by Lucee Joie
“They’re closing in on us!” I shout and Horgeer turns a corner suddenly. I am firing as he turns and my aim is off again but it doesn’t matter because we have a small reprieve as the guards try to catch up.
“The women’s quarters are not far ahead,” Ece says. “But I want to take the long way around to try and throw the guards off our tails.”
I laugh at Ece and at the realization that, for them, the expression really is referring to their tails and isn’t merely a figure of speech.
There is no time to comment and Ece merely gives me a quizzical look as he leads the way down a maze of halls. I have no idea where we are or how long it will take to get to the women’s holding bay.
“We’re here!” Horgeer finally says and we come to a stop. I have been keeping my eye on the corridors as we run and have not seen a guard for some time now. It almost feels like we will be alright, like we will actually be able to help the other women escape.
I should know better than to make assumptions and, even as we come to a stop, I know that there is something wrong.
There is the clatter of feet from the way I assume we are heading and a group of guards charge around the corner before we have a chance to gather ourselves. I point my weapon and start shooting before they have a chance to really know we are there. Ece throws a gun to Horgeer and then starts firing as well.
There is a cacophony of noise. The hiss of laser fire reminds me of those science fiction movies I used to watch as a kid and it would be kind of fun if the lasers weren’t actually deadly.
A hissing sound interrupts my thoughts and I am pulled back into the present moment with a sickening lurch.
“Shit!” My heart falls as I hear the pain in Horgeer’s voice. “I’ve been shot. Flesh wound.”
I can’t look, I only keep shooting as Horgeer gets behind Ece and fires with his other hand. His aim is woeful after that but it is still better than him not shooting at all. I grit my teeth and continue to fire.
I occasionally glance behind in fear of seeing more guards behind us. However, they appear to have joined the frontal force so we are lucky regarding the previous guards. Our gunfire seems to be paying off too as the ones in front of us are now starting to thin out.
Finally, one last guard remains. As we have all been shooting at each other, the gap between us has been closing. Now, the guard takes advantage of how close he is to us and charges. The surprise of his action gives him enough time to reach us.
I squeal in surprise as the guard reaches out to me, shrinking back even while I attempt to bring my gun up to his face.
Even injured, Horgeer grabs at the man and punches him down. The man grunts in surprise and Horgeer continues to pummel the guard. It only takes a few well-placed punches and the man’s face becomes a sea of red. Horgeer wraps his hands around the man’s neck and twists it suddenly. There is a sickening snapping sound and the man goes limp. Horgeer drops him to the ground.
There is nothing left but a pile of guards and we have to climb over them to reach the holding deck. I slip as I climb, not as sure on my feet as Horgeer and Ece who have reverted to climbing as cats would. Even with his injury, which is bleeding profusely, Horgeer still manages to be graceful as he leaps over the bodies.
There is a cheer from the women when we come around the corner and I smile at the group. Grabbing at Ece’s bag, I start handing out weapons. Between us, there is no one with a clearance chip to free anyone so Ece returns to the mound of bodies and blasts an arm until the hand comes free. Using the gruesome key pass, he starts scanning doors and the women are slowly freed.
It also fixes the problem of how to remove the shockers from everyone’s necks. I blast another hand free from its owner and start moving among the women, scanning their necks and releasing them from their electric confines.
“What’s the plan?” Shirley asks once everyone is free. I turn to Horgeer, assuming the plan has changed now that everyone knows we are on the run and loaded with firepower.
Horgeer shrugs at me. “I guess we try to take over the auction ship now. There’s no point in doing this quietly anymore.”
I honestly didn’t think I could love my funny alien any more than I already did but, in that moment, my heart swells and I rush at him, hugging him in gratitude.
“Ow!” he exclaims and I step back, having momentarily forgotten about his wound.
“I’m so sorry,” I say and turn to Shirley. “Is there anyone with nursing experience here?”
“I have,” says a dark-skinned woman up the back. “My name is Danika. I was a nurse before I was taken.”
Danika steps forward and looks over Horgeer’s wound.
“How bad is it?” I ask.
“The laser has gone straight through without hitting bone, which is a good thing. The wound has to be covered in order to stop the bleeding. It also needs to be disinfected as well but I figure no one has antiseptic on hand?”
When no one owns up to Danika, she starts to pull apart a sheet from one of the cells.
“We need to move,” Ece urges but Danika continued to tend to Horgeer and my heart softens to the woman. Here she was, abducted, then discarded. Yet, she was still happy to look after one of the men working under the very Union who had authorized her abduction in the first place.
“We stay until Danika says it is okay to leave,” Shirley says stepping in front of the woman kneeling on the ground. She glares at Ece and I wonder if there is something else simmering below the surface between these two.
Shirley crosses her arms and huffs at Ece who stares right back at the women. He opens his mouth, ready to say something but before he can speak, Danika announces that Horgeer is good to go.
Horgeer grunts his thanks to the woman and we head off together in a large group. Ece is still handing out weapons to whoever wants them. Those who don’t take the guns stay in the middle of the group and we surround the vulnerable ones.
Horgeer leads the way and I have no idea if we are near the ship bound for the auction sales tomorrow. It makes sense that it would be close by but who knew in this strange landscape.
“Halt!”
The word startles me and I close my eyes briefly as I inhale deeply. My nerves are on edge already as the situation goes from one tense moment to the next. I’m not sure how much longer I can cope with it. I look to Horgeer, his arm bandaged and he winks at me. It gives me the strength I need to continue on, to fight until the very bitter end, if that is what is required.
I swallow hard and turn towards the voice, my laser ready to fire as soon as it is clear of those in my group. Others are already firing and the hall is a thunderous cacophony of noise and light as the rays appear to bounce around the confined space.
I am feeling disorientated and I look around in fear, trying to work out where everyone is and from which direction the foe is coming from. Horgeer is behind me and he reaches out to squeeze my hand even as he is firing his weapon. I point my gun in the same direction and start firing as well.
“We need to move!” Horgeer shouts. “We need to get there before the others do.”
He was being cryptic, not saying exactly where we were headed, I figure it is because he doesn’t want the other side to guess our plan.
The group continues to shoot but they move backward as well, trying to make ground without giving up on the enemy. Ece is powering away from us, leading the group to where we need to go.
“They’re headed for the docking bay!” a guard yells and I know that our trouble is about to get a whole lot worse.
We need to make a dash for it or fight our way through the entire ship’s worth of guards. I have no idea how many that might be but I am guessing it will be more than we can deal with considering they are trained for these sorts of situations and I, along with the others, have probably only ever really shot at firing ranges or tin cans. So far, we were holding our own in the confined space of the corridors but in the open range of the docking bay, I imagine that our accuracy will
not be as good as the trained guards.
“Run!” Horgeer roars and I don’t need to be told twice. I dash past him, hoping he is covering me and use my arms to pump hard as I run for my very life.
I can hear footfalls behind me and hope that it is Horgeer’s and not the guards. Although, I can hear them too. Their steps are not quite as loud and make a different sound as they power forward in their rubber-soled boots. I hope against hope that they won’t encroach on us.
I can hear Horgeer shooting and occasionally look behind me, firing a shot randomly here and there but my main objective is to make it safely to the docking bay and the ship that will give us our freedom.
“We’re almost there,” Horgeer says roughly, his breath sounding labored and I wonder how much further he can run with his injury.
Ece has stopped up ahead and my heart leaps into my throat, terrified that the guards have already beaten us to our target. I swallow hard but the lump in my throat won’t disappear. I want to live. I want to see another day and to live out many more than that. But, more importantly, I want Horgeer by my side.
I hear a deep grunt as I think about what I want the most in life and I know Horgeer has been hit again. Turning, I scream, knowing it is going to be bad this time.
“Ece! Horgeer has been shot!” I continue to shout his name, hoping he has heard me.
There is blood everywhere, so much blood. I grab at Horgeer and try to drag his huge body along the hall but can’t. He is going down fast and there is no way I can lift his weight. I glance quickly along the corridor and see more guards approaching. Raising my gun, I shoot blindly through the tears. I scream until my throat is raw and still it doesn’t lessen the pain inside.
Those fuckers shot my man, my beautiful strange alien man and I will kill them all or die trying!
I continue to shoot, not knowing if I am hitting anyone and not even caring. If Horgeer is dying beside me then I don’t want to live. I am happy to die but I want to take as many of the enemy down before I lose my own life.
“Beth.” It is Ece and I turn briefly. He has somehow managed to get Horgeer to a standing position. “I can drag Horgeer to the docking bay but I need you to cover me.”
“No problem,” I say and turn back to my task. I can see bodies strewn along the corridor but many guards are still approaching.
“We need to hurry,” Ece says and I step backward, while still shooting at the guards. I can hear Horgeer groan as Ece drags him and I dash behind them, half walking sideways and half hopping along in order to avoid the pair while still keeping my sight on the enemy.
Glancing backward, I see the gaping hole of the docking bay entrance and breathe a sigh of relief. However, there is a firestorm going on inside and I witness the group of women all in a row firing at another group of guards.
Ece drags Horgeer towards the ship and I can see the large gaping maw of outer space through the airlock. A huge door is starting to descend from the roof. It is slow-moving but I know that it is intended to trap us inside the larger vessel.
“Have you seen that Ece?”
“Yes, get the women on board. I need to get the ship started.”
I nod without looking at Ece and send a silent prayer out for Horgeer as I rush at the group of women.
“We need to get on board!” I yell as I point to the roof of the dock. Shirley notices first and her face turns into a mask of horror.
“I will not come this far only to be a prisoner once more,” she says as she starts herding the women together. “I would rather die than be stuck here any longer.”
I am in agreeance with her and start yelling at the group to follow me. We move quickly but it feels like we are not getting any closer to the ship. I start shooting again as I flank the rear. Shirley heads the group, leading the women up the stairs and onto the ship.
I am the last to enter the vessel and I continue to shoot at the guards even as the door is shutting. It clangs down and silence fills the space.
Turning, I view the bedraggled group. Ece is nowhere to be seen and I assume he is getting the vessel ready for flight. Shirley is slumped against a wall, as are many of the other women. In one corner, I can see Danika tending frantically to Horgeer.
A sob tears from my throat and I rush towards him. Falling to my knees, I grab at Horgeer’s limp hand, pulling it towards me and kissing it over and over again. His skin is pale, almost grey in tone and I am terrified that he is dead.
“Horgeer, I love you. Don’t you dare die on me.”
I search his face for any sign of movement but there is none. My eyes well up and I try to hold myself together as the room feels like it is spinning out of control around me.
Then, a slight intake of breath from Horgeer and everything around me stills once more. He is alive! I turn to Danika, not sure of what I should say, or whether I want to hear what Danika has to offer.
“It looks worse than it is,” Danika finally says, rolling back onto her heels. “I think the laser nicked a vessel, hence all the blood. But I think he’ll be alright.”
I can’t believe it and sit there in stunned silence for a moment or two. Finally, I cry in earnest at her words. Big wracking sobs as the tears stream down my face. I allow myself only a moment or two of my outpouring as this battle is not over yet. Against my own will, I regain my composure before pulling myself to a standing position. As much as it pains me, I leave Horgeer once more as I search out Ece.
The ship is big but most of it is the large room I have just left. As I pass through, I notice all of the loops along the sides, with thick chains coming from each one. Knowing exactly what they are for I shudder as I pass, thankful that I wasn’t about to be chained to one.
I follow a short corridor which has a couple of doors along each side and come to the cockpit. Ece is pressing buttons and squinting at screens and dials and doing all the other things required to make a vessel such as this fly.
I let him be because I have no idea what he is doing or how I can be of any assistance. Instead, I look out of the main windshield. The door is a quarter of the way down now and I chew on my lip.
“How much longer until this thing takes flight?” I ask nervously.
“Give me a moment,” Ece says but he isn’t really concentrating on me or what he is saying. I cross my arms, hugging myself tight and try not to be anxious about the whole situation. “I just have to make sure all the docks are released, then we can go.”
Ece presses a line of buttons in succession. I can’t make sense of what the symbols on the surrounding buttons say but wonder if the big green one means go, just like on Earth. “Is there any way they can stop the takeoff?”
Ece shakes his head. “This ship is pretty tech-savvy due to the fact it is used for the auction markets. Enough planets disagree with what the Union is doing with the Ochek breeding program that they need a ship that can cloak and shield. I have activated both as well as scrambled the computer input into the ship. The only way they are getting on this ship is if they blast a hole in the side.”
“What’s the chance of that?”
Ece shrugs. “Not super likely, I haven’t seen any major explosive devices on board in quite some time. So, I’m fairly confident they don’t have a stockpile. I’d rather get out of here than risk it though.”
Static on the radio breaks out before the single word, “Ece?”
Ece freezes briefly before responding. “Father?”
Oh, crap.
I look at the gate, still rumbling slowly downwards and wonder if this is it, if this is the end of our crusade. I feel sick that freedom is this close yet the stars continue to blink out as the door moves ever downwards. Each light going out feels like a step further away from us accomplishing our goal.
“You need to stop this nonsense immediately,” Ece’s father says over the radio. He sounds more confident now and I hate the guy already. “Shut the vessel down now and I won’t have to punish you. We can just forget that this ever happened.”
Ece’s eyes are closed, his brow furrowed and he has one hand positioned over the green button. “I can’t do that.”
My gaze titters wildly between the gate that is on a mission to seal the fate of all on board and Ece, who appears to be frozen to the spot.
“Ece won’t do that,” I finally say as rage starts to course through me. “What you have been doing is wrong and we won’t stand for it any longer. The rest of the universe needs to know what is going on here and I plan to be the one to make sure you get your just punishment for the slavery of women.”
Ece’s father laughs at me through the radio and my fists clench as I try not to punch the device.
“You stupid woman. How do you think you will achieve all of this? No one else has been able to do it and those who have tried have been much more knowledgeable than you on the matter.”
“I will help her,” Ece says but his voice is quiet and I am not sure at first that his father has heard him.
“Why would you go against me?” his father asks. “Against your own race? If you leave us, if you choose to go against the Galactic Union then it is the equivalent of killing your own people.”
Ece closes his eyes with those words and I can see just how much he wants to cave now. I suck in my breath and wait for the inevitable.
The door continues to close.
Ece’s hand wavers over the button.
The sound of my heavy breathing is all that is heard in the cockpit.
Finally, Ece clenches his fist, bringing it down into his lap and I swallow a guttural grunt of disappointment.
“No!” I yell. “You can’t do this! Ece, I am willing to help your breed to survive and I am sure other women are too. Your father is trying to manipulate you.”
“Fuck you, Ece,” Shirley says and I turn as the woman strides across the room and smashes her hand down on the green button. The engines roar to life. “Grow some balls for the first time in your life.”
Ece swipes out at her but she ducks away. For a moment I think I see a tear escaping but he has turned away from me before I can really know for certain.