Rogue Hunter

Gaia #2

Intruder

by

Kevis Hendrickson

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or any third-party publishers.

Rogue Hunter: Gaia: Intruder
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2010 Kevis Hendrickson
Smashwords Edition

Cover illustration © Morgan Bishop. All rights reserved – used with permission.
Rogue Hunter Logo © Ryan Hawkins. All rights reserved – used with permission.
The Legend of Witch Bane Cover illustration © Michael Graham. All rights reserved – used with permission.

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Intruder

Chapter One

With stiff, lumbering steps, Zyra Zanr entered her makeshift office aboard Helship-II and sat down tenderly at her desk, her frown nearly as wide as the large bruise on her swollen cheek. She removed an icepack from her face with a groan and set it aside.  She picked up an injection capsule, carefully placed the dispenser to her neck, and gave a soft press. Zyra winced as she felt the injection capsule’s sharp needle pierce her skin to deliver its potent dose of painkillers. Zyra allowed her head to loll to the side and placed the capsule back on her desk.
Did anyone get the ID number of that jumbo sized star cruiser that landed on me?
Zyra stifled a laugh, dreading that her movements would excite her injuries. Instead, she picked up the icepack, arched her back so that she could place it in her chair, and carefully sat on it.  Zyra had to force herself from crying out as the deep cold of the icepack sent a sharp pain up the length of her spine.
Don’t think this is working either.
Realizing that she was going to hurt no matter what she did, Zyra forced herself to sit upright and flicked her finger through the sliver of blue light coming from her desk. A holographic computer screen appeared before her.
Zyra caught her reflection in the electro-mirror on her desk and frowned. She didn’t know what bothered her more, the puffy, discolored flesh around her eyes, or the freshly cropped shag of golden hair that hung on both sides of her head. Zyra was a woman who spent very little time attending to her looks. Chasing through the stars after the galaxy’s worst felons didn’t allow her the opportunity. But her one vice was her long golden hair which she adored greatly.
Unfortunately, getting her teeth kicked in on Taklaylon Alpha reminded her why it was a bad idea to go to a fight without being properly accessorized. Her hair, as well as the ability to chew solid food, was the casualty of foolishly rejecting common sense rules of bounty hunting. It would take some time for Zyra to get used to her shoulder-length hair.
Zyra ignored the throbbing in her head while she toggled the holographic icons in front of her, sliding them in a crisscross fashion as she accessed her computer’s security de-encryption programs. With a circular motion, she manipulated the three-dimensional image of a multi-colored cube that appeared on her screen, bypassing a chain of encoded buffer programs designed to safeguard private computer networks from unauthorized eyes. Zyra grimaced at the data stream that flowed down the right column of her multiple screens. She shuddered a little as she ran her fingers over the screen with as much of a wily smile as the swollen bruises on her face would permit. The throbbing in her head only increased as she hacked into the first few defensive programs. Molly Black would pay for this headache.  
“What a fool you are. Coming all this way to find me and not even knowing why.”
Zyra’s mood darkened when she recalled Molly Black’s harsh words. She had fully expected Molly to put up a vicious fight to protect the mysterious cylinder that Zyra had been sent halfway across the galaxy to retrieve. However, Zyra did not anticipate being caught up in the intrigue surrounding the cylinder. Normally, Zyra would have kept her nose out of the Intergalactic Alliance’s affairs. But something about the contents of the cylinder disturbed her. Having barely escaped Captain Rador’s undersea base alive, she was determined to understand the nature of what it was she had been sent to capture.

Zyra’s excitement brought on another dizzy spell. Immediately, the image of Molly slamming her head into the floor sent her mind reeling. Zyra remembered waking up suddenly to the raucous sound of the undersea base computer’s self destruction sequence countdown. Her enemies had escaped and left her to die. Zyra’s battered body punished her as she made a hasty retreat from the exploding base. Commandeering one of the leftover deep sea subs, she was able to return safely to the surface of the Mantikaas Ocean, afterwards using the sub’s computer to summon her ship which was hiding in orbit within one of the planetary rings. Zyra was disappointed by Molly’s escape. But the way she saw it, Molly was only prolonging the inevitable.
When the left holo-screen suddenly appeared before Zyra, she glanced over to see the portly face of a man who wore the traditional garb of a high-ranking military commander. With hardly any indication that she had acknowledged the man’s presence, she nonchalantly touched the screen to transfer the man’s image to her center screen.
“Hi there,” Zyra said, not trying to hide the apathy in her voice.
“Ms. Zanr, I presume,” the man replied, the large folds in his chin making him look like a walrus with a large mustache.
“The one and only. And you are?”
“I am Henry Forsythe, Grand Admiral of the InterGalactic Alliance Military Command.”
“What can I do for you, Admiral?”
“Perhaps I should be the one asking that question, considering it is you who instigated this conversation.”
“Then I hope it wouldn’t surprise you to know that I am in the market for some prime gossip concerning the details of my mission.”
“Hardly surprising. Even so, I would be irresponsible not to ask you if you have recovered ‘our’ property.”
“You have to give to get, Admiral,” Zyra said with a smirk.
“According to my charts, you are currently aboard your starship heading deep into the Skaaris system. That was not the plan. Am I right to assume that you have failed your mission?”
“I’m still pursuing the target, if that’s what you want to know. Now, about my inform—”
“Lets cut to the chase, shall we, Ms. Zanr? You have been caught red handed breaking into a secured military network. I presume you know the penalty for such a crime. Or does 30 years of hard labor working at the rock quarry of Ororos Major mean nothing to you? I imagine you’d be something of a celebrity among the inmate population considering the large number of them you sent there.”
“I’m shaking, Admiral.”
“The threat stands.”
“Look,” Zyra rebuffed, matching the Admiral’s glower. “I need some information about that cylinder Molly Black is carrying. I have already asked General Devlin, but he told me that the information I am seeking is classified and that I am on a need-to-know-only basis.”
“The general is correct. The information about that cylinder is classified. Beside, I don’t see how it matters to you. You’re a bounty hunter. The only reason you accepted this mission is to collect on the reward. Do I have it right?”
“You obviously didn’t read the fine print. I’m not any ol’ bounty hunter. I’m a Rogue Hunter. You do know what that means?”
“Enlighten me, Ms. Zanr.”
“It means I’m in it for the blood.”
“And?”
“It means I’ve got an itchy trigger finger and really good aim. Things could end badly for you if you don’t give me what I want.”
“Are you threatening me, Ms. Zanr? I don’t think you’d want me as your enemy.”
“Let me put it this way. I’m the only person who can give you what you need. So it would be in your interest to keep me happy. Then again, it would be a shame if Molly Black were to suddenly disappear without leaving any trace of your ‘precious’ cylinder.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Last time I checked. This was the dark side of the galaxy. People go missing all the time.” 
“You will find Commander Black and return the cylinder to us.”
“What cylinder?”
“You are playing a very dangerous game, Ms. Zanr,” Admiral Forsythe warned, the lines in his aged face growing harsh. “Considering what is at stake, to say nothing of the fact that you apparently lack the proper motivation to complete this assignment, I will tell you what it is Commander Black has in her possession. This is assuming that you will tell no one else what you are about to hear.”
“Scout’s honor,” Zyra said, noticing Admiral Forsythe’s darkening complexion. Forsythe didn’t seem the type to have someone threaten him without retaliating. But she knew he had no choice but to offer Zyra the information she sought.
“Tell me, Ms. Zanr. What do you know of the Battle of Corus Ni?” the Admiral inquired through gritted teeth.
“News-vids say there was a battle last year between Alliance ships and pirates near the Corus Ni Nebula. Heard it was real nasty business. Afterwards, President Upshaw declared it an off-zone.”
“Yes, but not entirely true. There was a battle at Corus Ni. But it didn’t involve pirates.”
“Let me guess. Another government cover up?”
“There is a reason why the President deemed this information classified,” Forsythe said, ignoring Zyra’s taunt. “If word had got out to the public about what really happened, there would have been chaos throughout the Alliance. We have enough trouble with the Xorghkans. We cannot afford more mass hysteria. Certainly you can understand the need for discretion?”
“Nothing worse than upsetting the status quo, right? Wouldn’t want to make the sheep restless.”
Admiral Forsythe scowled at Zyra as he rolled on with his explanation: “Exactly one year prior to the day we sent you off to Taklaylon Alpha, we received an emergency distress signal from the High Chancellor of the Prima Legion of Worlds. An unidentified vessel had entered their space. This vessel, which we unaffectionately refer to as Intruder, destroyed six of their largest planets.”
“What kind of starship can destroy a planet?”
“With the exception of Intruder, none we presently know. As you may have guessed, Intruder wasn’t of the human variety. Hence, the mystery. But make no mistake. Intruder was a scourge unlike any we have ever known before. Wherever it went, it left a path of destruction and carnage. Whole planets reduced to cosmic dust. Entire races wiped out in a single incendiary blast. Everywhere Intruder went, death followed.”
Admiral Forsythe drew a large breath and gathered himself before continuing. “After Intruder destroyed the Chancellor’s home world of Orn, it entered Alliance space and attacked several outlying colonies on the galactic rim leaving no survivors behind. We estimate that within the first few days of Intruder’s invasion of our space, some 30 million souls had been lost. The decision was thereafter made by our government and the Prima Legion of Worlds to stifle any attempt to make this information public. Like the High Chancellor, our president understands the wisdom of keeping the peace.”
“If millions of people were killed by this alien ship, why was this kept a secret?”
“Because of fifty-two seconds, Ms Zanr.”
“Fifty-two seconds?”
“Intruder was on its way to attack Earth-3 when we sent an armada of our most powerful ships to form a military blockade, the largest fleet we have ever dispatched into battle. Even the Prima Legion of Worlds supplied over 2000 ships to the fight. We waged battle just beyond the rim of the Corus Ni Nebula. Fifty-two seconds, Ms Zanr. That was all it took for Intruder to obliterate an armada comprised of over 100,000 ships.”
“How can one ship posses the firepower to take out an armada?”
“This was no ordinary ship, Ms. Zanr. What you should know is that it was Commander Black who stopped Intruder.”
“Molly?”
“Yes. Puzzling isn’t it? An armada of more than 100,000 ships destroyed in only fifty-two seconds by this alien vessel. But it takes only a single fighter pilot to destroy this enemy.”
“How did she do it?”
“Precisely the question we asked Commander Black. She was the only survivor of the Battle of Corus Ni. Yet, she claimed to be unable to remember the events that led to Intruder’s defeat.  Commander Black was diagnosed by our medics as having amnesia brought on by a case of severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Granted, Commander Black suffered dearly during the battle. Her entire squad was wiped out. When we found her ship floating among all the wreckage in space, her life-support system had failed and she had slipped into a coma. Several months passed before we could revive her. Even that seemed a miracle,” Forsythe said, his voice drifting off as he stopped to consider his next words. Zyra could only imagine the horror of losing an entire squad in battle. Yet, Molly was a seasoned pilot who had suffered the deaths of many of her comrades. If Molly had truly lost her memory, she hadn’t shown any signs during their encounter on Taklaylon Alpha.
“Molly was always a great pilot,” Zyra said. “But I can’t believe that she single-handedly destroyed that ship. Not if it was as powerful as you say.”
“Now you are getting to the heart of the matter, Ms. Zanr. Many in the Military High Command, including myself, wondered about her story. We were determined to find out the truth.  But the search for the truth uncovered a great mystery. Something happened to Commander Black during the Battle of Corus Ni, something that changed her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let me just say that Commander Black is full of surprises.”
Zyra noticed a flicker of emotion in the Admiral’s stern eyes, but she was unsure whether the Admiral admired Molly or feared her.  Zyra shook away the thought with a  twist of her head that made her migraine worse.    
“What does all of this have to do with the cylinder?” Zyra asked, trying to conceal her discomfort. 
“Surely you have heard the term, retro-engineering?”
“I have.”
“As you would expect, Intruder intrigued Military High Command. We wanted to study it and learn its origins. More importantly, we wanted to know who had sent it to attack us. So we quarantined all space around Corus Ni and declared it a military off-zone. Any ship not cleared for entry would be shot down on approach of the nebula.
“We built a space station around the wreckage of Intruder and sent our top engineers and scientists to analyze every inch of it. Nothing could have prepared us for what we discovered. For starters, Intruder’s age exceeds 10 million years. We believe it was built by an ancient race who had created Intruder to perform the function of a sentinel meant to defend this quadrant against an unknown enemy. What we never learned is who created Intruder or the identity of their enemy.”
“So we were taken out by a dead civilization’s leftover defenses?” 
“Exactly. Often weapons used in a war continue to afflict a population long after the war ceases. Intruder is no different than a land mine left on a battlefield which claims the life of an unsuspecting child. 
“Even in its defunct state, Intruder had its uses. Retro-engineering enabled us to advance our own technology to new heights allowing us to discover even more about the ship. The engineers and scientists discovered the most advanced technology in the Power Room.  They named it Gaia.  Just enough of this strange energy remained in Intruder’s power reserves for us to retrieve a sample.”
“What is Gaia?” Zyra asked, a sickening dread filling her when she recalled the strange effect Molly’s cylinder had on her when she encountered it on Taklaylon Alpha.
“Gaia is a self-replicating form of energy more advanced than anything we knew before. One micron of Gaia equals the power of a small star. But that is the tip of the iceberg. Our scientists used Gaia to heal decomposed flesh and even revive dead rodents several days after they had expired. With time, we were certain we would find a medical use for Gaia. Imagine being able to save a loved one from a mortal wound.”
“Or bring them back from the dead?” asked Zyra, immediately noticing the lines in the admiral’s brow growing more pronounced.
“Perhaps.”
“Is there a military application for Gaia?”
“That’s also classified information, Ms. Zanr. But I would think you are smart enough to answer your own question,” the Admiral chided, starting to turn a deep pink.
 “So why all the fuss? Molly took a big risk stealing Gaia from you. But if Gaia is self-replicating, you can always make more.”
“No. Commander Black destroyed the science station along with all of the scientists and their research. There isn’t enough left of the station or Intruder for us to recover the information lost. Right now, Commander Black has the only remaining sample of Gaia energy in existence.”
“You’re afraid she’s going to it sell it to the highest bidder?”
“If our enemies get their hands on Gaia, the balance of power in the Three Galaxies  shifts forever. We cannot allow this to happen.”
“If this thing is so dangerous, why send me?”
“I believe you already know the answer to that. You know Commander Black better than anyone alive. If anyone knows how to think like her, it is you.”
“You’re putting a lot of faith in me, Admiral. How do you know I won’t kill Molly and take Gaia for myself?”
“It’s simple. We have no choice. Make no mistake. I don’t trust you any more than I do Commander Black. However, as I’ve made it a point to read your bio, I’m aware of the particulars of the nature of your business and your reasons for becoming a bounty hunter. I’m quite sure you’ll finish what you start. God knows the price we’ll all pay if you fail to return that cylinder. Now that you have been briefed on the situation, I expect you to carry out your mission in a timely manner. If not, then I will have no problem following through on my threat.”
“I’ll get the cylinder back. Just one thing I thought you should know, Admiral.”
“What is it?”
“The only reason you caught me breaking into your network is because I wanted you to. Just a friendly warning,” said Zyra with a curt, but noticeably arrogant grin.
“Good day, Ms. Zanr,” growled Forsythe before disappearing from the screen. Zyra assumed a deep frown.
He’s holding something back. Even if everything he says is true, why would Molly seek help from pirates? They’re as likely to kill her and steal Gaia for themselves. One way or another, I’m going to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Chapter Two

The shadows hung closely to Captain Rador’s bleak form as he traversed the darkness of the Libertatia’s corridors. A verdant glare pierced the darkness at the end of the corridor, causing him to knit his dark eyebrows. Rador did not break stride, but rather, advanced with even more purpose as he approached the strange light. Just when he was about to turn the corner, the light faded, causing the corridor to grow dark again. Rador cast a glower at the somber figure of Molly Black. She did not immediately acknowledge his presence, but instead kept her gaze trained on the stars outside the observatory window.
“The shuttle has been prepared for your departure. If you are ready, I will escort you there,” said Rador, narrowing his eye. 
Molly assumed a surprisingly curious tone of voice as she responded to Rador. “Do you ever imagine what lies out there, Captain Rador? Beyond what your eyes can see?”
“I don’t have the luxury of time to contemplate such matters as the unknown.”
“How sad. There’s more to this universe than you’ll find in a star chart.”
“Perhaps, the great cosmic mystery is best left unsolved, Miss Black.”
“Is that what you think? That we shouldn’t explore the universe’s secrets?”
“There is wisdom in letting sleeping dragons lie.”
“Why should we fear the unknown?” asked Molly finally turning around to set her curious gaze on Rador. He did not reply right away. When he finally found his voice, it was cold and distant.
“Ever hear the story of Pandora’s Box, Miss Black?”
“No.”
“In Old Earth mythology, there is a story of a young girl who discovered a mysterious box. She was forbidden to ever open it. But her curiosity compelled her to open this mysterious box. In so doing, she unleashed evil into the world and mankind has suffered ever since.”
“Certainly, a man like you doesn’t believe in old wives tales?”
“Not at all. But the lesson remains. Unbridled curiosity can be lethal.”
“Maybe. But the great mystery remains to be solved by those brave enough to seek the answer.”
“Perhaps. But there is something of another nature I would like to ask you, Miss Black. It appears that you are a familiar of that bounty hunter who infiltrated my base on Taklaylon Alpha. How do you come to know her?”
“Her name is Zyra Zanr. We were cadets together in the Space Marine corp. We crossed paths and were enemies ever since.”
“Bounty hunters are known to have long memories. Perhaps this is a grudge not worth bearing.”
“I would happily cut Zanr’s throat just to watch the light go out of her eyes. Why so interested? Have you met her before?”
“It was a long time ago. But to discuss the nature of my dealings with this bounty hunter would force me to open my own Pandora’s box. Come. The shuttle awaits and I am eager to claim my share of Gaia. That is the only cosmic mystery which compels me at this time.”
Molly lingered for a moment longer to take a final glimpse at the blackness of space outside the observatory window before turning around to follow Captain Rador down the corridor. 

Chapter Three

Zyra’s flustered gaze grew more intense as she studied the star chart on her ship’s main view screen. She had spent the entire afternoon in Helship-II’s flight control room trying to locate Molly Black. Seventy-two hours passed since Molly made her escape from Zyra on Taklaylon Alpha. Every additional hour that Molly remained on the run made finding her more difficult. Zyra would have to work fast if she was to figure out where Molly had gone.
“Computer, link ETHER-comm system with nearest hyperspace gate signal amplifier and run a tachyon scan. Search for superluminal trail signatures matching the Libertatia.”
The ship computer answered Zyra in its lilt, but mechanical feminine voice:
“Operation commenced. Searching hyperspace for requested energy signature. No matching energy signatures detected.”
Zyra frowned. Was it possible the Libertatia had not yet entered any hyperspace conduits via the local jump gates? If Captain Rador was in the process of taking Molly to her mysterious destination, the fastest means of getting there would be through hyperspace.
Her unannounced arrival on Taklaylon Alpha alerted Rador to the fact that the InterGalactic Alliance was hot in pursuit of Molly. Certainly, he was determined to procure himself of the Gaia stores that Molly had promised him. Why would he have any reason to delay?
Zyra had not revealed to Admiral Forsythe that Molly was conspiring with Captain Rador to offer him a supply of Gaia from a secret source. Had Forsythe known of Zyra’s refusal to inform him on the new development, he would probably have passed on his threat to have her imprisoned in favor of having her killed. But Zyra did not trust Forsythe or the Alliance. Her task was to retrieve the cylinder from Molly. That was the extent of her involvement in this affair.
Zyra pondered her strategy to locate Captain Rador and realized that she was approaching the matter entirely wrong. Captain Rador was a very methodical man who would go to great lengths to ensure that he acquired Gaia from Molly. In the end, Zyra conceded that Rador was probably lurking somewhere in space, carefully implementing his plans.
Looks like I’ve been barking up the wrong tree. Time to change the game plan.
“Computer, search the entire sector for all matching energy silhouettes.”
The ship computer promptly answered, “Searching sector for requested energy silhouette. No matching energy signatures detected.”
“Perform a parallax sweep and search sector for residual chrysium energy spores.”
“Chrysium energy spores detected. Displaying spore signature now.”
Zyra read the numerical data that flowed down her main view screen with a furrowed brow. It was standard practice to track a ship’s chrysium emission in order to discover its location. However, this technique only worked if there weren’t other ships traveling the same area of space. Assuming that the energy signature was strong enough to be detected, Zyra would still have to match the emission to the correct ship or risk pursuing the wrong target.
Finally, I’m getting somewhere.
“Computer, cross-reference chrysium spore signature with IGP file entry: Libertatia.
“Chrysium spore signature match inconclusive.”
Inconclusive? Doesn’t mean it’s not the right signature.

“Cross-reference chrysium spore signature with Galaxy Class starship performance records. Analyze standard GC engine types and find appropriate match.”
“Chrysium spore signature matches seventeen Galaxy Class Engine types.”
“Cross-reference spore signature with all early model GC engine types.”
“Designated spore signature matches twelve thousand one hundred and sixty-six performance tests records of Galaxy Class starship engine type number jay eight seven four. Cross reference match is positive.”
“Took you long enough! Now it’s time to get my hands dirty.”

Chapter Four

“I don’t give a damn what any of ya think! Ya must have your head up ya ass if ya don’t see what’s goin’ on,” said the grizzled man wearing a blue bandana who sat across from Molly Black. “Captain’s no fool. Reason he sent me on this trip’s to keep an eye on our friend here just in case she tries to pull a fast one. Don’t think I ain’t watchin’ you, Lady. Can’t outpirate a pirate, ya know!”
Vic Tabbers had spent the last hour lambasting his fellow shipmates for their refusal to question the nature of their mission. Not surprisingly, his tirade drew the ire of his companions, including Molly Black, who cast a threatening glance at him.
“Shut your trap, Tabbers. We know why we’re here. That’s all that matters,” said Pilot Iviss Moyna in her stern voice. She was the leader of the rag-tag group of pirates and was quickly losing patience with Tabbers.
“I ain’t shuttin’ up! I tell ya, somethin’ ain’t right. How come we ain’t never heard of this Gaia before?”
“‘Cause it’s top secret, you fool! That’s why we’re going to retrieve it before anyone else has a chance to get their hands on it,” interjected Nora Kato, the navigator. Like the rest of the crew of the shuttle Stingray, she had had enough of Tabbers’ incessant complaining as well. 
“I ain’t buyin’ it, ya hear me? None of this makes any damn sense. Why the hell would the Alliance hide this thing on our side of space? Even those egg-heads are smart enough to know you can’t hide treasure from a pirate, especially right under his nose!”
“Tabbers make good point,” grunted Klarrg Nagoryll, the resident Throg who had been on the run from the InterGalacticPolice ever since he escaped the Penal Colony of Valis-4. He was one of the J-Sector Corsair’s most feared members and infamous for murdering all 200 members of his family back on the Throg home world.  Many of his comrade-in-arms had also met their end at his hands.
“At least Klarrg’s got a bit of sense. More than I can say for the rest of you knobs!”
“Tabbers, I told you to shut it! Keep this up and I’ll have Klarrg toss you out the airlock just like he did Mantiss!” said Moyna, remembering the much despised Rattaran crew member who was unexpectedly jettisoned into space by an enraged Klarrg only minutes after they left the Libertatia. After giving Tabbers a full dose of her blazing blue stare, Moyna spun back around to face the ship controls. Tabbers ignored Moyna’s threat and set his furious gaze on Molly.
“You sure you can get this stuff, woman? It’s a long way to Darokk. Last thing I’m expectin’ is to make this trip for nuthin!”
“You can rest assured, Pirate. You’ll learn all you need to know when we arrive at our destination,” said Molly, her voice calm and emotionless.
“I hope so for your sake. It’ll be a short drop down a disintegration shaft for you if you’re messin’ us around!”
 “Pipe down, back there! I thought I saw a silhouette on the proximity sensor,” said Kato, as she closely checked her navigational gauges. “It’s gone now. Probably just an echo.”
“Maybe. But we better run a vector scan just in case,” ordered Moyna, also checking her sensors.
“Look at you two!” said Tabbers. “Sweatin’ bullets over ghosts! We’re J-Sector Corsairs! Ain’t no one stupid enough to mess with us. That skull and crossbones on the back of the hull ain’t there for decoration. Means we’re the no nonsense type and we’re runnin’ the show! Got it?”
“Maybe you haven’t realized it, but the Alliance isn’t the only one to worry about, Tabbers. This area’s crawling with other pirates who’d be just as happy to take what we’re going after. If you’d stop to think before you opened your mouth— Wait. There it is again. That’s no ghost! Shields up—”
Before Kato could say another word, there was a deafening thrum as the lights went out inside the ship.
#
Zyra Zanr watched with fretful anticipation as the engines on the pirate shuttle went up in a bright saffron cloud. The tension that had built up inside her had made her fingers cramp. Adrenaline raced through her veins stealing the breath from her lungs while she observed the fulmination which blotted out the stars on her main view screen. The power to take life—and to destroy—filled Zyra with a sense of purpose that was as invigorating as it was nerve-racking. Yet, what disappointment Zyra felt in her merciful shot would be abated when she confronted Molly again. The thrill of satiating her lust for the other woman’s death was barely kept at bay by the thought of being able to deal out death from close up rather than at distance. It wouldn’t be long now before she tasted revenge. Zyra tensed again. She was certain she had hit her mark. But her grin turned to an agitated frown when her sensors revealed that the shuttle had powered up its shields, effectively repelling her attack.
Damn. Too slow.
She watched as the shuttle veered off of its present course to evade her ship’s weapon targeting system. Zyra increased the power to Helship-II’s forward cannons and fired another salvo at the pirate ship hoping to penetrate its aft shields. Zyra always hated playing footsie with an armed ship. She preferred a straight up dogfight to the death—where the loser lost more than just his or her pride—than to merely try to render a ship’s propulsion systems useless. Fighting this kind of battle put her at a huge disadvantage considering that her enemy had free reign to blow her to oblivion.
 The agile pirate shuttle had slipped past her laser fire and through some clever piloting, found its way directly behind her. It unleashed its full compliment of weaponry: well-trained lasers raking the starboard side of Helship-II’s hull. The lights in the flight control room blinked on and off as Helship-II encountered another barrage of lethal laser fire.
Zyra was determined not to let the pirate vessel get the upper hand. Helship-II bobbed and weaved through the torrent of lasers that dogged it, powerful gyro-thrusters located along the ship’s extremities allowing it free range of movement. Helship-II rolled into a sharp left turn to force the pirate shuttle into an awkward spin. Zyra fired her ventral jets and performed a somersault, firing a steady burst from her forward cannons as an inverted Helship-II flew backwards. The pirate shuttle absorbed the entire volley and burst into flame.
#
“Shields are down, Moyna! We can’t sustain another hit!” Nora Kato cried while raising the starboard thruster levels on the navigation controls to get the shuttle to veer off to the right to avoid being struck again by the attacking ship.
“Who the hell is piloting that thing?” asked Moyna from the pilot’s chair next to Kato, whipping her head to the side to keep the sweat out of her eyes.
“It’s Zyra Zanr,” Molly said, a dark expression overcoming her face.
“Ya mean that bounty hunter who killed Red and Lopez? Thought ya iced her at the base!” Tabbers said in his harsh, but flustered voice.
“A mistake I’ll have to fix.”

“She’s hailing us! I think she wants us to surrender,” said Kato.
“Ignore transmission. I am not letting that bounty hunter take us alive. Perform evasive maneuvers and head for the nearest jump gate!” said Moyna.
“But Moyna!”
“Just do it!”
Kato acquiesced to Moyna’s command and sent Stingray into a wild spin before plunging into a steep dive. As expected, the other ship kept up its pursuit and fired another brilliant round of scarlet energy at the pirate vessel. The stars raced by in a blur of light as Kato forced Stingray’s thrusters to maximum setting. A trail of black smoke poured out of the right engine; the damaged ship began to buck and shake.
“The ship can’t take much more of this! We have to surrender or we’re done for!” cried Kato.
“Prepare to fire aft cannons on my signal!” said Moyna, desperate to find a way to save her crew. But just before she could give the command to fire on the pursuing ship, she was blinded from the glare that engulfed the main view screen.
#
Zyra Zanr tried to keep her composure as she trailed the pirate shuttle. Considering the amount of damage their ship had sustained, she had not expected the pirates to ignore her transmissions. Their shuttle had lost its shields and its propulsion system sputtered. One clear shot would send the damaged spacecraft up in a ball of blue flame. But that would not serve her purpose. She would not grant Molly an easy death. 
The pirates knew they could not withstand another volley from Zyra and could tell by the way the shuttle was being piloted that she wanted to get a clean shot at their engines. But the wild spin they maintained all but guaranteed that she might accidentally miss her target and destroy their ship.
Zyra had to think fast. There was no telling how badly the shuttle was damaged. If the shuttle’s hull or energy core was compromised, it would not survive the violent entry into hyperspace. But she couldn’t stay on the defensive and remain a sitting duck for the shuttle’s weapons systems. Zyra realized she had no choice. She would have to open fire on the shuttle engines again or risk failing her mission. It would not due to fire on the shuttle from a distance. She would have to get within lethal range of the enemy guns to lock on to her target. Zyra stole a glance at her instrument panel to check the power level of her shields. Her shields were down to fifty percent.
Zyra raised her ship’s thrusters to maximum setting and closed in on the shuttle.  She had just entered the kill zone when an enormous spaceship suddenly appeared in front of Helship-II. Zyra had no time to adjust her flight path when a stream of blinding white energy struck Helship-II and hurled her backwards out of her chair.
#
“In Tarnos’ name, what that?” asked Klarrg, his blood-red eyes wide and fearful. Moyna and the other pirates stared with mouths gaping wide. The main view screen revealed an oblong vessel that was so massive that it seemed to occupy all of space. It had a bulbous exterior connected by three main sections. Mounted in the center of its bow was something that looked nearly like an eye. Before they could get a good glimpse of the strange ship, it faded back into the darkness of space nearly as quickly as it had appeared.
“Wh-What was that…ship?” asked Moyna.
“That was Intruder,” said Molly.
“Intruder?” Moyna repeated.
“It saved us,” said Tabbers.
“Why?” asked Kato.
“Does it matter? You are all alive. That should be enough,” Molly replied, still staring at the star-filled view screen.
“You and your damned secrets,” chewed off Moyna. “I’m starting to think Tabbers is right. But we’ll deal with you when we reach Darokk. Kato get us to that jump gate. Everyone else back to your seats. I just hope that bounty hunter’s dead. I’ve had enough surprises for one day.”
Moyna’s reference to Zyra caused Molly’s face to grow dark. She had had enough of Zyra’s interference with her plans. If they were ever to meet again, Molly would make certain that it would be for the last time.

Chapter Five

Inside the hazy, smoke-filled flight control room of Helship-II, Zyra Zanr let out a hacking cough, waving the black smoke from her eyes as she gazed at the snowy view screen in front of her.
“Computer, reroute emergency power to forward visual sensors.”
At her command, the familiar backdrop of space filled her view screen. Though the pirate shuttle was nowhere to be seen, Zyra was relieved to see that the ship that had attacked her was no longer present. Zyra wondered why the ship had opened fire on her. But suspicion began to gnaw at her mind.
 “Computer, cue freeze frame image of attacking warship and display on main view screen.”
Once again, the image of the strange vessel appeared before Zyra. She gazed at the massive starship which had attacked her only minutes before and studied its alien design. The ship was as large as a small moon. Its eel-like shape gave it a predatory appearance. The hull of the ship, though appearing metallic, rippled as though every inch of its surface was interacting with space in an entirely sentient way. Zyra had encountered bio-ships in the past. But this one was far more advanced than any she had seen before. In fact, she had never seen anything like it. Zyra slammed her fist angrily onto her blackened navigation console.
“Damn you, Forsythe! You lying bastard!”
Zyra knew without a shadow of a doubt that the ship on her screen was Intruder. Admiral Forsythe had hid the truth from her. Intruder had not been destroyed as he claimed. The mysterious alien ship which had destroyed worlds had crossed her path. But why did it fire on her then disappear? There was something else going on that she did not understand; something that Forsythe failed to tell her. But for all the subterfuge surrounding Intruder, there was only one thing Zyra truly cared about. One thing that mattered to her more than learning Intruder’s secrets. Zyra swore to bring the mystery to an end with the barrel of a smoking gun. 
“Hope you’ve made peace with your god, Molly. Time to die.”

Read on for an excerpt from
The Legend of Witch Bane
by Kevis Hendrickson

It was not yet dawn when the children left the castle. While Kòdobos and Laris mounted their respective horses (that is, Amaxilfré the Swift and Everest the Enchanted), Anyr was made to ride upon a little pony which would bear her along the journey. Not surprisingly, because of its small stature, it had been called Sprig.
As the children rode on through the castle gates, they discovered that there was a thick fog covering all the land, so far as they could tell, extending from the inner wards of the castle to the hills beyond. How far the fog went, none of them knew. But here and there along the cobblestone streets of town there were bodies strewn along the ground as if laid there to frighten anyone who passed by. There, asleep in the middle of the road (and still dressed in their pajamas, I might add) was the baker and the miller, and the tailor as well. Not very far from them lay the old shoemaker. No one had been spared the enchantment, not the youngest child or the eldest of the elderly.
The children were frightened, of course. You would be too if you were to happen upon such a dreadful sight. But alas, Laris, Kòdobos, and Anyr had no choice but to brave the unknown. For such was their love for their mother and father, and for their people, that they would risk their very lives to save them.
 Now it so happened that there was a raven, the blackest you ever did see, making roost atop the roof of the town cathedral. It watched the children with wary eyes. Anyr was the first to notice the bird and grew curious of it.
“Do you see that raven?” she asked. “It’s watching us with its terrible black eyes. I don’t like the looks of it.”
“Perhaps it simply wants to make a meal of Kòdobos,” said Laris, chuckling.
“Then I’ll give it something to eat,” said Kòdobos as he brought Amaxilfré to a sudden halt.
“We don’t have time for this, Kòdobos!” said Laris. Kòdobos knew Laris was right, but ignored her just the same. He leapt down from his saddle and alighted on the ground. Afterwards, he stooped to grab a small stone and hurled it aloft at the raven. The raven flew from its perch just in time to avoid being struck by the stone.
“Take that, you stupid bird!” cried Kòdobos.
“Would you grow up?” said Laris. “You’re such a pest!”
“And I suppose you aren’t ever a pest, either?” asked Kòdobos.
“Not nearly the pest you are,” answered Laris. 
“Would you two stop it? This isn’t going to help our parents,” said Anyr. The fact that Anyr was only seven years old and behaved as if she were the eldest of the children was no slight embarrassment to Kòdobos and Laris. Hence, not wanting to allow their little sister to outdo them, they assumed their silence, although it took some time for either of them to remove the sulking look from their face.

For nearly a week, the children journeyed from the castle to the woods beyond the next village, where they slept quite comfortably in the house of an old shoe cobbler. Unfortunately, the shoe cobbler, like the rest of the people of the kingdom, was asleep. He might never have known that he had as guests the royal children, had they not written him a nice letter by which to thank him for his kindness in allowing them to stay in his house. The children also left him a few gold coins as a token of their appreciation.
Some time passed before the children made their way out of the old shoe cobbler’s village. They were preparing to enter the road that led to the northern lands of Kaldan when several approaching knights galloping thereto nearly collided into them.
“Out of the way, or we’ll run you down!” cried one of the knights from atop his mount. Kòdobos and Anyr hung back to avoid the knights, but it was too late for Laris to escape. By now the knights had halted their manic ride to investigate the children. Laris had the poor luck of having been trapped on the road by the knights and watched with stiff eyes as they circled about her on their steeds.
“What’s your business here, girl?” asked the first knight, a rather rambunctious-looking fellow with much dirt on his face.
“Why should you care? This isn’t your country,” said Laris, having noticed that the knights did not wear the colors of her kingdom.
“We are lords here! You will answer us now!” the knight fired back.
“Or what?” asked Laris, not pretending to hide her defiance of the knight who she assumed had come to invade her father’s kingdom. Hence the knight withdrew his sword and trained it on Laris.
“Mark well my words, girl. You’d best be quick with your speech, or I’ll have your tongue on the edge of this sword!” he said. Then the other knights with him began to close in on Laris.
“Let her alone!” cried Kòdobos, bolting from the side of the road on his horse to challenge the knight. He was so eager to defend his sister that he fell from his saddle and landed on the ground with a loud clunk. The knights could hardly contain their laughter at him. One knight leapt down from his horse and gave Kòdobos a shove on the rear with the heel of his boot, knocking him back to the ground when he tried to get up.
“This one here’s a feisty little chap, for all the good it’ll do ’im,” the knight said.
“Guard your reach!” cried Laris, now drawing forth one of the swords from the pair of sword sheathes on her back. There was a bright gleam on the slightly curved edge of her sword (which was called a saber) that revealed the badge of a coiling serpent on its blade.
“So, you have a sword? Careful now, girl, or you’ll hurt yourself!” the knight said. Before any further hostilities could be exchanged between Laris and the knights, a long procession of knights approached from the far side of the road.
“Stay your swords, men, and explain yourselves!” cried the knight riding at the head of the procession. It was apparent that the knights confronting Laris were very afraid of the knight who questioned them.
“My lord! We encountered these three here on the road. Gave us a bit of a fuss they did, and won’t yield the road,” said the knight who had taunted Laris.
“I can scarcely imagine why these children should pose a threat to your scouts, Harsrick,” observed the lead knight.
“Aye, sir, not much of a threat,” the knight called Harsrick said. “But this one here’s the ringleader, and I daresay she’s a bit of a brigand what with her rough speech and all.”
“A brigand, you say? Do tell, girl, why you should have rough words with my men,” the knight demanded.
Being respectful of the man whom she deemed to be the highest ranking of the knights, Laris answered him in a courtly manner (or I should say in as courteous a fashion as she would allow herself under the circumstances). “Dear sir, my siblings and I were merely trying to get to the road when these fellows accosted us. They threatened to cut my tongue out or the other. I should have slain them all if not for the presence of your grace.”
“You are a bold one, girl,” the leader of the knights replied, not finding Laris’ speech amusing.
“I speak only truth, sir,” said Laris, still trying to decipher the knights’ purpose in coming to her father’s kingdom so heavily armed.
“What are your years?” the knight asked her.
“Not yet ten and five years, sir,” Laris answered.
“You are hardly more than a girl, and yet you stir not at the sight of hardy knights? An impressive feat by any standard,” the knight explained.
“I fear nothing, sir. Least of all you or your men,” Laris snapped suddenly.
“You see, told you, I did, sir. Quick with insults, this one,” the knight called Harsrick said.
“You must have faerie blood to speak so fearlessly to a troop of armed men,” the knight said as he observed Laris’ rising temper. 
“Cordially, sir,” Laris bluntly replied to the knight.
“I imagined as much. What are you, girl? Elf-kind or other?” he asked.
“Other,” said Laris in her grimmest voice. It was obvious to all who beheld Laris at that moment that she was growing quickly dangerous. For a brief time, no one would speak. Then—
“I think we have bothered these children enough,” said the lead knight. “Harsrick, prepare your men. We ride to the castle.”
Not wanting Laris or the knights to have further harsh words that could cause a mighty battle to ensue, Anyr suddenly came forward and besought the lead knight of his attention.
“Sir, if you would. Can you please tell us who you are?”
If ever there was any hostility between the knights and the children, it was at the sight of Anyr that their anger faded.
 “I am Kisrick, King of Urince and the Fire Plains.”
“Then have you come to invade this land or to speak with my father?” asked Anyr.
“Your father? Are you Krüge’s children?” asked the knight who was now revealed as King Kisrick.
“We are,” said Laris, not yet betraying her hostile tone.
“Then forgive my rudeness and that of my men,” said Kisrick. Now, at last, he removed his helmet to reveal an aging man with a weathered appearance and long graying hair. “We have ridden long and hard from the Fire Plains to beseech your father’s audience. But on our arrival to your kingdom, we have discovered a great blight of an enchanted sleep upon your people. Tell me, has your father, the king, also fallen to this malady?”
“He has, your majesty. As have all our people,” said Anyr.
“Then we have arrived too late. Not yet a week ago, rumor came to me that your father had sworn off the rule of the High Queen and had rebelled against her. I knew that if the rumors were true, war would come of it. Many years ago, before any of you were born, a great war was waged in the realm against Rhiannon. One by one, all kingdoms fell to her dreaded army of goblins and evil men. Now no one opposes the High Queen, and all pay her tribute in gold and blood. No one, that is, until your father pronounced his kingdom’s independence from Rhiannon’s rule.”
“Then you came to help us?” wondered Anyr.
“I did, little princess. I had come to seek your father’s counsel to see if I could join his rebellion. I doubt sincerely that the combined strength of Kaldan and Urince alone could have stopped Rhiannon, but together we might have inspired other kingdoms to join us. Perhaps in that way, Rhiannon could have been overcome. But now that I learn of your father’s doom, I know that my people shall not rise up against Rhiannon anymore.”
“Please, your majesty, we are on a quest to break this curse. Can you not help us?” asked Anyr, thinking that perhaps the help she was longing for had finally come.
“What more can I do, little princess, but to offer you and your siblings sanctuary in my country? There you would have food and a warm bed. But Rhiannon would no doubt seek you out. And I lack the strength to keep her from you. Whatever quest you are on, I am afraid I can be of little help to you children. I must go back to my country now, and I expect hope shall have gone with me.”
“There is always hope, your majesty,” said Kòdobos. When King Kisrick looked upon Kòdobos, he realized that he was the spitting image of his father. 
“Young prince, you are far younger than I and can afford to live with hope. I have no such luxury. I have seen Rhiannon’s might. I have beheld her great army spread darkness abroad the land. Many people have thought like you, and they fought Rhiannon to their last breath. Yet it is she who now has mastery of the land.”
“Even so, someone will defeat her one day, your majesty. If it comes to it, I’ll defeat her myself!” said Kòdobos.
King Kisrick descended from his horse and fell to a knee to look Kòdobos directly in the eyes.
“Truly you are the son of Krüge the Lion to speak so proudly,” said Kisrick. “Listen, young prince. It is not left to me to tell you what you should do upon your quest or where you should go, for I do not know how to defeat this evil spell that I suppose Rhiannon has put upon your people. But this little advice I can give you. If it is the power to defeat the evil of Rhiannon you seek, it will not come from my kingdom or any other. Indeed, not by the power of kings, or wizards, or legendary weapons shall you triumph over Rhiannon. Look only here to your heart, and you will find the strength to at least stand your ground. Whether or not you are fated to overcome Rhiannon, however, is up to the Gods.”
King Kisrick mounted himself back upon his horse and said, “I bid you children farewell. And if ever you need sanctuary, seek me out in my kingdom to the south of your country. There I will welcome you as friends of my House and protect you as best I might for as long as my strength holds out.”
With that, King Kisrick ordered his knights to turn around and follow him back down the road from which they had come. The children stood silent and watched the Urincians leave them, pondering the might-have-beens as well as the grave challenge that yet awaited them in lands far from their own.

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