Cartlidge: Rise of the Imperfect Flame (16 page)

“We found the beacon from your ship,” he began to explain,
“while observing Clawtrodon territory. Most assumed your ship had been
destroyed by Clawtrodons a year ago, but they wanted to be sure. They sent my
team to check. When we first saw you, we thought you were scouts for the
Clawtrodons. We should’ve known better though, you guys are terrible at
hiding.”

Sapphire sent me a look that almost screamed, “I told you
so!”

“Did you find any other survivors?” I asked. I was sure I
knew the answer already but I asked anyway. He shook his head silently. I
wasn’t surprised, but I still felt disappointed.

Walker broke the silence. “What were you sent out here to
get anyway?”

I paused for a moment while I chose my words carefully then
glanced at Sapphire. “She has ...important
intel
.” I
decided against telling them about the life-
gem ,
not
knowing how they would react.

“Well, it’s been a year since you guys went off the radar,
is the
intel
still any good?”

“It is, but
it’s
classified stuff.”

I began to worry that he would see through my poorly woven
lie, but after a moment of tormenting silence he shrugged his shoulders and
began to walk towards the drop ship. We followed after them. Without breaking
step, Walker shouted something that signaled for the others to return. Within
minutes, the whole drop ship was filled with soldiers. I remained a few moments
longer however to look upon the area that had been by home for the past year
one last time. I was forced here in a tragedy, but the place brought Sapphire
and I together, and it seemed to have grown on me because of it. When I looked
at the world now, I realized how beautiful it really was. Sapphire’s voice
freed me from my daydream. She was calling for me to board the drop ship.
Apparently Walker had told her of the food on the ship and she desperately
wanted to try some. I darted over and strapped myself in the seat that she had
saved for me. Soon we were off. And just like that, we were free of the wild
planet we had once called home and now bound to return to the affairs of an
eternal war.

Shortly after reaching the orbiting ship, The Shadow, I
quickly found the captain of the ship and asked for communication with the
Rovanekren council. The captain’s Gaia name was Mar, and he was relatively
short for a Rovanekren. In fact, he was only a few inches above my height. I
made no comment about it since I figured he might take offense. Mar also had
shorter than average hair and sported a goatee, which was rare for Rovanekrens.
I pondered whether or not he did this to deliberately set himself apart from
his fellow Rovanekrens. His voice was rather deep and commanding. After
explaining our situation, captain Mar agreed rather quickly to let us use the
long range communications system, however he demanded that he remained present.
I couldn’t think of an argument, so I reluctantly agreed. He told one of the
engineers to keep the ship in orbit,
then
we walked
towards the
comm
room.

The long range communications system didn’t use holographic
equipment, at least on our side, to my surprise. Instead, the system was a
small room that worked similarly to the background systems of a training room.
The walls acted as giant visual screens and the floor and ceiling acted as
scanners to create what I assumed was a holographic image of the three of us.
Suddenly the
room replicated into a circular addition filled
with what I assumed were
Kings, Queens, senators, and other officials.
The room became deathly silent until one of the officials spoke.

“Captain?
Why are you contacting
us? You know this channel is for high value communications only.” He spoke Gaia
perfectly, unlike most Rovanekrens.

The captain cleared his throat. “Yes sir, this is important.
We found survivors of the frigate RSF 2027. It was lost a year ago.”

“Ah yes,” he spoke shortly after bringing up a small
hologram of the ship, along with a small list. I figured the list was one of
the crew members. “I don’t see an Anth as part of the crew. Tell me miss, what
is your name?”

Sapphire was silent, already withdrawn into her mental
shell. I spoke up. “Her name is Sapphire. The ship was sent to find
an unknown
item acting on priest-based intel. As it turned
out, she was the target. This woman contains a life-gem within her upper torso,
just in front of her heart.” I pointed to the area on my own body. The
officials, Queens and Kings immediately began to whisper in shock amongst each
other. “When we found her, she had landed on the target moon in a large stasis
pod covered in ancient Rovanekren writing. Shortly before leaving, someone
sabotaged our ship’s jump engine, forcing us to stop mid-jump for repairs. I
believe the culprit was the new quartermaster who had just transferred for the
mission. I saw him enter the J.E. room just before the engine exploded. A
lifeboat launched from the ship just after a pair of Clawtrodon heavy frigates
jumped in and destroyed the ship. She and I were the only survivors of the
attack. We spent a year on an uncharted planet before one of Captain Mar’s
teams found us.” The officials did not speak to us for a while. I worried that
perhaps I had said too much. Finally one spoke.

“Cartlidge, is it? You seem to be the only crew member who
was human.”

“Y-Yes sir.”

“Well Jacob, we thank you for your efforts to bring us this
woman. We will make sure you are greatly compensated for you hard work this
past year, and, if you so wish, you will be able to retire from the Rovanekren
military.”

I knew what they were implying and immediately spoke up. “I
want to be Sapphire’s guard!” I almost shouted it, and immediately felt
uncomfortable about the sudden demand.
“... at least until
the gem is removed.”
I added. They remained silent for a moment, until
one of the female senators spoke.

“Cartlidge,” she paused, “surgically removing the gem is
almost impossible. If we attempt it the gem will lash out and it will likely
kill your companion. It’s likely that she will have it for the rest of her
life.”

I froze at the revelation, but quickly recovered. “I will
gladly remain by her side for the rest of my life!” Silence prevailed again. I
could feel everyone’s eyes upon me, including Sapphire’s. What I said was true
though. I loved her and I promised her that I would protect her. I was
determined to hold to that promise. The senator began to speak again, but a
king interrupted her.

“Son, do you know how significant a life gem is? Do you
really? The discovery of a life gem always indicates impending turmoil. You
will never find peace, and you will face enemies so powerful you cannot even
comprehend it!”

“Still, I am more than determined-”

“You are not strong enough, nor will you ever be strong
enough!” He shouted this, and I felt my voice struck down by his own. He
continued, undeterred.

“She will be put into the hands of several powerful High
Kings until her purpose can be discerned. Not some hopelessly love stuck
soldier who thinks he can take on the world!”

As the King’s words resonated in my head, I collapsed to the
ground. I couldn’t look anyone in the face anymore. I was filled with defeat
and suddenly became disconnected from my surroundings. We had only just escaped
and Sapphire was already being taken away from me. To worsen the blow, I was
entirely powerless to stop it. There was nothing I could do. I began to panic.
Plead with myself in my mind. “Perhaps if we ran to a lifeboat we could return
to the planet and… no, they would find us. Eventually, they would find us and
drag us back.” Thoughts like this ran circles in my mind. Someone was holding
me. Sapphire I think. She was crying. I think I began to hold her too. This was
probably my last chance to do so. Someone else was shouting something. A single
word came from a voice I didn’t recognize.

“Captain!”

The room went black. Did I pass out? No, the room was dark.
The connection had been cut. I returned from my void of thought.

“What happened to the connection?” Captain Mar barked.

“Jammers!
There’s a whole fleet
jumping in and they’re giving off Clawtrodon signatures!” Both the captain and
the engineer immediately left the room. I looked at Sapphire who returned it,
tears still hanging on the lids of her eyes. I kissed her forehead and rose up.
I told her I loved her and she nodded, then she grabbed onto my hand and we
followed the captain.

The bridge wasn’t far from the
comm
room but the captain was already shouting orders to the crew.

“How many ships, Garvey?”

“Not sure captain! We can’t get a good reading of their
numbers! One of them is big though!”

“I want everyone on tier two alert and jump coordinates
punched in now!” A tier two alert meant that the crew should expect anything
from an incoming attack to a very dangerous maneuver called a blind jump. Tier
three would mean an active battle, and tier four meant that the battle was lost
and we were to abandon the ship.

“Sir?
A blind
jump or a standard one?”

“Garvey! How far out are they?”

“I’d say a minute sir! They’re coming in rather fast!”

“Then aim us towards a void of stars and send us into a
blind jump!” A blind jump was a nickname for a jump that didn’t have the void
opened prior to the launch. A tenth of these ended in instant obliteration. The
jumps were unpredictable and would often lead a ship directly into the path of
a planet, star, or other space debris. It was like deliberately trying to fly a
small plane through a hurricane. They were only attempted as a last resort.

“How did they find us?”

“Sir!
The emergency transmitter! It
wasn’t deactivated until all ground parties had returned to the drop ship. They
must have tracked it, same as us!”

The captain swore. “Is that jump ready?!”

“Almost sir!
Jumping in five! Four!
Thr
-” Several Clawtrodon heavy frigates jumped in,
followed by what looked like the largest supercarrier I had ever seen. The
frigates were similar in design to Rovanekren ones, with the exception of the
secondary engines, the two hull attachments, and the smaller dorsal fin. The
secondary engines were located higher on a Clawtrodon ship, and they also had a
larger bow, due to two extensions on the sides. Carriers Looked like large
cargo ships from Earth with long wings protruding off the sides of the stern.
The top was completely flat, which for an allowed an upper hangar unique to the
carrier class.

“Captain!
It’s the Undying!” The
engineer must have been referring to the supercarrier.

The captain swore again. “Jump now!”

Something hit us. The entire ship shook, knocking everyone
off balance. The lights flickered for a few seconds.

“Damage report!”

“Shields are gone in the aft part of the ship! Our Jump
systems are gone! Forward shields are at 52 percent!”

“Evasive maneuvers! Garvey! Send out a high speed distress
beacon at my command! I want all weapons online! We’re at tier three, people.”
The ship was hit twice more, this time the ship dove forward violently, then
backwards.

“Both the engine and the main gun are gone!”

“Get people to the escape pods! We’re more likely to survive
on the ground than here!” Another hit, but less forceful.

“The
Undying’s
latched on sir!
Starboard wing to bow!”

“How many pods have launched?”

“Already 75 percent of the crew is away, sir!”

“Alright.
Everyone! Meet up with
squad C and jump ship! Garvey! Transfer control of your terminal to mine!” He
turned to me and tossed me a pistol.

“Keep her safe! They’re here for her. I’m going to make sure
the Rovanekren fleet knows about this.” Immediately everyone began to exit to
the left of us. I grabbed Sapphire’s hand and moved towards the stairs to
follow. As we reached the bottom, the pressure wave from an explosion ripped
through the stairwell. They had just blown through the outer door. I heard
someone shout “Freeze!” in a twisted form of Rovanekren. We started to run to
the door. About eight feet away several shots hit the door. I looked up to find
two of the Clawtrodons aiming towards us. Three more were aiming at the
captain.

One of the soldiers shouted.
“You three!
You come with us!” I carefully nudged Sapphire behind my back,
then
quickly raised the pistol. A shot rang off and the
pistol fell from my hand. My upper arm felt as if it had been slammed in a door
and I quickly took hold of it with my other hand. The round had planted itself
firmly in the mesh of the armor. I carefully picked it out and looked up.

“Up. Here.
Now!”

I looked over at the captain, who smiled at us, and gave a
nod. He slowly turned to the terminal and began typing.

“Stop!”
One of the soldiers
shouted, and he raised his rifle. The captain ignored him and continued. Three
shots rang out followed by a noise of shock by Sapphire. Captain Mar froze in
pain, and by a desperate act of will, hit one final button. Another shot was
fired, and the captain fell over.

Sapphire began to scream and curse at them. As I gently
pushed her up the stairs I desperately hoped she wouldn’t push them over their
edge, but every word she called them seemed to be working directly against that
hope. By the time we had joined a few other captives at their boarding point,
the soldiers were restraining themselves only by the invisible leash known as
orders from superiors. Finally she exhausted her anger and she forced herself
into my arms and began to sob. That must have been the first murder she had
ever witnessed. I wondered for a moment what Mar had sacrificed
himself
for before remembering.

“Garvey! Send out a high speed distress beacon at my
command!”

“Transfer control of your terminal to mine!”

He sent a distress beacon. He waited until the last moment
because he knew that they couldn’t jam our communications without jamming their
own. That meant he gave us a chance for survival. If I could escape with
Sapphire long enough, the fleet could arrive and drive the Clawtrodons off. It
was a small chance, but it was one I could hold onto. I started to plan an
escape. It couldn’t be done in a hallway as they would simply gun us down when
we ran. I needed a turn or an intersection of some sort. Suddenly we were driven
to the floor by our captors before being placed in some sort of metal restraint
that attached itself to our arms. I couldn’t even twitch a finger. I checked if
had lost or damaged any teeth from the fall then looked up. “Why now?” I
thought in frustration of the major complication to my incomplete plan. We were
in a large hallway, filled with escape pods, however it was obvious that the
Clawtrodons had made sure to sabotage every one of them in this part of the
ship. Then I noticed it. At the end of the hallway was a large hole in the
ceiling which led to the Undying. That was where we boarded. The Shadow was
smaller than I anticipated. I tried to formulate a new plan, but we were
already moving again. It was clear that if we boarded that ship we were never
coming back. I made an attempt to break free from their grasp but one of the
soldiers fired their pistol into my foot. I still had my armor on so it did not
go through, but it still had the force of a sledgehammer being dropped on my
foot. Involuntarily I shouted and stopped struggling.

While we were dragged into the foreign beast of a ship I
made eye contact with Sapphire. We both shared the same look of terror on our
faces and neither of us dared to look away. It was as if we thought the other
would disappear if we looked away. Despite this, I noticed that the ship had
strikingly similar qualities to a Rovanekren ship.
Same
glossy white hallway, same random panels or sets of pipes, same labyrinth of
hallways and turns.
After passing through a hangar bay big enough to fit
a Rovanekren freighter, we found ourselves on a rapid transit system to the bow
of the ship. While on the train I noticed the soldiers had relaxed from their
earlier aggressive posture. I realized why long before I even considered an
attack. We were in the heart of the ship. Escape was impossible now. My heart
sank. Once again I found myself powerless to protect Sapphire. We were both at
their mercy. We stopped shortly after and entered a large room. This room was
different from most of the others since it was large, spacious, and completely
dark. The soldiers once again kicked us to the floor,
then
one shouted