Battleship Endeavor

Orbital Dock Platform 172BI over Creos

7:16PM Terra Firma Pacific Time

Arriving with the documents and datakey at Endeavor’s hatchway, the word was passed around, and the crew cheered for a second. The crew knew full well that celebration could wait. As I donned my uniform, placed my hat on my hairless head, and took my seat on the bridge, I reviewed Kantra’s mission statement. Solid, direct, and just like Kantra, admiring the traditional hot drop strategy. Although, there was one detail I wasn’t comfortable with.

“You’re really certain you want to use our Para virus?” I asked Wringheart. Once I mentioned it, the energy drinks she had consumed jumpstarted her jittery nerves.

“Captain, I’m very certain,” she nodded. “We need all the help, right? So why not the virus? It is simple to upload the virus into the human’s data network and power grid. I can plug myself in to control it to target missile silos, ocean-based battleships, submarines, and of course those pesky fliers. Limiting nuclear launch is a must. By Kantra’s calculations, the retrieval time will be lower than expected.”

“And he approved it without my consultation?” I rubbed my brow of how they slipped it passed me.

“We’re low on time; he was enthusiastic over the last five trials.” Her brown and blue tail wagged in anticipation and all four feet were picking themselves up in spite of my disapproval.

“I can see that, but that virus is dangerous, even for a quick mission. I will approve the tactic, as long as you take initiatives that no missile will launch.” Wringheart congratulated herself, her bulbous chest bounced under her uniform. “However, the Para virus is four times more advanced than the human’s technologies. Will it somehow blow their computers?”

“Don’t fret, captain, I ran simulations while degrading the animal to be compatible. Count on me to be your silent protector as you beat those humans to living pulp.” Her paws folded together and she pleaded to me with those big red eyes. She needed to work on respecting authority. “I’ll even cripple their media feeds as a plus.”

Using the virus was no easy task. Only a well-trained Vyroka can control it. Once she “plugs” her brain into a computer, she can do almost anything. Too much power to handle. We use the Para virus very rarely, only in the direst of needs. Above all, she was right. I asked her about the missiles that are not part of the grid, the isolated silos.

“That was my first question, sir, I told Obi to watch for them,” Kantra added, standing where he was two days ago.

Like I said: solid. “Good enough. You have a go on the virus.” She cheered excitedly in my ear and I stifled a sigh. “Can you keep the connection without losing control?”

“As long as nobody touches me for thirty hours with a nutrient IV, the connection will never falter,” she beamed.

I nodded. It was enough for her to leave the bridge in full sprint to Engineering.

I spotted our communications officer, Private Arilla Pico, peering at me, “I’m not too fond for her colony’s way of life, but that poor girl will have a heart attack with that much energy drinks in her.”

“I second that. Just watch, she’ll crash like an old wall,” Decanthan said at his station. I figured a bet would begin any time.

“Don’t get ahead on the lieutenant’s health, let’s focus on our jobs,” I said, focused on the mission. “Lets make one final systems check, people. Guidance and navigation?”

“Check,” Private Zamel replied in a gurgled tone. She sat next to the pilot, having control over the star charts. I gave her the data key for Terra Firma’s location.

“Kinetic shields and magnetic barriers?”

“Powered at full output, sir,” Kantra affirmed.

“Weapon’s systems?”

The Ter’ran, a crustacean type engineer, turned in his seat and spoke in a raspy voice, “Primed and ready, captain.”

I activated the comm. for the ship. “Engineering, everything a go?”

Wringheart’s voice cracked through, “The engines are purring and awaiting your command, sir. Shall I activate the Slipspace Drive while were at it?”

“Certainly,” I agreed. I made another connection for the Assassin, Obi’s body filled the center screen. His command chair and touch monitors were shrunk to his size. “Obi, you ready?”

“Brill, we are so ready we don’t need to do systems checks. Lets get this over with before I grow old.”

“Fine,” I chuckled. I asked him if I could broadcast the mission statement to his crew and he agreed. “Pilot, take us out to open space.”

At the far end of the bridge sat an Octocren, similar to Kantra except without the shadow walker runes etched on his body. “Aye eye,” he acknowledged.

Far away as the bridge was, I could never hear the twin oscillating fusion engines, but their waves vibrated through the inertial dampeners and shake our seats and computers. All the checkpoints lit green, the front clamps of the orbital space station released, sending crystallized condensation and smoke into the vacuum of space, and I felt the ship move by the pilot’s guiding hands. Ten seconds reversing then a slow starboard turn. Down the length of auto-adjusting platforms other ships of infinite shapes and designs were docked; cargo liners, other military cruisers, tourist and commuter vessels, and personal ships, ranging from technology based, crystal based, plant based, and some made entirely out of raw energy. Their crews and passengers were unaware of Nova’s actions thank Kai. Imagine the turmoil the media would cover. Obi and his needy arrogance had the Assassin already out. Once Obi spotted us, he banked and followed our flight pattern as its four thrusters grew bright red. If you get a chance, count the number of fliers outside its hull for immediate flight.

“Three minutes until clear,” the navigator issued.

She had no trouble deciphering the star patterns, and by surprise, Denverbay was calling. I accepted the call and his quill-decked face filled the frontal viewport. Everybody except me shuttered a little. “Leaving?” He asked me.

“Like I said, we can’t waste more time. It seems you’ve calmed down from the state of your eyes. I’m deeply humbled you granted us permission to enter protected space.”

“Do you still have the box for Jaruka?” He asked again.

I nodded, “In my quarters. Mind I ask what it holds?”

“Just find him. Understand?” My senses kicked in how fast he changed the subject. There was no time to debate on an alternate notion for Jaruka. It was for the best, for him, and for Terra Firma. I told Denverbay yes.

Denverbay coughed, “Then by the power of the Galactic Council and the Ancestors of the Stars, I grant you, your captains, your crew, and your fighting spirits, good luck and good hunting.” He disconnected to reveal Creos’ neighboring star system.

“What box?” I turned seeing my assistant arriving.

“Ah Irna, just in time,” I smiled. “Nothing to worry about.”

Irna still wears her sword master uniform, minimal armor on the vital areas of her body, but nimble enough for great maneuverability. Both sides of her hips were two three-foot swords in their sheaths, each hand holding on the handle. “That’s what I’m worried about,” she said with pursed lips. All too true.

“Fifty percent until Drive is charged, captain,” the Octocre pilot called out.

Unlike the fusion engines, we can hear the Slipspace Drive charging, located three levels below the bridge, five massive magnetic rings circling around a special crystal—the heart of instant travel.

On the Endeavor’s port side, the Assassin was parallel. I could imagine the caged energy in that carrier, eager fighter pilots wanting a feel for Terra Firma air. Down below in the hanger, my soldiers were making their last preparations, one last prayer for luck.

“Ninety percent, captain,” the pilot said.

“Make the wormhole rupture on my mark,” I ordered. I made a connection to our neighbor ship and spliced the intercom to broadcast my voice. It had to be closed circuit between vessels. We cleared the space stations and into open space. Few ships passed by as some exited from Slipspace or FTL.

“Prepare for Slipspace travel. To your battle stations,” I said over the channel. The bridge crew braced themselves. “As of now, this mission is deemed top secret by Councilman Trygo Denvarbay. Nobody outside the ships can know, not even your families.”

The icon on my monitor chirped to signal a full charge of the Drive. I ordered a ten-second countdown. One section of the ship was parting, exposing a single cannon pointing to space. Once the wormhole was made, both ships will merge onto the path.

Each second passed felt like a year. I felt great anticipation that we, Nova Company, were heading to Terra Firma. The word “one” sounded off from Kantra and the cannon fired, vibrating the ship.

A purple ball of energy sailed over the bow, reflecting its shine over the hull. Seconds passed and the ball imploded into nothing, then exploded in a shockwave of bright light. Both ships shuttered from the dimensional distortion; I could already feel the rift tugging on the ship with its own gravitational pull.

I jabbed my finger at Slipspace and screamed, “Engage, full throttle!” Engines fired at full output, our ships lurched forward then sucked into the rift, closing behind us.

Slipspace is a parallel dimension, but consists of pure energy. It’s unfathomable what energy is found in the dimension, but it allows all of us to borrow its energy for travel purposes and great feats in magical understanding. So much energy that it can congeal itself into objects of spheres and tentacles, with colors of the dominant purple, blues, whites, greens, and colors never seen by the living eye. For us Remuzen, like myself, we see Slipspace as a final resting place, the perfect Eden in the great expanse. As we travel, a wormhole is carved to our destination and we followed it at full speed. We would arrive at Terra Firma in around ten minutes.

I started off the mission statement Kantra passed to me, but it didn’t hurt to brief the unaware.

“In a few minutes, we will enter protected space under the Primitive Culture Protection Act, but the planet we’re visiting is a Red Flagged planet called Terra Firma, home world of the humans. I know some of you are aware of their kind and that’s fine, but don’t assume anything. The people on that fertile rock are more dangerous than you imagine.” The lights from the dimension were toying with me, causing a small instance of motion sickness. I held strong. “It is our job to enter the planet’s atmosphere, retrieve Gunslinger Corporal Jaruka Teal from custody, collect all sorts of technology they have no right to own, and leave promptly. Also, we will do short but extensive examinations of the changes the asteroid caused. I hardly doubt nothing we will find will make the Department of Experimental Magicks envy in curiosity.”

The new communications officer slowly faced me. The crystals became an interest to her. She never told me why.

“The plan of attack is an intense Type-D Hot Drop. Several regiments are designated by their call numbers assigned to all of you. Once we are out of Slipspace, join your regiment and file into either a dropship or drop pod. The Assassin will deploy fighters to give us cover while the carrier will use its Slipspace rift cannon to safely port any nuclear missiles we miss.” Obi had no problem with the plan, but one breath in the human air he’ll die in seconds. “Above all else: keep your mind clear and focused. Do not conduct anything that might jeopardize your life or your teammate’s.”

I cleared my dry throat as the navigator called out five minutes until the fleet reaches the wormhole’s end. “This might be a though mission because we have strict orders we must follow. If by chance you notice humans, but don’t look like humans, do not harm them. Pointed ears, tails, different haircuts, I don’t care. They are deemed neutral until otherwise. All other humans are enemies. If they threaten your life or others, terminate them by any means necessary. I am not repeating these orders. Shalta da’ kel phey!” That’s in an old language meaning good hunting. If the broadcast was a two-way, I would hear the crew howling for a fight with the humans.

I cut the channel and made a new one to Engineering. “Wringheart, is the virus ready for deployment?” I asked the Vyroka soldier.

“Been hot since I was hooked up. Permission to send it out once I make a link to their satellites?” She asked and I allowed it.

“Two minutes until rupture, captain,” navigation said. I blinked and shook my head from those bright lights, regretting I should’ve put on some eye filters. My hands gripped tightly on my chair, still feeling the rattle and slight changes in gravity from the twists and turns of the wormhole. The path got straighter and straighter until a single black dot was in focus. Wishing I was holding my breath, my ship and Obi’s exited Slipspace.

The bridge’s viewport displayed an alien set of stars and constellations with no sight of star clouds. The pilot maneuvered the assault ship, facing Terra Firma’s oceans and continents. I picked out several ohs and ahs from the bridge admiring its beauty. The continent where Jaruka was held captive was in its night cycle, four to five sections held high concentrations of metropolitan activity. Blue ocean as black as night. The viewport’s HUD made indication of Jaruka’s last known location; I hoped the big guy was still there and alive. It was a one in a million shot to come out of Slipspace without getting attacked by enemy forces.

“Link is locked, uploading virus,” Wringheart said over the comm. link. “Already working on shutting down power grids around Jaruka’s lo… GREAT MERCIFUL MOTHER!”

“What? What do you see?” The sudden fright in the woman’s voice made my heart skip a beat, thinking my odds were off by a lot.

“Confirmed. Vyrokan battery located on the base. The intel was right, Kantra, they do have illegal tech. How in the blarco did they acquire an antique weapon such as that?”

“We’ll worry about that later, Wringheart. Obi, you have a go for launch. Weapons, charge the port and starboard plasma cannons. Take out that battery before it fires first.”

The suspected cannon was focused and magnified on the HUD, roughly sitting a mile from Jaruka’s location. Second, the twin oblong plasma cannons morphed from the sides of the ship. Both charged their plasma intakes faster thanks to those much-needed modifications back at Creos. “Twin cannons ready, sir!” Weapons already had his finger on the red button, the coordinates programmed.

This is it, Brill, no turning back. Now or never. “Fire!”

Holding Cell 34, Groom Lake, Nevada

7:51 PM

Hearing each other’s stories resulted in this long and uncomfortable pause. It was like one of those moments, for the human mutants anyway, that everything leading to our meet made sense. I was still shocked about them controlling magic.

First, they probed my lifestyle. Scott, the skeptical bartending college student, kept himself extremely cautious of me but was slowly accepting my statements. What a wimp. Katie and Mike were the most engaging; she had this odd fascination with the magical side, asking if I experienced magic (I did) and learning all the technological and magical aspects I could explain, without telling her the scary parts. Mike just asked about my mercenary lifestyle, limiting what I could divulge and how I could live on an asteroid until supper came, but didn’t tell him a lot about my life in general. Reba still didn’t talk. The whole time I managed to hold strong; I didn’t dare risk Griffon or his goons learning from the guard standing next to the cell enough to jeopardize my life.

I asked about their bodies, the transformation, and their magic. I kept a big, open mind, understanding every detail. Let me tell you, half the magic they dealt with, presumably the Wave and the transformation, is strictly illegal. They said more and I was lost in the details. I stopped chatting and took time to think.

I was still in my corner, sitting like a pathetic Calvalu shrimp. I ripped the cuffs off my tunic to wrap my dreads together, exposing my toned biceps and tattoos. The “terrans” were huddled in a circle, eating what could be called food from plastic containers. Ration packs of dehydrated nutrition. The soldiers set one next to me, but I snarled and threw it at the group. That stuff makes me sick. I’d rather have hot, juicy food than apocalypse grub. Reba ate mine and hers down like an animal.

What really made my nerves turn fire was my internal moral dilemma with the humans. Nothing from what I learned matched to their behavior. In school, I was taught that Terra Firma humans are vicious, selfish, closed-off individuals who show no mercy to anybody outside their planet. I expected that after one look at me they would turn into vile bloodlust creatures. Those four, the mutants, made me doubt my knowledge.

Scott, Katie, Mike, and Reba were the opposite. Good people and I had the balls to treat them like shit without thinking. Talk about being a rude guest. On the other hand, what else did those crystals do to them?

Later Scott had the nerve to do one move at me—my life’s summary. “So let me get this straight,” he said, his back was facing me while looking back with leveled eyes. “You took this survey job on a suspicious asteroid, floating in ‘Restricted Space,’ because you were broke and thought it would be a great opportunity to expose a time-wasting scam.”

I snorted and flexed my exposed toes. They felt cold.

“Dude, that is so lame. It’s amazing you fell for the oldest trick in the book,” he added. “I’ve never met a guy that fell for a scam, and you sir are just stupid. And they say aliens are smarter than us.”

“Scott, stop insulting him,” Katie said to him. “You don’t have to rub it in his face, he had enough.”

Scott went back eating as Katie peered at me, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for you.”

A compassionate human? That’s new.

“Whatever,” I grumbled. I was also having trouble accepting that they had tails.

“Not to mention an entire government watching over Earth,” Mike looked boggled. “Imagine the worlds, the people. Wish I could see that.” Yeah, if only it was simple.

“Now back to the magic part,” Katie said curiously. “You’re saying that magic is universal? Like everywhere?”

I nodded and answered, “In a way, if you know where to look. It is pretty daunting how many species practice the mystical arts. Other cultures just can’t function without magic governing their lives.”

“Then what about us? It’s a problem for the rest of the world to come to terms with magic. I can see massive riots for magic rights, people having mental breakdowns with changed lives, even wars. It is a great gift to have, but I’m not sure everybody else is ready for that responsibility, especially my one-track minded Dad. Just look at Reba for example, she can barely function.” Reba ignored us and kept on eating. Mike hesitated to touch her.

“You seem fluent in the arts, girl.”

Katie smiled a little. “It’s an old hobby of mine from grade school.” I nodded; then again I wondered how long humans knew of magic. “But if this council knows, will they send help, maybe teach us?”

She meant a full-fledged First Contact aid campaign. Impossible, the Council would never allow it. I didn’t answer her.

Mike finished his meal and tossed the container behind him. “Back to the Wave. You said that what we describe matches to certain spells and rituals you dealt with. What are they?”

“You really want to know? It’s likely you’ll recreate them and blow yourselves up,” I scoffed.

“Like I said, what else can we do here except swap stories,” Katie said with a shrug.

I rubbed my face and combed back my dreads, feeling fresh sticky oil between my fingers. I needed a bath bad. “Alright, fine, have it your way. On top of my head, that rift in the sky, that’s called a Ter Zunel Wahr. A temporary climate terraform. It’s legal to us for colony relocation for long distances. Basically it’s for terraforming a moon or an asteroid to livable conditions, the colony rest for a bit, grow food, then leave while the atmosphere dissolves itself. Why it’s modified like that, I don’t know, that’s just for the snooty, nerdy, investigative wizards.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Scott said from his absent understanding of magic.

“Don’t push it, boy. And those totems you speak of. That’s a medical treatment and side effect for treating patients with schizophrenia. Some bozo figured out that a split mind, each side their very own personally, calms the person. Two minds in one body, working together, whatever the deal is. Creepy.”

Katie became concerned, “But, Jaruka, they say they are our spirit guides.”

“Exactly. It’s the same thing across the board.” Katie became confused.

“Anything else?” Katie was getting curious, and getting on my nerves.

“That’s it. Everything else is either illegal or new magic.”

Scott snorted, “Some help you are. Now we’ll never know the truth.” Katie rubbed his back. I could see a lot of hurt in him. That seizure was life threatening; it also sparked my curiosity that he had a military family. Just what happened to him, and why didn’t those scars disappear during the transformation? So many questions, nothing to back them up.

But from his attitude, I snorted, “Want me to spell it out for you?”

Before he talked, the unexpected happened.

The entire base jolted from a massive shockwave, enough to make all of us jump five feet in the air. I landed with a thud on the concrete. Coming back from a short dizzy spell, I saw the roof of the underground base shake off dirt. Area 51 seemed to build the roof in case any airborne vehicle had to hide. The scaffolding and rafters were mighty old as I heard metal bend. The alarms followed then all the captives and animals screamed from fear. Another shockwave and the steel support beams cracked.

“What the hell was that?” Mike exclaimed with Reba clenched on his chest.

I was smirking by the time I got to the gates. Metal slabs broke from the roof and crashed onto the laboratories.

“Finally! Brill did it again!” I bellowed out with so much excitement I was jumping. By then I had a second realizing they heard me.

“Jaruka, that language is scaring me. What is going on with you?” Scott asked.

Oh well, time to drop the ball. I whirled around and said, “Let’s just say that I withheld some information from you four,” I spoke in their language.

“Like what exactly?”

“Like a rescue party coming for me.” The look on their faces was priceless. “My bad,” I said smirking.

”You should’ve told us sooner you jackass!” Scott was about to sock me again. Who cares, my friends arrived.

A loud crunch came from the support beams. Metal twisted from cracked bonds and a huge section came crashing down, right on top of the totem cages. A wall of smoke came hurtling toward us. Mike yelled to take cover as I felt the cell bars snap, with one bar hitting me in the face.

"Direct hit!" Weapons called out. "Defense cannon destroyed. Some structures collapsed from the explosion but nothing to threaten Jaruka's life."

"Good work, private," I congratulated. It followed with a short cheer through the bridge.

Endeavor blazed through the atmosphere, burning oxygen blazed on the ship's sides—the belly parallel to the planet. Inertial dampeners lessened the violent descent, but that didn't stop the periods of heat. Several air fighters from the Assassin whizzed by, faster than us to gain advanced cover over the military base. It wouldn’t be long before the humans scrambled to their jets for retaliation.

"Are the soldiers in the dropships, Kantra?" I asked him.

"All drop pods and dropships read green, sir," he answered. "Won't be long before we launch."

"Let all but one dropship and gun platform from the rescue team stay behind," I ordered.

Kantra turned in his seat. I could tell his shadow walker powers were itching to fight. "Why, sir?"

"Because we are going down there." The answer was so sudden that Kantra was ready to tell me not to. I got up, stayed from a little air turbulence, and faced Irna, "Irna, you have control of the bridge."

Pico whirled in her seat with all six arms in the air. "Captain, you can’t be serious. You're dropping into the middle of a war zone.”

"It's my decision. This rescue became personal. Kantra, follow me." The elevator doors hissed open. Once we were in, I told the bridge, "watch over us."

We rode down to the hanger. "This is unexpected," Kantra said, “I have reason you owe Jaruka an apology."

I nodded once, "I'm responsible for offering that job in the first place, and in turn get him out. It has to be done face to face."

Kantra took out a single dagger from his holster and admired the sharpness. "Shall I reserve battle armor for you?"

"Gladly."

My back throbbed with pain. I was still conscious from the roof collapsing, I suddenly felt a nice tingling sensation. I felt all the pain disappearing in mere seconds. Suddenly, my vision changed to show everything in black light. I saw people and their mana hearts, soldiers showing nothing, and I could see through the walls. The problem was that my eyes were closed. I freaked out and pushed out of the rubble; steel bars and sections of concrete weighting approximately a hundred pounds.

At that moment, I was grateful to have that body.

There was no mistaking the symptoms after Arana’s death. My body shined with tattoos. It was really cool effect and at the same time I felt mana coursing through me. I was worried about it so I had to be careful casting spells. It felt weird feeling Keeji coming back.

“Ow,” Katie cooed. She was right next me, emerging from the debris as her eyes and tattoos glowed through her clothes. I asked her if she was all okay and she nodded, coughing, “Look, we can escape!”

The whole row of cell bars was gone, it was a perfect chance for us to run. Several hundred cells were destroyed and terrans were already escaping. The masked soldiers were no match for them.

“Holy shit!” I whipped around seeing Mike upright and gazing over his body. I blinked not from the smoke, but at how clean and tear-free his scrubs were. He looked at us with fear in his glowing iris’ and said, “please tell me this is a good thing.”

“Yeah, Mike, just relax, nothing to worry about,” Katie smiled. Mike nodded slowly, still looking at his glowing European symbols. Noting that, I looked at Katie and myself and both our clothes were undamaged.

“Iko spirk!” Right, I almost forgot him. Jaruka pushed away some bent bars, rubbed a vertical bruise on his forehead, and shook off the dust like an animal.

“English please. I will kick you if you don’t,” I told him. He glared and growled at me, and then noticed the tattoos.

“I said ow you idiot. Good enough for you?” Jaruka belched. “I’m guessing that’s what happens when a totem dies. That’s new to me.”

“Let’s not debate this, we need to get the hell out of here,” Katie said. She had a point. In any second guards would be coming to secure us. I thought too soon.

Outside of the cell’s threshold, debris rustled and the back of a soldier emerged. Knowing too well that they don’t like terrans, I got to my feet, ready to slam my fists around. Amongst the yelling from other inmates, I could pick out strange, sucking sounds from the guy. He got on his feet—his back hunched—and faced us. His arms were slunk and broken, but still gripped his rifle. Why isn’t this guy not screaming in pain?

“Hey, you okay there?” Mike asked.

The guard was still masked so it might’ve been a broken windpipe. I saw blood dripping from his neck proving the idea. And he stood lifeless... It produced a chill in my spine and Katie came closer to me.

Jaruka didn’t feel it, he went on insulting him, “Hey, gas mask, move it, I have a sword and gun to find.”

The guard did nothing and the alien approached him. “Hey I’m talking to you…”

The guard punched him in the chest, his whole body falling back to us. Now the chills were running. The guard’s body was loose yet he punched the big guy with one broken arm like nothing, his knuckles bursting from the skin. Jaruka winced and came back up snarling.

Things got serious when he dropped his rifle. The guard, using the other severely broken arm, ripped his gas mask off. Now, bear with me, you might wonder who might be under that mask. The most common idea is a young soldier sworn into duty, closer to my age. Who I saw wasn’t that though.

His face was enough to make us speechless, looking like it was stretched at a tannery with too many chemicals and washed to a dull brown. The eyes were dark red, extremely bloodshot, with thick tears of blood running down his cheeks. His mouth, oh God, was infested with gingivitis so much the gums were nearly black. He kept on heaving air, then sucked it in with a gurgle, and made an ear-piecing scream. I had to cover my ears.

“No… fucking… way!” I yelled.

“WITNESSES MUST DIE!” The guard screamed and charged forth, almost sprinting. I had little time to duck away, Katie too, but I had no way, not including magic, to go against something like that. That looked too real to be a zombie. Yeah that’s right, a zombie marine.

I lunged back into the rubble, I was expecting him to pounce on me and rip my jugular out, until I heard this strange word.

“Ildkule!”

I felt intense heat come from nowhere, and the cell walls lit up. The zombie was in mid-air, oblivious to what was happening. Suddenly a wide column of fire engulfed the guard and shot him out. I saw the flaming body fly across the underground prison and slam into a section of the collapsed ceiling.

“Whoa!” I shouted. I had no doubt it was a terran spell, but the word was something vaguely European. I looked back expecting Mike as my hero. Except he was on the floor ducking from the blast. Reba’s flaming palms extinguished.

“Reba?” Katie said agape, “that was awe… where did you get those clothes?”

Reba had her arms out still aiming out, both ablaze with blue Nordic runes. She blinked and shook her head to answer, “What clothes?” Instinct took hold and she looked down, screaming and backing herself against the concrete wall. Remember, this poor, tortured woman was nothing but infected wounds and a torn hospital gown. Thanks to Reba’s merging with her totem, her scars were healed; however, her attire had changed completely. Her outfit now consisted of a dark red trench coat, black gym pants, sturdy black running shoes, and a dark blue form-fitting Kevlar vest. Back then when her face and hair was neglected, she cleaned up well with a clean face and her hair in a tight braid to show off her ears, both with earrings of a similar Nordic rune.

“What happened to me!?” Reba screamed. She started hyperventilating, examining herself, and was just about to faint again. Mike approached her and gripped both her shoulders.

“Don’t faint on us. I know this is scary, but Katie says it’s a good thing, right?”

Katie shrugged, “Yeah for the tattoos, but not the clothes. I mean thi… my head hurts right now.” Mine hurt too. ”How did you cast a spell?”

“I don’t know, I blacked out the whole time!” Reba had managed to calm down, but the fear still gripped her.

Jaruka brushed the dust off his vest and said, “Great I’m getting a headache from new information. I’m outta here.” He jumped over the rubble and just started down the corridor.

“Oh hell no, you’re not leaving without us.” I managed to grab his arm. He stopped, glared at me, and was ready to pop me in the face.

“Kid, I have no time for you. I want my gear back.” His black eyes felt like daggers, but I pushed.

“Then why didn’t you tell us about your ‘friends’ way back?”

The alien shook his head, “It’s called a need to know basis. Besides, it’s for me, not you.”

“Scott, look,” Katie said, tugging on my arm for attention, pointing at the hole in the ceiling. “That thing’s huge.”

In the clear night sky, I saw a small dot of red. I had to walk out of the cell for a better view and to avoid the other inmates running about. The fireball grew bigger, and bigger, until I distinguished a delta shaped object. The fire extinguished from a shockwave and my jaw dropped. An alien space ship of unknown size floated over the base. It was painted black with sections of scratch-free chrome. The stern held four rocket thrusters, two on either end, bigger than an aircraft carrier. I spotted a complex symbol and a row of foreign symbols on the right side, thinking it’s the ship’s name. Four guns protruded from the belly and started firing laser trails and orbs of light, sending shockwaves through the underground structure. The army fought back. Smaller ships and pods dropped from the ship like a beehive getting disturbed. It was unclear who or what was in them.

Jaruka laughed with a big grin, “Good old Endeavor and its hot drops.” A single beam of light made its way inside and destroyed the lab. We all lost our footing. “Hey that was too close, guys,” Jaruka added.

“Great God almighty,” Mike exclaimed.

“Took the words right from me, Mike,” I added.

Jaruka said later and started running.

“Hold on a second, we’re not done,” I yelled and he stopped, grunting why. “I have to see Griffon, too. That psycho has my parent’s files. He could ruin my life if he makes them public.”

“Screw you, my ticket off this planet is here. Once I get my weapons and all the scraps of my ship, I’ll be long gone and away from here. So I don’t need your group slowing me down.”

I came inches to his chest and looked up creaking my neck. “You know as well as I that he holds power that can destroy both of us. My parents and your exposure.” I could feel magic brewing within me; I didn’t care if I pushed him to get the message across. Evidently, he reacted, seeing a couple of his dreads curl a little. “After all, you don’t have a gun. How are you gonna fight through a mob of terrans and soldiers?”

Jaruka growled low and curled his lip. He looked where the zombie got out and reached for the half-buried M4. I felt my heart freeze when he raised the barrel. In no time I readied myself, Katie included. I tried thinking how I did my first spell with my right palm facing him.

As it turned out, he fired above us. I looked back fearing he shot Mike or Reba, but it was a soldier coming behind us. He fired three rounds, and the soldier fell like a rag doll. We looked back at Jaruka stunned.

“Fine, I give up, have it your way,” he barked, “but that doesn’t mean I’m your babysitter. I’m still interested in your magic. Stay behind me and don’t crog up.” He turned the other way and marched down like an actual special operative.

Mike picked up the dead soldier’s M4. “Scott, take the guy’s pistol. Let’s see if I remember my training. Get Reba, Katie.” I know he was saying orders, but I didn’t intrude. I held the pistol with care while Katie pushed Reba to come.

We made our way through the chaos.