Borne On Wings of Steel Read online

  “And how hard will that be?” Rok asked.

  “We have spies inside—a few. Once we know where in the complex the Paum has her, I will let you know the difficulties involved. But we must act quickly. I am sure the Paum will try to make a direct connection with the Mother AI in order to inject his code and infiltrate and control her systems. If that happens, all will be lost."

  “Mother's message was sent yesterday from Malata. How far off is the Paum world?"

  “It is a seven-day journey by hyperdrive from Malata. It's about ten days from Meramee."

  “Then, we have already lost..."

  “No, not if we take a more unorthodox route.” Qirn smiled wider as Rok arched his eyebrows.

  “And that is?"

  “Wormhole."

  Rok shook his head in order to decline even as he fought to accept the wild and dangerous idea. For long seconds he did not say a word. Finally, he took a deep breath, held it a moment, and let it out with a rush of air.

  When he spoke, his tone was deadly serious.

  “These high stakes warrant such a dangerous route."

  “Good. In that case, we will reach the planet the Paum complex orbits within hours of the Mother AI's arrival. It will take us six days, sixteen hours to make the Wormhole entrance—traveling in the opposite direction. And six hours traveling inside."

  “Short Wormhole,” Rok commented.

  “But enough for our schedule. We may make it in slightly less time—depending on how much damage our ships take inside the Wormhole."

  “I am sending a recall to all my crew and passengers now,” Rok said with a commanding tone. “My ship will lift within the hour. Send me the coordinates to meet you out in space."

  “Done."

  The view-screen went dark.

  On board the Iraxx starship, Jerr approached Qirn.

  “Did I hear right? You think a small team, even if they can get through Paum security with fake IDs, will be able to survive for even five minutes once the Paum determines they are not mere workers?” Jerr stared with utter disbelief at Qirn.

  “We do not have to survive,” Qirn said without emotion.

  “I guess not!” Jerr shouted angrily. “It is pure suicide. The Paum complex is crawling with Destructors! We'll have our guts sucked out before we make it halfway to the MotherShip!"

  “Then we need to hope that the emotional bond we have observed between the humans and the Mother AI will predicate a reaction by it—a violent reaction—if her children are in mortal danger.” Qirn stared resolutely at Jerr. “I will only ask for volunteers. But, I will personally lead this team—live or die."

  Jerr stared at his superior with a mixture of surprise and awe. His mind worked furiously remembering their missions together, the close calls and strikes they had completed. And all for a single purpose—to free their planet from the all-consuming control of the Paum. He shook his head solemnly, but he placed his hand on Qirn's shoulder.

  “Where you lead, I will follow. Even to death, if it means freedom for our people."

  Qirn grabbed Jerr's shoulder and gripped it in return. “That is what I wanted to hear from my most loyal warrior. And we will succeed, live or die."

  “Live or die,” Jerr repeated with a dangerous smile.

  “Let the Destructors come for us,” Qirn said with a low, serious tone. “Nothing will stop our final victory."

  But each stared into the eyes of the other a moment in silence, a sobering tension in the air between them.

  * * * *

  BACK ON THE violet and white sand beach of Leyloi, Kyle, Jaric and Inaha rested from their latest exertions in the crystal clear waters of the bay.

  Nearby, two beautiful Mejadic females made a fuss over Inaha as they crooned about his massive physique and admired his big, innocent smile.

  “What does that guy have that we don't?” Kyle whispered with disbelief to Jaric.

  “I dunno,” Jaric replied as he stared at the attention the females were pouring over their alien friend. “I think he must have them hypnotized or something."

  “Whatever it is, I wish I had some.” Kyle rolled over on his back and faced the clear, lavender sky with its bright, red sun. “And a couple of those Mejadic cuties too."

  At just that moment, Jaric's communicator beeped. Jaric twisted his body on the recliner and reached down for it. He punched the response button.

  “Jaric, here."

  “Ensign Aritas here. Captain Rok requests your return to the Aurora. He has ordered preparations for take-off within the hour."

  Jaric glanced lazily over at Kyle, who raised his dark sunglasses above his eyes and squinted back at him.

  “I knew this paradise thing couldn't last forever,” Kyle groaned.

  “Oh well, better see what this is about.” Jaric forced himself up and stared over at Inaha.

  The two Mejadic females continued pampering the big alien. One Mejadic had beautiful skin with iridescent orange and red stripes while the other was almost completely covered by a bright, lime green complexion with tiny purple spots all over her body.

  “We've got to go, Inaha. The Aurora leaves within the hour,” Jaric said as he gathered up his towel and clothes.

  “Oh, no. You can't leave now.” The lime green female pouted.

  “Yeah, we were just getting to know you better!” The other moaned.

  The two small females reached out and hugged Inaha in a tight embrace as if they could prevent the huge alien from leaving.

  Inaha looked over at the boys and shrugged, a big smile across his face. Slowly he began to extricate himself from their combined embrace.

  “You know how it is, girls. I have a fast starship waiting for me—and the universe beckons.” Inaha's eyes twinkled as he hugged them tightly as if their parting pained him deeply.

  “Why can't we go with you?” both Mejadic plaintively asked.

  Inaha looked at Jaric and Kyle with a wry smile. “I wish I could take you both with me. Our romance was just beginning and now ends so prematurely and so tragically.” Inaha's face was the picture of grief.

  But as the girls hugged him tighter, he winked knowingly at Jaric and Kyle. “Alas, I doubt my good Kraaqi captain has room for any more travelers. If only we could have spent more time together. Who knows..."

  Jaric winked at Kyle conspiratorially.

  “I dunno. There are those extra berths next to the cargo bay,” Jaric said.

  Inaha's jaw dropped as the two Mejadic shouted with glee.

  “Sure, I bet Rok wouldn't mind them taking those empty berths. Besides, I know Rok wouldn't want to stand in the way of true love!” Kyle said with a serious tone.

  Both boys began walking quickly up the beach toward the Aurora's docking pad as Inaha quickly tried to extricate himself from the sudden flurry of hugs and kisses.

  “We can go with you!” they shouted together.

  “Inaha must've talked about us to the humans—they mentioned true love. Oh, Inaha, we didn't know you cared so much!” The red and orange female squealed with delight.

  Both Mejadic covered his face with a flurry of kisses.

  “Wait a second, girls, wait a second! Those two buffoons don't know,” Inaha said with urgency. “They're only passengers like myself. You can't possibly go. And besides, you don't know what dangers..."

  “Hmmph.” The orange and red Mejadic put her hands squarely on her hips as she stood over the big alien. “I thought you wanted to get to know us better?"

  “Yeah, you said you wanted a long-term relationship, that you were tired of traveling the universe—meeting girls and then having to leave them behind,” the other said with a stern tone.

  “That's right!” Inaha pleaded with great sincerity. “It seems when I meet the right girl, wham, I'm back in space again. I only wish I could stay."

  “You can!” they shouted together. “Don't go!"

  “No, no, no!” Inaha put his hands out to prevent another group hug. “I can't stay. My friends
need me. There's trouble afoot. There's evil to squash."

  “Males. They're all alike—kiss ‘em and leave ‘em. And then they've got a starship to catch!” the green Mejadic complained emphatically.

  “I'll never date an alien from another world again!” The other growled.

  “Now, wait a second girls,” Inaha began.

  But it was too late. With a quick rush, they gathered their towels and outer clothes and marched up the beach.

  “Thanks a lot!” Inaha growled sarcastically as he caught up with the laughing boys.

  “Sure, anytime.” Kyle smiled. “Anything for a friend."

  “Yeah, we thought we were doing you a favor. After all, a little more time with them and hey, there could've been wedding bells!"

  Kyle and Jaric laughed hysterically while Inaha's black eyes shot daggers at them.

  “Just wait. My turn will come,” the big alien growled.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “ARE YOU OUT of your mind?” Inaha shouted.

  Rok sighed deeply. “We have to take the Wormhole. It's the only way to get there in time."

  “I thought we wanted to get there alive! And then perform a rescue!” Inaha said with total exasperation.

  Kyle and Jaric looked at each other a moment.

  “This Qirn said that the Paum will trick Mother. Deceive her,” Kyle said.

  “Even seduce her!” Jaric added angrily.

  “And once he's made a direct connection with her systems, he'll flood her with his insidious programming and control her. He'll take her over!” Elise added as she crossed her arms defiantly.

  “Yes!” Kyle's voice was full of anger. “And we're not going to allow that to happen to our mother!"

  The air filled with tension.

  “No one is going to hurt my mother!” Kyle added with a growl.

  “Or take advantage of her,” Jaric said firmly.

  “And she may be somewhat vulnerable to such an attack,” Jysar said as he tapped his scaly temple with his forefinger.

  Jysar's words brought every eye on him.

  “What do you mean?” Krinia asked.

  “MotherShip is a one-of-a-kind being. Or up until the Paum she was,” Jysar began. “We can assume she has experienced a kind of loneliness. Perhaps not in the strictest definition of the word. But, I would think such a situation would weigh on her mind."

  “And suddenly discovering another being like herself, one she can commune with, she might find herself rushing things.” Krinia shook her head.

  “She could be vulnerable. Or too trusting. And his ulterior motives not discerned, until it's too late.” Jysar's tone turned serious.

  Jaric whistled, his brow furrowed.

  “You could be right. I mean, look how lonely we are, and there's three of us.” Jaric spread his arms out to include Kyle and Elise.

  Elise blushed. She smiled at Jaric with her heart full of joy.

  “Thank you for including me.” Leaning over, she gave Jaric a hug.

  A hurt look came over Kyle's face.

  “You too, mon ami.” Elise turned and gave Kyle the same, friendly embrace.

  “Hey, we got to look out for each other.” Jaric smiled warmly at Elise and Kyle. He looked around the room. “And I include all of you as well."

  Everyone smiled.

  “But, I repeat—we've got to get there alive! If we want to rescue the MotherShip!” Inaha shouted angrily, breaking the moment.

  “I admit, I wouldn't willingly choose to take a Wormhole route for just any journey. In fact, I've only traveled so once,” Rok admitted.

  “Why then?” Inaha asked.

  Rok crossed his arms over his broad chest. “It is one of the tests of courage for a Kraaqi when he comes of age. There are several Wormholes near Kraaqi space. The First Leader of the Band will choose which Wormhole a young Kraaqi must travel as well as the ship and crew upon which this ultimate test of courage will ensue."

  Jaric and Kyle glanced at each other again, this time the expressions on their faces more subdued. They looked over at Elise, who shrugged back at them.

  “I guess we're as brave as any Kraaqi, right?” Elise asked.

  “You bet!” Kyle said with conviction.

  But Jaric rubbed his chin in deep thought. “Maybe we ought..."

  “No!” Kyle and Elise shouted together.

  “There's no time for maybe. We must act if we want to save Mother.” Kyle smiled comfortingly over at Jaric.

  “Sure. We can do it. I mean, just how hard can traveling inside a Wormhole be?” Jaric looked around at the others one at a time with a questioning smile.

  Inaha suddenly began to groan and pace the bridge with every eye glued to him. The big alien circled the small group, all the while shaking his head and groaning as if he were in dire pain.

  “That bad, eh?” Jaric asked Rok.

  “Pretty rough ride. Some Kraaqi ships never come out of them.” Rok said with a serious tone.

  Jaric groaned as he watched Inaha approach.

  “But, some do come out of ‘em, right?” Kyle asked with the slightest bit of hesitation in his voice.

  “Most ships do make it through. And I have the finest ship and crew of any Band right here."

  “But,” Jaric said, sensing a lack of finality in the Kraaqi's tone.

  “But traveling a Wormhole is serious business. There is danger. Enough danger to go around,” Rok said with a low tone. “You must navigate down the center—stay away from the walls. For if your hull ever touches one of the walls...” Rok shook of his head somberly.

  “Then you're toast,” Kyle finished for him. “And how hard is that, to keep your ship sailing right down the center?"

  “It takes a firm and skilled hand at the navigation controls,” Rok said with confidence and determination. “It takes split-second timing. And being able to adapt to the minutest change encountered within the structure and fluctuating gravity fields a Wormhole creates as it dissects space and time. It takes the utmost skill and courage that a captain and his crew possess. And our journey will last almost six full hours, three two-hour crew shifts. Each shift must take over from the other shift with a seamless transition. It takes..."

  “A lot of luck,” Inaha interjected with blunt sarcasm.

  “That doesn't hurt either,” Rok agreed.

  Jaric whistled as he shook his head. “Man, sounds like it's going to be one wild ride."

  “That's putting it mildly,” Elise agreed with concern.

  “Then that's what we'll have to do!” Kyle said with determination. “After all, if we've got to travel this horror hole, then we've got to pitch in together."

  “My First Officer will determine assignments and shifts. I'll review them and hand them out,” Rok said.

  “When do we enter the Wormhole?” Kyle asked.

  “The Iraxx starship ahead of us will enter it first at thirteen hundred hours five days from now. We follow five minutes later. We will have the advantage of their sensor readings in order to calculate field fluctuations within the Wormhole. And bends in any direction."

  “And why are Qirn and some of his crew coming aboard the Aurora?” Elise asked.

  “In case his ship is destroyed. With him and some of his crew onboard our ship, when we make it through, we can still finish our mission."

  “Okay, that makes me feel better,” Jaric said a shake of his head.

  “Nothing about this mission is going to be easy,” Rok said with a firm tone. “Even once we're out the other side, we still have to get inside the Paum complex. And then get to Mother."

  “And that's not going to be any easier,” Kyle agreed. “I've looked over Qirn's report. There is a ton of internal security—a few armed troops, but mostly armored robots."

  “They briefly mention a type called Destructors, considered the most dangerous,” Rok agreed. “But nothing we can't handle."

  “Good,” Ky
le said. “We'll keep a keen eye out for them. As long as we can target them, we can nail them with a blaster."

  “All right,” Rok shouted to everyone on the bridge. “Let's get ready. Every man to his station. Those not on the current shift head to the War Room for Duty Schedule. We've got a Wormhole to tame!"

  Elise, Jaric and Kyle made their way to the War Room. They had walked almost the entire distance in silence when Elise spoke.

  “Are you guys, you know, a little bit afraid about all this?” Her eyes betrayed a tiny bit of fear.

  Jaric and Kyle glanced at each other.

  “Oh no,” Jaric said. “It's like, well, you've got to push all of that aside before you go into action. You've got to focus. You've got to push your emotions away.” He gestured broadly.

  “Really?” she said meekly.

  “Oh sure,” Jaric said confidently. “You can't be afraid."

  “Jaric's right.” Kyle slapped Jaric roughly on his shoulder, eliciting a wince from him. “You've got to have nerves of steel. But more importantly, a heart of steel."

  “Tritanium steel. Like Mother's hull,” Jaric said as he rubbed his shoulder, trying to work the pain out from Kyle's punch. “Hearts as tough as pure tritanium steel. That's us."

  “We've never been afraid our whole lives,” Kyle assured her. He winked at Elise and gently patted her shoulder. “We'll watch out for you, kid. Stay close to us at all times."

  “Yeah, stay close to us. We're absolutely fearless. No fear at all,” Jaric said with assurance.

  Elise looked from one to the other with an expression of the slightest disbelief. She shook her head slowly as they walked on in silence down the metal corridor.

  The tiniest hint of a smile lit her face.

  “But this Wormhole—we could get killed a million ways to Sunday.” Elise slapped her palms together, causing a sharp sound that echoed off the Aurora's steel walls.

  Momentarily startled, Jaric and Kyle each missed a step in response to the totally unexpected sound. They stared at her with stern faces.

  “Smashed to molecules in nanoseconds!” she said with a twinkle in her blue eyes.