Scrapyard Ship 3 Space Vengeance (27 page)

Ricket now stood before Commander Han Di. “The clustering of Dreadnaughts … which one would have supervisory systems command?”

“
This one, of course,” said Commander Han Di. Then he turned to Jason. “I ask one thing in return, Captain.”

“
You mean above and beyond your life?”

“
I ask that I remain in command. Under your orders, of course.”

“
And you expect me to … what, simply trust you?” Jason asked.

“
Captain, change has been coming to the Craing for some time now. We know you have been to our home worlds; you know of the dissent there, yes?”

Jason shrugged.

“
Plundering, killing off complete species, races of other intelligent life forms, with little thought of repercussions—it sickens me. It sickens many.”

“
There’s other ways to instigate change, other than joining the side of your enemy,” Jason replied.

“
You are not the enemy; our enemy lies within our own culture. And someday, when things have changed, I will return home.”

“
You don’t want to cross me, Commander Han Di. But for now, this is your vessel. Instruct all hands to put down their arms and do as they’re told.”

“
We’ll need to open communications immediately, before there are any more suspicions,” Commander Han Di said. “And please return my medallion.”

Jason looked to Ricket. “What do you think?”

“
There is little we risk by going along with it, and much to gain. I suggest we trust him, for now.”

Jason found the red medallion among the others on the floor. He picked it up, looked over at Commander Han Di, and said, “Here, catch.”

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Tension was high, but all was relatively quiet on board The Lilly, still stationed outside the Dreadnaught’s bridge in the vessel’s primary corridor. The command to the three Dreadnaughts to cluster had been given by Commander Han Di. Each vessel now moved on an intercept course and would unite with the others within the next hour. Jason put Seaman Gordon on Comms to closely monitor all Craing fleet intership communications. The Lilly’s presence, and that of the other Mau ships lying within Han Di’s Dreadnaught, had not been detected.

Jason sat in the command chair as the same question kept nagging at him. Why had Granger and the Caldurians gone to all the trouble of installing the communications equipment for the interface only to screw with them in the end? Then he thought about the Crystal City: a virtual ghost ship that had used the same interface wormhole-type travel—but how? Who on board had requested the in-and-out points? Everyone on board had died, yet someone had remotely transported it across space … but who?

The logistical view above him showed the three Dreadnaughts moving closer together. From what Jason understood, once clustered together the three Dreadnaughts’ central corridors would be opened, thereby creating one huge continuous corridor between vessels. At that point, Jason would unleash the might of the Red and Grey rhino-warriors, the SEAL teams, and The Lilly itself. He’d continue using his previous success method of fighting battles from within, and stake claim to the other two Dreadnaughts just as he had this one.

“
Captain. We’re being hailed. Deep space, unknown contact, sir,” Seaman Jeffery Gordon said.

“
On screen, Seaman.”

Granger’s face appeared on the display; this time he wasn’t smiling. Sweat glistened from his brow and something seemed amiss about the scene behind him.

“
Jason, I do apologize for the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in.”

“
And what, Granger, is that situation?” Jason asked, doing his best to keep his temper in check.

“
You, there, facing insurmountable odds against the Craing fleet—and me, I guess you could say, I’ve been overruled. There’s been a change in policy and I need to adhere to a different set of standards. This is coming from the interface—not from me, and not from the Caldurians. I do apologize.”

“
Time is short, Granger. What exactly does that mean for the Allied fleet?”

“
It means we will no longer provide technology to alien races, namely yours and the Craing. To go against the interface is not advantageous for Caldurians’ long-term wellbeing.”

“
And what about the Craing? They’re no longer considered a threat?”

“
Oh, they’re most definitely a threat. This isn’t a one or the other situation. It’s both.”

“
You made promises. Lives are at stake.”

Granger did not respond.

“
I told you once, Granger, you don’t want me for your enemy.”

“
It’s out of my hands. I am not your enemy, but if that is what you want, I can live with that. The chances of our meeting again are quite slim. You wouldn’t even know which universe to find me in. Good luck, Jason. I mean that.”

“
The connection is broken, Captain,” Seaman Gordon reported.

Fuming, Jason looked up to see Ricket standing at his side.

“
A most unfortunate situation, Captain,” Ricket said. “But I think I may have an idea.”

“
How to find Granger?”

“
No, not Granger. How to find, or at least contact, the interface.”

* * *

Jason, with Ricket in tow, ported to Deck 2 and together they entered the Zoo. They made a beeline for the Drapple’s habitat.

Jack, broom in hand, waved from the far end of the hall. The window portal for the Drapple was among the most dramatic of all the habitats: as if an ocean’s width spanned unchecked before him, the crystal-clear aqua water was void of any movement. Jason, feeling checked anger return, pounded on the portal.

“
Can I help you, Captain?” Jack asked, looking up from his sweeping.

“
How do I get the Drapple to show up?”

“
He shows up when he wants. It’s not like I can ring a bell and he comes running.”

Jason glared at him for a moment before looking down at Ricket. “Do you have any ideas?”

“
Not really, Captain.”

Frustrated, Jason looked back to the habitat and nearly jumped out of his boots. There before him was the Drapple.

“
Can he hear me?”

“
If this organism, or whatever they call it, is actually tied to the interchange, I would suspect yes,” replied Ricket.

“
Are you the one called the interface?”

The bottom portion of the six-foot-long worm swayed back and forth in the water. Slowly the Drapple turned to face Jason, its features serious.

The portal window began to vibrate and, similar to how a radio frequency is tuned in—full of static and weaker at first, but then stronger and clearer, a strong voice emanated into the Zoo. The interface was speaking.

“
We are not one, but many. Yes, an aspect of our existence spends time here. This aquatic environment comforts us. But, more importantly, physical existence here among your kind enables us to watch your progress. Humans are such an intriguing species.”

“
So you are aware of our situation. Our efforts to stop the Craing fleet?” Jason asked.

“
Of course. It is an unfortunate one. But such is the nature of wars.”

“
Will you help me?”

“
Your kind, not unlike the Craing, are slowly evolving. Soon you will outgrow the necessity of fighting amongst yourselves.”

“
Like the Caldurians.”

“
Yes, the Caldurians outgrew fighting petty wars, killing each other, some time ago.”

“
Look, we only want to stop the Craing. We’re not warmongers here; we’re defending worlds from being annihilated—our own world from being annihilated.”

“
We cannot position ourselves in between your conflict with the Craing. Society is at a turning point—at an evolutionary crossroads.”

“
Well, that’s not happening nearly fast enough. Their fleet of two thousand warships is poised to destroy more planets, complete stellar systems. I’m not going to let that happen. And let me add one more thing: by diverting the Allied fleet, you didn’t save lives, you cost them.”

The interface did not respond to this, seeming to weigh Jason’s words.

“
In simple terms, what I provide is access. There are reasons why I don’t interface with emerging societies that would use that capability as a weapon. This puts us in a difficult position.”

Ricket took a step closer and put his hand on the portal. “I’ve been told this capability is not unique to the interface. That it’s actually quite simple once one knows the corresponding, universal, mathematical properties.”

“
The word simple is relative. What is simple for one society may be virtually impossible for another. Although the Caldurians have made strides moving about the multiverse, they still do not have the capability to generate unique kinds of sustainable wormholes which would support travel across the universe.”

“
I don’t believe you’re willing to stand by while millions, if not billions, of lives are lost. Perhaps, though, you are willing to compromise? Provide Ricket with the basic mathematical properties, the formula, if you will. If we’re not advanced enough to make heads or tails out of it, then we’re obviously not ready for its implementation, and we’ll make the best of a bad situation,” Jason added.

The Drapple was quick to respond: “We are not withholding that information. It is not ours to withhold. But we will agree to provide this information. A transfer to your internal memory stores is now in process. We wish you well.”

With that, the Drapple leisurely swam away.

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Teardrop was on the move, its energy weapon protruding from the open plate at the center of its body.

“
Warning! Outside security perimeter has been breached. Weapons fire detected. Plasma turret has been destroyed.”

“
Mom! Can’t you get it to shut up?” Molly screamed above all the racket. “How many times does it have to say the same thing?”

Nan and Mollie huddled together as they watched the multiple security feeds up on the TV monitor. Once Stalls had walked around the outside perimeter of the house, he returned to his shuttle. Several minutes later he came out wearing a battle suit and holding a large energy weapon.

Stalls moved from one window to the next, pulling and prying at the metal security shutters. Eventually he concentrated on the largest window shutter at the back of the house. Using the butt of his weapon he continued to pound at it over and over. With little impact on the shutter, Stalls took several steps backward and fired; plasma bolts shook the house and left blackened scorch marks. The firing stopped as Stalls moved in to check the damage.

Nan watched as the tall pirate became more and more enraged. He began to use the butt of his rifle again. He stopped, out of breath, and looked up to the roofline. He raised his rifle and fired. Shingles flew into the air, some of them catching on fire.

The sounds from within the house were deafening.

“
Teardrop!” Nan yelled. “He’s shooting at the roof. The roof is coming apart!”

Teardrop, now behind them, was also looking at the security feeds.

“
He will soon find that the sub-roof is covered in metal plating,” Teardrop said, moving about the great room and rising up toward the ceiling. “No structural breach detected.”

With a large section of the roof shingles blown away exposing the metal plates beneath, Stalls stopped firing and stood back. Then he was gone, heading back toward his shuttle.

“
Is he leaving, Mom? Has he given up?” Mollie asked.

“
I don’t know, Mollie. Maybe.”

In seconds the shuttle was back airborne and hovering over the pool. Its primary energy weapon came alive, concentrating its fire on the security shutters at the back of the house.

“
Structural breach in process, structural breach in process.”

Both sliding glass windows shattered as the security shutters went from a glowing amber color to a bright white. Intense heat emanated in waves into the kitchen and back into the great room. The large metal shutters disintegrated. Nan and Mollie ran for cover seeing the shuttle hovering before them behind the newly exposed rear of the house.

Nan watched as Teardrop moved with amazing speed, taking up a defensive position at the rear of the house. Nan, who had felt unsure if it would be able to defend them against the pirate’s shuttle, now felt some hope. Teardrop fired a continual barrage of plasma bolts into the belly of the hovering craft. The shuttle fired back, but Teardrop was so quick, darting from one position to the next, that the only thing Stalls could accomplish was further destruction to the house itself.

Teardrop rose into the air and moved in closer to the craft, concentrating its fire-power on a singular spot on the hull.

The shuttle continued to fire back and Teardrop was struck multiple times, destroying one of its arms, and then it suffered a direct hit to its energy weapon. Several more energy bolts struck the drone and Teardrop fell from the air into the pool, where it immediately sank to the bottom.

“
Mom!”

“
I know, I saw,” Nan said back, never taking her eyes off the hovering shuttle. Both Nan and Mollie crouched low, hiding behind the wall next to the fireplace.

“
What’s he want, Mom? Why’s he doing this to us?”

“
I don’t know. He’s a bad man. But we’re going to show him he can’t get away with it, right?”

“
AI, are you there?” Nan yelled above the sound of the hovering shuttle.

There was no response.

“
Bag End, Mom, remember?”

“
Are you there, Bag End?” Nan tried again.

“
Yes, I am here, Nan Reynolds.”

“
What can you do to help us … to defend us against the intruder?”

“
Security deterrents within the premises are active and functional.”

“
What about outside; is there anything else you can do?” Nan asked, taking another quick peek around the corner.

“
With the destruction of the plasma turret, there are no additional external weapons available.”

The shuttle was on the move again. Nan and Mollie listened as it moved over the house and landed on the driveway.

Nan reached over and pulled the small energy weapon from the holster at Mollie’s side.

“
You remember how to shoot this, Mollie? You remember what Orion taught you?”

“
I think so. But those were targets, not a real person.”

“
I know, sweetie, but you saw what that bad man did to Teardrop. We’re both going to have to be brave. Can you do that?”

“
I think so,” Mollie replied, not sounding all that certain.

Crawling on hands and knees they moved back away from the wall to get a better look at the security feeds on the TV monitor. The shuttle’s gangway had already been deployed and it took several seconds to see where Stalls had gone.

“
There he is,” Mollie said, pointing to one of the outside camera feeds.

Nan pulled out her own pistol and ensured that the safety was off and that it was set to its maximum charge. Mollie watched and did the same on her own weapon.

“
He’s coming around to the back yard,” Nan whispered.

“
Bag End, as soon as you have a clear shot of the intruder, shoot that fucker. Don’t stop until he’s dead.”

Mollie looked up at her mother with wide eyes and then nodded her head in silent agreement.

“
Security defense mode has been set to lethal,” the AI replied.

They heard his footsteps before they saw him. It became apparent Stalls was carefully making his way around to the back of the house, not taking any chances.

“
He’s right there, Mom,” Mollie whispered, never taking her eyes off the exposed back of the house.

“
Okay, shhhh, be very quiet now.”

His shadow moved across the deck like a stealthy black cat. When he finally came into view, he was no longer wearing his battle suit. Nan knew why. He wanted her to see him. His inflated ego had taken precedence over basic common smarts. Wearing snug-fitting black trousers and a dress shirt, he looked ridiculous. His long black hair was now free, falling all the way down his back. He was at the pool and looking down at Teardrop; she guessed he wanted to make sure the drone was truly out of commission. Satisfied, Stalls stood up tall and turned toward the direction of the house. Smiling, he brushed his hair back one more time and headed for the broken sliding glass doors. Safety glass crunched under the soles of his boots. He hesitated, peered inside and took a tentative step forward.

Nan felt Mollie tense, her breathing had increased and she knew her heart was about to beat right out of her chest. She held a finger to her lips and put her attention back on Stalls. Her mind raced: why doesn’t the AI just shoot him?

Stalls, now more relaxed, let the muzzle of his rifle drop several inches. Realizing he was on his way into the great room where they would be instantly seen, Nan pointed for Mollie to hurry and crawl backward out of sight. Nan stood and held her weapon at the ready.

He entered the great room twenty feet away and smiled when he saw her.

“
Hello, Nan. I am happy, so very happy, to see you again.”

She didn’t respond, only held his stare and waited for him to get a little closer. She had practiced, along side Mollie, getting better with hitting the center zone of the targets, but … as Mollie had pointed out … they were only targets.