by Lee Watts
"He... wouldn't," he admitted.
"Of course not," Sosimo explained. "I programmed Mei's portable scanner to use its audio function to say that then I remote activated it with my robotic hand. I figured with all the echo in here Crimson wouldn't take time to check where the voice was coming from, and I was right."
"He's still going to be out there when we leave," Mei reminded him.
"Yes, but he thinks we're dead. Being dead gives you a great advantage. Trust me, and remind me to tell you a story about that some time. But, as for now, I want to close the door to the room that had The Weapon and open the real vault."
"Yea," Mei said, "how did you know how to close the main doors?"
"Those statues," Sosimo said. "See, all the ones with a weapon in their hand are looking up, and those have the symbols that opened the door to The Weapon room. So, I noticed three of them have their eyes closed so I guessed that meant their symbols would close the doors."
"You guessed," Jaiden said in exasperation as Mei was helping him to stand.
"It worked, didn't it?" Sosimo said. "Anyway, there are three with eyes open that are facing those doors, so, it stands to reason that's how to open the doors again. As far as the real vault goes - there are three statues remaining."
Mei and Jaiden looked about the room to examine the figures Sosimo indicated. Each was looking down. One sculpture held the carving of a large cloth sack. Another was praying while kneeling next to a closed box, and the third was had a pack slung over its back.
"Where the treasures of ages are stowed," Mei said softly as she realized what the captain had already figured out.
"Exactly," Sosimo said with his roguish smile. "Time to get paid."
With that, he pressed the first icon on the ring of symbols. The engraving glowed with soft orange light. Moving to the second symbol and third symbols he tapped them and they responded the same way. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Mei then back to the panel and pressed the center button.
The sound of moving stone drew the trio's attention to the door leading to the room of The Weapon. Sliding down, it closed then the stairs leading up to the door began to lower, they became level with the ground but continued to descend. Now a downward facing staircase, it at last locked into place and revealed an arched open entryway. The moment was almost holy to LaRouche, he stepped around the pedestal and toward the dark entryway in silence. Reaching the arch, a sensor detected the visitor and illuminated the connecting room. The room was the size of a warehouse - to be more accurate it was the size of multiple warehouses. The chamber extended and as far as the pirate could see and everywhere there were crates upon crates. Many of them were stacked on heavy shelves and among the containers, loaded from floor to nearly the ceiling, were also artifacts and relics from hundreds of worlds. Walking toward the first crate his heart rate quickened. Jaiden, and Mei followed Sosimo into the storehouse where Vault Keepers for generations had stowed away their payments for their services.
"We found it, Lei," Sosimo said softly. "Just like I promised."
Using his artificial hand to undo some fasteners, Sosimo opened the first container and beheld the largest emerald gemstone he had ever seen or even heard of. It was the size of two fits put together. The sparkle of the jewel made him think of the eyes of his surrogate daughter.
"It's yours, Mei," he said softly. "It's so little after all you've gone through, but I think your father would want you to have it." Going to the next crate, he lifted the lid which revealed scores of bars of the purest platinum. Container after container held wonders each more valuable than the last. Looking about the room, Sosimo figured it would take him years just to see all that was there. For centuries the Vault Keepers had stored their payments here, and now, at long last, their descendant was able to claim his rightful inheritance.
"Well, Captain," Mei said. "You did it, and as you always said... it's all yours."
"No, Mei," he corrected. "It's ours... Well, mostly mine, okay all mine, but I'll give you some."
"CAP'N, CAP'N, COME IN," came the panicked voice of Byron from the radio at Sosimo's belt. Sosimo was surprised to be getting any kind of a message from the ship since he thought they were too far underground to get a signal. As he reached for the radio, he figured there must be a microfracture in the rock above allowing for a signal to get through.
"I read you, Byron. Go ahead."
"Cap'n, I saw the shuttle comin' back and thought it was you, but it was Crimson and his men. They're tryin' to take over the ship!"
"Blast," Sosimo said in vexation. "We'll get there somehow, Byron. Try and hold him off as long as you can!"
"If Crimson takes the ship," Mei said, "he'll leave us here and maybe never come back. All this will be worthless."
"I'm not letting him take my ship," Sosimo said as he headed back toward the entryway.
"But, Captain," Jaiden began, "you heard what Byron said. Crimson took the shuttle. How are we going to get back to the ship?"
"Simple," Sosimo explained as he stopped and turned around to face him. "Mei is going to rig the escape pods from the Fame and get them flyable."
"I am?"
"Come on, Mei. You always get the techy stuff to work, don't let me down now." Then he turned Jaiden and said, "You're injured so you can't be much help to us up there. Don't worry. We'll be back for you. There's no way I'm letting Crimson steal my ship. I promised I'd find The Vault and kill Crimson, might as well do both on the same day. Come on, Mei." Turning, he walked out of the storehouse.
"We'll be back," Mei assured Jaiden. "That I promise you."
He nodded to her his trust in her word.
"I'll see you soon then," he said with a smile. "If you need me, I'll be here... counting your money." She smiled and followed her captain back to the cavern where they first landed. Finding the pods Crimson and his men had hidden, it didn't take Mei long to cobble together something that could get her and Sosimo spaceborne again. With no landing gear on the pod, their landing wasn't the softest ever, but that didn't matter. As soon as the hatch opened the pair exited, and Sosimo went to take his long-awaited vengeance and reclaim his ship.
***
Raging battle engulfed the space outside The Cloud as the Realm fleet, outnumbered two to one, engaged the Hegemony forces.
"Bring us about," Balin ordered. "Get me a firing solution on that cruiser to starboard!"
"Aye, Admiral," a crewman replied.
Commander Iglesias hurriedly walked crossed the bridge and went to the command HPT where Admiral Balin was directing the battle.
"Sir, starfighters report the Tyrannus just disabled the Liberty and the Celtis but didn't destroy them, and she's heading this way!"
"Reduce image," Balin ordered the HPT operator. "Give me a broader view."
Immediately the operator executed the order and zoomed out the display to reveal more of the battle. Miranda's information was correct. Thy enemy flagship was on a direct heading for them leaving a trail of listing ships in its wake.
"He doesn't want to waste time on them," Balin deduced. "Ra'daq figures if he can take us out, he'll break our C two and morale."
"We're still more maneuverable than the Tyrannus," Miranda said. "We can loop around and keep out of his range. What course?"
"Straight at him," Balin answered, which took the second officer by surprise. "We're not going to win this fight running away. Time to see what this refitted ship of ours can do. Lower the shields then deploy all particle transfer cannon plates and standby to engage."
"Aye," Miranda replied and rushed over to the weapons officer to relay the order.
As the super battlecarrier's defensive screens went offline, coverings on the hull retracted revealing thick plates of black metal.
"Cease fire all guns,' Balin ordered. "Bring the transfer cannon online and lock on target."
"Target lock, aye," answered the weapons officer.
In the command cubicle of the Tyrannus, Crex watched with bewildermen
t as the readouts of the Dauntless changed dramatically.
"What's she doing?" Crex wondered aloud. "Perhaps they've had damage to their main generator," he suggested, but obviously that supposition didn't seem to ring correct even to him. "What do you think, Warlord?"
Ra'daq didn't reply. It seemed to Crex that his commanding officer always had an answer, and usually had the answer before the question was even asked. The silence stunned and concerned Crex.
"Do we hold back?" he asked.
"No," Ra'daq answered. "Continue on course. Time to weapons' range?"
"Twenty seconds."
"Lock on with the main cannons and prepare to fire."
In calm fashion of a military professional, Crex counted down the last few seconds, "Weapons range in three, two one, mark."
"Fire," Ra'daq said.
Lancing out from the colossal Ramillie vessel came massive, steady beams of red energy slamming into the Dauntless. Dwarfed by the enemy flagship, the Realm craft shuddered under the force of the blasts. The dark plates covering the ship began to glow and Ra'daq's lips spread in a toothy smile as he expected his rival's ship to blast apart in a million shreds any moment. His expression changed as the enemy vessel suddenly opened fire with one massive purple beam of energy that punched into his ship like a sharp jab to the stomach. Shields of the Tyrannus protected the hull from damage, but the power drain was steady.
"Not possible," Ra'daq called out in a fury. "Increase power!"
Pouring more energy into the main cannons, the red beams intensified in brightness, as did the glowing plates of their target. Within a moment the Dauntless responded in kind as its lavender beam grew brighter.
"Shields down forty-five percent," Crex reported. "Forty percent... thirty-five!"
"Activate the secondary guns," Ra'daq instructed.
Multiple, lesser, yet immensely powerful beams, joined in the attack of the Dauntless. The stubborn ship refused to be destroyed and was unrelenting in its counter attack.
"Shields down to twenty percent," Crex called out in surprise and alarm.
"Cease fire and divert power to the forward shields," Ra'daq said in obvious frustration and disgust. "Ahead full! We'll fly over him then come around for another pass."
With the Tyrannus' guns falling silent, the Dauntless also ceased its attack, and both ships veered away from each other to meet for a second round later.
"It worked," Miranda said joyously.
"This time," Balin said as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Let's pray it does again. Raise shields, resume standard fire."
***
"Watch yourself Bravo Four," Ian called out, "You've got one on your tail."
"I'm on 'em," Dakota added then sent a stream of blue bolts into the pursuing Ramillie craft blowing it apart.
"Thanks, Fireball," came the voice of the Bravo Four pilot.
"Just doing my job," Dakota answered, "and business is booming today. How ya like that?" he said as he unleashed a pair of longbow missiles in rapid succession at another Ramillie fighter. The first shot knocked out the enemies shields and the second stuck the bare hull resulting in a brilliant fireball. "WOO-EE! I love this job!"
"Cut the chatter, Stinger One," Ian instructed. "We've got a mission to accomplish, and until we knock out that shield generator on the northern portion of the gate, the infantry can't get through. Let's form up and make another pass."
Banking hard to the left, the sleek Realm fighters got into attack formation and started their fourth run at their assigned portion of the gate. Dodging enemy ships and weapons, the fighters made a seemingly erratic course toward their target. Ramillie gunners blasted away at the elusive Realm pilots. Finding their mark, one of the gunners scored a direct hit, and the ship to Ian's left disintegrated, for a brief second the other members of the squadron could hear the dying pilot's final scream.
"Stay on target," Ian called out. "Fire!"
On cue, each of the four remaining ships of his flight joined with Ian in pouring the full might of their cannons against the shields of the gate. Suddenly Dakota's proximity alert came to life and beeped furiously for a split second before a spinning engine from a destroyed ship slammed into his fighter right behind the cockpit section. The impact hit his central flight control relay. Immediately, he lost control of his craft.
"I'M HIT," Dakota called out.
"Peel off," Ian instructed his flight, and he and the three ships with him turned sharply away from the ring.
"It's no good, Commander," said one of the pilots. "We're barely making a dent in their shields. We'll never get them down at this rate."
For the moment Ian wasn't as concerned about their objective as he was about Dakota.
"Stinger One... Stinger One, come in."
Dakota's transmission only cracked as he tried to answer.
Ian repeated his call. "Stinger One... Fireball... Fireball? Come on, Dakota - respond."
"Controls... -ot respondi-..." came Dakota's voice over the garbled communication. Then came one final transmission, "FOR THE REA-... YEE-..."
Ian took his eyes off his cockpit displays to look at his friend’s burning ship as it streaked through the sky like a flaming comet and then slammed into the gate's upper shields, knocking them offline.
"DAKOTA," Ian called out in grief and anger, but he knew his friend was gone.
"He did it," came the voice of one of Ian's remaining pilots. "Their shields are down!"
Forcing himself to focus on the mission, Ian switched his comm channel to the infantry setting.
"The gate’s shields are down," he said lowly. "Repeat... the gate’s shields are down."
***
Alexander shouted as another fiery blade cut across his skin. Imenand was besting him with almost every exchange of strikes.
"What's wrong, Alex?! Too righteous to draw blood?" Imenand taunted then lashed out with a kick that sent the Realm king staggering back and tripping. Alex fell backwards then scrambled back to his feet. "You don't seem to have a problem spilling blood," the immortal mocked, "you're spilling yours all over the place."
Goaded into losing his focus, Alexander swung his left blade wide. Imenand easily deflected the blow and laughed as he circled around his panting mortal opponent.
"Oh, come on, Alex. You can do better than that. At least make it interesting. It's almost like your trying to lose."
"You're... the one who's lost... Imenand," Alexander said while trying to catch his breath. "The Dridmor, the... Ramillie... all of you."
"Foolish boy," Imenand sneered. "You seem to have a unique definition of losing. It seems to me you're the one who's lost. Lost your fleet, your worlds, your life... everything."
"No, those things are... only the now. It's eternity I've gained by... by Elkanah. And it's eternity you've lost."
The words made Imenand scream in rage, and he sent a powerful series of strikes at Alexander. The king deflected the first few blows, but the last one cut deep across one of his legs, sending him to the ground."
"ALEX," Aulani cried out and tried to go to him, but Cale's grip kept her from it.
"Alex, Alex" Imenand said mockingly. "You can't save her either. You've failed. Everything you've ever tried to do is crumbling around you. You're pathetic."
"No," Alexander retorted. "I'm forgiven. I think that's what makes you hate me so much, Dridmor - me and all humankind. We are offered redemption - a chance to be forgiven, but you... you threw your chance away. That's what your problem is... jealousy. You're jealous of humans because we can still be forgiven."
Imenand responded by renewing his attack against the dying man and Alexander used every technique he ever learned from Merrick in trying to defend himself.
As the combatants continued their duel, Salazar watched from the Plyeecian transfer device throne, but his thoughts drifted. Alexander's words kept replaying in his mind. Forgiveness. We are offered a chance for redemption. The guilt of his own many errors came flood
ing upon Salazar. He'd done so much and was about to do what some would consider the unthinkable by worshipping the dark prince himself in exchange for health. Health... but not forgiveness, he thought. What do the Dridmor offer, life? Yes, but what kind of life? He considered how they gloated about rampaging through the universe extinguishing all life as he knew it. Even if he did survive what would existence be like in a universe like that? Is my life worth it? Is my soul worth it? He pondered on that age-old question that written in the Codex, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
***
Inside the T'lec lab, beasts with surgically implanted minds of humans were suddenly freed from their stasis tubes. Caedmon was forced to duck as a leathery-winged reptile flapped its wings wildly just above the Faithful Voice's head. There was a horrid cry from some sort of sea creature as it thrashed on the floor. The saltwater of its tube spilled; the monster flopped on the floor while suffocating. Still in cages, and keyed up by the ruckus, a row of hideous charuk dogs barked loudly. Getting to his feet from the tumble to the lower level, Jambrek stood and turned to find his Elderite enemy.
Speaking to the Ramillie's mind, the Dridmor spirit Cyketh directed the priest. Walking over to the cages still holding animals for later implantations, Jambrek placed his hand on the bars of a cage containing a three-meter high animal that was covered in bluish-gray hair. As Jambrek chanted in the ancient Ramillie tongue, the Dridmor spirit entered into the furry brute. The beast's eyes turned black as pitch then it let out an unholy, mighty roar. With sheer delight, Jambrek hit the switch on the cage opening the door. Stomping out, the giant tossed aside research desks and surgical beds as it made its way toward Caedmon.
Suddenly, the Spirit of the Elder brought to Caedmon's mind part of a passage from the Codex, And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you. Looking about, Caedmon noticed a tall, thin glass canister attached by brackets to the wall near him. With a shout, he swung his metallic staff in a wide arc and smacking against the covering. Immediately, the wasp-like bugs burst forth and began swarming the charging animal. Swatting at the tiny stinging insects, the animal stopped its advance as it roared in pain and frustration. It slammed one of its powerful claws against a large pipe running across the room which provided water to the soaring tower. With a gaping hole ripped in the pipeline, a torrent of water began flooding the room. The spraying of the artificial waterfall did nothing to lessen the stings of the flying insects. Infuriated, Cyketh tore from the fur covered beast, which, under its own volition again, bolted from the room. Barreling through the exit, the powerful animal broke through a window. Animals and T'lec hybrids used the hole to escape the room in a mixture of fear and fury.