“I should have done better,” Mencari explained. “But that was hard.”
“Life is hard, Rhysus. Get used to it. So … what’s the plan now?”
Mencari felt his eye twitch.
Plan? He’d only thought as far as Toriko’s situation. Then again, one item came to mind.
“Until we have the Eden tech fully in place, our best bet is continuing to scan for Nukari-ship emissions.”
While he spoke, Seigie called up a display, reviewed it, then called up a second, more detailed display. “We definitely have a few patterns. Look.”
The two displays merged into a larger one, with charts and indicators.
“The number of suspicious trails keeps increasing around Argosy. That planet I spotted before our last mission. Remember?” She pointed. “And then, there’s a massive trail here. It’s only moved about half a light-year since first discovered.”
“What do we know about Argosy?” Mencari said, relieved to be on to a new topic.
“Other than the name and some navigation information, not much. But just to be sure …”
She began a quick search. “You found information on my planet at the Trading Post. If you could find Aeun, maybe the link to Eden’s data store has something on Argosy?”
While the computer did the search, he said, “Speaking of your home planet … something I’ve been meaning to mention. When we first met you, you talked about the pain of your transformation. A couple of times now, I’ve seen you react—at least, you seemed in pain—when you had to power a crystal.”
Seigie shrugged and looked away. “I’m nearly a millennium old, Rhysus. Just a twinge of age.”
“Yes, but—”
The display changed before them, showing the relative position of Argosy to their base.
“Not exactly close,” Seigie muttered. “But it’s directly off the main spaceways. This might be a chance to get some real information on the Nukari. We’re not getting much accomplished finding cold trails of where they used to be.”
He shook his head. So you’re not going to talk about it. Okay. “I’ll get the team together and head there. On the way, we’ll give Eyani the mercenary’s journal we acquired on Allia’s world. We know that group was smuggling something for the Nukari. Maybe Eden can figure out exactly what they were up to.” He thought a moment. “Where’s Allia and Ichini?”
Seigie nodded at the mention of their youngest defender and her morphing companion. “They’re either with the meathead practicing in the mines, or with Ujaku.”
Calling up the internal scanner system, Mencari located Naijen and Allia in the mines, and summoned them to the control room.
While they waited, he considered pressing Seigie harder. Seeing her pain brought to mind other times he saw her wincing. He needed to understand what was happening, and what, if anything, could be done about it. He heard the lift opening along with echoes of friendly banter. Whatever was happening with Seigie, she was unlikely to discuss it in front of others. He needed to wait for the right time.
Ujaku’s hearty bellow filled the room long before he reached it. His jovial laugh was as sturdy as his brawny build. Their modern-day blacksmith had brought Nukari leads, craftsmanship in building weapons, and base capabilities. His relationship with Toriko’s family also made him an easy ally.
Naijen followed, with Allia and her creature-companion Ichini in tow. As unlikely as it was, it seemed their youngest defender had a case of hero worship for the musclebound warrior Naijen. While small in stature, the little girl herself made a formidable enemy. Her abilities were made far more intimidating by her glowing eyes, especially in the dark. When combined with her morphing companion, Ichini, the pair was a deadly combination. Despite the creature’s gentle demeanor at the moment, Ichini’s usual form looked ferocious. A mantle of ragged bone protruded from its feline-like face. Its thick coat of shiny, striped fur reminded Mencari of a majestic Siberian tiger.
Better still, the creature could take on many forms at will. Mencari himself fought them when they first met. Despite the early clash, Allia and Ichini had become a key part of his team.
Naijen twirled his bladed weapon, called the Skar, while Allia happily mimicked with her smaller, mace-like weapon, she called the Flower Blade. Among the many battle-earned tattoos covering his body, a new design showed on Naijen’s massive, bulging forearm. It looked as if his bladed Skar had been plunged into a crushed and battered emblem of silvery-blue: the Nukari emblem.
“When did you get that?” Mencari said, motioning.
“Like it?” Naijen said, and flexed. The thick muscles gave the appearance of the blades plunging deeper into their enemy’s symbol. If nothing else, it was creative. “Did it myself.”
Ujaku cleared his throat. “Somebody going to tell me where to put all of these?” His arms overflowed with computer component parts.
While also Toriko’s world, Tericn, catmen appeared more Human than the females. This was especially true in the face, including the understated, almost invisible, pointy ears. Ujaku also preferred some facial fur, sporting a scraggily red beard.
Mencari shook his head saying, “I don’t know where they go. I’d say put them wherever you can.”
“Toriko’s not here?” Ujaku said, peering around the pile in his arms.
“Down in her quarters.” Mencari decided, at the risk of repeating history, to let Toriko tell Ujaku the news herself.
“Oh, sorry, I thought she was here.” Ujaku eased the parts down in the nearest corner.
“Look, Rhysus!” Allia cried, face beaming. The Flower Blade gleamed as she held it high. It sported a new set of curled edges, giving the deadly bloom an even more menacing appearance. “Ujaku finished it just a little while ago!”
“Go ahead,” Ujaku prodded. “Show ’em what it can do.”
Mimicking Naijen’s Skar, Allia grabbed the long shaft and squeezed. Inner blades slid along the outer ones, clinking into place. A longer and deadlier-looking blade gleamed from the very end, bayonet-like.
“That all?” Naijen said with a snort.
Ujaku gave Allia a mock-evil smile. She squeezed the handle again. Another set of blades slung from behind the outer set with a ringing noise. In addition to giving the weapon a more menacing look, Mencari guessed it would also allow her to use the side of the weapon for slashing damage. Naijen grunted with interest this time.
“Nice,” Mencari said.
She squeezed a final time, and the blades extended forward like pincers on an insect. As they clamped shut, Mencari cringed. “Yeowch!”
“Stick, slash, snip!” Allia said with pride.
Mencari watched with amusement as Naijen’s envious eyes locked on the child’s weapon.
Ujaku motioned to Naijen’s bladed Skar and said, “Maybe could do something for yours too. Should be able to do some nice enhancements.”
Naijen gave his typical disinterested shrug, then turned to Mencari. “So waz up? Wuz ’bout ta go practicin’ again.”
Mencari’s expression grew serious. “We’re leaving for another mission.”
The tattooed warrior’s face soured. “Now wha? Gonna go baby-sit someone?”
“There’s a good chance Nukari will be—”
“Heard that before …”
Seigie said, “We found ion trace particles.”
Naijen’s eyes narrowed. “Geek’s that way.” He pointed down the corridor.
“They know they’re there this time,” Allia explained.
Naijen looked her over, then studied the girl’s face. They continued their stare-down a few moments more, before Naijen relented.
“Fine. I’m in. Get my practicin’ there.” He narrowed his eyes. “One way or another.”
At Mencari’s patient smile, Naijen turned and headed toward the hall, calling over his shoulder, “Will meet you in the bay. Don’ make me wait.”
Recalling the encoded logbook taken from the mercenaries back on Allia’s world of Ubunto, Mencari retri
eved it from the cabinet.
Allia said, “Are we all who are going?”
Mencari tried to stifle his look of concern. Seeing it, Seigie scowled and said, “The Nukari might be on Argosy. I’m going too.”
His eyes met hers. How far could she push herself before something bad happened? Something wasn’t right, he could feel it. There was a demanding gleam from those ruby eyes. What was she holding back?
“Fine,” he said.
“What about Toriko and Spark?” Allia interjected, moving between him and Seigie. Perhaps she felt the tension there?
Naijen’s laugh echoed from the hallway. “Without a real weapon, Toriko and the tin can are just target practice.”
While he might have had a point, Mencari wondered if the warrior had seen the upgrades done to Spark.
Allia snickered and poked her head into the corridor. “Hey, I thought you left!”
Mencari heard Naijen’s annoyed mocking of her laughter. Seigie looked to Mencari and said, “Oh, Toriko will come, but I believe she might remain on the station—some business with Eyani.”
“I have plenty to work on here with Osuto,” Ujaku said.
Still waiting for an answer, Allia chastised the warrior yet again. “Naijen! Why are you still out there?”
After a long silence, he responded, “Uh … I never used this lift-thing without someone else before.”
Rolling her eyes, she went to help. A chuckling Ujaku followed.
Grinning, Mencari said, “So, Seigie … as soon as Allia reveals the secret of the lift for Naijen, we’re ready to go?”
She nodded. “A quick check on my lab, and I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll brief Osuto and join you in the bay. If Naijen’s figured out how to get there by then.”
“I heard that!” The warrior’s bellows echoed from down the corridor, followed by Allia’s giggle.
CHAPTER 2:
Auras of Blue
Eyani waited patiently as Mencari’s ship glided down to its place in the landing bay. The ever-watchful, faithful Bob sat by her side. Of all those under Eyani’s care, Mencari and his team were the most impressive, and the closest thing she had to friends. She couldn’t help but smile as the hatch opened.
“Hey Eyani, Bob!” Allia said, bounding out of the craft with Ichini. The girl’s infectious joy always brought a smile to Eyani’s face.
“Greetings and salutations, Allia.” Bob mimicked her cheery tone, antennae perking up.
Mencari handed the logbook to Eyani. “This is what I mentioned before. We found it on Allia’s world….”
Eyani had turned her attention to the sullen Toriko as she emerged from the ship.
“Toriko,” Eyani said respectfully, before waving to Bob and one of the guards wearing tan shirts with the thick black sash.
“Eyani,” Toriko said.
“Please follow Bob. He will take you to Professor Xabier. Please accept my deepest condolences.”
“Thank you,” Toriko said with a quiet nod. Bob swirled and skittered into the corridor, Toriko close behind.
Guilt burned within Eyani. It was never easy to see someone struggle with the loss of loved ones. She counted her blessings in only experiencing it once herself. Of course, her career required a level of personal isolation that prevented her from ever getting too close, or having to relive that experience.
She returned her attention to the mercenary log. After a quick look at the cover and spine, she tucked it under her arm. For the moment, there was business to be done. Nodding at Mencari, she said, “I’ll get this to our specialists. In the meantime …”
She drew a new communicator from her pocket and handed it to him. “While the old one is working fine, our techs have added a few more features to this one.”
He fumbled, taking the old one off, and jested, “Does this one open up other space stations too?”
Was that a dig at her? She hadn’t been honest with him on that last mission to the science station. She and Tenrl weren’t 100% sure Mencari could be trusted—not until after that mission.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more upfront before, Rhysus,” she said.
“I’m teasing … mostly. So what does this one do different?”
“Masks signals, better bandwidth, and it has the latest holographic projector too. We have one for everybody.”
She motioned to Bob, who went over and delivered versions to the others.
“If there’s any problem with them, let me know,” she said. “They use their own frequencies, so you can talk among yourselves as well.”
She hoped this wouldn’t appear as an attempt to be invasive into their internal discussions. While it would be handy, that wasn’t an objective of hers.
Mencari had requested information on a world they were investigating. She was supposed to see what she could find, but only had time to verify they had information available.
“I checked on the world you mentioned,” she said. “Talk to the clerk at the cultural repository on the Antar Deck. He can give you the updates you need.”
Mencari nodded. “Thanks.”
“I’ll let you know the minute we decipher anything from this log. I also checked your communicator, and it’s still working fine. We don’t have detailed data on Argosy’s creatures and population. I am looking forward to updates.” Her eyes narrowed. “Especially about our mutual adversary.”
* * * * *
“Over there.” Mencari pointed to a sign marking their target.
All this running was getting on Naijen’s nerves. Maybe next time he’d just stay back on the ship. Or maybe there was a place he could spar or something. Anythin’s better than runnin’ errands with ‘the family.’ He scowled, annoyed at having to wade through the thick crowd.
“Wait here for me,” Mencari said.
Glad to.
He watched Mencari approach a clerk. While Mencari did whatever he was doing, Naijen looked around the crowded corridor. It was chaos, people lumbering mindless about.
Aimless, miserable little lives, he thought. None of them seemed to have a purpose, other than taking up space and precious resources. The longer he stared about, the more the scene disgusted him. It would take him seconds to cut them all down. Not one looked like any kind of a challenge.
“We’re done,” Mencari said, passing by and heading back the way they came.
“About time,” Naijen snarled. A patron screeched in anger as Naijen batted it out of the way.
He didn’t care. He had no patience or time for those he didn’t respect. And herders were meant to be eaten, not minded.
The thought led his eyes to Mencari. So why follow him? Why?
Mencari wasn’t like the rest of the flock milling about. No, there was something—a lotta something—about him. Maybe their esteemed “leader” couldn’t survive a frontal assault from Naijen’s Skar, but powered up, Mencari was dangerous. The warrior had seen it with his own eyes countless times now. Somehow Mencari always found a way to up the ante—when he needed. Just how powerful was he really?
Naijen broke into a toothy grin that stretched from ear to ear. Yeah, he looked forward to finding out—and then learning how to do it too.
* * * * *
“Were you waiting for us?” Mencari said, surprised at seeing Eyani leaning up against their ship. There was something about her, a look in her eyes, which alarmed him. “Is something wrong?”
She hesitated. Now he knew something was up.
“Actually,” Eyani stammered, “there’s a development I’d like to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s talk somewhere more private,” she said, motioning.
He knew “somewhere” meant Eden.
“Another con-frince?” Naijen spat. After a huff he added, “Make it interestin’ like the last time.”
Eyani led them through bustling corridors, into an abandoned area, down a dark, narrowing hall, to a mammoth door in the bulkhead. Uniformed guards stood with hand
weapons bared on either side, and those weren’t the only changes. Small domes pocketed the walls near the door; some resembled the glass shields concealing cameras used in public stores, others looked like holographic emitters, and still others had short muzzles like pulse rifles. Perhaps they were taking a station invasion by the Nukari more seriously, Mencari wondered. Or maybe they’d found a way to protect themselves from the same radiation attack that killed everyone aboard their sister station.
After the deep thumps and the sound of grinding metal, a familiar chamber opened before them. The hulking sloth-man known as Tenrl greeted them inside.
“Commander,” Mencari said.
A large, furry smile crossed Tenrl’s furry face. “Actually, it’s ‘Colonel’ now.” Tenrl joined Eyani in escorting them toward the glass conference room.
“Congratulations,” Mencari said.
“Eyani was also promoted.”
Mencari looked over to congratulate her. Despite her lavender scales, he could swear she was blushing. He realized he never knew what position Eyani held before, just that she worked for Eden.
“So what does that make you now?” Mencari said.
“Commander,” she responded. “I was promoted into the colonel’s old position.”
“What you did with our sister station certainly contributed,” Tenrl said.
“Well, the universe might not know it, but we’re at war,” Eyani said as they entered the conference room. “Promotions tend to happen a bit faster in these situations.”
“Regardless, what you’ve accomplished is impressive,” Mencari said. “Something that’s been noticed.”
“We’ve been fortunate the Nukari haven’t pulled out their armada yet,” Eyani said, deflecting. “Not that finding them embedded across many worlds instead makes them easier to deal with.”
“It gives us time,” Tenrl reminded her.
“They have thrown something new at us, though,” Eyani said. They entered the conference room of glass. Holographic projections splashed across the walls. This transformed it into a full-blown war room. Looking across the displays, he recognized the planets and people.
D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology Page 34