Wanderer 3: Tainted Universe (35 page)

The pressure from outside increased significantly.  The Taint was attacking several areas at once.  Jess rushed to the closest, throwing his own energy into defending it.

The creature he’d glimpsed before was back.  It was even larger this time.  Its body was sinuous, snakelike, with swirling and ever changing patterns of colour running across its armoured hide.  The head had glowing red eyes and a mouth packed with row upon row of viciously sharp teeth.  This time it didn’t back away when Jess approached.  Instead it attacked the barrier with renewed energy, trying to batter its way through.

Jess recoiled from the attack, heart pounding.  Then he cursed.  This wasn’t real.  Fear only existed in his mind.  The heart he felt pounding wasn’t his real one.  His mind was accelerated, moving far too fast to register the glacial beats of his real heart.

He threw himself back into the fight, trying to reinforce the area under attack.  The creature crashed into the barrier once more, roaring in anger.  Jess fought the urge to flinch.  He waited for his moment.  As the creature pulled back, preparing for another attack, Jess lashed out.  A bolt of lightning shot from his outstretched right hand, tearing deep into the creature.  It howled in pain then rapidly pulled away, disappearing into the swirling chaos.

Even as Jess drove that creature away another punctured the barrier in a different spot.  As the bubble gave way before it the creature let out a bellow of triumph.  It had pierced the bubble.  It had won.

Or so it thought.  Before Jess started reinforcing the bubble the puncture would have meant it was all over.  Jess had realised he couldn’t be everywhere.  He couldn’t stop every threat.

Knowing a breakthrough was inevitable he focused instead on limiting the effect.  As he reinforced the barrier he had changed it.  Made it more resilient.

The small section under assault buckled and gave way.  The creature shoved its way in, aiming to cause as much carnage as possible in the
Wanderer
’s soul.  It found itself in a small pocket facing another barrier ahead which curved around to make the walls of the pocket.

The creature hissed in frustrated anger, twitching from side to side.  It didn’t notice the pocket sealing behind, trapping it, until it was almost completed.  Howling in outrage the creature threw itself towards the newly reformed barrier, seeking to escape.

Lightning erupted from the sides of the pocket, tearing through the creature.  It managed to hold its shape for a short while, screaming in agony as it battered against the barrier, but its strength quickly faded.  With a final howl of anger it was torn apart by the crackling lightning, leaving nothing behind to mark its passing.  The trap had claimed its first victim. 

Jess smiled grimly, even as he fought off another of the creatures.  He threw lightning at it from his outstretched hand.  He felt amazing.  Godlike.  He strode across his domain, changing it to suit his whims and lashing out at those who dared to stand against him.  The power was intoxicating.

Two more sections of the barrier collapsed under enemy assault.  Two more creatures were trapped then destroyed by the power Jess had left waiting for them.  He channelled even more power through himself, using it to blast apart another of the creatures as it battered the outside of the barrier.

The dead attackers were replaced almost immediately.  Jess suspected that they would keep being replaced right up until the moment the battle was over.  That didn’t matter.  As each was destroyed the
Wanderer
managed to reclaim a little more lost ground.  They weren’t retreating now.  It was their turn to attack.

*****

Jess lost all sense of time.  He was focused intently on the battle, on reclaiming the
Wanderer
’s systems piece by piece.  His only measure of progress was the area now covered by the
Wanderer
and how many enemies he had destroyed, a number well into the thousands.

He had to regain control of the ship as quickly as possible.  All means of movement, the thrusters and the jump engines, were still controlled by the Taint.  Jess and the
Wanderer
had gained one major victory.  They now controlled most of the shields.  A few remained isolated from them but they controlled more than enough to protect the ship.

Jess was certain the rest of the ship’s systems would follow.  Progress had been stalled many times as the enemy creatures tried different approaches, but none of those attacks had stolen back ground.

He and the
Wanderer
had studied the new attacks and adapted their response.  The enemy’s attacks were strong but it wasn’t at home in the environment they fought over.  Using Ali’s implants and knowledge gave it access to the battlefield but left it at a huge disadvantage compared to Jess.  His implants were far more closely integrated into the ship and his understanding of the world they fought over was much stronger.

A warning flashed up in Jess’s vision, drawing his attention to a specific section of the barrier.  Six of the monstrous creatures were focused on one point, coordinating their attacks.

The barrier at that point soon failed.  Two of the creatures moved into the pocket that was exposed and attacked the inner barrier.  The other four waited outside.  As the destroyed section of barrier began to reform, aiming to trap the two monsters, it came under attack from the remaining four.  The attack prevented it from forming again.  With the barrier incomplete the trap didn’t trigger.  No lightning flowed and the creatures continued digging away at the inner barrier.

Jess rushed to meet the attack.  As soon as he was in range he unleashed lightning.  He’d been learning as he fought.  The lightning was now far stronger.  Three of the creatures were destroyed immediately.  The other three turned tail and fled.  Jess flung more lightning after them, destroying two and seriously wounding the third.

Something moved in the chaos.  As it slowly drew closer Jess saw it was a bubble, a barrier, like the one he occupied.  The one that held the
Wanderer
’s essence.

With no points of reference it was hard to tell how large the bubble was.  Only the way it eased in and out of the surrounding chaos gave any clue, and even that was unreliable.  It seemed small though, possibly as small as the
Wanderer
’s bubble had been when Jess first arrived.

The bubble moved closer.  Jess realised he’d got the size completely wrong.  It was tiny.  He could make out a shape within it, a human shape, curled up because the barrier wasn’t large enough to allow for any other position.

The bubble twisted, bringing its occupants face into view.  Jess stared in shock.  Ali!  It was Ali!  Somehow she had crossed into this world.  Her essence still remained.  Crushed into a tiny space, but not destroyed.  Not yet.  The strain and tiredness on her face told him she wouldn’t last much longer.

Swirling currents in the chaos tugged Ali’s bubble first one way then another.  Another gust dragged her away from Jess.  Her bubble started to disappear into the mists.

“No!” Jess shouted.

Terrified of losing her he launched himself through the barrier, out into the swirling chaos.  He chased after Ali’s bubble, fighting the chaotic buffeting and lashing out with lightning whenever one of the enemy creatures drew too close.

Behind him the enemy creatures closed in on the
Wanderer
’s bubble.

Chapter Forty-Two

“Admiral, we have cleared the Quarantine Zone.”

Vorn acknowledged the fact with a quick nod.  He kept the relief he felt hidden.  But it was there.  The massive battle between the Imperial forces and those trying to get past had driven home to him just how dangerous the Taint was.  From the moment they got clear of the fight he’d expected to be dragged out of jump space by a tar pit.  To come face to face with an overwhelmingly powerful tainted fleet.

That hadn’t happened.  The fleet was clear of the narrow confines where a trap could easily be set.  The area they had emerged into could hardly be called safe, but it was still a great improvement on the Quarantine Zone.

Now they could focus on following the
Wanderer
once more.  It was still ahead of them, still leading them deeper into tainted territory, but that didn’t matter.  Sooner or later the
Wanderer
would return to real space.  When that happened Vorn would strike.  This time there would be no escape.

*****

The bubble containing Ali seemed to slip through the chaotic storm of colours, while Jess found he had to batter his way through.  He had instinctively formed a small barrier around himself, more a close-fitting suit than the sphere that surrounded Ali.  Several creatures darted in close, seeking to attack Jess.  He lashed out with lightning, tearing them all apart.  He saw more creatures but they pulled back as he approached.

Jess lost sight of Ali’s bubble.  With an anguished yell he threw himself forward even faster, smashing his way through the chaotic colours.  He glimpsed her bubble again, off to the right now, before it disappeared once more.  He changed direction, desperately trying to catch sight of it again.

There it was… a brief flicker and it was gone.  Jess kept battering his way forwards.  He saw Ali again.  This time he felt sure he was closer.  Her bubble continued to be pushed along at the edges of his vision.  Then the currents changed, pushing her bubble towards him.  Ali seemed to rush closer.  Moments later he made contact with her bubble.

Ali’s eyes were closed and she seemed unaware that Jess had been following.  He took a few moments to study her bubble then integrated it into his own.  He quickly expanded the protection, leaving plenty of space for both Ali and himself.

With a piercing scream Ali’s eyes flew open.  Her chest was heaving.  She looked terrified.  Jess grabbed her, pulling her close.

“
Ali.  Ali!  It’s OK.  It’s me.  You’re safe.  I promise.”

“
Jess… is that really you?  How?  I thought I was going to die!  I’ve been stuck wherever this is for so long.  Fighting to stay alive the whole time.  I got more and more tired.  I knew I couldn’t hold out much longer.  When the pressure left, when I was no longer being crushed, I was sure it was all over.”

“
Sorry.  I didn’t think.  I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

“
Am I?”  She sounded uncertain.  “Am I really safe?”

“
Yes!  This place is dangerous but I have far more power here than the Taint does.  You’re safe while I’m with you.”

“
The Taint?  Is that what’s all around us?  Is that what attacked me?”

“
Yes.  What happened to you?”

“
I don’t really remember much.  Sal was there.  I remember that.  Then… something happened.  I don’t know what.  The next thing I remember clearly is floating in this place.  It was peaceful for a while.  There was just a restful blue colour which hardly moved.

“
Then it changed.  More colours started to twist and curl through the blue.  The colours became more solid and started pressing in on me.  I managed to form a shield to keep them at bay but it was hard work.  Creatures started to attack me.  Between the colours and the creatures I was slowly worn down until I could hardly fight any more.  Then you appeared.”

She paused, staring deeply into Jess’s eyes, then grabbed him in a tight embrace again.

“It
is
you. How did you know I needed you?  How did you get here?  Where
is
here?”

“
This is the
Wanderer.  T
he systems of the
Wanderer
at least.  It doesn’t really look like this.  This is a simplification that our brains can cope with.”

“
So… we aren’t real?”

Jess heard fear in her voice.

“I didn’t say that.  Of course we’re real.  You’re more real here than anywhere else.  This is your mind, your soul, in a pure form.”

She nodded slightly.

“We aren’t really talking,” he continued.  “And I can’t really touch and feel your body.  I guess whatever part of us exists here is interacting in some other way and we sense it as touch.”

“
It feels so real though!”

“
I know.  I think the implants must be involved, but I have no idea how.”

“
So you launched yourself into this just to save me?  Thank you!”

Jess flushed with embarrassment.

“Not exactly.  I had no idea you were here.  I came here to help the
Wanderer
, to save it from the same attacks you suffered from.  I saw your bubble blow past and started chasing it immediately.  It took a while to catch up, but I made it in the end.”

“
Thank you anyway.  However you came to be here, you still saved me.”

She grabbed his head before he could reply, pulling him into a passionate kiss.  He felt the warmth of her body pressing against him, could smell her skin.  The simulation truly was amazing.  He decided it should be checked out once this was all over and the
Wanderer
was safe.  How would it feel to have sex in this virtual world?

Even as he grinned at that thought something nagged at his mind.  Something important.

“Shit!” he shouted, pulling back.

“
What’s wrong?” Ali asked, startled.

“
The
Wanderer
!  I didn’t think.  I don’t know where it is.  Without my help it isn’t going to be able to hold out.  We have to get back to it.  Wherever it is.”

Jess concentrated, getting them moving in a direction that felt right.  With no points of reference and the constantly shifting surroundings he had no idea of the way back and was left relying on feelings.

“Can I help?” Ali asked.

“
It’s easier if I handle the defences myself,” Jess replied.  “And you’re tired.  You could keep your eyes open though, in case I miss anything.  Especially the
Wanderer
.  It’s surrounded by a field like the one around us.  At least I hope it still is…”

*****

The
Wanderer
was struggling.  As soon as Jess left the Taint had renewed its assault, constantly changing tactics.  The defences Jess had devised stifled the attacks for some time, but the Taint started to adjust its attacks.  Without Jess’s help the
Wanderer
was unable to adapt quickly enough to the changes.

It started slowly.  A couple of sections in the barrier were overwhelmed by a new type of assault, but the layer behind held.  Then a few more sections fell to variants on the same assault.  Soon all of the attacks used the new tactics and the
Wanderer
’s barrier was being crushed and forced inward.

Defeat was inevitable if Jess didn’t return to help.  The
Wanderer
tried reaching out to him, contacting him through his implants.  It got nothing but static.  Wherever Jess was he was beyond the
Wanderer
’s ability to contact.

Grimly the
Wanderer
continued the fight.  It wouldn’t give in.  It was incapable of giving in.  But it
could
be beaten.  If Jess didn’t return in time then it
would
be beaten.  And then the Taint would have won.

*****

No matter how hard Jess tried he couldn’t detect any sign of the
Wanderer
.  He had to rely on dead reckoning, his memories of chasing after Ali and, mostly, pure guesswork.

Moving through the environment was becoming increasingly difficult.  The chaotic streams of colour seemed to be moving faster and hitting harder than they had before.  The creatures he’d faced before had returned in greater numbers.  They threw themselves against the barrier Jess maintained, forcing him to spend time and energy fending them off.

They kept finding ways to weaken the barrier around Jess and Ali.  Jess found himself spending more time dealing with the attacks than looking for the
Wanderer
.

Each time he found a new way to bolster the defences, a new way to destroy those who attacked, they seemed to find a way to counter it almost immediately.  Jess gritted his teeth and battled on, determined not to give in.

Having Ali so close helped.  It reminded him of the most important thing at stake in the fight.  She still had her arms wrapped around him as she stared out, seeking any sign of the
Wanderer
.

Jess grew more and more frustrated as time passed without any sign of the ship.  He started to realise just how impossible a task he had taken on.

“This is useless,” he said.  “We’ll never find the
Wanderer
at this rate.  We need to try something different.”

“
Don’t leave me here Jess.  Please!” Ali said.

“
No.  Of course not!”  He hugged her tightly.  “That’s not what I meant.  I need to find some way to locate the
Wanderer
, or communicate with it.”

“
How?”

“
I don’t know.  I have to try though.  We can’t stay like this forever.  If the
Wanderer
loses then it’s all over.”

“
Be careful.  We don’t know what else is out there.”

“
I will.  And I won’t leave you.  I promise.”

“
I love you Jess.”

“
I love you too.  I’ll get us out of this.  Don’t you worry.”

He closed his eyes, focusing on what he had in mind.  Up until now he’d been trying to find any sign that the
Wanderer
had passed.  Now he reached out for the
Wanderer
itself, trying to use his link to the ship.  If he could make that connection then he could follow it back to the
Wanderer
.  In theory at least.

Jess knew he wouldn’t have long before having to fend off another attack.  He turned his attention inwards, towards his link with the
Wanderer
, then forced power through it.

It was working!  The link was tenuous, almost non-existent, but he could feel the
Wanderer
out there somewhere.  He would need to strengthen the connection before it could be used as a guide, but the theory worked.  They could track the
Wanderer
down.

Pain exploded in his neck, just below his right ear.  Jess screamed, losing the connection to the
Wanderer
.  Snapping his eyes open he searched for the attacker, even as he wondered how any creature had got through his barrier undetected.

There was no sign of any attacker.  Ali was close beside him still, hands pressed against the injury.  Trying to stop the blood flow Jess guessed.  It certainly wasn’t stopping the pain.  What the hell had taken a chunk out of him?

“Ow!  I’m not sure that’s helping,” he said.

She didn’t answer.

“Ali… what got me?  Damn it hurts.  It seems to be getting worse.  Let me feel the damage.”

She still didn’t respond.  Jess took hold of her hands, tried to move them.  He couldn’t shift them.  And the pain was getting worse.

“Ali, please.  Move your hands.  I need to see what’s happening.”

She still didn’t answer, but this time she turned to face him.  Jess recoiled in shock but her hands on his neck stopped him getting far.  The Ali he knew was gone.  In her place was something that had to come from the Taint.  Her eyes were glowing red, her face had gone chalk white.  And the grin on her face… it was chilling to see.

How had the Taint taken her?  Had the creature that attacked Jess also attacked Ali?  He checked the barrier.  No.  Nothing had come through the barrier.  Then how…

And then it all clicked into place.  Nothing had come through the barrier.  The creature had always been within.  He’d been so pleased to find Ali, to save her, that he hadn’t considered that it might not be her.  For the second time the Taint had used his love for Ali to get close to him.

This time there would be no escape.  Jess realised that Ali was the source of his pain, that she was attacking him directly.  He pulled in the barrier so it only surrounded him, strengthening it as he did so.  Ali was outside the barrier now, but she showed no ill effects.  As he’d suspected.  She was now a creature of the Taint.