Red Nova

Departure

Nesha and Talia were rifting over the ocean of Fen Treydis, where the Statue of Liberty stood. The moon shone above as they glided higher. They both felt tense but didn’t say anything to each other. Neither of them wanted to look back; little did they know, Marutas was approaching on his prototype R92, which was much faster than their rift boards.

“Tali, I’m really scared,” said Nesha. “Where’re we supposed to go?”

“Listen,” began Talia, “that sicko tried to lure you away before going on a rampage. So we need to get as far away from here as possible.”

“Do you still think I’m schizophrenic?”

“I never said that!” yelled Talia. “It was that stupid android. Something crazy is definitely happening, but we’re not waiting around to find out what it is.”

“Then where’re we supposed to go?”

“I don’t know,” replied Talia. “I don’t always have answers.” She paused for a moment and then went on, “If only we could find the police. Shit, maybe we’re better off going down to the slums…stay out of sight for a few hours.”

At this point they were rifting high above Fen Treydis’ artificial ocean, past the Statue of Liberty. Both of them could see the colony’s precipice while a continental shuttle flew toward the starport.

“Down there,” said Talia, pointing at a portal near the precipice. “I think that’s an entrance to the colony’s maintenance sector. We’ll probably be a lot safer there.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” said Talia. “Trust me.”

She descended on her rift board. Nesha followed her down into the maintenance portal, which resembled a wormhole.

“This is crazy,” said Nesha. “Why do we have to rift all the way down here?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

Nesha shook her head.

“I thought so,” said Talia snappishly. “Look, I’m not stupid. I know how dangerous this is. We could go to jail for rifting here, but this is the safest place to go after what we saw.”

Nesha agreed, continuing to follow her. They went through the portal and entered the maintenance sector located beneath Fen Treydis. The sector was a massive track-like circuit filled with machinery that made the city hover. It looked like a forest of electrical currents with heavy steam and flame spewing from above.

“If you think about it, this is like another rift track,” said Talia, observing the circuit. “Think of this place as a sixth dimensional plane within Vortex. Maybe rifting here will be okay until the police find that psycho.”

“Do you think that’s what this is?” asked Nesha. “Maybe someone’s just trying to trick us and everything’s really okay. Maybe Hannah wasn’t killed after all.”

“No, girl,” said Talia. “This is real. Don’t crack on me now, okay?”

“Why do you keep asking me not to crack?” responded Nesha, raising her voice. “I’m perfectly normal, just like you.”

“Okay, okay,” said Talia. “I’m sorry.”

Nesha sighed. “It’s all right. I’m jus—” She noticed a gap below and pointed at it. “Look! How about down there?”

“That opening?” said Talia. “Yeah, good eyes. That might take us to the slums.”

The farther they descended, the more difficult it was for them to see ahead. Talia was about to tell Nesha to forget about this path when it suddenly cleared up. Able to see again, the duo rifted toward the slums of old Manhattan, which was once a spectacular city of commerce. Now it was nothing more than a malodorous island of dilapidated buildings. They exited Fen Treydis and traveled into the forgotten city below, hoping they would be safe.

In the meantime, Keith had just reached the maintenance sector, where countless electrical currents jolted up and down through transparent ducts. He was rifting between them while trying to avoid the burners from above. Rifting seemed to be a bit easier than he thought it’d be, but he wasn’t an expert. And flying inside the infrastructure of Fen Treydis certainly didn’t put his mind at ease.

After a minute of rifting in the circuit, his UND beeped loudly, notifying him that someone was approaching him from behind. Damn it, thought Keith, it’s either that assassin impersonating Renfred or Jolus. I’ll presume the worst. He clicked his UND several times and ported out his military armor and an MP-98 rifle. Seconds later, a fusion beam discharged into the back of his force field.

“Fuck!” he shouted.

Keith’s force field started to blink red, so he attempted to do a cutback but fell off and slammed onto one of the many catwalks where engineers usually perform maintenance. His rift board collided into the wall and exploded. Then another beam swiped across the catwalk while Marutas rifted past his target. The catwalk split in half and Keith tumbled down, barely hanging on. He thought to himself, Is this the end? Do I die here?

“Such a pity,” said Marutas.

He performed a perfect crescent swipe and rifted back to where Keith hung so he could finish him off. Marutas ported out an SP-34 sniper rifle and aimed it at Keith’s head, at which point a thermal charge launched into one of the energy burners, creating an immense explosion that nearly sent Marutas off his rift board. He had no choice but to perform a low fade when the fire hurled in his direction.

Moments later, Jolus Bako appeared and rifted over to Keith. He glided above the broken catwalk and lifted his comrade up.

“Thanks, man,” said Keith. “I seriously owe you one.”

“Nah,” said Jolus. “I still owe you a few from Vindor.”

Keith smirked. “You’ve got a point.” He loaded an incendiary clip into his MP-98 rifle and added, “Let’s finish this.”

Jolus nodded and ran across another catwalk, signaling Keith to follow him.

“Listen,” began Jolus, “I received a transmission from the commander. She said this thing that’s impersonating Renfred is actually Heidegger’s AI.”

“I should’ve known,” replied Keith.

“This is the police!” announced an officer inside a blue hovercar. “You’re trespassing on public property regulated in the Yellow District. Tampering with UEC burner beams is a serious offense! Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air or else we’ll use force!”

Keith and Jolus hid by the corner of a wall and remained there while the UEC hovercar glided around the area using its search lights.

“Let’s use our cloaking fields,” said Keith.

“I already tried to use mine; it won’t work,” said Jolus. “I think the energy in this sector distorts a lot of our devices.” He glanced at the police hovercar and continued, “I think it’s best if we surrender.”

A plasma torpedo abruptly launched out from the steam-filled abyss, destroying the police hovercar.

“Or maybe not,” added Jolus.

Marutas glided over and shot at Keith and Jolus with his MP-100 rifle. Jolus took cover while Keith climbed to higher ground. The sector they were walking and climbing upon seemed alien—like a maze—with different shaped walls that were perfect for them to take cover behind since their force fields were on the brink of failing.

“That bastard’s coming back,” said Keith. “Quick, grab my hand.”

After he helped Jolus climb onto the higher platform, the duo took cover beside a wall that shimmered and hummed every three seconds due to the bolts produced by the transparent ducts of energy. Marutas rifted through the sector, scanning the catwalk maze. He spotted their heat signatures and fired using his MP-100 rifle at the wall they were hiding behind. The wall sizzled and crumbled apart while Keith and Jolus ran to a corner.

“This is the UEC police!” announced another officer. “Put your hands in the air and surrender!” Two vehicles hovered by, focusing their lights on Marutas. “This is your final warn—”

Marutas rifted beneath the vehicles and launched two plasma torpedoes via his PT-80 in a diagonal maneuver. The plasma torpedoes hit the engine propulsions of both hovercars, causing them to explode at the same exact time. In the meantime, Keith and Jolus fired incendiary rounds at Marutas who dodged their bullets while performing another fade into the lower depths of Fen Treydis.

“Careful,” said Keith. “He knows where we are.” He sidestepped between two electrical currents and hid behind another shimmering wall. Jolus, however, stayed in the same position. “I said he knows where you are! Get your black ass over here!”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Jolus, shrugging.

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?” replied Keith, scowling. “Were you shot?”

“No,” said Jolus.

“Then what the hell’s wrong?” asked Keith.

Jolus sighed. “He’s not coming back.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Didn’t you notice how he maneuvered into a fade?” said Jolus.

“Exactly, he’s trying to deceive us,” said Keith.

“No,” said Jolus, shaking his head. “That’s something we’d do. He’s an AI, and the programming of an AI is different than our motives. He’ll always act on a reason assigned to logic. Trust me, he’s not coming back for us. We’re nothing to him.”

“Because we’re not the bastard’s primary target?” said Keith, looking more ticked off than ever. “Nesha is?”

“That’s what I think,” said Jolus.

“Well shit, man, what should we do?”

“I still have my rift board,” said Jolus, porting out his R91. He got on his board and hovered above his comrade. “Contact Shiva and tell her where you are, all right?”

“Okay,” replied Keith, slightly irritated. “But, Jolus…”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful.”

Jolus nodded and then started to rift forward, at which point a yellow pulse charge from an FG-600 shot out and enveloped him. It was the same pulse charge Admiral Bisel had used to ensnare Vreffith, except it was far more powerful than a 400 series gun.

“Jolus!” shouted Keith, distraught.

The surging pulse charge that enveloped Jolus stunned his entire body. Then a fusion beam blasted his armor, penetrating through his torso.

“No!” cried out Keith.

The rift board remained in midair while Jolus collapsed onto one of the catwalks near the shimmering walls, wheezing. Keith pulled him away from the electrical currents and tried to hide him in a corner.

“Jolus,” said Keith nervously, holding him tight. “Stay with me, man.”

Sweating profusely, Jolus gazed at him and tried to talk but couldn’t say anything. He was still paralyzed due to the pulse charge’s effect. Moments later, he died. Keith stared at him in utter shock. His best friend and military partner lay dead. Jolus was the only person whom Keith felt he could relate to after the nightmare on Vindor. They had managed to survive it together. Jolus was the only person who ever understood his suffering and the loss he had experienced. Now he was truly the only survivor of Vindor. Keith swept his hand over Jolus’ face, closing his eyes. He then looked up with a gaze so demented that even Liagon would’ve been distraught by it.

Other than the constant hums of electrical currents and burners going off from above, the maintenance sector remained silent. Keith sidestepped out of the corner while checking his flank and observing the rest of the region as fast as he could, yet he saw nothing. He knew Marutas was hiding somewhere around here, stalking him like prey. He thought, Perhaps you were right, Jolus. Though, there seems to be something different between androids and AIs—particularly one that’s been released from its protocol.

That instant, his eyes widened. “Randomness,” he muttered in disarray. “He’s acting on randomness.”

He crossed through the passage before him and leaned against a corner wall. When he peeked out, Marutas emerged from the intersecting corridor, grabbing him by the throat. Keith gasped and choked.

“Brilliant induction,” said Marutas, flinging him across the corridor. “But you should be aware that induction is a flawed method of logic. The only relevant form of logic is deduction.”

“In that case, you’re a dead man!” retorted Keith.

He pulled out two MP-94 pistols from his holster and shot Marutas with magnum-pulse bullets, which pierced his force field and went straight into his body. Marutas recoiled several times but then zoomed out of the way as if he were unaffected and smashed the back of Keith’s armor with his fist. The impact dented his armor and sent him to the floor.

“Humans are incapable of deductive reasoning,” said Marutas rigidly. “Your race is too emotional with subjective perspectives. That is why your companion failed in judgment. And so shall you.”

Keith ported out an MP-98 rifle while rolling aside and then released its thermal charge. When it exploded against Marutas’ force field, Keith switched to an FG-500 and activated a hologram of himself. He then flipped up and aimed the gun at Marutas as the explosion’s vapor faded.

“That doesn’t seem like a valid argument,” said Keith. “Especially since you’re using induction in your deduction.”

Marutas glared at both visions of Keith suspiciously, twitching. He attempted to initiate a life scan. However, there was too much static and kinetic interference from the electrical currents in the maintenance sector to determine which one was real.

“An artificial intelligence is perfect,” said Keith. “You’re an AI; therefore, you’re perfect and cannot make any mistakes.”

Marutas twitched again as if internally malfunctioning and then shot at the left form of Keith. The beam went straight into his chest, causing him to disperse. The real Keith smirked, releasing a pulse charge that stunned Marutas.

“Wrong one, asshole,” said Keith, firing his FG-500 at the AI.

He destroyed the AI’s right arm and backed away into the maze of catwalks. Marutas roared, producing countless cybernetic sounds. Not a second later, Marutas was released of the pulse charge’s stun and launched two plasma torpedoes from his PT-80 at the ceiling. After a minute, Keith reactivated his hologram and placed it at the corner he hid in.

Using his UND’s intercom, Keith announced, “Here’s another argument for you: humans are imperfect. Humans invented an artificial intelligence; therefore, an artificial intelligence is imperfect.”

Marutas continued to bellow, firing plasma torpedoes at the ceiling. This caused a burner beam and several electrical ducts to explode.

“I will terminate every atom of your existence from the universe!” exclaimed the AI.

Keith felt uneasy while the AI attempted to demolish the sector. He thought to himself, Is this motherfucker going to blow up the entire colony just to kill me? I’ve gotta do something fast. He recorded himself running through another passageway and then transferred the recording to his hologram. The hologram promptly ran through another passageway, at which point Marutas saw it.

“Farewell,” said the AI, launching a plasma torpedo at the hologram.

When the explosion occurred, Keith turned his UND off. He waited for a while and saw Marutas rift down into the slums. After a couple of minutes, he felt safe enough to emerge from his hiding spot and approached Jolus again. Seeing him dead was unreal to Keith.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he said.

Keith, teary eyed, saluted him. Just then, the Malvakarian appeared and hovered over him. He reactivated his UND while the ship’s shuttle bay opened. Rena and Shiva came out and approached him.

“What happened?” asked Rena.

“It was that AI,” said Keith. “He outsmarted us.”

“I shall take him to the Al-Khidr,” said Shiva.

“Don’t bother, Shiva,” said Keith. “He’s dead.”

Shiva stared at Jolus without saying anything. She had her mask on, yet she somehow looked sad. Although she was an AI, she understood the value of life. Shiva was a program in a machine, but she was still alive in her own way. She had a personality of her own, and she knew this because Marutas was vastly different. Over the long voyage, she’d begun to rely on soldiers such as Jolus. In fact, she relied on him since the mission had begun. Shiva couldn’t compute his death. She didn’t want to accept it.

“Shiva,” called out Rena softly. “We’ll give him a proper burial when we have a chance. But right now we need to save Nesha.”

Keith took Jolus’ R91 and rifted to the starship. Upon entering the shuttle bay, he noticed McKenzie limping toward him.

“Hey,” said McKenzie. “Where’s Jolus?”

He walked away from McKenzie, ignoring him. Shortly after, Shiva and Rena entered the ship while carrying Jolus. McKenzie saw them and stiffened, realizing that Jolus was dead.

“It’s my fault,” said McKenzie, looking down.

“Don’t blame yourself, McKenzie,” said Rena. “You’re just no good to us if you’re still limping.”

“I’m sure I could’ve gone with you, Commander,” said McKenzie. “I could’ve helped if I just wasn’t so damn nervous.”

“Well, it’s not over yet,” said Rena. “If you’re truly ready to join us, then we’ll need your help to finish off the AI.”

“All right. I won’t let you down, Commander,” said McKenzie, saluting her. He watched Shiva and Rena use the EP to put Jolus’ body in the medical wing. Once alone, he remained by the cargo bay. McKenzie then said to himself, “First it was Debra. Now Jolus.” He tightened his fists and muttered in a tone of regret, “I have to put an end to this fear. I have to.”

McKenzie approached the shuttle’s entrance and waved his hand along a panel, sealing the hatch. Since the whole crew was aboard, the Malvakarian exited the sector and flew down into the steamy abyss.

In the meantime, Nesha and Talia were rifting between brownstones in the slums of old Manhattan.

“Okay, we made it,” said Talia with a sigh.

They were enveloped by smog, which partially blinded them. Nevertheless, they noticed that almost all of the brownstones were rundown and abandoned. Some, however, had squatters living inside. A few people wearing rags observed Talia and Nesha from the cracked holes in the buildings.

“Ignore them,” said Talia.

“I feel so sorry for them,” said Nesha, glancing at the squatters. “Why haven’t we done anything to help these people?”

“Because they don’t want to help themselves,” said Talia.

“But this can’t possibly be their fault,” replied Nesha. “There must be something the UEC can do.”

“Not while there’s a maniac on the loose,” said Talia.

“I’m not seeing anything on my UND anymore,” said Nesha.

“That might be the reception,” said Talia. “No one owns a UND in the slums. So don’t let your guard down. If that psycho’s still looking for you, then he may be trying to track us here.”

Marutas was indeed tracking them. In fact, he was aiming his SP-34 sniper rifle at them from behind.

“You’re really scaring me, Tali,” said Nesha.

“Girl, I’m just being honest with you,” said Talia. She pointed at one of the buildings below and continued, “See that brownstone?”

“Yeah,” said Nesha.

“Let’s go hide in ther—”

The sound of engine propulsions suddenly reverberated above them. Yet when Talia gazed up, she didn’t see anything. She then turned to look at her flank and noticed someone approaching on a rift board.

“What’s wrong?” asked Nesha.

“It might be that psycho,” said Talia. “I’ll catch up.”

“Tali!” cried out Nesha. “I’m scared!”

“Don’t be,” said Talia calmly. “Think of this as the tournament. You are the champion and survived while four vels were trying to wipe you. So don’t you dare stop now, girl. Keep going.”

Nesha attempted to look more confident, complying and rifting toward the brownstone that her girlfriend talked about hiding in.

“All right, you son of a bitch,” said Talia. “Let’s see how good of a rifter you are.” She slowed down and performed an angled windwheel. That instant, she used the wind tide to cast herself into a high fade. “You’re going to regret killing Hannah.”

“Most impressive for a human,” said the AI.

Marutas searched for Talia but couldn’t find her. She suddenly appeared above him from behind. Marutas heard her R88’s propulsion as she descended in a snap dive. He turned to fire, at which point Talia hovered her rift board’s engine burner against his face. The molecular form of Malcolm Renfred’s face burned off. Only the AI’s wired face remained. Talia, dismayed by the sight of Marutas, rifted ahead as fast as she could. Marutas saw her horrified face and mimicked Renfred’s laugh.

“Tali!” called out Nesha, flying toward Talia. “Over here!”

Talia eventually caught up to her. “I told you to hide,” she said, glowering. “Why are you still flying here?”

“I was worried,” said Nesha.

“Listen,” began Talia in an edgy tone, “that thing after you isn’t even human. It’s some kind of android.”

“What?” replied Nesha, panicky.

“Forget about the slums,” said Talia. “We need to get—” A bullet from the AI’s SP-34 sniper rifle abruptly went through her neck.

“Tali!” cried out Nesha. “Tali!”

She grabbed Talia’s body before it could drop, only to lose her balance. Nesha nearly fell. She cried hysterically, looking at Talia’s lifeless and blood-covered body. Another gunshot was fired, but Nesha avoided it by accident when she’d lost her balance when attempting to hold Talia; however, the sound of the gun scared Nesha so much that she involuntarily let go of Talia and tumbled off her board.

By chance she managed to grab the R91 with her hands while shrieking. She was barely hanging on to the board as it continued to glide over another brownstone, at which point she saw Marutas approaching. When she saw the AI, she let go and landed on the roof. Marutas aimed his SP-34 sniper rifle directly at her.

“Au revoir,” said the AI.

When he pulled the trigger, the bullet fired straight toward Nesha. Yet it disintegrated halfway in the air. The Malvakarian uncloaked itself. It had been shielding Nesha from the AI. Just then, the laboratory wing’s apex opened. Keith stood inside, aiming an organic turret of vel’pheasian origin at Marutas.

“Fuck you, asshole!” shouted Keith, gunning down the AI.

The vel’pheasian turret had the same speed as a Gatling gun, except it launched plasma beams. Marutas winced as the beams hit him. He fell off his board and smashed against the same rooftop Nesha had fallen on. Marutas tried to get up, but his legs were crippled after the beams hit him.

After seeing Keith alive, the AI twitched. “This is illogical,” it said.

Upon the vessel’s shuttle bay opening, Keith emerged with a sullen face. He leapt off and landed on the roof, approaching the AI. Without hesitation, Keith grabbed its hair and smashed its face into the rooftop until the cement broke apart.

“Fallacies never work, you piece of shit,” said Keith. He turned the AI around and shoved an MP-94 pistol into its mouth. “I have a new modus operandi for you.” Keith unloaded an entire clip of magnum-pulse bullets into the AI’s throat while he yelled, “I’m coming for you, Vreffith! Do you hear me? I’m coming for you!”

He turned and walked over to Nesha who lay on the opposite end of the roof, still crying hysterically.

“Please don’t hurt me,” she said, sobbing.

“You have it all wrong,” he said. “I’m sorry for deceiving you in Nirvana, but I had to remain undercover in case Vreffith was after you.”

“What?” she replied. “Vreffith?” She remembered his icy gaze after winning the galaxy cup of the rifting tournament. “Who are you?”

“I wasn’t lying about my name,” he said. “I’m Sergeant Keith Wernn. I’m a part of your father’s fleet. Niralus found encrypted evidence proving that Vreffith is in league with the Black Moon syndicate. Vreffith’s real name is Liagon. Ever since your father found this information, I believe Liagon’s been trying to kidnap you for the sake of blackmail and—”

“And we were sent to protect you,” interjected Rena, approaching.

“Rena?” said Nesha, surprised. She managed to stand and rushed over to Rena, hugging her. “It killed them,” she added, sobbing again. “It killed Hannah and Tali.”

“I know,” said Rena depressingly. “I’m so sorry, love. But you’re safe now. You’re safe with us.”

The Malvakarian descended onto the building’s roof. McKenzie emerged from a hatch and limped over to the others.

“Nesha, you have to trust us,” said Rena. “If not my crew, then at least me.”

“We’d better get out of here fast,” said McKenzie. “Who knows how many more of those things are around here trying to kill her.”

Rena agreed and added, “Nesha, your father risked everything to keep you safe.”

“Is dad here?” asked Nesha. “I want to see him.”

“He’s…he’s waiting in another star system until we rendezvous with him,” she replied. “Nesha, we really need to leave now. We’re in danger. And the longer we wait here, the worse it can get.”

Nesha eventually complied and followed Rena into the Malvakarian.

In the meantime, Vreffith sat at his desk in Vignia Corporation. He watched a replay of Marutas’ data on his vidlink and scoffed at the final transmission when Keith screamed out: “I’m coming for you, Vreffith!”

“And that’s where the recording ends,” said Zoris on Vreffith’s vidlink. “Any idea who he is?”

“Sergeant Keith Wernn,” replied Vreffith. “He was one of the soldiers who helped Bisel abduct me. He’s one of those people in life who have an insignificant name, and yet he’s proven to be more than a nuisance.”

“Why?” asked Zoris.

“Because he’s one of those two UEC soldiers who survived that insane alien infestation on Vindor three years ago,” said Vreffith. “It’s no wonder Marutas had difficulty. Bisel chose his crew very wisely.” He ended the recording and then looked at Zoris via his vidlink. “In any case, when they depart Earth I want you to follow them. When they leave the Solar System, obliterate their vessel.”

Zoris nodded. “Don’t worry, Vreffith. They’ll be joining their precious admiral soon enough.”

“I’m counting on it,” said Vreffith. “Or else you’ll be the one who joins him.”

Meanwhile, the crew aboard the Malvakarian gathered in the observation deck, except Tathagata who was taking care of Nesha in the medical wing. Shiva was looking through the windowpane, staring at the Solar System.

“What’s up, leader?” said Teri, playfully saluting Shiva. “You called for us?”

“Has Nesha Bisel finished revitalizing?” asked Shiva. “It is imperative I tell her everything.”

“For God’s sake, Shiva, she’s just a teenager,” said Rena. “It’s going to take some time for her to recover after what happened. She just lost her best friends.”

“Yeah,” said McKenzie. “I think it would be better if Nesha rest for a while with Doctor Surandes. It’s taken a bit of time for my leg to heal, and you’re thinking this is a physical injury, but we also become emotionally scarred. It’s what happens when you’re human, Shiva.”

“Yes,” said Rena. “Humans are delicate. You have to be considerate.”

“Humans are quite different from machines,” said Shiva, intrigued. “I find it fascinating that your species was able to invent and create us into what we are.”

“I’m glad you’re so fascinated by our minds,” said Rena surly, “but right now we have more important things to consider. And no more secrets, Shiva. I want you to tell us everything. Your motives—”

“We’re approaching the Casimir station on Luna,” interjected Zar’kara, speaking through the ship’s intercom.

“Excellent,” said Shiva. “Thank you for the update, noble Zar.”

When the Malvakarian swerved in another direction, Shiva and the others were able to see Earth’s moon and its Casimir station, which had already been activated. Zar’kara flew the vessel toward it.

“I for one would like to know where the hell we’re going,” said Keith, leaning against the wall.

“I love suspense,” said Teri. “But for Nesha’s sake, I agree.”

Shiva complied and answered, “I paid the IGF for Casimir transportation into the Zortega Star System. Noble Zar, once we travel through the wormhole, set a course for Fe’lora.”

“We’re going to the fe’lorian homeworld?” asked Rena.

“That is correct, Ms. Mar’kett,” said Shiva. “Now that we have our weapon, we stand a chance against Liagon; however, we need a fleet. The UEC has an alliance with the fe’lorians, which means they will accept my proposal.”

“Yippy!” said Teri. “I can hardly wait.”

“You want to go there?” inquired Zar’kara through the intercom.

“Of course, Zarry,” said Teri. “It’s easy on the eyes.”

“I hate that place,” said Zar’kara, growling.

“Aw, don’t be so grumpy,” said Teri. “Ya just don’t like being near yer planet. Me tinks we’ll be fine.”

Zar’kara grunted but nevertheless steered the starship into the Casimir.

“Sounds good to me,” said McKenzie, feeling hopeful.

“And that’s all there is to know,” said Shiva. “I am still attempting to decrypt the files on the Apeiron. It is merely taking longer than anticipated. I suspect Liagon has an AI controlling his black market GT. Until I unlock any additional data, you’re all dismissed.”

Keith shrugged and left the observation deck. With the exception of Rena, the others went to the residential wing. Rena followed Keith who entered the medical wing, glancing at Nesha who lay on one of the corner beds.

“Hey, doc,” he said. “Is she all right?”

“She’s trying to take a nap,” said Tathagata. “I think it’s better if Nesha got some rest without a visitor.”

“I see,” he said, trying to peek at Nesha.

“Keith,” called out Rena. “Do you have a moment?”

He sighed while turning around. “Perfect time to jab my back, huh?”

“No,” she said, trying not to get upset. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for your loss. I know how close you were to Jolus. The two of you had gone through a lot, especially on Vindor.

“Look, I don’t need your pity,” he said.

“This isn’t about pity,” she said. “I’m just trying to show some respect to a fellow soldier who also lost someone important, that’s all.”

“Please,” whispered Tathagata, “do not argue. We are on the same side. And if you need to speak, then I suggest you do so outside this room. Nesha needs rest.”

The medical wing suddenly trembled. Then the ship’s battle alarm went off. That instant, Vishnu—the integrated AI of the Malvakarian—announced through the intercom: “We are under attack! I repeat, we are under attack. This is not a drill.”

“What the fuck’s going on now?” said Keith, his brow furrowed. He clicked his UND and contacted Shiva via vidlink while walking back to the medical wing’s EP. “Shiva, who’s attacking us?”

“Heidegger,” said Shiva. “It apparently has an exceptionally powerful cloaking device and has traced us into the Zortega Star System.”

“Perfect,” said Keith, smirking. “It’s time we paid Zoris Kong back for all he’s done. Tell Teri to meet me in the shuttle bay. I think it’s time we used her UHAT.”

“Wait just a minute,” said Rena, grabbing Keith by the shoulder. “What do you think you’re doing? The last time we confronted that ship we lost our entire fleet. Do you want to get us killed?”

Tathagata walked to the back of the chamber and started to meditate. Nesha, who was too disconcerted to notice what Tathagata was doing, got up from her bed and listened to the others bicker. Keith shoved Rena’s hand away and glowered at her with an expression of madness.

“Listen to me very carefully,” said Keith. “I’m boarding Zoris’ ship and killing that motherfucker. You can either bitch and moan about it or help Gahza and Zar’kara fly this ship while Teri helps me.”

Rena held her hand as though hurt. “Is this how you’re going to avenge Jolus? You’re insane. You’ll just get yourself killed.”

“Then all the better,” retorted Keith, walking away. “I never liked this nightmare anyway.” He went into an EP and transported to the shuttle bay. Not only was Teri there, but McKenzie too. “It seems Lomax was wrong about you, McKenzie. You do have some balls.”

Teri giggled at what he said.

“Now that you’re here I want you to assist Teri,” continued Keith.

McKenzie nodded. “What will you do?” he asked.

“I’ll be waiting here until I see Teri perform her magic.”

“You’re not leaving without me,” said Zar’kara, thumping his way into the shuttle bay. “Gahza will fly the Malvakarian, because the day Teri kills more than me is the day I stop killing. And that’s never.”

“Woot!” shouted Teri, clapping. “Time ta open up a can of whoop ass on ’em, Zarry!” She clicked her UND and activated Xelvakron. Its robotic gem-like eyes glistened when it turned on, and then its chest and abdomen opened. Teri looked at McKenzie and said, “Okay, kid, take a seat in the middle and control its guns while I sit in the chest with Zarry.”

“This is awesome,” said McKenzie, mesmerized. “I’ve never seen one of these in action before.”

“Then yer gonna love it!” said Teri.

The Malvakarian trembled again when they entered the UHAT. After it finished sealing, Keith put on his helmet and opened the shuttle bay’s hatch for Teri. They could see Heidegger flanking them. Just then, missiles were fired at the Malvakarian. Shiva, however, used a plasma turret in the laboratory wing to destroy them.

“No more missiles,” said Zoris, sneering with a mad look in his eyes. “It was fun in the beginning, but the game is over. Activate the fusion cannon and obliterate them!”

Heidegger’s substructure opened while an immense cannon elevated outward. It turned and aimed at the Malvakarian.

“Gahza,” began Rena, “that cannon destroyed one of our ships in a matter of seconds. I need you to get above the vessel before it activates.”

“I’ll do what I can,” said Gahza, growling.

A vast fusion beam shot out of Heidegger’s cannon as the Malvakarian flew up in a one-hundred-eighty-degree movement. Gahza was swift while Rena triggered several turning jets and thrusters to give him more speed; however, the beam still reached them and blew off half of the residential wing. The vel’pheasians preparing for battle were sucked out to space. Most of them were killed when the wing exploded, and those who managed to survive gasped for air. Within seconds, all of them suffocated and died.

“God damn it, Gahza!” exclaimed Rena, severely distressed. “We can’t survive another attack like that!”

“Relax,” he said, hissing. “We’re still alive. That’s what matters.”

“Where the fuck did they go?” said Zoris.

“I don’t know,” said a henchman. “It’s like they disappeared from our scanners.”

Zoris roared sadistically, shooting the henchman who spoke. “Find them! Destroy them! Now!”

The crew in Heidegger’s pilot chamber fidgeted and quickly used their scanners to look for the ship. Meanwhile, the Malvakarian hovered above Heidegger. When the attacks ceased, Gahza steered the ship down, flanking the syndicate’s vessel.

“Thanks, Gahza,” said Teri through her vidlink. “Alrighty, Xelvakron. Time ta get yer mighty groove on!”

She controlled Xelvakron, making him get up from his crouched position. Xelvakron rose and stood like a giant, soaring over thirty feet. Teri moved him forward, leaped out of the hatch, and flew him all the way to Heidegger’s shuttle wing while on a colossal rift board.

“How are we going to get in?” asked McKenzie.

“Allow me to demonstrate magic,” said Teri, gripping her UHAT’s joysticks. She made Xelvakron jump off the rift board and used his hands to clutch Heidegger’s shuttle wing. Teri then smashed the hull continuously with Xelvakron’s left fist while keeping his other clenched on the wall. Teri dented the hull so much that she formed a handle for her UHAT’s hands. Teri gripped the handle that she created and pulled the joysticks back with all her strength. “Open sesame!”

Heidegger’s shuttle wing ripped open. Several henchmen flew out into space. Continuing to hold on to the fractured hull, Teri flung her UHAT into the chamber, using its built-in gravity system to lock its feet onto the floor.

“Boss,” called out one of the henchmen, “there’s a breach in the shuttle wing.”

Zoris slammed his fists against his chair. “You’re all incompetent! Alert our soldiers to go there! And turn this ship around! I want that pathetic piece of shit destroyed!”

Heidegger started turning around, but Gahza and Rena kept maneuvering away from the fusion cannon’s line of sight. Working together, they smoothly veered the ship up and avoided the deadly beam.

“Zoris, you’re fucked,” said Keith, scowling. He ported an MP-98 rifle and an FG-500 on his backpack, as well as two MP-94 pistols in his holster. He stared out into the void of space in his black-armored spacesuit—dashing forward—and jumped out using Jolus’ R91. He then rifted into Heidegger’s fractured chamber.

Landing next to the giant UHAT, Keith shot at the Black Moon henchmen who teleported out of the EP in the back. In the meantime, Teri used Xelvakron to smash a shuttle beside her. The shuttle exploded with a single smite while McKenzie launched missiles out of the UHAT’s enormous shoulders, blowing up the third floor’s platform.

“Shweet, kid, reeeal shweet,” said Teri.

“Thanks!” said McKenzie. “I’m a quick learner.”

“I can see,” said Teri, at which point she saw another shuttle. “Coool, another toy to play with.” She picked it up with Xelvakron’s colossal arms and tossed it forward. The shuttle flew across the chamber and exploded, killing a regiment of soldiers and destroying the sealed hatch they’d come out of, giving way to Heidegger’s residential EP. “This is fun!”

“I’ll show you fun,” said Zar’kara.

Ejecting out of the UHAT, he pounced over a regiment of men. He roared viciously as he tore them apart with his claws. Zar’kara cackled each time he jammed his razor-sharp fingers into their armor. He was far too quick for any of them to retaliate. This was exhilarating, thought Zar’kara. The splendor of killing was art to him. In his eyes, to be a Paragon was to become a sadistic killer. Slaughtering was his passion; it made him feel alive. The smell of blood, the sound of people screaming, and the feeling of ripping through their fragile flesh were pleasurable to him. Within seconds, he brutally murdered eleven syndicate henchmen. All of them lay dead like a jigsaw puzzle because when Zar’kara was finished with them, no one knew which limb belonged to who.

“Is that it?” said Zar’kara. He roared and galloped across the chamber, spotting another regiment who ported out of an EP. They tried shooting him, but his tribal armor was so strong that the bullets rebounded. Zar’kara started to kill them and shouted, “For the Yak-Shur!”

In the meantime, Keith sprinted across the chamber while continuing to gun down several more henchmen shooting at Xelvakron from the second floor’s catwalk. Not one bullet dented Xelvakron. The group of men stared at the UHAT in dismay as it stood unharmed. Teri giggled while she pushed a black skull button, which made Xelvakron’s eyes emit a ray, disintegrating them. Moments later, Keith threw an HG-88 hell grenade at another regiment attempting to demolish Xelvakron. They blew up into pieces when the grenade detonated.

McKenzie, meanwhile, used Xelvakron’s LP-14 turret, firing laser and plasma beams at the remaining soldiers. Only one more soldier remained. He was in the hall where the EP stood and threw himself on Keith, trying to choke him.

“You attacked me without a weapon?” said Keith, his veins bulging.

He glared at the soldier psychotically, ported out a machete, and dug it into the soldier’s face. Keith plunged it so hard into the man’s face that his body smashed against the floor, blood squirting on the walls. Not a second later, Keith pulled out his MP-94 pistols and shot down four more henchmen who abruptly ported from the residential EP.

The shuttle wing was clear. Keith glanced at Zar’kara who had the blood of men all over him. Zar’kara wore a wicked grin as he stood up, breathing heavily. Keith looked at Xelvakron and nodded with respect. McKenzie smiled while Teri gave a thumbs up using the UHAT’s giant hand. They brutally killed Zoris’ elite soldiers, but the battle was still far from over.

“Forget the cannon!” shouted Zoris. “Release the D-ordnance!”

“But, boss, we might get caught in its gravitational force,” said one of the pilots.

Zoris jumped down from his chair and reached the pilot who had spoken, choking him. As he choked the pilot to death, the other henchmen shifted the vessel into D-ordnance mode. Its wings started to thump and change position until all six of them cycled around the center of the ship like an axle. The edges of each wing formed a dehiscence—identical to when Commander Saven was attacked—with electrical currents of gravity. Before it released, the ship trembled and lost power.

“What’s the meaning of this?” scowled Zoris, enraged.

The henchmen unexpectedly saw Nesha rift across the windowpane. She was wearing the same jumpsuit she wore in the rifting tournament, including a black helmet that provided her with oxygen.

“Boss, one of our wings has been destroyed!” said another henchman, panicky. “We can’t use the D-ordnance without all six.”

“Impossible!” shouted Zoris.

Nesha continued to rift along the outer hull of Heidegger and performed a fade down to the fusion cannon. She was holding K-1000, the most powerful plastic explosive.

“This is for Hannah and Tali,” she said, smudging her last piece of K-1000 on the fusion cannon.

The cannon fired again and managed to destroy another wing of the Malvakarian, but then it exploded. Nesha attempted to rift back to the Malvakarian, feeling somewhat satisfied. Shiva had given her the K-1000 because she couldn’t go herself since her arms had been severely damaged by Marutas. Nesha was all right doing this for Shiva, feeling only bitterness for those who attacked. All her life she’d resented the UEC, but now she didn’t mind being a part of it after what had happened to her best friends. Nesha finally understood how important the military was—how important it was to protect those who needed help. She continued to rift away from Heidegger, expecting some kind of retribution.

“So, daddy’s little girl wants to play, huh?” said Zoris, sneering at Nesha. “Blow her up with our missiles!”

The pilots released ten homing missiles. They followed Nesha as she rifted back to the Malvakarian. She saw them on her UND and tried to rift as fast as she could. Then ten plasma torpedoes fired from the Malvakarian, colliding with the homing missiles with a hundred percent precision and blowing them up.

“Excellent work, Nesha,” said Shiva via vidlink. “Heidegger is now crippled. The rest is up to the others.”

Keith, meanwhile, ran through one of the residential corridors of Heidegger with an FG-500 in his hands. He blasted two soldiers and then reactivated his force field since it recharged. Continuing to sprint through the hall, he occasionally smudged K-1000 on the walls. When he saw a room with Zoris Kong’s name on it, however, he stopped.

“Zoris’ room?” he said to himself, surprised.

He triggered the FG-500 and melted a hole through the hatchway, kicking down the rest of the door. He searched the bedchamber thoroughly, but it was empty. Then he saw a console in the corner of the room and turned it on. He selected the console’s last vidlink session and called the number. Vreffith appeared on the other end of the vidlink screen, gazing at Keith with a cold expression.

“Remember me?” said Keith.

“Yes,” replied Vreffith. “I see you’re still alive.”

“No shit,” said Keith. “I just wanted to let you know that Zoris is a dead man, and I’m coming after you next, motherfucker!”

He blasted the console, ending the transmission. Leaving Zoris’ private quarters, Keith continued through the corridor. He placed a cube of K-1000 in the hall, beamed down another henchman running for his life, and used an EP by the corner. It ported him to the piloting deck. When he appeared, several henchmen were already firing at him. His force field held up while he fired back with his FG-500, disintegrating a pilot.

“Welcome to your grave, Sergeant Wernn,” said Zoris, trying to shoot Keith with his MP-95 pistol.

Keith took cover, changing his weapon to an MP-98 rifle. He leaned out of the corner and launched a thermal charge at a henchman. Then he gunned down two others on the second floor with incendiary ammo.

“You think you’re so special after surviving Vindor, but let’s see how you handle this!” added Zoris. He clicked his computer console and removed the starship’s gravity, causing those in the chamber to drift up. “Time to die!”

Grabbing the banister beside him, Keith pulled his feet back to the railing. He then used it as leverage to push himself to the ceiling while shooting another henchman in midair.

“I actually prefer zero gravity,” said Keith smugly.

Landing on the ceiling, he spotted Zoris upside down and tried shooting him. Zoris took cover and then launched himself into the air just as Keith did. The two of them shot at each other with their magnum-pulse pistols. They grabbed each other’s forearms when they crossed paths in the center of the pilot chamber, still firing their guns. Zoris’ clip emptied, but he managed to kick Keith in the stomach, sending him over to the large windowpane that cracked when he smashed against it.

Zoris frowned, reloading his MP-95 pistol. “I’m afraid you’ve exceeded your stay in this universe!”

“I was thinking the same about you,” said Keith, shooting Zoris’ gun out of his hand.

Flying back to the ground, Zoris reactivated Heidegger’s gravity, sending down Keith whose legs would’ve been broken if it weren’t for his military armor’s advanced shock absorber; he used it just in time to slow his fall. Keith swiftly took cover, avoiding the bullets that Zoris fired at him. Moments later, Zoris ran out of bullets again.

“I’m going to enjoy gutting the last survivor of Vindor!” he shouted, porting out two daggers via his UND.

Keith ran across a narrow passage on the first floor until he reached a ramp that took him to the second floor. He noticed a soldier hiding by the ramp and struck his jaw with the rifle’s muzzle and then smashed his head with its shoulder guard. Reaching the second floor, Keith threw a void grenade, sucking six soldiers into a miniature black hole. He eventually leaned out from his corner, gunning down the last two men in the chamber.

“You’re gonna have to try harder to kill me, Kong!”

Heidegger was now drifting without a pilot, approaching a planet’s moon in the Zortega Star System that, from the massive windowpane, looked like an ice world. Keith reloaded his weapon and glanced at the icy moon for a moment, his eyes widening. Just then, Zoris jumped onto Keith’s back and plunged a dagger into his left arm. Keith groaned while Zoris attempted to strangle him to death.

“It’s a pity Lieutenant Bako couldn’t live to see this,” said Zoris, grinning.

“Yes,” said Keith, grimacing, “it’s a real pity.”

He bent down, tossing Zoris off his back. Zoris fell to the first floor, gasping in pain. Keith then jumped down and stared harshly at Zoris who swiftly got to his feet, twirling his daggers while the ship trembled.

At first, Keith didn’t make a move. He just stared at Zoris’ daggers. If he really wanted to, he could have shot Zoris. But this wouldn’t give him the satisfaction he yearned for. After what had happened to Jolus, Keith wanted to make Zoris suffer. Guns couldn’t do that. No, thought Keith, he wanted to see Zoris crumble into a pitiable state of existence. He ported his gun back into his UND’s memory bank and transferred brass knuckles on his fists.

“Come on, Kong!” he yelled out. “Let’s finish this!”

Zoris roared maniacally, lunging both daggers forward. Keith dodged them and ducked to the side as he shoved one of his brass knuckles into Zoris’ stomach. Keith then jabbed his other fist into Zoris’ jaw. He spat out a tooth and tumbled back but continued to swing his daggers at Keith who kept avoiding them, pounding his fists into Zoris. The starship trembled again as it drew closer to the icy moon, but Keith didn’t care anymore. All he cared about at this point was deforming Zoris’ face with his fists. Zoris looked as if he’d been hit by a sledgehammer, and yet he managed to kick Keith, sending him against the wall.

“It’s over!” exclaimed Zoris.

He dashed over to Keith, who was dazed, and lunged his daggers at him. As soon as the daggers were about to pierce his face, he ducked, grabbed Zoris’ arms, twisted them onto his shoulders, and then bent them until they snapped. Zoris screamed in agony while both daggers dropped into Keith’s hands.

“It’s you who’s over!”

Keith threw him against the wall and shoved the daggers into his eyes. The blades pierced through the other side of his skull, pinning him to the wall. Seeing Zoris dead released Keith of his irrational rage, at which point the starship trembled violently. He looked at the windowpane and stiffened for a moment, realizing it was too late to escape. Heidegger was being sucked into the icy moon.

“Death comes to us all, right, Jolus?” said Keith. He stared at the moon and accepted his fate. Before surrendering, however, he ported a cigarette in honor of Jolus and smoked it. Even though he coughed, he couldn’t help but grin. “Well, at least I got even with Zoris. Now it’s up to you, Nesha. It’s time for you to avenge your father’s death and put an end to whatever Vreffith is trying to do.”

Back on the Malvakarian, Nesha made her way into the shuttle bay. Xelvakron had just landed inside the ship when she entered the chamber. Nesha could see Heidegger drifting toward the icy moon while the shuttle bay’s hatch sealed. Zar’kara thumped by her, walking toward an EP so he could port into the pilot chamber. Nesha gulped heavily when she saw him, waiting for Teri and McKenzie to get out of Xelvakron.

“Where is Keith?” she asked.

Teri glanced at the syndicate vessel. “I thought he came back,” she answered.

“Actually,” said McKenzie, “I saw him go into one of Heidegger’s EPs. I think it was his intention to kill Zoris Kong himself, especially after what had happened to Jolus.”

“Jolus?” said Nesha.

“Yeah,” said McKenzie. “That crazy AI that tried to murder you ended up killing Jolus, his best friend.”

Nesha gasped. “We need to save Keith!”

“I’m sorry, kid,” said Teri. “But I think it’s too late.”

“Kid?” said Nesha, agitated. “I’m far older than you.”

Teri rolled her eyes and replied, “I’m so tired of telling everybody that I’m two centuries old.”

“She’s telling the truth,” said McKenzie.

“This is no time for stupid jokes,” said Nesha. “We need to save him!”

The Malvakarian suddenly shook.

“Uh-oh,” uttered Teri, tumbling aside while clicking her UND. “Zarry, what’s causin’ all this ruckus?”

“We lost two wings during the attack, and our engines are beginning to fail,” he said. “If you don’t get yourself to the engineering deck and help Gahza fix the problem, we’ll be joining that starship on Sepas IX.”

“Holy macro, I’m on it,” said Teri.

She ran up the ramp and used the EP.

“Come on,” said McKenzie. “We better go join the others and see if there’s anything we can do.”

Nesha complied and followed McKenzie who barely limped any more. Upon using the EP and teleporting into the observation deck, they heard Rena screaming at Shiva.

“I told you she needed to rest!” shouted Rena. “How dare you send her out like that! She could’ve been killed!”

“My apologies, Ms. Mar’kett,” said Shiva. “But in my condition, there is little I can do. My actions were completely logical and necessary for our survival. Nesha Bisel has become the champion of rifting, and, to be quite candid, we would all be terminated now if she had not used K-1000 on Heidegger’s fusion cannon.”

Rena slammed her foot against the wall. “You just don’t get it! I’m fed up with you and your plans!”

“Aunt Rena, it’s okay,” said Nesha. “I wanted to help.”

“Nesha, what’re you doing here?” asked Rena.

“Is it true?” said Nesha. “Is Keith still on that ship? Is he…dead?”

Rena looked down. “I’m sorry, Nesha,” she said. “I told him it was suicide. I warned him not to go. But he’s always been hotheaded. It’s the main reason why he was never promoted after Vindor.”

“Are we going to die too?” asked Nesha, fretful.

“Zar’s doing his best to get us out of this,” replied Rena. “He’s the only one who really knows how to pilot this thing. Well, Gahza and Teri, too, but they’re needed in the engineering wing.”

“All right,” said Nesha, trying to remain calm.

The ship continued to tremble violently as it entered the icy moon’s troposphere, which was almost completely frozen. It was unlike anything the crew had ever seen. The clouds were all frozen.

“Zar, be careful!” yelled out Rena.

“What do you think I’m trying to do, get us killed?” retorted Zar’kara. “We’ve lost two wings and have a failed engine. Teri and Gahza have managed to keep one active, but if the other doesn’t turn on then that’s it.”

“Aunt Rena, I’m scared,” said Nesha.

Rena stared at the frozen waste. “So am—”

“And by Yak-Shur,” interjected Zar’kara, “I could use your help!”

“All right,” she said. “I’m on my way.”

Rena and Shiva exited the observation deck while Nesha and McKenzie gazed at the deadly atmosphere. Not a minute later, the vessel collided into a frozen cloud, causing half of the medical wing to rip off. McKenzie managed to hold onto a banister, but Nesha fell down, hitting her head hard.

Nesha mumbled, “I feel so…”

She felt dizzy, tired, and nauseous. Then she fell unconscious. The Malvakarian swerved in the air while Zar’kara attempted to regain control and slow the ship down, but it continued to careen out of control and eventually smashed against a gargantuan mound of snow.