Enemy One (Epic Book 5) (81 page)

The view screen split, with the camera taking up one half while the other showed an overlay of the star system, complete with both the Noboat and the unknown alien spaceship’s location. They were along the star system’s outer rim, somewhere between the orbit of what looked like two gas giants. The star system realigned itself on the screen to show each of the planets, of which Svetlana counted seven. On four of the planets, all of which were in the system’s inner zone, pulsing green indicators blinked.

Radio signals. Over half of the star system was colonized. Goosebumps erupted on Svetlana’s skin as the ramifications of this came to her.

Nagogg’s attention, however, was on the spacecraft. The camera side of the split screen expanded until it once again took up the entire view. The chieftain pointed. “Leave the Zone and activate the wheel! Place them in the updraft and prepare for attack.”

The wheel? Place them in the updraft? Svetlana didn’t know what any of that meant. Wuteel acknowledged through the speaker system as the Noboat’s cabin lights shifted from dark blue, to red, then to white. Svetlana remembered that sequence well: they’d just materialized.

“The wheel, the wheel!” Nagogg said, rasping loudly into the comm. “Activate now!”

There was a shimmy, then the familiar pull of gravity kicked in. Svetlana’s hair fell in front of her face as she looked up at the view screen. What was happening?

“They are in the updraft!” said Nik-nish.

Nagogg shot a look to Gabralthaar. “Aim for the thrusters, but only fire a single shot—I do not want to risk the spacecraft being destroyed.” His eyes narrowed.

Acknowledging, Gabralthaar engaged the Noboat’s tactical computer. A target reticule appeared on the camera, sliding across the screen until it appeared near the spacecraft’s thrusters. As soon as it was in position, it pulsed red.

“I am prepared to fire, lord,” said the titan.

“Nik-nish,” said Nagogg, “prepare docking clamps.”

Docking clamps? Svetlana wasn’t aware that Noboats even had such a thing. The chieftain continued.

“Perform a scan of the spacecraft.”

Turning back to his controls, Nik-nish’s fingers tapped on his chair’s side panel. Moments later, an overlay of the ship appeared. “The crew is congregated around the center of the vessel, lord.”

“Bring us atop that location.”

Nik-nish acknowledged. “Yes, lord.”

“Prepare to fire and dock!” Raising his hand into the air, Nagogg signaled to the screen. “Fire.”

Svetlana watched as the Noboat’s forward plasma cannon erupted, a single shot flying toward the unidentified spacecraft and smashing against its hull right ahead of its thrusters. The spacecraft was rocked to the side, the glow of its thrusters fading as it began a flat spin. Immediately, Nagogg rose from his chair.

“Materialize and dock! Ka`vesh, Gabralthaar, prepare to board! Use the Earthaes’ weaponry to take as many as you can, then return.”

At the mention of Earthae weaponry, Svetlana raised an eyebrow. It could only have been a reference to pistols or assault rifles. Glancing behind her at the sound of weapons behind handled, her assumption was affirmed. Each henchman was now holding an E-35.

“Kraash-nagun,” Nagogg said, “prepare the brig for the arrival of new subjects.”

Hesitating for a moment, Kraash-nagun dipped his head. “Uladek speaks.” The blinded elite walked out of the door.

All at once, the reality of the situation came to her. She was about to lay witness to the ambush of an unsuspecting alien species. These beings, whoever or whatever they were, knew nothing of the Bakma—at least not judging by Nagogg’s claim of the Akaarist Quadrant being unexplored. Her heart rate increasing, she watched the view screen as the Noboat drew closer.

The angle of their approach changed. The alien spacecraft drifted out of view as the Noboat’s nose pitched to the starboard. The view screen shifted, a camera view from the side of the spacecraft taking up the screen. The alien spacecraft appeared again, drawing closer and closer as the Noboat neared it. Over the screen, a rapidly shrinking reticule appeared, growing smaller with each meter the Noboat drew near. They were lining up to dock.

A torrent of new knowledge poured into her mind, her connection with Ed pulsing as the specifics of what was happening were relayed. Seconds later, Svetlana knew exactly what was going on.

This was how the Bakma ambushed their prey. The same antechamber door that EDEN operatives stormed countless times in Bakma Noboats was the same one the Bakma warriors would storm the alien vessel through. A part of the hull would extend and attach itself to the spacecraft, then it would bore a hole through the hull. The end result would be a walkable bridge. When the operation was finished, the bridge would close and retract, leaving the hull of their victims’ ships compromised. At that stage, though, it didn’t matter—at least not to the Bakma. They’d have whatever prize it was that they sought.

Turning her head, Svetlana watched as Gabralthaar, Ka`vesh, and Uguul prepared to disembark. Marching toward the bridge exit, the three warriors disappeared from view. Svetlana watched the bridge view screen shift from a view of the alien spacecraft to one of the antechamber itself as the three Bakma drifted into it. Readying themselves against the antechamber wall, they waited for the external bridge to expand.

Again, the camera split, one half of it showing the bridge as it drew steadily nearer to the alien spacecraft’s hull. Nik-nish appeared to be guiding it from his pilot’s seat, his gnarled fingers manipulating a tiny joystick built into the console. With each subtle twitch, the angle of the extending bridge changed ever so slightly. At long last, it impacted the hull, resulting in the faintest of vibrations in the Noboat. “We are attached, lord,” he said to Nagogg. “Cracking the hull.”

Nagogg rasped through the Noboat’s speaker system. “If there are discernable males and females, take at least one of each!”

That was exactly what the Khuladi would want—a male and a female to control breeding. With just one pair of whatever this alien species was, they’d be able to begin breeding servants. Why Nagogg was so hell-bent on capturing these specimens was becoming clearer and clearer. This wouldn’t just be a boon to offer to Uladek—this would be something that could fundamentally change the Khuladi family of slave species.

“Hull opened!” said Nik-nish.

Rising from his chair, Nagogg walked forward until he was floating just behind the pilot, his bulbous eyes locked onto the screen view of the antechamber, which shifted to take up the whole monitor again. “May Chaos guide you, brethren,” he said.

Svetlana fidgeted in her clasps. If there was ever a moment where escape would be feasible, it would be now. Three of the warriors were out of the bridge, and Nagogg’s attention was somewhere else. If only she could budge, even to the faintest degree. But it was no use. The clasps held her firmly to the floor.

The magnetic key. If she could get her hands on that—if someone like Ed or Kraash-nagun could bring it to her—a jailbreak could happen. Glancing behind her as far as her neck was able to turn, she locked eyes with the Ithini.
Ed, bring me the key! Now is our chance to escape. Where is it?

They key was in the possession of Ka`vesh. Its current location is unknown to me.

Then get in Ka`vesh’s mind and locate it. You must do this, Ed. This is our chance.

The Ithini’s eyes widened with focus.
Ka`vesh is strong-minded. He will detect the siphon.

At this stage, it didn’t matter. There was no chance the warrior would abandon their “ordained” assault on the alien spacecraft to investigate a siphon. This was go time.
Do it now, Ed. If he detects it, so be it.

A sense of acknowledgment came to Svetlana, and the Ithini’s eyes widened ever so slightly. He was making the attempt.

Closing her eyes, Svetlana prayed.
Please let this work. God. If this is our moment, let the whereabouts of the key be made known.
Opening her eyes, Svetlana’s attention returned to the camera. The antechamber door opened. Amid a flurry of weapons fire from inside the alien spacecraft, the three Bakma charged.

The siphon has failed
, Ei`dorinthal conveyed.
Ka`vesh is out of my range.

Her heart sinking, Svetlana stared helplessly at the monitor. There was not going to be a better time than this, when three of their warriors were gone. The only enemy combatants left were Nagogg and Nik-nish. She, Ed, and Kraash-nagun outnumbered them—if the blinded elite could be contacted while he was preparing the brig. Even Mishka might turn to their side. They had to get that key
now
. There had to be a way.

The rattling of the assault rifles reverberated from beyond the antechamber, as did the pulsing sound of another kind of weapon—one that sounded vaguely projectile itself.
Beat them
, she thought to the unknown aliens.
Beat back these vile creatures. Fight them with all the ferocity you can muster.
Again, her attention shifted to Ed. Her mind refocusing on her Ithini connection, she addressed Ed again.
Can you link my mind with Kraash-nagun’s?

Though I can maintain a connection at a distance, I cannot initiate one unless he is present.

Under her breath, Svetlana cursed.
You must find that key, Ed. You must! Look at his console. Walk over to it and see if it is there! I can keep my eyes on Nagogg.
The Bakma chieftain was thoroughly invested in the view screen. He wouldn’t even think to look back at Ed.

A sensation swept over Svetlana that was not her own, though she recognized it well. It ran deep inside of her—it was almost stomach-turning. Looking back at Ei`dorinthal, she saw that the Ithini was standing rigidly in place.

He was afraid.

Svetlana’s heart pounded as she observed the alien.
Ed, you can do this. It is easy. Go walk, then see.

Detection will lead to termination. Nagogg will not be merciful.

It was the first time that Svetlana had been in the position of encourager for something like this. She had to convince him to do it. She had to give him that courage.
This is for our future, Ei`dorinthal. For yours, and for mine, and for Kraash-nagun and Tauthinilaas’s. This is for all of us who yearn to be free.
The alien was thoroughly vexed—his emotions were bouncing around her heart. She had never imagined that an Ithini could feel them so strongly. Feel
fear
so strongly. But she knew he could do it.

I cannot do this.

You can. You must!
The gunfire in the antechamber grew louder; she looked back to the view screen, where plumes of gun exhaust drifted. They’d be back soon—the time to act was right now. Svetlana whipped her head back to Ed.
Do this now, Ed! I am your master. You will obey me.

Turning his head to Ka`vesh’s console, the Ithini hesitated.

Do this, Ei`dorinthal! Do this before it is too late. You will not fail, I promise you.

It happened almost too quickly for Svetlana to register—so quickly that she actually blinked. In one second, Ei`dorinthal was rooted timidly into the floor. In the next, he was walking across the back of the bridge toward Ka`vesh’s console. Before she registered that he was actually doing it, the Ithini was standing directly behind the very controls that Ka`vesh had been manipulating, his oval eyes poring over the console with reckless obsession. Closing her eyes again, Svetlana prayed.

Let him find this, God. Use this Ithini. Save Your child who yearns for You.

Adrenaline swelled within her as she stared back at Nagogg, then at the view screen, where the shadows of the Bakma warriors could be seen through the haze. Their time was almost up. Looking back at Ei`dorinthal, she waited for his moment of discovery. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that it was about to happen.

Ed stopped. The Ithini placed his hands on the edges of the console, then gravely set his eyes back on her. The message was relayed.
The key is not here.

Svetlana’s face fell. That was impossible. The key had to be there. She hadn’t seen Ka`vesh go anywhere else. Every time Nagogg asked him to release her clamps and Mishka’s, he went straight from that console to them. There was no other place the key could be. Unless…

…unless it was on him.

Her heart sank. Was the key actually
on
Ka`vesh?
On
the alien spacecraft that the warrior was assaulting? It was the only possibility there could be. All of a sudden, her desire for the unknown species to kill the Bakma was turned on its head. The Bakma warriors
needed
to be victorious—at least enough so for Ka`vesh to make it back to the Noboat. If he died there—if Nagogg was forced to detach and leave him behind—Svetlana was doomed. She’d be clamped to that metal floor until she reached Khuldaris.

Ed slunk back to his spot in the back of the bridge, Nagogg completely unaware of his little side mission. Despite Svetlana’s new sense of panic, she could feel the Ithini’s relief at not having been caught. Staving off her negativity for a moment, she found it within herself to commend him.
You did all that you could, Ei`dorinthal. I thank you.

Ed didn’t reply. He simply stared ahead blankly as if he’d just survived a plane crash. The Ithini’s little heart was taxed.

Svetlana turned back to the view screen. Flinging her hair from her face, she watched as movement came to the antechamber. Something—Bakma or alien—was coming on board. The blond medic held her breath.

A body was flung inside the Noboat. Moments later, there came another, rolling along the floor like a lifeless corpse until it moved completely out of view. Amid the spark of weapons fire, two Bakma figures emerged, backtracking into the antechamber as glowing white projectiles flew around them from inside the alien spaceship. Their body types made them instantly recognizable. It was Gabralthaar and Uguul. Ka`vesh was nowhere to be seen.

Oh my God,
Svetlana thought.
No…

A third Bakma appeared. It was Ka`vesh. Through rapidly clearing smoke, he flung a third alien body into the antechamber then dropped to a knee, whipping up the assault rifle to return fire.