Vaughn Heppner - The Lost Starship

“For now, I’ll keep the guns, thank you,” Maddox said.

“You don’t trust me?”

“Correct,” Maddox said.

Dana scowled. “You know you’re never leaving Loki Prime, don’t you? You’re as much a prisoner here as we are. Welcome to hell, Mr. Intelligence Officer.”

“Doctor,” Maddox said. “I know you aren’t that simple-minded. Consider the evidence. Two warring factions have come down onto Loki Prime for you. You have become a valuable commodity. That won’t stop until one side or the other has you.”

“You don’t need me,” Dana said. “Let Professor Ludendorff help you board the murderous alien sentinel. He knows more about the vessel than I ever will.”

“I respect your intelligence and cunning. Your statement means you want to know if we have Ludendorff or not. We do not, although we have his notes, or some of his notes. Star Watch Intelligence has also gathered a crack team to break into the sentinel. The last piece is you. Time is our enemy, Doctor. If you prefer to fester on this hell-world…”

“How do you propose we get off?” Dana asked.

“We need my flitter, its radio at least.”

Dana studied him. “You’re claiming to represent the Star Watch. Yet, your enemies came down in a Star Watch shuttle.”

“I’ll save you time from trying to pry the rest of the information from me. We’re both operating in secrecy. The New Men have infiltrated spies and traitors into High Command, and we’re no longer sure who to trust.”

Dana was obviously processing his words. “Okay. At least that’s logically consistent with my observable facts. I’ll help you get off Loki Prime if you take us with you. After that, I make no promises.”

“Done,” said Maddox.

Dana became thoughtful again, finally saying, “I doubt we can capture the shuttle, though. Despite the missiles, they still have too many people and machine guns. We have our flintlocks.”

“If we can reach the flitter, I can call for reinforcements.”

“Help me up,” Dana told Meta. When she was standing, with one arm over Meta’s shoulders, the doctor gingerly touched the back of her head. “You hit me too hard. I’m feeling sick.”

“You have my apologies,” Maddox said. “Still, you’ll have to lead the way. I should also let you know that if some of your people try to sneak up and shoot me from concealment, you or Meta will be my first target.”

“You mean Meta, then,” Dana said, “because you’re still hoping to convince me to help you with the sentinel.”

“I think you’ll find soon enough that I mean exactly what I say,” Maddox told her. “Let us proceed on that understanding.”

Dana stared at him as if she could divine his inner thoughts. Finally, she indicated to Meta to help her walk out of the hideaway.

In the distance, Maddox heard muffled flintlocks discharging. Once, a heavy assault rifle made sustained noise. Afterward, the number of flintlocks firing lessened.

“It sounds like a running fight,” Meta said. “I hope one of them killed the torturer at least before dying.”

Once more, the cavewoman’s voice struck Maddox pleasantly. In another setting— no, don’t go there. You can’t afford to have anything mar your judgment .

“Torturer,” Maddox said. “They must have grabbed some of your tribe before, doctor, to try to force them to reveal your location.”

Dana glanced at Meta before saying, “You don’t miss much, do you?”

“Sorry,” Meta muttered.

Doctor Rich shrugged. “He has all the advantages. Don’t worry about it.” With Meta’s help, she limped along. From time to time, Dana squeezed her eyes shut, and she groaned twice.

Maddox didn’t think she was faking. It wasn’t if the doctor had a concussion, but how badly.

Keith began breathing heavily, and he rubbed his chest several times.

After a while, Dana halted and shuffled around. Sweat slicked her face. “You seem to be playing fair with Meta and me. I ought to tell you then that we have even less time than you realize. The other tribes, both higher and lower, will be coming to investigate. They’ll know something catastrophic has happened. Each tribe will want to salvage what they can from us. We live like vultures down here.”

“By all means, increase your pace,” Maddox said.

They continued to move under the gloomy trees. The smell of smoke strengthened, and the sound of flames increased.

“The fire’s growing,” Dana said. “What do you know? No one figured that was possible. I’ve heard old-timers say tribes have tried to burn each other out with a forest fire. The soil and trees are too wet to make it work. When those missiles hit, they must have spread enough flammable substances to burn long enough to dry out nearby trees. It will be good to remember that—in case we’re stuck here for the rest of our lives. Manufacture enough gunpowder and maybe we can burn out the Stone Dogs after all.”

Maddox was only half listening. He kept analyzing their situation. Earlier, hidden scouts had paced them. Those scouts had hooted a warning, but they didn’t seem to be there anymore. What had happened to them? Likely, once they’d seen Dana had made it to the hideaway, they must have run back to help against the shuttle crew. He bet each prisoner dreamed hours a day of ways off the planet. Even though the New Man was deadly, Dana’s tribe kept trying to snipe him and the shuttle crew. They obviously wanted what was left of the shuttle.

Beside Maddox, Keith wheezed. The bubbling in his throat sounded worse than before. The pilot turned his head and spat red-stained saliva. Maddox wondered if Keith realized the significance of the color. He hoped not. He wanted the ace upbeat for as long as possible.

“This way,” Dana said, indicating a faint trail.

Flintlock fire had intensified again, although it remained muffled in the distance. A heavy assault rifle opened up. A person screamed. It was a shrill and continuing noise.

Keith swore under his breath as he shifted his shoulders.

Dana noticed with seeming interest—Maddox watched her sidelong. He digested her awareness, trying to figure out what it meant. He didn’t care for the screams either, although he could compartmentalize his unease so it didn’t interfere with his present task. The point to remember was that this was Loki Prime. Here lived some of the most ruthless people in the Commonwealth. Many of those would use what they considered as squeamishness or weakness against a person. Dana was a hardened denizen of this place. Maddox knew it was important never to forget that.

Ahead of them through the undergrowth, a hidden man muttered incoherently between wheezing inhalations. With a sting of recognition, Maddox realized it was Sergeant Riker.

Dana must have heard him too. Her step slowed.

“Hurry,” Maddox said.

She did, and in seconds, they came upon a gargantuan flattened bush and trampled ground. There were two crushed lines through the spider grass. Maddox frowned until he realized those were wheel marks.

The flitter—it was gone! How were they supposed to get out of here now?

Calm, stay calm—think . By the signs, someone had taken the flyer. They hadn’t taken the sergeant, however. Maybe he knew what had happened.

Riker sat on his rear with his back to them. He fiddled with his arm, muttering, trying to—

The sergeant woke up. He found the package . Keith had asked him about the box earlier. The packet had held Riker’s prosthetic arm. The sergeant had become lucid enough to fit the arm into his socket. Now, it appeared as if he was trying to turn it on, maybe make adjustments.

“Sergeant,” Maddox said.