by G J Ogden
Hudson and Liberty were frozen in fear and awe, as the ship lifted higher and higher, the noise from its power core rising in time with its altitude. And then its engines glowed brighter, and it sped away over the horizon, disappearing into the night.
CHAPTER 26
Neither Hudson nor Liberty said a word for several minutes. At first, they just rested on the dirt, gasping for breath, trying to feed their brains with enough oxygen to process what had happened. However, there were no words that could aptly describe what they’d just witnessed. To talk about it would almost seem to diminish the magnitude of the event. Yet Hudson knew that he and Liberty had to face up to it soon, and more importantly, decide what to do next. Humanity may have come to terms with the notion of other worlds and broken alien starships, but this was another matter entirely. There was a universe of difference between crashed hulks on distant, empty worlds, and a living alien threat.
Hudson knew it was an assumption to believe the alien ship posed a danger. Nevertheless, of all the sensations that had flooded through his body upon seeing the vessel take off, terror was by far the most deep rooted of them.
“What should we do now?” asked Liberty.
She hadn’t sounded panicked or even afraid, but her voice still came across as unusually cheerless. It was also an interesting first question, Hudson thought, and not the one he had expected from her. He’d anticipated questions centered on what the ship was, where it might be going, how it operated… But her actual question had been the right one to ask. It was just unfortunate that Hudson had no clue how to answer.
“I think we’d better get off this rock, as quickly as we can,” he replied, thinking discretion was the better part of valor. He looked over at her, seeing the same apprehension behind her eyes that he was sure shone in his own. “I don’t really want to still be around if it decides to come back and find out who woke it up.”
Liberty nodded, and neither of them spoke again for a few seconds. Both were keenly watching the horizon but, bar the gradual flow of wispy clouds, it was still. If it hadn’t been for the crater left behind, Hudson could have almost believed that the alien ship had never existed.
“What happened in there?” asked Liberty. Unlike her outburst inside the alien ship, this time the question hadn’t sounded like an accusation.
Hudson sighed and shook his head. He could describe the events as they unfolded, but he didn’t have an explanation for any of it.
“I found a sphere; like the one you dug out of that drone, except bigger,” Hudson began. “It was hooked into the ship like the thing we saw on Bach Two, where Cutler jumped us. But it was also different. The metal on the outside was flexible, like fabric.” He was struggling to articulate it in a way that didn’t sound dumb, but Liberty didn’t question him, and continued to listen with intense interest. “And then inside, it was almost fluid. Amorphous. I touched something, and it came… alive.”
“Alive?” repeated Liberty.
“That’s the only way I can describe it,” replied Hudson. “But there was no cockpit inside the ship, and no instruments or console screens. Hell, there weren’t even any damn chairs. I can’t explain it.”
Liberty exhaled and then frowned, but it was a look of deep concentration, rather than confusion or skepticism. Hudson had learned to recognize her different looks by now. “A living ship. But inorganic,” she offered. Then she looked up at Hudson, and added. “An artificial intelligence?”
Hudson sucked in his lips and shrugged, “It’s as good a guess as any.”
Hudson’s answer, though non-committal, since he couldn’t confirm Liberty’s suspicion one way or another, seemed to rally her spirits. However, almost as quickly as her vitality had returned, it ebbed again.
“Do you think…” she began, but then hesitated, swallowing hard, before continuing. “Do you think it might be hostile?”
This had been the question that burned inside Hudson’s mind since the moment the spherical object had burst into life. Assuming it was alive.
“We have to consider that possibility,” Hudson answered. He decided that honesty was preferable to making Liberty feel better with a comforting piece of conjecture. “But I’ve never believed that these alien wrecks just crashed by accident. Something must have taken them all down, and that something wasn’t friendly.” Then he turned around, slowly taking in the landscape of the breathtaking new world again. “Humanity has hopped from portal to portal, world to world, for so long that it was only a matter of time before our luck ran out. Maybe we’ve finally caught up with whatever caused all this destruction in the first place.”
“I was kind of just looking for a reassuring lie, if I’m honest,” said Liberty, with a weak smile. “But I guess burying our heads in the sand isn’t going to help either of us.”
“Well, whatever it was, I know that I don’t want to be here if it comes back,” said Hudson, turning back to the Orion. Liberty followed a couple of paces behind, but then the sky cracked like thunder. They both peered up, urgently trying to locate what had caused the noise.
“Is it the alien ship?” asked Liberty, spinning on her heels.
Hudson too was wheeling around, but then he spotted the source of the sonic boom. It was a ship, but it wasn’t the alien shuttle. He recognized the shape immediately as an RGF Patrol Craft. And it wasn’t alone; pursuing it was a much larger CET Gunboat.
“We’ve got company, but it’s not aliens,” said Hudson, pointing up into the sky. “I almost wish it was, but it’s worse.”
Liberty glanced up to the area of sky where Hudson was pointing and spotted the two ships. She pressed her hands to her hips and shook her head. “You have got to be kidding me…”
CHAPTER 27
The RGF Patrol Craft circled around Hudson and Liberty, as they waited beside the Orion. Then a voice blared out over the public address system from the ship. “Relic hunter crew, hold your position. Do not attempt to depart or you will be fired upon.”
“I guess that answers our question about whether or not to get out of here,” said Liberty, still with her hands on her hips.
Hudson didn’t answer; there was something about the voice he found familiar, and it gave him a sinking feeling.
The patrol craft landed first, setting down about twenty meters from the Orion, while the much larger CET Gunboat descended further away. Even so, the downdraught from its landing thrusters still almost knocked them from their feet.
“Do we tell them about the alien ship?” asked Liberty, as the rear ramp of the RGF Patrol Craft lowered.
“I wouldn’t tell those RGF bastards anything,” replied Hudson, “especially not about our score.”
“But they can’t tax us, can they?” asked Liberty. From the incredulous tone of her voice, Hudson knew she had only just considered that possibility. In contrast, it was the first thought Hudson had after seeing the Patrol Craft in the sky.
“I have no doubt they will try, but we stick to our guns, okay?” said Hudson, and Liberty nodded. “As for the alien ship, let’s see if we can get a chance to speak to the CET captain alone. Assuming he’s not a massively stuck-up asshole, that is.”
“How likely is that?” asked Liberty.
Hudson laughed, “I guess you’ve not met many CET captains?”
The condescending tone didn’t sit well with Liberty. “You know, they don’t tend to frequent boneyards, unlike washed-out, ex-RGF cops, anyway…”
Hudson smiled and nudged her with his elbow, “Ouch, that one hurt.” However, his jocular mood soon soured when he saw who was approaching out of the back of the patrol craft.
“I don’t believe it,” groaned Liberty, who had evidently also seen the RGF officer approaching. “What is it with this guy?”
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Hudson Powell,” said Logan Griff, stopping a few meters in front of them. Then his eyes flicked over to Liberty. He looked her up and down, stroking his wiry moustache with his forefinger and thumb as he did so. �
�And the delectable Liberty Devan. It’s nice to see you again…” he added, as his eyes washed over her for a second time.
“The feeling isn’t mutual,” replied Liberty, “and if you don’t take your filthy eyes off me, I’m going to gouge them out of your thick skull.”
Griff’s expression hardened, “One day, you’ll regret talking to me like that, girl,” he growled, before turning back to Hudson. “I’ve been following your progress with interest, rook. I’ve never seen anyone evade Cutler’s grasp for so long. I’m almost impressed.”
“I don’t care what you think, shit head,” replied Hudson, sharply. “Now what do you want? Because we were about to leave.”
Griff tutted and wagged a finger at Hudson. “Oh no, I’m afraid not. I first need to take a look in your hold, and see what untaxed relics you’ve taken from the lovely new wreck you discovered.” Then he slow-clapped, sarcastically. “Well done, by the way. You’re going to be the most famous dead relic hunter in the galaxy, once Cutler catches up with you again.”
Hudson stepped up to Griff, and jabbed a finger into his sternum, making him stagger back. “You need to hire a better hitman. Or have the guts to face me yourself.” Griff’s hand went to his sidearm, but Hudson quickly pulled back the lapel of his leather jacket to reveal the pistol. “I wouldn’t try that, if I were you.”
“You can’t stop me from taking your score, rook,” said Griff, growing angrier by the second. You’re a licensed hunter. You owe a percentage to the RGF, whether you like it or not. And you can’t stop me taking my slice too.”
Hudson gestured to the landscape surrounding them. “I don’t see any checkpoint scanners, asshole,” he said. Then he peered into Griff’s eyes again, “And I don’t give a shit if you’re RGF, CET or Santa Claus himself. You set one foot in my ship, and you’ll walk out again on crutches.”
The scrunch of bootsteps on the gravelly soil interrupted their bitter exchange. Hudson glanced past Griff to see two CET military officers approaching.
Griff quickly looked behind and spotted them too, before glowering back at Hudson. “We’ll see about that, rook,” he snarled, as he backed away, and waited for the CET officers to come alongside.
Liberty moved up next to Hudson, watching the two CET officers closely. “What do you reckon? Is he a massively stuck-up asshole captain or not?”
“Oh, shit…” Hudson answered, drawing an inquisitive frown from Liberty. “We are honored,” he added, glancing back at her. “There’s not just a captain, but a full-blown commodore too.”
The CET officers strode past Griff without even acknowledging him. And from the look on Griff’s gaunt, lined face, it was clear he’d taken offence. The older of the two officers then approached Hudson and stretched out his hand. He was a late middle-aged man, with short, brown hair that was tinged silver at the tips around his ears. Hudson could judge something about a person by how they moved. And unlike Logan Griff, whose lanky gait and slippery persona showed in the way he seemed to ooze from place to place, the commodore’s movement flowed openly and organically. He lacked the regimental stiffness that most of the CET officers Hudson had met seemed to possess.
“I’m Commodore Elias Trent, from the Coalition of Earth Territories central command,” the man announced as Hudson took his hand and shook it. Then he indicated to the VCX-110 behind them. “I assume you are Captain Hudson of the Orion?”
“Co-captain, actually,” said Hudson, looking at Liberty. “I’m Hudson Powell, and this is Liberty Devan.”
Commodore Trent appeared embarrassed and immediately offered a hand to Liberty. “Apologies, I should not have presumed,” he said, sounding genuinely repentant.
Liberty took the hand that was offered. “No, you shouldn’t have, but apology accepted, thank you.”
Trent smiled and then addressed them both. “Well, congratulations are in order,” he said, taking a long look at the planet’s striking scenery. “The first new portal and portal world discovered in over sixty years. Quite remarkable; I never thought I would stand on a brand-new world in my lifetime.”
Hudson smiled, finding himself actually liking the commodore, which was unexpected. “I don’t think anyone did, least of all us. I also didn’t expect a commodore to be greeting us.”
Trent laughed, “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, or any worlds,” he said. Then he pointed to the gunboat in the distance. “So, I commandeered the fastest ship I could get hold of and came out as quickly as I could.” Then he rubbed his neck and added, “Though I’m getting a little old for sustained high-g travel, these days.”
Griff now stepped forward again, “I hate to break up this lovely moment, but can we return to the matter at hand? Namely, how did these two degenerates find the portal that led here.”
Trent looked at Griff as if he was a raw recruit that had just forgotten to salute. “A question that is of no concern to the Relic Guardian Force, corporal,” he said, sternly. “Your role here is simply to survey the site, map the perimeter for the checkpoint district, and secure the wreck.” Griff stared back at Trent with similar contempt, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. A commodore enjoyed broad authority, and since this new world fell under the jurisdiction of the CET, the planet was effectively under the governorship of Trent. “It will be another four days before the engineering crews arrive to begin construction of the settlement. In that time, the RGF’s role is simply to prevent the wreck from being looted.”
Griff's face reddened, but he bit his tongue, before turning from Trent to Hudson. “Speaking of looting, we need to inspect and recover the relics that these two have already stolen.”
Griff took a step towards the Orion, but Trent raised his arm to bar his progress. “You will do no such thing,” said Trent. Hudson was grateful for his intervention, because a second later and he would have blocked Griff’s path himself, but with far less restraint than Trent had shown. “The tradition is to allow those who discover a new wreck first-finder rights. Whatever they have already found will not be taxed by the CET,” then he paused and added with more gravitas, “or the Relic Guardian Force.”
“You don’t have the authority…” Griff began, but then he stopped, realizing his mistake.
Trent turned and squared off against the lanky RGF officer. Hudson realized then that Trent was almost as tall as Griff, but at least two weight classes above him, making Griff look weedy in comparison. “Yes, I do,” he said smoothly. Then he read the name badge on Griff's jacket. “Now, Corporal Logan Griff, you will attend to your duties, and bother this hunter crew no more, or I will be speaking to your superiors. Is that understood?”
Griff gritted his teeth, biting down hard to stop himself from saying something he’d surely regret. Then he backed away, jabbing a nicotine-stained finger at Hudson. “I’ll see you soon,” he snarled, before glancing at Liberty and blowing her a kiss. If it hadn’t been for the fact that Griff’s back had already been turned, Hudson was sure Liberty would have somersaulted over the top of Trent’s head and stomped Griff’s smug face into the dirt.
“My apologies for the rudeness of the RGF officer,” said Trent. “I’m afraid I’ve yet to meet one of their kind who doesn’t merit being airlocked into space.”
Hudson and Liberty both laughed. The joke had expertly relieved the tension. “Don’t worry, we’re used to it,” replied Hudson. “But thanks.”
“I’m afraid this wreck is now off-limits until the checkpoint district has been established,” Trent continued. “But something tells me that this won’t be the only new portal you two discover.”
Hudson shrugged and acted coy. “Who knows?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t press you for your secrets,” said Trent, holding up his hands. “But news of this discovery has travelled fast, as have your names. I expect that wherever you go from here, you may have a convoy in tow. As wonderful as this new discovery is, I’m afraid it has also painted a target on your backs. So please be careful.”
Hudson hadn’t considered this, but now that Trent had mentioned it, he realized he was right. The next portal they uncovered would result in a much more hotly contested gold rush. Worse still, the more mercenary hunters might even make a play for the Orion, or Liberty’s scendar device. “Thanks for the heads-up, and the advice,” he said, before glancing over at Liberty. “We’ll make sure we and the ship are well prepared for such eventualities.”
“Good, then for now I shall leave you,” said Trent. “Though I suspect it will not be the last time I hear your names.”
Trent turned to leave, but then Hudson remembered about the alien shuttle. With Griff’s appearance, he’d forgotten about it, but now the frightening memory crept back into his mind. Trent had seemed trustworthy, and Hudson felt that he could confide in him, without fear of blame or repercussions.
“Commodore, wait,” said Hudson, causing the senior officer to halt and twist his head back. “There’s something else we need to mention.” Then Hudson glanced at the CET captain, who had not been introduced. The younger man presented the appearance of stuck-up snootiness that Hudson was used to seeing from the CET. “Alone, if possible,” Hudson added.
Trent’s thick eyebrows lifted up, but then he turned to the unnamed captain and dismissed him. The officer shot a snooty, affronted look at Hudson and then marched away.
Hudson waited until the captain was well out of earshot and then closed the distance between him and Trent, with Liberty alongside.
“I’m all ears, Captains Powell and Devan,” said Trent, though his expression had hardened.
Hudson took a deep breath and then met Liberty’s eyes, who nodded her approval. “That giant wreck over there isn’t the only alien ship on this planet,” Hudson said to Trent.
Trent’s eyebrows raised even higher. “So, where is the other one?”
Hudson looked at Liberty again, and this time she took the lead, “Well, here’s the thing, commodore; it sort of took off and flew away…”