by Chris Turner
“Oh, that ungrateful wench. I should—”
“She’s not as tyrannical as she looks,” said Miko.
“How would you know?” retorted Fenli. “You bed down with the she-goat?”
“Quiet now!” hissed Miko.
“Yeah, how could you?” echoed Star, a sharp hint of jealousy in her voice.
Miko clamped his mouth shut, realizing it was pointless to defend any of the Jakru people.
The hatch slid open and an orderly stepped through the quarantine seal. The long syringe in her hand was promptly emptied into Sket’s right thigh and the injured man sank back with a groan, clutching his leg.
“Hey, nothing for me, sister?” quipped Fenli. He wiggled his tongue back and forth and Star rolled her eyes in disgust.
Miko laughed, almost grateful that they had some crude comic relief at this time.
The eye continued to flit about, peering down on them with persistent officiousness.
Fenli swatted it away when it zoomed in too close and the thing chirped out some robotic tones in offense.
A troop of three Jakru soldiers marched into the bay in gleaming silver helms.
“You!—” one of the guards motioned his stun weapon at Miko and the others “—the Colonel wants you down by the loading bay asap.”
“What for?” whined Fenli. “Can’t he unload his own supplies?”
“No lip, outlander. Let’s go.”
The nurse stepped in importunately. “But these persons need immuno boosts and antiseptics.”
“Colonel’s orders, ma’am.”
Stifling groans and sullen mutters, the quintet was escorted down the corridors to an elevator and down to a lower level.
The containing barrier slid back. Pressurized gasses hissed and a wall of echoing noise greeted them. The guards prodded Miko and the others into a cavernous bay filled with all manner of engines, machine parts and repair stations for crippled ships. The air was cooler, permeated with the smell of fuel oil and grease. The whine of electrical tools and the clanging noise of metal machinery being repaired echoed off the high walls.
The chamber was huge. Miko guessed that no less than a hundred engineers worked in this bay.
The trio marched them along, past racks of repair consoles and gutted ships. Four locust vessels in various degrees of disrepair lay huddled side by side. Miko frowned. These had the sleek and eerie concave look of the aphid-like laser-lites that had attacked the Jakru warships at the Mentera station.
To Miko’s pleasant surprise, Usk clacked out of one of the cargo hatches, with a bright step and a glint in his insect red eyes.
Zaul stood arms akimbo, his face a sombre mask. To one side, his female aide stood outfitted in her golden helm, and on the other side poised Lexia, her face kindled with curiosity.
“Where’d you get the ships?” inquired Sket.
“Our battle cruisers captured several L-Doraxu craft.” Zaul motioned. “We are dissecting and analyzing them now.”
Miko gave a wry grunt.
“You must tell us everything you know about these ships,” urged the Empress. “We have been studying them and the locusts’ feeding habits, which are, beyond any words, revolting.”
Fenli chortled. “You think? What makes you so interested in that now?”
“Besides the fact that they kidnapped our Empress?” retorted Zaul. “Now answer the question.”
“I spent several years in a miserable tank,” said Fenli sullenly. “All with these things leeching off my life force. Is that enough? If this insect here hadn’t saved our lives so many dozens of times, I’d gut him on the spot.”
“Not a friendly way to talk about your ally,” remarked Lexia.
“What do you know about allies?” snapped Fenli. “Are we prisoners here, or can we go?”
Lexia motioned Usk forward. The locust lifted a pincered hand, greatly restored in what could only be healing tanks. His antenna was taking longer to grow back.
The Empress looked approvingly at him. “It was the least I could do for the insect. It did, after all, aid in our escape.”
Zaul looked on with a firmed lip and a glower.
Fenli waved an arm. “What are your plans for us?”
“My wish is we dump you on the nearest habitable planet and bill you for transport,” grunted Zaul.
“Colonel—” said Lexia sternly. “We will rendezvous with a fleet of locusts and Zikri, following an encoded signal emanating from Sitri’s planet.”
Miko practically choked. “You can’t be serious? Zikri? You saw what they can do—”
“The details are irrelevant,” cut in Lexia. “The locusts are our main concern. Tell us more about them.”
Miko rubbed his brow in apprehension. “Parasites. They need human or animal life energy to feed upon. They don’t outright devour them. They feed on their essence through the fluid in the tank with the help of some advanced science.” He pointed to an empty glass tank hauled out in the open, its broken macabre trailing drip, and the mysterious stoppering apparatus.
“We already know that,” scoffed Zaul. He kicked the grimy glass tank and sent the stopper’s wires and circuitry spilling to further ruin. “What of their feeding schedules? Their slave runs, their methods? Any information that can help us stop them from capturing more of our citizens?”
Miko shook his head. “I was not among them long enough to know such details. All I saw was a ghoulish tapestry of heads in the station’s core webbed in a plasmic slime. I believe it powers their sinister amalgamators.”
Lexia shivered. “Fenli?”
The cargo man shrugged. “I was there for years. I saw them come and go. I watched through the glass as if I were a museum piece. For the most part I stayed in one of their labs. The scientists of that locust scum would dissect all kinds of creatures from far worlds—birds, fish, humanoids, you name it, in ever more grisly ways. Then they’d experiment with tanking them. Attaching wires and circuitry up to their intravenous stoppers. The grotesque things I saw would turn your stomach. And yet, I could barely make sense of it all.”
Lexia’s lip quivered and she turned to Miko. “And the Zikri, you had contact with them?”
“The one you saw absorbing the flesh of B & D. I spent many months with her. They’re pirates and strong fighters, resilient beyond imagining. Hard, if not impossible to kill.”
Star crinkled up her face in horror. “You spent time with that repulsive thing?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” murmured Miko.
Zaul frowned. “This is getting us nowhere, Empress. I suggest we send these people to the holding bay and focus on battle tactics, not act as researchers of Mentera and Zikri culture.”
“I disagree, Zaul. These people have had intimate contact with our enemies. Any information that may help us protect our world is valuable. I was in a tank for a relatively short period, so I could not observe much.”
Zaul dipped back. A sudden voice echoed in his earpiece. He listened and frowned. “Are you sure?” He drew the Empress aside.
Miko caught the murmurings of a heated conversation: “We could finish this now,” came Lexia’s whisper.
The Empress paused, a sign which Zaul seemed to take as positive. He pounded a fist against the ship’s hull. “Recommendation to launch an attack immediately!”
Miko stiffened, remembering the menace of the Zikri. He exchanged glances with Fenli. Both stared at the locust craft.
Fenli blinked. “You don’t think—?”
“Perfect for decoys.”
“What do you mean ‘decoys’?” demanded Zaul, overhearing their conversation.
“Fly the locust ships in, have them rain fire on the Zikri. The Zikri will assume treachery. Let the Zikri destroy the locusts. The locusts will retaliate and destroy the Zikri. There’s your war.”
A stunned silence came over Zaul and Lexia.
“It may just work.” An expression of vindictive delight crossed Lexia’s face.
“It ma
y, Empress, but I don’t want these amateurs in my war room,” said Zaul, “muddying up my plans with their half-baked—”
“Colonel, they have survived locust attacks and Jakru counter bombs,” she pointed out. “Miko has escaped Zikri subjugation. These survivors may be able to turn the tide against our enemy and end this war. Take them into the war room; brief them on our intel.”
Zaul crossed his arms. “Absolutely not.”
“’Tis my wish, Colonel. Do it!”
Zaul winced, gritting his teeth. It was clear from his flustered expression that he did not want to defy the Empress. Nor did he wish to be undermined. “But they were going to gamble you away to criminals—the filthy renegades...”
“I object to that comparison,” chided Fenli in a shrill, exaggerated voice.
Zaul glared at the cargo man. “Shut up, you clown. Oh, and why don’t we bring in the locust and the girl too, the whole gang of riffraff?”
“A marvellous idea, Colonel. Bring them all to the war conference. Escort them, Deral.” Lexia gestured to Zaul’s female aide.
“You’ve got to be joking?” croaked Zaul.
“I don’t joke at times like this.”
* * *
Nine figures sat on stools around a transparent table. In the middle, glowed a holo version of a region of space: a dim sun and a mysterious planetoid, dark and near waterless.
Two of Zaul’s elite commanders, communications expert Deral, and weapons tactician Jinquar, flanked Zaul and Lexia. Deral’s horns hung only to her shoulder, noticeably smaller than Lexia’s impressive pair, partially hidden by her coiled helm and long purple uniform which showed off many of her provocative curves.
“Regard the Sitri sector,” said Lexia. “The enemies’ destination, from what we have gathered, is Kraetoria, this unremarkable world. It’s also their former migration grounds millennia ago. For centuries, exploration missions have shunned this sector, the Dim Zone, out of fear of numerous colonization disasters, vessels disappearing, and the harsh, unforgiving worlds.”
“So why return now?” asked Miko.
“We’re not sure,” Jinquar said. “But our intelligence has gathered that they meet to form a significant alliance.”
“Likely to combine their forces for a dark purpose,” said Lexia.
“The Zikri method,” Zaul said grimly, “is to raid the galaxy, targeting freighters and lone ships, sometimes attacking undermanned space stations or research outposts to scavenge for technology. Instead of killing their victims, they offer them to the locusts to feed on.”
Star shuddered. “In exchange for what?”
“Information about the locations of fresh targets, innocent ships, and space stations to raid. Sometimes handing over whole captured vessels.”
“A win-win deal for both,” observed Miko. “Seems a practical trade.”
“Undoubtedly. You were lucky to survive an encounter with the Zikri,” said Lexia wryly, “though you have suffered for it, with this creature you call Audra.”
Miko could not help but grimace. “Don’t ask me to recount any of it.”
Lexia gave a curt nod. “As you wish. First off, I wish to offer your band of fugitives a haven, refuge from whatever you have been running from. It’s the least I can do for helping save my life, liberating me from that swine, B & D.”
Sket nodded. “Acknowledged, Empress, but why keep the rest of us here? I wish only to find my wife and son.”
Lexia’s eyes blazed. “Help me fight against the locusts and I promise I’ll assist in finding them. We can always drop you off at the next trans-hub jump, if you prefer. There are more lives than your two loved ones at stake.”
Sket grumbled his acceptance. “Best deal I’ve heard.”
Lexia smiled. “Very well.” She turned to Miko. “It seems you have collected a pot pourri of rebels.”
“And?”
“Listen. It’s not for nothing I had you brought aboard. Fenli, you are wanted for charges of bribery, smuggling and narcotics, and suspected racketeering in Listus. Unless you wish to be hunted down by bounty hunters, I suggest you join us. We could use a man of your...talents, if not resourceful cunning. We will wipe the slate clean for you—no more charges, if you serve us in good stead.”
Fenli grunted. “I’ll think about it.”
“Star, you have escaped Skullrox. Something you have desired from the very beginning. This is your chance... to keep it that way. For the past six years you have lived like a street sharper, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse, at times tempting death. For that you have grown bold, cunning, elusive, like a cat landing on its feet. You have inherited the admirable qualities of your parents—your father, a fighting man and explorer, and your mother, a nano-scientist. The pay is better than anything you’ll get on Demen II.”
Star stirred and whipped back her dark hair. “You seem to know quite a lot about us.”
Lexia ignored the remark. “Miko—you are the mystery man of the day. I know your answer already. You’re the invisible man—I mean an invisible figure—you’ve nowhere to go, nowhere to go back to. A man with no past. I give you post as gunner on one of our lightships.”
Her eyes moved from one rebel to the other, as if gauging their reactions. “You have all proven your courage or helped me in some way. Now we must fight against a common enemy. It could be your loved ones snatched next by these Mentera and dropped in their foul tanks, enslaved forever.”
“Usk, what better pilot for a decoy Mentera craft could we have?” she said, turning to the locust.
Usk looked on curiously. For a second, Miko thought the locust understood everything that had been said.
She motioned to uniformed retainers behind her and they brought an earpiece and fingernail-sized mic. They hooked the devices onto Usk’s antenna before he could object: some kind of universal language translator.
“Will you help us?” she repeated. Embodied in her gaze was an urgent plea and a few more words of reassurance.
For a few seconds, the locust paused before chittering in his alien tongue. “Gladly. But, human Queen, I prefer to keep away from combat. No hand-to-hand fighting. No direct clawing with humans. Or Zikri. Squid race is evil. I’m glad to kill locusts. They betray me. Them I hate. I will fly your ship. I don’t want language in ear. I prefer my own thoughts. I know what most speak, think, without machine.”
“As you wish,” Lexia replied, a small smile on her face. She signalled to the retainers. “Remove the universal.”
Usk dipped his head and shook out his antenna.
Miko slid off his stool and held up a hand. “Wait! How did you come to be in that tank?”
Usk’s insect face was a mask of silent brooding. He jerked his head in the direction of the glowering Zaul. “I refuse to obey superior officer. He cut down friend of mine. Hunt me down like cricket. I become leader chief to speak out against locust cruelty. One day they catch me. Send me to tanks.”
Lexia eyes smouldered. “We’ll look at growing back that missing antenna,” she said.
Usk shook his head. He jabbed a claw in the direction of the locust ships below in the holding bay.
Miko explained, “The locust can rejuvenate a body part by immersing it in the locust fluid.”
“Oh, yes, I had forgotten that.” She shivered and waved an authorative hand. “So be it. What can you tell us of these feeders?”
Usk’s antenna quivered. “Since baby, I know no other way. Put in water if I pain. When hurt or hungry, I plug in lifeline. I know not of water chemistry. Only scientist know mystery.”
It was strange hearing this valiant fighter voice words after they had fought side by side in near death conditions. A tremor of sadness welled in Miko’s gut that he could not have known the locust’s thoughts earlier.
“Very endearing,” jeered Zaul. “Now that we’ve cleared that up and catered to the insect’s needs, can we move on?”
“What else, Jinquar?” inquired Lexia.
“Th
ey will be heavily armed, I expect. It will not be easy, perhaps suicidal.”
Zaul’s eyes lit with a sinister glow. “That doesn’t seem to deter our courageous heroes. Since the Empress insists they be part of our mission, then I petition they be the ones to lead the assault. Let each take a locust craft.”
Miko blinked. “We would be lambs to the slaughter.”
“Cheap sacrifices,” muttered Fenli.
Zaul shrugged. “Not entirely. You can always jump to light drive when they come for you.”
“After we’re blown sky-high.”
“I thought you’d refurbish the locust crafts into drones,” said Miko.
Zaul grumbled, “We don’t have time to rig the ships in such a way, nor test them.”
“What’s in it for us?” demanded Fenli. “Besides getting ourselves killed?”
Lexia’s fist landed on the table. “Ten thousand crowns—each.”
Fenli’s eyes lit up in rapture. “I’m in—but half in advance.”
“Done!”
“What about us?” cried Berlast, his bandaged head rising in fervour.
Lexia waved a hand. “You can all join. You’re my good luck charms, as I’ve said.”
“More like a bunch of sparrows grubbing for worms,” Zaul sneered.
Fenli snorted. “Why don’t you go too, Zaul, instead of sitting here in your armoured chariot giving orders? Seems as if you’re egging for a showdown.”
Zaul rose, pulling a dagger from his belt.
Lexia clapped her hands. “That’s enough! This is a group effort. All participants are to be considered worthy.”
Fenli sneered. “As long as only the grunts get shot up.”
Lexia turned to the one man who had sat silent throughout the interchange. “You will team with Fenli, Sket.”
Sket’s fingers curled into knots and he scowled at Fenli’s oily grin. “Not with Fenli.”
“We will team you with an agent from our own ship. Miko will accompany Usk.”
“I’ll go with Berlast, or Miko,” argued Sket.
Star objected. “I want to go with Miko.”
“Not a chance,” grunted Zaul. “You’re not trained for combat or fit for ship-to-ship warfare.”
“Neither is Sket,” pointed out Star.