Children of Darkness (Rogue Star Book 1) Read online

  “Hang on tight.” He said.

  “What do think I’ve been doing?”

  He grinned behind his helmet. Only one way they’d have a chance. He angled down searching for an opening in the canopy. The blasts came faster and closer now. The skiffs closed the distance sooner than he hoped.

  He wove a random path, trying to throw off the gunner’s aim. They weren’t dead so it must have helped. He spotted a gap where a giant tree had fallen and ducked down beneath the canopy. He dodged around trunks bigger than a hovercar and tried his best to shield his passengers from the small branches he couldn’t avoid.

  The laser fire slowed as the skiffs had more trouble getting a shot at them. That part of the plan worked okay. Marcus dodged under a vine that might have decapitated Iaka at this speed.

  “Solomon, you read me?”

  His comm crackled. “Marcus? Where have you been? I tried to contact you earlier but I couldn’t get through. I thought sure you’d had it.”

  “Not yet, but I’ve got a pair of skiffs on my tail. I need you to get the Star ready for our arrival.”

  “My scanners show three skiffs, but I can’t see you.”

  “That’s because I’m below the canopy trying not to get blasted or splattered on a tree trunk.” Marcus twisted sideways between a pair of trunks.

  Iaka wrapped on his helmet. “Watch it!”

  “Marcus? Are you there?”

  “I’m here. Get the shields up, the weapons charged, and open the ramp. As soon as they’re in range blast those skiffs. Even if you miss at least they’ll be dodging and not shooting at me.”

  “Will do. How far out are you?”

  “According to the computer about five miles. Set everything on auto. I’m going to need you in the cargo hold.”

  “Okay, be careful.”

  “Too late for that,” Marcus said after the comm disconnected.

  A few seconds later the blasts from above stopped. The report of his ship’s cannons echoed over the trees. See how you like getting shot at you bastards. Marcus shot into the clearing and jackknifed so his legs faced forward. He used his thrusters to kill his momentum before they splattered across the side of the ship.

  He spotted Solomon at the top of the ramp. The ship sat on its landing gear so he must have managed the repair. Marcus felt a slight pressure as they passed through the shield then he landed on the ramp and walked up the ramp.

  “I’m fine,” Marcus said, “I’m not sure about these two.”

  The native had passed out at some point and Marcus could see scratches on his body where tree branches cut him. Iaka groaned and Marcus kneeled down. She slid off his back and staggered a couple steps away.

  “Take him.” Marcus held out the unconscious native.

  Solomon grimaced but reached out with trembling arms and accepted the little alien. Marcus went over to the storage cylinder and disengaged his armor. When it had released him he stepped back and set it to recharge.

  He could feel the vibrations as the ship’s guns continued to fire. The skiffs still buzzed around them, but their weapons didn’t have enough power to penetrate the shields. The guns fell silent and he guessed they figured that out too. That meant they’d head back to the corvette which had plenty of power to fry them to a crisp. They need to lift, now.

  Marcus went to the controls to shut the ramp. His finger reached for the controls just as a hoverbike came streaking out of the jungle towards them. A ragged figure in trailing a white lab coat waved at them. “Wait! Please wait.”

  Iaka staggered over beside Marcus. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “What?”

  Iaka clenched her teeth and swallowed hard. “That’s Dr. O’Hare. What’s he doing here?”

  “Let’s ask him.” Marcus waved his hand. “Hurry up.”

  The doctor brought the bike to a stop at the end of the ramp then fell off it. He scrambled to his feet and hurried up the ramp. “Thank you. I thought I was going to die out there.”

  Marcus closed the ramp. “Thank me later. We’ve got to go.”

  He left Iaka glaring at the doctor and headed toward the cockpit. When he passed Solomon he said, “Don’t let her kill him. She also needs some anti-radiation pills. You should find some in the med kit.”

  “Okay. Marcus, do you think I could stop her if she decided to kill him?”

  “I think you could knock her over with a feather. The only thing keeping her on her feet is willpower.”

  Iaka watched Marcus leave the cargo bay. A minute later the ship lurched as they took off. Her knees wobbled and she almost fell. God, her head hurt, and the less said about her stomach the better. Solomon made his way over. He had a bottle of water in one hand and a pill bottle in the other.

  He held both out. “Anti-radiation pills. Marcus said you needed them.”

  “Thanks.” Iaka took the pill bottle and shook two out into her hand tossed them back. Solomon handed her the open water bottle. She washed them down and the headache receded a little. She took another swallow. “Shouldn’t you be up front helping Marcus?”

  “I plotted the escape vectors during our hyperspace jump here. As soon as we clear the atmosphere all he has to do is flip a switch and we’re gone. What about that?” Solomon looked at the unconscious native.

  Iaka bent down beside the native. She felt steadier as the pills worked. The little guy’s breathing seemed regular. Aside form a few scratches he looked fine. Probably just passed out from the shock of flying in the arms of a god. “He seems fine.”

  “He isn’t.”

  Iaka flinched when Dr. O’Hare spoke right beside her. “You stay away from him. You’ve done these poor people enough harm.”

  “Listen to me. I’ve been studying these creatures—”

  “People! They’re intelligent, they have families, religion, they aren’t animals you can experiment on because they’re less evolved.”

  “Everything I did, I did for the greater good.”

  “Greater good? Since when is killing innocents for the greater good?”

  “Surely a healthy, vibrant Vencar society is a greater benefit to the galaxy than the lives of a few primitives.” Dr. O’Hare spread his hands. “I wasn’t planning to wipe out the species after all.”

  “Generous of you. How many did you kill, for the greater good?”

  He frowned. “I’m not sure, a few hundred perhaps. I couldn’t say with any accuracy without checking my notes. They expired much faster in the beginning before I better understood their biology. The radiation is the key.”

  Iaka could only stare as he lectured her like a first year intern. He had no concept of the evil he’d done. She clenched her fists and tensed. She was going to beat some sense into him.

  “Did you feel that?” Solomon said.

  Iaka had forgotten he was there. “Feel what?”

  “The vibration. We just entered hyperspace.”

  A moment later Marcus appeared. He wore a casual grin but dark rings shadowed his eyes. “We made it. I jumped just out of the corvette’s weapons’ range. Everyone’s still breathing I see. That’s a good sign.”

  “For now.” Iaka and Dr. O’Hare spoke at the same moment.

  Iaka glared at him. Was that some sort of threat. “Listen you arrogant—”

  Marcus laid a hand on her shoulder. “Doctor, would you care to explain?”

  Dr. O’Hare smiled at Marcus. “Finally, someone willing to listen to reason. Your lady friend is entirely too emotional.”

  “Too emotional.” Marcus held her back when she lunged at the doctor.

  “Easy,” Marcus said. “Let’s hear what he has to say. If we don’t like it then you can beat the shit out of him.”

  She looked back at him. “Promise?”

  Marcus smiled and kissed the top of her head. “Promise. You were saying doctor?”

  Dr. O’Hare coughed. “Yes, the key to the natives’ survival is the radiation in their tunnels. The first ones we captured died quic
kly without exposer to it. We lost many specimens before I figured out how to artificially mimic the natural radiation.”

  “They’re not specimens.” She said through clenched teeth.

  “Of course. I forgot your excessive affection for the hairy brutes. The point is, this one will die in only a few days unless a source of radiation can be brought to bear.”

  Marcus looked down at Iaka. “Is that right?”

  She nodded. “It explains a lot. Bring the little guy with us may have been a death sentence.”

  “Not necessarily,” Dr. O’Hare said. “I saw you have a cryochamber with you. I believe I can reprogram it to suit his needs.”

  “I bet you can,” Iaka said. “I imagine you’re familiar with it since you stuck me in there five years ago.”

  Dr. O’Hare looked over at the chamber though heavy lidded eyes. “Is that the same one? Imagine seeing it again after all this time.” He turned to face her. “Shall I begin reprogramming?”

  Marcus’s hands tighten on her shoulders. “It’s your call,” he said.

  Iaka looked at the native lying unconscious on the floor. She couldn’t just let him die. “Go ahead, but I’ll be watching.”

  Dr. O’Hare sniffed and turned up his nose. “Yes, you do that. Maybe you’ll learn something.”

  Iaka watched as he manipulated the outputs and gas mixtures. Some settings he altered only a bit to make it as near to the native’s natural habitat as possible. Iaka couldn’t deny his genius. If he hadn’t lost his morales some where along the way she would have been honored to study with him.

  Marcus kept his distance while the scientists worked. For the moment it looked like Iaka had decided to let the older man live.

  Solomon stepped up beside him. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her that pissed. She might have actually strangled him.”

  Iaka looked up at them. “Marcus, could you bring him over? I think we’ve got everything set.”

  Marcus bent down and scooped the little alien up. He carried him over and set him in the chamber. Marcus shuddered. He looked like a corpse in a coffin. “Will this work?”

  He was asking Iaka but Dr. O’Hare answered. “It will prolong his life, nothing more. Only returning him to the tunnels will allow him to survive.”

  Marcus nodded. “Well, if that’s the best we can do then it’s the best we can do. Now, doctor, let’s talk about you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, about how you’re going to tell the council everything you’ve done for the past five years. About Earth Force’s involvement, all of it. You’re also going to turn over all your research.”

  “My research? In case you didn’t notice everything was destroyed.”

  Marcus grabbed him by the front of his lab coat and jerked him over so their noses almost touched. “Don’t give me that shit. There’s no way you left without a copy of your precious research. I imagine you thought you could bargain your way out of prison with it.”

  Dr. O’Hare looked away and Marcus knew he’d hit dead on.

  “Give it to me or so help me I’ll strip you naked and stuff you in the chamber with our little friend.”

  Iaka grinned at him. She seemed to be enjoying herself, Dr. O’Hare not so much.

  “Fine, here.” He handed Marcus a small data chip.

  Marcus tossed it to Solomon. “Why don’t you and Iaka check this out and make sure he didn’t just hand over his porn collection.”

  “Reversion in ten seconds,” Solomon said.

  Marcus, Solomon, and Iaka sat strapped into their seats in the cockpit. Dr. O’Hare rested in the spare room, the door locked from the outside. The native, Iaka assured him, rested comfortably, his vitals stable if not ideal.

  “Three, two, one.”

  Laser fire streaked past them as soon as they emerged from hyperspace. Marcus dove and spun as more red beams blazed past. The ship lurched as one bounced off the shields. “I guess they’re still pissed about the door.” Marcus said.

  “That isn’t the asteroid, we came out well beyond their range.“ Solomon said. “That’s the corvette we left behind back at Alpha 114.”

  “I guess they’ve got faster engines than us.” The ship shook again. “Better weapons too. Contact the council, see of they can help.”

  “I’ll do it,” Iaka said.

  Marcus tuned her out and focused on keeping them alive. He powered toward the asteroid weaving a random path. Despite his best efforts the shields took a pounding.

  “Want me to return fire?” Solomon asked.

  “Don’t bother, we couldn’t scratch their shields with our toy cannons. Divert weapons’ power to the shields. Anything else we can spare send to the engines.”

  “You sure? Engines are redlining as it is.”

  “I’m in contact with council weapon’s control. They’re powered and ready to fire if can make in range.”

  “Power to the engines, Solomon.”

  The power gauge went over the red line to one hundred fifteen percent. “Come on, baby.” Marcus patted the control yoke. “Just a little more.”

  The restraints cut into Marcus’s chest as the ship lurched again. “Shields down to ten percent,” Solomon said.

  “Weapon’s control say we’re in range but the corvette is behind us and they can’t get a clear shot.”

  “I’m going to dive in three seconds. Tell them to be ready. Mark.”

  “Three,” Solomon said. “Two,”

  Something exploded on the side of the ship. Shield failure.

  “One.”

  Marcus rammed the yoke forward. A blinding streak of power shot over them. Explosions and alarms rang out. Marcus slammed his fist on the console silencing the alarms. “Status report.”

  “Everything’s broken,” Solomon said. “Scanners, shields, and weapons are down. Both engines are gone. We’re on emergency life support and dead in space.”

  “Comm?”

  “Dead,” Iaka said.

  “What about external cameras?” Marcus asked.

  “I’ve got one still functioning,” Solomon said. “Putting it on the main screen now.”

  An empty star field filled the screen. “That’s very helpful. What’s happening out there?”

  The council asteroid rotated into view. “I’m sorry, Marcus. This is all I’ve got,” Solomon said.

  Marcus gave Solomon’s shoulder a squeeze. “It’s all right. It least they haven’t shot at us in a while.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The council sent a tug to drag them back to their old docking bay. Kind of embarrassing but at least they’d survived so Marcus considered it a win. Dr. O’Hare and their little friend came through the battle without a scratch, though it had taken a while to figure out how to bypass the lock to the spare room and get the doctor out.

  Marcus stood in the cargo bay. When the alarm sounded letting him know the bay had pressurized he lowered the loading ramp. Iaka and the others joined him. A robed and masked Vencar waited for them at the bottom of the ramp.

  “First councilor Dra’kor.” She bowed deeply. “We’re honored you would greet us in person.”

  “I feared if we sent another of the Terren Minor you would have shot him on sight.” Marcus could hear the smile behind the mask.

  “First councilor may I present Captain Marcus Drake, Solomon Keys, and Dr. Miles O’Hare.”

  The first councilor approached Marcus and held out a gloved hand. Marcus shook it. He glanced back at the shiny new airlock door then back to Dra’kor. “Sorry about your door.”

  “It was due for an upgrade anyway.” The Vencar handed Marcus a small data chip. “It contains an override code for the new door, should you find it necessary to leave in a hurry.”

  Marcus grinned and pocketed the chip. “Thanks. We brought one of the natives from Alpha 114. He’s in stasis and I think we should get him to the med bay as soon as possible.”

  “Of course. My people are on their way.” Dra’kor turned to Solomon and sho
ok his hand as well. “A pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Keys.”

  Solomon managed to nod before looking away from the shiny mask. Looking to spare his friend any further discomfort Marcus said, “Dr. O’Hare’s anxious to tell you all about his research.”

  Dra’kor approached the doctor but didn’t offer his hand. “You, sir, have much to answer for.”

  “Please, I only wanted help your people.”

  “By harming another people. You are an anathema to the Vencar. I would kill you where you stand if it wouldn’t compound the insult to our ways.”

  Dr. O’Hare stared, mouth open, at the first councilor. Before he could speak three Vencar arrived one pushing a hovercart. Marcus used Herc to help them load the chamber on the cart.

  “Take good care of him,” Marcus said.

  The trial and deliberation lasted two weeks. Iaka assured him that was a record for the council to reach a decision. Earth got kicked off the council for ten years. A one year trade embargo was also put in place for all member systems. Only about half the systems in the galaxy were council members so Earth space wouldn’t suffer too much. Pity that.

  Marcus kept his distance from the proceedings. He spent his days watching the Vencar technicians replace the engines on the Star. The new engines would have twice the thrust and be fifty percent more efficient. Dra’kor said they were a gift for his work helping the Alpha natives. Marcus couldn’t wait to try them.

  Things had calmed enough that Solomon had a chance to examine the silver sphere he’d gotten on New Vegas. It was a universal translator that floated by your head when activated. Once he finished examining the sphere Solomon spent his time messing with the data chip Dra’kor gave them. Something about using it as a back door key to the whole system. Marcus neither understood nor particularly cared, but his friend seemed happy and that’s what mattered.

  The hanger door slid open and Iaka and Dra’kor entered.

  “You’re practically drooling,” Iaka said.