The Wrathlurched to a sudden stop and glided gently between two moons. The ship’s crew found themselves gazing at a ring of asteroids that ran between the two celestial bodies. It was evident that these two moons had collided and the belt that connected them was debris.
“Terrain obstruction,” the computer announced. One of the many automated systems the Tiger-37 was capable of employing ended the blind jump at the belt as a safety measure. While flying at light speed, something as small as a pebble could potentially destroy their ship, let alone a fresh asteroid belt.
Nathan and Trevor sat back in their seats in the cockpit, breathing heavily. They exchanged a glance that defied the divide that had grown between the two men. It was almost like old times, like family. They both smiled for a moment—Nathan, for the first time in years. Then the moment passed, and they both resumed their respective roles.
“We need to get out of here, and we’re running low on fuel. See where the closest station is and reset our course,” Nathan said.
Trevor turned back to his NAV computer. He watched his uncle go for a moment, about to advise they keep moving but then thought better of it. Instead, he removed the sword sheath and set it in the cubby next to him. For whatever reason, he picked it up and unsheathed it. His father’s blood still stained the length of it. Trev clicked it shut again and set it aside. Was he expecting a different result?
Nathan had walked halfway back to check on the passengers when his robot stopped him, blocking the way, waiting for orders.
Without anything better for it to do, he said, “Go make sure Trevor doesn’t do anything reckless.”
Boost nodded and then sped off to go sit in the additional crew member seat behind Trevor.
Nathan dropped down the steps and saw his two passengers, plus the new stowaway.
The passenger compartment was one of his greatest achievements. When the war ended, Nathan had gutted it out and gone to work building. It became a sanctuary away from the pain of losing his family. It had taken seventeen months to complete before they started their new lives as planet-less cargo shippers.
The large room contained seating for forty-five. There were two bunk rooms on the right side, one for him and one for his nephew. In between was a plug-in port for Boost. On the left side was a full galley with fridges, ovens, and the like and next to that a spacious lavatory. The seats in the center could be maneuvered into multiple configurations; the one they were in had seven of the seats transformed into a long table. Staircases ran down into the compartment from the cockpit and out the back toward the cargo hold. The door to the hold was always closed to keep all the warm air trapped in the front, which currently held at a comfortable 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nathan noticed Kaida had torn out the first-aid kits and was working on the latest addition. The redhead had thrown off her overcoat and torn ribbons of cloth to help staunch the alien’s external bleeding. Presently, she stood crouched over it with a medical scanner.
“Is he going to be all right?” Nathan asked.
The brown-robed Nymarian was on oxygen and breathing shallowly. His luminescent yellow skin continued to lose what color remained. The alien was covered in black soot from top to bottom and had all the appearance of suffering internal bleeding. The situation looked grim. The Nymarian was fading fast.
Kaida shook her head at the captain’s question. She ran a hand through her lush red hair as though that would wash the truth out. “He may come around. But I fear the smoke poisoned him, and his other injuries are fatal. I will keep him on oxygen to make his…transition more comfortable.”
Nathan had seen death many times on the battlefield. Sadly, this creature had only a handful of minutes left. Its life hung on a thread. “How are you fairing?”
“I’m all right thanks to you.” Her eyes conveyed more than mere thanks. The excitement of evacuating Aquaria in time was still fresh and strangely invigorating. Realizing then the moment wasn’t right for what else she had in mind; she turned her attention back to the dying alien.
Daphkalian, her large assistant, just sat watching over them. His slick feline ears pointed back.
Nathan saw the need to divert their attention from everything that had happened and the alien’s dire condition. He changed the subject. “We’re going to have to stop to recharge the fuel cells for the trip back to Mara VII. We’ll get you back there as soon as we can.”
Kaida had a time table to meet, but didn’t think this was the moment to bring it up. “Um…back there, I heard that alarm. Was that really a rift?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see a Ruveran ship?”
Nathan was about to answer, “No,” but was cut off.
“They’re coming!” The brown-robed alien had opened his eyes wide the moment the word Ruveran was spoken. He pulled off his oxygen mask and flailed, attempting to escape his seat. “We must go! We must hurry!” Then he fell back unconscious.
Nathan watched the figure and then asked Kaida, “What was that?”
“It’s probably the last thing on his mind before he went under.”
Without hesitating, Nathan pulled out the wake-salt package and opened it under the alien’s nose. The stranger awoke instantly. He looked around wildly.
“Where am I? What’s going on?” The alien went into a terrible bout of coughing. It was hard to tell whether the Nymarian’s voice was always whispery or if it was because of the injuries it had sustained. “I must find the chosen one. Where is the one?”
Nathan had to hold him down to calm him. “You’re safe. What happened to your ship?”
“Dosh?” The stranger looked around, still uncomprehending. He clutched his chest. For the first time he appeared to take in his actual surroundings and then Nathan. “We…we were running from a Ruveran battleship. It was trying to capture us.” His words came out with great difficulty and a slight wheeze.
“There was no indication of any other ship in the sector.”
The Nymarian nodded weakly. “They are out there. We were hit, but my pilots managed to hyper-jump. We were going to land on the nearest planet to figure out what to do next.” The alien squinted as though rehearing something he’d forgotten. “I heard over the radio that another Ruveran battleship was inbound to destroy Aquaria, but we were already falling through the sky. Two battleships…” The Nymarian pulled at his abdomen and closed his eyes in pain. “I remember crashing.”
Two Ruveran battleships?
The intercom beeped on. “Uncle, sensors are going haywire. I think it’s a Ruveran probe.”
The captain pressed on the intercom panel. “Have Boost take it out.”
“Roger.”
Nathan gave the alien a once-over. He didn’t look like anything the Ruverans would be interested in. “Why are they after you?”
“For what I know.” He pulled out a computer pad from his robes. Another bout of coughing brought bright-yellow liquid to his lips. “Oh no…I’m dying,” the alien said weakly. “I can feel myself slipping.”
“I’m sorry. There is little we can do.” Nathan searched the Nymarian’s face. “What’s your name?”
“Cleph’thera.”
“Cleph, why were the Ruverans after you?” Nathan repeated.
The Nymarian searched the captain’s face for a moment, considering. Then he pulled the captain down and whispered something in his ear. Without an answer, Nathan cleared his throat. Kaida had never seen such a strong man look so surprised—or afraid. The moment passed and then the old captain was back to his stony-faced self. The alien’s data pad disappeared into the captain’s coat.
“Do you give your word?” the Nymarian asked.
“On my honor,” Nathan answered.
“The responsibility falls to you now. Please give me my last rites.” Cleph went into another string of coughing. The yellow discharge turned dull green. Clutching his heart, the alien took his last breath. Then his body went slack.
Nathan drew himself up. Death never got any easier to watch. H
e looked to Daphkalian, the large, well-muscled man. “We have containers in the cargo hold for remains. Can you take care of him?”
Daphkalian nodded darkly. He picked up the frail alien and walked him out to the back.
“Please have a seat, ma’am,” Nathan said, trying to maintain an appearance of professionalism in dire circumstances.
Kaida took her seat and buckled herself in.
Nathan slowly made it back to the front of his ship, a sinking feeling spreading through his veins. He paused outside the cockpit for a moment to gather his wits. The alien’s words echoed in his mind.
He had never imagined something worse than the Ruveran Empire. He exhaled, straightened his jacket, and walked up the stairs.
“What are you doing?” Trevor yelled back at him.
Nathan left the top step and jumped back into his seat. “What is it?”
“Did you forget Ruveran protocol?” Trevor seethed with frustration. “Boost shot down the probe, but that’ll only indicate we’re actually here.”
Ignoring Trev’s persistent attempts to engage him, Nathan remained calm. “What systems are around here?” He took the ship’s controls in his hands and throttled up. He performed a one-eighty before they got caught in the asteroid belt. Open space spread out before them.
“Nothing of note. Aquaria was the only station for light years around so close to the Outer Rim.” Trevor looked to his uncle to make sure he understood that things weren’t okay. He saw instead something familiar in his demeanor that he didn’t like. “Wait. Did that Nymarian die?”
Nathan didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.
“Well, c’mon, let’s get out of here before—”
Nathan looked down at the radar screen between them. On it, he saw that two Ruveran battleships had jumped out of hyperspace. Both were on an intercept course, bearing down on them.
Chapter 3