Year 3506 of the Leron calendar. It is late summer, and yet spring has just arrived on the equator of my home planet. Luckily, I am on a diplomatic mission, far away from the biting cold of my home. I plead for aid from our neighbors, the Ternavack, hoping they can help. They are the closest species to us and a long-time ally of the Leron. Was it luck? Or does the universe hate me? My efforts are a success, and I am elated. A massive fleet of supplies bound for my home, destined to save millions of lives, is finally on route bound for the jump gate. In late summer, news spreads like a roiling flame, crushing my spirit. My home, hailed for its marvelous volcanic spires, of pitch black glass, was wiped out. Not just the people, but the planet itself, turned to an orbiting cloud of Debry. Never again will I fly through the wondrous mountains of Kerthonadil. Author Vergil Tesar.
(Callie)
Callie watched an extremely detailed holographic image on her comm, scrolling out the display to get a bird's-eye view of their current location. Her comm, linked to the ship's systems, gave her access to the ship's databases as well as its star map.
They were on the fringes, only a couple hundred light years from their neighbouring sector. Callie's home sector, Antau, was bordered by the Zercal sector, and was luckily separated by a relatively short distance of three hundred light years. This area of space was called the fringes, and it bordered their entire sector..
It was a good thing there were no longer any active jump gates crossing the divide, as their neighbours were arguably worse than the sun eater. Their neighbors, the lifeless legion, had a sickening goal, to rid every world of the boundless energies of the art and purify the universe.
Their methods ranged from blowing up planets to forcibly ridding entire populations of their reservoirs, leaving them as nothing more than soulless husks. That was not the worst part. The lifeless legion somehow twisted the minds of their converted. Callie was well versed in history, but it was still unclear how the lifeless legion made people change sides?
Of course there was speculation, but that was just here say. At least the sun eater took a nap after killing a planet or two. Whereas the lifeless legion sought to cleanse all in their path. You might be thinking, how can a couple hundred years of travel in space deter such a force?
The answer to such a question is that it can't. Every decade or so, the legion would show up on a fringe planet for some mayhem and slaughter. The surrounding nations would even team up and put them down like rabid animals. Even hundreds of years stuck aboard a tin can weren't enough to stop the lifeless legion. Callie knew that the only reason the legion was kept at bay was the mind-boggling expense of traveling such a distance. No doubt most ships that took the journey didn't even make it.
Callie zoomed the star map in, focusing on a cluster of dots separated by only thirty light years. Etria, and one of the empire's worlds, Saleia, were so close to each other on the star map they were practically touching, yet they were still so far away. Zooming all the way out on the star map to see the entire galaxy made her mind whirl. On this scale, stars were hardly even pin pricks and her home sector was nothing more than the size of her pinky finger in relation to the size of the galaxy.
Seeing the galaxy's size was always a humbling experience. Not only that, but their neighbouring galaxies were almost as large. A bead of excitement filled her as she kept zooming out, taking in their local group of neighbouring galaxies.
So far, she had only visited a mere speck of her home galaxy, and yet there was so much more to see. After cutting ties with Etria and making an enemy of the Zrixians, she was a free woman. She could essentially go where ever she wanted.
Callie glanced over at Taniya, watching the young woman's light blond hair sway in an artifical breeze as she moved. Or at least she had cut ties until a Wiley teenager decided to run away and complicate things. Not to mention the fact that the Slax wouldn't just leave Taniya's home empire alone.
Callie didn't particularly care about Zrixia aside from a few people. And one of them was with her. Callie pursed her lips. It was too bad that Dustin and Peyton were still in the empire. She really didn't like the thought of the empire losing the war and her friends dying.
What's worse, even if the empire won, Dustin might die. She doubted that ruthless woman Veronica would coddle her son and keep him safe. Maybe if she helped from the shadows, her friends would have a better chance of survival?
Taniya smiled as she noticed Callie's gaze, her bright hazel eyes lighting up with excitement. Well, at least Taniya seemed exited for this adventure. Callie pursed her lips. Robbing only the slax would make building a pirate empire difficult. Callie seriously doubted Taniya would agree to robbing her people. Callie could work with that, as robbing the Slax and their allies would accomplish several goals at once.
The display blinked spasmodically and her heart thudded in her chest as Purdin narrowly avoided crashing into several small vessels darting amongst the docking bays. The Grack arka moved into the shipyard at a glacial pace. Purdin only used the maneuvering thrusters of the ship so as not to slam into anything with too much force.
Callie stood ready, prepared to flex her art and bracket the bow of the ship in a dense barrier of negative energy. Callie's heart raced as she watched Purdin guide them in, controlling the massive frigate with care.
She was itching to step in and pilot the ship, but this was good practice for the crew. Or at least that is what she told herself. The most she could do was prepare for a collision, and shield the ship with her power to avoid something tragic from happening.
She couldn't shield the whole ship, but if she was fast enough, she could shield either the nose or a relatively small portion of the side plating. She gripped a bulkhead tightly, taking deep steadying breaths as the frigate nestled into some massive docking clamps.
Her mind and body strained, her reservoir draining at a staggering pace as her barrier on the nose cone cushioned the impact of the ship settled into the docking clamps with too much force. The ship rocked and came to a halt, jostling violently as the clamps secured the ship.
She let out a breath of relief, releasing the thick barrier from the nose cone of the ship. It was truly a miracle that the ship made it back without falling apart or blowing up in its condition. The ship was truly in a sorry state, making her worry it might blow up. That was why she used her art to cushion the ship during docking, deciding the risk was worth it if it meant not blowing up..
That last phase shift to enter the shipyard's star system nearly rattled the ship apart. Even Shimmer looked relieved now that they were in a secure place to receive repairs. No one seemed to notice the immense strain she went through to dampen their impact and let the ship settle gently into the docking clamps. Her back was drenched in sweat, but for all the world she looked calm.
The strain of stopping the gargantuan frigate even at its slow pace was immensely taxing, but she persevered. Sure, taxing herself so much was a risk, but if she didn't reveal her weakened state, no one would act. With the sketchy docking procedure over, Callie released her death grip of the bulkhead and saunter forward.
Callie, ever conscious of her surroundings, noted Taniya approaching her from the side. Taniya narrowed her eyes, picking up on Callie's tense stance. Taniya, for her part, looked excited. "Whats with the sour face? We finally get to go out and explore something other than this tiny ship."Taniya said excitedly.
Callie waved a hand dismissively, acting as though she wasn't drained. "Of course I'm excited to leave the ship. However, you need to stay focused. This is not a vacation, but a chance to gain influence with various powerful factions in the underworld."Callie replied.
Taniya pouted, glancing around the ship, practically bouncing in excitement despite Callie's words. The young woman looked like a kid given access to a room full of candy.
Callie glanced at Shimmer, who seemed ecstatic to hear that Callie was embarking. The Tallax's white, fluffy tail was swishing back and forth in anticipation of Callie leaving.
With that brief glance, Callie made an assessment. Shimmer was no doubt planning on cutting her losses and running as soon as Callie left the ship.
Over the last ten days, this predicament was put to the back of her mind, deemed future Callie's problems. She grimaced internally. It was her own star blasted fault for procrastinating. Threats were not enough, as Shimmer would run every time if there was nothing to be gained. The galaxy was vast, and a single pirate ship would be next to impossible to track down.
With that in mind, Callie met Shimmers' bright yellow eyes. "How long will it take you to get in contact with a buyer for the raw composites?" Callie asked.
"It should take a few days to find a buyer and sell the goods. It won't delay our departure, as it will take a couple weeks to get all the repairs and upgrades for the ship."Shimmer said helpfully. Callie nodded and turned to Lenny.
"Very well, Lenny, get in contact with the dockmaster. Show them a list of our wares, as well as how much they are worth, and get the repairs started. First, I want the Phase drive, and the fusion reactor to get a full overhaul. Once that is done, I want the stores restocked with ammunition for the ships' guns, and our missile magazines resupplied. I don't care if we have to take a small loss on the sell of the goods as long as we get the ship to working condition."Callie said.
Lenny perked up, sauntering over, his brown fur perfectly combed and trimmed as usual. "How much of a loss are we willing to take? Going directly through the dockmaster will insure a huge tax from the three pirate lords and the owner of the entire shipyard. It will cost us roughly thirty-five percent more to go through the dockmaster." Lenny said.
"Who can we go through to get the best price?" Callie asked. Lenny flicked his fluffy tan ears excitedly. "If we get in contact with the pirate lord Yergan, we can probably get the price down to a solid ten percent interest. But that is unlikely, as Yergan only gives that discount to allies and friends. I still think we should get in contact with Yergan, as we can probably save fifteen percent in fees, maybe more."Lenny said, shrugging his furry shoulders.
Callie nodded. She had been meaning to come in contact with this Yergan, and the pretence of selling composites was the perfect ruse to get close. "Lets hold off on everything but an overhaul of the fusion reactor and the Phase drive. We will take a minor loss, but I do not wish to delay the ship being repaired for too long. After you discuss the details with the dockmaster, set up a meeting with Yergan."Callie said.
"Yes commander! Ned, can you put me on with the dock, master?" Lenny asked enthusiastically, strutting away, his tail bobbing up and down excitedly.
Shimmers' calculating expression soured, as Lenny was clearly more than willing to work with Callie. More than that, Lenny looked excited about new, interesting things. "Do not fret Shimmer, I will not hold Lenny hostage to force your compliance."Callie said, testing the waters a bit. This was a conversation she had been avoiding for days now, and she wondered how Shimmer might react.
"With all due respect Commander, you have been keeping us all captive aboard this ship for almost two weeks."Shimmer reply hesitantly. When they first met, Shimmer would have never been so bold, but they had lived together in close quarters for weeks now.
Also, Taniya was standing next to Callie, giving Shimmer some sense of security. Surely their monstrous commander wouldn't go murder happy with her friend in the room?
"Once I am off the ship, you are the captain once more. However, I still expect you to work under my authority."Callie said calmly.
"And why would I bother doing that once you are gone? I can simply leave you in this shipyard."Shimmer stated, keeping an eye on Callie's expression in case she was offending their ruthless commander.
"When I boarded your ship, you surrendered without a fight. I simply came in and asserted my authority. Don't be mistaken, Shimmer. I could have taken the ship by force, killing every one of you in the process."Callie said, her eyes like cold dark stars.
Shimmer licked her lips nervously, her tail and ears lowering in fear. "What incentive do I have to continue following you?" Shimmer asked, looking away from Callie's icy stare.
"You surrendered to me when I boarded this ship. By right of combat, that makes me the owner of this ship. If you wish to stay aboard my ship and remain captain, I am fine with that. However, that means you will be required to report to me, and follow some certain stipulations."Callie said.
"Can I have some time to think about it?" Shimmer asked, hesitantly. Callie folded her arms, staring the Tallax pirate in the eyes.. "You have one minute. If you do not wish to be a part of my crew, you may leave my ship unmolested."Callie replied coldly.
Shimmer gaped at her, her face like a dog who just lost his toy. "But this is my ship!" Shimmer shouted, losing her calm. "No, this is my ship. If you do not wish to work for me, you may go."Callie said calmly. Despite her calm expression, Callie's body radiated a palpable killing intent.
To add to the effect, she tapped her reservoir, and the surrounding air crackled ominously. There was a long silence as everyone on the bridge looked on, watching the spectacle. The two pilots in the room pretended like they couldn't hear the conversation, focusing solely on their instruments. To the low-ranking pirates, this conversation was far above their pay grade.
Taniya and Lenny, on the other hand, looked either concerned or scared in turn. The silence dragged on until an extremely unhappy Shimmer finally replied, gritting her needle-like teeth.
"Very well, I will stay aboard the ship as captain."Shimmer replied, her eyes still glinting with calculation. Callie nodded and turned to leave. As though it was on second thought, she turned, snapping her fingers, drawing Shimmers' attention.
"Oh, and Shimmer. Those who betray me will receive a worse fate than Gervan and Jeremy."Callie replied, her tone light hearted, but her eyes cold. With her threats delivered, Callie walked towards the docking bay with Taniya and Lenny in tow. Lenny had on his soft suit, and appeared to be talking, with his outer speakers muted.
Taniya looked somber, her enthusiasm dampened. "Whats the matter, T?" Callie asked, giving her friend a curious glance. "Was it really necessary to threaten Shimmer like that?" Taniya asked, looking upset.
"Of course, Shimmer was planning on leaving us here. And don't forget, Shimmer may put on a pleasant facade, but she is a bloodthirsty pirate. If I don't keep them in line, they will go back to their usual methods of wanton robbery and murder."Callie said calmly, ignoring the fact that Lenny was listening in.
Lenny, seeming done with his discussion with the dockmaster for the moment, butted in. "The commander is not wrong. Most of the crew are criminals of some sort. They are mostly desperate people seeking a way to make a living, or to get away with heinous acts."Lenny replied with a shrug..
Taniya blanched."What crime did you commit? Why are you a pirate?" Taniya asked, turning towards Lenny. "Fraud."Lenny replied simply.
Taniya gaped at the young Tallax. "You can't just say fraud. Come on, give me details."Taniya asked, sidling up next to Lenny.
The airlock cycled, and they exited the ship into a wide hallway. Upon exiting the ship, the floor and wall plating changed, but that wasn't the biggest change. The gravity felt weird, and Callie glanced around curiously. She felt heavier, like she was wearing thick, weighted clothing. Lenny for his part let out a sigh of relief, looking far more relaxed.. The massive foxlike alien stretched, rolling his shoulders from the heavier gravity.
They walked down the short hallway, boarding an elevator. "How long do you think it will take to get a meeting with Yergan?" Callie asked, her nose crinkling as the elevator open to the rank smell of floor cleaner. The smell of synthetic lemon wafted over her, making her crinkle her nose.
"To get in contact with their faction, it shouldn't take long. However, a meeting with the head boss themselves is highly unlikely unless you have something that they might find interesting. Yergan is known to be a collector of weird and unique items, and will often meet personally if the item is something they don't have."Lenny replied, his bright yellow eyes lingering on Callie's knife.
"You want me to put my knife up for sale?" Callie asked with a raised brow, glancing at Taniya. The young woman's dreary mood faded slightly, and she perked up, smiling mischievously. "You don't need to sell it, just use it to get close to this Yergan fellow before taking them out."Taniya replied, smacking her fist into her open palm.
Callie ran her fingers along the hilt of the extremely rare knife that could channel the art. It was pretty much unique, created by the Secari, and modified by Dustin for her use. Not just that, but the brown leather belt had beautiful stitching with black spider and green webs spiraling across the face of the smooth leather. It was one of her most prised possessions, a gift from both Taniya and Dustin.
"I dont know. I will consider it if we don't have any other options. T, do you have anything interesting?" Callie asked, turning to Taniya. "Don't look at me. The only thing I have worth any value is my p5, and it's only has sentimental value."Taniya replied, resting her hand on the butt of her pistol protectively.
They walked down a wide corridor, and before long, the source of the odd smell grew sharper. It was a large bot, moving along the hallways and shining every surface to a mirror gleam. It looked sort of like a box, only the box had tentacles that shot out in every direction, cleaning every surface around it.
Within ten seconds, the bot was down the long hall, not bothering to pause its frantic pace of cleaning for anything. Lenny gave them a bemused look. "What? Have you never seen a cleaning bot before?" Lenny asked. Taniya spoke first. "Of course we have, but not one so odd looking."
"It looks like an octopus in a box trying to escape, while being attacked by a hive of angry hornets."Callie said. Taniya burst out laughing. Lenny shook his head, his perfectly groomed tan fur jiggling at the movement. "Where did you meet the commander? She is the weirdest human I have met?" Lenny mumbled.
Taniya patted the shoulder of Lenny's soft suit, seeming much too friendly with the young Tallax after such a short time. "Don't you worry, Lenny, you have only just seen the start! Commander Ark-an gets weirder the longer you know her." Taniya said reassuringly. Lenny didn't look reassured in the slightest as they navigated through the halls, avoiding the docks' many bots.