STAR HOUNDS -- OMNIBUS (54 page)

“Like maybe one of those Jaxdron-tailored Cal clones.”

“How’d you know about those?”

“It’s a long story. But Cal … It really is you? We’ve come such a long way … It’s so hard to believe!”

“You think that’s hard to believe?” He gestured toward what lay beyond the portal. “That’s what’s hard to believe.”

“That’s Omega Space?” said Gemma Naquist, drifting forward. “That’s what we’ve been searching for all this time?”

“It looks like Kansas!” said Arkm Thur.

“No. Definitely more like Oz.” He turned around and looked in. “Hey, Ratham. Your friends are here. Come on through.”

And Ratham Bey struggled through, looking much the same as he had when he had fallen into the center of the Frin’ral ship.

“Hi, guys,” he said. “Thanks for showing up.” He peered around. “What about the robots?”

“I think we destroyed most of them,” said Arkm Thur.

“A wonderful thought. But the Jaxdron … what about them?”

“I’ve met the suckers. They’re much too weak on their own to be any threat,” said Cal.

“We should find them before they do something else,” said Laura. “Like maybe escape.”

She quickly alerted the
Starbow
, reporting on what had happened, and then informing them about the possibility of a Jaxdron escape.

“Oh, that’s okay,” Captain Northern’s voice crackled. “I’ve just taken the liberty of finding the vessels. They won’t fly more than two meters now.”

Cal clapped his hands together. “Wonderful! Can anyone let me borrow their gun? I’ve got a few repayments to make here.”

“No, Cal. We’ve got to capture them. Alive, they’ll tell us a lot.”

Cal’s eyes got big and wicked-looking. “Yeah!”

“Can you keep this portal open for a while, Cal?”

“Oh, sure …. As long as my brain is plugged into the clone array.” His face grew concerned. “We’d better hurry. They might try to destroy it.”

“We’ll station a couple of robots here,” Laura said. “You’d better come and show us where the Jaxdron are, Cal.”

“No problem. Bey, you stay here. Any problem, just sic Bugs on ‘em like I showed you.”

“How did you do that?” Laura asked.

“I’ll tell you later. It has a lot to do with Omega Space.”

“Right,” said Laura. “I’d give you a kiss, but this helmet is hell to get out of.”

“It’ll keep. Let’s go!”

Bey grinned. “Can I make my own monster next time?”

L
aura and her comrades crept through the halls, looking for any sign of the Jaxdron or their robots. It was quiet—perhaps too quiet.

Cal listened to Laura’s story of how the
Starbow
had surprised the Jaxdron. “They must have been so wrapped up in trying to figure out how to use my clone matrix to get their tails into Omega Space, they didn’t guard them properly,” he said. “Anyway, my evaluation of them is that they’re really not the fierce beasties the Federation has been touting them as. They’re not exactly on my list of favorite things in the universe, though … ”

“Yeah,” said Laura.

They threaded their way though silent corridors, following the directions that Cal had given them. Several minutes passed. Laura breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe the Jaxdron weren’t the heavy hitters everyone thought they were! She relaxed as they negotiated the last bit, turning amused thoughts to a roomful of Calspar Shemzaks.

But the Jaxdron had not left themselves unguarded. There were twelve of them, Robots. Significantly superior to the others, capable no doubt of all kinds of mayhem. The search party stopped short, bringing up their weapons.

The robots advanced, aiming particle weapons at the party. Laura caught her breath, cursing her stupidity. But the metal army did not fire. Laura was more than surprised when one well-armed robot stepped forward and spoke.

“Greetings, Humans of the
Starbow
. How very well played! A most remarkable Game. We despise losing, but of course, in recapturing the principal playing piece, Cal Shemzak, you have accomplished a remarkable endgame, and we arc forced to resign. So now, if you take Mr. Shemzak wherever you like, we can repair our ships and be on our way, never to bother you again.”

“That’s what you think, buster!” Laura let the spokesrobot have it with a scorching pulse of energy. Lethal rays sizzled through the air.

“Cal!” called Laura to her unarmored brother. “Get back. Around the corner!”

Cal pivoted wide-eyed to run, but slipped. A robot arm swiveled automatically, tracking the action. Its gun barrel was glowing, getting ready to fire. Laura was too far away to be of any help.

“Cal!” she screamed, tracking her own beam toward the enemy robot.

In a flash, though, another armor suit was hurtling toward Cal. The robot weapon unleashed its energies—and the battle suit caught them full in the back of its neck.

It was Chivon Lasster’s suit! The blast knocked off a few attachments and sent Chivon spinning head over heels to crash into a wall. Cursing, Laura swung her beamer the rest of the way, blowing off the Jaxdron robot’s head.

“Chivon!” cried Arkm Thur, dodging a beam and letting one of his own slam into the enemy. He bounded back to where the former Friend lay in a heap against a wall.

“Ouch!” said Chivon Lasster. Even from where she stood, Laura could see the blood running from her mouth. “I thought these things were supposed to absorb the blows … ”

“Are you all right, Lasster?” Laura shouted above the sizzling din of weapons fire.

“Just banged up!”

Thur was bending over her. “She’s more than that,” he said, reading a dial. “But her vitals are strong.”

“Can she walk?” Laura blasted a robot, moving behind one of her own.

“Sure,” said Chivon, her voice weaker.

“Well, get her back to a pinnace and ferry her back to the
Starbow
. And, Chivon … ”

“Yes?”

“You die and I’m going to kick your butt.”

“Thanks, Laura. I don’t think I could take that indignity.”

Laura covered them as they staggered off back to the pinnace.

“Hey, they could have left me one of those suits!” said Cal. “I feel naked.”

“Shut up and stay out of range,” said Laura, readjusting her weapon’s power output. “We’ve got a little blasting to do!”

Energy rays sliced through the air. Laura was more than thankful for her battle armor as she again entered the fray. Rays caromed off walls, splattering molten metal. Laura shouted encouragement to Gemma Naquist and their robots. “Let’s crush these tin cans!” she cried, aiming at a Jaxdron robot. The energy beam coursed from her gun, blowing the robot to pieces. She turned quickly, fired from the hip and reduced another to scrap. Gemma took out another.

As the smoke cleared over the burning wreckage and insulation, Laura could see that all the Jaxdron robots had been wrecked. Mish’s robots must have been of superior design, because only three more, including Eisenhower, alas, had been casualties, their parts and burning bits mingled with the enemy’s.

“How’s Lasster doing?” Laura called into Thur.

“We’re in the pinnace,” Thur answered. “I’ve got most of her suit off, and we’re applying first aid. She’s still conscious. Burns, a concussion maybe. I think a broken rib. Nothing Mish won’t be able to heal.”

“Good. I owe her. And so does Cal, the miserable klutz.”

Cal stepped from behind a corner, waving away the smoke. “Sorry.”

“I should have sent you back with them.”

“You can’t, remember? I have to lead you to the Jaxdron chamber.”

“Well then, that’s what you’ll have to do.”

Cal picked up Chivon’s fallen rifle. “Just in case!”

Laura waited for the floor to cool down before she ordered the survivors to advance into the next chamber.

They found the Jaxdron in their float-fields. Laura was surprised at how funny looking they were.

“You jerks are about as fearsome-looking as sideshow critters!” She stood in the middle of the room, gun up and ready. “Consider yourself prisoners of war!” she said.

The Jaxdron raised their probosci simultaneously.

“A gesture of surrender?” Laura asked the others.

“No, Laura Shemzak,” said the middle Jaxdron. “A gesture of bemusement. You play your games in very strange ways. We have resigned, and yet you destroy our servants, making us helpless.”

“This is no game!!” said Laura. “And we’re going to put an end to the other games you’ve been playing as well!”

“Are those the conditions of our defeat?”

The comband sputtered on. Gemma lifted her unit and responded. Captain Northern’s voice sounded.

“
Starbow
to raiding party,
Starbow
to raiding party. Over.”

“Raiding party, we read you,” said Naquist. “And we’ve got our guns trained on a bunch of strange-looking creatures who are apparently the Jaxdron. You want us to bring them aboard?”

“Negative. Leave them there. Mish’s orders. He’s got an idea.”

“An idea?” Laura said, angry.

“Yes. Seems that because of all this, we may well actually be able to use the Jaxdron. They’re probably pretty pissed at the Federation, by now. They might want to war in earnest with ole Zarpfrin and the Best Buddies. And we don’t have time to take any captives. Get Cal Shemzak and Ratham Bey, and bring them back immediately.”

“After all this trouble, you just want us to let them go?” Laura said disbelievingly. “What’s the problem?”

“Sensors have indicated a number of starships approaching Snar’shill. We are presuming them to be a Federation fleet.”

“So soon?” Laura said.

“How long have we got?”

“Not long. Okay?”

“But what about the Jaxdron?”

“Just leave them. Let the Federation deal with them. Oh … and you’re going to have a visitor. I’m sending Shontill out. He can join his people now.”

“Right, Captain. Over and out.” She glared up at the aliens. “You jerks are in luck. We apparently are ending the game the way you want!”

“Excellent! We thought you would come around to the natural way of looking at things,” replied the Jaxdron spokesman.

“So you’d better just sit there and be good or we will just go ahead and blow this place apart!”

“Understood.”

“Come on, Gemma. You too, Cal.”

Calspar Shemzak was staring at his weapon. “There’s something wrong with this thing, Laura. And I don’t want it to not work if we meet up with more robots.”

He fiddled with a lever. “I … ”

Suddenly, an intense blast of energy cut through the air from the nozzle. It smashed into the Jaxdron leader. The creature exploded, fiery bits and pieces flying all over the others. Their float-fields destroyed, the others crashed to the floor and scrambled to get away.

“Oops!” said Cal.

Laura stepped forward and snatched the rifle from Cal’s grasp. She stared at him for a moment. “You’re going to have to learn to follow orders from now on, Cal.” She nodded sadly at him, understanding in her eyes. Then she turned to the others. “Right. My orders are not to report this incident.” She spun on her heel and motioned for the others to follow her back to the room in which they had left Ratham Bey.

“Y
ou found them?” asked Ratham Bey when Laura and the others returned.

“You bet.” She smiled smugly.

“What happened? What did you do?”

“Nothing. No time. We’ve gotta get out of here. Federation ships closing in.”

“You didn’t kill them?”

“Okay,” said Cal. “I guess we’d better split.”

At that moment, Shontill arrived in a very agitated state.

“My people … this portal … ah!” he said, seeing the opening before him.

“I take it this is Shontill?” Cal asked Ratham.

“He’s changed a bit,” Ratham said, unable to hide his astonishment.

“Yeah. Would have changed permanently if not for Dr. Mish,” said Laura. “Well, Shontill. That’s it. Jump on through if you like. Cal tells me that’s where your people are. Good luck.”

The alien turned to Cal and to Laura. “This … is the one … you call your … brother?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I owe you both … much.”

“No problem,” said Laura.

“They’ve been expecting you,” said Cal. “I think you’re going to have a great time.”

And then Shontill did something that shocked Laura.

He smiled.

“I shall see you … again. That … I know.”

So saying, he spun and leapt through the portal. A burst of energy and gas vented out in every direction. Then all was still. The portal had finally closed.

“Maybe sooner than you think,” said Cal.

L
aura fled her pinnace the moment it was docked in the
Starbow’s
main docking bay, grabbing Cal’s hand and pulling him along. Klaxons reverberated through the corridors, and the call to battle stations sounded. Laura and Cal sprinted to the nearest lift, trying to get to the bridge as quickly as possible.

They leaned against the walls of the lift, panting. Shortly, she turned to him. “I know you’re not really my brother, Cal.”

Cal was dumb struck. “Huh?”

“My good pal Zarpfrin told me. We’ll talk about it later.”

“But you are my sister … ”

She glared at him. “I said, we’ll talk about it when we have more time.” She kissed him on the cheek. “But you know … It doesn’t make any difference … ”

C
aptain Northern met them on the bridge. “How is Chivon Lasster?” was the first thing Laura wanted to know.

“She’ll be okay. She’s in sickbay now. Arkm’s looking after her.” He turned to Cal. “So, you’re the infamous Cal Shemzak,” he said. “The real Cal Shemzak … ”

“Like I said, we had a little problem with a couple of those clones of yours,” Laura explained.

“It’s me!” said Cal. “And Captain, I just want to say that I truly appreciate all your help.”

“Right now I think we’d better concentrate on getting out of here,” said Northern. “It seems that we’ve run into some complications.”

“Complications?”

“Yes. Mish didn’t bother to tell us that we’d have to wait at least four hours to generate enough power to reenter Underspace from the surface of a planet.”

Mish’s voice piped up. “I was never asked, Captain!” The doctor strolled over, looking terribly unconcerned. “Besides, I had no way of foreseeing the arrival of a fleet of Federation ships.”

“Which are almost on top of us!” said Dansen Jitt. “We’ve got about a half hour at most before we’ll be within range of their guns.”

“Wonderful,” said Laura. “So we’ve come all this way only to get finally blasted away by the Federation!”

“We can always surrender,” said Cal.

“You don’t know what we’ve done to Zarpfrin,” said Laura. “His orders are probably to shoot first and ask for surrender later.”

“Laura’s right,” said Captain Northern. “But there has to be another way.”

“How long can our force screens hold out?” asked Cal.

“Not long.”

“You have not asked for my thoughts on the matter,” said Dr. Mish.

“You have an idea?”

“I was the one who suggested the mode of rescue that leaves us in this situation. It would seem likely, would it not, that I entertained various possibilities for modes of escape.”

“We’re all ears, Mish!” Laura exclaimed.

“Master Calspar … a question. I detect by my sensors that you are still capable of mental contact with the array of your clones gathered in the Jaxdron enclosure.”

Cal looked puzzled. “Really?”

“Give it a try.”

Cal shrugged and closed his eyes, concentrating.

His eyes shot open.

“Yes!”

“In what state are they now?”

“Normal.”

“And can you tell what the Jaxdron are doing?”

“They’re apparently working on some different kind of escape. A particular starship is being repaired.”

“Excellent. They are occupied, then, and will not interfere.”

“Interfere with what?” demanded Northern.

“You will understand soon enough, Captain.” He turned back to Cal. “I trust that since you have access to the clone matrix, you can still open the portal to Omega Space.”

“Yes, of course. But what good will that do us in escaping from a fleet of Federation ships?” Cal asked, plainly mystified.

“You forget that I have certain mental powers of my own. Perhaps enough to step up your own abilities.”

Laura understood. “You mean you’re gonna make that portal large enough to fly the whole
Starbow
through?”

“That was my intention, yes,” said Mish.

“It would be nice to consult with me. I
am
the captain!” said Northern.

Silver Zenyo called from the control board. “Captain! Federation ships approaching striking distance. Sensors indicate immediate deployment of photon jump missiles!”

“Get that damned hole open, Shemzak!” Northern ordered without batting an eye.

Cal sat down in a chair, shaking his head. “Any special way of doing this, Dr. Mish?”

“Just as before. Only do not limit the diameter of the portal.”

“Right.” Cal closed his eyes and began to concentrate.

“Now, Captain, if you would be so kind as to prepare the
Starbow
for a quick lateral movement via antigrav and thrusters … ”

“Right away!” Northern stepped over and began issuing the necessary orders.

“Anything I can do?” Laura wanted to know.

“Perhaps strap yourself in. This might be a bumpy ride,” returned Mish.

Laura obeyed, choosing a perch from which she could hear and observe all the proceedings. She was most concerned about Cal, also seated. Mish had strapped Cal in, and he sat tensely, his face working with unreadable emotions as he concentrated on the new goal facing him.

Mish had taken a place nearby. He clearly had lost all awareness of the construct, focusing entirely upon a central source of thought.

Laura felt helpless; she wanted to assist in some way, but knew there was nothing she could do. She turned her attention to the vu-screens depicting the Jaxdron compound. Nothing moved. No sign of change.

In just a few seconds bridge activity lessened. The crew awaited words of command from the captain. But plainly the captain had no words to issue at the moment; he sat in his chair, awaiting an opportunity to command.

“Captain,” said Tether Mayz at the communications terminal. “I’m getting a message from the Federation fleet. They’re trying to open a channel.”

“Not surprising. Put it on the speakers, Tether. Let’s see what they have to say.”

A few deft movements on Mayz’s part brought a voice with a recognizable Federation accent through the speakers.

“ … here. Calling the Starship
Starbow
. Over.”

“Let me speak to them,” said Northern. “Put through our identity code.”

“I think they know who we are by now,” said Laura.

“Do it anyway.”

There were some moments of silence, giving way to the same voice. “
Starbow
. We have you located. All modes of escape have been covered. This is Captain Neil Urnsur of the Federation Star Fleet. Our orders from Overfriend Zarpfrin are to destroy your ship upon sight. However, if you surrender immediately, I shall ignore those orders. I am not a bloodthirsty man, and I have indications that all is not right back on home base. However, should you refuse, I shall be forced to attack and destroy you. We have the necessary firepower to do so many times over, believe me, Captain!”

“How’s it going, Cal?” Northern stage-whispered to Cal.

“It’s working, sir,” said Cal between clenched teeth. “I think it’s working!”

“Good.” The Captain switched on his comband and spoke. “Captain Urnsur! Frankly, we did not expect you to arrive so soon.”

“Our forces have known for a long time about your destination, Captain. We only awaited orders. Now, will you surrender, or are you going to force us to destroy you?”

Suddenly, a message filled with static interrupted the conversation.

“Notice!” said a strangely accented voice. “This is a Jaxdron military base, and you have entered a no-fly zone as agreed to with Overfriend Zarpfrin. All military activity by Federation ships are prohibited, and you are ordered to leave this space at once!”

A time of silence as the captain of the Federation fleet no doubt mused on the situation.

“A no-fly zone?” he said finally.

“Our enemies …. There is no agreement with Overfriend Zarpfrin concerning the sanctity of a Jaxdron base … ”

“But this is not in the Game plan!” the voice fairly shrieked. “This is not in the arrangements. Our trust has been woefully abused! You will rue this, you and your Federation!”

“My orders, Captain Northern, are to deal with you and no longer have any time to wait. What is your response?”

Laura was watching the vu-screens, and immediately noticed when something began happening on the Jaxdron base.

Something with round, sparkling edges was growing from the top.

The portal!

It was working!

Northern did not miss it. “That’s it, I assume, Laura.”

“Yes. That’s it … only much bigger.”

“Good.” He flipped his switch. “Captain Urnsur, my response is
this
.”

He executed a fruity Bronx cheer and immediately ordered a full spread of
Starbow
missiles to be launched at the flagship.

“No!” came the strangled cry of the Jaxdron communicator before Northern ordered all channels closed.

Northern smiled grimly. “Prepare for immediate departure from this universe, people!”

Laura saw that the aperture was still growing, looking now like some electric rainbow spanning the sky. And through it, a never-ending field swung away into what appeared to be a glorious dawn ….

“Captain, the portal has just passed the aperture necessary to pass through,” reported Silver Zenyo.

“We’ve also got some nasty-looking missiles heading our way, Captain,” said Dansen Jitt.

“Do we have those energy spokes of ours retracted as much as possible? I don’t want to break any off!” said Northern. “Mish would be so pissed!”

“Yes sir, yes sir!” cried Dansen Jitt impatiently. “Let’s get out of here!”

“Right! Full ahead, Silver. Gently, though!”

“Aye aye.”

With unbearable slowness, the
Starbow
slipped along toward the portal. Its nose passed through, and the ship vibrated slightly.

“How’s it holding up, Cal?” Northern asked.

“Fine, sir, but if you could speed it up … I can’t promise how long I can keep it open.”

“We’re clear, Captain, on all sides,” someone said.

“Maximum force, then.”

The
Starbow
shot through the portal into Omega Space.

“We’re through, Captain.”

“Yes. Cal, you may let the portal close.”

Cal was sweating. “Yes, sir.”

The vu-screens showed the portal rapidly growing smaller and smaller. Just as it was about the size of a basketball, a flare of fire snaked through. And then the portal sealed entirely.

“We’re safe!” Laura Shemzak whooped. “Safe!”

“Looks like the Jaxdron bit off more than they could chew,” Cal said happily as he rose from his sitting position.

“The main force is not going to be very happy with Zarpfrin, that’s for sure,” Laura said. “Well, Cal. You know this new place we’re in now. What’s next?”

Cal Shemzak wiped his forehead and looked intently at Laura. “Well, I guess we’d better get on the good side of the natives here … the Frin’ral, that is.”

“Shontill should have put in a good word for us by now,” said Northern.

“And then,” Cal continued gravely. The others listened intently.

“And then,” he finished, smiling, “I’d like to go see a movie!”