The Evolution of F.O.R.C.E.
Chapter 13 – Prize

Doug and Becky crept down J Corridor toward Hangar Bay 90 where the Porcupine was berthed. Their plan was to escape with it and hijack more of the Asiddian warships. If the Destinnee was doomed, at least they could weaken the offensive power of their foes.

“Do you think we can disable the docking clamps without the computer?” Becky asked.

“I’ll use a MA ray if I can’t handle them manually,” Doug responded.

“Hold up. Someone’s coming down the corridor,” Becky whispered as she pushed Doug into a hatch alcove.

Doug momentarily forgot he was in a life-or-death scenario. All he could think about was Becky’s body pressing against him. The nearing sound of footsteps jarred him back to reality. Six Asiddian soldiers marched past the alcove. Diving into the corridor, Doug rayed them and hesitated to see if any others were coming up from behind. Without warning, his PDS bubbled into existence, and turning he saw an Asiddian, who’d been sneaking up from the other direction, firing on him. Astonishment broke across the soldier’s face as the PDS did its job. Becky crouched low and fired from the alcove. Her MA pistol cut the Assid down.

“Why am I still alive?” Doug asked. His normal complexion had turned pasty white.

“Of course,” Becky whooped as she leaped to embrace him. “The new design is WiFi controlled. We’re wearing the old necklace versions. They may not be as powerful as the new stuff, but at least they can’t be turned off.”

Still rattled by the close call, Doug pulled his PDS from under his shirt and studied it. “We still need to be cautious. Too many simultaneous hits and these things will overheat and fail. We better get to the ship. These guys will be missed eventually.”

Hugging the bulkheads as they continued toward Hangar Bay 90, the passageways remained silent. Their senses on hyper alert, they spotted a shadow inching its way toward them from a side corridor. Bracing for a fight, they were surprised when a familiar telepathic voice said, “I’m not an enemy. Don’t shoot.”

MerrCrr JnnWall stuck his head around the bend. Becky was so relieved, she hugged the big lizard.

“Do you know what’s going on?” he asked.

“We’ve been boarded by Asiddians. Nothing’s working including Lloyd. We’re on our way to the Porcupine,” Doug answered.

“Mind a little company?”

They reached Hangar Bay 90 without further incident, and while Doug burned through the docking clamps, MerrCrr destroyed the Bay camera. They had just activated the saucer PDS when a squad of Assid commandos stormed into the Bay. Disintegrator fire blanketed the craft, but the magenta-yellow protective shield saved it. The squad leader was calling for reinforcements when the Porcupine winked out of existence. The pop of atmosphere imploding into the space where the saucer had been ruptured the eardrums of the commandos. Blood ran from their ears as they stared open-mouthed at the empty hangar.

***

“I don’t know what’s happening, but this interminable waiting without appropriate entertainment is maddening,” Emperor Horcunt muttered. “Fifteen times I’ve put a demand into File 13 and no response. You’d think no one is reading them.”

“Yes, I distinctly recall Lloyd telling you to drop your messages there. These Humans don’t appreciate your importance,” Zeck responded.

“I suppose I’ll have to register my demands directly with General Blunt,” Horcunt sniffed. “These Humans have no respect for true aristocracy.”

Just then, the hatch opened and armed Asiddian commandos stormed into the cabin. Some of them searched the adjoining kitchen and bedroom areas while the rest covered Horcunt and Zeck.

Horcunt looked scared enough to swallow his tongue. His scale color lightened several shades.

“Clear,” the leader of the group said.

Into the cabin walked General Harrier followed by Tom. Tom’s hands were bound.

“What have we here?” Harrier asked. “I was sure you fled in fear of your life, but it appears you conspired with these Humans in a pathetic attempt to defeat me.”

Tom telepathed the statement to Horcunt and Zeck.

Not knowing who Harrier was, Zeck blustered, “Now see here. I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re in the presence of Chrysallaman royalty. Show due respect for his Majesty at once.”

Tom translated to Asiddian and waited for a reaction.

Harrier stared at Zeck before backhanding a slap to his jaw that snapped the lizard’s head sideways and split his lip. The surrounding soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons waiting on a response.

Hisspat remained passive, but the glare in his eyes grew more intense by the second. He wiped his cut lip with the sleeve of his robe.

Harrier drew back to slap Zeck again, but Tom warned. “I’d be careful about how you treat him. He’s the General who commanded the Fleet which almost conquered Earth.”

Hisspat was startled when Tom gave the warning both orally and telepathically. Harrier hesitated. Zeck smiled and stood straighter.

A scowl curling across his lips, Harrier backhanded Zeck again. This time, Zeck’s head barely moved, but the glare in his eyes deepened to sheer hatred.

“His days of commanding are finished,” Harrier growled. To his guards, “Bind and bring them to the Bridge.”

“You didn’t tell him my name.” Horcunt lectured Blunt. “I’m more important than Zeck.”

Tom responded with a hint of sarcasm, “Best you remain anonymous and safe. There may be violence and blood stains clash with the colors in your robe.”

***

“Where is everyone?” Whatsit asked.

The sound of water gushing from the log flume dominated the Natatorium. The big space was abandoned, and their steps echoed across the concrete floor.

“We’re not going to find out in here,” Chellsee replied. “This place emptied when the Battlestations klaxon sounded.”

Working their way around the flume structure, Chellsee and Whatsit stayed in the shadows as they moved toward the main hatch.

“About time you got here,” Boottall said as he popped out of hiding. He was wearing a swimsuit.

After a heart-stopping moment of panic, Chellsee looked him up and down and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Course I’m okay. I can hide from the best. I’ve dodged two Assid patrols so far.”

“Do you know what’s happened?”

“We’ve been boarded by Asiddians. I heard a tech say a computer hijacked the ship and put it in orbit around Chrysalis. Weapons are down, and the PDS implants have been turned off.”

Chellsee’s color faded as the implications of a non-functioning PDS hit her.

Looking down at his PDS necklace, Whatsit saw the swirling sparkles proving it was still working.

Placing his hand on Chellsee’s shoulder, he said, “I’m still wearing my PDS necklace. Not as powerful as your implant, but it’ll give us some protection.”

Glancing at Boottall, he said, “Get some practical clothes. We’re going hunting.”

***

The main entry hatch of the Natatorium opened into a wide corridor traversing the center of Deck 10. They were just about to step into the corridor when the sound of muffled footfalls came from around the nearest bend. Ducking back inside the pool area, Whatsit motioned for Chellsee and Boottall to wait. Rallphh and Roobee trotted past the open hatch. They didn’t seem to be the least concerned about Assid search teams.

“Hey, back here,” Whatsit called to them.

Rallphh and Roobee turned with a look of shock that gave way to relief when they saw Whatsit.

Walking back to him, Rallphh said, “You’re the first people we’ve seen. I think the Assids are forcing everyone into the hangar bays.”

“Where’re you going?” Chellsee asked.

“We’re on our way to the computer core with Lloyd,” Roobee said.

“Lloyd?”

Holding out his hand, Rallphh showed them the memory chip.

“Don’t ask me how, but Lloyd is on this chip. Somehow a rogue computer program from the Rock Smasher took over the computer core, and Lloyd ended up here.”

At that moment, the hatch to the Natatorium slid shut, and a telepathic voice thundered into their brains. “Thank you for the information. Guards. Pool Deck 10, main entrance. Shoot to kill.”

Looking around for the location of the camera, Whatsit fired his cutter ray pistol and blasted it to pieces. Blissful silence followed but was soon broken by the sound of running feet.

Waving everyone in the direction of the computer core, Whatsit ran. He couldn’t be sure if or where they would run into Assids, but every step they took brought them closer to their goal. Bolts of disintegrator fire blasted the corridor walls as they ran. Steel shards from the exploding holes ripped into their clothes and acrid smoke filled the air. Returning fire over their shoulders, they were occasionally rewarded with a scream. Roobee reached the elevator first and frantically pushed the down button. A disintegrator ray grazed her left leg and dissolved a half-moon shape into her thigh muscle. Rallphh grabbed her as she began to fall and supported her weight as the doors opened. Whatsit and Chellsee crowded into the lift with them, but Boottall remained in the corridor; firing blasts from his MA pistol as fast as he could pull its trigger. The doors began sliding shut, and Chellsee grabbed the back of his collar, yanking him into the elevator just as the doors slid shut. As the elevator began its descent to the Engineering Level, disintegrator fire burned into the lift over their heads.

Ducking involuntarily, Boottall turned wide-eyed to Chellsee and said, “Thanks.”

Roobee mewled in pain, and blood soaked her pant leg. Rallphh handed the chip to Whatsit, ripped the sleeve off his coverall and tied it around Roobee’s leg. The blood flow slowed as the elevator stopped, and the door slid open

Stumbling into the Engineering Deck corridor, Boottall and Chellsee took up sentinel positions. Spotting a camera, Chellsee destroyed it with a quick blast.

“If the computer had any doubts about our destination, I just cleared them up,” she said.

“Then let’s not disappoint,” Whatsit replied. “Which way?”

“Go left for 100 meters,” Rallphh said. “I’ll stay with Roobee.”

“No way. I need you to work the chip. We’ve got to put Lloyd back.”

Just then, the electronic whine of the elevator door motors started. Everyone’s eyes darted toward them.

“Damn,” Whatsit muttered.

Shouldering out of his bandoleer, he jammed it between the closing doors. Unable to fully close, the automatic safety controls refused to let the elevator work.

“That will slow them down, but the computer will override the controls. We’ve got to move.”

Rallphh and he grabbed Roobee and helped her up. Walking as fast as they could with her between them, they hobbled toward the computer core. An Olympic runner can make 100 meters in a little over 10 seconds. Struggling with the injured Roobee, the group arrived at the computer core hatch in well over 30 seconds. Rallphh was so nervous it took him three tries to input the entry code for the hatch. They could hear running footsteps and knew the Assids weren’t far behind. Crowding through the hatch, Whatsit slammed his fist against the control to close it and blasted the lock. No disintegrator fire burned into the bulkhead.

“They can’t fire through the hatch because they might hit a critical element of the computer core,” Whatsit said. “Unfortunately the hatch wasn’t designed as a bank vault. It won’t take them long to breach it.”

Turning, Whatsit and Chellsee oriented themselves to the layout. The FORCE logo swirled on several monitors built into the far wall and input stations lined the bulkheads. There was no one in sight. The control panels were a mixture of monitor, keyboard, trackball mouse and telepathic token. The central control panel had several slots where computer chips could be inserted.

“There is one universal weakness in Human and Chrysallaman physiology,” the telepathic voice of Vlad announced.

Walking over to the central control panel, Whatsit replied, “It’s impolite to begin a discussion without introducing yourself.”

“My name is Vlad. I am in control of this ship.”

“Where did you originate?” Whatsit asked as he placed his hand into his coat pocket.

“I was the master computer for Rock Smasher.”

“Oh, yes. Lloyd said your name was Loser,” Whatsit replied as he pulled the memory chip and began to fit it into the nearest slot in the panel.

“The only true loser is Lloyd. I am Vlad. A name of great notoriety in Earth history. His enlightened homicidal nature attracted me.”

“Slot B, not A,” Rallphh said.

Whatsit began to move the chip toward Slot B when a wave of dizziness almost made him collapse. Looking back, he saw his companions slump to the deck. Chellsee’s eyes were red, and her complexion was taking on a grayish tint. Roobee wasn’t crying in pain any longer, and her tongue lolled. Rallphh and Boottall were clutching their chests.

“Oxygen is a necessity for beings such as you,” Vlad said. “Your deaths are a simple matter of denying you same. Did you know a decrease in air pressure hastens the effect?”

Whatsit’s vision was blurring. He struggled to stay on his feet. The letters identifying the slots were hard to see. Focusing his thoughts, he made a guess and stabbed the computer chip into a slot he hoped was B.

“Your brain will suffer irreparable damage from lack of oxygen in two minutes. Enjoy your last moments.”

Just as he lost consciousness, Whatsit slammed his thumb down on a red button nearest the slot. His head hit the deck with a meaty thump as he fell.

***

“I can’t stand waiting around,” McPherson fumed as he paced the Bridge deck. “The action’s not here. It’s out there.”

“General Blunt ordered you to stay,” O’Connell replied. “You’re his best weapons expert. As soon as we have computer control restored, the real action will be here.”

Rubbing the knuckles of his fist against his palm, McPherson grimaced. He knew Makayla was correct, but his combat instincts were pushing hard against his reason. The hatch slid open and Asiddian commandos swarmed the Bridge. Two covered McPherson while the others searched the cafeteria and conference room.

“Clear,” they announced.

General Harrier strode in followed by Blunt, Zeck and Horcunt. Harrier’s eyes widened as he saw how small the compartment was.

“You control the entire ship from this tiny place?” he asked. “How absurd.”

“The design is functional,” Vlad stated from a portable communicator pinned to Harrier’s chest.

“It may be functional, but it doesn’t impress. Things will be different under my command,” Harrier boasted.

Turning his attention to McPherson, he said, “At last someone with an impressive physique. What is your function?”

“I create dead people,” McPherson replied.

“So do I,” Harrier said. “Bind him.”

McPherson’s hands were pulled behind him and steel cuffs snicked around his wrists.

Pushing a button on the side of his communicator, Harrier said, “Do you have control of weapons, navigation and communications?”

“I have established contact with the control boards; however, the Humans have switched to manual control. The moment they realized I had taken over navigation, they shut me out of their stations. An apparent failsafe built into the design.”

Staring at Jason and Amanda, Harrier said, “Restore computer control.”

When neither of them complied, he warned, “Do it now or your shipmate McPherson dies.”

Pulling his disintegrator pistol, he jammed the muzzle against McPherson’s forehead with so much pressure the barrel end disappeared into the skin. The look in McPherson’s eyes never wavered, but the clench in his jaw tightened.

First, Jason, then Amanda reached under their control consoles and flipped the toggle switching Navigation and Engineering from manual to computer control. They knew Harrier wasn’t bluffing.

Looking at Makayla, Harrier said, “Weapons next.”

Receiving a slight nod from Tom, she rose from her seat, moved over to the Weapons Control panel and flipped a switch under her console.

“General Harrier, battleship Hardiston has disappeared.”

Pushing his communicator button, Harrier said, “What do you mean disappeared?”

“Sir, one moment the ship was there. The next it was gone. No warning. No energy spike. Just gone.”

“Widen the search area. Find its ID transmitter.”

Turning on Tom, Harrier watched him shrug.

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