Tranquility Divided

Part Five

by G. Lawrence

Recap; Racing back to the moon when he received a secret report of an Arikhan return, Grey has ventured to the Crystal Caves Tourist Center with Nicholas, Tamera and Glenda hoping to gather valuable intel. The Arikhan were previously featured in Tranquility in Darkness. This is a war story. All characters are over 18 years old.

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Chapter Six

DEADLY MISTAKES

"More mauck, Dokera!" Grey demanded.

"Has your gullet no bottom?" Dokera asked, pouring him another tankard of mauck, the heady grog splashing over the rim of his metal cup.

"And here I thought the Arikhan a warrior species," Grey responded. "Am I in error?"

"Warriors! By the will of Sherra!" Dokera declared, gulping her drink.

"By the will of Sherra!" Lartra chanted.

Sitting in a circle inside the domed tent, Grey and the five Arikhan were sharing a hardy meal. Already familiar with the grim-faced Ryndari and the occasionally pleasant Mordari, Grey was trying to fathom the remaining three aliens. A fourth alien, a male guard stood outside the tent. The leader was quiet, as many Arikhan leaders seemed to be, while Dokera was boastful. Like Mordari, Lartra had a sense of humor and didn't seem quite so bloodthirsty as her comrades. Grey found it interesting that the strange creatures shared a similar range of personalities that humans did.

"Much of our mission have we told you. How does Cal come to be in the lair of the rocks?" Mordari asked.

"The Governor placed a spy device in the canyon after destroying the Quexelian spaceship," Grey lied. "My systems intercepted the intrusion signal when you arrived. You are most fortunate. Had the Governor gotten the signal first, he would have attacked with a formidable garrison. No doubt you would be caged or dead."

"Dead, if it truly became necessary," Karpeta assured him. "Never will we accept captivity by disgusting food creatures."

"I salute your courage, Larkin Leader," Grey acknowledged, raising his cup.

"And your courage, food creature," Karpeta praised. "Still do I not grasp your boldness to sit with us in this manner. Surely you know your hours dwindle."

"To die in your company will be an honor," Grey replied.

"There is danger present?" Mordari asked.

"Yes, my friend," Grey said, speaking with enough sincerity that Mordari believed him. But Karpeta did not appear concerned. It didn't take long for Grey to guess why.

"Will your Varbatro return soon?" Grey asked.

"You are clever," Karpeta observed.

Grey stood up and adjusted his holster.

"You are unwise," he warned. "Though I intercepted your signal, it will not be long before your presence here is discovered. Even if you have a rank of soldiers, which I doubt, it will not be enough."

"Our mission is nearly complete," Dokera informed. "The samples are secure, the tests made. And now we will have a companion on the way back."

"Part of the way," Ryndari clarified, lashing his black tongue with anticipation.

"Your invitation is appreciated, worthy leader, but I must decline," Grey replied, slowly rising. The Arikhan remained seated.

"I guess you guys don't watch many movies, do you?" Grey asked.

"Movies?" Karpeta questioned.

"An Earth term for an entertainment," Mordari explained. "They appear often on our intercepts."

"Mordari, you disappoint me," Grey said. "Out of respect for our past comradeship, I will not take extreme steps. But speak with the Larkin Leader. Make sure obligations are understood."

Grey suddenly drew his weapon and raked the wall of the tent on both sides of the door. As the Arikhan ducked, he jumped through the burning opening, danced several meters, then twirled and fired again, hitting the well-armed guard only a few paces away. The impact struck hard, knocking the opponent down, but the male's protective armor proved strong. Grey jumped forward, stomped on the enemy's wrist to make the weapon fall free, then kicked it across the hard floor out of reach.

Backpedaling toward the north airlock in quick hops, Grey watched the enemy for signs of pursuit. He could not tell what they were thinking. Or what they were planning. But he did know there was only one warrior present, and Arikhan warriors usually traveled in groups of eight.

Once he passed through the airlock, Grey turned into the long steep tunnel and hurried to gain the upper trail. It was a difficult trek and by the time he reached the shadowy canyon he was out of breath. And the tourist center was still half an hour away.

"Security," Grey summoned on his transmitter, dispensing with code names. "Security, come in. Alert status alpha."

There was no response.

Grey didn't think the steep canyon walls should have blocked the signal entirely but had no time for delay. He raced along the floor of the canyon, then hustled up the winding trail toward the tourist center.

The final platform overhanging the canyon was only ten meters from the subsidiary airlock. To Grey's right, the main complex stretched out along the crest of the cliff. Straight ahead, the ground gave way toward the auxiliary support structures and the loading dock.

The outside lighting was turned off, the landing beacon deactivated, and the primary airlocks were on lock-down mode. Grey went around the side of the building and down several steps to a safety bunker designed for meteor protection. The emergency airlock was still active.

After entering the complex, Grey drew his sidearm and probed a dark corridor toward the hangar listening for anything out of place. What he didn't hear frightened him. There were no human sounds.

The repair bay adjacent to the hangar was empty. Nothing had been disturbed. The wardrobe closet was equally quiet, none of the spacesuits or communications equipment having been removed from the lockers.

Grey finally reached the hangar, passing through a secondary airlock with his Marsden heavy blaster held in the ready position. He found the hopper still parked in the landing circle. The regular lighting was down, but blue runners on the floor and upper walls provided sufficient illumination. At first Grey saw nothing unusual, but a check of his ultraviolet scanner showed traces of blood running from the hopper's side hatch to the refueling bay. Grey glanced inside the hopper, found it empty, than backtracked toward the airlock accessing the main complex.

The entry area was quiet, as was the control center. Grey noticed the air and heat circulators were still functioning even if the lighting wasn't, meaning the power down must be deliberate. There was still no sign of Tamera, Nicholas or Glenda, and the further Grey probed, the more he grew worried.

At the largest junction, Grey saw something dark lying on the floor. A body. An Arikhan body dressed in a black tunic, well armored, and shot through the throat at close range. But the trail he was following wasn't Arikhan. It was too red.

The corridor split up ahead, one branch leading toward the storage depot, the other toward the tourist facilities. Sporadic traces of blood led toward the tourist center but Grey turned in the other direction instead. There was a noise, then another. Grey couldn't quite make out what the noises were, bracing himself for anything that might happen. Eventually he entered an employee equipment alcove and peered inside with his flashlight.

"Grey?" Nicholas said, his voice weak.

Grey slid through the hatch and pulled it closed, then lit the room with a soft lamp. Nicholas was sitting in the corner with Glenda lying in his lap. Both were wounded, their combat suits scorched, and Grey could see Glenda's wounds were serious. Nicholas was badly wounded, too, the armored penetrated above the right knee where blood was oozing out.

"Where's Tamera?" Grey whispered.

"She led them in the other direction," Nicholas said. "That was an hour ago. She has not come back."

Grey had never heard the big Russian speak with so much pain before.

"How many are there?" Grey asked.

"I do not know," Nicholas explained. "We heard them coming and set an ambush. The two we saw were both struck, then I was hit from another direction. Glenda pushed Tamera out of the way, then came back for me. That is when she was hurt. Helping me. We retreated this far, then Tamera took a weapon and left."

Now Grey saw tears. He looked at Glenda, finding several injuries underneath her penetrated armor. She was unconscious, breathing hard and spitting blood. Nicholas had been shot through the thigh, possibly by some sort of projectile. Grey believed most Arikhan weapons heat sourced, but he guessed they might be using some sort of bullet type ammunition that was just as dangerous to avoid ruining the fresh meat.

Grey picked Glenda up, pushed open the hatch, and carried her back toward the hopper. The corridors were still quiet. If the Arikhan were searching this part of the complex, he couldn't sense them. Nevertheless, he moved cautiously until reaching the hangar where the hopper was still waiting. He set her down in the cargo compartment and pulled out a First Aid kit, doing what he could to stop the blood flow.

"Grey, is that you?" Glenda weakly asked.

"Be quiet. Save your strength," Grey answered.

"I'm sorry. Didn't see the flanker," she whispered.

"You did fine, Glendy. Better than fine," Grey encouraged.

"I wanted you to be proud of me," Glenda moaned.

Grey wanted to tell Glenda that he was proud of her but the words wouldn't come out. He felt helpless to do anything but feel the tears running down his cheeks.

"Grey, don't... don't..." Glenda whispered as she lost consciousness again.

Grey heard a noise and jumped from the hopper ready to fight. It was Nicholas hobbling from the airlock. Grey went to help.

"I can walk," Nicholas insisted, though he was not moving well even in the weak gravity.

Grey assisted him to the hopper, pulled the hatch closed, and rushed through the emergency medical procedures he was familiar with. Plasma and chemical supports for Glenda, bandages and painkillers for Nicholas. The procedures were performed quickly, without precision. Grey was sorry he couldn't do better. Sorry he lacked the knowledge to do more.

"Get Blout back to Tranquility," Grey said, presetting the hopper flight controls. "The airlock is set to open on emergency evac mode. Give me a five-minute head start, then hit the thrusters. If you gain com, contact Tranquility. Tell Security to hit this place with everything we've got."

"You are going for Tamera?" Nicholas asked.

Grey nodded, pulling an extra blaster from the weapons locker.

"Do not let them have her," Nicholas said. "She has had nightmares since the last time they caught her."

"I didn't know," Grey replied.

"She thinks you have enough problems. Whatever it takes to... "

"Nothing will stop me from doing what's necessary," Grey promised, an angry desperation creeping into his voice. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me."

"It is not your fault. We knew the danger."

"Not as well as I did."

Grey took a last look at Glenda, fighting tears as he guessed her chances of survival weren't good. When he looked up, he found Nicholas studying him.

"Do not be rash, my friend," Nicholas cautioned. "Glenda would not see you harmed on her behalf. You must honor that."

"Goodbye, Nick. May the God of the humans protect you," Grey replied.

Grey exited the hopper, signaled the hatch closed, and hurried toward the airlock. Tamera had often spoken of her childhood. How she and Catarina would play in the woods near her aunt's home in St. Petersburg. It didn't take much imagination for him to guess where she had fled.

The heavy sliding doors to the arboretum were open. There were spots on the floor. Brown, not red. Not Tamera's. Glenda had killed at least one Arikhan, wounded another. More than he had done when he'd had the chance. Grey regretted not killing every one of the filthy beasts in the crystal cavern. Regretted leaving his friends alone when he should have known better.

Grey stepped through the door cautiously, listening for the enemy and hoping Tamera might be nearby. There he made another discovery. A second Arikhan body, this one laid out respectfully, legs straightened and claws clutched on its chest. Apparently it had been wounded and bled out. Glenda had gotten two of them, this one leaving the trail. Both warriors had been stripped of their weapons.

He was just a few meters into the overgrown biosphere when he heard noise coming from the central plaza. Unable to approach directly without being seen, Grey ducked into the brush and waded through the thick plants and small trees. It took him several minutes to find a safe observation point, only to boil with rage at what he saw.

Tamera had been stripped nude, bound hand and foot, and hung upside down by her ankles from the gazebo roof. Four Arikhan stood around her, no doubt preparing to cut her throat. They like their meat bled slowly, Grey remembered. The look of wild-eyed terror in Tamera's eyes made him feel sick. The gloating of the Arikhan created an anger he desperately needed to control. He noticed their excitement. The raised eye-rings. The lashing tongues. Their posture eager for a feast.

There was a noise from behind. Grey rolled under a drooping swamp tree and watched as two more Arikhan entered. Judging by the scorch marks on its armor, one was the black tunic he had knocked down in the crystal cavern, the other appeared to be an officer by the red band of rank around its collar. They rushed by without looking in his direction, joining their comrades in the plaza. Grey checked the two weapons he carried, a military grade Marsden laser pistol and a Khronix heat blaster modified for double charges. Only one belt of power packs. No heavy armor, only a reinforced walker. Not even an energy shield, which he could have brought had he not been in such a hurry.

Grey could feel his confidence wavering. The six armored soldiers were not a ragged band of gangsters, and the arboretum was not a warehouse. One bad shot could blow a hole in the transparent panels, depressurizing the deck and killing Tamera in seconds.

"Stop! Stop!" he suddenly heard Tamera scream as an Arikhan poked her meaty areas with a pointed claw. The Arikhan reacted by clicking their tongues in amusement, spinning her around as they toyed with their prey. He almost considered shooting Tamera from a distance, ending the terror, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He loved her too much to hurt her, but not enough to kill her.

Grey backtracked deeper into the wide-leaf bushes, then crawled toward the gardener's shed where he found the tool he wanted, a sturdy root cutter with long sharp blades. Working rapidly, he climbed out of the walker, stripped down to his cloth underlining, then holstered the Marsden around his waist. He folded the suit but left the seals unlatched for quick entry and tucked the Khronix into the suit's thigh pocket.

The exit into the tourist center was to his right, the gazebo to the left. Grey went left, working back through the thick maze of trees to reach the plaza from the farthest side, then he climbed to the top of an artificial waterfall for a better view. Five meters below him, through a thin line of swamp trees, he could see the gathered enemy. Two stood close to Tamera, poking and probing the pink flesh. The commander appeared to be communicating with his troops. Grey guessed the newcomers were providing warning that Cal was in the area. No doubt they were thinking that it would not take long to track down the two wounded food creatures, and in the meantime, they were taking feline pleasure in teasing their prospective meal. In this respect, Tamera's terror was working to her advantage, prolonging the bloodletting that would end the game.

I can play games, too, Grey thought.

Having watched many vid programs of humans while growing up, Grey knew the scenario he wanted to try. Timing would be important.

Chunks of decorative rock lined the top of the waterfall. He pried several pieces from the loose mortar, then threw one stone toward the main exit, hitting the marble floor with a loud bang. The Arikhan were instantly alerted, drawing their weapons and looking toward the sound. Grey threw another rock, low through the tops of the trees so it wouldn't be seen and hit the gardener's shed. The hollow impact was different from the first sound and the Arikhan quickly spread out, three going toward the main hatch and looking out into the hall, the other two toward the shed. One stayed behind, much to Grey's displeasure. Only belatedly did he guess it was the guard from the crystal cave, likely still dazed.

Grey jumped down from the waterfall, quietly splashed through the knee-deep cement pond to approach the gazebo from the rear, and climbed over the railing to the wooden deck. Twisting slowly from the crossbeams, Tamera saw him first, eyes wide and surprised. The alien had its back turned, but slowly began to sense that something was wrong, turning to see Grey at the last second.

The Arikhan was tall for the species, nearly two and a half meters, with broad shoulders and large, darting eyes. One arm was tucked tight to the body, a scorch mark on the armor near the left armpit, and a burn mark on the jaw line visible through the open visor of its spacesuit. Hurt, but not disabled, Grey realized. The alien's eyes grew even wider as it watched Grey raise the Marsden to its face and press the trigger, the blast exploding brain matter in every direction. Both he and Tamera were splattered.

Grey wrapped an arm around Tamera's bare waist, then slashed the cords above her ankles, allowing her feet to swing over and drop to the floor. She was too weak to stand, slowly sliding down to her knees. She looked up at Grey in disbelief. He cut the leather binding her hands, then motioned to the folded walker lying next to the railing.

"Suit up. Be quick," he whispered.

Shaky at first, Tamera slid feet first into the walker. Grey put her on her feet, then helped guide her arms down the sleeves, tugging the suit up over her shoulders and sealing the front. Last, he pulled down the hood and tightened the collar ring.

There was noise near the arboretum hatch where the three Arikhan had failed to find the source of the disturbance. The two searching near the gardening shed were starting to return. There wasn't much time left.

"I love you, Tammy. Never forget that," Grey said as he pushed her visor down and locked it in place.

"I know you love me. Why would you say that? Why would you say that now?" Tamera asked.

The Arikhan returned, coming together just beyond the wooden bridge and walking up the narrow path in a group, weapons held before them. Their faceplates were still open. Grey kicked out the gazebo railing and pushed Tamera off the decking into the pond. When he turned back toward the Arikhan, he held his Marsden at the ready position as if ready to fight, but when he saw several warriors seal their armor, he tucked the blaster into the back of his belt and raised his hands instead.

"Don't hurt me," Grey requested.

The Arikhan slowed, looking in every direction, but only Grey and their dead comrade were visible.

"It is the one we defeated in the cave. The one called Cal," the lead Arikhan said.

"This coward is no threat," another announced.

"It is alone. Slay it, then find the fleshy one," the first ordered.

"Be not rash, denizens of a superior race," Grey warned.

"Grey, what are you doing?" Tamera whispered, trying to keep low behind the gazebo.

"Hug the pylons until this is over," he replied.

"But what are you doing?"

"Testing my character."

Tamera ducked lower, trying to see without being seen. When she discovered a Khronix heat blaster tucked in the suit's pocket, she drew the weapon and made sure it was charged.

The Arikhan closed to within a few meters of Grey, still watchful for treachery. One pointed a weapon directly at him.

"Would you spoil the meat?" Grey asked.

Using the shrub cutter, Grey sliced open the right shirtsleeve of his underlining, exposing his forearm, then cut a shallow red groove in the flesh, the blood trickling forth in a delicious stream. The Arikhan watched the crimson flow with clicking tongues. Two lifted the visors of their protective helmets. Two more removed their helmets entirely. Only the one in the rear, the one with the red collar was not so impulsive.

"Come, brothers," Grey urged, holding out his painful arm. "Would you have the ground drink that which is rightfully yours?"

They began to move forward again, and the Arikhan in the rear started to open its visor. Tamera stared in disbelief. There seemed little doubt a feeding frenzy was about to ensue, and Grey had no chance of shooting all four of the bloodthirsty creatures before they overwhelmed him. The closest one took the offered arm in its claws, the long black tongue licking the crimson streak, and let its teeth slide delicately into the wound. But the other three were holding back. Resisting the temptation. That's when Tamera saw Grey reach behind his back with his free hand for the laser pistol, pull it from his belt, and raise it toward the ceiling.

"Grey! No!" Tamera shouted, jumping back up on the deck even as the Arikhan were hurrying to close their visors.

Grey fired the Marsden, the flashing laser bolt discharging toward one of the translucent panels, but the shot he had hoped would depressurize the arboretum missed by bare millimeters, hitting one of the reinforced steel struts instead. He prepared to fire again even as Tamera pulled his arm down, causing the weapon to discharge toward the Arikhan instead. Then Tamera raised her heat blaster, fired wide beam, and dragged Grey off the gazebo into the pond.

The Arikhan were angry, retreating until they could evaluate the situation while sealing their armor. Tamera pulled Grey through the water into a heavy patch of reeds.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Tamera whispered.

"We can't beat all five of them," Grey replied.

An Arikhan appeared at the edge of the reeds. Tamera fired, hitting armor to no effect. Grey fired as well, the blast striking the helmet. Minor damage, perhaps, but not enough. Return fire forced them to duck lower and crawl for cover under a thicket.

"You've got to get out of here," Grey demanded, ripping off a shirtsleeve and wrapping the fabric around his wounded arm.

"We leave together or not at all," Tamera insisted.

"Unacceptable," Grey protested. "If they feed on me, the toxin in my blood will kill them. There's no reason for you to die."

"They'll tear you apart and you know it," Tamera argued.

The Arikhan spread out, staying clear of the swamp as they tried to encircle the area where Grey and Tamera were entrenched. Grey fired, as did Tamera, attempting to keep the enemy at bay, but the Arikhan battle armor proved resistant.

"There's only one between us and the exit. Use your last charges to fire at the other three, then run. I'll knock down the Arikhan on the bridge and follow you. But regardless of what happens, keep running. Go to the communications center and call for help."

"You should go. I'll distract them," Tamera said.

"Hanging naked from the ceiling may distract a human male, it will not distract the Arikhan. If you summon help, we may survive. We have no chance if you don't."

"Promise. No more shooting at the ceiling."

"Their helmets are closed now. Such an act would accomplish nothing," Grey replied without making any promises.

Grey rose, fired at an Arikhan through the trees, then rushed toward the hatch. The Arikhan standing on the bridge blocked the path, but Grey tackled the creature at the waist, crashing both of them into the railing. Tamera also fired her weapon, then followed Grey and jumped past the wrestling bodies, using the light lunar gravity to sail toward the exit and hit the ground with a bounce. She took a quick look at Grey, saw he was getting up, and ran into the corridor.

Grey was on his feet first, but the Arikhan grabbed his ankle before he could break free. He fired down at point blank range, the laser spray bursting off the alien armor and burning Grey's leg. The enemy was only scorched. Grey fired again, almost cutting armor, then had to duck as an approaching Arikhan took a pot shot at him. Grey changed tactics and stomped the arm clinging to his ankle, but it only made the alien angry. Grey soon found himself pushed against the railing as the Arikhan rose up and struck him across the face with a clenched claw.

Grey thought he should be able to disable his opponent. The alien was strong but not as well coordinated. A blow in the right place, a twist or a kick, should have allowed him to gain leverage, but he lacked the necessary skills. Like the barroom brawl in Los Angeles, Grey realized his upbringing had left him unprepared for a physical confrontation of such intensity.

The alien hit Grey in the face again, then opened its visor and sunk sharp teeth into his shoulder. As pain shot up Grey's neck, he began to feel dizzy. He tried to fight back, pushing and striking, only to be more firmly pinned against the railing than before.

With the prey secure, the Arikhan pulled a long thin dagger from its belt and let the weapon wave before Grey's face so there could be no mistake about what was going to happen. Grey desperately sought to break free, kicking uselessly while the alien let the moment linger, the malevolent black eyes shining gleefully in victory. Then the fearsome creature shoved the blade deep into Grey's midsection with a hard, deliberate thrust.

Grey's ability to breathe abruptly ended. He felt the feeling in his legs dissolve. He didn't know what had happened to his laser pistol and found himself helpless as fangs again buried harshly into his flesh, this time closer to his throat.

Can't give up yet, Grey was trying to think. Give Tamera time. It looked like the other four had gone after her. Something needed to be done. He reached through the Arikhan's visor to grab its face, only to have his hand swatted away. The teeth pierced again, harder and deeper. Grey's resistance faded, the face of his foe gloating before him as it prepared to strike a final time. Then the alien suddenly disappeared.

Grey looked up to see Nicholas standing on the bridge, one hand on the Arikhan's collar as his fist reared back. Then Nicholas struck a powerful roundhouse blow, smashing bones in the alien's face. Tamera came up, grabbed Grey by the shoulders of his torn underlining, and dragged him toward the exit. Nicholas threw the stunned alien off the bridge into the creek, hopefully to drown, and then retreated in ragged limps. As he reached the hangar access corridor, Nicholas closed the hatch and leaned down.

"How bad is it?" Nicholas asked.

Blood was soaking Grey's shredded underlining in a spreading stain. He could barely breathe. He didn't understand where Nicholas had come from.

"You were supposed to take Blout to Tranquility," Grey wheezed.

"Glenda's dead. She died before we cleared the hangar, so I came back," Nicholas responded.

Nicholas immediately regretted telling Grey that Glenda had died. Tamera saw it, too. The burst of heartache dimmed the light in Grey's eyes. His shoulders went slack. All the fight and urgency was gone.

"Give me the blaster and go," Grey said.

"We won't leave you. You already know that," Tamera denied, helping Nicholas pick him up.

The hatch grew hot as a heat ray burned through the lock from the other side. Nicholas followed Tamera as they bounced for the hangar, hearing the door behind them burst open. Tamera turned the corner going down the long dark corridor toward the airlock. Nicholas came to a halt right behind her, set Grey on the floor, and knelt down to rest his injured leg. Tamera activated the airlock controls and the heavy hatch began to slowly slide open. Too slowly. The Arikhan appeared only fifty meters away. They weren't so careless now, activating their powerful energy shields and setting a defensive formation. One near the center looked a little unsteady but mobile. Grey recognized it as the one who licked his blood in the arboretum.

"It should be dead by now," Grey questioned.

"It looks sick," Nicholas observed.

"The toxin Red Room gave me must have weakened," Grey guessed. "Letting them feed on me would not have saved Tammy like I thought. This entire mission was for nothing."

The Arikhan saw the humans huddling in the dark near the airlock and turned in their direction, advancing with anticipation.

"Oh, God," Tamera whispered as she realized they would never enter the airlock and close the hatch in time. "I love you, Nick."

"Be brave, my dearest," Nicholas answered, preparing to fight. Tamera knelt down next to Grey discovering him losing consciousness. Red stains were spreading everywhere. Maybe it's for the best, she thought, kissing him on the forehead.

The airlock hatch finally popped open with a sudden whoosh sound, but Tamera didn't get a chance to crawl inside. Three armored soldiers, and even better, three hovering sentinel class seekers, were in the airlock ready to fall on the surprised Arikhan.

The seekers roared forward on thruster jets, their speed blinding in the wistful lunar gravity. The three human soldiers followed, two with laser pistols and one carrying the Arikhan energy rifle captured in the battle at Tranquility six months before. The seekers struck with brutal force, crashing into the Arikhan ranks, but the defense was strong. Then the seekers split up, attempting to hit from several directions at once, the powerful pulse emitters looking for weakness. The enemy shields were holding, and then the Arikhan returned fire. They were a strong force. Professional. The attack of the seekers stalled.

The human soldiers did not follow the seekers down the corridor, choosing to set a line between the Arikhan and their beleaguered prey, one helping Nicholas to his feet.

The Arikhan retreated until establishing a better position, rearranging their equipment so they could pump the energy screens to full intensity. The pulses emitted by the seekers began to splinter, lighting up the corridor in brilliant flashes. Then the Arikhan began advancing, firing at the seekers and inflicting damage. One seeker crashed into a wall, still firing but unable to target. Another exploded following a direct hit into its ordnance package, creating a fireball that obscured visuals. The seekers weren't going down without inflicting damage of their own, though the ultimate outcome became clear. When Grey had fought the Arikhan ranks in the Loop eight months before, he had flooded the interchange with pure oxygen, set it on fire, and then opened the vents into the lunar vacuum, creating a heat-fuels tornado to disrupt their formations. Such an action was impossible.

"Retreat! Retreat!" the human commander ordered, maintaining the line while Tamera, Nicholas and Grey were hauled into the airlock.

The Arikhan dispatched the final seeker in a fast but devastating exchange, one of the aliens taking a direct hit in the chest and collapsing. Whether it was a fatal wound or merely a temporary setback was something the humans had no time to discover. They retreated into the airlock and expedited the process, reaching the passenger boarding area less than a minute later. A second hopper was parked next to Groundhog, the engines on emergency standby. Nicholas recognized the vehicle as Clarabell, the fastest hopper in Tranquility's landing bay.

"We must get Grey to a doctor," Nicholas urged.

"Reporting," Doctor Gately announced, jumping down from the hopper's side hatch accompanied by medical unit A-4. The robot moved forward quickly, rising to full height and extending all six appendages.

"Charleen! Thank God," Tamera cried.

The medical robot put Grey in the hopper as it reviewed his injuries. Gately helped Nicholas climb in, then gave Tamera a push. Tamera saw Johnston Woo sitting in the cockpit ready to take the hopper out. On the control panels, the black signature patterns of the Security Computer were displaying in agitated waves.

"Hurry! The airlock will not hold them long!" the Security Computer ordered, instructing the hopper's on-board flight computer to begin the launch sequence.

Soon the three soldiers climbed into the hold and buckled down even as the hopper lifted off. The cargo hatch had barely closed when the hangar airlock burst open and the hopper shot into the darkening lunar sky.

"Full thrust achieved," Johnston confirmed as the craft stabilized. "We'll be back home in twenty-seven minutes."

"Stand down, but keep your arms ready," the Security Computer relented, the signature patterns subsiding.

The soldiers relaxed and opened their helmets. Nicholas wasn't surprised to see Ted Davis, but the other two were a shock.

"Colonel Kimura? Sergeant Franz? Where in hell did you come from?" Nicholas asked.

"Governor Waters requested an ambassador from the Euro Council, preferably one with military experience," Kimura explained. "Franz and I had hardly arrived when your Security Computer packed us into this suborbital and briefed us. I still can't believe it. Did we really fight... monsters?"

"They are monsters, Mara," Tamera answered. "We should kill them. We should kill them all!"

"There's more? Will they follow us?" Colonel Kimura questioned.

"I don't think so. Not this time," Tamera said. "But there will be more."

__________

The medical center had not been so quiet in months. Not since the time before the New Ranger expedition when Grey had lived alone with no friends or family to trouble him. In the darkness of his private room on the third floor, he heard an annoying knock on the door and knew who it was.

"It's just me, Grey," Doctor Gately whispered.

"Go away," Grey replied.

"Time to check your charts. We haven't suppressed that infection yet, and the internal bleeding could flare up again," Gately insisted, sitting next to the bed where Grey was confined.

"The Medical Computer maintains continuous scanning. I don't need your help," Grey insisted.

"Ted is still hoping to speak with you. And Tammy."

"How is Captain Koltov?"

"We couldn't save the leg, but we have the blood poisoning under control now. He'll be back on his... He'll be up and around in a few weeks."

"You can go away now."

"I'll have Lisa bring you dinner. You've got to start eating solid food," Gately instructed, retreating to the door. "And I'm going to let Ted come in for a visit whether you like it or not."

Grey was glad when she closed the door. Glad for the moment of privacy. Then he activated the beside monitor.

"Defense, any sign of the Arikhan?" he asked.

"Negative, Governor," the Defense Computer reported, the blue signature patterns filling the small screen. "Ten days of full satellite recognizance and still no signs. We suspect their spaceship might have escaped the moon without employing the Farside window. Perhaps they've reevaluated our tracking capabilities."

"What would they need to escape from? They kicked our asses."

"That's not entirely accurate, Governor," Defense disagreed. "Surveillance images indicate Lieutenant Blout killed two enemy soldiers, you killed a third, and Captain Koltov killed at least one more. They only got one of us."

"One and a half," Grey corrected.

"Captain Koltov is in good spirits. He is more concerned about you than the loss of his leg."

"I wish people would stop worrying about me. I'm goddamn sick of it. Why can't everyone just leave me alone?"

"This isn't the world of your childhood. It's time to grow up," Defense lectured.

"Go fuck yourself," Grey cursed, shutting the monitor off.

"I hope you're not talking to me," Ted questioned, poking his head through the door.

"No, Ted, I wasn't," Grey assured him.

"I guess you know I've been taking care of things while you're laid up," Ted reported. "With you and Nick both injured, someone needed to... "

"I'm pleased the council selected you. It's a wise choice."

"I just wanted you to know everything's under control," Ted assured, taking a chair next to the bed. "We took Life Support's advice and shut down most of our communications. We've got guards on every airlock, and Mara's ordering us twenty more sentinel class seekers. With heavier shielding. She's pretty sure the Commonwealth will send all the troops we want if we ask for them, and Tammy thinks the Russian Republic will, too. We haven't decided how to announce what happened."

"There can be no announcements. Not yet. Divulging details will compromise our security," Grey worried.

"Yeah, that's what Security said, too. But we're gearing up just the same. Life Support says we won't have any more supply problems after this, and even the other computers are beginning to cooperate. Packing up our He3, setting trade deadlines. Everything is really coming together."

Grey remained quiet. Thoughtful but distracted.

"Well, that's about all," Ted said, getting up to leave. "I just wanted you to know we're doing fine. Get better and don't worry about a thing."

Grey rolled over and pretended to go back to sleep without comment. Ted quietly left the room.

"What do you think?" Doctor Gately asked Ted out in the hall.

"He seems okay to me. Not very talkative, but he gets like that sometimes," Ted replied.

"Did you give him Colonel Kimura's message?"

"No, I don't want him worrying about what the alliances are going to do. We'll burn our diplomatic bridges when we have to. Life Support says it's better that Grey not get excited until he's stronger."

"I guess you're right," Gately answered, making sure the door was closed. "If Grey knew how scared everybody is, he wouldn't get any rest at all."

__________

The com line indicated a secure channel, the message directed to a single individual. Tey sat down at her desk, glanced out the window at a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains, and accepted the transmission.

"Tey, is that you?" Tamera asked as her image appeared on the vid screen.

"Tammy! Thank God someone's called us," Tey said. "What's going on? Why has Tranquility been isolated for three weeks?"

"It's not a good story. The Governing Council hasn't decided what to do yet," Tamera replied.

"Someone needs to speak up. Roger's going crazy. And the rumors are out of control. There's talk of plagues, or a coup. Some say the computers have retaken control and are suppressing the population. Even murdering them."

"No, it's nothing like that," Tamera dismissed.

"Then what is it?"

"It's the lizards."

"How many?"

"There were eight that we saw, and several others. We fought them at the tourist center and were beaten, but that's not why I'm breaking the gag order. It's Grey."

"Is he hurt?" Tey asked.

"The wounds are serious, but Charleen is optimistic," Tamera responded, still trying to get to the point. "But something is wrong. He barely speaks. When people come to him for decisions, he puts them off or won't answer at all. For hours he just sits and stares at nothing."

"That doesn't sound like Grey. Any idea what's wrong?"

"He's taken Glenda's death very hard."

"Glenda's dead? Dear God, that brave girl."

"Grey blames himself. He brought Nick, Glenda and I to the tourist center at Cauchy, then went to look for the lizards. He found some of them, but some of them found us. Glenda set a trap, but there were others we didn't know about. She died saving Nick's life. Some of the lizards caught me and... This is hard to talk about. I have surveillance vids from the battle. There is one with Grey in it that you need to see."

"I assume these vids are classified?" Tey guessed.

"The Governing Council hasn't seen all of them. Not this one. They're afraid once the lizard threat is known, the NA will try to reassert control of the moon. We won't accept that, and you can imagine how the computers would react. Colonel Kimura has contacted her government and Nicholas is contacting the Russian Congress. There's talk of bringing up allied troops before the Congress-In-Council learns what's happened."

"I don't think the Council would attempt another invasion, but even a simple misunderstanding could mean war," Tey agreed.

"It's a tense situation. Only Grey has the influence to keep everyone in balance, and he doesn't seem to care. That's why I'm calling you. You know him better than anyone. What can we do?"

"Let me download the vids," Tey requested. "Have Charleen forward his medical file. I'll need to show this to Roger, too. As the Lunar Republic's foreign minister..."

"Tey, I know Roger is Grey's uncle," Tamera interrupted. "I know General Vandebrown is Grey's grandfather. I've known for a long time. If his family can help, then do what you must."

"Thanks for being such a good friend to Grey, Tammy," Tey said. "Are you all right?"

"It's been hard. Nick lost his leg. Grey almost died. And I miss Glenda. Everyone here is scared, but somehow, I don't feel afraid at all. It's strange. After the last time, I had nightmares for months. Those creatures pawing me. Licking their chops. Not anymore. Grey appeared when I needed him most. He fought them. He was ready to die for me. Now I'm not afraid anymore. Not for myself."

"You're very brave, Tammy. You always have been," Tey assured her.

"With the lizards coming, we all need to be brave," Tamera replied.

___________

"Are you saying my grandson is suicidal? I don't believe it. I don't believe it for a goddamn minute," General Vandebrown grunted.

"James ... I mean Dad, will you try to listen?" Tey urged.

Nestled in the parlor of Roger's Colorado chateau, James, Roger, and Tey were sitting before the vid globe reviewing the forbidden download from Tranquility. Security videos from the Crystal Caves Tourist Center. The fearsome Arikhan warriors were a shock. Tamera hanging from her ankles in the gazebo naked about to be slaughtered was both shocking and embarrassing. Neither element was the worst part.

"When Grey fires at the ceiling, he's intending to depressurize the dome," Tey explained. "There's no doubt he'll be killed. His intention is to save Tamera by killing the aliens. His death is just an unfortunate by-product."

"Unfortunate by-product my ass!" James sputtered. "It was another of his reckless stunts, the damn fool. He must have had some plan."

"I don't know, Dad. Doesn't look like he has a plan to me," Roger disagreed.

"Reckless is the key word here," Tey said. "We've all been in life or death situations. What do you think of? What keeps you fighting for every breath?"

"I don't know," James wondered, leaning back to think. "Home, I guess. My family. Friends. The Corps."

"Roger?" Tey asked.

"Yes, of course. It's only natural," Roger agreed.

"Natural for us," Tey pointed out. "Not for Grey. If he's reckless, it's because he doesn't have the bonds we do. He doesn't have our history, or the love. You're right, James, Grey's not suicidal, but he's not rooted in life, either. Tamera said he's taken Blout's death hard. He deliberately pushed himself away from Kris. And that disagreement you had couldn't have helped. It may well have destroyed what little trust he had in family. Now that Tranquility is repopulated, he probably doesn't feel needed. That's why he was so quick shoot into that ceiling. Not because he wanted to die, but because victory was the only thing that mattered."

"I think I understand," James said. "What are you suggesting?"

"To help Grey, we need to give him roots," Tey advised. "He needs something more to live for than duty. And it's not going to be easy, especially if he suspects what we're trying to do. I'm his doctor and his friend, but you are kin. You'll need to figure this out."

"I know something that might work," James speculated. "But we'll need to get him down here, and not just for a few weeks."

"Mission impossible?" Roger smiled. "Now you're playing in my ballpark."

__________

Kris had been in the inner chamber of the Congress-In-Council only once before, the day Grey had forced the politicians to recognize the Lunar Republic. There had been but a handful of people present then, a few insiders and military staff. Now the conference room was packed, all twenty-four seats occupied and aides lined up behind them. Against the oak paneled walls were more senators, members of congress, and ranking officers from the five branches of the military. Kris was surprised to have been invited, then more surprised to be given a place of honor, standing between Admiral Trolleni and General Smyth.

"Hello, Major Fairfield. Congratulations on your promotion. We're proud to have you in Space Command," Trolleni said, a short pudgy man serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

"Thank you, sir," Kris replied, feeling smart in her new uniform richly decorated with three campaign ribbons and her Congressional Medal.

"Get your briefing?" Smyth asked, tall in stature with a sharp, cool professionalism in his aging blue eyes.

"No, sir. I was in drill when they pulled me off the floor. About three hours ago. I don't even know why I was invited. I've got to be five ranks below everyone else here, at least."

"Be patient. It will be clear enough," Smyth advised.

When the last participants arrived, the doors to the council chamber were sealed and com jammers activated, frustrating electronic eavesdropping. Council Chairman Leroy Tyman stood up and called the meeting to order. Now in his early fifties, the leader of the world's most powerful alliance was growing gray, the once firm jaw line beginning to show jowls, but his manner and expressions were as confident as ever. On this day, perhaps even more so.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have summoned this extraordinary session of the Congress-In-Council to address a threat of immense proportions," he began. "Some of you have background, many may find this information difficult to believe. I only wish it was the hoax our media assets will say it is."

Tyman activated a vid chart that showed on a dozen screens placed around the room, though most attention was drawn to the large vid globe in the center of the conference table.

"Thirty years ago, the Russian Professor Mikel Strenskovy interpreted signals from the Vega star system as hostile military communications traffic," Tyman said. "This theory, initially accepted, was later ridiculed. Several incidents have caused this government to reevaluate Strenskovy's findings. Now an event has forced us to confront this information with grave immediacy."

"Roy, what the hell are you talking about? Aliens?" Senator Wystand asked, the craggy old woman's question accompanied by laughter.

"Yes, Bernicia, that's exactly what I'm talking about," Tyman said, an angry glare staring the senator down.

The vid screen changed to show the bodies of several Arikhan warriors. Battle wounds were evident. The expressions on the gray faces were grotesque. Then more vids. The battlefield in Tranquility's landing bay. Six dead humans, killed in action. The aftermath of the battle in the Loop where the Arikhan had been turned back. Vids of the Arikhan spacecraft taken by external security cameras.

"We've had reasons for several years to suspect that Strenskovy's theories were true but no evidence they presented an imminent threat," Tyman said. "Now we have proof that a group of these things attacked the Tranquility Lunar Colony seven months ago, killing several defenders. And just four weeks ago, the moon was attacked again. Lieutenant Glenda Blout, formally of High Command, was killed in the fighting. Grey Waters was critically wounded and may not survive."

Kris gasped so loud it was heard by half the room, causing many to look in her direction.

"These vids were submitted to us just a few days ago," Admiral Trolleni confided. "They have also been transmitted to the European Commonwealth, the Southern Alliance, the Russian Republic, and half a dozen of the smaller alliances. To provide supporting evidence, we've been invited to send scientists to Tranquility where these bodies can be inspected and tissue samples taken."

"We have more than that," General Smyth said, pushing forward to the edge of the table. "Today we have present Major Kris Fairfield, winner of the Congressional Medal of Valor and recently recruited to our space division. Major Fairfield has seen these creatures close up."

"That's not all," a grave voice said from the back of the room.

Kris saw the crowd part as two familiar men emerged.

"These gentlemen need no introduction," Smyth said, going on to introduce them anyway. "General James Vandebrown, head of Homeland Operations, and his son, Major Roger Vandebrown, formally of this council's service."

To Kris's surprise, many in the audience applauded. She had no idea Roger retained any sympathy from the Council after betraying them.

"Thank you," Roger said, standing at the head of the table at Tyman's right while General Vandebrown took up a position on Tyman's left. "These aliens call themselves the Arikhan. They are a race of conquerors who feast on meat, and they aren't particular about the type of meat they eat. Last February, in a desperate battle to defend Tranquility, Major Fairfield fought these creatures at close range. Kris, will you tell this assembly what happened?"

Kris was taken totally off-guard. Grey had told her, told everyone, how important it was to keep the incident a secret. She would have, but it hardly seemed a secret anymore. She walked up to the foot of the table and took a nervous breath, shy about addressing the crowded room.

"I can't tell you much," Kris said. "We fought them, and we got our butts wiped. We had three squares against an Arikhan eight. We ended up with six dead and three wounded, and the Arikhan ranks weren't even shaken. They've got better technology than we do and they don't scare easy."

"How did you beat them?" someone asked.

"We didn't. Governor Waters defeated them with help from Tranquility's computers," Kris answered. "This vid shows some of the bodies the lizards left behind during their retreat."

"Lizards?" Congresswoman Kamar asked, aggressive as always.

"They aren't really lizards. Not according to Grey, but that's what we've called them," Kris explained.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is only the beginning," Tyman said. "We have reliable reports that more of these Arikhans are on the way. An entire fleet."

"That's all fine, if any of it's true," Congressman Towne asked. "But what does it have to do with us?"

"Just how fucking stupid are you, Russ?" Tyman shot back. "These things are coming after us, and if we don't get ready, this planet's going to be one big cattle ranch. This won't be our world anymore, it will be theirs, and there's no way in hell I'm letting that happen! We've got four warships in development. The Euros and Russians each have one. China may have something going, too. Based on information Major Vandebrown has supplied, we're already upgrading armor and weaponry. And we're forming a new strike force. Space marines, I guess you could call them. When these aliens arrive, we'll be ready for them. That's a promise."

"This intel is top code red," General Vandebrown said. "Disinformation will be issued to keep our enemies guessing."

"First you say our enemies are in outer space, now you say we need disinformation," Senator Wystand complained. "Are you sure this isn't an election gimmick, Roy? You're not making newts of us, are you?"

"The Arikhan have been intercepting Earth broadcasts for years," Roger replied. "Many of them even speak English."

"If the media knows our plans, the aliens will, too," General Smyth concurred. "Anyone who breaks code better expect to spend a long time in a security hole."

"We're dividing into six working groups," Tyman announced. "Industrial inspiration, military coordination, media relations, budget, base support, and advanced planning. Get your committee assignments from my secretary. We also have forty-five more minutes of these vids, including Major Fairfield's battle at Tranquility. They can be viewed at the secure center later this afternoon."

Tyman pounded the table with a gavel and disappeared into his private office before any questions could be asked. Kris received handshakes from admirers while working her way across the room to the Vandebrowns.

"Roger, what's this about Grey?" she asked.

"We don't have all the details, but we think he's all right," Roger said. "Sounds like it was a rough fight, though. Koltov took a bad one in the leg. Lost it, eventually."

"How did Glenda die?" Kris asked. "What happened to Grey?"

"Glenda was fatally wounded fighting a group of Arikhan," Roger replied. "It appears she killed two of them. Gately says Grey was stabbed, burned, and bitten. The wounds are serious."

"Bitten!" Kris exclaimed. "I want to talk with him."

"I'll try to set something up, but I can't make any promises. Tranquility is restricting communications, and we've been told Grey's not in a talkative mood right now."

"This is my fault. None of this would have happened if I'd gone back with him," Kris lamented.

"That can't be helped now, Major," General Vandebrown said. "And it seems to me you've got a more important job to do."

"More important?" Kris asked.

"Weren't you paying attention, girl?" James questioned. "We're at war. The whole fucking world is mobilizing against the greatest threat we've ever known. The effort will bring all the nations and alliances together in a common cause. The NA can either be a leader or a follower, and I've got no intention of bringing up the rear in my old age. You've got more off-planet combat experience than anyone in the service, and you're the only one here who's fought these things. You're needed as an instructor, and when the time comes to select our strike teams, your leadership will be crucial."

"But I can't. I've got responsibilities," Kris protested.

"You know we're creating a new service to fight a new kind of warfare, and we need every edge we can get. Tell me what's more important than that?" James asked.

"I'm gonna need time to think this over, sir," Kris said. "And I still want to talk to Grey. Soon."

Kris turned and wormed her way back through the dispersing crowd, heading for the main exit.

"Is that what you wanted, son?" James asked.

"It's a start," Roger answered.

* * * * * *

The world is at war, and where is Grey? Find out in the next chapter, A.W.O.L.