James Somers - Heir to the King

Dorian shouted, "What's happening?!"

"I think the explosion of the Vorn ship has triggered a reaction in the rift!" shouted Orin as Millo fought hard to bring the Saberhawk back under control.

"I should do a sensor sweep of the quadrant and see where other Vorn ships are and what those things were that destroyed that ship. Maybe we have an ally on this side."

"Well, whatever they are they don't like the Vorn," said Tiet.

The data on Orin's display began to be replaced by other information.

"There is a planet nearby," said Orin. "It's habitable. The readings look identical to Castai. I'm showing some other activity in the near vicinity. It looks like more Vorn battle cruisers near the planet and an orbiting station of immense size. This planet could be their home. I'm picking up a large amount of random energy fluctuations; it looks like another large explosion of a vessel similar to the one that almost hit us. Take us toward the planet so we can get a better look at what's happening."

"It looks like someone is doing all the fighting for us," said Tiet.

"Weapons and shields are all charged and ready. We're going in," said Millo as he brought the Saberhawk about on course for the nearby planet. The Saberhawk was a fast ship; the distance at full speed would be about twenty minutes.

As they drew near, Orin worked to get a visual of the battle taking place ahead. A tactical map replaced part of the information on the display. Markers representing various sizes of Vorn space vessels moved about on the screen as faster moving dots representing the mechanical spheres intermingled with them. Another large vessel disappeared from the map along with two smaller Vorn ships that had been near it.

"Those things are slaughtering the Vorn fleet," said Tiet.

"It's about time someone gave it to them," replied Millo.

Orin continued to focus on the tactical data coming across his monitor. Just because these mysterious spheres were decimating the Vorn ships did not necessarily mean they were allies. The tactical map was still tracking all the engaged vessels, but the Vorn spaceship signatures were rapidly disappearing from the display. Each time a vessel exploded, approximately twenty spheres were destroyed with it. The objects were clearly running suicide missions, and quite effectively. But why?

"What are we going to do when we reach the battle, Orin?"

"I'm not sure, but at current speed there won't be many Vorn ships left when we arrive."

Orin recalibrated the scanners to bring up a more accurate visual on the display. After a few adjustments a visual appeared showing two remaining Vorn vessels with spheres swarming about them. Explosions were erupting at various places along their massive hulls as the spheres strafed the lengths of each vessel with powerful energy weapons.

The individual spheres moved in concert and soon the last two ships were braking apart on the Saberhawk's display. Even watching the Vorn being soundly defeated could not erase the feeling of imminent danger.

The spheres were too deadly for the Saberhawk crew to be happy about the victory; and what if they turned on their ship next? There seemed little chance of surviving such an attack if the entire Vorn fleet of space cruisers could not. So far the massive Vorn space station was left unharmed. Orin's computer showed some one hundred thousand people were aboard it.

"I wonder why they didn't attack that space station?" asked Tiet.

Before the last syllable escaped his lips, a massive beam of energy emanating from some point beyond the planet, smashed into the Vorn space station, knocking out its shields and further vaporizing one quarter of its surface area.

"Where did that come from?!" shouted Millo.

"I don't know. There's nothing on the scanners…just empty space."

Within moments, another powerful burst slammed into the station. Without shields to buffer the blow, the structure shattered like a window pane. Several large sections of debris quickly began to fall toward the planet; dragging through the atmosphere as white hot material vapor trailed away during its descent.

"That's an unbelievable amount of power coming from somewhere," said Tiet.

No longer content to stay in his chair, he joined Orin at the systems control station, with Dorian close behind.

"Millo, I think the planet would provide us with at least some protection; better than just sitting out here."

"I'm all for that. Setting course and speed."

The Saberhawk veered away from their course and headed toward the planet, hoping to avoid whatever predator was lurking nearby and find further information about what was really happening on this side of the rift.

VALE was unable to discern the trouble that was occurring around the ship. Wedged inside the landing skid housing, the android had no view of the surroundings. Except for vibrations given off through the hull of the Saberhawk, and some flashes of light, all was quiet in space. It was time to break into the ship and acquire his target again. He did not have proper schematics for the vessel. But he was within the shield perimeter of the ship, and any weak place in the hull would suffice for an entry point.

Using the hypermagnetic discs in his appendages, the android climbed out of the skid housing and began to cross the surface of the ship. As he came across the top of the Saberhawk, Vale spotted a docking hatch. He crawled toward it, paying little attention to the nearby planet they were approaching. The android located the emergency panel and peeled it away effortlessly to reveal the keypad underneath. He applied his hand to the pad and sensors beneath his pseudo flesh began to scan the internal controls. Within moments his processors had decoded the lock and applied the code.

The outer hull door unlocked. Vale turned the manual lever and released pressurized gases as the bulkhead doors parted, allowing him to enter the vestibular area to await atmospheric equalization. The outer door automatically closed and the area re-pressurized to match the interior of the ship. Once it was completed, the interior door unsealed itself and opened to allow Vale free access to the interior of the Saberhawk.

"Orin, I'm reading a hull breech."

"What? Where?"

"The docking hatch has just been opened and resealed again."

"Sensors still show we are the only life forms on the ship."

"Is the area pressurized?" asked Tiet.

"Yes. I'm still showing normal atmospheric conditions in the cargo area."

"Alright I'll check it out."

"We'll check it out," followed Dorian.

Tiet didn't even try to argue the point with her, and the pair moved quickly through the passageway from the bridge toward the cargo hold.

When they reached the cargo bay, Tiet tapped the switch on the bulkhead to release the door. As he stepped into the area the computer automatically brought up the lights. Heavy footsteps grew rapid and close, and then paused as the illumination came on.

"Move, Dorian!" he shouted pushing her aside.

He was barely able to draw his sword in defense before the android came down from above with its own ignited weapon. The force of the blow nearly knocked Tiet off his feet. Instinctively he forced back with his kinetic power, trying to compensate for the android's greater physical strength.

He ducked down and rolled away then leapt back toward the menacing robot; slashing at it with all of the fury he could muster; but each strike was defended against and countered by the android.

Dorian got back to her feet quickly with her own sword drawn and ignited, but she was keeping out of the way for now. Tiet hoped she would not intervene. He and Vale were exchanging strikes at a dizzying pace. Tiet was using the two-handed fulcrum technique taught to him by Orin long ago, and also incorporating his kinetic power for speed and agility enhancement, but he could not get past Vale's blade to strike.