Escape Velocity (The Black Star Chronicles Book 1)

by E. P. Wyck

  After several more seconds with no answer, Kali huffed and went back towards her group. She half ran past them before turning back and stopping.

  “Why didn’t you all keep up?” she said.

  “Look,” one of them said as the others parted allowing her to get a look at why they stopped.

  She didn’t expect to see stacks of the dead. At least five bodies on top of each other in three stacks. “That must be who opposed them. We will have time to honor them soon. We have to move on,” Kali said.

  “I hope we capture them all so we can…”

  “Turn them over to the TriMax. I know. Me too. I need someone to scan ahead. I think we’re almost there,” Kali said.

  The scanner operator conducted a scan and nodded to Kali. She took off. They followed. She came to the end of the cargo hold. She looked left, nothing. She looked right, nothing.

  “What is going on here? I swear someone entered this cargo hold,” Kali said.

  “Wait!” someone shouted.

  “Who is that?” Kali said, bringing her weapon to the ready.

  “I am not with them. I swear it!”

  “Who are you?”

  “I, I, I’m, I am Buh, Buh, Brooke,” she said, sniffling through tears. “My father owned this transport ship. Everyone I know is dead. I swear I am not with them.”

  “Show me your hands and come out here!” Kali said.

  “Don’t shoot. I don’t have a weapon,” Brooke said, sounding more steady. She slowly held one hand out, then another. “Please don’t kill me!”

  “Come on out Brooke, we’re not going to shoot,” Kali said.

  Brooke slowly emerged from cover, raising her hands above her head. Her bloodshot blue eyes darted from person to person, assessing them. Her dark brown hair braided down to hang between her wings. Tears began to stream down her face.

  “Weapons down, that’s an order!” Kali said. She stowed her own weapon and approached Brooke. “You’ve been crying for a long time, huh?”

  “Ever since I saw them,” she sobbed before managing, “kill him.”

  Kali’s heart sank. She knew exactly what the child meant. A flashback to her father’s death ripped her out of the moment, and she embraced Brooke, “It’s ok. You’re safe. Nobody is going to hurt you.”

  The girl cried on Kali’s shoulder for several minutes. The other half of their crew caught up with them. They talked among themselves explaining that the cargo hold didn’t have any enemies and this girl had evaded the gendercide fanatics.

  Kali kept her arms around the girl but looked up from the embrace, “Are you ready to come with us? We have another team that may need our help.”

  Brooke nodded and let go of Kali, wiping her tears. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. We have much to talk about later. I promise,” Kali said. She headed toward the front of the ship. The crew followed her, weapons at the ready. They carefully checked around each corner in case anybody came behind them. Soon they made it to the airlock connecting to the Dawnbreaker.

  They continued past the airlock. The further they made it the more bodies they came across. At first, the only casualties belonged to the cargo crew. Then they found casualties from both sides.

  “We will take care of them,” Kali promised. She knew the crew must hurt with their loss.

  They continued further forward and could hear a firefight. Kali knew they’d need to rendezvous with them and coordinate efforts in order to finish clearing the ship.

  They slowly moved forward. They didn’t want to startle the other part of the crew as they approached. “The last thing I want is a friendly fire incident,” Kali said.

  The sound of weapons fire became louder. “They’re probably in the next room,” one of them said.

  “I’ll go first,” Kali said. She didn’t give them a chance to respond. She rushed into the room and dove behind cover. She glanced ahead and could see some Dawnbreaker crew watching in her general direction.

  She held up her weapon, “Friendly!” she called.

  “Who is it?”

  “Kali!”

  “Slowly, let me see you!”

  Kali stood slowly, holding her weapon away from her. “Satisfied?”

  “You’re good.”

  “I have more with me. Stand down. I’ll get them.”

  “Ok, but hurry, they could use your help.”

  Kali rushed out of the room, “Let's go; they know we’re good, and they need our help.” They all filed into the next room.

  “You guys don’t even look like you saw a single fight.”

  “We didn’t. I think they decided to fortify the front of the ship and make us take it on their terms. From the looks of it, they’ve been doing pretty good,” Kali said.

  “Unfortunately, however, you all will be a welcomed sight. I’d say get up there and help out.”

  “Mind if we leave her with you? She’s the ship owner’s daughter. Watched her father die. I am responsible for her now. Do you understand?” Kali said.

  “Absolutely. We’ll keep her safe.”

  “Ok, let’s move.” Kali ordered and headed further towards the front of the ship. She motioned for them to take cover as the enemy began firing at them.

  A round skipped off of the armor on her left shoulder and killed the man behind her, passing directly through his left eye. He fell to the ground, and the woman behind him tripped over him, falling and firing her weapon.

  The burst caught one of their own from the other team in the back of the armor. He turned around to fire. Kali jumped on him and said, “Friendly fire. Looks like your armor held, focus on them!” she pointed at the enemy.

  “OK, I am good,” he said, turning back to the enemy. The rest of her team maneuvered their way in and took cover.

  Kali bounded between cover to get to Aleksandra. “Aleks, where do you need us?”

  “Little bird, didn’t expect to see you. Especially so soon,” Aleksandra said.

  “Only one person back there. Daughter of the ship owner. Total mess. What is their game?” Kali asked.

  “They’re trying to funnel us into this hall. We can’t get past unless we rush and they’re focusing all their fire into it.” Aleksandra said.

  “They’ve created a kill zone,” Kali said.

  “Exactly. We’re out of grenades. That helps some, but we can’t rush the hall on the heels of a grenade,” Aleksandra said.

  “I agree. I have a plan. Keep 'em busy,” Kali said.

  Kali made her way back and told three others to come with her. They kept retreating until they made their way back to Brooke.

  “Brooke, do you know where a transportation cart is, something that can fit in a small hallway?” Kali asked.

  “Yeah, we have carts for moving provisions in the cargo hold. Why?” Brooke asked.

  “If you take me to one, I’ll show you why,” Kali said.

  “Ok…” Brooke looked at her with caution. She lead the way back to the cargo hold. “Here, will this work?”

  “Perfect. Push that back for me,” Kali ordered one of the others with her. They headed back toward the front of the ship. She made them stop at the first body of an enemy they found. “Put it on.”

  “What?”

  “I am not doing that.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “I am not kidding you. Do it now. We’re going to be adding several more so let’s get to it,” Kali ordered.

  They made their way down the halls and rooms adding the bodies of the enemy to the cart. After several rooms, they couldn’t fit any more on the cart.

  “That should be good. Let’s go,” Kali said.

  They made their way back to the room Aleksandra, and her crew held. They pushed the cart to the right side of the room. “That’s both disgusting and brilliant,” Aleksandra said.

  “I know, right?” Kali said, nodding her head in agreement.

  “So, we push that down the hall as cover. They will either have
to shoot a lot to get through it, or they won’t shoot it because it is their own dead,” Aleksandra said.

  “Exactly. Ready?” Kali said.

  “Line up behind the cart,” Aleksandra ordered. Several people from the right side of the room obliged. “When we get to the other side find cover quick.”

  “Yes, Commander,” they said.

  “OK, go!” Aleksandra said, pushing the cart herself. They rounded the corner.

  Initially the cart took several shots before someone on the other side yelled, “Cease fire!”

  “We’ve got ‘em!” Kali said

  “Don’t think ahead, little bird,” Aleksandra said.

  They passed the other side of the hallway and fanned out. The enemy opened fire. Two of the crew that charged with them fell wounded. They tried to crawl to safety, but the enemy focused fire on them.

  “Next group!” Aleksandra yelled back down the hall. With the cart in position, they couldn’t fire down the hallway. Aleksandra popped up and shot at the enemy.

  Before long they returned fire, and she ducked back behind cover.

  “What’s your plan now?” Aleksandra said, looking at Kali.

  “My plan was to follow your plan,” Kali said.

  “What do we do now?” one of the junior crew said.

  “Don’t worry, reinforcements are coming,” Aleksandra said.

  As if on cue, they stacked behind the cart. “Split up,” Kali said.

  They did and this time all of them managed to get behind cover.

  “Any of you have any explosives?” Aleksandra asked.

  “I’ve got my full grenade load.”

  “Me too.”

  “Same here, they must be with me,” Kali said.

  “Good, pass them out. On three we toss all we have their way,” Aleksandra said.

  “Good idea,” Kali said passing all but one of her grenades.

  After everybody had at least one grenade, Aleksandra said, “One. Two. Three!” She activated her grenade and tossed it as far as she could. Everybody followed her lead.

  “Grenade!” shouted one of the enemies. Kali heard the footsteps and several others joining. Then deafening explosions rang out.

  “Fire!” Aleksandra called out.

  They all took aim toward the enemy and fired. After a few seconds, they noticed that they didn’t have anything left at which to fire. “Cease fire,” Kali said.

  “I think we got them all,” Aleksandra said.

  “If not they’re certainly worse off.”

  “I’ll go check,” Kali said.

  “Little bird! Wait!” Aleksandra said. Before she finished, Kali darted toward the enemy. Her weapon stowed, she drew two combat blades.

  She peered around a wall then moved out of sight of the others. An enemy woman lay on the ground bleeding, “Help,” she said with a gasp.

  “Sure,” Kali said, pressing her blade through the woman’s eye socket. She withdrew the blade and wiped it on the woman’s clothes.

  She worked her way a little further down the hall before stopping. She knew she’d never get into the next room. She turned around and went back.

  “Don’t shoot!” Kali shouted.

  “Come on, little bird!” Aleksandra shouted.

  Kali walked back into the room they held and said, “Whatever is left of them are holed up in the bridge.”

  “You still have it?” Aleksandra said.

  “What?” Kali asked.

  “That present I let you take from the arms’ room,” Aleksandra said.

  “Oh, this?” Kali said drawing a long sword from her back.

  “Yes. There is a switch on the side,” Aleksandra said.

  Kali examined the hilt and saw what Aleksandra talked about and flipped it. The sword began to glow red hot. “Woah.”

  “It’ll cut through hull over two inches thick,” Aleksandra said.

  “I like. I am so getting one of these!” Kali said.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty legit,” Aleksandra said.

  “Let’s do this,” Kali said. She started to walk off.

  “Wait. Let’s bring the cart. No telling what they’re planning once we get through the door,” Aleksandra said.

  “Good idea.”

  “I am not pushing that.”

  “I’ll do it,” Kali said. After deactivating and sheathing her sword she walked over and pushed the cart around some obstacles before making her way into the next hallway. They managed to get all the way to the door of the bridge.

  “Let’s try to get them to come out first,” Aleksandra said.

  “Ok, where is the intercom for this thing?” Kali asked.

  They all looked around, touching anything that might be a switch or button. “They don’t have an intercom?” Aleksandra finally said.

  “I guess not. So, what’s next?”

  Kali walked right up and knocked on the door. Everyone looked at her with puzzled expressions on their faces. “What?” she said.

  “I doubt that will work, little bird,” Aleksandra said.

  “What?” Kali said with a shrug, “I had to try.” She turned and drew the sword. She flipped it on and went to push it through the door when it opened, and a grenade rolled out.

  Kali flipped the sword off and dove on top of the grenade.

  “Little bird, no!” Aleksandra cried. Another crew member pulled the commander behind the cart. An explosion rang through the hall and bits of Kali went everywhere.

  Blood spattered on the wall and door. Her body flew into the air before falling as a mangled mess back onto the deck.

  Chapter 39

  Rage took over, and Aleksandra stormed forward. She picked up the sword and flipped it on. She cut through the door and kicked in a large rectangle she had carved.

  She lunged forward and cut down the first person in the room. She grabbed their weapon and fired it at the person directly to her left.

  She ducked behind a console. Grabbed a grenade off of the woman she cut down and tossed it over the console. After the explosion, she stood up.

  She leaped over the console and brought the sword down, cutting a woman directly in half. A few others moaned. She flipped the sword off and killed the dying.

  Slashing necks, stabbing hearts, and shooting faces, she searched the bridge for anymore who would resist her. The rage began to fade from her face as sadness took over. She dropped the sword and her firearm and fell to her knees.

  She thought to herself, ‘Why am I this distraught over a half-breed? I mean, it isn’t like I knew her all that long. I guess she did sacrifice herself for me. What am I going to tell the Triumvir?’

  “Uh, Commander,” someone called. “You might want to come take a look at this.”

  “Not now!” Aleksandra said.

  “I think you’re going to want to see this, Commander.”

  “I said not now!” Aleksandra said.

  “It is Kali,” they paused, “she’s, I don’t know, growing.”

  “What do you mean?” Aleksandra said.

  “Come look for yourself, Commander,” they said.

  Aleksandra stood and walked out into the hall. The massive trauma Kali endured looked different. Her wounds appeared almost healed. Then before her eyes, they disappeared.

  “What?” Aleksandra said.

  “I don’t know.”

  Breath sucked into Kali’s lungs, and she sat up. “Nope, still not used to it,” she said, looking directly into Aleksandra’s eyes.

  “What was that?” Aleksandra said.

  “You don’t remember?” Kali said. “Well, it’s a long story.”

  “I’ve got time,” Aleksandra said.

  “I can’t just tell everybody,” Kali said.

  “What, me?” said the crewmate. “I am not telling anybody about that. They’d never believe me.”

  “Out with it, little bird,” Aleksandra said.

  “I may have stolen some experimental medical tech. Little robots which flow through your bloo
d and fix you. Number three,” Kali said.

  “Number three?” Aleksandra said.

  “This is the third time I’ve died,” Kali said.

  “This wasn’t the first time?” Aleksandra said.

  “Nope,” Kali said.

  “You can’t just leave me hanging. I need more…” Aleksandra said.

  “Well, the first time I was with Ryn, and we were trying to take out some gendercide fanatics who tracked me to my house,” Kali said.

  “Ryn, that scientist, was trying to take out gendercide fanatics?” Aleksandra said.

  “No, I had to go to my place, and he was with me. Anyway, the next time was during the explosion in the stasis storage room. I actually told you about this. Not to mention, several people saw.”

  “I didn’t exactly believe you.”

  “Like I said, nobody would believe me.”

  “Besides, I was pretty angry then. And well, this certainly changes things,” Aleksandra said.

  “Tell me about it,” Kali said.

  Chapter 40

  The cost of clearing the cargo ship left the crew of the Dawnbreaker to roughly 15% strength. They lost nearly two-thirds of their incursion team. The vast majority of which they relied on to keep the peace aboard the Dawnbreaker.

  “I don’t have the staff to pull shifts like that. Order or not it won’t work,” Bruce told Aleksandra.

  “Bruce, we have to keep them tame. They have to believe we have numbers over them or they could rise up against us,” Aleksandra said.

  “We don’t have the numbers. The only thing we have right now is that they’re locked into rooms, and we control the access. That isn’t going to last forever.”

  “Do we have any way we can make this work?”

  “I don’t know. I have too few people with too much work. I wonder if we should even turn them in at this point,” Bruce said.

  “What are you saying? We kill them?” Aleksandra said.

  “Not expressly.”

  “What do you mean not expressly?”

  “I didn’t stutter. I believe they’re going to overburden us. If it is as you say and they’re gendercide fanatics, then their crimes are punishable by death. Why waste the food and provisions on them to get them back to Trinity?” Bruce said.

  “Trust me when I say this, Bruce, but I see where you’re coming from. I really do. However, we can’t behave that way. That fuels them,” Kali said.