Untold Stories of a Galaxy - Kysaek: The Beginning
Before the storm - An exchange

Act 8: Peeks Galactic Industries

No ships or anywhere else in space - that was the Network’s condition for the exchange of prisoners. Instead, it was to be one of the many billions of boulders that were coveted in the galaxy mainly for their minerals, but not for settlement. This place was too inhospitable, although at least there was an atmosphere and oxygen to breathe. The invariably greyish stone surface was almost flat and the nearest hills and mountains lay on the horizons. Nowhere was there cover or other points from which to launch an ambush. In the bright daylight of the white sun, that would have been difficult anyway, on the planet named B4L by human companies. An uncreative fate that was considered the standard for resource planets, mainly thanks to the humans, but it was not the rule.

“Sixty per cent!” the bound Sadara offered as the doors of the Bolt Dropper opened. “Take it and you’re set for life!”

Kysaek had been hearing offers like this from the two captive Talin, Sadara and Irisa, for hours. “I have other things to worry about in my life than foreign currency,” she dismissed. Ever since her rescuers had learnt that they were merely an important bargaining chip for Kysaek, the Talin had been trying to buy their freedom from her, and it wasn’t just about financial offers. “Stop it already and try to come to terms with the Network. If it was about your death, they wouldn’t have let me rescue you on this suicide mission.”

“All right, sixty-five! That’s all you really need! We need the rest to build a new life for ourselves! You of all people must understand that!”

Irisa went one better, as she and her business partner had previously voiced disturbing suspicions as to why the network wanted them. “My mother rules her own city,” she offered calmly. “It may only be a small place at the moment, in a newer colony, but a city of one’s own remains a city of one’s own. A symbol of power and influence, with us Talin.”

“Yes, I’m a little familiar with that,” Kysaek replied. However, there was no price for her in this matter and she was not afraid of making a new enemy with her mother. “As we humans would say: Your mother’s did it. She’s hit the jackpot.”

“I know that saying! Yes, she has! Imagine what this place will become in a few hundred years! A mighty metropolis and my family will be your ally!”

“Wow, I hadn’t even seen it from that angle,” Kysaek admitted, but she was merely being a bit mean and teasing, because this continued bargaining was going against her grain. “If I wasn’t going to die in under a hundred years, I might have reconsidered.”

Irisa just wouldn’t give up. “You’re thinking too short! You’ll reproduce at some point! Maybe even several times! Think about your children and their children’s children!”

The conversation took an embarrassing turn and so Kysaek was finally finished. “Okay, I would have expected something like that from a Fugian or a Calanian. But you make it sound totally weird and if someone brings my biological clock into play, that’s the end of the fun anyway. Do I look like a matriarch? Not another word or I’ll cut out both your tongues! That’s a promise!”

“We’ll have to send you to your near death more often,” said Vorrn, who was the only one present at the exchange and walked behind the prisoners. “It seems to awaken your good side.”

Kysaek rested the top of her assault rifle on her right shoulder. “If it works on me, why doesn’t it work on you?”

“Because I’m already the best version of myself.”

“Not by human standards.”

“Of course not. I don’t want to sink any lower.”

“Who else fought the Solaris War the longest and found the way to victory over the First?” Kysaek murmured, with a slightly proud and sardonic undertone. “Ah yes, the humans.”

“That was a matter of course,” Vorrn countered. For a warrior like him, it sounded like everyday life. “Humans started the war and almost wiped out the galaxy. Do you think that’s a sign of superiority?”

“If I really meant it because I want to outdo you, then yes,” nodded Kysaek, but she didn’t understand her Hishek companion. In her opinion, that was quite up his street. “Besides, why don’t you give us that point? I thought you of all people would be behind this, or weren’t you looking for the challenge that unleashed humanity at the time?”

“You’d never understand what I’m looking for,” Vorrn replied, unusually lost in thought, but the moment vanished as quickly as it came. “There’s the signal.” The Hishek spoke of the network’s recognisable signal coming in over the digital channels. It had been their condition that the exchange take place in open terrain, away from any civilisation and with the Nebula Bolt Dropper landing ahead.

A light sparkled in the sky, the light of the sun, reflecting off the surface of the network’s approaching Bolt Dropper as it touched down about a hundred metres from the Nebula transporter. Several figures emerged from within, four of them well equipped and armed.

Leopold led them, escorting the secured prisoners Thais and Tavis forward with one of the guards, so that the two fronts approached as if in a small showdown and slowly met in the centre.

Nobody said anything and only glances were exchanged, both between friends and the blackmailers. There was no aggression between the parties, but even so, it wasn’t just the wind that blew sharply before Tavis raised his magnetically bound hands. “A fine day,” he said loosely. “Rather rough, but beautiful.”

“The only question is whether it will end well,” Kysaek said, putting one arm on his hip. “What do you say, Leopold?”

“As far as I’m concerned, I want to go straight back to our ship,” replied the nNetwork agent in a similar mood to Tavis. “I’m freaking tired. Massive overtime sucks, no matter what your vocation.”

“Hard days doing your job?”

“You have no idea how hard,” replied the man with the pudgy belly. “My head has been chattering, already hatching a plan for your failure.”

Kysaek clenched her free hand into a fist and tapped her chest armour. “Failure was never an option.”

“Hey, it’s not like I’m judging. It’s just that after you screwed up our original plan, I figured maybe they could pull it off a second time.”

“Wonderful,” nodded Tavis in his usual thug manner. “I see everyone’s getting along just fine and I have to be honest, the Network has treated us well.”

Thais turned her head to the network agents and tilted it in disagreement. “Apart from the beating when we were captured.” Indeed, she did show the aforementioned wounds, much worse. After all, she had normal skin and not a robust exoskeleton.

“Yes, apart from that,” Tavis admitted, but he didn’t fan the flames. On the contrary, the Palanian probably wanted to save his and the Talin’s face. “We gave them good reason to, though, because we put up a heroic defence.”

“You’re defending this?” asked Kysaek, keeping an eye on a guard. It was circling halfway round the scene. “Why?”

“We might as well be dead. A bit of a beating was nothing compared to that. I’ve had worse, as far as that goes.”

“I like him,” said Leopold. Like Tavis, the man wasn’t looking for conflict, but he was brutally honest. “It really would have been a shame to have to kill him.”

Kysaek asked. “But you would have done it anyway?”

“When the Network stops making good on its threats, nobody takes you seriously. That’s how things work, but in this case, everyone wins. You, us, everyone.”

“Except the bankers,” Kysaek realised and placed a hand on Sadara’s arm to gently push her forwards. “They wanted to bribe us with the shares from a secret account.”

“That was to be expected,” Leopold grinned. He didn’t have to push Tavis and Thais, as the two walked leisurely on their own. “Out of curiosity, how much did they want to pay?”

“Sixty-five per cent, and Irisa offered me the gratitude of her family, her mother’s town.”

“The city isn’t a bad offer, but they would have ripped you off with the percentage. Compared to what the two of them really embezzled with their director, the secret account itself is a tiny amount of pocket money.”

“There you go,” Kysaek said caustically and looked at Sadara. “You’re bargaining for your release and you’re so stingy?”

“Okay!” Sadara replied and turned round to her saviour, dropping to her knees. “I’ll give you the whole account!”

Kysaek still didn’t consider the offer for a second, but she exchanged glances with Leopold. The man was amused and suspicious at the same time, no question, so she set the record straight again. “Now I’m sure you deserve this. I mean, Leopold just told me the whole account is a pittance and you’re not offering me more? That much greed is unbelievable.”

“All right, I-!”

Before Talin could say anything else, one of the network guards covered her mouth and pulled her along. “Let’s save ourselves the trouble,” Leopold sighed and snapped his fingers. While his men took the prisoners away, he stood still and ate a piece of chewing gum. “I really hope you won’t take this too personally. We don’t see you as enemies, but we’ll do whatever we feel is right to make the galaxy a better place.”

“Forgive me if I judge you anyway,” Kysaek replied, glancing sideways for a moment. She was relieved when Vorrn took care of removing the handcuffs from Thais and Tavis. The Hishek then returned to the transporter with the freedmen and Kysaek stood by what she had said. “I’ve heard what the Network is doing and I have my doubts. They claim to be fighting for justice for the citizens and yet the people are constantly suffering, or how do you justify blowing up an office tower on Paraxan, for example? More than ten thousand dead.”

“I wasn’t there,” Leopold raised his hands innocently. However, he seemed dejected by the incident and admitted at least a few things. “Every cell operates autonomously and more or less extremely, but that’s what we do and sometimes casualties can’t be avoided for the good of the majority.”

“And how did that help the victims’ families?”

“This may sound cold, but you’re too emotional about it,” Leopold said seriously. Despite the guilt, he left no doubt. “Paraxan is located in the outer expansion areas. At the time, the planet and the systems around it were languishing because of the brute and corrupt colony policy of a large corporate conglomerate. Bribery, embezzlement, trade with slavers and pirates, an endless list and then the hundred leaders met in this tower. We caught them all at once and our warning bore fruit. Some companies withdrew completely, others sent more humane leaders and since then the colony and everything around it has flourished. What are a few thousand, or in truth almost seven thousand deaths, against the flourishing of a few million?”

“Seven thousand, eh?”

“I think you of all people should know how the truth can be distorted and what you sometimes have to do. Your friends have told me bits and pieces of your journey.”

Kysaek didn’t think the part about Ark was part of the revelation, but she still felt addressed. Was she being hypocritical? Was her involvement and all the death on Arche really as radical as Vorrn had remarked before the release? Was it the same as the network? No, she still didn’t want to believe that. Arche was a haven for criminals, and whoever went about their normal business there knew what a dangerous environment they were working in. “So you’re saying that people lie about what the Network does?”

“Sometimes. I’m not sugarcoating it, but I’m also not making it worse.”

“So we’re even?”

“There was never any debt and your crew was never our target. If it’s up to us, there won’t be any problems.”

“Goes for as well,” Kysaek nodded. She remembered the first conversation with Leopold and tried to make something of it all. “While we’re here, one question: you said you once infiltrated people at PGI?”

“That was some time ago, but yes. We know what the group is up to, it’s just the evidence...”

“You don’t need to tell me that. It’s a tedious search, but perhaps you have a tip for us?”

“Nothing I know about,” Leopold shook his head. He even activated his Vortex cuff and went through some files. “If there’s anything, I haven’t heard about it. We’re not currently working against PGI.”

Kysaek wasn’t sure if the network agent was being completely honest. He had no reason to trust her and was possibly covering up existing operations. “Has the Network lost the courage to act against PGI after the failure?”

“No, but the galaxy has a lot of problems and unfortunately we can’t be everywhere, even if we’d like to be. Recruiting new people is hard work, especially reliable people and then some who aren’t agents of governments or who knows who.”

“Yes, good and trustworthy people are rare,” nodded Kysaek. She trusted her crew completely and knew of the consulate as a safe haven, but this conversation brought back the old, oppressive feeling that she and her small pack were up against everyone. “Still, it’s stifling to always be on the run, and that’s why you don’t need more trouble like you.”

Leopold began to walk half backwards, towards his van. “Do I have anything to worry about?”

“As said, no,” Kysaek confirmed. However, she made one thing crystal clear. “However, if the Network ever messes with my crew again, I make no promises.”

“That’s only fair, and as a consolation, a personal opinion from me: I’m a really big fan of yours.”

“Big enough to support our next attack on PGI?”

“Not that big, but whatever you do, you’ll do it. Every search eventually leads to an end.”

“The only question is whose end.”

“That, in turn, is up to you. See you around,” the network agent said goodbye with a half-bare-fingered salute and climbed into his transporter, which then disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

Kysaek followed the Bolt Dropper for as long as she could and looked up at the midday sky for a while longer, while the wind blew her hair vigorously and thin clouds of dust danced around her. It was amazing to her that the underworld, freelancers and radicals of the galaxy could be without mercy, but at the same time hold more honour and sincerity than parts of the normal public. Her team was complete again, so she smiled and looked forward to what was to come - the attack on the PGI headquarters.

No words were exchanged on the flight back to the Nebula. The exhaustion was written all over Thais and Tavis’ faces and they were probably a little ashamed that they had allowed themselves to be captured. Even Vorrn refrained from making spiteful comments or they were simply not worth it to him. It was often hard to tell when it came to the Hishek.

Only after everyone in the Nebula’s hangar had stepped out of the Bolt Dropper, with Kysaek following last, did Tavis turn to her personally. “Hey, Elaine ... You risked a lot to get us out of there. That wasn’t a matter of course.”

“It was for me,” Kysaek replied without hesitation, forming a smirk. Had anyone here ever called her Elaine before? “You’ve both done so much for all of us, and especially for me, that I’m honestly a little glad that I was finally able to repay you properly.”

“Glad, eh?” Tavis echoed in amusement, patting the dust off his top. “What do you think?”

The question was directed at Thais. “I think it’s flattering,” she said. “And the little break wasn’t so bad. Maybe we should get caught more often?”

“If we choose the right kidnappers. The food wasn’t bad and they treated us properly.”

“Didn’t Leopold even want to recruit you after our release was guaranteed?”

“He did, he did, but my way of handling things would clash with the Network’s too often, I think,” Tavis said. The fact that Thais and he were able to carry on as usual despite the incident was testament to their experience. It was comparable to the lives of soldiers, who dealt with some situations in their own humour, their own way, and despite the relaxed mood, one thing was clear. As the Palanian stretched out his arm for a grip, with the back of his hand facing downwards, he made it clear that he was aware of the gravity of the previous situation. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” Kysaek nodded, recognising the Palanian gesture of respect. She grasped the offered hand so that the other’s fingers closed on her wrist. After a fleeting, silent moment of shaking hands, Thais merely patted her on the shoulder in silent thanks. Nothing more was needed as Kysaek watched Talin walk towards the hangar exit.

“What, that’s it?” Tavis questioned what he probably thought was a clumsy gesture without really meaning it. “And I’m making the effort.”

“Thais has her style and you have yours. Both have something for me.”

“Saving lives is worth a pat? Must be a woman’s thing hidden from me.”

“More of a soldier thing, I think,” Kysaek lifted her shoulders helplessly. “Thais fought a war, after all, and I, yes, I was drilled on it at least.”

“I can accept that,” Tavis nodded, giving aa palanic, toothy grin.

“What is it?”

“To be more precise, my style is more charming and matches what I’ve seen in some human films. I don’t have the lips for it, but usually the man takes the woman’s hand and kisses it.”

Kysaek closed her eyes and shook her head with a friendly smile. “The moment has passed.”

“That wasn’t a no, for another time,” the Palanian laughed and followed Thais out.

Kissing hands wasn’t exactly Kysaek’s favourite because it was too cheesy for her. However, she considered what the Palanian had been through in the last few days and therefore allowed him this joyful thought. But when a heavy footstep stepped beside her and a sharp claw tapped the ground, the joy was over.

He had been silent for a long time, which was astonishing, but now Vorrn’s head stuck out in front and followed the rescued men until they were gone.

“Nice of you to hold back until now,” said Kysaek. “Now you can let it all out.”

“I said what I had to say when you decided on this foolish endeavour,” Vorrn replied, bending his body halfway round as if to create privacy for himself and Kysaek. “The only thing that was hard to bear was the ridiculous mating attempt of that pointy scales. I’ve already imagined ripping his tongue out with my teeth.”

“We’re making slow progress, eh?”

Vorrn clearly blew air from his nostrils and to match that little tremor, he reared up. “That’s no courtesy on my part. Don’t confuse respect with commitment.”

“Respect? Did I just hear you wrong?”

The question seemed to upset Vorrn, but he didn’t respond to it either. “This rescue has only cost us time that we could have spent doing much better things. Instead, we freed them because they allowed themselves to be captured. We took the fall for their mistakes, and if I’d had my way, they could have rotted.”

Kysaek crossed her arms sternly. “But it’s not just you, and be glad of that! Even you I would have gotten out of a situation like that, no matter why you were in it.”

“Really heartwarming and I respect that, but whether it will last is another question.”

She tried to follow him, but once again Kysaek didn’t quite understand the Hishek. For her, it was like at the beginning with him, as if he was wavering between obedience and resistance, ready to put a bullet in her at any time. “What are you talking about?”

Vorrn’s snout came close to Kysaek’s head, damn close, which was quite threatening. He could have swallowed her head in one go. “Your strength and determination stem particularly from emotionality and not from natural strength. Neither I nor anyone else could have dissuaded you from the endeavour, but if you don’t pursue everything with that passion, you’ll forever be just an awkward bundle of young energy that will hopefully explode at the right time. To me, that’s completely unreliable.”

“And what do you call the approaching attack on the PGI headquarters?”

“Possible permanence,” grinned the Hishek, showing his teeth. He then turned to go and let his tail whip back. “Maybe you do have the stamina.”

Kysaek received the whipping discreetly. “Hey!” she grumbled painfully and rubbed her cheek, but Vorrn left it at that and the question remained: was that a compliment or a warning? The near future would show her, but she, Vorrn and everyone else had to wait a little longer. Only Stemford was the exception, as he and his best scouting team had already been sent to Cipi. The unit was to find a suitable, hidden location for a base of operations, while Kysaek wanted to return to Anuket with the Nebula. She didn’t like it, but the rest had an argument in favour of this return as far as their former boss and henchman was concerned - Douglas Phonor.

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