by T. R. Harris
And two: she couldn’t be outsmarted.
With that stark—and depressing—reality staring him the face, Adam smiled, feeling relief that all the signs kept pointing to the same conclusion.
He would have to escape on his own.
And the sooner the better. He was sure Riyad wasn’t sitting around twiddling his thumbs. It was only a matter of time before his best friend would make the fateful mistake that could cost him his life—and the lives of all who followed him.
Adam Cain wasn’t about to let that happen.
Adam Cain is an alien with an attitude.
His adventures continue….
Chapter 1
Riyad Tarazi was a man in a hurry.
He was also a man with a shit-eating grin on his face.
This was more than he’d expected. His friend Andy Tobias, the Admiral of the Fleet, had really come through this time…and now Riyad was gazing upon the meanest-looking personal starship he’d ever seen.
Officially classified as a Mark IV hybrid, she was a beauty, measuring a hundred meters from stem to stern and thirty at the beam, painted black with a swath of silver running along both sides. The sloping pilothouse had two forward-facing viewports separated by a narrow panel. Along each side of the hull was a huge gravity generator, rising above the main fuselage and rounded on top, before tapering down to a point toward the stern.
With a glow of light escaping through the twin viewports, the sleek vessel reminded Riyad of a yellow-eyed panther—head down silently stalking its prey, its haunches risen high above its body, rippling with muscle.
And this ship had plenty of muscle. According to the tech reports, it could reach an unbelievable nine hundred light, meaning under perfect conditions it could make the transit from Earth to the Galactic Core—a distance of around twenty-eight thousand light-years—in an astonishing thirty-three hours. Of course, that was a theoretical speed. There were too many annoying gravity influences along the way for him to really open her up.
But above the galactic plane…well, that was another story.
Looking at the ship, two words came to Riyad, and his beautiful new starship had her name: the Najmah Fahd, the Star Panther.
He needed a ship like this—a prototype—if he was to cover all his bases in the search for the mutant alien Panur, and do it in time to save Adam. His best friend was living on borrowed time. How much longer the Queen would find him entertaining was anyone’s guess, so it was imperative he found Panur as soon as possible. No one else in the galaxy knew how to access the Sol-Kor universe other than him. The mutant had invented the trans-dimensional transport portal in the first place, and Riyad had no doubt he could figure a way to get him and the rescue team back over to the other side.
That was assuming Panur would help. That outcome was still in question. But he had to be found first, and that wasn’t going to be easy, not in a galaxy as big as the Milky Way.
With the Najmah Fayd, Admiral Tobias had just helped Riyad cut the galaxy down to size, making it possible for him to cover more territory in less time.
Yet as a caveat to that, Tobias had also left no doubt in Riyad’s mind that there were forces opposed to his mission’s success, people who were content with letting the mutant genius stay where he was. They didn’t want to risk opening another channel to the Sol-Kor universe, one which they believed could be used to let the SK’s back into the Milky Way. He would have to be on guard.
Initially, he would take the newly christened Najmah Fayd out alone on his way to the planet Formil to meet with their disgraced Speaker to the Gods, Arieel Bol. She had information he needed, as well as a unique link to Panur’s companion, Arieel and Adam’s daughter, Lila. But this was just the starting point. He knew there would be many more stops along the way if he were to find the hiding place of the elusive alien mutant.
If all went well—and that was assuming a lot—he would return to California with Panur, to the grounds of the former Travis Air Force Base, where a new strike team was being assembled.
Riyad didn’t know how Panur would get them into the Sol-Kor universe, or if he’d even help at all. Yet if he did, it could be as simple as tweaking the TD-portal they already had back at Travis. Or he could come up with some completely new.
Or…none of the above. Riyad was operating in the dark.
As it neared midnight in Phoenix, Riyad prepared to step aboard his Mark IV hybrid prototype for the first time. The craft was sequestered within a super-secret area of the Union Developmental Technology Section outside the city, and he was the only person on the tarmac at the moment. The sky was clear and his spirits were soaring. He stretched out one of his trademark brilliant white smiles, soaking in the entire experience. No matter the odds against his mission succeeding, at least this part of his next exciting adventure was getting off to a great start…
********
The moment Riyad stepped through the hatch, he knew something was wrong. It took only a breath for him to identify the source of his unease, and when he did he was livid. This was a complication he didn’t need.
“Sherri! Where the hell are you?”
“Back here, claiming one of these staterooms. Damn, they’re nice.”
Riyad followed the scent of the perfume aft to one of the four staterooms, and was immediately presented with a pair of well-rounded hips wrapped in a form-fitting pink velour jumpsuit staring up at him in all their feminine glory. The woman finished placing a box under the bed before standing and turning to face him.
“Perfume a little too strong?” Sherri Valentine asked with a smile. “You always had a keen sense of smell.”
Riyad was at a loss for words. Sherri’s brilliant blue eyes seemed to glow above her high cheekbones; her tan skin stood in healthy contrast to the cascade of wavy blonde hair reaching to just below her shoulders. She was a beautiful woman, that he had to admit, but this was not the time to let himself get distracted.
“What…what the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m here to help.”
“I didn’t ask for any help.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. You obviously aren’t thinking straight if you believe you can pull off a mission like this all by yourself.”
“Mission? Myself? How do you even know about my mission?”
“I still have my sources, sweetheart.” Then her face turned serious. “And this is about Adam. You wouldn’t expect me to sit this one out, now would you?”
“I would, and I did. You’re married now, and with a kid.”
“Married, no...miscarriage, yes.”
Riyad was taken aback. He also had his sources, yet this was the first he’d heard of his ex-girlfriend’s divorce…and miscarriage.
“I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard. What happened?”
“Fate, I guess. But the doctors say I can still have children. And about Ricky—dude, he was a friggin real estate agent!” She rolled her eyes. “We’re talking boring with a capital ‘B.’ All he ever talked about was location, amenities, and how much square footage something has.” She cast Riyad a sexy twinkle in her eye. “Not like my two favorite galaxy-hopping alien assassins. C’mon, Riyad, a girl has to have her standards.”
Riyad shook his head. “No…this isn’t going to happen. I’m headed for Formil to get Arieel’s help. The last thing I need is for the two of you to get in a catfight over Adam again.”
“Give me some credit, Riyad. I’m over him—and you too for that matter. All I want is to help, and maybe relive some of the old glory, the old adventure. I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
Riyad couldn’t help himself. “You’ve held up pretty well from what I can see.”
“You really think so?” Sherri beamed, while reaching for the zipper of her form-fitting, powder-pink outfit. Slowing, she began to pull down on the metal tab, revealing a generous helping of tanned cleavage.
Riyad’s jaw fell open…just as Sherri promptly re-zipped the garment.
&nbs
p; “Men…you’re so gullible.”
Riyad shook himself out of the trance. No matter how appealing she could be—at times—nobody liked Sherri Valentine, for a variety of reasons. He’d asked around. The sentiment was universal.
“No way. You’re too much of a distraction.”
“Tough lucky, buddy, you’re stuck with me. You might take a closer look at the requisition papers for this tub we’re in. They’re countersigned by Fleet Secretary Arness.”
“So what?”
“My ex sold him his house…and now his wife and I are BFF’s. You’ll see I’m listed as a co-signer on the release docs. You ain’t taking this ship nowhere without my permission.”
And that was why no one liked Sherri Valentine.
“I thought you didn’t want to live this type of life anymore?”
Sherri sat down on the edge of the bed as the smile ran away from her face. “We’re talking about Adam. He’s trapped in another universe, being held captive by a horde of flesh-eating aliens. The thought of him being stuck on the end of a Sol-Kor fork is just too much. I know you’re determined to get him back, and, well, so am I. You have to admit, my motives are pure. No one loves Adam Cain more than I do.”
Riyad studied her face. “Are you sure about this? There’s no guarantee of success.”
“I know, but it sure beats sitting around here doing nothing…or letting others fight the battles for me. And besides, you know I got skills.” The sly smile returned.
“Rusty skills…but yes.”
“I’ve been staying in practice. I won’t let you down.”
Riyad stared into Sherri’s hypnotic blue eyes and saw both sorrow and determination. He nodded. “Fine, you can tag along. But promise me that you and Arieel will try to get along. On top of everything else, I don’t need the two of you going all supernova on me.”
“It won’t be me going supernova, Riyad, that I promise. As for that alien bitch, I can’t vouch for her.”
Riyad felt a shiver run down his spine.
And so it begins…
Chapter 2
Overlord Ranor D’inos was confused. He had been called into the Elder’s presence to be assigned a task, and as yet, fifteen minutes after his arrival, he still hadn’t been informed what that task was to be. Yes, the information that had been divulged to this point was interesting, yet he failed to see how it was relevant to him.
“Yes, of course,” Ranor acknowledged. “I have heard of this mutant Panur. Most within the higher echelons of the Juirean government have heard of him. He has been the catalyst for Sol-Kor technological advances for several millennia—if the stories are to be believed. He is also the inventor of the trans-dimensional portal and the diamond crystal array detector, which to me appear to be in conflict with each other. He builds portals so the invaders can enter our space, and then a detector so they can be shut down? That does not make sense.”
Elder Synnoc nodded. He was a new Elder, having held the post for less than ten standard years. Yet despite his relatively short tenure, Synnoc had reigned during some of the most turbulent times in Juirean history. He’d assumed his station upon the death of Elder Wydor, while the Juirean people were still in the process of returning to their ancestral home of Juir after their forced exile.
It had been a traumatic time for their race, struggling to accept the destruction caused to their homeworld after the savage Kracori dropped an asteroid onto the planet’s once pristine surface. Nearly all traces of the planet’s once glorious civilization had been wiped out, even as imposters moved onto the world to assume control of what was left of their once all-powerful empire. The Juireans had created the Expansion from nothing, and then had to endure upstarts from the Far Arm playing at being the leaders of the galaxy.
Synnoc had been the Elder during all this time. When the Humans abdicated authority over the Expansion, he had been there to help lead his people back to their rightful place atop the empire they created.
And then came the Sol-Kor.
These mindless aliens were proving to be even a worse menace than the Humans, Kracori, and Klin combined. They cared nothing for alliances or colonization. They sought only food, eating advanced species such as the Juireans, as well as others. Facing this common threat, the civilizations of the galaxy had united, at least as much as was possible given their differences and volatile histories.
Elder Synnoc had presided over all this, and now he was asking for input on a matter of the utmost importance from his senior Overlord.
“The creature Panur is indeed an enigma, yet it is a fact that he has bonded more with the Humans than he has with any other race in the galaxy. As a result, he is a threat to us.”
Ranor frowned. “I thought we were at peace with the Humans?”
“A relative peace, brought about only by necessity. There can never be lasting relations between our two civilizations.”
“Why is that, Elder Synnoc?”
“Because we are too much alike.” Seeing the confusion on Ranor’s face, the Elder continued: “We covet the same things, Overlord. We are both of a similar background—the so-called savages among the enlightened, the more advanced.”
“I am confused.”
“Like us, the Humans have used the technology of the Klin to further their purposes. As a student of history, I have found that it is often the more scientifically-advanced races who are the most vulnerable. They often fail to see the full potential for their technologies, leaving that to the more primitive, pragmatic species, such as us and the Humans. Our two species have retained our animalistic traits, and use scientific advancement to supplement our primitive, warlike nature. As two civilizations with the same drive and instinct, it is only a matter of time before we clash again.”
“No offense, my Elder, but I fail to see the significance in the history lesson you have just given me.”
Synnoc grinned, keeping his teeth hidden by thin lips. “Please indulge the ramblings of a Juirean at the pinnacle of power, Overlord Ranor.”
“Of course. Forgive me.”
“The reason I tell you this is to preface what I believe to be a new threat to the Expansion.”
“What is that, my Elder?”
“A renewed partnership between the Humans and the mutant Panur.”
“I was under the impression he had vanished and is no longer a factor in galactic affairs.”
“That remains to be seen. The dynamic within the galaxy has changed quite recently. Even though we have regained control of the Expansion, thousands of major and minor members still view the Humans as the superior race within the galaxy.”
Ranor opened his mouth to protest, but a raised hand by the Elder silenced him.
“Yes, I know this is not so from our viewpoint, but nonetheless it is the opinion of a majority of the members.”
“They are not advocating returning leadership to the Humans?”
“No…not yet. However, they see recent developments as showing the prowess of the Humans and the ineptitude of the Juireans.”
“My Elder!”
“Consider…it was the Humans who recently destroyed the master portal in the Sol-Kor universe, thereby stopping all new enemy vessels from entering our space. Then there was the collaboration between Panur and the Humans to build the portal detector. And it is their fleets, along with the Panur-designed beam neutralizer, that is doing the most damage to the remaining Sol-Kor forces in our galaxy. And now to add even more credence to the belief, it was a band of Humans who recently assassinated the Eternal Queen. Even though another has taken her place, the feat itself was noteworthy. Because of all this, we Juireans are losing our…our aura, so to speak.”
“What can be done to restore our prestige, our legend?”
“I am still working on that answer. However, the reason you have been summoned this day is to help mitigate any further damage to our reputation.”
“How can I help?”
“Are you familiar with a Human named Riyad
Tarazi?”
“Of course, my Elder. He is one of the notorious operatives working alongside the criminal Adam Cain.”
“Our sources within the Human government tell us Riyad Tarazi is mounting a mission to seek out the mutant Panur.”
“Is that possible…I mean that he can be found? Surely the odds must be high against such a thing?”
This time the smile on the Elder’s face nearly broke the display of teeth taboo. “If there is one thing I have learned about Humans, it is that they can never be underestimated, no matter the odds against them. I believe there is a very good possibility the Human will be able to locate Panur, and once that is done, convince him to assist the Humans again, if only initially in their attempt to rescue Adam Cain from Sol-Kor space.”
“Yes, I am aware of the stories of Cain’s capture.”
“It is believed that a new union between the Humans and the mutant could result in advances in technology that could threaten us, if the Humans decide to turn such technologies upon us. Being mirror images of each another, it is enviable for the Humans that they would do this. It is what we would do.”
“So Tarazi’s efforts must be stopped.”
“Precisely. However, the long-term threat would still remain, and that is the continued existence of Panur. Therefore, the mutant must be destroyed.”
Again Ranor frowned. “I was under the impression he could not be killed?”
“He cannot, but we believe he can be neutralized.”
“How, my Elder?”
“I will detail that in a moment. For the first phase of the operation, you will be tasked with only tracking Tarazi, not stopping him, until he finds the mutant. At that point, the next phase of our plan will be put into motion.”
“We can track his movements?”
“Yes, we can. You may find it hard to believe, Ranor, but we are being assisted in our efforts by forces within the Human government itself.”