Tranquility in Darkness Pt. 11

by G. Lawrence

Though Grey grew up isolated on the moon under the guidance of Tranquility's computers, in the last few months he has gained friends and a girlfriend, but also many enemies. Enemies that are now being challenged.

A reminder, this has been two stories; Governor Thomas McKinsey in 2046, and the lunar rebels in 2070 dealing with McKinsey's earlier actions. But the two stories will come together. All characters are over 18 years old. All rights reserved.

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Chapter 11

GREEK LETTERS

Friday, February 7, 2070

Grey felt his consciousness return slowly. He was lying on the floor of the big crystal cavern. The meager remains of his ripped underlining hung on him in shreds leaving little in the way of modesty. Scratches on his skin showed the Arikhan had not been delicate in searching him for weapons. Vendar's second-in-command was standing over him, an eager gleam in her eyes.

"You have served us well, food creature," Lancer Wyntran said. "Now you will serve us better."

"The creature does not look so large with the false hide removed," Lancer Centran said, disappointment in the tone.

Grey found several weapons pointed at him when one should have been sufficient. He tried to take a deep breath, but it was growing difficult. The Arikhan seemed to take delight in their meal's discomfort.

"That is true. There is not much meat," Lancer Valtran agreed.

"But enough," Lancer Wyntran said, clicking her chops.

"Bind it," Lancer Centran ordered. "We will take it to the conquered hive for Zendar to see. Tonight we feast in victory!"

"Victory!" the Arikhan chanted.

Lancer Bytran rolled Grey on his stomach to tie his hands with a strip of his torn underwear, then leaned over to sample his flesh, her rough tongue licking his bare shoulder blade. Noticing Vendar and two of the Varbaran were missing, Grey guessed they had gone with Mordari to join the attack on Tranquility. He thought it fortunate Mordari had not learned how to fly the hopper, for it left nearly a third of the Arikhan strike force stranded. Not as many as he had hoped, but enough.

"Leave the meat alone," Lancer Centran said. "Mordari and Ryndari have first taste. Zendar will have its heart."

"Beings of great superiority, why have you betrayed me?" Grey asked.

"One does not betray food," Lancer Centran replied.

"Prepare for a slow death, impertinent one," Lancer Wyntran warned. "Meat is best when bled slowly. Had we a rack, you would be hanging by your heels and ready to drain."

"Ridiculous aliens," Grey said, twisting to sit up on his knees. "Your manners are boorish. You know nothing of fine cuisine. Even your ceremonies lack grace."

"You beg a faster death?" an angry Lancer Wyntran said.

"I seek the lamb's gift," Grey said. "Go to my vehicle, get the mauck. Get the mort. I will show you how to die well."

"We are forbidden to slay you," Lancer Wyntran said.

"Did the Varbaran Leader forbid you a taste of blood?" Grey asked.

"She did not!" Lancer Bytran said.

The rations and ale were quickly retrieved from Bonanza as Grey watched the growing impatience of his captors, realizing that a feeding frenzy was being kept in check only by their wavering sense of discipline.

"When you reach the homeworld of the rocks, will you feast on their servants?" Grey asked.

"As Sherra wishes," Lancer Centran said.

"When will you get there?" Grey asked.

"There are but a few worlds left where the rocks may hide, and the most promising is but a handful of light years away," Lander Centran said. "Within our own life spans will we tread their soil."

"Already does our fleet approach," Lancer Wyntran bragged.

"You must communicate often to have such confidence," Grey speculated.

"Foolish food creature," Lancer Centran said. "We are a stealth brigade. Long have our sisters awaited our voices."

"If you seek the world of the rocks, why attack this planet first?" Grey asked.

"We have yet to alert the leaders," Lancer Wyntran explained. "But our time in this star system is not wasted. The discovery is ours. The glory is ours."

"Your base must be well organized to achieve such secrecy," Grey complimented. "Is it snug on the fourth planet, or one of the fourth planet's small moons?"

"You ask many questions, food creature. Can one be so curious this close to death?" Lancer Wyntran said.

"Philosophy is not my function," Grey answered.

He stood up, pulled at the fabric binding his wrists, and managed to wiggle free of the weak restraints. His captors did not appear alarmed.

"Form a ring," Grey ordered, taking the food and drink from Lancer Byktran and distributing the portions equally.

The six Arikhan surrounded him, then held out the cakes of mort. Grey reached into Lancer Centran's belt without permission and took her knife, but this time, he didn't make a shallow cut in his palm like he had before.

"Come, sisters," he said, slicing a long deep line in his left forearm all the way to the wrist. Then he cut another line in his right arm, his life's blood pouring forth. "Drink, sisters! Do not let it go to waste."

The Arikhan dropped their mort and lunged forward, sucking and chewing at his arms. Grey felt himself buffeted by their eagerness, made dizzy by the sudden loss of blood and the poisonous M-14 agent coursing through his body. He fell to his knees, struggling to keep his wits. Soon the Arikhan were falling as well, their faces turning pale as the tainted blood shut down their respiratory systems. In minutes their breathing went from labored to shallow. Then to no breathing at all. The huge cavern fell eerily silent.

As Grey managed to focus his thoughts, he found himself lying in a circle of death. The eager energy of the aliens was gone, the bodies twisted, the claws clenched. The malevolent eyes gazed emptily. But despite everything, Grey found he could not hate them. They had been warriors.

Struggling to his knees, words from an old barracks ballad slowly came back to him. Words that made him feel sad rather than triumphant.

The dawn gives way, oh bloody sun;

The deathly calm; The quiet guns.

Screams and hollers, now ghostly calls;

Heroes advance to hallowed halls.

Goodbye brave soldiers, farewell our dreams;

No more in battle horror.

The last full measure, in courage spent;

May now abide in honor.

Grey struggled for another breath, then dragged himself across the floor to the side hatch of the waiting hopper. After pulling himself up into the cargo hold, he crawled to the crew compartment and opened the medical kit. The hypo filled with blue liquid was still there in the refrigerated packet. He tore the packet open with his teeth, then injected the full does into the artery of his left leg, immediately feeling a sensation of relief.

Finally able to take a deep breath again, he put on a pair of shorts and thanked his lucky planets the Arikhan weren't fond of small treats. Then he sprayed his wounded arms, wrapped the gashes, and added a painkiller to the medication. Last came the pouch of fresh blood from the bottom of the cooler attached with an intravenous tube. There were two more pouches if he needed them. Grey had just finished putting on a new flight suit when another spacecraft arrived, a small disk-shaped scout craft.

"By the sorrow of Sherra, what is this?" Mordari lamented, viewing the bodies of her dead comrades.

"We were attacked by the Governor," Grey reported. "I barely managed to hide in time. We must go to the human hive and warn Zendar."

"Indeed this is an evil creature," Mordari said, transfixed with sadness. "Enter the sho'kar. It travels faster than your primitive Earth vessel."

Grey was tempted to point out that L-class hoppers were only used on the moon, lacking the aerodynamics or sufficient thrust required on Earth, but caught himself at the last minute. Mordari hadn't come for a lecture on lunar transportation.

They went to the scout craft where Mordari helped Grey sit properly in the small cockpit. It amazed him that Mordari and Ryndari spent so much time in such a confined space, much like the original Apollo astronauts were said to have endured. Below them, an empty storage area explained how Mordari had transported Vendar and her two soldiers, but it must have been a cramped flight. Though he had never thought of himself as claustrophobic, Grey knew he'd never want to be an Arikhan scout.

The craft lifted off, passed through a penetrable membrane that formed the airlock, and turned northwest toward Tranquility. Grey was impressed by the technology, memorizing the controls with the phenomenal speed ingrained in him since childhood by the computers.

"When we reach the colony, land near the smaller landing bay," Grey said. "You should enter the bay. The human spy will have neutralized the codes. I'll go through the garage. This way at least one of us will reach Zendar."

"The Group Leader will not be pleased," Mordari said. "I was to bring more of the Varbaran to join her attack on the food creatures. If you reach Zendar first, beware her anger."

"Thank you, Mordari," Grey said, surprised by her warning.

"Cal, there is a thing I must say," Mordari confided. "By right you belong to Ryndari and me. Much do we long for fresh meat. I may not speak for my mate, but I would forgo this pleasure. But if Ryndari feeds, so will I."

"I can ask for no more," Grey said, suddenly feeling guilty about his plan to murder the scout. "But know that I do not long to be food for the Arikhan. If I can, it's an honor I will forgo."

Mordari laughed with short, rapid clicks of her tongue.

__________

"We are ready for the assault, Group Leader," Landar reported as they formed up outside the storage level airlocks.

"The Varbaran?" Zendar asked.

"The hive's primitive shielding prevents outside communications," Vendar said. "Yet it takes but a wisp to reach the rock's lair. Mordari will return upon the cusp."

"The food creatures are helpless. Let us advance," Landar urged.

Zendar surveyed her restless troops. Hesitancy in the face of a weak enemy was difficult to justify.

"We will advance," Zendar decided, ordering the bay airlocks open.

Ryndari stepped forward to press the first switch, and as if by magic, all three chambers abruptly opened at once. To the side, a monitor panel displayed waves of green signature patterns. The Arikhan moved forward through the airlocks, accessed the storage level, and found the tunnel labeled CA-1. With no opposition in sight, the battalion started down the long cargo tunnel toward the Loop. They had only gone a short distance when they heard footsteps from behind.

"Mordari comes," Ryndari recognized.

"Mordari, where are my Varbaran?" Vendar asked.

"Slain, Varbaran Leader," Mordari reported, her diaphragm heaving from the rapid bounce.

"Slain!" Landar exclaimed.

Behind him, the Varbatro moaned, for many had lost mates among the Varbaran.

"How can this be?" Zendar asked.

"Murdered by the one called Governor of the Moon, truly a creature of ill-omen," Mordari said. "Only Cal survived by cowering in the Earth vehicle."

"This creature must die!" Landar declared.

"It may not be food at all," Lancer Centro said. "It could be curl."

"It is food, not a demon," Zendar corrected. "What of the rocks?"

"They remain in the suit of the servants awaiting our return," Mordari said.

"Form ranks and advance," Zendar ordered, leading the twelve surviving Arikhan soldiers and scouts down the tunnel with weapons at the ready.

"Here they come," Kris said, watching readouts from the Security Computer near the counter in the Loop.

Around her, the vast rectangular interchange of tunnels and ramps was empty except for Nicholas, Tamera and Roger. Each wore fresh armor and carried refurbished combat gear, but the mood wasn't optimistic.

"Pull your square back to CA-3," the Security Computer ordered.

"We can't maneuver from there," Kris protested.

"You won't be maneuvering at all. That's not the plan," Security said.

"We've got to stop them!" Tamera protested. "There are innocent people in the tunnels. Children!"

"Tammy's right, once we get pushed back, the Ariks will run us to ground," Kris agreed.

"Kris, stop and think," Security urged. "Koltov, Kantanee and Vandebrown. Only two of you are soldiers. None of you are expert in lunar combat techniques. Your enemies are well trained, professional and cohesive. You haven't got a chance."

"We've still got eight securatrons left, the fixed retractor, and the three sentinel class seekers," Kris said. "We outnumber them."

"Security, I think the kids are right," Roger said, checking the fresh charge in his blaster. "We'll lose a running battle on the community level, and once we're trapped in the tunnels, they'll hunt us down. Stopping them here is our only shot."

"They will be stopped, but not by you," Security said.

Suddenly the monitor screen changed modes, blue signature patterns and green signature patterns joining the black signature patterns in the multi-colored flux.

"Have no fear, Captain Fairfield," the Defense Computer said. "We've been at this longer than you have."

"There's more to taking Tranquility than guns and bombs," the Life Support Computer assured. "Appropriate action will be taken."

"No offense guys, but you're just machines, and these Ariks play rough," Kris said.

"You humans haven't seen rough. Not yet," a voice said from the catwalk above them.

"Grey!" Tamera yelled, seeing him emerge on the second level walkway.

Wearing modified body armor, Grey jumped the railing to the Loop floor. Kris rushed to hug him, then stepped back to study the strange outfit, realizing it was a radiation suit with reflective plating on the shoulders and thighs.

Soon Grey was surrounded, the group's morale instantly improved. Grey felt annoyed by the attention but did his best to endure the process.

"Retreat into CA-3," Grey ordered.

"And leave you here by yourself?" Kris said.

"No way!" Tamera objected.

"Not by yourself," Roger agreed.

"Ridiculous humans!" Grey shouted. "I've planned too long for this moment to have you underfoot. Don't you understand how unnecessary you are? Retreat before you piss me off!"

"I'm the one getting pissed off," Kris said. "This is our home, too. Our responsibility. I won't sit back and watch you get killed. Again."

Grey looked into her intense green eyes. Eyes filled with anger and worry. He pulled her close, managing to brush her lips with a brief kiss. Her warm breath felt good against his face.

"There's no time to explain," he said. "You'll just have to trust me. Everything's going to be all right."

Kris gazed into his blue-gray eyes sensing his conviction. He wasn't afraid. Not of the aliens.

"You're not immortal," Kris said.

"I'm no reed in the wind, either," Grey answered.

"What? So now you're going to say a poem?" she dared.

Grey smiled, saying:

"And so at last, it came to past;

The enemy was subdued.

And from the dawn, all danger gone;

The world was born anew."

"I love you, moon man, don't ever forget that," Kris said, pulling him close for a deep kiss. Grey was not shy about returning the gesture, feeling her passion even through the suit of armor.

"I've got work to do," Grey finally whispered.

"Come on, guys," Kris said, realizing they really were in his way.

Tranquility's would-be defenders edged into CA-3, took a last look at Grey standing alone in the interchange, then stepped back to let the meteor hatch drop firmly into place.

"This way," Kris said to the others, bouncing a few meters down the tunnel, then pointing to a roughly cut side branch that angled back up toward the Loop.

"What is this?" Nicholas asked.

"Spy panel," Kris said.

Noise from the reception area below caused them to pause. They looked to see five armored figures running up the tunnel. Glenda was in the lead, limping to compensate for her broken ribs. Behind her came Ted, Lisa, Johnston and Michiko. There was no precision in their movements.

"Glenda? What's going on?" Kris asked.

"I'm still a member of the security department," Glenda said, pumping her e.s. system for extra oxygen.

"Sure, I guess. But the rest of you shouldn't be here," Kris complained.

"We've got to be here," Ted responded. "If this is Tranquility's last stand, then we should make it together."

"One for all and all for one," Johnston declared.

"Just tell us what to do," Michiko requested.

Kris glanced at Roger and could tell the veteran was impressed.

"We're off field for the moment," Kris said, leading them up a series of switchback tunnels until they reached a cubicle adjoining the Loop. Hardly more than a big closet, it was sealed off from the interchange by a thick sheet of transparent steel.

"No audio, but we should see plenty from here, and they can't see us," Kris said as everyone crowded into the chamber.

"That's Grey!" Glenda shouted, pointing into the Loop.

"He's all alone out there," Michiko fretted.

"He's not alone," Roger corrected. "Look at the monitor. All three higher function levels are online."

"What does it mean?" Lisa asked.

"It means the first team just came off the bench," Roger observed. "Half time is over and the rookies are in the locker room."

"Huh?" Johnston grunted.

"I get it," Ted realized. "You're saying the Ariks should have been watching the point spread before placing their bets."

"Will you guys speak English?" Lisa complained.

"Yeah, I get it now, too," Kris said.

"I don't get it," Tamera whimpered. "What is a point spread?"

"It's about odds, Tammy," Roger explained. "And I think the odds have just taken a dramatic shift."

In the Loop, the fixed retractor was warmed up and the securatrons were stationed in the far corners. Grey stood before the monitor watching the colorful signature patterns as they drew up information.

"Everything ready?" Grey asked, pulling a Marsden blaster from his belt. One of four such weapons he carried, along with an energy shield, two rechargers and a converter, all equipped with redundant cabling.

"Our resources are in place," the Security Computer said. "Keep on channel B, it's been sub-screened to ride the jamming."

"How many seekers do we have?" Grey asked.

"Three, all sentinel class," Security said. "They've been rechristened now that the last nightwatcher was destroyed."

"Greek letters?" Grey inquired, not sure if he liked the idea.

Memories of the nightwatcher series ran through his mind. Delta and Epsilon as they chased him down on the storage level during the Columbus incident. Beta, when it killed Professor Sharkov in the reception area. Gamma, during the final battle for control of Tranquility. There was much history in those designations.

"Affirmative," the Security Computer said, seeming to share his thoughts. "Naming them Alpha, Beta and Gamma was deemed more appropriate than Larry, Moe and Curly Joe."

Grey laughed, easing the tension considerably. It was the first time he remembered the Security Computer ever making a joke.

"Defense, report," Grey summoned.

"All systems online," the Defense Computer said. "Tracking and secondary defenses in place. Failsafe mode activated."

"Excellent," Grey said. "Life Support."

"Channeling set according to agreed specifications, Grey," the Life Support Computer said. "Are you healthy enough for this?"

"Healthier than they're going to be," he replied. "Remember to keep the mission in perspective. We're after big fish today, not this school of minnows."

The signature patterns blinked acknowledgement and receded just as the echo of footsteps were heard from CA-1. Grey took up a position two-thirds back from the tunnel, then unracked his energy shield and strapped the oval presentation plate to his left forearm. He held the Marsden in the ready position as the Arikhan appeared.

"There!" Landar said. "That must be it! The Governor!"

Landar rushed forward even as Zendar sought to urge caution. The fixed retractor underneath the northside staircase opened fire, the energy pulse knocking Landar to the floor, then Grey fired a full power burst, cracking a seam in Landar's armor. The alien crawled backward, found his feet, and returned to his group. The Arikhan quickly formed into three diamonds with the forward formations on the left and right flanks and the third farther back in the center. Zendar and Ryndari stood in reserve.

"You may damage a rash male, but your weapons are no match for ours," Zendar said. "Surrender now, creature of evil, and we will dedicate your flesh to Sherra."

"Listen carefully, Zendar, Group Leader of the 44th Camp, for this will only be said once," Grey announced. "You do not challenge the weakling humans now. I am not a misbegotten exile or entity of stone. I am Grey Waters, Governor of the Moon, and you are trespassers. Leave now or accept the consequences."

"We are not shy of battle," Zendar announced.

"Neither am I," Grey replied.

He raised the Marsden, powered up the energy shield, and took a step forward. The Arikhan thought him mad. Suddenly a threat appeared on their right, a hovering armored sphere rising from behind the security counter guarding a vaulted entrance. Then another sphere, up high and to the left. The whispering sound of jet wash echoed from the rear, a third seeker coming down CA-1 from behind them. Grey charged their left flank, bouncing evasively as he fired.

The retractor opened fire, the cannon's powerful energy pulse crashing into the Arikhan ranks, but their shield wall held firm. Then the sentinel class seekers struck from three directions at once as Grey turned inward, attempting to target Valtro who was carrying one of the long-stemmed rifles. The Arikhan energy shields easily deflected the attack.

"Double flank!" Zendar ordered, pulling her troops tighter with the rifle carriers in the center.

Grey shifted quickly, firing on the run, then discarded the fouled weapon and drew another, letting the retractor cover his movement as he pressed Kytro and Byktro's flank. As the Arikhan grew confident of their shields, they became aggressive, driving the seekers off and destroying the fixed retractor. Grey relied on speed to avoid the counterattack, skipping, spinning and dancing back across the Arikhan front, then retreating toward CA-3. The seekers backed off as well, floating on their hover jets while weaving back and forth on agile wing jets, waiting for the moment to ignite thrusters and charge back in. The Arikhan were not intimidated.

"These humans are but smoke," Lancer Centro said, seeing they had suffered only minor damage.

"They boast better than they bite," Zendar agreed. "Advance."

Grey watched the Arikhan move forward, waiting patiently until they reached the very center of the Loop between the security counter on their right and the north staircase on the left. Seeing Grey standing in a single spot caused Zendar to wonder what it meant, but the suspicion came too late.

"Armageddon," Grey ordered.

Instantly the three sentinel class seekers disappeared into several maintenance shafts, the hatches closing behind them. The meteor door to CA-1 slammed shut, as did a dozen other access hatches, sealing off the Loop from the rest of the colony.

"Initiate," the Security Computer instructed.

"Kris, what's going on?" Johnston asked as the group watched from the protected cubicle.

"I don't know. I've never seen this before," Kris said. "Never even heard it discussed."

"Those monsters have spacesuits," Tamera said. "How can this help Grey?"

"I don't know that, either," Kris confessed. "But that's not ordinary armor he's wearing. Whatever they're up to, it's all been planned."

Kris was correct. Beginning at the lunar surface, a hatch opened without benefit of the airlock. Then the meteor hatch at the junction of E-2 and SR-4, venting atmosphere the Life Support Computer hadn't already pumped out. Then the staging level routing vents were depressurized. Finally the emergency hatch at the bottom of SR-5 became the final barrier between the Loop and the lunar environment.

Below the colony, on the reactor level, the Energy Computer blocked the escape channels, trapping excess heat until the pressure began to bloat the vents. Life Support began opening selected insulated air shafts, closing others, then dropped all the final fail-safe barriers between the reactor level and the Loop except one. Accessing the internal antennas, the Communications Computer initiated intense jamming fields, scrambling coms with such intensity that the feedback hurt the invaders' ears.

Atop Tranquility Ridge, in the North Point Defense Center, the Defense Computer readied a VLM, the vacuum launched missile targeting the heart of the colony. If it proved necessary.

"Now, Governor," Security said.

Grey unleashed a cable from his belt and shot a hook into the catwalk above him, then attached a second cable to the floor. An instant later, the lighting in the Loop went dark, then came back up in wildly fluctuating strobe patterns. As the Arikhan sought to readjust their visuals, the lower vent suddenly opened, blasting the Loop with radiated heat that ignited the oxygen heavy atmosphere, fire balling the deck. The impact knocked the invaders from their feet while Grey, stabilized by the cables, endured the harsh buffeting. Then the upper vent opened, sucking the atmosphere and everything else up in a violent flame filled tornado. The Arikhan were dragged in every direction, thrown against the walls, sucked up to strike the ceiling and cast down again with bone crushing impact.

As vacuum replaced atmosphere, Grey found his feet, released the cables, and launched an attack supported by the returning seekers. The Arikhan were in disarray, their shields misdirected, their sensors distorted by radiation. Grey struck the right flank, the power supplies among his first targets. The seekers followed in support, Alpha and Gamma hitting the left flank as Beta flew high cover for Grey. Lancer Lowtro was hit, then Lancer Wyntro. Grey put his Marsden against Wyntro's head and blew his brains out without loss of motion but had to back off before finishing Lowtro.

"Stay with it!" the Security Computer urged over their selected com channel.

The Arikhan struggled to regroup, firing their powerful weapons at the elusive enemy, but Grey danced around them, moving with an unimagined speed that kept the defenders off balance. The bobbing seekers dropped low, pounding individual soldiers with ruthless efficiency, destroying their equipment, and finally bursting armor in the cold, airless environment.

Landar died next, the Varbatro Leader's suit already weakened in the first assault. Lancer Bytro went down, hit by Alpha and Gamma from two sides. Then Lancer Kytro was wounded as Grey and Beta shifted right to trap him against the wall.

The Arikhan began to reform, the survivors falling back toward the third diamond. The meteor hatch at the bottom of CA-1 reopened, flooding atmosphere into the Loop and reigniting fires that created swelling clouds of thick black smoke. That's when Grey saw his chance.

"Grey! What are you doing?" the Security Computer asked.

With a turn and a twist, Grey used the smoke as a screen to charge directly into the Arikhan center, drawing a second weapon to fire left and right at the rifle carriers and knocking both down. First Beta, then Alpha and Gamma followed him in, forming a diamond of their own that wreaked havoc on the Arikhan ranks. Kytran fell with serious injuries, then started to crawl from the battlefield. Grey let him go, turning to finish off Centro. In an instant, the last defensive diamond had collapsed.

Laying on the floor, Valtro raised his rifle to target Grey at point blank range. Grey ducked and turned just as Alpha fired a full power energy burst at the wounded lancer, then Gamma seconded the attack. Grey raised his weapon to finish Valtro only to see the effort was now unnecessary.

"Fall back! Fall back!" Zendar ordered, but her transmitter was useless, the instruction blocked by the Communications Computer's jamming field. She finally had to use hand signals, waving to her surviving command as she retreated. The scouts saw the signal first and wasted no time running for CA-1. Lancer Lowtran disengaged, pulling the wounded Lancer Lowtro. Vendar helped Kytran. Kytro limped by them and kept going. Maltro was killed without ever seeing the withdrawal.

"This Governor is curl!" Vendar said as they reached the comparative safety of the tunnel.

"Six dead, many wounded. Our equipment destroyed," Zendar said. "We must leave this cursed place now before the enemy entraps us. Mordari, Ryndari, secure your sho'kar. We will go to the sha'kar. Converge at the lair of the rocks."

As the Arikhan retreated, the meteor hatch at the bottom of CA-1 closed behind them. The path to the landing bay was unobstructed.

"The enemy flees, Governor," the Security Computer said.

Grey noticed the damaged Loop would take time to repair, then looked through the smoke at the half dozen Arikhan dead littering the battlefield.

"Instruct Medical to secure these bodies under seal," Grey ordered. "We'll break down their technology later. Suppress any vid images that might become public. The less the humans know, the more options we'll have later."

"Acknowledged," the Security Computer approved.

A few minutes later, as the last of the fires were finally dying out, the meteor hatch protecting CA-3 reopened. Still dressed in their armor, Kris, Nicholas, Tamera and the other observers entered the Loop amazed by the scorched walls and bent ceiling panels. The floor was a debris field, but not one body gave evidence of the victory that had been won there.

"Where's Grey?" Kris asked.

"Elsewhere," the Security Computer said from the damaged counter monitor.

"Elsewhere? But what happened? Where are the Arik-things?" Tamera asked.

"What Arik-things?" Security said. "This deck has suffered an environmental accident following a stray meteor impact. Repairs are underway."

"Meteor my ass!" Glenda said.

"Kris, Glenda, everybody," Roger said, watching the black signature patterns wave strongly through the flux. "We're the only ones that saw what happened. Most of it, anyway. And we didn't see anything. Not until Grey says we did. Understand?"

"But this is big. Huge! It can't be kept secret!" Ted said.

"Yes, it can," Kris said, agreeing with Roger. "You guys get this place cleaned up, I'll catch you later."

"Later? Where are you going?" Johnston asked.

"Elsewhere," Kris said, starting toward CA-1.

"Kris! Kris, wait up!" Nicholas said, following with Tamera close behind.

"Are you going to that base? The base where Kes came from?" Nicholas said. "We are going with you."

"That's not such a good idea, Nick," Kris said. "Kes warned me what to expect, and it's all pretty weird stuff. Dangerous, too."

"We don't care about that," Tamera said. "If you're going to help Grey, then we're going also."

"It must be so," Nicholas said. "He asked me for help. I could only see his anger. I did not realize..."

"Nick, it's okay," Kris interrupted. "No one can even imagine the stuff Grey deals with. No one. It's not your fault."

"I could have been a better friend, and that is my fault," Nicholas insisted.

"Okay, come along if you have to," Kris sighed, sensing for the first time what Grey must feel in similar situations. "But don't say you weren't warned."

* * * * * *

One part to go