The Search for Gram (23 page)

“Well, at least he got it airborne,” said Sergeant ‘Mr.’ Jones.

“I’m not sure that’s necessarily a good thing,” said Master Gunnery Sergeant Hendrick as he watched the shuttle yaw as it approached, and then rotate extremely nose high. “Now he’s got to set it back down again.” Suddenly, the courtyard seemed a lot smaller. “Oh shit! He’s going to try to land it
inside
the castle’s walls.
CLEAR THE COURTYARD!
”

The shuttle continued to pitch, roll and yaw as it hovered, mostly, above the courtyard and began descending.

“I think he’s going to make it,” said Hendrick as he watched.

“No, he’s not,” said Lieutenant Rrower, bounding away from the impending catastrophe. “
Run!
”

The shuttle’s wingtip screeched as it slid down one of the walls, spraying sparks and pieces of metal around the courtyard. After a couple of seconds that lasted an eternity, the shuttle yawed away from the wall, and the squealing ceased. Calvin slowly worked the shuttle down although it continued to awkwardly gyrate. He regained control of the ship, only to have it suddenly fall the last 10 feet, crashing hard to the ground.

Unlike the Terran shuttle, the boarding ramp on the Efreet shuttle was in the front, so Calvin and the vizier were the first ones out.

“Not too bad, eh?” said Calvin as he walked across the courtyard to where the other Terrans waited. “Any landing you can walk away from is a good one.”

“Limp away from, you mean,” said Master Chief as he hobbled up after Calvin. “Hey, does the right strut look bent to you?”

“Everyone’s a critic,” replied Calvin. He turned back to Hendrick. “Were you able to get the suits and the lasers?”

“Yes, sir, as well as Lieutenant Rrower, who was waiting with them.”

“Master Gunnery Sergeant Hendrick thought you might need some help,” said Lieutenant Rrower, “so I came along.”

“Good to have you,” replied Calvin. “Where are the suits?”

“They are inside the castle, guarded by Sergeant Hiley,” said Hendrick. “I didn’t think we wanted to advertise their presence, nor did I want any of them walking off with one of the locals. Paul said he’d keep an eye on them.”

“Good thinking,” said Calvin. “Let’s get everyone into their suits and back on the shuttle. We need to get up to the destroyer before the bombing starts.”

Wendar, Day 7 of the Second Akhet, 15th Dynasty, Year 14

“The Aesir weren’t on the first floor.”

“Oh, no?” asked Rock.

“Well, if they were, they were hidden somewhere that wasn’t immediately apparent to anyone walking through the facility,” replied K-Mart. “I searched the jail for over an hour, and didn’t find them.”

“Do you suppose they are on the second floor or in some sort of dungeon?”

“I don’t know,” replied K-Mart, “and I didn’t know how long the rod would keep me invisible, so I wanted to come back and let you know what I had found.”

“I thought you didn’t find anything,” said Rock.

“I said I didn’t find the Aesir,” said K-Mart; “I
did
, however, find several interesting things.”

Rock raised an eyebrow.

“First, I found a workshop that looks like it was built for the Sila, or some race fairly close in size to ours. I’m guessing Sila, because there were six Sila working in various sections of the area, with several Jotunn watching them closely.”

“Any idea what they were working on?”

“No, unfortunately. It was something mechanical, but I couldn’t tell what they were working on and didn’t want to give myself away by trying to talk to them. We can always go back.”

“Good plan,” said Rock. “What else?”

“The second thing I found was a bunch of Sila in some jail cells. These were different; while the six in the workshop were all males, the 20 or so in cells were all females and children, and they didn’t look like they had been fed very well. They were all thin and pretty sickly looking.”

“Could they have been affected by whatever the “out of universe” disease was the vizier told us about?” asked Rock. “The Sila aren’t native to our universe, so maybe they were wasting away from it. I wonder how long they’ve been there.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” said K-Mart, “but now that you mention it, the males were also thinner than any we’ve seen since we got here…even the starving astronauts.”

“Okay, we’ll add them to the list of people to be rescued once Calvin shows up with some ships and suits,” said Rock. “You said ‘several’ things. Was there something else?”

“Yeah, I think I found the main admin offices,” said K-Mart. “There was an almost continuous stream of giants coming and going through one of the doors, so I figured it had to be either the jail’s administration or sleeping quarters. Since we saw a bunch of other buildings outside of the jail facility, I ruled out berthing and decided it had to be the facility’s administration. If there’s a head honcho, I suspect we’ll find him or her there.”

“So, mate, when are you going back to check the second floor?” asked Rock.

“
We’re
going back right now,” said K-Mart, holding out his hand. Rock took it, and they both vanished.

“You know, sir, this thing doesn’t seem to wobble as much in space as it does in the atmosphere,” said Master Chief as he looked over Calvin’s shoulder.

“Maybe I’m getting better at it,” Calvin replied. “Did you ever consider that?”

“Yes, sir, I did,” said Master Chief, “and I’m pretty sure it’s just that it doesn’t wobble as much in space as it does in atmosphere.” He waited for the inevitable sigh and then added, “Sella and Trella are right; you do sigh a lot.”

“I have a question,” said the vizier. “What happens when the ship tries to contact us?”

“You’ll have to answer them,” said Calvin. “I don’t speak their language.”

“That much is obvious,” replied the vizier; “however, I am wondering what your plan is if they want to see the pilot they’re talking to.” He tapped a little bubble on the instrument panel in front of Calvin. “The manual says that this is for video communications.”

“Really?” asked Calvin. The vizier nodded. “Shit.”

“I do not believe shitting will help the situation,” the vizier replied. “Oh, I see, you intend to coat the lens so they can’t see you?”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” said Calvin. “I was just…wait; I have an idea.” He turned to Master Chief. “Go get Bob and Reeve Farhome, quickly.”

“Is it possible more will make it off-planet?” asked the
Incinerator’s
commanding officer.

“I do not know the situation on the surface,” replied the colonel. “The locals developed some sort of jammer that kept our outposts from communicating with us. Based on that, I thought it prudent to get the queen off the planet.”

“As you should,” said the commanding officer. “We will give our troops a little more time to see if any of them are able to make it to a shuttle and get off-world. Then we will make the Sila pay for thinking they could rebel against our rule.”

“What are your intentions?” asked the colonel.

“I intend to make their planet burn,” replied the commanding officer. “We will nuke them from orbit until there are not enough left to think about developing technology for
centuries
. We will turn them back into subsistence farmers again. They will work…
and they will work for us!
They thought us harsh taskmasters before; they have not begun to see what harsh really looks like!”

“You will leave enough of the planet that we can restart the colony, of course?”

“Of course!” said the commanding officer. “She will never need to fear the air she breathes. We will start over on one of the smaller land masses. The capital, however, is going to be ash. Your men have another hour to get off-planet, then the bombs will start falling.”

“Sir!” called the radar officer, “I have a target coming up from the planet.”

The commanding officer nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Verify they are indeed the colonel’s men.”

“You don’t think the Sila could fly a shuttle do you?” asked the colonel.

“No, I don’t,” replied the commanding officer, “but when the queen is aboard my ship, I don’t take any chances.”

“The identification on the shuttle shows it is
Shuttle Five
,” said the radar officer.

“Thank you,” said the communicator. “I’m calling them now.”

The radio came to life. “Shuttle Five,
this is the
Incinerator,
over.
”

“There is a ship called the
Incinerator
trying to call a
Shuttle Five
,” said the vizier.

“If no one answers,” said Calvin, “then we must be
Shuttle Five
. The next time they call, answer them.”

The radio crackled to life again, and the vizier answered. After a few back-and-forth comms, the vizier turned to Calvin and said, “They asked our cargo and intentions. I told them we were the last shuttle out, and that we had barely made it. I also told them we had six troops on board, and that we took fire that damaged our gear and some other systems.”

“Think they bought it?” asked Bob.

Calvin shrugged. “We’ll just have to wait and see…”

“Sir, the shuttle confirms they are
Shuttle Five
and said they were the last ship out of the capital. They said they have six of the colonel’s men onboard.”

“It will be good to get some more of my men back,” said the colonel.

“I can confirm the shuttle launched from the capital, sir,” said the radar operator. “They are, however, flying a little funny, and their radar signature looks a little off.”

“They were damaged by local fire,” said the communicator. “One of their landing gear was broken, along with some other systems.”

“That makes sense with what I’m seeing,” said the radar operator.

“Did you have video of the pilot?” asked the commanding officer.

“No sir, audio only,” said the communicator.

“Call them back and get video of the pilot.”

“Yes, sir,” said the communicator. “Shuttle Five,
please give me video of the pilot.
” His video screen lit up with the picture of a male Efreet.

“
Is there something I can do for you?
” asked the shuttle pilot.

“
No, we’re good.
” The communicator turned to the commanding officer. “Video confirms the pilot is an Efreeti.”

“Understood,” said the commanding officer. “Pass docking instructions and welcome them aboard.”

“They believed us,” said the vizier. “They just sent us docking instructions.”

“Awesome,” said Calvin. “Nice job everyone.”

Bob got out of the pilot’s seat and squeezed past Calvin. “I’m not going to get in trouble for impersonating an officer, am I?” asked the trooper.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” said Calvin. He turned to Farhome. “You can turn him back to normal, please.”

“Aw, he looks better in black,” replied Farhome. “Okay, never mind,” he added, seeing the look on Calvin’s face. He reached over and touched Bob’s face, and Bob’s features changed.

His color faded from black to gray, and his face transformed from Efreeti to tyrannosaurus rex. Corporal Bobellisssissolliss, or ‘Bob’ for short, was a member of the Kuji race from Domus. The planet had joined the Republic of Terra the year before, and their troops had been serving with the Terran armed forces ever since.  In addition to Bob, Corporal ‘Doug’ Dugelllisssollisssesss was also a member of Calvin’s platoon; several others had joined the space fighter squadron.

“Any problems?” Calvin asked the vizier.

“Not really…they just wanted to know why we were flying so badly.”

Calvin sighed. “Everyone’s a critic.”

Jotunn Jail, 14 Herculis ‘a,’ Unknown Date/Time

“That’s not what I think it is, is it?” whispered K-Mart. The sole occupant of one of the prison wings, the silver creature uncurled from the ball it had been sleeping in. Its wings stretched, and its head soared to over 20 feet high. Golden eyes turned to look in their direction.

“If you think it’s a dragon, then yes, it is,” replied Rock. “Holy–”

“It’s a dragon who could hear you coming half a cell block away,” said the dragon. “And I could smell you from further. It’s a good thing the Jotunn are neither particularly intelligent nor observant, or I’m sure they would have found you, too, invisible or not.”

“But
you
can see us?” asked K-Mart.

“No,” said the dragon, “but I have been following your activities for a while and hoped you would make it up here.”

“Why is that?” asked Rock, as K-Mart pressed the button which made them visible again.

“Because I want you to let me out, of course,” said the dragon. “Why else?”

The Terrans looked at each other, not sure what to do.

“
What do you think?
” commed Rock. “
He’s obviously an enemy of the giants.
”

“
True,
” replied K-Mart. “
Just remember an enemy of our enemies isn’t necessarily our friend.
”

“
But, he is also not your enemy yet either,
” replied a third voice. “
Freeing him from his prison would go a long way toward confirming your status as a friend.
”

K-Mart looked back at the dragon. “A telepathic dragon?”

“Most intelligent beings are,” replied the dragon. “Are you not? How do you talk to each other without speech?”

“We have implants in our brains which allow us to,” replied K-Mart. “It is not something we can do naturally.”

“Well, of course not,” replied the creature. “You have to be led to enlightenment; very few individuals ever find it on their own.” He paused and then asked again, “So, are you going to let me out of here?”

“I’m reminded of a quote I saw on a t-shirt growing up,” said K-Mart. “It said something about not meddling in the affairs of dragons because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.”

“Do either of you have any ketchup?” asked the dragon.

“No, I don’t,” replied K-Mart.

“Then you are safe,” said the dragon. “I don’t have any either.”

“I will let you out of there,” said K-Mart, “but there are a few questions I’d like to ask you before I do.”

“I don’t appear to be going anywhere,” said the dragon. “What are your questions?”

“Before I ask them, we haven’t been formally introduced,” said K-Mart. “I’m Lieutenant Dan Knaus, and this is Lieutenant Pete Ayre.”

“Yes,” said the dragon. “I know. K-Mart and Rock. I am Bordraab.”

“Why are you locked up here?” asked K-Mart.

“The same things great minds have always been locked up for, throughout all of history,” said Bordraab. “Subverting the masses, brainwashing children, et cetera, et cetera.”

“Really?” asked Rock.

“Of course not,” said the dragon. “I’m locked up because the Efreet came to our planet and took some of us off to give to the Jotunn, who wanted to use us in their arenas as victims of their sport. When they found out their best champion was not a match for even the weakest of us, they stopped putting us into the arena. When they found out we were telepathic and could coordinate a jailbreak without any indications, they split us up and sent us off-planet.”

“If you were so dangerous to them, why didn’t they just kill you?” asked Rock.

“Because they said they wouldn’t and, believe it or not, they are true to their word,” said Bordraab. “As telepaths, we knew their word was good when they said if 10 of us would return with them to their universe, they would spare our planet. They told us we would fight in their arenas, and if we survived, they wouldn’t kill us. So here I sit, not being killed by them…and yet, every day I feel my strength and health fading away.”

The dragon made a rumbling noise in his throat, and the Terrans realized he was laughing. “I, however, am under no such promise,” Bordraab added. “If you let me out, I intend to kill as many of them as my strength allows. Better to die in battle, rending my enemies, than to slowly waste away. And
that
is why I want to get out.” Bordraab’s head spun around to look down the hall. “
Quiet!
” he said. “
They come.
”

The Terrans went invisible as two Jotunn approached, talking to each other while they conducted their rounds. One carried something that looked like a cow’s leg the same way a human might carry a turkey drumstick at a county fair. The giant offered the animal leg through the bars to Bordraab. Recently severed, it still dripped blood.

“Here dragon,” the guard said. “Want a treat? It’s nice and fresh.”

When the dragon tried to seize it, the guard pulled it back out and took a bite. Both guards laughed. “Too slow,” said the one with the animal leg as they walked off down the corridor.

“That’s Plan B,” said the dragon once they were out of sight.

“Oh?” asked K-Mart.

“Yes,” said the dragon. “He does that every day, and every day my reaction has been slower and slower. They think it is because I am wasting away, which I am, but I have been feigning how slow I really am. Plan B is to take his arm off in the next day or two when he is the one holding the keys. I think I can get the door open before they can call for help; if so, I might be able to escape.”

“It is my intention to engineer a much larger escape than just you,” said K-Mart. “If you could be patient a little longer, I will return with aid and try to free everyone.” He paused, thinking. “You said you weren’t from this universe, correct?”

“That is correct,” said the dragon. “The Efreet brought me here in one of their ships. They used it to cross over to this universe. Why?”

“Because freeing you is only half the task,” replied K-Mart. “We also need to get you back to your universe, and I don’t think the device I have will transport something, I mean, someone as big as you.”

“Just a moment,” said Bordraab. He closed his eyes and laid his head on the floor.

The Terrans waited.

And waited.

Finally, when K-Mart had come to the conclusion that the dragon had gone to sleep, the golden eyes opened. “There is a device which will take me back to my universe,” he said. “It is on the level below us, not too far from here. There is also someone there who will use it to take me back to my universe.”

“He knows how to use it?” asked Rock.

“He should,” replied the dragon; “he built it.”