Cain's Crusaders (6 page)

The Earth of his upbringing was gone, replaced now by a smaller version of the planet Juir and its native population’s boundless desire for
empire
. Over the four thousand years it took to build the Expansion, the Juireans had lost their identity to the lust for power and control. They built a galactic empire of over eight thousands worlds, bringing a form of civilization to the disparate cultures of the Milky Way, and yet it came at a tremendous cost.

Since the Juireans had developed their Expansion over all those millennia, they were not aware of what was happening to their culture along the way. As the Expansion grew, and the responsibilities of governing a galaxy became more and more complex, the Juireans became slaves to their own success. They lived to serve the Expansion, and the Expansion demanded so much from the Juireans.

Never saints to begin with, the Juireans became emotionless automatons, even dispensing with traditional means of mating and the raising offspring. They developed a vast, impersonal breeding system designed to produce as many Juirean administrators as possible needed to govern their vast empire. To the Juireans, they saw this as a necessary evolution, required in order to fulfill their manifest destiny, and for the Juireans, the system worked. But for the Humans, it was different, at least initially.

Once the Humans had defeated the Juireans – as well as all their other sundry opponents in the war – they overnight assumed control of an eight-thousand world empire. With absolutely no time to grow into their new role as leaders of the galaxy, Humanity soon because a chaotic mess of desperate and often wrong-headed attempts to replace the Juireans. Never a race lacking in confidence, the power-hungry politicians and business leaders of Earth refused to accept the fact that they may have bitten off more than they could chew. The lure of ruling over an entire galaxy was just too juicy of a prospect to pass up – at least without trying.

Within months of the defeat of the Juireans, the entire social and governmental structure of Earth changed. Borders fell, while individual governments were absorbed into the more ubiquitous Planetary Governing Authority – the PGA – which sought to coordinate all the efforts Humanity was experimenting with in their vain attempt to keep the Expansion from falling into total collapse. As a single planet, completely unprepared for the task, every able-bodied Human was essentially drafted into some kind of work related to governing the galaxy, just as had happened to the Juireans.

Adam was welcomed back to his home planet as a hero. Innumerable books and films were made detailing his exploits among the stars, many exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Soon he was the most-recognized person on the planet.

Yet all this fame stole from him the things he craved most – privacy and peace. The time he spent on his home planet became unbearable.

Seven years after the close of the war, things had only gotten worse. The galaxy, as well as the planet Earth, was even a more chaotic mess, a disaster of incomparable depth and dimension.

About that time, Adam and some of the more reasoned minds on the planet began to look for an exit strategy. Things couldn’t continue along the path they were headed, otherwise they would end up just as the Juireans – or worse.

During this time, there had been an extended honeymoon period between the Earth and the other members of the Expansion, and few were willing to challenge the Humans for leadership of the Expansion. After all, this was the savage, primitive race from the mysterious Far Arm that had defeated not only the Juireans, but also the mythical Klin and the relatively unknown Kracori race. What the Humans lacked in governing prowess, they definitely made up for in fighting skills and natural physical superiority to most other races in the galaxy. So the members of the Expansion decided to take a wait-and-see posture with the Humans.

Yet after seven years, the honeymoon was just about over, and that was when
The Cain Initiative
was introduced to the Expansion. Even though the plan carried his name, Adam was not its primary author, even if he did whole-heartily support it.

The Initiative came as a shock to the galaxy: The Humans were leaving, essentially saying to all the members of the Expansion,
take your empire and shove it!
Humanity hadn’t asked for this role; it was they who had been attacked, unilaterally and without warning. It was too bad the attackers themselves became the victims of Humanity’s skills and savagery. They should have thought twice before taking on the Humans….

So Humanity left, turning over control of the Expansion to a small, interim government led by Kroekus of Silea.

That had been almost four years ago.

Back on Earth, the situation that The Cain Initiative was meant to resolve had not gotten much better. The politicians and the business leaders still sought power and wealth. The planet had been fundamentally changed over the seven years that Humanity had ruled the Expansion until there was no going back. The savages from Earth would still seek empire, but they would do so in their own backyard – the Far Arm of the galaxy.

So the PGA remained in control; Human warships continued to be built and starship crews and stellar diplomats were trained and sent out into space. And soon Earth’s own mini-Expansion within the territory of the Far Arm began to grow.

As Adam entered his apartment, he dropped his go-bag on the nearest couch and proceeded directly to the sliding door leading to the deck. The warm Pyrumese sun bathed his skin, its heat mitigated by the fresh breeze blowing in from the ocean. He walked to the rail and looked out. The open sky above and the vastness of the sea beyond were cathartic – he had been cooped up inside the confines of the
Phoenix
for far too long.

The view from his deck reminded him of home, but of a home that no longer existed, and this was the reason for his conflict. Even if he did return to the land of the Humans, it would be to a completely different place than his memories. He would not be left alone, with all the peoples of Earth concerned only with the building of their own stellar empire and glorifying any past conquering heroes. It would be same back home as it was within the Expansion of today, only with Humans instead of aliens all clamoring, complaining and scurrying about in a frenetic rush.

And yet the Expansion itself was on the verge of total collapse, and everyone knew it. Although Kroekus was a genius as organization and diplomatic strategy, he was no miracle worker. He was facing the same issues the Humans had faced, namely extremely high expectations from Expansion members and absolutely no time allowed for fulfillment of those expectations. Every day, a dozen or more additional worlds proclaimed their independence from the Expansion, deciding to either go it alone or to affiliate with some smaller, yet more regional union of planets or self-interests.

Kroekus was mostly powerless to stop them. What he was more concerned with was keeping the existing members of the New Expansion satisfied enough not to bolt, and that primarily revolved around security and protection against the more belligerent moves by the independent worlds around them.

The Juirean Expansion had once been divided into twenty-four sectors spread throughout the galaxy. Now those sectors were nothing more than lines on a map. While whole sections of the former Juirean Expansion could be either independent or loyal to the New Expansion, there were others where the entire sector was a mix of independent and loyal worlds, often even among neighboring star systems.

Kroekus had his hands full, and in a small measure, he relied on the members of Adam’s Force-One Enforcement Inter-Department to help smooth out some of the rough edges. No longer concerned with what the independent worlds would think of his actions, Kroekus had decided to take whatever measures necessary to keep the remaining members happy. The independents had chosen their own path, and if that meant having to suffer the often unconventional and bloody consequences of
Cain’s Crusaders
, then so be it. The independents would probably never again rejoin the Expansion, so their well-being was of no concern to Kroekus – or to Adam for that matter.

Yes, Adam Cain was a lost soul, lost in a galaxy of strange alien cultures and creatures often nightmarish in description. Yet returning to his home would not be any better.

And so he remained, absorbed in the job he had to do, distracted by anything that would take his mind off his situation and his melancholy. So the view from his deck was an illusion, yet one that helped him remain sane and better-suited to face a reality he had never asked for in the first place.

After taking a long, hot shower, Adam dressed in a blue, long-sleeve tunic, one that covered all his body except for his neck and head. The checkerboard welts on the right side of his face were a little softer now, yet they were still there. He thought about trying to round up some makeup to help disguise them, but thought better of it. Besides, the only place he could think of to find makeup on the base was from Sherri, and she was the primary person he was trying to hide the welts from.

Chapter 5

A
s the leader of the small band of
Cain’s Crusaders
, Adam felt it was important to keep up some form routine within the troops. So upon return from a mission, he would call a meeting of all his agents who were present on the base so that an open debriefing could be held. It was important that all agents had the same level of knowledge and background regarding the status of the various missions, tactics and strategies the Force carried out. At any time, one or more of them may be called upon to assist another agent, and since there were so few of them, all agents had to be interchangeable.

So a meeting was arranged, which also provided a good excuse for Adam to get some face-time with fellow members of his race. Even though Riyad had accompanied him to Yaki, most of the mission had involved bashing alien heads and having to put up with their filthy habits and sickening smells. To be in a room full of Humans may be just what Adam needed to get him grounded to the real world he now inhabited, rather than that long-ago fantasy world of his past life on Earth. Recurring thoughts of a life that no longer existed was not conducive to Adam’s mental well-being

Adam held his debriefs in a smallish conference room in the Operations building. Adam had intentionally kept the room small so that the meetings would feel more intimate. It also helped to distract the team from that fact that there were so few of them within a galaxy so large. Just six Humans to defend the interests of the New Expansion against the forces which sought to destroy it.

Present for the meeting would be Adam, Sherri and Riyad, plus the new members Mark Henderson and Jamal Dawson. The remaining team member, Lee Schwartz, was hoping to make it to the meeting, but he had been on the mainland meeting with the leader of the Cupin’los people, the dominate species on the planet Pyrum-3. Yet, as Adam pulled his golf cart up to the entrance to the Ops building, he saw that Lee would indeed be present for the meeting.

This was because he had just arrived at the Ops building, riding on the back of Ka’lo, the supreme leader of the Cupin’los.

Adam was furious. He stepped out of the cart with his jaw clinched tight, glaring at Lee.

“Mr. Schwartz, please get off of Master Ka’lo’s back,” he commanded, knowing that his face was turning a beat red from his anger. What could be more disrespectful to the native population of their host planet than riding the planetary leader like some god-damn horse?

“It’s okay Captain,” Lee responded, his voice cheery and unconcerned. “He likes it when I ride him.”

“He is the leader of his planet. Please show some respect.”

The large, centaur-like alien strode up to Adam with a lively gait, the large, Prime-like face smiling broadly. The Pyrumese did not follow traditional alien convention regarding the baring of teeth as a sign of physical challenge. Having never ventured far out from their home planet, Adam wondered if they even knew of the implications. Regardless, Ka’lo grinned at Adam with the most joyous look.

“It is of no concern, Master Adam. I actually enjoy the feel of another creature upon me. It makes me feel useful to members of the incredible Human race.”

“That may be so, Master Ka’lo, but we must still maintain a respect for the office you hold.”

“Have I offended you, Master Adam?” Ka’lo asked. “If I have, I apologize.”

It seemed as though Adam’s objection had caused more harm than good. “It is we who must apologize, Master Ka’lo. If it’s your wish to carry Humans on your back, then it is not my place to object. However, I hope we do not make a habit out of it, as one
equal
race to another.” Adam glared at Lee as the young, former Navy commander hopped off the back of the planetary leader of Pyrum-3.

“Ah, you are a true diplomat, Master Adam. I understand your point of view, but I also know we are not races of equals. However, I will honor your concerns and possibly use Master Lee only for exhilarating runs through the fields of the mainland. And I would truly enjoy the opportunity to share the experience with you someday. It would be an honor to have one such as you mount me as well.”

Adam was growing uncomfortable with the tone of the conversation. He merely nodded, and then with a jerk of his head, motioned for Lee to enter the building as quickly as possible.

On the way to the conference room, Adam said nothing, simply grunting and shaking his head. Yet as they entered the room, Lee spoke up in his defense.

“It was his idea, Captain. He had seen some pictures of horses on Earth and wanted to share the same experience of carrying a Human as they did. He was actually
jealous
of horses!”

Adam glared at Sherri, who was seated at the far end of the small table, a curious look on her face. “You’re in charge when I’m not here, Sherri.” Adam said to her, his jaw still firmly set. “How could you let Lee go around riding the leader of a planet like a god-damn horse?”

The look on Sherri’s face suddenly turned defensive and angry. “Like he said, Ka’lo
asked
for it. It would have pissed him off more if I’d said no. I’ve even done it a few times while you were gone. You know I grew up with horses in Kentucky, and this is so much better than that. These things are actually intelligent.”

“No harm, no foul, Captain,” Lee said, taking a seat next to Sherri. This was strategic, since Adam would be sitting at the opposite end of the table from her. This meeting was not getting off to a very good start….

“Damn, Captain, what happened to you?” Mark Henderson asked, attempting to lighten the mood with a change of subject.

“Gravity extraction,” Riyad answered for him. “It worked, but we’ll have to change the netting to a tarp.” He looked over at Adam and grinned widely. “We almost lost the old goat-herder.”

“If I’m a goat-herder, then you are all my goats.”

Sherri was still upset Adam had chastised her, especially in front of the others, so she refrained from any comment, even though Adam saw a complete chess set sitting on the table in front of her. What she had intended to do with it was anyone’s guess, but Adam knew it would have been at
his
expense. Fortunately, it didn’t look like she was going to get over her anger with him before the time for levity had passed.

Adam sat down and quickly began speaking.

“The mission to Yaki was a success, as far as the primary objectives were concerned. The drug dealer Foruka was killed and it’s known that the New Expansion was behind it. There will be someone to replace him, but whoever that ends up being will hopefully confine their activities to the Triumvirate or other non-NE planets, otherwise they could suffer the same fate. There’s plenty of room for them to operate without infringing on New Expansion territory.”

“It was foolish for him to do it in the first place,” Jamal Dawson said. As one of the two new members of the team, he was always anxious to get involved as quickly as possible. “But aren’t most of the criminals in that region becoming more aggressive?”

“Yes they are. They appear to be more organized than before, which is very strange considering that most of the governments of these new independents are in complete melt-down. Leaving the Expansion may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but now they’re realizing just how interdependent they all were. Take translation bugs for instance. Most of the outer systems are having trouble keeping their supply lines going. I’m sure they never even thought of that when those chose to break away.”

“Yes, but in most of their cases, the governments had few options,” Riyad said. “The criminal element continues to drive the economies of most of the rebels, and the crime bosses prefer an environment with less regulation and authority rather than more.”

“So this is just the beginning,” Lee said, quick to change the subject from his native-leader-riding escapades and get into the conversation. “With the crooks organizing more quickly and better than the governments, I don’t think they’re going to stay content to operate within their own territories for very long. Most of the independents are dirt-poor; the crooks will go to where the money is, and that’s to the nearest New Expansion world. Their governments may not overtly support them, but they’re also not going to do much to discourage their activities.”

“You’re right,” Riyad said. “The Yakilian government sided with Foruka instead of us, claiming an invasion of their sovereignty. That’s how they’re going to support the criminals without actually backing them officially.”

“Do you have anything to add, Sherri?” Adam asked, trying to smooth over the tension between them.

“Nope,” came her terse reply.

Adam took a deep breath and decided not to press her. “Okay, on to new business.” He looked down at the datapad he held and scanned through the entries. He had already looked at most of the news items contained in the readout, but then something hit him.

“Well, damn!” he said. He looked up at Riyad and then down the table to Sherri. “It seems the planet Belson is planning a vote for independence.”

Sherri leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “Kaylor’s homeworld, they want to leave the Expansion, too?”

“They have never liked the Juireans,” Riyad added, the omnipresent smile of his now vanished. “But still, this would be a major mistake on their part.”

“The Expansion is no longer the Juireans,” Adam said. “Kaylor and his people have to know this. What are they thinking?”

“The lure of independence is strong,” Riyad continued, “and the history of being dominated by an outside power is impossible to erase.” Riyad was of Lebanese descent, and as a young, angry Arab, had been very active in the terrorist movement in the nineties and after 9/11. He could relate to simmering feelings of resentment against any foreign entity which tried to impose their will upon others.

Kaylor Linn Todd was the first alien Adam encountered after being abducted from Earth going on fourteen years ago. He had been an independent merchant-hauler – a
mule-driver
they were called – who along with his partner and co-pilot Jym had rescued Adam from certain death aboard a derelict Klin starship. That fortuitous event had been the beginning of everything leading Adam to this very moment in time.

Kaylor was Belsonian and had left Adam’s company over ten years before returning to his home planet to help his people make it through the turmoil that came with the fall of the Juirean Expansion. The bear-like Jym had returned to his homeworld of Fulcum to do the same.

Adam and Riyad – but mainly Sherri – would hear from each of them now and then, calling just to give informal updates on how they both were doing. The aliens never seem that concerned about how the Humans were fairing, probably figuring that they could take care of themselves quite well.

The two aliens had always felt more comfortable around Sherri than they ever did with the two Human males. Considering all they had been through – as well as many of the despicable things the aliens had witnessed Adam and Riyad commit – who could blame them?

But now Kaylor’s world was preparing for a vote that would remove them from the protection and resources of the New Expansion. To a person, Adam’s team knew it was a bad idea.

Adam turned to Riyad. “I think we need to make a trip to Belson, to talk with Kaylor and his people. They need to get another perspective on this before they vote.”