, or even a Diyari. Once we return to Endor we're going to need to alert everybody." She then added,
"You know there might be another way Matt." The tone of her voice alerted him to what she was about to lay on him.
"You know Matt, the Malhazar government might be persuaded to offer Endor its full protection in ways that would take all the fear and worry about what the raiders might do next, are you interested?"
He didn't know whether to cry or punch her in the face.
"God Damn!" He thought, "These people really were like the Godfather and his "offers you couldn't refuse."
"No Holliqua," he stated firmly, "I will never accept an offer like that. If those fucking raiders want to fuck with us we'll give them a fight they will never forget. We earthlings can really get down to the business of mechanized death if we really put our minds to it. If we ever get our hands on a prisoner I'll show you what "waterboarding" is about. In other words, "Fuck with the bull and you get the horns. Thanks for the offer but we'll deal with this in our own way."
"Are you sure?" She started to ask. Matt cut her off with,
"No more Holliqua, that's it, end of discussion, are we clear?"
She said no more so he wasn't sure if she was pissed that he refused her offer or worried that something might happen to them, something she couldn't stop.
They traveled back to Endor without further incident leaving Matt to brood on old anxieties.
"I know she's just trying to help," he thought, "But I don't want to get involved with some alliance with the Malhazar's or be beholden to them in any way."
They arrived back in New Coryville late in the evening; both Matt and Holliqua went looking for Donald Falkner.
"So you're back," how did things go?" Asked Falkner.
"We've got trouble Mr. Falkner," exclaimed Matt. On our way to the ship at the university landing area we were jumped by what Holliqua and Amber say were Raiders. Thanks to Amber and Holliqua here we got away but it's clear that they are hunting for Holliqua and me."
"That's right Mr. Falkner," added Holliqua, these were Vel'Takz assassins. They made no attempt to attack us in space simply because there are too many security forces in this part of the system. However, I fully expect them to make another attempt to grab one or both of us here on Endor. Unfortunately, I will have to leave soon, but I will be happy to offer suggestions as to some form of defense."
It soon turned into a working supper with just about everyone else in town, Rekton, Clath, and Major Morford had gone somewhere, the three people Matt really wished were here. Matt began the meeting with a description of what happened on Selantria and the danger he was now in.
"I really thought all this crap was behind us," he began, "But it looks like these raiders still haven't learned their lesson."
"Do you think they'll try another raid like last time?" Asked Liam. Holliqua answered that one,
"Possibly, but after that failed attempt to snatch us whoever is orchestrating this will know that we are on to them. As for the rest of you, just stay alert for strangers, or anything unusual in the sky, and just stay close to town. Unfortunately, I have to return to Moriedia, for further training, but I guarantee the council will hear of this and steps will be taken." Matt had a pretty good idea of what she meant by that. He also had an idea as well, she wouldn't like it, probably no one would but it was the only way he could think of at the moment to keep the others safe. They talked about Falkner organizing a gun safety and familiarization course and the distribution of the AK's and other weapons stashed in the abandoned Raider craft until everyone started yawning and Falkner called the meeting over.
When only Holliqua, Jezang, Amber, and Falkner were left, Matt explained his plan.
"You guys won't like this, I don't like it either, but it's the only way I can think of to keep the raiders away from Endor. Holliqua, how many energy weapons, and by that, I mean small arms, aboard your ship?" She gave him a puzzled look.
"I don't know seven or eight perhaps, why?"
"Never mind," he replied, I need to borrow them, not to use but for any raider scanners to pick up. The more we have a
board, the less likely they will suspect us of having anything else. I'm also going to need what we call a Faraday cage, a box of some kind where we can store our AK's. Mr. Falkner, are you up to a firefight?"'
"Matt what are you planning on doing?" Exclaimed Holliqua. He knew she would protest but he was ready.
"Look Holliqua, Mr. Falkner, Amber and Jezang are going to do a little trolling in the Nora-Lee. We will not make it too obvious so the raiders will not get suspicious. I want plenty of energy weapons they will pick up with their scanners. They may be suspicious about our weaponry but I'm betting we might be able to get one more chance at it. Amber, didn't you tell me you could tinker with the ships computer so that it looked like we were having engine problems, or even a failing life support system?"