Iástron

by James C. Dunn

  It was them.

  He recalled what he had seen in Section Six: those creatures had hated the light. It was almost fatal. If they had escaped they were all sitting ducks without power to see or protect them. Their only hope was resetting the generators in Section Two.

  If only that section wasn’t below the surface . . .

  Araman swiped his access fob onto the wall panel. The metal gate groaned open. He stepped inside the empty elevator, which pulled him down to the lower levels. The elevator door opened at the bottom with a sharp, haunting groan. He shone his light into the dark, half expecting someone or something to be waiting for him. But there was no one. Nothing.

  He moved down the dark hallway. Section Two was surrounded by maintenance tunnels. It was agonisingly hot. But he wasn’t sweating from the heat. He was sure the tunnel was narrowing, and he shone his light above and to the sides, shadows flitting about all over the leaking walls.

  Nothing’s down here with you. You’re fine!

  ‘No!’ he said, reaching down to his side, realising he hadn't picked up his comm. No way to communicate with the others. He was on his own until he found Pine or Azal.

  He turned another corner. No sign of them. Where the hell were they? He continued through and moved right . . . or was it meant to be straight on? His decision was made for him when the echo of a voice resonated through the tunnel to his right. He paused for a second, replaying the sound in his head; was it a voice or a scream? He took the turning and began moving faster.

  Rotating left he gripped the coilbolt loosely in his right hand. He heard no more voices. All noise had disappeared, leaving behind the steady hissing of pressure valves along the corridor approaching the generators. He was sure he could make out the faint smell of burning. Perhaps the generators had merely overheated. The two soldiers would come around the corner laughing and joking any moment.

  Gripping his weapon tighter he slowly descended a set of greasy stepladders. It was pitch black. He could only see a little at a time, thanks to his flashlight, which he could swear was getting dimmer. At the bottom of the ladders he stopped. This was it. The generator room. He couldn't quite make out just how many generators there were. Generators one and two . . . where were they?

  ‘Pine?’ he said. ‘Azal?’ His calls amounted to no more than petrified whispers. ‘Privates?’ He was regretting his decision to follow them down. He wanted to get the hell out at once.

  In that moment Araman could make out another light ahead, behind one of the smaller generators. He stepped closer, bent down as he reached around. The light pointed away, up towards the wall.

  Wait. On the floor. In the path of light. A patch of something sliding along the floor. Was that . . . could it be . . . blood? And—

  Araman shot upright, moved back against the wall, frozen with fear. His blood iced over. His heart raced. Something lurked in the shadows. Shaking, he could just make out the front of a face. But above it thrust two pointed barbs. Two black horns. Perhaps it didn't know he was there. Perhaps it knew before he had entered the room. He couldn't tell if it was looking at him.

  He bit through his lip to stop himself from whimpering. What if he was surrounded? He could taste the blood as it filled his desiccated mouth. Should he run? Would he even make it out of the room were he to try? He took a gulp, swallowing the blood built up in his throat, and chose to run. Darting from the shadows Araman shot across the room, not daring to look behind at whether the demon had taken chase.

  In seconds he was at the ladders, and without looking up climbed, climbed as fast as he could. He lost his grip, but the adrenaline flowing through him kept him going. Grasping the top he felt a vibration on the ladders below. He knew what it was but refused to look down. He ran. Faster than he had ever run in his life.

  He reached for his weapon, but in his haste dropped it behind him. He stopped, turning to reach back for it. A huge, black figure appeared at the top of the ladders. He froze again, unable to move, petrified in his place. The creature glided forwards in the dark, moving its large, horned skull from side to side. All went silent as it appeared slowly above him, hissing soft and threatening.

  Whether out of coincidence or complete and utter luck, without warning the pressure valves lining the dark tunnel fizzled on and the creature moved back. The hissing rolled into a dull roar.

  Araman seized the moment, forgetting about his weapon, and charged away. He scrambled desperately through his pockets for the access fob as he neared the elevator. He just had to get inside it. He reached the door. Swiped his fob. The door opened. Too slow. He wasn't going to make it.

  ‘COME ON! FOR GOD’S SAKE COME ON!’

  He spun. Something fast approached in the dark. Dropping to his hands and knees he crawled beneath the shutter. He slammed his fist into the switch and the reinforced outer-door slammed shut. A petrifying hiss enclosed him in his metal cage. Araman took several deep breaths and held his head in his hands. Erebus had fallen. He had to get out.

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  DIEGO FERRANTI SPUN on the spot. But Anna dodged his outstretched arm and tore for the south dock of Aurora. Heading in the opposite direction, the throng of multiple crews surged for the north-docked Fated Chaos.

  ‘Go after her!’ Ferranti told Avila, and the lieutenant took chase.

  Gordian escaped . . . Aurora in danger . . . could it be mere coincidence, or a malevolent twist of fate? Ferranti watched Avila set off in pursuit, and then turned to run through a nearby access tunnel. The Station Control Room was the best place to discover what was really going on. Before the captain had even left the hall, however, he found several soldiers blocking his path. The criminal Antal Justus presented himself at the forefront.

  ‘May I ask you to follow my men back to the north dock?’ Justus said. ‘It’s not safe here.’

  ‘No, it’s not,’ the blond captain countered. ‘I have an escaped prisoner. An urgent threat I must deal with immediately. I’m going to station control.’

  ‘Didn’t you hear what I said?’

  ‘I heard perfectly.’ Ferranti turned, but found his path blocked once again.

  Justus held his arm against the wall, blocking the way. ‘The Station Commander is on route to my ship. You’ll find nothing in the Control Room.’

  ‘Then I’ll return to my ship.’

  ‘I can’t allow that. I’m going to have to insist you come with us.’

  ‘That’s not going to happen, Captain. I am a captain myself. My duty is to my crew, not to you. I am going to my ship, right now.’ He placed his hand on the hilt of his holstered coilbolt.

  ‘Very well,’ Justus said. ‘But I’ll be going with you.’ He turned to the snobbish-looking pirate behind him. ‘Take your team and gather all passengers from the remaining ships. Split up. You have ten minutes.’

  * * *

  Anna tore through the long tube-tunnel leading from Aurora to the Stellarstream. The rolling siren fell into the background and the dock behind disappeared. She had never moved so fast. Forgetting her earlier conversation with her sister, she knew only that she had to get to her.

  The crew of the Stellarstream piled along the armoured tunnel, but Anna didn’t care about them; she was focused, in a way she had never been focused before. Disorientated, she almost lost her way, and once she reached their quarters found Gílana wasn’t there. Anna bunched her hands into fists. She would find her sister; she only hoped Gordian hadn’t gotten to her first.

  Considering the possibility that she’d slipped out with the crew, Anna charged out and back down the corridor. Minutes passed as she drove herself on. Then she stopped dead at the entrance to the tunnel leading back to the outpost. The black and red-eyed assassin stood in her path, restraining a trembling Gílana. A blaster prodded her face.

  ‘Please,’ she said, tears in her eyes.

  Gordian smiled.

  A blast of blue light came from within the tunnel, slammed into his side, throwing him into the wall. Avila c
ame dashing down the hall, coil raised and glowing, and cried, ‘Anna, take your sister! Run!’

  * * *

  Antal Justus tread two paces ahead.

  Ferranti saw no other option and loosened his coil, slipping it into his palm. ‘Correct me if I’m wrong,’ he said as the two captains marched into the open area of the south dock, ‘but is it not the job of the Station Commander to issue the proper evacuation procedures already set in place?’

  ‘The Station Commander is indisposed,’ Justus said without looking back. ‘He’s being taken to my ship right now. My crew is dealing with the threat.’

  ‘You say threat,’ said Ferranti. ‘But, wait. Hold on, Justus. What kind of threat is it?’

  The criminal stopped. ‘I mentioned a threat. But I didn’t tell you my name . . .’

  A length of metal found his grasp. The hum of a coilbolt sounded. In a split second Justus had leaned forward, ignited the weapon, and twisted his body, moving to strike the captain behind.

  But Ferranti was ready, and with one fell swoop lunged forwards with his own already triggered. They clashed in a rain of dancing sparks. Their weapons hissed at each other. Faces mere inches from supercharged metal. Justus pushed Ferranti backward. He stumbled before triggering a burst of blue electricity straight at his enemy, expecting to put him out with ease.

  Justus caught the blast with his own red-glowing coil.

  ‘Whoa!’ Ferranti said. ‘No coil’s capable of that!’

  The criminal laughed, flipped his coil back and then forwards like a whip, and returned a torrent of red lightning. Ferranti threw himself to the ground, the blistering heat assaulting the nape of his neck. Again he launched an assault himself. The boom of each eardrum-shattering strike thundered through the space.

  Another attack caught Justus by surprise and he was forced to his left. The blast made contact with a nearby standing auto-cannon, rupturing its armour, and causing an explosion to fill the hangar. Both turned to see a cargo mass of volatile explosives go up in smoke and fierce flame; the ensuing heat reaching across the platform.

  Booms and rattles of gunfire echoed in close proximity as if in reply. The flash of a coil joined in. A small group of soldiers, some Titanese, backed into the dock. But they were not alone. Justus’ black-clad crew forced their way through, striking down several with the same crimson-beamed weapons as their captain.

  Oh, no.

  Ferranti moved to stand at the entrance to the passage through to the Stellarstream, blocking his enemy from entering. ‘I know who you are!’ he cried. ‘Why are you doing this?!’

  ‘Come with me and I’ll show you,’ Justus said. ‘The truth would blow your mind! Everything you thought you knew will change!’

  ‘I know there’s no threat! No one’s going with you—I’ll make sure of it!’

  Justus smiled. ‘Fine by me.’

  * * *

  Anna stood still at the end of the tunnel as both captains fired their coilbolts. The cracks and booms echoed all around, the hangar filled with a blinding light, and both were sent soaring. Ferranti was thrown into a heap of crates nearby; his weapon fell metres away. Justus landed on his back, and at once pulled himself up from the ground.

  Three of Justus’ men charged over. One went straight for Ferranti and raised his limp body up against the crates. She had to do something. But what? Carefully lowering Gílana’s unconscious body to the ground she started to back up into the tube tunnel.

  ‘Stop there,’ Justus commanded. Anna froze. ‘Come over here.’

  ‘No!’

  He held his exotic-looking coil up to Ferranti's neck. Anna breathed in deep, then did as she was told, leaving Gílana where she lay, just out of sight.

  ‘Lieutenant,’ Justus said.

  ‘Yes, Captain?’

  He motioned to Ferranti. ‘Restrain this one and take him back to the ship. Prepare to leave. The charges are all set. We're going immediately.’

  ‘Right away, Captain.’

  ‘What charges?’ Anna said, moving from the tunnel to approach the pale captain.

  Justus exhaled. ‘Not to worry. Come with me and you won't get hurt.’ He held out his hand.

  ‘She's going nowhere!’

  Anna turned to see Lieutenant Avila stood at the other end of the corridor, coilbolt spitting and aimed at Justus. She propped up a semi-conscious Gordian, but seeing the scene in front of her dropped him to the ground.

  Before she realised what had happened, Anna felt a hand wrap painfully around her chest. A burning sensation stung her throat. ‘Back off!’ Justus yelled, holding his charged blade up to her neck.

  Avila stepped forward, her weapon intended for the assailant.

  ‘Stop!’ Anna cried. ‘Get back inside! The station’s set to explode! Take Gílana with you!’

  Avila looked down at Gílana, collapsed beside Gordian. ‘We're going nowhere without you!’

  ‘Don't come any closer,’ Justus warned. ‘Not unless you want to be responsible for her death.’ Anna struggled; the intensity of the blade scalded her neck.

  ‘You won't touch her,’ spoke a cold, deep voice. ‘Not unless you want to die yourself.’ Anna’s heart missed a beat. Gordian wavered alongside Avila, holding out Ferranti’s coilbolt, not at Avila, but in Justus’ direction.

  ‘There'll be no one dying here today,’ the pale captain replied. She felt his grip on her tighten. ‘Now, you're both going to put down your weapons, slowly, and come with me.’

  ‘Like hellfire we are!’ Avila said.

  ‘We're evacuating this station. One way or another.’

  Gordian advanced a small step. ‘We're going nowhere with you—’

  Flung backward, a projectile struck the Crilshan from the other side of the dock. Avila twisted and Anna’s captor took the opening, whipping his coilbolt forward and releasing a deadly burst, knocking Avila into the interior wall of the passage.

  Justus’ men ran towards them, as Anna kicked and screamed. One took hold of Gílana, throwing her over his shoulder. ‘Leave the others,’ Justus said. ‘There aren’t enough of us to carry them. We have to go!’

  Avila and Gordian were left, unconscious, among the dead of outpost Aurora. Anna could not find the energy to struggle or even to make a sound. Doomed, she permitted the men to pull her through the empty station, lined with the bodies of those men and women that had fought back; and, along with Gílana and Ferranti, was hauled through into Antal Justus’ craft.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  BREATHING DEEPLY AND clutching his mutinous heartbeat, Lesper crept out of his escape tunnel and peered into the dark corridor, before entering the still passage and quickening his pace. Out of breath, the brandy’s restless effect still at hand, he reached the last access gate before the hangar, and exhaled with relief. He’d not let them out. It hadn’t happened.

  BUT IT HAS. BECAUSE OF YOU!

  Every last person was going to die . . . hundreds of them. And yet all he could think about was reaching the Nyx and getting as far away as he could. He could hear screams, gunshots, and the booms of electric weapons. The beasts must have attacked the barracks. Coilbolts would not be enough to stop them. He had been foolish to think that a strike from the advanced coils would do anything at all. They were already dead. All of them. None would survive.

  Reaching the hangar he twisted, fighting the rising lump in his throat. He met a sharp corner as a soldier sprang from hiding.

  ‘Private Riess!’ Lesper cried, forcing his words, half composed and far from calm. ‘Everything okay down here?’

  ‘S . . . Seems so, sir,’ he said, raising his coil as a scream filled the corridor behind. ‘What the hell is g . . . going on?’

  ‘Don't worry, Private. It’s coming from Section Four. The acoustics in this place make it seem as though it's in here, but it’s not.’

  ‘What do you mean, it? What is it?’ Riess asked.

  ‘It doesn't matter. How’s the Nyx’s status?’

  ‘Em
ergency protocol, sir. Ship’s powered up and set to go.’

  ‘Good. In that case, come on. We're leaving.’

  ‘What?! We can't l . . . leave, sir. The others, they need us! The Nyx is the only ship here! We can’t t . . . t . . . take it!’ Riess moved past Lesper, his attention on the advancing screams. ‘We have to help them.’

  ‘We can’t help them, Private.’

  ‘I'm not leaving them! Araman went into Section Two. He’ll be back any moment.’

  ‘I’m not waiting!’

  The beasts were coming. They would come bursting through at any time. If only Kramer had made it out alive . . .

  Gunshots rattled closer.

  ‘Last chance, Private.’

  ‘What in hell’s name is going on, Commander?’ Riess cried.

  Lesper spied the frightened soldier's holstered blaster. He grasped it and smashed Riess over the back of the skull. He fell to his knees, clutching his head.

  ‘Stupid boy,’ he said, and he turned and staggered onto the Nyx. He slammed the palm of his hand onto the control. The ramp closed behind.

  The craft was powered up and standing by, ready to leave. Lesper fastened himself in and engaged the primary gates above, releasing the shuttle’s clamps and inhibitors. He smiled as the ship's clamps retracted from the bay and he lifted up and out through another level. Leaving Erebus behind. Sitting back in the pilot's seat he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He had made it.

  A noise sounded behind him. An awful smell knocked him sick. He didn't look. He couldn't. Then he heard it. A chilling rattle. A shadow loomed. And with it came a cold, gut-wrenching hiss.

  * * *

  Stopped dead in his tracks, Araman Alwar’s mouth dropped and he fell to his knees. Through the tall hangar casement he could see the dark body of the Nyx drifting slowly away from the station. The only way off his nightmare was going, disappearing right in front of him. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  In his reflection Araman watched a tear run down the flushing contours of his face. Stunned and expressionless, he followed the ship as it raced away. Very quickly, however, the Nyx began to move strangely, thrusters pouring from every point, tilting its face from one direction to another, until it began to descend. The wrong way. Down towards the lightning planet below.