A pair of soldiers had come across a female with a small child in her arms. Jason stopped by an adjacent tree, while the mother stumbled, and one of the soldiers raised his weapon at her.
Jason aimed his, too. He hadn’t fired one of the Seeker contraptions yet, but he figured all weapons had a trigger of some sort. Finding what he thought was it, he stood out from the tree, pointed, and squeezed. A bolt of energy launched from it and struck the Seeker down in his tracks.
The woman with the baby stared at him with eyes as big as saucers. She regained her footing and ran in the opposite direction. The other soldier ignored her and turned toward Jason.
Jason ducked behind cover, and a blast pounded into the opposite side of the trunk. He looked down and around. There was no escape. He tilted his head upward and smiled.
With whatever he could find for a foothold, he climbed up the tree and latched on to a sturdy low-hanging branch.
The Seeker poked his head around the corner and stopped as if stumped. If it weren’t for the dark visor, Jason could swear he saw a bemused expression beneath it. Not waiting for his attacker to figure it out, he jumped off the branch and flattened the soldier into the ground.
Tyler had a box-office view from his vantage point behind a downed tree. Most of the natives had fled to higher ground, deep into the forest to set up a line of defense. Some climbed the trees and sat upon branches with bows at the ready, while others crouched along the ground with wooden spears. Across the field the trio of Marines kept out of sight.
In all their numbers, fanned out across the forest floor, the Seekers arrived with their weapons aimed.
“Vakar!” one native yelled.
A barrage of arrows fired from the trees toward the soldiers. Some sailed over their heads, some fell short, while others made contact. Those that did merely bounced off the Seekers’ armor. The spears flew through the air but could only knock their assailants down before they picked themselves back up again.
The Seekers retaliated with a barrage of their own. The bolts of energy from their weapons created an eerie green light show. Many natives tumbled, and though gallant, the survivors of the barrage had no choice but to scatter and retreat.
“Cassidy!”
He glanced behind to find Marquez dashing along the ground toward him, doing his best to stay out of sight, with Tai not far behind.
“What are we going to do?” Tyler said, hoping the CDF captain had an answer.
“There’s not much…” He stopped and looked to the other side of the forest floor.
A green weapon blast struck a Seeker and the soldier fell to the ground with a thump.
Then another.
What the hell!
“They’re firing on their own.” While Tyler couldn’t tell who it was in all the carnage, it had regardless created a brilliant diversion.
The natives noticed as well, halting their retreat.
Marquez jumped out beside Tyler over the downed tree and prowled like a panther toward the Seeker closest to them. He picked up a spear from the ground and struck the unknowing victim to the forest floor. He dropped the butt of the spear into the soldier’s helmet, crushing his skull.
The elder looked down on Marquez from afar, considering him for a moment, and smiling.
Does he understand we’re not Geri Vakar?
The elder held up his hand and pointed back down the hill. His people followed their orders and bounded toward the Seekers.
Tyler and Tai jumped out from behind the log and joined Marquez who picked up a Seeker weapon and fired potshots at their assailants.
“Whoever fired on them, got their attention,” Tyler said, as the Seekers fled. “They’re heading back to the village.”
The natives passed them, yelling at the top of their lungs. There was a hope in their eyes Tyler hadn’t seen before.
Thirty-Nine
Jason sprinted as if his life depended on it—because he knew it did. His haphazard plan had worked. He’d taken out as many Seekers as he could so the natives could go on the counterattack. But he didn’t expect the soldiers to be as fast reacting as they were. Or him to be as unfit as he was.
I’ve got to stop drinking so much.
He rounded a tree and ran out into open ground toward the native’s village. A weapon blast whizzed past him, knocking over a bundle of rocks ahead. He turned, spotting at least ten soldiers heading his way. Slowing slightly, he weaved through the huts and dived over a large wooden stump in the township’s center. Either side of him, the Seekers fanned out and outflanked him.
Jason pulled off his helmet and braced himself for that attack. To his left, a soldier aimed toward him and his heart skipped a beat.
A crack sounded.
The Seeker stumbled backward and Jason looked up.
The Argo!
The old cargo ship hovered overhead, its powerful engine trembling the ground beneath him. Althaus hung from the open rear ramp with his rifle in hand. With another pull of the trigger, Jason’s sharp-shooting uncle rained more fire down from the sky at the Seeker bearing down on Jason to his right. The bullets hadn’t taken his assailants out, but it’d given him the time he needed to fire off his more advanced gun.
Jason raised the weapon and cut down the Seekers to the left and to the right. The rest of the soldiers took defensive positions behind the village huts and fired on the Argo. They put sizeable dents into the side of the old girl, and with little choice, the cargo ship had to retreat. Her maneuvering thrusters spun up, and she launched away above the tree line.
With the Argo withdrawing, they’d have to do it on their own. Nicolas stood behind a large rock and commenced shooting. The natives, too, fired what arrows they had left in their arsenal. Though the arrows weren’t making their way through the Seeker’s armored suits, it was keeping them pinned down.
Across the field, Corporal Higgs took his shots, and the lone ranger from behind the tree stump at the village center joined in, firing off several blasts.
Who could that be?
They had the Seekers surrounded. The natives streamed from behind Marquez and down toward their township. They launched spears through the air, threw nets, and wrapped ropes around the vastly superior soldiers. A barrage of rocks knocked the final one to the ground, who was immediately beaten to a pulp.
Nicolas joined with everyone else converging on the village center. The lone gunman who’d started the counterattack was still behind the tree stump. The natives raised their spears and loaded their bows.
“Come out from behind there!” Nicolas shouted.
The figure rose.
He might’ve been wearing Seeker armor, but the face was unmistakable.
“Jason?” Tyler walked up beside Nicolas, while Susan appeared behind him.
The village elder pushed his way between his people onto the wooden stump. He looked down at Jason inquisitively and put out his hand. Jason took it, stepping up beside him.
The elder turned to everyone who’d gathered around. “Drolen!” he said in the loudest voice he was able to muster.
“Drolen!” the natives chanted, dropping to their knees, bowing toward Jason.
“Great.” Tyler rolled his eyes. “That’s all we need—Jason thinking he’s a god.”
“Who said you could take the Julieanne?” Tyler blasted his brother after being told how he’d gone to the dark side of the moon.
“I had to see what was out there.” Jason led the way toward the landed Argo in the cutting. “And you were too busy down here. I didn’t want to hassle you over semantics.”
“If I didn’t want you coming down here, how did you think I’d respond to you going for a joyride around that moon?”
“You would’ve said no. I guess that’s why I didn’t ask. If I hadn’t done it, you’d be dead now. You’re welcome, I guess.”
Tyler crossed his arms. “Don’t let it go to your head, Drolen.”
The rear entry ramp of the Argo retracted and Kevin, Aly, Althaus, and Professor Pet
it waited for them at the top.
“That was some nice shooting, Althaus,” Jason said, striding past him. “You might’ve got a gig in the war as a CDF sharpshooter.”
Althaus grumbled.
“It’s good to see you’re still alive.” Kevin put a hand on his shoulder.
“Where are the others?” Petit asked.
“They went to fetch the Maybelle.” Tyler glared at Jason. “We’ll need it since it’s our only pod left.”
“How did you get yourself aboard one of their ships?” Aly asked Jason.
Everyone filed up the ramp into the Argo, and Jason told them of his incarceration aboard the weapon ship in the galley. By that stage, Captain Marquez, Doctor Tai, and the Marines returned with the pod to listen to his tale.
“So Kione’s all right?” Tai asked.
“Barely. Whatever the Seekers are doing to him, it’s taking its toll.”
“And this weapon?” Marquez said. “Do you have any idea how soon it’ll be operational?”
Jason shook his head. “I’m not sure, but when it’s up and running, I fear for anyone in its way. I don’t think we have any choice but to destroy it.”
A hush went up around the room.
“If what you’re saying is true, in what universe do you think the Argo has any shot going up against two Seeker ships?” Althaus asked.
“Althaus is right,” Kevin chimed in, “we’re a little out-gunned.”
Marquez regarded everyone around the room. “We have a CDF commander, a doctor, three Marines, a genius, and a ragtag group of cargo haulers.” He chuckled. “While I’m all for the destruction of the weapon and getting Kione back, the odds aren’t in our favor.”
“During the war, we found ourselves fighting against the odds many times.” Jason glanced at his brother. “Tyler?”
Everyone stared at the cargo captain, who’d remained silent to that point. “You’ve been thinking of a plan, haven’t you?”
“I’ve been kicking around a few ideas.”
Tyler eyed every single person in the galley and stopped at Aly. “How long will it take to get the Argo back into orbit?”
“We didn’t take as much damage coming down here as I thought we would. We can be back up in about an hour.”
“Get to the engine room and make the preparations.”
She gave him a mock salute and hurried off.
“Preparation for what?” Althaus asked.
“Jason, the floor is yours.”
Jason raised his brow and smiled. “If we’re going to go up against these bastards, we’ll need the element of surprise.” He grabbed a data tablet sitting near the coffee pot and drew a cigar shape on it. “This is the weapon ship. Through its heart is a central elevator.”
He drew a line up the middle. “At the bottom of the ship is the hangar deck. Around the center is the brig where Kione is detained, and toward the top is where the sphere is housed.”
“How do you figure we use the element of surprise?” Kevin asked. “Last time you fell into their hands easily.”
“We’ve got their ship.”
“Which by now they’ll know has been compromised.”
“Exactly.”
Everyone looked confused.
“Can you fly it?” Marquez asked.
“There hasn’t been a ship yet that I couldn’t pilot.” Jason drew a large circle on the data tablet representing Psi-Aion’s moon. “Okay, this is what I’m thinking.”
Forty
Cargo Ship Argo
Jason stood by the observation screen of the infirmary, unable to take his eyes off the prone body of the Seeker they’d taken aboard from Orion V.
Not a Seeker; a native of Psi-Aion.
He had to remind himself, the being was a youth abducted from his home and taken to serve the Seekers. Doctor Tai had cut the alien’s corpse open, splaying its insides in a neat but chaotic mess, while Kevin assisted her cataloguing all the different organs and parts.
“Anything?” Tyler asked, sidling up beside him.
After planning out the rescue of Kione and how to destroy the weapon ship, Jason asked Tyler to change his mind on doing an autopsy on the alien being. If they were going up against the might of the Seekers, they’d need every piece of information they could get. If they found out how they were controlling their slaves, it could give the crew of the Argo an edge in defeating them.
“Not yet,” he said.
Tai passed Kevin what Jason assumed was the alien’s heart.
“I planned on eating a steak before our mission,” Jason said. “I think I’ll pass now.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to your horror show.” Tyler turned up his nose. “I’ve got some stuff to take care of.”
He headed off, but Jason grabbed him by the arm. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m, uh, sorry about earlier.” Jason frowned. “The pod. I should’ve asked.”
“Let’s just take these guys out and go home. Okay?”
Jason nodded, and Tyler walked out, just as the infirmary door opened.
Kevin threw his gloves in a medical waste disposal near Jason’s feet and brushed the sweat from his brow. “We’re done.”
Tai followed him out, blood covering her surgical gown from top to bottom.
Jason recoiled while the pair undressed their messy garments. “What did you find out?” he asked them.
Tai pulled her glasses off. “That apart from the different positioning of certain organs and a few others we’re not familiar with, the anatomy of these beings is similar to our own.”
“Or as similar as it can be, considering how far away from Earth they evolved,” Kevin added.
“There have been countless theories over the centuries what life would be like on other worlds. Some have guessed it vastly different to our own, while others believed it would need to be similar to ours to thrive. In this instance, the latter is correct.”
While Jason found the doctor’s thoughts interesting, there was only one question he wanted answered. “Did you find any control device?”
Kevin shook his head. “There was no outside technology.”
“What about something organic? Perhaps a parasitic life-form?”
“I think you’ve been watching too many movies. We found nothing that shouldn’t have been there.”
Jason sighed. “How about something we can use against them? Any weaknesses?”
“Under the armor, they’re just as vulnerable as we are,” Tai said.
“So, we haven’t found out anything we didn’t know already?”
She shook her head at him apologetically.
“Thanks anyway.”
The pair left Jason there to wonder. They were no closer to figuring out how the Seekers had a hold on the natives of Psi-Aion, or on Nash. He hoped it wouldn’t be the difference between success or failure. Or the difference between life and death.
Susan knocked on the door.
“Come in,” the voice answered from inside.
She pushed it open to find Nicolas putting on the Seeker armor they’d ‘borrowed’ for their mission to the weapon ship.
“You got into your costume quick,” he said to her, having trouble fitting into his own.
Tai upped the linkages in the back of his suit and gazed into his eyes. “It just takes a delicate hand.”
“Something wrong?” He must’ve detected the uneasiness in her voice.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“No.” Nicolas chuckled. “It’s a terrible idea. We’re all probably going to die.”
She knew when Nicolas teased her, it was to make her feel more at ease. He had a knack for it. Though it hadn’t changed what he’d said being true.
“You know as well as I we can’t allow them to keep that sphere. If they use it as Cassidy believes they will, we’ll be responsible for all those deaths. We did, after all, dig it up.”
“It’s just… I wouldn’t mind a few more Marines to t
ake along with us. Say, a thousand.”
“The Cassidys and their people have shown themselves to be extremely resourceful. If it weren’t for them, we’d be rotting on Orion V.” He turned away. “Just like everyone else down there and up in orbit.”
Susan put a hand on his shoulder.
“We can’t let their deaths be in vain, Susan. We owe it to them.”
They stared at each other longer than they had in years. Susan froze and her limbs went numb. Before she knew it, they were locked in the first kiss they’d shared for a very long time. Their arms intertwined with one another as if it was their wedding night all over again.
“Captain, are you—”
They pulled apart and darted their eyes toward the door, where Jason Cassidy gawked at them with his mouth wide open.
“I, uh, sorry” he said. “When you’re ready, we’ll be in the cargo bay.” He scurried off, and Nicolas and Susan chuckled with each other as if they were teenagers caught in the act.
“Well, should we go down?” Nicolas asked.
Susan widened her eyes.
“I mean to the cargo bay,” he corrected himself.
She smiled and let him lead the way, not knowing what was going to be more difficult. The mission, or the conversation they’d have to have when they came back.
Seeker Craft
Jason gripped the peculiar conical-shaped controls beside the pilot’s seat, attempting to replicate the Seeker helmsman he’d watched during the trip from the Seeker weapon ship to Psi-Aion. Unfortunately, it was much harder than it looked.
His hands accidently moved over a set of buttons next to the steering device, and the ship rumbled around him. He rectified his mistake and smoothed out the ship’s course.
“I thought you said you could pilot this ship,” Tyler said, walking up behind him.
“If I crash us into that moon, I’ll put up my hand up and say I was wrong. Until then, I don’t need a backseat driver.”
Tyler put his hands up in surrender and walked off. Marquez took his place, while Jason guided the Seeker transport around to the dark side of the moon. The sunlight of the Psi-Aion star disappeared from the holographic viewport, and the mysterious nightfall of the other side reigned supreme.
Frontier's Reach: A Space Opera Adventure (Frontiers Book 1) Page 19