Star Alliance (22 page)

“Send them a signal to let them know we’re here,” Etanu said.

Zack sent a signal, and within a few minutes Nershal soldiers closed in on their position. They wore brown battle armor and helmets that covered most of their faces. The soldiers fanned out around them, forming a perimeter, while an armored Nershal came up to them. He retracted his helmet, revealing a loose-skinned face with age lines tugging at the edges of his eyes.
 

“Father,” Etanu greeted him.

Udonzari’s gaze locked onto Etanu, and he pulled him into a firm embrace. Zack smiled and thought of his own father, who had passed away over ten years before.
 

Udonzari released his son and gave a slight bow of his head toward Zack. “We’ve been looking for you since the Xiiginn cruiser was destroyed.”

“Have you heard from the others?” Zack asked.

One of the Nershal soldiers urged them to move out.
 

“They are alive. Let’s get you out of here. Transport is close by,” Udonzari said.

They didn’t have to go far, for which Zack was thankful. Now that they were out of immediate danger, tiredness seeped into all his muscles, demanding that he rest. Etanu urged him along and helped him when he stumbled. One of the soldiers handed them something to drink. Zack began gulping down the liquid without a moment’s hesitation, hardly tasting it.
 

“Slowly,” Etanu said.

Zack stopped gulping and started to sip the liquid instead. He tasted hints of cinnamon, and his exhaustion was pushed back as he became more alert.
 

They climbed aboard the Nershal battle sleds. Etanu told them about the tracker, and one of the soldiers came over to examine Zack’s arm. The soldier reached inside his pack and withdrew a small handheld device. He held it above the reddened, scabbed skin of Zack’s forearm and activated it. An amber glow bathed his arm. It felt warm, and the itching he’d been ignoring finally diminished until it ceased altogether. Zack looked down at his arm, and the skin looked much less irritated than before. The soldier put the device away and rubbed a pale green salve into his skin. It felt cool.

“The tracker has been deactivated and the salve will help speed the healing process,” Etanu explained.

“What is it?” Zack asked.

“It’s made from a plant here on Selebus,” Etanu said.

His arm felt much better. He could almost hear Brenda Goodwin chiding him for exposing himself in such a way, warning him about the dangers of physiologies and how theirs might react differently than the Nershals’. But Zack figured that with everything that had happened, he’d get a pass from the Athena’s medical officer. That said, with everything he’d already been exposed to, it would be unfortunate indeed if he were to become deathly ill from the Nershals’ efforts to try and heal him.

Once they were away, Udonzari came over to them.

“How did you find where they were holding us?” Etanu asked.

Udonzari glanced at Zack. “We received word from your ship. Ezerah is with them.”

“Are they here?” Zack asked, eager to return to the Athena. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate Etanu’s help, but he wanted to see the crew of the Athena again.

“They are on their way,” Udonzari said.

Zack frowned. “Where are they?” he asked.

“They went to Nerva, our home planet. Your commander used a Mardoxian chamber there to find you. They were able to send a communication to us, and we came here for you,” Udonzari said.

“Nerva,” Etanu said. “There aren’t any chambers there. The only one in this system was destroyed sixty cycles ago.”

“That’s what we all thought, but apparently we were mistaken. They didn’t go into a lot of detail about that, but they did say it was kept in secret. It seems as if the Boxans were testing our species for the Mardoxian potential,” Udonzari said.
 

“Did Kladomaor go with them?” Zack asked.

The old Nershal shook his head. “The Xiiginn sent four warships into our star system, ostensibly to assist in the recovery and investigation of their cruiser. Kladomaor used his own ship to draw three of the warships to the outer system.”
 

“Where is the fourth warship?” Etanu asked.

“That one went to Nerva with Mar Arden, who was speaking at a global congressional hearing about what you uncovered at the research station,” Udonzari said.

“It’s worse, that place,” Zack said, gesturing in the direction they’d come from. “The Xiiginns were performing more than genetic experimentation. They were creating hybrids across multiple species.”

Udonzari’s eyes widened in surprise and he glanced at Etanu, who then began to tell Udonzari about what the Xiiginns had been doing at the pit, their experiments with controlling the mutants, and Etanu’s theory that they were trying to breed soldiers. The more they spoke, the grimmer Udonzari’s features became.
 

“Etanu saved my life in the pit, more than once,” Zack said.

“It was you who saved us all,” Etanu said. “You were the one who sought out the other mutants. You earned their trust, and we’re both alive because of that.”
 

“We worked together,” Zack said, and looked at Udonzari. “He has fulfilled his vow.”

Udonzari regarded them for a few moments, his gaze lingering on his son. He then called the soldiers to gather around them. “Etanu, my son, on this day I recognize that you’ve accorded yourself with honor and have fulfilled your vow in ensuring the safety of this Human. You are hereby welcome to return to the ranks and aid our rebellion against the Xiiginns as First Wing Commander.”

The soldiers howled their approval, and when they quieted down Udonzari turned to Zack.

“Zack, of the Human species,” Udonzari said, “your deeds with be sung into our history. You’ve helped uncover a dark vein of deceit, and it will be our mission to see that the rest of our species knows of this. We will remove the Xiiginns’ blight upon us, and you have our gratitude. I will see to it that Humans are welcome in Nerva, but if there is anything you desire that is within my power to grant, you just need to ask.”

Zack felt his cheeks flush. He had just been trying to get out of the pit alive. He hadn’t been trying to make any grand gestures for the Nershals. Udonzari was waiting for him to speak. “You’re welcome,” Zack said, feeling foolish. “I was just trying to get us out of there alive,” he said, glancing at Etanu.

Udonzari nodded. “I understand that, but your actions will have lasting consequences that will ultimately benefit the Nershals. That’s what we wish to honor.”

“Oh,” Zack said. “I just want to get back to my ship.”

Udonzari nodded.

“Father,” Etanu said, “you honor me.”

Udonzari shook his head. “No, son, it is your actions that have brought honor to yourself.”

Etanu pressed his lips together. “I wish to stay with the Human. I want to see him safely delivered back to his ship and help them return to their own star system.”

Udonzari’s face registered surprise. “What about your duty to the Nershals? You are First Wing Commander now. You will command soldiers and become a valuable asset in our struggle to free ourselves from the Xiiginns.”

“I
am
thinking about my duty to the Nershals. If the Humans remain here, they will be caught in the crossfire. It is our duty to see that they leave our star system safely,” Etanu said.

“The Boxans—” Udonzari began.

“This is our star system. The responsibility falls to us. The Boxans will help, but the Nershals should be represented as well, and this is a small price to pay for all the Humans have done for us,” Etanu said.

Udonzari considered this for a moment. “It shall be as you desire. After the Humans are returned safely to their home star system, you will return here.”

Some of the soldiers withdrew, and Udonzari was surrounded by a few who needed his attention.
 

Zack walked over to Etanu. “What are you doing? You were free of me. I thought you just wanted to get back to your people and help them fight the Xiiginns.”

“I do, but helping you and your crew is equally important,” Etanu said.

Zack didn’t know what to say, but he knew he should say something. “Thank you,” he said.

Etanu’s normally hard features softened for an instant. “You’re welcome.”

There was a flurry of activity on the deck of the sled. Zack glanced at the other sleds flying near them and saw Nershal soldiers racing around. Gunners scanned the skies.

Zack and Etanu went over to Udonzari.

The old Nershal was issuing orders and turned toward them. “We have incoming. Xiiginn scouts were picked up on our scanners. Go arm yourselves.”

Zack’s mouth went dry. “They’re after me,” he said.

“He’s right,” Etanu said. “If we can get Zack off-planet, we can draw them away.”

Udonzari nodded. “We have a couple of slip fighters not far. We’ll get you to one, and you can escape in that.”

Etanu turned, crossed the deck of the sled, and descended a narrow stairway. Zack followed. Etanu turned right and entered a small room where there were several weapons mounted on racks. Etanu glanced at Zack and then picked up one of the smaller, bronze-colored rifles.

“This is a pulse rifle. It shoots three-round bursts and is easy to control,” Etanu said, handing Zack the weapon.

Zack took the pulse rifle. It seemed well balanced, and there was a metal sheath that surrounded the trigger.

“There’s a button on the side to activate it, but don’t press it in here. Wait until we’re outside,” Etanu said.

“Just aim and fire?” Zack asked.

Etanu closed his eyes and took a breath. “Just keep your head down and let me worry about shooting. If it comes to it then, yes, just point and shoot.”

Etanu moved down the rack and hoisted one of the larger rifles. Checking the readout on the side, he nodded to himself and moved over to a tall locker where he found a couple of Nershal battle-mesh shirts. He tossed one at Zack.

“Put this on. It will adjust to your size,” Etanu said.

Zack leaned the pulse rifle against the wall and held up the shirt. The dark brown sleeves looked a good six inches too long for him, and the bottom went down to his thighs. The shirt opened in the back and had four long slits cut into it. He glanced at Etanu, who was already putting the battle-mesh shirt on. He saw the shirt conform to Etanu’s size, and the slits neatly compensated for the Nershal’s wings.

Zack removed the tattered remnants of his old shirt, which was filthy, covered in dirt and dried blood. He slipped his arms into the battle-mesh shirt and pulled up the sleeves so his hands popped out of the ends. The dense material hugged his wrists. Zack pulled the top over the front of his shoulders. The material activated, and he felt it shift along his skin. The latches on the back joined together, and it conformed snuggly to his skin. Zack stuck his arms out in front of him and was surprised to feel hardly any resistance at all.

Etanu handed Zack pants that were made of the same material. The pants were already closer to his size than the shirt had been, and both were extremely comfortable. Zack kept the boots he’d worn on the Athena. The Nershals’ feet had three large toes and were just too different from Human feet to make the shoes work.
 

“The battle-mesh will give you some measure of protection, but don’t take any unnecessary risks,” Etanu said and handed him a thick metal collar.

“Thanks. I’ll follow your lead this time,” Zack said.

A loud blast sounded from the deck above.

“Keep your head down and follow me,” Etanu said.

Zack frowned at the collar not seeing a use for it. He left the collar on the bench and followed Etanu to the door. The Nershal paused at the doorway, checking the activity beyond, and then exited. Nershals manning the deck guns fired behind them. Zack glanced back and saw a group of battle sleds following.

Two of the battle sleds flying with them eased back to provide their sled some cover.

Their pursuers opened fire, and the sky came alive with bolts crossing the distance between them. Etanu led them over to the side and squatted down.

“The slip fighters aren’t far,” Etanu said.

“If they’re firing on us, how are we going to be able to break off?” Zack asked.

There was a bright orange flash behind them, and one of their battle sleds was rapidly losing altitude. Zack noticed dark shapes diving off the crashing sled and taking flight. The flying Nershals fired their weapons at the Xiiginns in the pursuing battle sleds.

Etanu pulled Zack down and gestured for him to follow. Crouching, they crossed over the deck, heading toward the front of the sled. They came to a stop, and Etanu told him to wait. The Nershal raised his head and glanced ahead of them. Zack watched the Nershal soldiers fire their weapons at the Xiiginns behind. Several Nershals had fallen to the deck and were pulled from harm’s way. Zack could hardly believe that a short time ago these same Nershals were cheering for Etanu.

“The slip fighters are straight ahead,” Etanu said.

Zack nodded. “How are they going to slow down so we can get off?” he asked.

Etanu glanced back at the fighting and then looked at Zack. “They’re not. We’re going to have to jump.”

“Jump!” Zack cried. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I can’t fly, and one of your wings is damaged.”

“I know you can’t fly, and my wing is healed enough for this,” Etanu said.

Zack’s mouth hung open in astonishment.

Etanu glanced over the wall again. “No time,” he said, and grabbed Zack.

Together they leaped over the side. Zack screamed. The wind roared past his ears, and he faintly heard Etanu counting down. They plunged toward the ground and the Nershal still hadn’t opened his wings. The breath caught in Zack’s lungs as the ground rushed up to meet them. Etanu locked his grip around Zack, and they jerked in the air, slowing down before crashing to the ground. Zack rolled away in a heap, eventually coming to a halt, and Etanu landed more gracefully behind him. Zack’s breath came in gasps as he slowly came to grips with having survived. Etanu pulled him to his feet and glanced up at the sleds flying overhead.