Unsung Heroes

Hunched in the captain’s cabin, Dextanic peered through the bounty hunter’s effects. He had claimed many trophies, most of which were purely ornamental, but a few were weapons that still looked to be in good shape. Among the bounty hunter’s other possessions was a mounted call screen capable of long distance communication. Dex powered up the device and contacted the only other being he cared about: Jezebel.

As he’d guessed, she was still living on Earth. An image of a blue-skinned alien appeared, with purple eyes and braided gold hair that hung down past her waist. In all other respects she resembled an average human woman. Her expression was one of confusion, then surprise, and finally joy upon seeing him.

“Dex!” she said excitedly. “I was wondering who was calling me from the middle of nowhere.”

“Jezebel,” he replied, smiling for what felt like the first time in months. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you. Are you okay? I heard there was trouble on Moaz.”

“Still alive,” he muttered. There was an awkward pause. Dex wasn’t much with words; he never had been, and he wasn’t sure how to say what he wanted to. “Jezebel, I’ve been wondering: When we were prisoners of the Coalition, why did you help me escape?”

Jezebel’s smile faded, replaced by a look of bewilderment. Dex already regretted the question, but now that it was out there, he wanted to get her answer.

“It was the right thing to do,” she said simply. “I’ve been through the same experiments you have. My genetic code has been forever altered as a result.” She paused for a long moment, her eyes closed. “My doctor says I’ll never be able to have kids because of it.”

A bolt of shame lanced through Dex’s heart. His eyes dropped to the floor. He should never have asked this question.

“Anyway,” she continued, “my guards underestimated me. I managed to escape with my new abilities and I saw you strapped to the torture rack. You were . . . covered in scars . . . and something inside me just felt like I needed to help you.”

Dex turned redder than normal. The raw honesty and compassion in her voice was still something he didn’t know how to respond to. But after his near-death experience he was resolved to try.

“Well, uh, thank you,” he said clumsily. “I—I mean it. What you’ve done for me . . . I won’t forget it.”

Jezebel smiled beautifully again. “Friends carry no debts. Is there anything you need?”

Dex shook his head. Forcing those words out had been one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. All his life he had looked out only for himself; thanking someone was completely foreign to Dex. Somehow it felt both right and unnatural at the same time. “No,” he replied. “That’s all I wanted. I’ll be seeing you.”

“Take care, Dex. It was good to hear from you.”

Dex ended the transmission, hoping he had gotten across how much she meant to him. For a long while he simply sat there, meditating on all that had transpired over the last six months. Of everyone he had met she felt like the one person who had never judged him. But knowing who she was and the good in her heart, he doubted she would approve of his methods. What would she think if she was here now? Or if she had seen his rampage on the Black Scourge?

Dex frowned. Jezebel had never expressed disappointment in his actions, but he still felt guilty that she probably felt it. After all she had done for him, the last thing he wanted was to hurt her more.

Shaking his head, Dex banished the thought from his mind. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. And right now he needed to focus for the trials ahead. A Varrcaran base of this importance would be heavily guarded. Dex was still recovering from his injuries, but if he hoped to survive, he needed to be in peak condition.

Opening the door to the main hold, Dex marched through the ship until he reached the med-bay There, he laid down on the gurney and connected the IV fluids to him so the healing chemicals within could repair the wounds he suffered at the hands of Janus.

Dex had been too young to remember his parents when the Coalition had captured him. Most of his life he had grown up on Zelsor, a long-forgotten Coalition world covered in swamps. Janus, second-in-command only to the Overlord, had taken a special interest in Dex and mentored him personally.

Janus was the closest thing Dex had to a father, but it was far too much a stretch to call him that. The Biomancer had been a cruel, but effective, teacher. For years he had forged Dex into a lethal weapon.

The only problem was that Dex had never wanted to be one.

Even though he wielded deadly powers, he refused to kill an innocent being. Janus had mistakenly believed he could purge that quality from Dex through torture, but the Latoroth was too stubborn.

Rage had become Dex’s source of strength, energizing his command of his powers while maintaining his ideals. Vengeance was a strong motive, but it wasn’t the only reason he hunted Janus. Dex had been robbed of his childhood and a normal life by the Coalition. He had seen Janus murder scores of helpless beings just for fun. And so, Dex felt that it was his responsibility to put Janus down like the mad dog that he was . . . so countless others would be spared of a similar fate.

Soon I’ll learn the secret to stopping his power-immune armor. Then, at long last, Janus will die.

Few things ever puzzled Loralona, but Tola was one of them. The enigmatic man was either a magnificent liar . . . or he was genuinely concerned with the welfare of others.

Loralona wasn’t sure which possibility disturbed her more.

He had resisted her efforts to learn more of his background, but she was confident her charm was not wasted on him either. His past haunted him in some way. But how? From her own experience as a trained killer she knew that dwelling too much on the morals of her actions could do that. But was that the case with Tola? Had he really given up a murderer’s life and gone straight?

Or had the Shock Syndicate lied about him in the report?

The latter was looking more and more like the most probable scenario. It wouldn’t be the first time Loralona’s Intel had been falsified to mislead her. But if that was the case, it opened up a new question: Why bother? Loralona had assassinated many “undeserving” marks in her time. What would have made Tola so different that the Shock Syndicate would claim he was a mass murderer?

She didn’t like it. There had to be something in his past: something the Shock Syndicate didn’t want to become public knowledge. Perhaps Tola knew incriminating evidence about the crime syndicate and they wanted to tie up loose ends. Loralona’s superiors were smart enough to realize she worked harder to kill targets she despised—Loralona didn’t like cleaning up the Shock Syndicate’s mistakes, but she would be all too eager to assassinate a sociopath. That would explain the cover story.

Her teeth clenched, Loralona sat forward and interlaced her fingers. She didn’t like being used. And though she had no proof her theory was right, she had a sinking suspicion that it was. As an expert hacker, Tola would have covered any electronic trails; her only hope of uncovering the truth was to persuade it out of him.

For now though her objective remained the same; help Tola help the Shock Syndicate. Once her mission was complete she could decide what to do with him. And until then she would do her best to learn more of his mysterious past.

As Tola showed the team a 3D representation of the planet Karakk, he saw Terrik leaning back in his chair. The four of them were seated in the main hold of Retribution. Two days had passed, giving them plenty of time to rest and prepare for the operation.

“It’s a volcanic world,” Tola explained, “with precious crystals and minerals found within the lava rivers. The factory is probably mining these materials for their ability to withstand extreme heat. Then an alloy is made, combining the metal with some kind of organic material to make the armor.”

“That explains why it’s resistant to plasma fire,” Terrik said. “But what could make it immune to Biomancer powers?”

“I’m not sure,” Tola admitted.

“Is there any living creature that can do that?” Loralona wondered aloud. She sat forward in her chair, fingers laced together in front of her, a new plasma pistol holstered on her left hip. “If so it might explain why the armor is alive.”

“Makes sense,” Dex said. “But I’ve never heard of any creatures that can resist our powers.”

Tola frowned. “We also have to remember that the armor acts as a one-way shield. Janus could still use his abilities just fine, even though nothing could target him.”

“This is a waste of time,” Terrik grumbled. “There are trillions of organic compositions that could be combined to form that armor. Even if we correctly guessed which ones they were, there’s no telling what side-effects a hybrid alloy would make without the schematics. I say we head to the planet and do some reconnaissance work.”

“I second that,” Dex murmured.

Tola gave a sour look. “All right. But we need a way to land undetected. I don’t suppose your ship has any stealth technology, does it?”

“No. And that’s highly illegal—it would be very difficult for us to acquire on our own.”

Loralona studied the virtual map before them. “The constant geological activity might provide us some cover. Between the intense pressure, smoke, and thermal readings, we should have enough scanning interference to land unnoticed.”

“If it’s far enough from the base,” Dex added.

Tola smiled. “Right. Then we scout it out on foot. That could work.”

“One problem,” Terrik interjected. “We don’t know where on the planet that factory is. We could enter the atmosphere right on top of it. Or if we land on the other side of the world, it will take weeks to reach the base.”

“I’ve already thought of that,” Tola said. “About a third of the surface is covered in lava fields. The factory would need to be constructed on a large, relatively flat area close to one of the lava rivers, but not so close that it would endanger the base.” He turned to face the three-dimensional image. “Judging from the topographical maps, I’d wager the factory was built here.”

Loralona nodded. “I agree. It makes the most tactical sense.” She leaned forward. “We could bring the ship in from the south, using that nearby bluff as cover. From there we can get a closer look on foot. A facility that important will have shields strong enough to protect it from anything this ship can dish out.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Tola said. “Once we pinpoint its location, I’ll send in the cavalry. Even if the Earth Alliance can’t bombard it from orbit, they can still send in enough troops to raid the place.”

“I thought we were going in for battle,” Terrik muttered, his voice gruff. “There’s no glory in sending in someone else to fight.”

Tola smiled and shrugged. “You’re welcome to accompany the Alliance troops inside.”

“I will. The Varrcarans stole my bounty and my honor; it’s time I showed them what that means to me.”

“Then it’s settled. Retribution won’t arrive for several more hours, so there’s still time for any last minute preparations,” Tola told them. “If you need me, I’ll be upgrading my equipment in the passenger cabin.”

Everyone nodded and stood up, stretching before going in separate directions. Once Tola reached the passenger cabin he inspected the equipment Terrik had already stashed aboard.

He wasn’t disappointed.

Among the wide variety of weapons and tools, Tola took a plasma pistol, a lasertorch, binoculars, three flashbangs, and a net launcher, all fitted around his utility belt. Having lost his grappling gun, Tola began construction on a newer, better one. Too often he had needed it aboard the Scourge, and he didn’t intend to be caught unprepared again.

The construction took less than two hours, and he was ready for the mission. Though only lightly armed, Tola knew how to improvise and use the environment to his advantage. He wasn’t worried at all.

At the controls of Retribution, Terrik brought the ship out of FTL speed at the edge of the Karakk system. The planet of the same name was already in sight, glowing red like a poker from the intense heat. Loralona sat in the copilot’s chair while the other two stood behind them, gazing out the cockpit window.

“Come in at forty-one degrees,” Tola instructed.

Terrik altered the ship’s angle slightly as he brought Retribution toward the planet’s atmosphere.

“That should do it,” Tola murmured. “Now we just need to stay low and hope their sensors aren’t top of the line.”

As the vessel broke into the atmosphere, Terrik saw the shields automatically adjusting to the spike in temperature. Night had fallen over the planet. Ash and smoke swept over the ship in a haze, obscuring the bounty hunter’s vision.

“Dex,” Loralona said, “you can see better than anyone else. Make sure we aren’t about to hit anything not on the maps.”

The alien snorted. “Why sure, your majesty.” But Dex complied with her request anyway.

Pushing forward on the yoke, Terrik brought the vessel in a lean descent. As they neared the surface, Terrik’s eyes went wide behind his helmet. Molten lava spewed forth from at least three different volcanoes. Glowing red and orange lines spread out across the black soil like a spiderweb of fire. Steam hissed from where the lava flowed into the planet's only ocean. But it was none of this that caught the bounty hunter’s attention.

It was the massive battle already taking place.

“What’s going on?” Loralona asked, pointing toward the two ground forces clashing across the surface.

“The Coalition,” Dex answered through clenched teeth. “They’ve discovered the base as well, and they’re here to destroy it.”

“Then why don’t we let them?” Loralona asked. “They do the work; we take the credit; mission accomplished.”

Tola shook his head. “Bring us in closer.”

Terrik smiled. With the Coalition invasion underway there was little need to hide. Both armies would be too distracted with the other to worry about a small attack ship.

“Just as I feared,” Tola continued. “Coalition forces aren’t here to destroy the factory. They’re here to capture it.”

Loralona visibly paled beside Terrik. “But if the Coalition starts churning out plasma-resistant armor instead of the Regime, the war will be over. Even if the Earth Alliance and the Varrcaran Regime work together they might not have the muscle to stop a hundred Biomancers in that armor.”

Terrik saw Dex ball a meaty hand into a fist. “Then we stop them here and now while we still can.”

“What about the Earth Alliance?” Loralona asked.

Tola was already a step ahead of her, his smartphone connected into Retribution’s computers. Sending out an encrypted signal, he hailed the Earth Alliance’s naval leader, Admiral Jassant. A holographic image of a middle-aged woman in uniform appeared just as Terrik set Retribution down behind a small bluff.

“This is Admiral Jassant of the Earth Alliance Navy. This is a restricted channel. State your identity and intentions.”

“Admiral Jassant, this is Tola Kuris. I’ve discovered the location of the Regime factory producing plasma-resistant armor. It’s stationed on Karakk. The Coalition is attempting to seize control of the base as we speak. Requesting immediate backup.”

The Admiral barely showed any reaction to the news. “I’ll mobilize a fleet to send in. Best ETA is twenty standard hours.”

Tola cringed. “With all due respect, Admiral, the battle will be over long before then. Even if you can retake the factory, the Coalition will have copied a schematic of the armor off-world. In time, all of their Biomancers will be clad in that armor.”

Admiral Jassant rubbed her chin between her thumb and index finger. “Then you must find a way to capture the schematics before the Coalition does.”

Terrik and Tola looked out across the war-torn battlefield. Literally thousands of soldiers were fighting outside the complex.

“Respectfully,” Tola murmured, “I don’t know that we have the manpower to pull that off.”

“That is your primary objective. Secondary objective is to destroy the factory before the Coalition seizes control. Tertiary objective is to disable or destroy the Coalition’s starships so they can’t escape the planet.”

“What about forces already near this system?” Tola asked, ignoring her mission criteria. “Isn’t there anyone close who could lend a hand?”

“I will contact General Ottalla now and see if any reinforcements are near that sector. Good luck, Tola.”

Terrik rolled his eyes as the transmission ended. It was no wonder he didn’t care much for the Earth Alliance.

“We’re on our own,” Tola said, though whether to himself or the others Terrik couldn’t tell.

“What now?” Loralona asked. She looked through the scope of her Varrcaran issue plasma rifle. “The Regime has superior numbers, but they won’t last long against those Biomancers.”

“We have to destroy their ships,” Tola proclaimed. “In case we fail, that should keep the Coalition planet-side until the Earth Alliance fleet shows up.”

“They don’t need ships to send a copy of the schematics off-planet,” Loralona pointed out.

“True. But this may be the only planet capable of constructing the armor. If the Coalition mobilizes all their vessels here, the Earth Alliance fleet may not be able to stop them. If we take care of the ships, the Alliance can at least shut down the factory for good and quarantine the planet with minimal resistance.”

“I can handle that from Retribution,” Terrik said. “The base must be shielded—probably why Coalition forces left their vessels for a ground assault. By the time they realize what’s happened, I will have destroyed them all.”

“No,” Dex barked. The strength with which he said it gave Terrik pause. “The more powerful Biomancers won’t need a ship to stop Retribution,” he warned. “Someone like Janus could do it with nothing but his powers. We’ve seen that.”

Terrik grimaced. “Fair point. Then what’s your idea to hit all the ships before they launch a counterstrike?”

“You have demolitions, right?”

“Ten plastic explosives.”

“Use those.”

Terrik snorted. “Sure. I’ll just waltz up and introduce myself while I’m at it. It’s not like there will be any guards protecting the vessels.”

“I can do it,” Loralona murmured softly.

“If you’ve got something to say, Princess, then say it.”

Loralona ignored his remark. “Give me the charges. I can sneak past the lines and guards and set them without being seen.”

“I think you’re all overlooking one minor detail,” Terrik said. “If we use the explosives to blow up the Coalition vessels, we won’t have a way to destroy the base. Personally, I think that’s more important.”

“We can do both,” Tola suggested. “By placing the C4 in between the ships, it should rupture the fuel tanks and still destroy them all. Strategically placed, that should require all but two explosives.”

Terrik looked out the window at the massive factory. The facility was a metallic gray color, with steam belching from multiple smokestacks. Easily a kilometer in length, the factory was built into the side of a volcano. It stood on both sides of a running lava river, with a long, enclosed skywalk connecting the two enclosures.

It was hard to believe two plastic explosives could bring that down.

“I assume you have a plan for that giant building over there?”

Tola grinned. “No, but by the time we’re inside, I will. You and Dex head to the factory and stir up some trouble. Loralona and I will take care of the ships, then meet you inside.”

“You want us to get noticed?” Terrik asked, surprised, but not unhappy.

“The base will already be in confusion with the fighting outside. I want you two to pounce on that and do what you do best.”

Behind his mask, Terrik smiled.

“We can do that.”