Remember the Starfighter (31 page)

He awoke and found himself alone inside the station’s brig, seething in pain.

Breathing hard as he clutched his chest, he rose to his feet, finding that he had been lying on a metal bench. Beside him was a toilet, the stump of metal in the corner of the room.

Julian continued massaging his chest, feeling where the initial shot had landed. Some kind of a stun beam, he surmised, the effect able to paralyze his muscles and induce severe shock. He felt his battered face, and knees, the bruises still tender from his fall.

Glancing at his surroundings, he found that his cell was small and minimal, furnished with little else, but what he guessed was a food dispenser embedded in one of the bulkhead walls. Guarding the entrance was a force field, the layer of glassy white light acting as a transparent gate into his cell.

Walking closer, he approached the force field wall, finding that his cell faced only a vacant room, surrounded by other holding cells that appeared empty. From what he could tell, all surveillance was managed remotely, his own bio-feed ID likely synched into the security network and monitoring his vitals.

“Computer,” he said. “What is the date and time?”

His words echoed in the room, but there was no answer, as he realized that even his network access had been denied.

“I demand to speak with a military representative,” he shouted.

But there would be no response, as a sense of despair sunk in.
How did this happen
, he asked, wondering if he had made a mistake. In one moment, he had returned to the SpaceCore, expecting help. Then in the next, he had been shot and sent to the brig, left to languish inside his cell without any knowledge as to what was happening.

“Arendi,” he said, feeling both the guilt and the betrayal. Julian had vowed to protect her. But instead, his words had become lies, tainted by SpaceCore and all its twisted logic.

“Why did we come here?” Julian said. In front of him, he stared at the force field wall, feeling the anger boil within. He couldn’t let this happen. Not to Arendi. Not when they were so close. 

Taking a few steps forward, Julian reached out to the force field wall, wanting to break it. The resulting contact, however, only electrocuted his body, snapping Julian back inside his cell. A burning heat seemed to crawl across his skin, as smoke vented from his limbs.

When Julian awoke again, he could hear the subtle laugh echo in his cell, the amusement painfully clear. Someone was not far, standing above him, and only inches away.

“The great Captain Nverson. I never expected we’d meet like this,” the man said in another laugh.

Julian opened his eyes, his body still sprawled against the floor. He slowly rose to his feet, finding that on the other side of the force field wall stood a man, of similar age, his long arms folded across his chest.

He was no security officer, but someone wearing a formal business suit of sorts, the slacks and jacket a glowing white. Was he a civilian?

“I had no idea this was how the SpaceCore treated their combat veterans,” the man said in a teasing tone. “All that for nothing, it seems.”

His brushed hair was a platinum blonde, and his skin and facial features seemingly Terran in origin. “Who are you?” Julian asked. “What the fuck do you want?”

The man smirked. This was no bore, but entertaining — to see how crude and desperate his adversary had become.

“This will surprise you, but we have met before, although not exactly face-to-face.”

“I think you’re mistaken,” Julian coughed. He sighed as he felt the scabs around his hand, the result from trying to break through the force field.

“I have to say I admire you Captain Nverson. You are resolute. Unwilling to yield no matter what. A capable fighter.”

Julian ignored the sentiment. “Again, what do you want?”

“Let’s just say, I underestimated you. And for that, you destroyed my vessel.”

“Your vessel? What are you talking about?”

“The Ouryan ship of course.”

The man laughed as Julian finally made the connection.

“You’re an Ouryan?
The
Ouryan?”

The man — looking completely human — nodded with a slight grin.

“Perhaps not what you expected. However, let’s just say I’ve assumed this form to make you and the other inhabitants on board this station more comfortable with my appearance.”

Stretching out his hands, the man inspected them, both checking for any errors and marveling at the life-like replication.

“I thought you were dead. I mean, I destroyed your ship.”

“We Ouryans cannot die so easily. You should know that. My consciousness is stretched across countless ships and colonies. You merely vanquished a small part of me, which, very quickly, was easily replaced by the whole.”

Julian looked away, both uninterested and perturbed.

“I hope that doesn’t disappoint you,” the man continued. “Although I have to say, aside from the Endervars, you were the first to defeat me in battle. Obviously, I don’t recollect what you did, but the tactic you used must have been brilliant.”

“Why don’t you get me out of here, and then I can show it to you again,” Julian quipped.

The man smiled, realizing that Julian had much fight still left in him.

“Very good, Captain Nverson. Resolute as ever,” he said. “To meet an opponent like you, is most gratifying. Perhaps one day you should consider joining the Union. As I understand it, your career with the SpaceCore is most certainly over.”

“What the fuck do you want?”

The man shrugged.

“This may be hard to believe. But there’s even a little human in I, along with a myriad of other ‘organic’ personality. So I’m curious. Curious to know who destroyed that part of me. But I suppose my curiosity has been satisfied.”

Turning his back, the man started to walk away, ready to depart the brig.

“Wait!” Julian said, as he pressed up to the force field again. “Goddammit, please.”

Stopping, the man ever so slightly turned his head in exaggerated amusement.

“Yes, you want to know what is happening, don’t you?”

“Please, just tell me that at least.”

Nonchalantly, the man walked back, planting himself before Julian. Unlike before, he grew quiet and more sullen, speaking in a near hushed tone.

“As we speak, SpaceCore is preparing to bring the android to my ship. It is what we agreed upon. In return, SpaceCore is being supplied with six dozen supply vessels, more than enough to ensure that all of Haven’s survivors will be able to live comfortably on Isen both now and into the far future. It is a generous deal.”

“What will happen to her? To Arendi?”

The man briefly paused, knowing the response would not please Julian.

“She will be disassembled and her memory core will become a part of the Union. In that way, she can continue to exist, and we will be able to study all relevant data on the Endervars easily.”

“You’re taking her against her will. She can break the shield. If she can—”

“Captain Nverson, we will understand everything her knowledge possesses, I assure you of that. And we will use such knowledge for the benefit of the galaxy. Or at least for the benefit of the Union.”

“But the collapser,” Julian said. “You have no intention of trying to break the shield, do you? Instead, you’re just going to wipe out the enemy, no matter what the cost.”

The man turned his back to Julian, and began stepping away.

“It is the cost for peace, captain. The cost for peace.”

Not done, Julian yelled at the man, demanding he answer one more question.

“Killing all those people still trapped on the Endervar worlds. You would really do that?”

The man gave one final laugh, parrying away Julian’s inquiry.

“If only you knew how little I cared,” the man said.

To demonstrate that, the being showed its true colors. Its human skin and clothing disappeared, revealing that it was just an elaborate hologram. What showed instead was that of a robotic attack drone, similar to the one Julian had encountered on Alliance Command. Plated with armored metal and designed for destruction, it moved with deadly precision, the red light of its plasma canon beaming from its head.

“Captain Nverson, the Endervars will be destroyed,” the Ouryan said in a low mechanical voice. “You should be thankful for this.”

It was supposed to be simple. Simple enough that all he needed to do was give the order. 

Only three days ago, the Ouryan Union had provided the schematics, an experimental technology Colonel Righton had heard rumors about. Known as an "absorption catalyst," it would release a burst of anti-particles, sapping high levels of energy within a defined area. Alliance scientists continued to fine-tune the technology for use in conflict, its advantages obvious. One could take down entire fleets, mechanical drones or even handheld weapons, depending on the magnitude. Practically anything that operated as a machine would become devoid of power.

Colonel Righton had studied the plans in detail, putting them into place with the use of a retrofitted particle emitter on board the station. The energy generated by it would be enough to replicate the catalyst on a small-scale, the field no larger than a few meters in diameter. Perfect for their purposes, the colonel thought.

"All systems are ready and security teams are in place," said a lieutenant manning one of the consoles in the room.

"Standby," Righton said, gazing over the display monitors. "We're still waiting for our guest."

The Ouryan Union — it had been them wanting to claim her. And a representative had been sent to see it done firsthand.

The door to the room slid open, a blonde-haired man entering the confines.

"Colonel Righton," he said. "I take it that everything is in order?"

The man's voice sounded natural. So genuine, it was hard to believe it was a fabrication of technology; his skin was made of light, his words were just a mechanical mimic.

Righton acknowledged the visitor with a reluctant nod.

"How was your meeting with Nverson?" the colonel said, trying to hide his loathing. "I didn't know you Ouryans liked to gloat?"

The man smirked. 

"I have more familiarity with humanity than you suspect," he said. "I only wish Nverson supported the mission as you and I both do."

The colonel stood expressionless, wanting to mask his disdain. Nverson was a good man, but now imprisoned in the brig. He looked at the reason why. The Ouryan was there, taunting him with that smile.

"Shall we proceed?" the agent said, apathetic to Righton's concerns.

As the plan commenced, the Ouryan took in its surroundings. Several SpaceCore officers were seated at the different control consoles. The room itself overlooked what was a storage bay on the station, the large windows staring down at the nearly empty facility. Through the view, the Ouryan looked below and saw a ring of monitoring stations and surveillance equipment at the center of the room. Within it, a woman-like figure was seated down next to a station computer. The blonde-haired man looked closer, and noticed that she appeared as she did in all the classified files.

"Arendi Soldanas," he said. "How is she?"

"Stubborn," the colonel replied. "Been trying to question her, but she wanted to see Nverson. So we gave her access to SpaceCore public flies to keep her occupied."

"Does she suspect anything?"

"We decided to lie to her. Told her Nverson would be arriving to see her at any moment now. It should keep her content."

Satisfied with the deception, the Ouryan then looked to the monitors and found that the colonel had prepared more than just the absorption catalyst.

"I see you have some doubts about this plan," the Ouryan surmised, glancing at the additional equipment below, along with the security staff on standby.

"After I heard Nverson blew up your ship, I thought it prudent to come up with some contingencies in case your plan fails."

The Ouryan, hearing the thinly veiled insult, parried it away with another smile.

"Then let's put it to the test."

Moving away from the monitors, Righton walked to the windowed wall, his face nearly pressed up toward the glass. He stared down at their target. The android was sitting silent below.

In another moment, he would deceive this relic from Earth. There would be no refuge here. Not today, not as the Ouryans had threatened to destroy them unless the android be had. In return, the SpaceCore would be given ships and supplies, two things they badly needed.

Righton was ready to give the order, and move on to the next mission. But as he stared at the android below, he was met with surprise.

The artificial woman turned up to look at him; she saw his stern face behind the glass window.

It was a look that lingered. Her eyes staring at him, and then through. Just like the Ouryan, the android's expression was genuine, the tacit understanding there.

"She knows," Righton whispered to himself. "I think she knows."

Realizing the situation, the colonel turned to his staff and yelled. "Charge the catalyst now, and execute!" he said.

The officers, shaken by the words, obeyed the order. "Deploying now," a lieutenant said. "Generating the absorption field."

The storage bay's ceiling opened, a large dish dropping down over the woman below. The emitter, gathering its anti-particles, charged a fiery blue light that seemed to swirl around the spire at its fore.

"Five seconds," the lieutenant counted down. "Four."

As the officer went on, Righton looked back at their target. The woman, now standing, stared directly up toward the emitter, her body bathing in its wild glow.

"Three, two, one."

The coalescing light cascaded, the burst flashing downward, concentrating within the ring of equipment below. Righton closed his eyes, the searing glow almost blinding. But in another second, the view into the storage room turned to black.

The lights were out. The surrounding power depleted.

"How are we?" Righton said, rushing back to one of the command consoles.

"Good," the lieutenant said. "Secondary lights coming online...now."

The storage room became clear once again. The particle emitter had fired off its payload. The blue light had evaporated into a glassy miasma, leaving a fog to percolate.

Righton then turned to the display monitors. The android woman, completely motionless, stood silently in the center of the room. He could see that her face was still staring upward, her hands clenched together, her eyes shut.

"Is she disabled?" he asked. "Can we confirm?"

"The sensors show no movement," an officer said.

Hearing the reply, Righton looked at one of the monitors, as the camera panned in closer to the frozen face of the android. 

He glanced at the Ouryan, and saw the satisfied look on the virtual man’s face. 

"Wait," an officer said. "Colonel, I'm starting to read something strange here."

"Movement?" he asked, "I'm not seeing anything on the camera."

"No. We're reading some energy fluctuations."

"Probably leftover from the catalyst,” he replied. “Or maybe something wrong with the sensors.”

"I don’t think so. The dispersed anti-particles are still there, as expected. But I'm reading a spike in quantum fields across the board. It's all localized at the target."

The readings on an adjacent console showed it to be true: energy and quantum fields had not only shifted, but scans showed a complete absence of anti-particles isolated around the android.

"What the hell is this?" Righton asked. 

He felt the subtle tap of a hand on his shoulder. “Look,” the Ouryan said, pointing to a display monitor. “She’s moving.”

Projected through the monitor was the android, her face no longer frozen, her body no longer still. She looked upward, toward them.

“Move to contingencies!” Righton yelled. “Deploy the energy shield now.”

Entering the storage room from a sealed bay hovered three miniature robotic drones. No larger than a standard surveillance pod, they flew high above into the air, circling around the target.

The android, walking past the ring of monitoring equipment, stopped as she stared at the drones. A violet light began to surround the woman, the drones circling faster. It then solidified, the energy barrier forming an impenetrable field.

Walking slowly, the android placed her hand on the barrier wall.

“The shield is holding,” the lieutenant said. “At least she’s contained.”

Righton, however, was not convinced.

“Bring those shields up to 200 percent,” he shouted. “Don’t take any chances.”

Despite the order, it would not be enough. The energy shield, thought to be stable, had begun to break. An expanding gap had materialized along its side, the skin of the shield peeling back before the android.

“Colonel, I don’t understand. I’m detecting no problems with the drones. “

“Drop the field and reform it again,” Righton barked.

The drones followed the android, keeping her body between them. Re-generating the energy shield, a solid field of light again came down surrounding the target.

The android, undeterred, stopped, as another gap in the shield mysteriously opened before her. She walked through unaffected.

“Draw back the drones, and order the security teams in place, with weapons drawn,” Righton said. “She will not leave the room.”

The colonel left behind the command console and rushed toward the windows to see the android for himself. As he did, the main entrance to the storage room below opened. Running in was the security team, the ten armed guards suited in full military gear.

Wielding disrupter canons, the guards formed a line in front of the android and pointed their weapons. Mechanized masks covered their faces, the power armor so thick each guard appeared almost twice in size.

“Patch me in,” the colonel said, his voice connecting into the storage room’s communication system.

“Arendi Soldanas,” he said, the words echoing through the confines. “Don’t move or we will be forced to fire.”

The android looked above, glaring at Righton.

“What do you want?” she asked, flexing the metallic fabric laced over her hands and arms.

“We will escort you to an Alliance vessel for departure to a—“

“Why the deception?”

Righton paused. “It’s been decided you will be disassembled for further study,” he admitted. “I’m sorry.”

Cautiously, the security team walked toward the android, closing in around her, their canons charged to fire.

“Stand down Arendi,” Righton repeated. “Don’t make this any harder.”

But she would not surrender. Not as she contained an unimaginable power within.

It came fast, even as the android’s body was completely still. The entire security team suddenly fell back, their bodies hit by a sweeping force that sent them flying through the air.

Men and women, in tank-like armor, had been flattened, each one falling to the floor with the sound of a hammer.

Righton could hear the security team’s moans over the comm-link, as a few were knocked unconscious by the uncanny assault.

“What just happened?” Righton yelled. “Is she armed?”

He scanned the room, demanding an answer. But there was no reply. Everyone was staring at the monitors in shock.

Righton then heard the shots. He turned his gaze back to the android.

A few of the security guards had grabbed their weapons, and begun unloading the energized ammunition. More fire came, the disruptor beams burning through the air in the storage room. Righton feared the worst, expecting the android to be torn apart.

He looked, and found that she was still standing. In fact, she was in no danger at all.

Each beam had zeroed in on the android, the energies blasting from the weapons. The target was so visible a hit was almost guaranteed. But each shot seemed to strangely miss its target. Rather than slam into the android, Righton could see that the disruptor beams were bending around her body. Somehow, she was warping space, molding it to suit her will.

The gunfire abruptly stopped, the rifles flying out of the guards’ hands, and exploding in the air. Another push came, flinging the security team back into the storage room’s walls.

Righton was speechless. Without lifting a finger, the android had decimated the entire security team.

Arendi looked back up at Righton, her stare cold and remote.

He then felt the force hit. The entire room began to shake.

Wanting to duck away, the colonel could hear the glass behind him shatter. He wrapped his hands around his head, closing his eyes.

Something was pulling him. Not to the ground, but to the broken window. He was being drawn away, and fast. The suction ripping him out and into the storage room.

Righton screamed, feeling the shards of glass sink into his face. He could see himself exiting out the window, his hand reaching, trying to escape. But still he fell, his body powerless to control its chaotic descent.

The colonel expected to die. The velocity was climbing, the fall over 30 feet down.  Violently, his body swirled, ready to hit the metal floor.

The glass fell to the ground, but Righton was still alive and conscious. There had been no impact at all, not even the sound of his body colliding into the floor. Panting and gasping for air, he found himself inside the storage room, although not in the way he imagined. His body, still intact, was suspended in the air, the ground only a few feet below him.