Untold Stories of a Galaxy - Kysaek: The Beginning
A skirmish on Arche - Everything is allowed

PGI’s attack had come faster than expected, and there were a few more ships than Brandon had stated during his interrogation. A cruiser, accompanied by a few frigates and smaller escort ships, had blown apart Arche’s less-than-advanced mercenary fleet with a surprise lightning attack, keeping them busy as much as possible, while PGI had sent out a dozen or so bolt droppers and assault pods that burst over Arche like glowing meteors, landing in several positions. Craters were created and several stone house fronts were smashed through by the transporters. Despite the force of the attack, everything seemed relatively haphazard and desperate, judging by the fact that the few forces the company had to offer were scattered instead of being concentrated on Reed’s landing site, or was there a tactic behind it? Were the different locations intended to distract from the actual plan? Or was Skarg simply so out of touch with reality that he massively underestimated the combined power of Arche? The mercenary hoard, with its guards and customers, was happy to take up the fight and resisted the attacks with tremendous counter-pressure, but the real battle would soon be fought elsewhere.

At least that was Kysaek’s case, for she had long since returned to her ship and was sitting in her command chair. She had merely been following the messages and displays on Arches public broadcast channel, as well as the news her small team on the ground had shared with her. Kysaek’s goal was different, but Galaen, Stemford and Vorrn had advised her not to fixate on just one possibility. The opportunity was simply too favourable for that, with all the chaos in the city. ‘Are you getting anywhere?’ she asked, over the ship’s own comm channel.

The signal was not entirely noise-free. ‘If making progress means getting stuck, then yes,’ Tavis replied. He and Thais were in the city and the occasional static was further drowned out by the constant gunfire and explosions.

‘How bad is it?’

‘Oh, not for us at all!’ replied Tavis dryly. ‘It’s all going up around us, but only the rest are doing each other in and we’ve got a great front row seat to this performance.’

‘No unnecessary risks,’ instructed Kysaek anxiously. The two of them were all alone and as clever as the Palanian and as strong as the Talin were, there were limits to their power. Kysaek knew that, and she wouldn’t trade a second of one of those lives for a hint of success. ‘If necessary, hold out in your position and try your luck after the battles.’

‘I don’t know if that’s possible,’ Tavis replied uncertainly. ‘PGI have already slaughtered their way through half the landing site and we can’t let them get away with the evidence!’

’But I know that I appreciate your commitment! So don’t let them kill you, do you understand?’

Thais had understood. ’I’ll make sure that Tavis and I fulfil your order! We’ll be in touch later!’

Yes, Kysaek believed the Talin and trusted them both. This allowed her to concentrate fully on her own mission. ‘Have we finally got the location?’

‘The analysts and I have found the connection,’ Dorvan replied via comm. ‘It’s only a matter of seconds until we’ve determined the location.’

’Very good. Send Selok the data as soon as you have it.’

’Verification is complete. Data transmitted.’

‘I like this kid,’ Selok said gruffly, from his pilot’s seat as he set the ship on the appropriate course. ‘A Davoc, sharp and to the point, without a lot of talk.’

Kysaek reprimanded the pilot weakly. ‘There’s a reason for that.’

‘A few more could have that.’

‘Lead by example and get us safely to our destination,’ Kysaek ordered. The pilot puffed once, but didn’t say anything in response to her words while she made an announcement to the ship. ’All stations of the Nebula! We’re setting course for the transport ship we’re looking for! Highest vigilance for everyone and have the Enter crew ready at the airlocks!’ This finally felt right to Kysaek, all together. A goal, a good crew and the Nebula. That was the name that almost everyone had unanimously chosen and it couldn’t be more fitting, Kysaek thought.

At least after Doctor Askar had mimed the philosopher and explained her suggestion, because what was the crew of this ship but a restless puff of stardust? Different particles that together formed a large whole, with bright colours. A thin nebula that you could hardly tell existed and yet it was there, travelling through the galaxy for millions of years. Beautiful, but sometimes dangerous.

‘You know, I thought I knew at first,’ said Vorrn as he made his way around the command seat, his big lizard tail whisking slowly back and forth like that of a lurking cat. ‘But now I don’t quite know what to think about you.’

‘That makes two of us,’ Kysaek countered. She didn’t let the Hishek unsettle her and stood up from her seat, as she had no intention of just waiting while the rest fought the battle. ‘What am I supposed to think of you, Vorrn?’

‘I care as much as the sand on the bones of my rotten ancestors.’

’Really sincere. Aren’t ancestors something sacred in Hishek culture? Or are you not very close to your family?’

Vorrn let his vocal cords vibrate in lizard fashion and had his mouth slightly open, but otherwise he reacted normally to the statement. ‘My blood doesn’t matter here,’ he simply replied. ‘And you, you’re an ice-cold bitch.’

Ice cold? What could the Hishek possibly mean? Kysaek looked questioningly. ‘Because I sent Thais and Tavis to this hell?’

‘That’s what I mean,’ said Vorrn, following the woman from the bridge and walking with her along the corridor to the airlock, where the Enter crew was already gathering. ‘You’re crying your eyes out because you sent your cannon fodder into a miserable hole that you set on fire.’ The Hishek almost laughed, finding it amusing, though he continued to speak in his blunt, indifferent manner. ’Hundreds or thousands will die on Arche and it won’t affect you for a second and if Taer ever finds out, ha! That’s really good stuff, for a splendid and funny story.’

‘But it’s not funny!’ said Kysaek in a huff and stopped. Loud words echoed in the corridor and she didn’t really want such a topic to be heard by everyone, so she at least lowered her voice. She hadn’t really thought about it until now, but the accusation, if you could call it that with Vorrn, justified her. ’Taer allows people like Reed and Skarg and other scum to go about their business unchallenged on Arche! What’s happening there now is what these people do to others!’

Vorrn’s features changed. Where there had just been the leathery wrinkles of a joke, a disgusted expression now tightened. ’It seems I was wrong. You are not cold as ice. You’re a moral hypocrite ... the most dangerous thing in the galaxy.’

‘Am I wrong?’

’No, but that’s irrelevant. There are also inhabitants on Arche who have a normal day job. How do you feel about them?’

‘Normal residents won’t fight.’

‘And that’s why they won’t die,’ said Vorrn sarcastically. ‘Your attitude is naive and pathetic.’

’What would you have done differently? What makes you a judge?’

The Hishek braced himself on his muscular legs and stood up in front of the woman. ’I’m behind the plan. The weak deserve their lot and we do what we do because we can. So don’t pretend you weren’t just thinking of yourself when you came up with your idea. Until just now, you didn’t give a damn about anything around Arche.’

‘Perhaps you are a killing machine without emotions and think you know better,’ Kysaek replied, undaunted by the lizard’s stature. However, she avoided a direct answer. ’But I don’t have to be like you and I never will be and now you get ready for battle! That’s why you’re here, for the big fight!’

Vorrn’s nostrils quivered and a gush of hot air rushed out of them irritably. ‘If it’s there, you won’t have to ask me to do it,’ he growled lightly and briskly left the woman behind him. ‘This next fight isnt´big and just a matter to keep me amused!’

If there was one thing Kysaek could rely on, it was the Hishek’s threat. Despite tensions like this, he was a more than proven soldier and, she found, was gradually fitting in with the group. At least when it came to fighting.

Alone and vulnerable, PGI’s lone, colourless and unmarked transport ship held its ground in space. It stretched over two hundred metres and had a rounded cone shape, similar to the head of a male Calanian. The fast approach of the Nebula could not be detected by the PGI ship’s sensors, nor did its crew suspect anything, and visual contact was impossible anyway because, like most ships, this transporter had no windows.

A well-placed space torpedo from the Nebula was enough to disable the engines of the PGI ship before it turned its left side towards the enemy transporter and extended more than just the protective connecting tube of its access airlock. Hidden flaps in the steel of the hull, next to the tube, opened and magnetic steel anchors shot out and ate into the outer hull of the PGI transport.

Even as the Nebula’s task force rushed through the tube, they could hear the sound of blaring alarm sirens beyond the enemy’s heavy airlock. A system of powerful plasma welders integrated into the tube cracked the airlock within seconds, just as the Enter squad was halfway through. A powerful prismatic thrust was now all that was needed to tear the sliced steel from its mould. The way was open and the alarm was much louder in the tube, with no sign of waiting PGI defenders at the smuggler. No doubt an effect of the surprise attack the Enter team used to secure the entrance without firing a single shot. There were multiple paths from the airlock and small teams of two swarmed in each direction, where they were eventually greeted by enemy fire. Hot, green plasma charges flew around the confined space, melting parts of the steel and plastic of the inner ship’s panelling they encountered. The Nebula’s intruders were not among them. Those hit. Plasma weapons were also their choice, however, and the volunteers from the consulate knew how to handle their equipment much better. They were a well-rehearsed team and superior to PGI’s guards, who didn’t even wear the E of the Elite on their armour and quickly retreated deeper into their ship. Everything happened so quickly that Kysaek in the second row could barely keep up, but she also took part in the fight. Soon, however, there were no more areas for the enemy to surrender and evade, and while the unarmed part of the PGI crew, placed here and there in different areas, surrendered without a fight, the enemy soldiers were blown apart and everything finally led to two hopeless, stubborn situations. One at the engines and one on the bridge, where the last remnants of the survivors and militia companies still willing to fight were holed up and refused to surrender.

‘It looked good so far!’ said Kysaek over the radio frequency. She had caught up with the assault group near the bridge, led by Stemford. The door there had long since been blown open, but beyond the frame there was a mobile energy shield and from inside it came a constant stream of fire that made it extremely difficult to advance without losses and forced Kysaek, like the rest, to take cover behind the corners of the access corridor. ‘But this and the engines could take a long time and every second is precious!’

Wolfgang was also on the bridge in the third row. ‘Your time management during operations is a disaster!’ he stated soberly. ’Either you wait forever or you have to do everything at record speed! Have you ever heard of yin and yang?’

‘Are they Sororanian twins?’

‘That´s just a sad answer!’ groaned the scientist. He couldn’t believe this modest question at first, before regaining a certain amount of confidence, as this guileless statement made perfect sense. ’But somehow Sororanians also get to the heart of what I said! Balance! You clearly lack balance!’

‘That goes on my list, right after the current problem!’

Galaen gave her input from the Nebula. ‘We still have time!’ she said thoughtfully. ‘We’ll only get into trouble if the PGI fleet becomes reinforcements and, according to their frequencies, they’re involved in hopeless battles above Arche, with no chance of a successful escape!’

As if the situation had been planned exactly like this, which it basically was, Kysaek tapped his helmet boldly. ’So you see, Doctor? Now we have balance.’

‘And how do we use that now, or do you think you can get those stubborn employees of the month out of their hole with your nimble tongue?’

Why not, thought Kysaek and agreed. ‘Not a bad idea really, it’s worth a try - cease fire!’ she ordered on the spot and her team immediately ceased the attack.

The same could not be said of the resistance, as they continued firing, but not for much longer. Only from the distant part of the engines came the muffled sounds of gunfire, but here the pause was used for other purposes. ‘You’ll never make it this far!’ said a heated, female Palanian voice. ’And soon our reinforcements will be here! You have no chance and will die if you don’t retreat quickly!’

‘I was just told the other way round!’ Kysaek clarified as she remained in cover. ’Your fleet won’t make it away from Ark and you know it and we know it! We’ve tapped into your communications, so lay down your weapons and surrender!’

‘We can hold out for a long time and eventually, our reinforcements will come!’

‘Maybe, maybe not,’ Kysaek conceded to the soldiers. However, she and her companions had come so far that they would not retreat. It made her stomach ache, but she left no doubt for her enemies, even if it might mean suffering casualties in her own ranks. ’We’ll get you out of there, one way or another, and I promise you that we’ll use our full power at the latest when we hear that new trouble is on the way and before anyone shows up here, you’ll be dead and we’ll be gone with what we want! Or you can choose option B and surrender! We’ll take you prisoner and hand you over to the consulate!’

The Palanian woman had obviously heard the news and knew exactly who she was dealing with. ‘It’s just a trick!’ she said. She didn’t quite believe it. ‘What would the Consulate have to do with you?’

’A business secret! But I can promise you all that it’s fair! My people and I found out for ourselves and you probably don’t even know what you’re involved in! At least not all of you!’

’We have our mission! That’s our job! What do you know about it?’

It sounded naive and honest to Kysaek, just as she once thought herself. Just a job. ’In case you’ve all forgotten, but I was in your armour once. I didn’t realise what I was involved in. It was my job that I did without much questioning and it got me into bloody trouble! But now I’m on the right side and I’m alive. You can do the same, at least live. Where and on which side you end up is your decision!’

Nothing came for a moment, until a typical question was asked by the calmer Palanian. ‘How do we know you’ll keep your word?’

’Look at your crew. You can see all areas of the ship on the bridge and you’ll realise that we let everyone who surrendered live. We are not blind butchers and murderers - we are not PGI.’ Despite this blow from Kysaek, neither the Palan nor anyone else retorted to her defenders. Instead, she heard mumbling, apparently a consultation about the situation and that took time, during which the crew of the Nebula also whispered among themselves, as Kysaek ‘Apparently the soldiers are not averse to my reason.’

‘Impressive work,’ said Wolfgang, with a small tip. ’I guess they just needed someone who was on their level. Is that what you call collegial servitude?’

Under her helmet, Kysaek’s mouth twitched upwards. ‘Let’s save the analysis for later.’

‘If that works.’

‘Let me clear up your doubts, Doctor,’ Kysaek replied. She put her gun away and carefully slid her arm round the corner. No shot was fired and the rest of her body came out of cover. ‘I think we si-.’

‘YOU BASTARD!’ the Palanian shouted and dozens of plasma charges flew through the inside of the shield.

The attack was too surprising and Kysaek was out in the open. Her reaction lagged behind and several shots flew straight at her, one very close to her heart. Suddenly she was knocked over from the side as a figure appeared and pulled her to safety.

Together they both crashed at Wolfgang’s feet. ‘Bastards doesn’t exactly speak in our favour,’ the scientist stated bitterly. He separated the fallen men from each other and patted them down. ‘But at least you’re both still in one piece.’

Kysaek only now processed the moment and recognised her rescuer. ’Whew, that was damn close! Thanks!’

It was squad leader Stemford who had reacted so quickly. ‘That was extremely risky and reckless, ma’am!’

‘In short, I’m stupid!’ Kysaek replied as he stood up and helped the squad leader to his feet. ‘But that’s no reason for me to be constantly Ma’am, it makes me feel really old.’

‘A workout is a workout, ma’am!’

‘Time for a new workout.’

The Palanian cursed furiously from the bridge. ’You dirty terrorists! You just killed the team at the engines and you wanted to do the same to us!’

‘Jesus Christ!’ Wolfgang implored. Near the corner, the plasma melted away the steel and he moved away from the glowing hearth ‘Vorrn and Dorvan must have missed the memo and were more thorough than us!’

‘Unfortunately, I guess so!’ agreed Kysaek. She hadn’t expected things to happen so quickly with the engines and had only announced her intentions to the bridge, but that was of secondary importance now. Now the situation here had to be resolved. ‘It looks like we’re going to have to storm.’

Wolfgang gave his new analysis of the situation. ’Option B was a failure and A would be mindless wear and tear. How about option S instead, S as in smart?’

‘What do you have in mind?’

’The life support. The primary lines normally always run along the main routes of ships and have checkpoints for maintenance. I go to one of those points and plug in. Then I shut down everything on the bridge: Shields, oxygen, pressure and temperature control. It’s like being in space. They won’t survive that.’

New barrage fire came from the bridge at short intervals and Kysaek agreed to the plan. ’The soldiers don’t want it any other way! Do it!’

‘But you have to keep it under control,’ explained Wolfgang, who took no pleasure in his forthcoming task, as a battle of lustful Vorrn would. ’The door is destroyed and the defence shield on the bridge is not an atmospheric shield and lets everything through on the inside. That’s where you and your prismatics come in. Create a strong barrier to isolate the area, otherwise it’ll backfire quickly and we’ll get hit. Especially if I play with the pressure - bad thing in space.’

‘Strong?’ Kysaek asked uncertainly, looking at the palm of her right hand, which she clenched into a fist. ‘How strong?’

‘We’re talking about enormous powers here, even if it’s only for a short time.’

‘I don’t think I’ll be able to do this on my own,’ Kysaek admitted. She had become better during her long escape, but she was still a long way from being an experienced and powerful user like Thais. ‘I’m not that good yet.’

‘We have a trained, good prismatic on site,’ Stemford said, already looking in the direction of his soldiers and then to Wolfgang. ‘Do you think two will be enough?’

‘I think that since none of us have an atmosphere shield generator in our trouser pockets, we’ll have to work with it,’ the doctor nodded seriously.

‘Understood!’ Stemford replied and looked at his leader. ‘Your orders ma’am?’

‘Let’s get on with it!’

‘Yes, sir!’ Stemford saluted curtly and murmured militarily. ‘To’Pal, fall in!’

A Galig immediately followed the squad leader’s order and looked at the ground. Some areas were glowing with hot plasma, which he had to avoid, and with a cinematic, hasty roll to the other side, he simultaneously evaded the enemy barrage. ‘Stand by, sir!’ To’Pal reported.

’Soldier, we need your prismatic abilities. Together with Kysaek, you will create a barrier that will completely isolate the bridge area and not allow even the smallest particle to pass through! Enormous forces will act on this shield!’

‘We’ll do it, sir!’ saluted To’Pal, his fist clenched and his arm bent in the consular form. ‘Ready when you are, ma’am!’

‘Another one of those,’ Kysaek sighed, looking at Wolfgang. ‘Take Stemford with you for safety!’

The scientist couldn’t help but grin as he hurried away. ‘As if I needed a babysitter.’

‘That’s for your protection,’ Stemford replied, walking close behind the man. ‘Think of me as your assistant, if that makes you happier.’

‘Ha, since when do soldiers get to promote themselves?’

Kysaek, meanwhile, gathered herself inwardly. Despite To’Pal’s support, she was unsure whether she could do her part and luckily no one could see her face because of the helmet, otherwise the Enter crew might have had their doubts too. But now she couldn’t waver and let her people down. Yes, that gave her the confidence she needed and helped her overcome her doubts. She wanted to give everything for her crew so that no one would come to harm. ‘Ready, To’Pal?’

‘I can hardly wait for the scientist’s word, ma’am!’

‘I feel the same way!’ Kysaek replied clearly and firmly. All that was missing was the word, the now.

‘I’ve found a checkpoint,’ Wolfgang reported a few minutes later. ’I hope you’re ready. This is going to be pure science and nobody can stop it!’

‘Give us a lot and we’ll get started!’ replied Kysaek, who was in the starting blocks with To’Pal, like sprinters before an important race. The continued enemy fire from the bridge left them both cold and their bodies were already shimmering with prismatic energy.

’You’re about to start! Attention - go!’

Almost in sync, Kysaek and To’Pal tore around the protective corner, already creating a wall of solid, white-hot prismatic energy in front of them. This also protected them from the attacks of the PGI soldiers, who only intensified their fire on sight. The Prismatics quickly extended the energy to the edges of the corridor and without taking a step forward themselves, they pushed the shield in a lightning-fast act to the energy barrier of the bridge, where the fronts of both shields collided harshly, but no energy gave way.

The shots fired by PGI could not change this until they stopped and the Palanian soldier raised her voice. ’Destroy the shield! Get in here and you’re dead!’

Nothing was further from the Nebula crew’s minds and the Enter soldiers waited patiently while Kysaek and To’Pal concentrated on maintaining the barrier. The effort was enormous, but she was still able to cope and her attention increased all the more when the lights went out beyond the barrier and Kysaek could literally feel something pressing against the wall from the inside. It was as if someone was pressing directly against her glowing hand through which she controlled the field, and Wolfgang wasn’t lying. Every muscle, every tendon, simply everything in her body was being challenged and if it had been her hand before, now it seemed as if her legs had to lift a particularly heavy Eporan. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Just about, yes!’ To’Pal breathed heavily. The Galig had to fight just as hard, despite his military training. His stance was more secure, however. ‘This could end badly in a minute!’

’Hang in there! Together we can do it!’ Kysaek cheered him on, while under her armour she could have sworn she was in a sauna and would probably have sweated out five litres of water by the end of this action. ‘Just a little more!’

It was hard to tell, because the darkness on the bridge meant that nothing could be seen and not much could be heard. No death screams or falling bodies gave any indication of the situation. Only the disappearance of the energy shield and Wolfgang’s radio message did: ’It’s almost done! The life signs have disappeared and I’ll restore the normal state! Until then, you have to keep the shield up!’

Soon couldn’t be fast enough, at least for Kysaek. She maintained the barrier with To’Pal, but unlike him, she fell to her right knee, barely able to do it much longer, although she could feel the pressure easing.

‘One more moment!’ Wolfgang announced. ’Wait, watch out - done! You can stop!’

Kysaek immediately broke her concentration and the prismatic energy escaped up her body like a quick burst of vapour. ‘It wasn’t that hard after all,’ she breathed full-bodied but clearly ironic. ‘What do you think?’

‘Good training, good training,’ replied To’Pal, no less boastful and playful. He too had to at least support himself with his hands on his legs. That was the humour of exhausted soldiers who had mastered a difficult task and were guaranteed not to want to do something like that again so soon, although this was hidden behind a new zeal. ‘The Gamma will be on me later.’

As soon as the lights on the bridge came back on, the rest of the Enter crew stormed the defenceless command point. ‘Secure!’ shouted a Talin soldier.

Kysaek didn’t go all the way to the bridge, but she took a cursory glance inside. She saw moderate traces of frost everywhere and some PGI defenders lay hunched and steaming on the floor. Her helmet’s sensors were tripping slightly, a warning from the slow reintroduction of oxygen and the cold, but harmless to Kysaek in her armour and restored life support. For the dogged dead, however, it must have been a gruesome death: radiation, shock freeze, respiratory distress and decompression, all in one fell swoop. They wondered what killed their opponents first. ‘Search the bridge’s data banks,’ she instructed the squad leader who had joined them. ‘I’ll take a look at what happened with the engines.’

‘Yes, ma’am!’ Stemford nodded eagerly and went to the bridge as well.

The ship was now fully secured and on her way to the engines, Kysaek met Wolfgang, whom she treated with a healthy respect. ‘Pure science really can’t stop anyone.’

‘Science comes from the power to use your mind,’ Wolfgang said, with some regret. ‘The soldiers paid dearly for that lesson.’

‘Do you feel sorry for them?’

’God gave us logical thinking, but also compassion and love. I value life, but sometimes I have to use my God-given mind for such shameful things, in the name of justice. Irony is one of those things that the good Lord might have done better without, or how do you see it?’

‘You’ve come to the wrong place with religion,’ said Kysaek and had to be careful not to speak disparagingly about the scientist’s faith. ’And you? You think God exists? Even though the Hishek have proved us wrong?’

Wolfgang seemed unshakeable in this respect, or rather he saw everything from a different perspective. ’Galig worship sacred trees, Hishek have their eternal ancestors, Talin think that with enough diligence they will become something better after death and Davoc believe they are chosen and have the magical eye of the gods. Shall I continue with the Palanians?’

‘That would take too long,’ Kysaek shook her head. She recalled with amusement her encounter with the drunken Palanian in Auranis. ‘I don’t need the Great Spirit Registry for every situation.’

‘Even though it’s pretty handy,’ Wolfgang admitted jokingly. ’They blame everything that exists and happens on the spirit in charge and they’re in the clear. It must be a great life, without any responsibility.’

‘Isn’t that ultimately the philosophy of every human faith?’

’What do you mean “has been”? Some still do, but they make it just as easy for themselves and before we get lost in pointless talk, I’d like to get to my point,’ the scientist emphasised. Getting away from the core of a whole seemed to displease him. ’If almost all other living beings can believe in something that is above them - why shouldn’t we humans be allowed to or even want to? Just because our religions were founded on wildly exaggerated stories? I believe this is called the beginnings of many civilisations and I for one think there is so much more to our complex universe and I want to discover it with the mind in my head and faith in my heart.’

Again, someone had managed to broaden her perspective and Kysaek had to admit to herself that the scientist had a solid point of view. ‘I don’t believe that God or any higher powers exist, but you’re right about one thing,’ the woman nodded as she visualised everything in her mind’s eye. ’The universe is pretty big and who knows what awaits us in some corners. It certainly can’t hurt if there are people like you who believe in things that perhaps go beyond our horizons. My horizons are already pretty exhausted by just thinking about it.’

‘Thank you,’ Wolfgang replied simply. Up until now, the man had been known for his biting comments and for a moment you could have thought that the template with the horizon was burning on his lips, but the scientist returned the courtesy. ’Your head is full of other things. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for you at the beginning with PGI and the chase, and now it’s all just got heavier.’ He cleared his throat before Wolfgang murmured curtly. ‘So put your daydreams out of your mind and concentrate on our task!’

‘I will,’ replied Kysaek with satisfaction. She probably couldn’t expect any better from Wolfgang. At least not yet. But she hadn’t expected what awaited her near the engines either. ‘How did that happen?’

Heavily demolished and full of black scorch marks on the silvery surface, shot up all over, with one arm less and only half a head on its metal shoulders, Dorvan’s bot wobbled along the corridor. ‘May I take from your reaction shock at the enormous damage to me?’ the Davoc’s voice crackled from the voicebox. ‘Because unfortunately my diagnostic programs are faulty and my visual vision is too limited to analyse or even guess at the extent.’

‘I’d recommend you melt the thing down,’ Wolfgang advised expertly, accompanied by a quick scan of the bot. ‘And buy yourself a new doll.’

‘That suggestion is not an acceptable option,’ Dorvan said. Despite the extensive damage to his elongated, prized self, he maintained his perhaps too emotionless composure. ‘It would not be the first time this hull has recovered from severe destruction.’

Kysaek persisted. ‘And how did they come about?’

’Ha! That was good teamwork, tin bucket!’ growled Vorrn from behind the bot, in an obvious mood for victory. ‘Or how do you see it?’

Dorvan saw it differently. ’You misused me as a shield and throwing object without real consent. That’s a dodgy definition of teamwork.’

‘That explains everything,’ Kysaek interjected with a sigh. ‘What exactly happened?’

‘We surprised PGI and ended it,’ said Vorrn. As he did so, he looked at his mechanical, all-purpose weapon arm in play for demonstration. ‘Simple as that.’

‘And the part where Dorvan’s bot was scrapped?’

‘Campfire stories only happen at a drinking party.’

‘Pass,’ Kysaek declined, looking at the demolished machine. ‘Tell me what happened.’

‘It was a stalemate situation,’ Dorvan’s bot began evenly. As he did so, the pointed metal stump moved from where the right arm used to be. ’The engines were fiercely defended and no one, not even Vorrn, agreed to a losing, ill-considered assault. However, shortly afterwards he had an idea that he wanted my help with. Unaware of the proposal, I trustingly agreed and he grabbed me directly with his mechanical arm and used me as a living shield in his unpredictable attack.’

‘Living!’ clacked Vorrn’s lizard voice in amusement. ’He’s a three-eyed fur coat that remotely controls a toy. He was never in any danger and thanks to him, I was able to save us a lot of trouble.’

’I’m afraid I have to agree with that. From an objective point of view, The Hishek’s tactics was clever. The enemy soldiers hadn’t expected such a move. It wasn’t just that my steel body intercepted the attacks. Once Vorrn was inside the energy shield, thanks to his natural agility, he threw me at the defenders’ position. Then he went on a rampage, jumping, tearing and shooting. It was over quickly.’

That was a succinct but crisp story Kysaek had heard. Under her helmet, she wavered between frustration and amazement. She actually wanted to admonish Vorrn again, because his action was to a certain extent a solo effort, a brute solo effort. On the other hand, he had come to terms with the team and saved unnecessary losses by refusing a blunt attack and doing what he had done instead. Only the how caused Kysaek some headaches. ‘That was quick and thorough, Vorrn,’ she admitted with relief. ‘But I think a steel plate from the wall would have done as a shield.’

‘A steel plate from the wall,’ the Hishek murmured calmly. His thorny and bloody tail swung gently back and forth, and if at first the idea seemed ridiculous to him, the amusement in Vorrn’s voice returned for a fleeting moment. ‘Yes, that would have been far more useful than the scrap heap.’

Dorvan’s bot continued to stand there, but he remained silent at this statement, but Kysaek knew what to say. ‘Remember it for next time and now help search the ship!’ she ordered the lizard, instructing the bot. ‘And you repair your machine.’

‘I will initiate the process immediately,’ Dorvan’s bot replied. ‘I estimate it will take about thirty-four standard hours to restore my avatar to full operational readiness.’

’That’s good, but we’ll also need your help later with decoding and searching through the captured data. So don’t get too involved in the reconstruction.’

‘The repairs will in no way diminish my contribution to this endeavour.’

‘So, you’ll just do both at the same time?’

‘That’s true.’

Kysaek murmured delightedly and raised a thumb upwards. After some hesitation, she saw Dorvan do the same with his half-healed hand. However, his thumb fell off after a few seconds and Kysaek picked it up for the bot and gave it back to him before he limped away without a word.

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