James Somers - Heir to the King

The airbus brought him into view of the hill where the Soone home was and he could see smoke billowing off of a smoldering pile of wreckage just outside of the garage bay entrance. It appeared to be a troop transport or what was left of it. Must have got here too late, he thought.

It was likely that Tiet was coming to see if his home had come under attack as well. He needed to get back and meet up with him and find out if he knew what was going on.

Wynn sent a thought to open the bus door as he grabbed the ledge along the roof and swung down and inside. The driver looked surprised as Wynn adjusted his garments and produced a transit card to slide along the reader.

"Sir, this bus has been commandeered by the military," said the driver meekly.

"What?"

He turned to see a group of soldiers, both Vorn and Castillian, beginning to rise with their weapons drawn as they realized who he was.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding."

Laser flashes erupted between the soldiers and Wynn as he intercepted several blasts with his kemstick. With a thought he sent all of the soldiers crashing out through the airbus windows. They fell a hundred feet down to the pavement below the airway lanes; leaving only Wynn and the shocked bus driver on board.

"Alright sir, turn this bus around and head back to these coordinates," said Wynn punching them into the driver's navigation system.

"Y-yes sir."

Wynn sat down in one of the chairs as the driver brought the large vehicle around and headed back toward his home.

DAOOTH waited as the intercom chimed for Teman's reply to his message.

"Yes?"

"Councilman, I was informed something has happened to Councilman Licoure; what's going on?!"

"Your king killed him. I told you he was no good, but you wouldn't listen. We'll be lucky if he's not already organized the Horva against us."

"That's absurd!"

"And yet Licoure is dead; killed with Tiet's own blade."

"I can't believe it, there must be another explanation."

"Believe it, Daooth. Estall has arrested him and put him into a special containment chamber. He's not going anywhere until he is tried by the Council."

"When is that taking place?"

"The Council will be meeting in emergency session in several hours to decide what action to take."

"May I be present at that meeting, Sir?"

"If you want. But don't expect to sway our decision by your love for the man. We will have justice in the matter. Be at the council chamber in two hours; the meeting will be a closed session."

The transmission was cut by Teman before he could reply further. He immediately punched in the transmission code for Wynn's home. The screen returned a "No Reply" signal. That was odd. He knew that Wynn was supposed to be at home this evening and he hadn't said anything about Tiet's involvement in the murder when he had talked to him hours before. He tried the secure band that fed to Wynn's personal com-link.

On board the airbus, Wynn's com-link beeped at him from his collar pin.

"Wynn here."

"Wynn have you heard what's happened to Tiet?!"

"I know our troops have turned on us. I was just attacked by a full squad at my home."

"Councilman Teman told me that Tiet has killed High Councilman Licoure, but I don't believe it."

"Of course he didn't, but where is he now?"

"Teman said that Estall has arrested him and placed him in a special containment chamber of some sort, but I'm not sure where."

"I know where it is. But why did the council order the attack on me?"

"I'm not sure; Teman didn't mention anything about you at all. Something is happening, Wynn, something behind the scenes."

"When I was under attack I sensed what I believe was the presence of the symbiotic creature that inhabited the Baruk years ago. I wouldn't trust anyone at this point. Anyone associated with the council or Estall and the military should not be trusted; in fact I think we should meet up at Nagon-Toth until we can decide what to do."

"How could those things have survived? I thought we wiped out the Baruk?"

"I don't know; it just doesn't make any sense."

"I have a meeting with the Council in two hours; they say they're going to decide what to do with Tiet."

"Skip it. It's not safe to be around them now. It could be a trap. They know you are affiliated with Tiet. Just meet me at Grod's compound as soon as you can."

"Alright, Daooth out."

Wynn wasn't going to the detention facility now. He had no chance of breaking in or out of it with the military guarding Tiet and looking for him. He needed Grod's help. He had one device that could get them in and out without a problem.

"Driver, change course. I want you to head for the compound at Nagon-Toth."

"But that's where the Horva are!"

"It wasn't a request," said Wynn leaning to the ear of the driver.

"Yes, Sir."

THE Whiplash skimmed above the highest airway lane alone. It was only moments before they had reached the hill where Wynn's home was located. All that remained of it was a large heap of smoldering debris and one retaining wall. Kale could see the military presence all around it. They had already attacked, but they were still dispersed around the area like they were looking for something.

Kale hovered at a distance but the word must have already gone out to look for them. An armored carrier lifted off and was headed in their direction.

"What do we do?" asked Emil.

"What else, blow it out of the sky!"

Emil locked all guns and fired on the carrier. Sparks and fire billowed across its surface as it continued to come at them.

"It's still coming!!"

"Armor's too tough. Hold on!"

Kale brought the Whiplash around and fired the thrusters. The ship gunned away toward the city with the carrier lumbering on behind them. On the scanner several targets came into view.

"We've got company!"

Several faster ships took up pursuit as the Whiplash shot into the maze of tall skyscrapers. Kale buzzed around one of the buildings and full throttle came around on one of the pursuing ships. Emil took the initiative and blasted away at the military viper fighter, shredding its rear and midsection. The other three vipers reorganized and took up the pursuit again as the Whiplash spun away from the kill.

A symbyte controlled pilot locked on the Whiplash and fired a homing beacon. It attached to the hull undetected. Their orders were not to engage the ship, just place the homing beacon. The remaining fighters disengaged and the Whiplash burst away from the city toward the wilds beyond.

Normally it would have been a good place to hide with all of the huge trees and jungle area; it was easy to lose a ship in all of it. Most people were lucky to get out alive because of the vicious wildlife that dwelt there, including a large number of the feral Horva. But the tracking device would allow them to find that ship no matter where it went on the planet.

WHEN the airbus arrived at Nagon-Toth, Grod was already waiting on the platform.

"You might as well stay for a while," said Wynn to the driver.

He nodded nervously as he looked from Wynn to the gathering entourage of Horva on the platform.

The door opened and he descended to his old friend.

"My friend, Daooth has already briefed me on the situation with Tiet. I'm confident you have a rescue in mind, yes?"

"Absolutely. We'll need the best team you can put together,"

"Of course,"

"And we'll need to use the transgate to get inside the compound where Tiet is being held."

"At your disposal, anything you need to set him free," said Grod. "Daooth told me about some setup for murder."

"It's not so much about that, Grod. It's those symbiotic creatures that controlled the Baruk. They've survived somehow all this time since the war; apparently taking up host among our people. They're behind this plot. I was attacked at my home by scores of soldiers, some under their control and others who have been caught up in this plot unknowingly."