Alliance Hunter

I glanced around the frown on my face fixed a carryall in my hands. The cramped quarters we had been assigned to consisted of three beds. One either side of the door and the third at the back of the small room. If it felt cramped to me it would be sheer torture to the taller Valkyrie. The only good thing was that the beds were Valkyrie sized. In the corners where the beds met were wall lockers. Any other storage space was under the beds. This would be our home for the next six weeks if the Valkyrie held to their promise and took us to Melanos. I pulled off the pack I carried and the carryall and placed them on one of the beds. Bed linen still in its packaging was laid out on each bed. I noted the third bed had been made up so we were sharing but I didn’t know with whom. I looked at Kelli wondering where they’d quartered Jervic and Denassi. I was glad that he was out of the medbay and in full health.

“This is cosy,” Kelli said clearly putting my feelings into words. She was unhappy about this as I was.

“You don’t mind if I take this bunk?” I said indicating the one on the right.

“Go ahead,” Kelli said placing her gear on the other unoccupied bed.

“I’m just wondering who we are sharing with?” It would mean we would have to limit our conversation. I didn’t want anything I said getting back to Alfheimir.

“That I wish I knew too. At least the facilities are across the corridor.”

“Ok best get our gear stowed away,” I indicated the lockers.

“And make those beds. This is like going back to basic. I hated basic,” Kelli remarked with feeling.

The door slid open before she could say more. A woman stepped through not one I would have expected on a Valkyrie ship. She was short with flaming red hair. She was my contact on Saros and the one who had rescued me from being crushed by a suppressor machine. Only I’d never got to know her Kelli had placed me in a cell stitcher, the suppressor had nearly ripped my organs to pieces. I shuddered at the thought.

“Miri?” At least I remembered her name.

She nodded to me and grimaced at Kelli. “Oh it’s you?”

“Kelli’s on my side,” I told Miri. “She isn’t an enemy.”

Miri looked apologetic her thick Imperial accent strong in her voice. “Look sorry I was worried the TCA just grabbed you and shoved you in that regenerator. And then frog marched us to see their captain.”

“I had to Gwen was dying,” Kelli defended herself.

“We guessed that much. We didn’t have time to check up on you we were told to leave the system.”

“And now you are back?” Kelli said to Miri there was an edge to her voice.

“Not that we had the choice in the matter. When three hulking great warships drop out of hyperspace their weapons aimed at us, dad had no choice but to comply.”

I took note she mentioned her father, which kind of surprised me, since she was working for the Valkyrie. I began to suspect something more was going on here more than likely the same thing that had happened to me. She was possibly vaihdokas as was I her DNA altered by the Valkyrie. There was something Xenai had said but for the life of me I couldn’t remember what it was.

Miri continued her face tight. “It’s not been a bed of roses for me separated from Al only seeing him at meal times and then having to endure those assholes looking down their noses at him.” She was clearly upset by that.

I understood better than most how the Valkyrie operated. “Do you know where he is?” I suspected that they’d bunked Jervic and Denassi with him.

“Why they won’t allow us near them?”

“Then it’s up to us to make them!” I said firmly. I caught Kelli shaking her head out the corner of my eye.

“I get my kit,” she said with a sigh. “With Gwen there’s bound to be blood mostly hers.”

I smiled uncertainly at that.

Miri led us to the stern of the ship up near the Ezaran quarters. We stood in a corridor each door looking the same as the others.

“Which one?” I asked.

“This one,” Miri said hesitantly.

I pressed the buzzer button beside the door. The door slid open to reveal Jervic and Denassi inside along with Miri’s Al.

“What are you doing here?” Al asked his eyes on Miri.

“We were looking for you,” I replied.

“What is going on here!” a voice demanded.

I turned to see a middle aged Valkyrie woman in a grey Confed jumpsuit. The Confeds called them skinnies and it seemed that it was all that she was wearing. She had a black and white sash tied to her waist. A clan I was unfamiliar with. Her long blonde hair was braided and hanging down around each shoulder.

“I asked you what are you doing here?” She fixed Miri with her glare.

I felt my anger flare I never used to get angry but since I’d come back from the ruins I felt it flare more often. “Nothing to do with you!” I practically snarled at the woman. “I’m checking on my team no business of yours!”

The Valkyrie woman stared at me as if I was talking in an alien language. I wasn’t I was using Galactic the standard language of the Confederacy.

“How dare you speak to me like that?”

“I am aren’t I?” I said and took a combative stance.

The Valkyrie’s face went crimson with anger. “How dare you!”

I had a moments notice as her fist flew at me. I ducked and twisted out of the way. Miri and Kelli scrambled inside with Jervic and the others. I felt the wind as her fist whistled past me. I grabbed her arm Thirika’s teaching coming to me automatically and using her momentum I slammed her hard into the wall. I had no regrets doing so it was the Valkyrie way. She bounced hard blood pouring from her nose. As she staggered to her feet I drove the heel of my boot into her gut. She folded over it with a groan and toppled to the floor. I stepped in to finish her off my blood lust up.

“Enough!” a voice roared from behind me.

I turned my fists clenched ready to take on a new opponent. My heart sank in front of me was Commander Runa Hrutdottir with her were two more Valkyrie in full combat armour. She had been with Captain Olverja they’d been trying to persuade Xenai to transfer me to their ship. I had been hoping that was the last of it but it seemed that I was wrong.

She pointed to Miri and Kelli peeping out of the door. “You back to your quarters!”

I felt myself stiffen up but I suppressed my growing anger.

Her finger swung to me. “You stay where you are!” She remained silent as Miri and edged past me. Kelli looked as if she wanted to say something. “We jump in a hour so get yourselves prepared,” Hrutdottir said to them and then to me. “Gwen Hunter come with me.”

I didn’t have the option to refuse technically she was a superior officer even if I was a fake one. I was tempted to do an Imperial salute and call her ‘sir’ I didn’t that would be a step too far. I was led through a maze of corridors to a door she opened and stepped through gesturing for me to follow. Her two guards didn’t follow her in. We were in a gym all the requisite equipment was against the other walls. I recognised most of it I had trained with Thirika. I should have guessed this would happen it was the Valkyrie way. A large mat was at the centre of a rectangular room. Hrutdottir stood on the mat seemly regarding every bit of detail about me. I kind of knew where this was going to end.

“Well initiate that wasn’t the best of starts was it?”

“I was defending my team,” I stated boldly I was going to get a pounding no matter what I said.

“You’re including Miranda McAteer in you team?”

I had forgotten that was Miri’s true name then I hadn’t got to know her at all. “I am now?”

“So you are responsible for their conduct?”

I got that Xenai put me in charge even when her mother ratified my rank. “Why should that concern you they aren’t even Valkyrie?”

“They are on my ship.”

I was confused but I conceded the point of all of them I was the closest to the Valkyrie thanks to the Elders’ interference. “Yes?” I gave her that much. “But they are my team. So don’t you dare take your frustrations out on them!” I had to take a stand even if I was about to have my ass kicked.

“You are telling me this why?”

“I know you Valkyrie, you only care about yourselves.”

“That’s your only excuse initiate?” She sounded amused.

“I’m not an initiate. The Elders made me vaihdokas, a changeling when they altered my DNA. I’m human!” Between the Elders and Mouse I wasn’t really sure what I was anymore. I’d have to go with Kelli’s assumption I was still me not matter what was under my skin.

“You are who you are,” Hrutdottir seemed to be echoing Kelli’s words. “Enough of this, it is time.” She started to remove her boots.

I knew what was going to happen next. I quickly divested myself of my uniform stripping down to my bra and panties. Hrutdottir seemed to go further taking off her jumpsuit. She stood naked in front of me. I noted a number of scars, which didn’t bode well for me.

“And the rest,” she said looking at my underwear.

Reluctantly I took them off standing just as naked as she was. This was how they fought on Alfheimir. We were on a Valkyrie ship so why would this be any different.

“Fight!” she said taking a combative stance the same I’d used earlier.

We circled each other like a school of sharks scenting blood and the blood would be mine. Suddenly she leapt forward I barely dodged her. She landed rolled and lashed out with her foot catching my shin. I winced and staggered back. She came at me again her fist seemed to be in a dozen places at the same time. I knew it was inevitable as I was hard pressed to defend myself. She made a slight error one I exploited using the same move I’d tried on Thirika on her a combination of Earth jujitsu and Valkyrie hand to hand. I hoped my former teacher hadn’t taught anyone else. Hrutdottir crashed to the mat then rolled to her feet and smiled.

“Interesting,” she said and launched another attack.

Finally I was thrown to the floor for the umpteenth time. I lay there spent unable to move a muscle it felt as every bit of me was in pain.

Hrutdottir stood over me looking like she hadn’t broken a sweat. “Is that all initiate?”

“For you no,” I gasped. “For me yes!”

“Well initiate?”

“I’m no initiate!” I breathed back trying hard to still my fast beating heart. I watched sweat blurring my vision as she walked across to the pile of her clothes and picked something up.

In a few strides she was back. “You are now.”

Before I could react she snapped a silver bangle on to my wrist. “Don’t lose this one initiate!”

“No!” I howled. Using the last dregs of my energy I hauled myself to my feet. “You bitch!” I felt myself weaken my whole body wobbled and ache spread through me. I took an ineffectual swipe at Hrutdottir and fell bouncing hard against the mat. “You lied we’re not going to Melanos!”

“Melanos, that is our destination as for after we shall see.” She sounded sympathetic I wasn’t sure if it was genuine.

She dressed and left me where I was lying naked on the mat. I wasn’t sure how long I lay there but above me the lights flickered we had jumped to hyperspace there would be no going back. Slowly I pulled myself together and got off the mat. I dressed without any enthusiasm and staggered towards the door. I guess they didn’t trust me enough to leave me on my own a guard stood outside the door. I began to suspect the whole incident outside Jervic’s quarters had been engineered to get me into this situation. I’d quiz Miri later over it.

The guard in full armour regarded my dishevelled state that’s what I assumed she was doing I couldn’t see her face. “I’m to show you to your quarters,” the Valkyrie said.

I grimaced. “It’s not like I’ve got anywhere to run to,” I replied bitterly.

“True, but we would not want you to get lost some of my sisters aren’t as tolerant as I am of outsiders.”

I scrutinised her carefully unable to see the expression of her face or even if she had one. “Yes and that’s what I’ll always remain to you?” I sighed. “Great fine lets get going?”

The Valkyrie shook her head. “You are not, you wear the silver anyone that does so is not.”

Which explained the cowled robes I’d seen at the Hall of the Elders. One I definitely knew was an Ezaran. The Valkyrie gestured to the sash around her waist it showed the blue and silver of Clan Yanik.

“Your clan mother is Sigrunn. I met her once.” I remembered the incident while I awaited my fate little knowing what the Elders had in mind for me. She had offered me a place in her clan when I was still fully human before the Elders did what they did to me.

“Yes, she told the clan to keep an eye out for you.”

“Why I’m just a human?” Although I wasn’t sure that applied to me now.

“A human that wears the silver,” she said indicating my bracelet.

There wasn’t that much more I could say to that.

“Ancients Gwen!” Kelli exclaimed as I stepped through the door. “Just lie on the bed I’ll get my glove.”

Miri stared hard at me panic strong on her face. I began to doubt she was part of the fracas outside Jervic’s quarters. The shock on her face was too real.

“God, I can’t believe they did that to you for beating up the captain?”

I looked at her half in half out of bed. “Captain, what captain?”

“Captain Angrima.” Miri sounded angry but not with me. “That bitch has been a big pain in the ass.”

I couldn’t hold that position I sank down onto the bed every bit of me in pain. “And Commander Hrutdottir?”

“Came on board the same time as you did. I was summoned to see her otherwise I would have been here when you entered?”

As much as I wanted to know what she wanted to see Miri about I just wanted to rest.

Kelli pulled out her glove and waved it over me. “A lot of superficial bruising but nothing to cause long term harm. And nothing broken I don’t have anything with me. I’m sure I can get something from medbay?”

“Miri go with Kelli please?” I said to them.

“Are you sure?” Miri asked concerned.

“Yes.”

“Just hang in there Gwen we’ll be a quick as we can,” Kelli said.

“It’s not like I’m going anywhere?” I replied.

Kelli hesitated her face concerned then pushed Miri to follow. I lay in the bed my eyes closed trying hard to will the pain away.

I woke with a start I wasn’t in my quarters. The high ceilings drifting into darkness was a dead give away to where I was. This had to a dream a bad dream at that I was back in the cavern on the nanobot-constructed bed. I seemed to be having a nightmare. I lay there frozen by my fears. Something leaned over my bed and I found myself staring into a pair of green eyes. Not the glowing green of a holo the green of a living breathing being wearing my face if I looked a bit older I’d say at least twenty years. Her hair was as long as mine and hung about her shoulders looking all too real. I recognised Mouse yet there was too many differences. The last time I’d seem Mouse she was a glowing green holo. The person staring at me was flesh and blood or could have passed as flesh and blood. The dress was the same yet somehow she had acquired some sort of feathered cloak that rose above the nape of the back of her neck.

“Mouse?”

The figure smiled. “Hello Little One.”

If it was Mouse her voice had lost that tinny sound and was all too human. I sat up not feeling the pain I should have felt. I saw the same bunch of columns like the one I had activated spawning Mouse. All the columns were lit up and I was sure I saw other figures moving about in the distance.

“I must be having a bad dream,” I said to myself.

“You are not.”

I stared at Mouse disbelieving. “That’s impossible I can’t be here it must be a dream. I’m on a ship in hyperspace there’s no way I can be here?” I glanced around at my surroundings. Yes it was the cavern but there were changes too many for it to be something I’d remembered. “I’m not here I’m having a dream a bad one at that?”

“I’m not a dream,” Mouse said gently.

I shook myself gathering my errant thoughts. “If that’s the case how am I here?” I said trying to find a flaw in her argument.

“You are here and you are not,” Mouse said not helping my situation. “It’s complicated. Anyway I’ve must apologise we haven’t exactly treated you well.”

“Darn right!” I responded hotly. “Your machine made me a slave?”

“We are working hard to correct that error. It should have never happened in the first place. What was done was done I can’t change that but I promise to help you going forward.” Mouse looked sad. “I can’t let you tell anyone about the link I have to you.”

That statement had me confused and then there was the fact she kept talking in plural. “I already did?”

“That was then this is now. Which is why I’m speaking to you now. Your friend would have would have known we are here with you.”

Now I was really confused. Xenai and Ljufu knew about the cavern as did Jervic and my team. “I don’t understand?” Then added. “Friend what friend?”

“The one you call Xenai she would know.”

I felt cold inside. “And now?”

“There are no mind speakers on that ship.”

A thought occurred to me. It seemed pure speculation on my part but I had to ask the question there was no other logical reason. “You destroyed those three Orsini ships?” As I said it I realised how spooky that was. They were an ancient race but as to how ancient I was clueless or how technologically advanced they were.

“We didn’t destroy them,” Mouse answered shaking her head like I said something distasteful.

“Then who did. It wasn’t the Alliance?” I winced at that I was part of it now for good or ill. “And it wasn’t Ljufu’s Planetary Defences?”

Mouse looked sad. “You misunderstand we don’t destroy hence our use of allies, allies that betrayed us and slaughtered my race.”

“But you do enslave?” I hadn’t meant to be harsh but I still felt the loss of control too keenly.

“I have apologised for that. We just relocated them.”

I stared at her shocked I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. I must have imagined that. “What, impossible?” I stuttered.

“They were threatening this world and the living beings on it. We couldn’t allow this so we relocated them.”

My mind reeled at her admission finally I got my shit together and asked. “Where?”

“To the far side of the of the galaxy.”

“Shit you can do that?” It was a little frightening that a long dead race could do that even if they were dead and only copies of what they once were.

“Not an easy task my any stretch of the imagination.” Her voice was laced with sadness as if she regretted her actions.

“To where?” I had to ask trying hard to reconcile that with the figure in front of me.

“To a sector where they won’t to do any harm.”

The implications of what Mouse was stating was startling. I shivered at the thought feeling more than a little afraid. If they were capable of that they were more than capable of picking me off a ship in hyperspace. “You can do that?”

“That and more we have pledged ourselves to protect the world you call Saros.”

I nearly puked with fear. “I have to warn Ljufu,” I said shakily.

Mouse expression grew sadder. “No you can’t in fact you will not be able to tell anyone about it. I’m very sorry you will know and that’s the tragedy you will not be able to tell anyone about us.”

“They already know?”

“Not everything this knowledge will be too dangerous for them. I’m sorry child I didn’t want to hurt you but you had to know.”

“Then why tell me this?”

“I’m sorry now is not the time.”

“Shit don’t do this to me!”

“Too late it is done now sleep I will speak to you again.”

As hard as I tried I felt myself drifting into a dreamless sleep.