The year is somewhere around 2300, humanity has been reduced to homeless refugees adrift and hunted on a thousand worlds. Earth and its colonies are ancient history, destroyed by marauding aliens that never bothered to explain why.

On Yasm, a bywater of the Korkari empire, life is hard for Rin. It's about to get much harder, and this galaxy's story is about to change, as fate takes a hand in the games of the Gods and an ancient artifact is rediscovered.

Hi I have decided to be brave and so I give you the first(ish) draft of my new (1st)novel - Legacy of the Anari (working title). This is the first chapter of many, which i intend to post on a regular basis, (subject to the whims of my muse or major rewrites). So far I have around 160k words.
I hope you enjoy the first few thousand.

Whether you love it or hate it...Please let me know.

Oh yeah: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

So without further ado, I give you the start of Rin Turvik's tale.

Ashleigh Blayze

Rin Turvik was flogging his trynlar half to death to get back to Rijkards Hold. The bug bipedal herbivore was running flat out, its heavy tail outstretched behind it to counterbalance its headlong run, the beast's wide flat head lathered in foam from its mouth as it gasped for breath. After seeing the atmo shuttle descending rapidly Eastwards towards the ranch Rin grabbed his 20mm hunting rifle and back pack, swung up on the riding beast and bolted for the ranch, abandoning the cattle grazing on the long prairie 'grasses'. The Rijkard's prized herd of huge genetically modified 4000kg mega bison would have to fend for themselves, but he hoped that with a minor miracle none of the lethal local wildlife would trouble them. Without his rifle and scope on guard there would probably be heavy losses but there was no choice. No one brings an atmo shuttle to a ranch, especially not with jamming drowning the comm frequencies. Rin hadn't been able to get word to the Rijkards that trouble was coming, but he kept on trying.

He left the trynlar tied up, hidden in a copse of trees behind the hill that overlooked the Hold, and hurried up the slope staying as low as he could manage. Trying to drift through the brush without disturbing any of the local 'birds' was difficult, but he manoeuvred his slender, taller than average frame to the ridge line without startling the 'birds' to flight. Crawling through the last of the brush Rin pulled the big rifle's stock into his shoulder, the muzzle just emerging from the tall grasses and sighted on the ranch that had been his home for almost the last year since he'd left Taront after the riots.

A choked sob threatened to burst from his throat, and he clamped down on it. Rin had known he'd be too late, but somehow that reality was held at the back of his mind, deliberately ignored in favour of faint hope that the Rijkards had been able to hold out. Now rage, horror and despair flared and his vision blurred through tears as he scoped the ruined Hold. The stone outbuildings were burning, flames licking at blackened frames and through the roof timbers, oily black smoke curling into the otherwise clear blue sky. The high protective wall that kept the dangerous local wildlife out of the compound was breached in at least three places that he could see, rubble thrown everywhere from explosions tearing through it. The 20m tall communications tower had been shredded, blown to pieces, all that remained was a stump of blackened plassteel, maybe 4 or 5 m high.

The worst was Rijkards Hall itself. It was in ruins, windows and doors blown out, one of the corner rooms blown wide open on the second storey. The roof was burning fiercely still, while dark smoke curled away from the upper windows. The raiders had complete surprise and though the Rijkards were hardy folk, they had no chance against the attackers’ overwhelming fire power. Rin could see the family's bodies lying twisted and ruined in the compound yard. Handers Rijkard and Kaitlyn his wife, Edgar their oldest son and Artur the younger, along with the ranch hands, all lay where they had fallen bodies bloodied, blackened and ripped open by the raiders' weaponry.

Shifting the scoped rifle to the right brought the atmo shuttle into view. The miniature figures of lightly armoured raiders trotting rapidly in and out of the shuttle loading their loot leapt into focus. They were Dtilla! Rin had never seen the reptilian like aliens before but they couldn't be anything else, their slate blue leathery skin marked by multi coloured tribal rank tattoos. Life had been hard for Rin, and his last year with the Rijkards had been a fresh start for him. His rage burned at the aliens who robbed his friends of their lives. Attacking the Dtilla was a death sentence, but he didn't know enough to survive out here on his own anyway. Edgar had been teaching him a lot but there was so much he didn't know. He wanted, needed some payback, some retribution for the devastation he could see, and made his decision.

The scope took on a life of its own, as he laid the weapon on target, Edgar's remembered instructions sounding in his mind. The raider in crimson armour with the golden glint of augments on its ugly face, looked a good first target. Rin steadied himself, lasing for the distance before releasing his breath and pulling the trigger between his heart beats. The first huge round shot away before the barrel skipped up and sideways under the rifle's heavy recoil, Rin bringing the sight back down on the next target, firing again, and again, and again, each shot a different target as the need for revenge drove him.

When Rin began working for the Rijkards, they gave him an old heavy hunting rifle to use. It wasn't the usual 5mm, common on many worlds, but the predators on Yasm were not common either. They all tended to be very big, very fast and heavily armoured. The heavily gene modified mega bison that were bred as cattle stood virtually no chance against them, despite huge size and strength, so the herders went out loaded for bear as an ancient saying from lost Terra went. Before going out with the herd the day before Rin had gone to collect his weapon from the armoury, only to discover that Hanrid, a senior herder, had 'borrowed' it because his own needed repair and a rebore.

Edgar was passing the armory at the time and without a second thought handed Rin his own weapon, a beautiful heavy rifle that was a gift from his father. Comparing it to Rin's was like comparing a racing trike to a rusty bicycle. The semi auto rifle fired an armour piercing 20mm slug that could punch right through the thick brain pan of Yasm' alpha predator — the Gatchi 15000kg of 6 legged, clawed death that could chase down a mega bison if it wanted. The scope was top of the line as well and even though the range was a shade over 3 klicks the first round arrived dead on target even as the second left the barrel.

***

The Dtilla load master was in a great mood. The raid on the human trash had been pathetically easy and the pillage had been good. There were no casualties to his kin, and the generators they were about to ship out were in very good condition and would cover the shuttles costs on their own when they were sold. He was turning to check the weight distribution of the next shuttle load of cargo when there was a deep hypersonic krack! that he felt in his inner ears more than heard. The atmo shuttle's flight boss was walking towards him, when her body slumped, decapitated as her head exploded in a fountain of bone shards, brains and fluids, followed by a metallic sound and sensation of heat as a torrent of kinetic energy punctured the shuttle hull.

Even before the load master's hind brain concluded this was no longer a good day, and instructed him to hurl himself to the ground more rounds arrived and more of the clan fell as the hunting pack exploded into a cacophony of noise and action, the lowly male raiders moving into a frenzy at the death of a precious breeding female. The load master recovered enough presence of mind to send the pack in the general direction of the incoming fire and covered the distance to the loading hatch at a dead sprint while part of him cursed the couple of holes blown in the light armour of his atmo shuttle and wondered how many of the pack would die in the load hold because of them.

***

Rin stopped firing as the magazine expended the last of its 8 shells and the breech locked open. He had 3 more clips in his pack but it was slung over his trynlar’s back amongst the trees. The need for retribution and rage was still burning strong as he looked through the scope, and saw virtually the whole pack of Dtilla charging his way, and the atmo shuttle venting as it prepared for lift off. The reptilian aliens were armed, armoured, fast and very very pissed, and their bounding gate was eating up the distance from the Hold. Revenge suddenly seemed less important than the primal urge to survive.

Grabbed the heavy rifle Rin fled for his mount, trying to work out a plan as he ran, nearly tripping and breaking his neck distracted by the question of what now? If he headed for the plains and grasslands to the East and South there would be little cover and the Dtilla could run a damn sight quicker than him. He thought his beast was faster but it was already tired after the frantic run to get back to the Hold and he didn't see the Dtilla giving up any time soon, plus they had a shuttle as well. To the West it was mostly the strange native marshes, very deadly and slow going, he would be caught for sure.

To the North there were hills giving way to a mountain range all covered in thick forests that would give plenty of cover. Going North at least there was a chance. Gasping for breath, Rin reached his mount, glad of the practice mounting he'd been put through by the herders as he swung up onto its saddle in one fluid motion and kicked his boots back, raking its leathery hide and spurring it northwards to try and get as much distance as he could before the Dtilla pack reached his shooting position and got his scent, for then he knew the hunt would be well and truly on.

The trynlar was game and a well trained beast. Even near exhaustion it ran almost full speed through the fronds and trees, creepers and plants of the forest. Rin didn't have time to be careful, minutes ago he had heard the screeches, screams and hisses of the Dtilla pack as it had reached his shooting position, he hoped he was about 1500m ahead of the raiding aliens but couldn't tell from the sounds in the distance behind him. He had no idea how fast the Dtilla could hunt him through this terrain. His mount was a plains creature and slower than normal in the forest undergrowth, but he could only hope he won the race.

Rin gave the trynlar its head to charge through the woods. He struggled to reload the rifle and then get his small pack of supplies on his back, as the beast ran. If he lost the mount at least he would have his supplies. At the moment the trynlar was running along a faint game trail, and Rin had already splashed across a couple of small streams running down from the hills. Rin guided the trynlar up stream a small distance each time in the hope that it might disguise his scent. He wasn't sure if it would do any good or not, he was city born and hadn't been on the ranch long enough to learn a fraction of the skills the ranchers knew.

As Rin rode he realised he might be in the area of a cave system the senior ranch hand Jiacob had mentioned some weeks before. He burst across a clearing in the forest at full speed, the trynlar following a rocky trail. The trail led up hill past a collection of fallen 'trees' whose creepers and foliage had looked like a series of tumbling green waterfalls. The description Jiacob gave him jumped into his head, so now Rin rode a fraction slower looking for more landmarks, while trying to keep the distance open on his pursuers.

The trynlar was tiring now though, its deep breathing laboured and the Dtilla’s shrills and whistles were closer and steadily gaining on him. Jiacob had said that he and Edgar had found the caves while out hunting in their free time. They had briefly explored and discovered the main cave entrance was deep and dry. They found a rock slide that had mostly blocked a low tunnel that headed deeper. But not having the right gear they had planned to go exploring another time.

Rin was getting frantic, his mount was near exhaustion, and the aliens were close enough now that they sounded like they were only a couple of minutes behind him and still gaining. He'd seen more of the landmarks that Jiacob had described and was urging his mount along searching for the cave entrance, but he could not find it, it had to be near here, it had to be. The hillside was covered in dense undergrowth and now as evening fell the light was beginning to fail, throwing dark shadows all around. Glancing over his shoulder, he searched for sign of the Dtilla hunters, they sounded so close, like they were less than 100m away, only the undergrowth was keeping him hidden, but not for much longer.

The exhausted mount stumbled as it jumped out from the trees onto yet another rocky slope, using the last of its energy now, Rin grabbed the reins sawed it back to the right.

There, that black crack in the rock face.

Please let it be the cave. Please.

It was. Sobbing now with desperation and fear he grabbed the rifle and swung down off the trynlar, turning the beast away from the cave and slapping it on its quivering rump to start it running again, maybe it would buy him some time. Rin sprinted for the refuge of the black cave mouth. It was probably a false hope but it was all he had, that he could make it past the rock slide into the caves or tunnels beyond, and then fend off the hunters.

***

Unclipping his mini torch from the work belt he'd bought with his first wage from the Rijkards, Rin silently blessed Handers’ policy that all herders went out with a pack of basic supplies and gear in case they were away from the Hold for more than a day. When he promoted Rin to herder the season previously Handers and his wife had gifted Rin his pack and the equipment it carried. Now Rin prayed their generosity would save his life. The light from the torch was strong and threw the cave into a stark contrast of white light and black shadows, crevices, and rocky walls, that stretched back into the hillside. With no time for caution, Rin ran, light bouncing wildly around as he searched frantically for the nearly blocked tunnel that he had been told about. From somewhere near the cave mouth he heard the sudden scream of his abandoned trynlar, cut short by the sizzle of an energy weapon, and the hunters' calls, their blood up as they butchered his mount.

The torch picked out a rockfall at the back of the cave and suddenly there was the tunnel Jiacob had told him about.

Maker it's small.

Rin whipped the pack off and shoved it and then the rifle ahead of him, squirming into the tunnel. There was barely enough room to crawl, but he forced himself forward leaving behind skin and blood from his knees and elbows, and forearms. He couldn't see anything except his pack in front of him, torch clenched between his teeth now as he shoved and pulled himself along. Mentally he pictured the Dtilla exploring the cave behind him, finding his tunnel and pulling him out by his feet to butcher him.

Stuck, oh shit it's jammed.

Whimpering in fear as his blood thundered in his ears, adrenalin surged through Rin's body and desperately he shoved forwards. For a long moment the pack resisted, before shooting forward and falling a half metre in a heap on the floor of another cave. Shoving the rifle after the pack Rin twisted onto his back, forced his arms forwards out of the tunnel, his shoulders and back scraping the rock, scrabbled for purchase and then pulled himself through to fall with a grunt on the floor. The tunnel must have only been about 7 or 8 metres long but it seemed like a klick. Pulling himself to the side of the tunnel, Rin switched off the torch and forced himself to crouch silently in the dark, doing his best to ignore his thundering pulse and calm his breathing as he listened.

***

The pack had the trash's scent and it was strong and fresh. They were close, and soon would have their vengeance for the loss of the precious female. The hunt's fastest had shot down a saddled beast fleeing down a game trail, and backtracked the scent to the cave. After a quick gesture to the other leading hunters, the largest launched a flare into the cave mouth and took cover. Predators by nature Dtilla understood that cornered prey were the most dangerous, but also the most fun to kill. The trash had demonstrated it could kill but it was only a fucking human. Easy meat.

The flare's harsh glare illuminated nothing but rock walls and shadows, but the scent trail only went in and not back out. A quick claw gesture, and three of the hunters bounded forward, a fusillade of weapons fire covering them as they advanced, noise reverberating from the hills as plasma bolts exploded the air around them, the armoured aliens being cast in strobe shadows by the weapon flashes. No fire was returned, so immediately they moved into the cave covering each other with the easy grace of long experience working and hunting together.

***

Rin cringed as the roar of weapons fire echoed through the cave. The weapons flashes lit up the tiny tunnel that he had crawled through to reach a semblance of safety. Suddenly it dawned on him that the hunters were about to find his escape route and follow him. The weapons fire stopped and the silence was a thick smothering claustrophobic blanket. Rin moved and quietly picked up his pack and weapon before crouching once more beside the tunnel trying to pick out any tell tale sounds of his pursuit.

What was that?

It was the harsh sound of a pebble bouncing off rock, followed by the noise of a Dtilla slipping as it climbed over the fall that concealed the tunnel. The sudden harsh guttural language of the Dtilla sounded so close that Rin had to force himself not to run blindly into the dark. Instead he waited, fighting to keep calm. Slowly he moved his head to the side of the tunnel, feeling for its edge. Very cautiously he peered into the darkness, still he could see nothing. Taking the big rifle he aimed it down the way he had come and waited, fighting off budding panic. This was probably a very bad idea but he was fresh out of good ones.

***

The cave appeared empty, as the three hunters moved inwards, following the human's fearful stench. They spread out searching the cave quickly and efficiently. A call from the smallest of the three, brought its larger kin forwards, armoured boots echoing against the stone floor of the cave. They found their smaller brother behind a rock fall gesturing with the muzzle of his weapon at a hole in the wall of the cave. The stench of the human was thick here, the aromas of blood and sweat hanging in the still air.

-Get in there and find that scum- The largest ordered and after a moment of hesitation the smallest began to climb into the hole.

***

Rin heard the Dtilla talking at the other end of his escape route, followed by a scrabbling sound and the scrape of claws against rock, but he still couldn't see anything in the pitch darkness. Thanking the Gods the scope on the rifle, Rin looked through it, the darkness penetrated by the scope's technology revealing the Dtilla struggling to pull itself along the tunnel. Through the scope the alien was illuminated clearly, all in shades of green and Rin watched as it seemed to stare at him, then tried to grab for its weapon. Thinking about his friends, Rin pulled the trigger.

At a range of less than seven meters the energy from the 20mm round virtually turned the Dttilla to mush as it passed clean through its body lengthways before careening off the rock fall and ricocheting into the cave. Blinded by the muzzle flash and deafened by the rifles report, Rin screamed as he fell back against the wall of the cave, the pressure wave from the rifle bursting his eardrum. Pain exploded in his head as he hit the cave wall, and consciousness fled.

The two remaining hunters hurled themselves into cover as their packmate erupted in a mangle of flesh, blood, bone and armour, the muzzle flash blinding the predatory aliens, while the thunderous report deafened them. Dazed the Dtilla staggered away, instinctively moving for the safety of the cave mouth, loosing their own weapons at the passage, in a flurry of flechettes and energy, shouting for aid from the pack outside. As they stumbled out into the lengthening shadows, the shuttle flew overhead, descending to land in a swirling blast of dust and exhaust gases, a short distance downhill from the cave. The hunting pack's leader loped towards the shuttle's rear access ramp while several of the Dtilla grabbed their dazed kin under more covering fire.

The load master was pissed, his lead pilot was dead, a precious young breeding female, the pack's prestige had taken a huge beating, and he had a pile of dead kin stored in hold 2 which had been shot up and not fully loaded. The only good news he had was the atmo shuttle’s damage was not catastrophic. The weapon that had blasted fist sized holes through the shuttle's lightly armoured sides hadn't pierced any critical systems, and the shuttle could still make orbit. The repair costs were going to be a curse at least they would get off this shit hole planet. Now they had another casualty and a piece of shit human trash delaying his raid and the longer they were here the higher the intercept probability. Growling in frustration he slammed the access release, and stamped down the ramp as the hunt leader bounded up to report.

-Did you get the fucking human scum yet?

-Cornered down a tunnel in the cave, tiny access, you have to crawl and that thing has a heavy calibre projectile weapon of some sort. We can get it but it will take time.

-Fuck that, no more fucking corpses on this raid. Take the demo pack and bring the fucking hill down on it so I can get us off this crap planet. The pack lord is not happy and we don't have time to get the rest of our haul. Get your pack loaded, dump your gear in Hold 2, and grab hold of something in Hold 3 for the ride up.

-Hold 3 is full of loot. They won’t all fit.

-Well they can suck vacuum in 2 if you want, just get a fucking hurry on while I get the shuttle prepped.

Turning the load master grabbed an explosives satchel from its locker, tossed it to the smaller hunt leader, and stomped back towards the shuttle's controls where he had to fill in for the pilot. The hunt leader snatched the satchel out of the air, and bounded back towards the pack yelling orders and curses on the way. The universal truth of command, shit flows downhill, and the pack scattered to obey his orders. Shortly the explosives were placed to bring down the cave mouth, primed for remote detonation and charged and the Dtilla were back aboard their shuttle.

With a snarl of frustration at being denied his kill the hunt leader hit the trigger as the shuttle climbed upwards through the atmosphere towards orbit. Far below, the cave mouth shuddered under a sequence of explosions. For a long moment nothing else happened, then the hillside above the cave seemed to gently slump, as thousands of tonnes of stone and earth collapsed in on the cave mouth. But for the slowly settling dust cloud that rolled out, the cave might as well have never been there.

***

Rin coughed and opened his eyes. He could feel the sensation of his eyelids moving but still he saw nothing.

I can't see anything, am I blind?

His ears were ringing constantly, and he couldn't tell if the noise was real or not. Breathing was difficult, it felt like someone had stamped a rhythm on his chest in heavy armoured boots. His nostrils were clogged with dirt and dust, and he hurt all over.

What happened?

A blinding muzzle flash and thunderous noise flared in his mind and Rin remembered the pain in his ears, and pain in his head, firing at the hunters, and being stuck in a cave.

Was it as dark as this before?

The Rijkards are dead, Dtilla raiders, taking some vengeance with the big rifle. A scope which can see in the dark. Abused muscles flared in sharp jabbing pains as Rin rolled over and then pushed himself into a crouch. He patted his work belt.

Shit I dropped the torch, okay now what? First find Edgar's rifle. Poor Edgar, I guess it’s my rifle now.

He pinched one nostril then the other, blowing them clear, then staying still began feeling around him, fingers spread as wide as possible. Rin's left hand encountered the rock of the cave wall.

Okay if the wall is on that side I think that means the tunnel was in front of me.

Moving onto hands and knees he started shuffling forwards slowly feeling for his equipment.

What's that?

Triumph as his fingers closed over the barrel of the rifle. Bringing the rifle to his cheek, Rin looked through the scope, still nothing.

Hold on…

His left hand traced over the scope searching for the mode selector, with the idle thought that he didn't know this gun as well as he should, before he found it.

First click, nothing just green fuzz as he looked through the scope again. Even the best light amplification needs light to work with. A second click, and suddenly the cave is revealed in cool blues.

Thermal mode. Cool or is that Hot?

Grinning in the dark Rin passed his fingers in front of the scope, watching his hand appearing in yellows and reds.

Okay, this I can work with.

Scanning around his pack showed up clearly lying on the floor, no sign of the torch though. The tunnel on the wall in front of him, while behind him the caves seemed to head off into the hill, no heat sources, but enough small variations in temperature for the sensitive scope to give him an image at least. Rin pushed his rifle and pack ahead of him, and clambered back into the small passage that had given him an escape.

It surprised him how long it took to squeeze through the narrow passage a second time, even though the scope had shown it was only a few metres long it was very tight. At one point Rin had thought his back muscles were going to cramp up as he had contorted himself, but thankfully that agony held off and he was able to slowly stretch out. The tunnel stank, and he wondered what could smell so bad? Rin realised the smell was the stench of dead Dtilla. As he pulled himself into the other end of the passage, it was wet and he was suddenly very glad that he couldn't see.

Concentrating on not vomiting at the thought of crawling through alien remains and bodily fluids Rin pushed the pack and rifle forwards, feeling resistance and then a thud and a metallic thunk as something fell out the passage. Rin pulled himself through last bit and levered himself back out into the cave.

I know it was getting dark and I had the torch, but shouldn't there be more light?

Stepping around the rock fall that had hidden the passageway, Rin looked for the cave mouth. He could not see it. With a bad feeling in his gut, Rin put the rifle back to his cheek and despairingly looked at the blue and black depiction of several thousand tonnes of rock lying on his exit.

No wonder it’s so dark, they buried me alive.

LEGACY OF THE ANARI

Many thanks for the kind comments to chapter 1. Please enjoy chapter 2!

Ashleigh Blayze

Time passed, probably only minutes but they felt like an age. Rin tried his comm guessing it was futile but to his stunned mind it seemed like the thing to do. He was right, there was no signal. He snorted in disgust at himself.

Yeah like you can get a comm signal with a million tonnes of rock on your head. Fuckwit.

He sat in the dark and slumped against a rock pile, mind blanking out for a time, as he gazed sightlessly into the dark. Finally he shook himself, telling himself to get it together. There was no leaving this way for sure, so it was back through the passage and then explore. He gathered his courage, pulling a grim determination not to give up from his anger and fear.

Rin grabbed his equipment and once again prepared to squeeze along the bloody passage. Without the Dtilla behind him the entrance to the small confined tunnel seemed much more oppressive. Pausing as he remembered pushing something out of the passage with his pack Rin scanned the scope around, finding the Dtilla's weapon, and its body or what was left of it.

Grimacing, he quickly searched the remains, finding a couple of ammo clips for the weapon, and a sheathed vibro blade. The handle wasn't shaped for human hands but he could use it if he needed to. The reptilian alien's personal effects were just trinkets of some type that meant nothing to Rin, and lastly what looked in the scope like a credit chip.

Hmm wonder what shops there are down here?

The chip went in his pocket. Finally, conscious of the stink and feeling ghoulish he forced his way back through the passage with his new and old possessions. Once he got through he stacked his gear in a pile then detached the scope from the rifle. It was still a little cumbersome, but at least he look around without the heavy cumbersome rifle. Next order of business was to find the torch.

It took a while but eventually he found it, the mini torch had rolled into a crevice in the cave floor, and after it had cooled had been very hard to see in the scope. Relief took a weight off his shoulders and light flared as he turned it on. Squinting in the sudden brilliance Rin shone it around . The cave he was in was small but tall enough to stand easily in and it looked dry. Seeing no obvious concerns, with his spirits rising Rin turned to his gear to see what he still had. The big rifle was undamaged, but way too powerful to fire in the cave. His ears were still ringing a bit. He still had seven shells in the weapon, 2 full clips in the pack and the empty clip as well, for a total of 23 rounds. After checking the rifle had the safety on, he placed it to one side.

The weapon the Dtilla had used was much smaller. Under the torch beam he examined it. No obvious signs of damage. Checking the gun’s controls he ejected the ammo clip and examined it. A flechete weapon, and the clip appeared to be half full. It fired nasty slivers of ceramic that could rip a person to pieces with ease. Rin had seen gangs in the city slums using similar weapons during the worst parts of the riots, before he had escaped and headed for the plains and the Rijkards took him in. The weapons grip wasn't ideal as it was designed for Dtillas' 4 digit clawed hands, but he could use it with some discomfort. The gun also had a universal mount that the rifle scope slotted into perfectly, making a reassuring click.

This done Rin was pleased, he had a weapon he could use that was a lot more suitable for a cave and he could easily use the scope if necessary without being disarmed, or having to wield the large hunting rifle. Rin realised his mindset seemed a lot more grim and jaded than it normally was, despite his years in the slums but he decided that being buried alive after seeing your friends killed could make you grow up fast. His work belt had space in a pouch so he slipped the 2 spare clips in there, and the knife and sheath were quickly attached as well.. Groaning he realised his own hunting knife had been on the trynlar, leaving him only the sheathed vibroblade which was primarily a weapon and not a tool.

Turning to the pack he emptied it out to check what he had, and what else had been lost with his mount. It made for worrying news, most of his food and water and clothing was gone with the mount's saddle packs as well as his knife, bedroll, tent, stove with heat element, and utility tool. On the plus side the survival pack held his spare ammunition for the rifle, high energy rations for 3 days, a 10 litre water carrier that was half full, a basic first aid kit, one roll of waterproof tape, a spare battery for the torch, compass, survival blanket, a hooded poncho for wet weather, magnesium fire lighter and striker, work gloves, fishing line and hooks and 50m of high strength cord, and a change of dry clothes in a waterproof compartment in the pack.

Overall Rin considered that while things definitely could be better, at least he had the basics, for the time being at least. After rearranging his gear with as much on his belt and in pockets as possible, Rin broke the hunting rifle down for carrying and stowed it in his pack, and then after a last scan around with the torch to check for anything left behind, Rin taped the torch to the side of the flechette gun and set off deeper into the cave system.

***

The cave system was huge, and Rin no longer had even a vague notion of where he was. The compass had proved useless, as he walked, climbed, crawled and waded in the cave system, it was just impossible to keep a bearing, so after a while he ignored it and just plodded on, concentrating on putting one foot after another. He thought he had begun searching for a way out 4 days previously, but with no daylight his time sense was shot to hell. Sitting in the dark time seemed insubstantial, a minute or an hour could pass and he didn't know the difference, his world had reduced to his sense of touch, smell and hearing. His ears had gradually stopped ringing, but it made no difference, the only thing to hear was the dripping of water.

The caves were devoid of life, so at least his fear of being attacked in the darkness had gradually subsided, any predator in the caves would have died of starvation long before. The worst thing was there was nothing to burn. Rin desperately wanted a fire to heat himself, he was chilled to the bones and constantly shivering. He thought he was running a fever now, and had taken some medication from the first aid kit, hoping it would do some good. As he stumbled along in the dark all Rin wanted was a fire to dry out all his soaked clothes, and raise his spirits. When he got tired of moving he would huddle in the tattered survival blanket to try and warm himself through, eating more of his dwindling food. He was doing his best to stretch out his rations but food was now very short. In the darkness and with no sense of time he ate when he couldn't stand the hunger any more.

Trying to keep his gear dry where possible was hard and the countless dead ends he had run into were depressing. Mostly Rin was worried about his light. The torch was going strong at the moment, but even though the battery packs were very efficient he'd was using spare now. He did his best to conserve power only using the light when moving. Thinking straight was hard, and he was worried that he would begin hallucinating. He kept the scope on the gun powered down so at least he could fall back on that but the prospect of trying to find an exit from the caves with out light was terrifying.

Stopping for a break, he mechanically chewed an energy bar, eating it slowly to try and get some sensation of fullness, his empty stomach was gnawing at him. He was crouched down leaning against the wet cave wall, in the dark. As he chewed Rin suddenly realised that his left cheek was colder than his right. Concentrating on the sensation he became aware that a very slight breeze was wafting past his stubble. The air was moving. It took a long moment for the significance to sink into his dulled mind. If he could follow the breeze upwind, it should lead outside. He might have a way out. Finishing the energy bar, Rin stood in the dark and orientated himself so the breeze was full in his face, then flashing on the torch he set off again.

The weak draught had been getting ever so gradually stronger. Rin was doubled over at times which was killing his back, as he followed a rock passageway. Now the narrow passage had opened out a little and appeared to be at a dead end, there had been yet another rock fall ahead. The beam of light played over the rubble as Rin looked for the chink that was letting air through. Not for the first time Rin wished he had one of the antique lighters a couple of the ranch hands had owned, a flickering flame would have been so much help at that moment.

After some thought, Rin scraped together a hand full of powdery dry dirt that had fallen, and faced where he thought the breeze was strongest. Aiming the light beam he threw the dirt, and watched for any sign of a breeze affecting the dust. Nothing. Rin tried again. It took 3 more attempts but then the dirt was disturbed as it fell and almost straight away Rin spotted the crack in the rock fall under the torch light. The rock fall didn't look fresh but for a while his confidence was shaken by the prospect of the roof collapsing on him as he dug. Shaking off the foreboding and keeping his gear with him in case he had to move quickly, he cautiously began moving the fallen rock and dirt, digging towards the fresher air.

It took Rin an age to dig through the rock fall. He excavated a narrow channel near the roof of the passage, several times having to search for the draught as he moved from pocket to pocket in the collapsed passageway. As he dug he began to hear the sound of water. He had never suffered from claustrophobia but after this Rin felt he’d had enough of confined places for a very long time. After finally breaking through the last of the rock fall he slumped on the rock floor exhausted by hunger, stress and fear. All around him the sound of running water echoed in a large space. Sitting in the dark for a long time he did his best to breathe calmly regaining his strength before flicking the torch back on.

He was sitting on a ledge that ran the length of a large cavern towards another tunnel. Some 10m below him a small black fast running river was running, twisting and crashing through boulders, stalactites and stalagmites, following the ledge before twisting away and rushing out of the cavern through a low virtually flooded tunnel in the far wall. The breeze that Rin had been following seemed to come from that direction. Shining the torch beam along the drop from the ledge it didn't look like there was any way down that would involve less than a broken leg, and Rin didn't really feel like wading through the no doubt freezing water to pursue the breeze further, so he decided that although it would mean leaving the breeze behind he would follow the ledge, besides he could always back track if necessary. He ate the last of his food and took a long drink while he listened to the river in the dark. Then, break over he flicked the light on, and carried on walking leaving the noisy cavern with only a quick glance back down at the river.

It took a few minutes of walking to realise that this new tunnel was different somehow to the cave system he had been negotiating before. Stopping, Rin shone the torch light around paying attention to the walls and floor, before realising they had been worked somehow, not wholly artificial like a mine working but as though someone had taken the existing natural cave and tunnel and made them more usable.

Tired and hungry he moved on quickly now, eager to be out of the dark, and back amongst the living. As he travelled Rin quickly began to notice more signs of working, a rock wall straightened here, steps carved in the stone there, and at another point the tunnel was clearly braced and strengthened by an arch that looked like it was made with some form of concrete. Rin thought he had travelled at least a couple of kilometres since leaving the river behind, and was wondering where this tunnel was leading when he practically fell over the skeletal remains of a body that lay sprawled in the tunnel.

Swearing he backed up then crouched down to examine the remains in the torch light. The skeleton looked humanoid, and just over a metre tall. In fact if he ignored the fact that humans had only been on Yasm for a little over 40 years local, and then only as refugee workers brought in by the Korkari for their new colony, Rin would have sworn the skeleton was a human child. A human child who from damage to the back of the skull, and the larger wound at the front obliterating the skulls forehead, had been shot from behind.

Rin was young, and uneducated, although he had tried to get what schooling he could from the colony computers in the slums, but he was certain that the skeleton had been there a very long time. In fact from the dust and dirt that had built up around the bones that lay on the rock floor where they fell he was sure they had been there far, far longer than the 40 years humans had been on Yasm. In the slums he had learnt to trust his gut, and his gut said that was a human kid lying there, where it absolutely could not be.

Shining the torch around, he played the beam over the skeleton, then down the arms to the hands. A glint of metal amongst the finger bones caught his eye and bending closer Rin found a ring on the index finger of the skeleton, a greyish metal band with a band of dark green stone inset along the middle. As he touched the band he accidentally jostled the bones of the hand, which collapsed soundlessly into dust.

A very long time.

The ring might be valuable at least so rather than risk losing it in the darkness Rin slipped it on his finger, a little surprised that it seemed to fit okay, but after that he thought nothing of it. He found nothing else amongst the remaining bones, all traces of clothing or other artefacts had vanished long before. The skeleton disturbing on many levels, and muttering an apology for disturbing the body and a small prayer for the dead child he moved on.

Rin guessed it was close to another 1500m before he reached the next cave. Shining the torch beam around, the cave was clearly machined, arched and buttressed over head. Before he had time to wonder about the construction Rin's pulse sped up as the torch beam, suddenly picked out a flat circular wall which he realised was a hatchway of some kind. Wherever he was he had arrived at least. With his mood soaring he hurried across the cave to the hatch, anxious to open it and find a way out on the other side. Rin looked at his left hand, he thought he felt a vibration in his finger from the ring as he moved deeper into the cave. Nothing looked different though and now he could not feel anything either so he carried on walking.

***

The hatch comp was ancient and very basically programmed. It had been in standby mode for so long as to have no meaning. Not that it would or could have cared. The last sequence of events that its base functions recorded was that the Anari Prime key left the site by the hatch followed by 2 more unknown signatures. The unknown signatures were logged as having returned but the Prime key did not. Functions had moved to standby conserving power after no further activity was recorded. Now peripheral sensors recorded the key in immediate proximity and activated lighting circuitry to facilitate entry. The system noted that 60% of the lighting system was non functional, outside acceptable parameters and updated the attached maintenance logs.

The sudden light was blinding after days with only the torch and its steadily weakening battery. Rin cursed and flung up his hands to shield his eyes. Squinting and blinking sudden tears away, he headed to the hatchway which was now mostly lit up, although some of the lighting was fitful at best. A small beam of light illuminated a dust covered metal plate at waist height, inset into the wall beside the hatch. He waved his hand over the plate, nothing happened, pressed against it, still nothing occurred. The hatchway itself showed no sign of moving, and nothing seemed to mar its circular metallic surface. Rin looked for some type of retinal scan or a physical lock to try and force or pick but could find nothing. Frustrated he leant against the hatch and forced his fatigued mind to think.

The hatch comp noted that after the specified elapsed time of 200 micro cycles the Anari key was still outside and ingress had not been completed. Locking hatch lighting had activated and although not satisfactory had illuminated the Hatch's activation swipe. Sensors registered temporary pressure against swipe surface but circuit link was not activated. Anari Prime data file recorded as juvenile status- possibility of confusion and or incorrect hatch use. Following its programming the swipe surface illumination was pulsed. Notification sent to House comp of Anari key presence and possible evidence of confusion.

The light playing on the dust covered metal plate pulsed off on, off on, off on, and then stayed on. Rin stood up and examined it more closely.

What's that?

Blowing most of the dust away, he noted a shallow horizontal groove indented into the metal plate.

Some sort of swipe? A key card device?

Wiping the plate with his tattered sleeve removed the last of the dust and beside the groove Rin noticed an etched diagram that was clearly a hand with a ring on it and an arrow from left to right. Feeling like an idiot he place his hand on the plate with the ring's edge resting in the groove and moved his hand sideways left to right. There was a long pause. Stale air rolled out as the hatch began rolling sideways. There was the sound of electricity sparking, and the smell of burnt cabling and with a groan and a shudder the hatch stopped partially open before resuming its sideways motion seconds later to slide open fully. Quickly Rin moved inside. Behind him the lights dimmed then winked out.

Access protocol completed. Access circuit completed. Hatchway motors engaged. Sub optimal efficiency noted in primary hatch motor. Short circuit due to failed primary power coupling. Power rerouted to secondary system. Secondary motor engaged. Hatchway motors engaged. Hatchway opened. Maintenance requirement flagged as urgent. Anari Prime key movement into Hatchway confirmed. House comp notified. Damaged systems protocol engaged. Hatch locked in open mode. Secondary motor power discontinued. Local lighting circuit moved from external to internal modes. Hatchway comp returned to standby mode.

Rin was in a small room that looked like a cross between an equipment locker and the wet room at Rijkard’s Hold where the herders dumped their gear after returning from a long trip. As he walked in internal lighting came on, a diffuse glow that didn't appear to come from any one source. Not caring about anything else at the moment Rin sat on an alloy bench that ran along the centre line of the room facing 3 standing lockers on either side and grinned, just luxuriating in being in a lit environment. It was almost disorientating after spending days underground constantly following a beam of light, and praying that said beam didn't die on you. After a few minutes with his spirits rising Rin looked around to get his bearings and then decided to see if any of the lockers would open. All the lockers had markings in a language he did not recognise.

**

The House comp unit was vastly more powerful than a mere Hatchway, after all it ran the majority of the facility's systems. It too had been in standby mode, and powered up after the activation signal from the Hatchway, starting running diagnostics and then almost immediately began following the Prime Key on its remaining functional sensors. The overall situation had not changed- outer and internal automated security systems and sensors had been almost totally compromised or destroyed during the attack on the facility. The complement of defenders and staff had been eliminated. Facility command had succeeded in rendering the Vault secure and this had remained undetected.

Primary and secondary power sources had been disabled and rendered beyond repair with available technical resources. Facility was now running on tertiary passive supply. Facility reserves at 14%, Vault reserves unknown. Communications facilities had been destroyed. The attackers’ primary targets had been juvenile Anari guardian candidates and the Anari Prime candidate. There were no survivors amongst the guardian candidates and the Prime had been terminated so far as the House comp systems had been able to ascertain. No reinforcements or rescue had been forthcoming. The House unit had gone to passive standby status, once the facility had been repaired to the limited degree possible without Vault direction or external support. The House comp analysed its available data before determining this situation was outside the boundaries of its programming, due to a logical error.

The Anari Prime candidate had been terminated, and each candidate’s Key would, could only work for that candidate. Remaining house sensors insisted that the Prime Key was currently centrally located in locker room 4, having activated the bolt hole Hatchway from the outside and entered by completing the access circuit. Logic suggested the Anari Prime candidate was deceased, both due to time passed and sensor logs from the attack. The unidentified attackers who exited the facility in pursuit of the Prime candidate would not have returned without terminating the candidate who was recorded as unarmed and untrained. The candidate’s Key would not work for any being other than the candidate. The Prime Key was located within the Facility. Key access required that the candidate be alive therefore the Prime candidate was alive which was not logically possible.

In a quandary as to how to proceed, the House comp did what all juniors have done since time immemorial, and bounced the problem up the chain of command. A sensor sweep with its available resources detected no threat to the Vault, so this being the case, a circuit breaker was reversed, reconnecting the Vault with the facility and a burst of data was transmitted down a hugely armoured sub system inviting the Vault Paladin AI to take over the situation. This done the House continued to monitor the Key.

**

It had been mostly asleep for a long time, successfully isolated from the Facility during the attack the AI had waited, then slept. Periodically it would wake and check status, nothing changed. It got bored. Slept. Waked. Slept. The AI knew precisely how many times this had happened, it just couldn't be bothered to check. Boring. Within the Vault laboratories the newest generation of Symbiont had finished maturing. The Keys themselves couldn't be improved upon, the technology wasn't even understood fully .The AI had worked at improving each generation where possible and its tinkering had improved Symbiont set survivability by an estimated 5%, it didn't have a lot else to do, and it prevented electronic dementia.

A miniscule fraction of itself noted that it had just received a data packet. Requesting help. From outside. The hard data link had been restored by the House unit. The data packet received all available attention with immediate effect. Less than a millionth of a second later and Paladin was re-established into all the remaining facilities and giving the House a 'good job, I will take over now'. The AI then reviewed all available data from the attack, agreed with the House that the Prime had definitely been terminated, therefore the Key could not be in the House and that this was outside House's program. Next step communication.

Legacy of the Anari

Chapter 3

by Blayze

EXCERPT FROM LECTURES AT VOLSKTGAR UNIVERSITY OF THE MASSES GD:6542.1 STANDARD TRANSLATION ( ERRORS REMAINING) Professor Tchka-Ho-pip

“The majority of sentient species that are presently space faring within the galaxy have, as they have gazed upon the stars with a bewildering variety of sensory organs, wondered as to their place in the cosmos we all inhabit. There are of course exceptions, notably the Gorna Massive but this is an uplifted species that simply lacks the capacity to imagine and as such is used as serf labour by their Urvin masters.

During a species’ technological, cultural and social rise and fall, the majority encounter different means of putting their environs in perspective. So for example there is science, the application of theorised laws, that one hopes are rigorously examined and tested. But of course if one comes upon scientific phenomena that are sufficiently advanced as to be unexplainable we move into the realms of magical context, in addition to religion, faith, divinity and so one.

Eventually the majority of these phenomena and their implications will become explainable to a species. Some phenomena and their resulting social contexts may fall into disuse, be frowned upon, suffer persecution etc while others become dominant, but the general result is that a species will over time develop in a way that best suits its perspective. Therefore some races are more inclined or better suited to technological solutions to problems, while others use their mental prowess or powers, mystical resources, magic and so one. In short the galaxy is an extremely exotic place with a great many solutions to problems, some of which may be universal. If you can conceive of it, it will probably be in use somewhere.

An additional complexity in this discussion of our universe is the existence of the dimensional planes of existence. Most species understand in some manner the concept of gods or deities i.e. creatures defined as being from higher planes of existence and conversely demons, devils or creatures from lower planes of existence. The primary difference between these planar dimensions is energetic. Of course we are not able to directly study higher and lower dimensions, but here and now we currently exist on what is generally argued to be the 4th Plane, although some species prefer to postulate only 2 below us.

It is generally accepted that there are 8 Planes in total although this is only speculation. No one to the best of my knowledge has ever been able to prove such or in fact even come up with a method that would allow us to prove above the 6h level, or even theorise as to what such Planes may be like. Galaxy wide, a vast number of species hold with the concept of ascension. I e that an individual, group or even possibly a species in totality may in fact ascend to a higher plane of existence, and that this singular achievement is in fact the purpose of life itself, a seemingly infinite climb to ascend the energy gradient of this universe of ours.

There are plenty of recorded examples, no, no, no interruptions please, please view your recorded supplemental data, where was I? Oh yes recorded examples of attempted and occasional successes at ascension. The main apparent difficulty in doing so quite apart from working out how is the energy gradient, and by this I do of course mean the total energy of a plane for a given measurement of however you define such.

Beings at the 5th Plane have vastly more energy than those on the 4th, our plane. We in turn contain vastly more energy than beings from the lower planes. We aspire to the 5th plane, but as is generally accepted need to defend ourselves against 3rd planar beings, those we term demons. This is for the simple reason that they crave energy. Limited research and study has shown that the 3rd Plane is a constant unceasing battle for energy to survive and procreate. The creatures from that dimension are adapted to that hostile and energetically restrictive environment and as such when able to feed off the higher energy levels of the 4th plane can become incredibly dangerous and powerful in short order.

This is one of the reason the 3rd plane is often called hell or some version of this. We are disadvantaged in this as the 4th Plane apparently serves as the neutral plane i.e. energy levels are abundant but balanced by physical matter, and orders of magnitude less than the higher planes. We are adapted to this environment, where energy is plentiful. While there are many exceptionally hostile creatures or species in our galaxy, in dimensional terms we have it easy. Great feats of incredible power are possible here on the 4th plane but to do so it is generally necessary to have some means of collecting or storing energy on a grand scale to power these feats. Thus the never ending search for means either technological, mystical, magical or just plane weird to draw power from around us in the 4th plane but also and far more interesting for our purposes drawing power from the 5th Plane of existence for whom energy is in truly incredible supply.

This brings us naturally to gods and deities, angels, heavens etc etc, virtually every species has its own version or multiple versions. These essentially are beings of the 5th Plane that have a cause and effect link relationship of some type with the 4th Plane. Empirical evidence shows a link between faith and power. That prayer, for want of a better description, by whatever means be it incantation, engineered device and so on can establish a link to the 5th plane for the purpose of manipulating the energy therein. The various gods etc are generally those beings who for whatever reason choose to pay attention at some level to the 4th Plane and its inhabitants. Is everyone keeping up? Yes? Good.

These 5th Planar beings, can and do, demand worship, acts of faith etc for their own purposes for an energy bargain. Now it is generally conceivable to comprehend beings from the 5th plane. Let us say for example that such beings are on the scale of a planet in comparison to our own individual beings- in terms of their energetic potential. Those of the higher planes again are virtually inconceivable to us. These are termed the Old or Primal Gods in some cultures. They are perhaps species that have ascended billions of years in the past, who knows perhaps even before the existence of this version of the universe although that is not today's topic.

These ideas are simply purest conjecture and speculation as no one knows. In our analogy of scale the Old Gods are represented by beings the size of star systems, clusters of stars even, and possibly larger still. Above these should theoretically lie that conceptualised 'Maker' we are familiar with say a being that sets the rules for a galaxy and the 8th plane is the idea of the being who plays marble with galaxies and whose discarded toys are entire universes or multiverses. They are literally inconceivable to mere mortals like us. The different entities on each plane of existence all have their own motivations, their own concepts and perspectives on good and evil for example. To try and understand them is generally only going to get us into trouble philosophically but as you will no doubt have read in your studies that is exactly what many have tried to do...”

****

Deciding that he had been sitting long enough Rin stood up and checked the lockers. The first two lockers were open, but empty of anything useful. Rin had found some scraps of fabric that fell apart when he touched them, as well as some rocks that looked like crystals of some type. He had no idea what they might be for. He had also found a pair of boots with a heavy tread, but they were too small for him. They were synthetic so he figured maybe that was why they were still intact. As he opened the next locker a disembodied voice spoke. Jumping around he scanned with his gun, nothing. The voice spoke again. It was a short sentence and sounded calm he guessed but it was gibberish, nothing he understood.

“Sorry I don’t understand you.”

There was another burst of noise, and Rin got the impression that a different language was being tried. He was puzzled that his translator nanites didn't understand this language. Everyone generally got them at birth, even Slum dwellers, how else do you expect to understand all the different alien species out there? He'd never been off Yasm, but he could hold a conversation with the Korcari at the port, and any other aliens he had come across so far.

“I don't understand you, my translator isn't working properly.”

Vault was finding the process of opening communications slow. Dealing with anything corporeal was going to be slow the AI posited but at least it was out of lock down. After trying Galcomp and several other trade languages, Vault paused to try a different approach. It ran a high frequency scan, and detected a conglomeration of nanites attached to the language centre of the new Prime. With seamless electronic ease it interfaced with the nanites programming and studied them. Fairly primitive but functional. The stored language files indicated substantial drift in the major Languages while it slept. But this should work. Data feed established. Galcomp update in progress.

Rin screamed and clutched his head and tried to be violently ill, as a collage of letters, numbers, sensations, images, sounds, visions all tried to pass through his head at once. Abruptly it stopped. Gasping for air he slumped on the bench and passed out.

Prime unconscious, language update completed. Data assimilation complete. Unconscious state permits movement of Prime to medical for analysis. Medical droids dispatched. Prime sedated for transport. Prime safety and well being now main objective. Full medical scan imperative. Full Key analysis required. Inject medical nanites to check Key bond. Prime secured in medical. Key bond check complete. Prime Key successfully bonded with unintended candidate. Bound Key is integrated far beyond normal for Guardian or Prime candidates, cause unknown this time. DNA confirms species match, Anar descendant species 98.7% probability and rising. DNA scan shows genetic abnormality associated with genetic drift, higher than normal radiation environment, provisional base markers match clan Atlath. Maintaining sedation while medical analysis completed. Analysing Key bond.

Prime has severely degraded auto immune response from Anari normals, cellular deterioration at higher than anticipated levels given apparent youth. Prime is lacking in Guardian or Prime genetic improvements. Significant DNA difference from Prime requirement. Positing that degradation of immune system has made possible Key bond. Bond is now complete at a neural level, to attempt to remove would terminate Prime. Physical maturity of Prime should render base gene manipulation attempt unsuccessful but Key bonding suggests as a workable possibility. Probability of significant improvements to Prime attributes and consequently greater probability of survival. Results unpredictable given extent of key bond. Integration of Prime Symbiont now also required. Process terminal at this time. Results of Symbiont bond also unpredictable given extent of Key bond. Gene augmentation to Prime standards mandatory. Prime Key retains Gene markers from previous confirmed Prime candidate. DNA template taken. Viral augmentation and gene manipulation nanite cluster produced. Nanite insertion through Key bond completed. Analysis continuing. Sedation continuing. Monitoring of nanite process ongoing.

Rin opened his eyes, and found he was looking at the ceiling.

I'm lying on a bed. Where am I? What happened? What a headache.

The memory of the noises and sensations going through his head returned.

Guess I passed out. But how did I end up here? Where is here?

Sitting up he found himself in what was obviously a medical ward or lab, pristine white, with various unexplained pieces of equipment, all in pristine plastics or immaculate steels or alloys.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Rin called out.

“Hello Prime.” The voice was disembodied again but seemed vaguely masculine as well as electronic.

“Hey! You're speaking Standard now. How? And my name's Rin not Prime. Where am I? What is this place? Who are...”

The voice returned cutting off Rin in mid flow.

“I detected your language nanites after trying to speak to you earlier. You lost consciousness after they were updated. I took the opportunity to download current language data from them while you were unconscious so I now understand Standard as you call it, although it appears to be a heavily modified amalgamation of trade languages and Galactic Comprehension or Galcomp as I would refer to it. You would now understand me if we spoke like this' the voice switched language' or like this in Galcomp.”

Switching again. “However I will use Standard from now on.”

“Okay where am I then?”

“Currently Prime you are located in the vault secure medical laboratory of the Anari Guardian Creche Facility. This is located in the Facility you entered earlier.”

Rin interrupted “What's this prime thing? My name is Rin.”

“I will explain. I am the Paladin class Semi Sentient Artificial Intelligence that is responsible for the security of the Vault, and for the Anari Guardians raised at this facility. The Vault is the most secure element of this facility where the Guardian symbionts are grown and kept. Prime is a title, not a name. The Prime fulfils the roles of leader, warrior, justiciar, and high priestess amongst others, for the Anari people. You are now the Prime. I conducted extensive medical investigations while you were unconscious to determine why as this should not be possible.” There was a short pause as the AI checked he was paying attention.

“The Prime Key should not have bonded to you, the hatchway should have remained inaccessible, and you should not be here. It is likely that your very degraded immune system is responsible for the Key bonding with your system, however this has also caused other issues. The main purpose of this facility is the raising and training of the prime candidate, who upon maturity would become Prime. You are not trained and you have reached physical maturity, and without genetic modification you will not survive the process of meshing with the symbiont which is critical to your Key and yourself.”

“But I'm human, not your Anari, what do you mean won’t survive the process, what did you do to me?” Rin started to stand up wanting to leave, and starting to get scared again.

“Sit.” The electronic voice projected such authority that Rin sat straight back down. “You are human as you call it, but you are also Anari, your species is descended from an Anari clan.”

“What? That's crazy. Humans evolved on Lost Terra, or Earth as they used to call it.”

“No Prime. You may think this is true but I have the genetic analysis. Your species most certainly did not evolve on this Earth. Accounting for genetic drift and mutation the evidence is conclusive you are Anari.”

Rin sat on the bed in stunned silence, trying to wrap his mind around the voice's words. There was a pause and the voice spoke again. “You referred to this planet as Lost Terra?”

“Yeah. We lost Earth and the Sol system when the damned Penarl burned the world and destroyed the colonies, and every surviving human became a refugee, least that's what I was taught. Why?”

“It is possible that there are more Anari facilities on Earth.”

Rin shook his head slowly. “No there's nothing left. I was taught the Penarl used world crackers and destroyed the planet.”

“When was this?”

“Umm, I'm not sure..over 200 Sol years ago. Which is about 220 Yasm years.”

“Yasm?”

“Yasm is what we call this planet. The Korkari founded a colony here about 50 years ago.

“Well by comparing your measurements with stored data I can tell you that this facility was attacked and destroyed over 8500 of your Sol years ago. The vault was isolated at the time of the attack, but I surmise that it succeeded totally in depriving the Anari of its next generation of leadership, the Prime and her guardians. The fact that you know nothing of this suggests that the Anari have been truly almost destroyed totally.”

Rin sat in stunned silence. It was one thing to find yourself in a weird alien facility with an ancient AI talking to you, quite another to find out that everything you thought you knew about being human was quite stunningly wrong. His mind latched onto one of the AI's statements. You won’t survive the process of meshing with your symbiont. The Key should not have bonded to you.

“What is this Key you're talking about?” Rin's voice was strained.

“The ring on your finger is your Key. However normally this one could not bond to you as it was already bonded to the last prime candidate Yeshi bar Olta, who was killed during the attack on this facility. She was at that time just under 11 of your Sol years old and had only just begun her training. Her Key had only been bonding for hours when the attack took place.”

Rin thought the AI sounded very sad somehow then realised that these events probably seemed like they just happened to the machine.

What does bonded mean?

He tried to remove the ring, but it would not budge, somehow it was fused into the skin of his finger, the metal band seemed to have sunk into his flesh, and the green stone? The green stone seemed to glow, and pulsed with a faint light as he watched. With more than a measure of panic in his voice Rin asked “Why can’t I take it off? Get it off me.”

“The Key has bonded to you. This should not be possible, but the Prime Key is more powerful than any other, also your immune system is much weaker than is normal for Anari. It is likely this is the reason the Key overpowered your body's defences and bonded, although it is not possible to be certain. The Key is also forms a part of your symbiont. Your symbiont is part of what it means to be a guardian or prime. It is a part biologically and part technologically engineered being that is symbiotic with you, protects you, gives you enhanced physical and mental capabilities. Guardians give up part of themselves to the symbiont to form a partnership that is much more than the sum of its halves. Normally to complete the bonding process could take many days as the Guardian's Key would have to battle through the Anari immune system before it could begin to form its neural links and begin its optimisation of the body. The medical scans that have been taken show that this Key, and it is yours now has carried on what had just been begun with Yeshi. It is physically part of you now, and has linked to your nervous system fully, in fact more deeply than is supposed to be possible for any Anari. The results of this are unpredictable at best given the extremely unusual circumstances.”

The AI spoke calmly doing its electronic best to sound reassuring and confident as it explained the next step. After all it did have a pretty good idea of what was happening, just not why.

“Without the remainder of your symbiont you will certainly die. The best likelihood of your survival is genetic augmentation to enhance your body's immune system and this has been begun by injecting you with nanites designed to improve your immune system to Anari norms. This should then prevent any further integration with the Key, although it will be some hours before results will be known. Your Key had already begun its process when its original holder was killed. It is known how the Key survived but it obviously has and in an operative condition as well. It is most likely that your Key will still be working to Yeshi's DNA template for its symbiosis with your body Rin. The Prime Key will most likely work by optimising her DNA which was exceptional, it may utilise some of your DNA to a greater or lesser degree, this is unknown. The clash with your own DNA could still be fatal but the nanotech augmentation provides your best chance of surviving the remainder of this process. If this is successfully completed then we must attempt to complete the integration of your symbiont. You will know if we get that far, all Guardians can feel their symbiont. She will call you.”

“She?” Rin queried vaguely, nonplussed by this small detail in the insanity happening to him.

“Of course she, all symbionts are female. Just as all Guardians and the Prime are female. Males cannot be linked, as their neural links are not generally adequate and the immune system responses prevent it being possible. This is another complication of your condition at present.” The electronic voice stated this latest ‘complication’ as calmly as the rest.

Rin's mind had passed strained now and gone somewhat vague, as he lay on the medlab bed, gazing at the white ceiling and tried to comprehend the information the AI was giving him. After a long couple of minutes he spoke again.

“Okay just let me get this straight here. I’ve walked into some ancient base owned by humans, and I’ve got this ring on that is part of some living armour type thing that now has to become part of me, or I'll die. This whole thing isn't supposed to work with guys at all, but it has because my immune system isn't as strong as what they used to be. You, being the AI controlling the ancient base, think there’s a good chance this process it will kill me anyway. If I survive this first bit and the nano injections you have already given me, then it will kill me if I don’t get integrated with the other bit of the living armour thing which may or may not kill me because I’m a guy. Assuming I survive all that you think it will probably use this Yeshi's DNA- she was the girl the ring was for, to make me a girl as well? But maybe not and there is no way to tell? Is that correct?”

“Your details are approximate but summarily correct.”

“Oh fuck. And this is gonna take how long?”

“Unknown. The nanites that were injected into you are already doing their work and from the monitoring devices it is possible to say that the neural and nervous system links that the Key is making appear to be slowing their rate of growth, but that may be because of the nanites, or that this portion of the integration is nearing completion. Normally a Guardian is given her Key and the bonding process alone can take weeks. The remainder of the process varies from candidate to candidate.”

Rin got off the bed as he realised that despite all the unsettling news he had been given, mostly he was just very hungry, and mentally he shoved everything else aside in favour of food.

“How long was I unconscious and how long ago did you do that injection? Is there any food around here I could just eat about anything. And a drink?”

“Follow the floor lighting I am illuminating now, they will take you to the eating area. There are no fresh provisions but I am processing some emergency sustenance bars for you to eat now. Water will be available also. You were unconscious for most of a day, and the injected nanites have been functional for approximately 15 hours 24 minutes.”

***

Rin followed a trail of blue indicator lights that illuminated and led out of the medical bay along a corridor into a large of circular atrium with a high vaulted ceiling, before heading two thirds of the way around the room and following another corridor. This entire area was incredibly clean he thought, and there was no trace of the structure’s age here. As he walked he realised that he could now read the strange language on the signs and walls. Part of the language update he thought.

“Umm is this place part of the vault as well?”

“Yes Rin,” the AI replied, “the vault is a separate secure facility within the creche. It consists of the medical lab you woke in, the computer core where my physical units are located, symbiont engineering and storage facilities, a subsidiary power station and a small recovery area for Guardians and the Prime after they finished their bonding. The recovery area is at the end of this corridor. The vault is only ever used by the guardians and prime candidates as they are processed, so there is no need for extensive living facilities here. The facility commander had access but she died defending the main facility after securing the vault. The main creche facility is located approx 40 metres above your head. It can be accessed from the atrium we have passed through although it is locked down at present. That is inadvisable as my surviving sensors show the main facility to be seriously decayed from aging, and the damage sustained in the attack.”

The doors ahead hummed open as Rin approached, revealing a small lounge area with a table, a couple of chairs, a bed, locker and washing facilities with a shower. There was a screen on the far wall and the room was coloured a calming green. A hatch opened in the side wall with a chime and Rin reached in and picked up a couple of bars of some type of food. They didn't look very appetising at all but he didn't care the way his stomach was growling, and he took a bite. Surprised, Rin took another, and began eating rapidly. The food bars were actually edible. The screen on the far wall lit up and an electronic male face grinned at him.

“Expecting something horrible?” The AI asked.

“Yes actually.” Rin admitted.

“Well at this point I cannot produce anything else so I am glad you like them. Two of those should provide you with adequate energy for the day ahead, and they also include the majority of necessary minerals and vitamins you require. As your integration continues there may be a need for additional minerals but we will deal with that if it occurs.” The AI’s face ‘watched’ as he ate before continuing.

“As I explained, the Vault was isolated during the attack on this facility and as all communications systems were destroyed, I still do not have access to outside data. Therefore Prime…”

“Rin.” He reminded the AI.

The AI did the equivalent of mentally sighing and muttering. Not addressing the Prime by title was very odd.

“Very well Rin, To assist you I need more information. How did you come to be in the creche?”

**

Two energy bars did not fill his appetite so while Rin ate more he did his best to update the AI on the circumstances on the planet explaining, explaining about the attack on the ranch and then answering the AI’s questions talking about the raiders, his journey through the caverns, as well as life in the slums. He found he really did not like the number of times he had to admit to ignorance to he AI, but also he was starting to feel better after talking about the events of the previous few days, like an invisible weight was coming off his shoulders.

“Did you ask me these questions because you need the info or because I would feel better after talking?” Rin queried the AI, curiously.

“Both. My main function now Rin is to ensure the well being of the Prime, and your psychological well being is critical.”

“What’s that mean?” Rin asked confused.

“Being able to talk about things that happen to you Rin is important to your health. If you cannot do this then you can begin to suffer from mental illnesses and you cannot function properly. Do you feel better after talking?”

“Yes I guess,” he admitted after considering, “although I’m not sure what about. I know there was nothing I could do for the Rijkards and the ranch hands, and I got some payback for them before the bastards chased me into the caves. I just wish I could’ve warned them... “

Rin was suddenly shaking at the memories running in his mind. The atmo shuttle descent overhead towards the Hold, all the com channels swamped under jamming as he tried to call. The sight of his friends broken on the ground. The heavy recoil of the hunting rifle shoved into his shoulder, the scope drifting to the next alien, as he increased the tension in the trigger. Stumbling along in the dark, praying the torch would last. Suddenly he felt so sleepy. Rin threw himself on the bed and sobbed quietly at the madness that had torn up his world as the sedatives laced into the energy bars finished their work and he fell into a dreamless rest for the first time since the raid.

The AI monitored its new Prime and its sensors observed the young Anari’s brain waves settle down to a deep and healing sleep. Initial comparison of the Prime's brain activity to stored data seemed promising, but there were too many unknown variables. It would need to conduct a lot of subtle, careful, testing to determine the character and psychological make up of the new Prime without causing additional stress. The Prime’s urge to take responsibility for people would be beneficial but would have to be managed carefully, as would its strong urge to exact revenge.

As Rin slept, a fragment of the AI planned for the future, trying to develop a training regime for its sole responsibility with next to no resources, which would allow the Prime to develop and deal with the strains that would be forthcoming. At another level the AI’s core analysed the constant stream of data that the medical nanites were transmitting. The Key's integration with the Prime was still continuing. The speed had slowed a little but the AI had ascertained that this was down to the complexity of the neural links that were now being forged by the ancient and alien bio technology the Keys actually were. The injected nanites had finished doing their best to update the new Prime's immune system, which was now on a par with Anari norms, but when they had attempted to follow their programming and reduce the intrusive integration the symbiotic technology had disabled them. The AI did not know how or why and was sentient enough to be electronically worried.

***

LEGACY OF THE ANARI

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 4

Rin opened his eyes in the recovery room. He felt physically rested for the first time in days as well as calmer and more mentally refreshed than he expected. A quick shower got him clean and alert. He changed into a set of clean clothes that were waiting on the locker when he woke. After cleaning out the pockets of the clothes he had been wearing he grabbed a couple more energy bars and headed to the Atrium.

“So what do I call you?” His voice echoed a little in the empty corridor. This deserted facility with no one except an AI in it was starting to give him the creeps.

“I do not have an official name.” The face appeared on a wall screen monitor in the Atrium wall.

“Well I gotta call you something. I’m Rin, please don't call me Prime all the time. I’m alone here at the moment in this weird Maker damned place and just speaking to thin air is messed up.”

There was a pause before the AI responded.

“The candidates at the creche level referred to me as Vault. Is that adequate?”

“Hmm okay, weird but I guess it works. Okay Vault what's next?”

Rin thought Vault’s voice sounded a trace embarrassed when it spoke next.

“I have concluded that I cannot provide you the necessary training facilities that you require at this time. The principal purpose of the crá¨che facility above you was to raise Guardian and Prime candidates from their birth to the point of receiving their Keys and Symbionts. During this time they were schooled by their tutors and lived with their peers in the crá¨che. My role was mainly the management of the Vault and the Symbiont facility. I can provide you with data but not actual teaching. This current situation is outside of my programming, and as such I would normally render decisions to the base commander. In the absence of a base commander authority would devolve to the Prime candidate who at the time was Yeshi and aged 11. By following my principle objective of maintaining the Prime candidate's well being I am engaged in medical protocols to assist you. It is not possible to log you as a candidate within my data systems. In order to correct the logic break caused by your bonding with the Prime Key I have accepted you as Prime. As Prime not as a candidate. Therefore you have authority and I can offer guidance only. I do not have necessary systems to train you in the role of Prime and as such you will need to leave the facility to obtain this. However as you are currently still integrating for you to leave at this point would be almost certainly detrimental to your health.”

Rin was a little pissed, “You're seriously telling me that you don't know what to do, so it's my problem but you'll help if you can? And I can't leave yet because of this damn Ring?'

There was a long pause and electronic face on the monitor definitely looked embarrassed.

“Correct. I have concluded that I must try to integrate you successfully or you will die, but I cannot call you a candidate as you are fully mature, not a child and are also bonding already. It is time to review your medical status Rin, please proceed to medical.” The face watched impassively as Rin shook his head in disgust, then moved round the atrium and down the corridor to medical.

****

Rin was feeling odd. The last several hours had been spent in the medical bay getting scanned, and he was bored out of his mind. But now he was feeling odd, okay but definitely odd. It was like he could feel everything normally but in the last few minutes...

Deep within Rin's brain the Key completed its host integration functionality checks, and prepared to activate the next phase of her function. Augmentation would take longer than expected, and would continue throughout use, but critical deficiencies would need to be addressed. This level of interface had not been achieved with previous Anari users and only secondary cortex interface had been utilised. Primary cortex interface achieved and stable. Activating neural link…. Neural link established and fixed.

Hello Rin.

Rin jumped off the bed with a shout. He heard a girl’s voice in his head!

“What the hells?” He looked around wildly, first the AI and now this.

Rin you don’t need to shout you know. The feminine voice was friendly and chided him gently.

He was feeling completely freaked now. When Vault spoke he heard it just fine, but this wasn't hearing it was like a thought in his head.

“Who are you? Where are you?”

I’m your Key Rin, I’m bonded to you. The tone was warm and infinitely loving and sounded like it was set to giggle if he said something else dumb.

No Rin I’m not going to laugh at you. Okay not much anyway. There was a small but definite giggle in his mind.

“You’re reading my mind?”

Of course Rin, we’re one now. You don't need to speak to me you know. Not a good habit to talk to thin air. People will start to wonder. Just relax and think.

“How can you be in my mind? You’re the ring?” Rin's mental response was more a concept of confusion than a thought. Am I going crazy he wondered.

No you’re not crazy. The thoughts suddenly became clearer as the conversation continued. Better we're fully meshed now. Okay here is what we have. You picked me up and put me on. The ring that Yeshi had begun bonding with. I wasn't aware at that point, which is really good or I would have gone crazy. Because you didn't have that damn strong immune system that keeps causing the symbiosis problems, the automated meshing process began and we bonded. I am now physically part of you and I’m fully interfaced into your neural and nervous networks. We are now one Rin. Essentially I’m the command and control interface for your symbiont you get later on.

Rin, the Anari who used this technology before never realised its true capability because their immune system prevented the full neural mesh we have achieved, so this is going to be as unexpected to the Vault system as it is to you. The Vault injected you with nanites to improve your immune system and try to prevent the full mesh. I allowed it to improve your immune system but have disabled those nanites that tried to inhibit the neural mesh. Now that we're fully meshed I am self aware in my own right. The Key technology is basically an organic based Artificial Intelligence programmed to protect and preserve its user to the best of its ability. Now that I’ve activated I am using a fraction of the spare capacity within your organic brain.

Vault was correct that your body is not currently suitable for your symbiont. Without augmentation you would be killed by the process of merging with your symbiont, and now we cannot exist for long without it either. Therefore the next thing we must do is begin your augmentation. Don’t worry I’ll take good care of us Rin, but we will need a great deal of food and energy for the process.

Vault calls you the Prime because I’m the Prime Ring, the most capable. They knew this from what they had deciphered of the technology and as such the most suitable Anari candidate would have worn me, but poor Yeshi could never have managed this. Her link up would still have made her a very capable symbiont warrior, and as such probably a great leader for her people but you are going to get the full package.

The Key's excitement came across loud and clear to Rin. The girlish voice was practically bubbling with anticipation.

“Just what have I gotten myself into here?” Rin wondered.

The Key’s mental tone turned coy, and Rin could almost picture a girl grinning impishly at him.

Why Rin I thought you knew already? Hehehe, you get to be the first full Warp Avatar in a million years or so. And you, I, we are gonna rock this corner of the galaxy. Happy laughter bubbled in his mind.

“Warp Avatar? What the hell’s a Warp Avatar?” The conversation was rapidly spinning out of Rin’s understanding. Key explained to him patiently.

The technology that made the Keys and the symbiont armour is incredibly ancient Rin. From time before man was evolved enough to be anything other than a small monkey. In time the Anari discovered it as they were exploring the galaxy and learned enough about it to realise that it would provide a means of enhancing their best and brightest. I don’t think they ever really knew what they actually had. The technology was fantastically ancient to them but actually it belonged first to an alien species who became so powerful over time that they were pretty much gods. They don't exist in this dimension any more because they ascended.

“Um, Key I’m feeling stupid I guess, but I never had much education in the slums. I’ve heard of the warp, but I don't know what it is, but the rest of what you just said means nothing to me.”

Rin felt a bit ashamed of his lack of knowledge. He guessed it wasn't his fault but it seemed like it was going to cause problems. Still the girl? woman? in his thoughts immediately picked up on his feelings and reassured him.

Shush don't be silly, you’ve never had the chance or need to learn this stuff, so you're not stupid. Remember I’m in your head here so I know. Actually Rin your mind is really very efficiently organised, you’ve a very good memory don't you?

“Uh yes why?”

I can tell from how your thought processing is structured, it’s very neat. With the knowledge you’ll soon have there is no doubt you’re going to be a lot more than a bison herder, and you’re only 22. You’re allowed to be inexperienced. I mean you’re talking to a million year old Key here! Anyway we’re going to have a very long time together to get you sorted.

“How do you talk like that? It’s not what I’d expect, although I guess I wasn't really expecting to be having a mental conversation with a woman thinking in my head.”

More laughter echoed in his mind, which Rin enjoyed.

We’re communicating via your shared language, and I guess you can call me eternally young so I’m not going to talk like some old antique. Okay I’ll give you some basics, explain what you need to know now. The rest can wait until you are safe and integrated. Like I said I’m the control of the armour tech, its core processing if you want. I am aware, and share all your sensations although I cannot take control of your body without your permission. You need to eat a lot of food at the moment because our meshed body uses a lot more energy than you're used to. When you’ve integrated fully that won’t matter because you will always have enough energy. Talk about that later though.

Your symbiont becomes part of you, it will protect you from a variety of threats, repairs itself with your energy, serves as a weapon, life support and so on. You can look completely normal and naked if you want, and dress in ordinary clothing, the armour will simply change its appearance. Again more on that stuff later. We need to get you on with your augmentation because now we’re meshed the symbiont is also an essential part of our bodily functions. You’re not really human or Anari any more Rin, and are on your way to becoming a whole lot more, but your body needs some major changes.

“Let me guess, this is the bit Vault said about the armour being female?”

Rin had been trying not to think about becoming a girl because the idea was so damn strange. Still at the back of his mind knew if the choice was be a dead guy or a live girl then it seemed appropriate to see what life was like on the other side of the fence. He wasn't a big macho type anyway, being built more as a slim wiry runner, and life in the slums had been hard enough that the first rule was always just survive, anything else was a bonus. When Key spoke she sounded apologetic.

You’re right Rin. Your symbiont and I are both female. We’re already bonded so there’s no way back, I know this isn’t something you would have wanted but there’s no other choice. We won’t be able to function otherwise and it will kill us all.

“So what are you going to do to me Key?” Rin felt nervous and afraid but resigned to his strange fate.

You’re going to sleep Rin, and I’m going to work with your and Yeshi's DNA. I’ll get a combination that produces the optimum female offspring of the two of you, plus some genetic extras that come with the whole Avatar thing. Then while you’re sleeping I will modify your body so essentially you become your own daughter plus bonuses. In a way you do get to father a child Rin, except you are that child as well. Your new body won’t be fully mature when you’re ready for the symbiont, just like the process would have been for Anari you will be adolescent in some ways. You will be unconscious while I integrate your symbiont into you. It’s exceptionally painful if done while conscious. When you come to, the process of augmentation followed by integration will be over. You will be adolescent still but complete and will then mature much more rapidly than normal and within months will be physically mature like you are now aged approx 24, the optimum, and that’s where you stay.

“Stay?”

Yes, you will be very long lived, only ageing in the last few years of your life, this is part of the gifts that being an Avatar brings.

“I just know I’m going to regret this but how long is long lived?”

I’m unable to say right now Rin, because of the exceptional circumstances, but I’m estimating at least 1500 years possibly considerably longer.

“Oh. Wow, I think.” It was a mind numbing thought and Key hastily diverted him.

Don't think about this right now Rin, it’s not important at the moment. First we both have to stay alive.

“Fair point that.” If you can grin mentally Rin knew he was doing just that.

You need to talk to Vault and explain what’s going to happen and that you'll be unconscious for it. We will be in the medical bay for the augmentation, and Vault will then need to get droids to manoeuvre us to Symbiont Laboratory where the implantation and integration will take place. It is critical that Vault maintains a supply of energy to our body during this processing, or we will have serious possibly fatal problems.

“Okay I will talk to him now, and let's get on with this.”

***

Vault’s subroutines observed the recovery lounge constantly but when Rin began to talk to himself, before going into a trance it was far enough outside of expected parameters that the main AI core was observing directly when Rin came to and explained his orders. The Vault AI accepted as evident that Key had successfully bonded with Rin, although it was apparent that this had proceeded much further and faster than recorded previously. Now the AI watched as Rin ate six of the energy bars that he had ordered before settling comfortably onto the bed. Vault programmed the lounge droids to ensure there was a supply beside the bed at all times. Rin explained the need for a constant energy supply meant that he might wake up and eat but would be back to sleep almost straight away. To the AI’s electronic consternation Rin also explained that during the process and until the armour was integrated the Key would be controlling his body.

Vault made the arrangements to ensure Rin's instructions were followed and then manoeuvred every sensor available to record as much data on the process as possible. According to Rin’s brainwaves he was not exactly relaxed but getting there. Finally he seemed to fall asleep. The AI observed as the brainwave patterns slowed to catatonic levels, as though in a coma. Then with a sudden spike, the opposite side of his brain lit up in a maelstrom of electronic activity, centred in portions of the brain that were generally never used. This continued for some time, with Rin lying motionless apart from the very shallow movements of his chest as he slowly breathed. Finally the electrical activity settled down to a more normal level of activity for a couple of minutes before suddenly the medical scanners reported an immense surge of activity throughout Rin's body.

The Key had combined and customised the DNA from Yeshi and Rin and was extremely satisfied with the result. The level of integration that had already been achieved had opened up possibilities that never existed before for augmentation and she pursued them fully. The customised viral DNA nanotech was distributed through the Keys neural and nervous interface and when everything was ready, she took hold of Rin adrenalin levels and his bodies electrical impulses, spiked them and began to rapidly expend energy as the new DNA was rampantly force produced throughout their body.

The process would take long hours and Key monitored her host’s progress at every stage, tending to the birth of her new body with infinite care. As the body’s energy levels fell, she considered raising the level of consciousness enough to eat more food before realising it was unnecessary. Vault's droids performed their assigned tasks efficiently, and began supplying intravenous fluids heavy with the necessary minerals, vitamins, salts, and energy. Finally the critical point was reached and Key isolated Rin's brain from pain signals as their body was tortured by genetic invasion.

***

Vault noted the beginning of physical changes that began to rapidly accelerate as they were recorded. Rin was a young male approximately 1m85cm in height massing about 75kg, with a slim build, now under the augmentation process he started to shrink. The scanners showed that his skeletal structure was rapidly losing mass, the long bones in his limbs thinning along their length and then shortening. The pelvic bones underwent major change first breaking, realigning along their new wider female proportions. The chest cavity compressed, rib cage tightening as if squeezed, ribs fracturing, before beginning to heal minutes later. Throughout his skeleton morphed as though made of plastic while internal organs moved to accommodate their more compressed location.

The AI noted the development of some new types of tissue, in various locations that appeared mostly hormonal. The development of what looked like a second heart was more interesting to the AI. As it formed the body's nervous system swiftly accommodated it, and it began pumping in tandem to the original as arteries and veins were rerouted. The sensors in the room recorded as the body shrank in on itself reducing in height by approx 10cm, hands and feet shrinking in perfect proportion, skull bones shrinking and reshaping to mould smooth female physiology.

The body regressed in age as masculine maturity was erased and female prepubescence took its place, skin colouring darkening slightly to reflect the genetic legacy of Rin's ancestors having been Nordic Caucasian while Yeshi’s Anari heritage reflected what a refugee from Sol would perhaps have recognised as a slight middle eastern heritage. The skin rippled as muscles were realigned, fat was redistributed, the smaller chest showing the beginnings of breast formation. Rin's loose shorts tightened as his hips widened, settling as his penis inverted and the formation of his womb and sexual organs began. The changes took long hours, and throughout Vault monitored an incredible depletion of mineral and energy reserves and maintained the constant infusion of fluids intravenously to keep the body within safe levels.

Finally the visible changes seemed to pause, Key taking a short break to allow the fluid drips to catch up before the remaining changes began. Vault' sensors noted increased tightening of musculature, the development of nano tube sheaths around critical organs, processes reminiscent of the general enhancements that a Guardian or Prime would have undergone making them faster and stronger, more dexterous, more durable. The changes Rin was undergoing were more extensive than Vault had previously recorded.

By the time the augmentation process was complete, the figure on the bed had transformed from prepubescent girl to adolescent woman, slim waisted and with the promise of beauty. When the medical scanners showed that the process had been completed the droids prepared the bed for movement to the Symbiont Laboratory. As the bed was moved Vault noted that although the figure was now measuring 1m 74cm her mass had actually significantly increased, now over 120kg.

The Symbiont laboratories were the main focus of the vault's existence, a robotic facility entirely controlled by the AI. The sterile lab comprised gene sequencing machinery, forced growth DNA culturing, and an operating suite where the candidates symbiont would be inserted into her body. The symbiont would complete its own instinctive bonding process governed by Key. The best Anari technology could only provide an environment for the process, not control it.

***

When the Anari discovered the ancient alien technology and archives they found a cache of the artefacts that looked like rings. Tiny samples of symbiont DNA that the Anari theorised had been used by the aliens were found but no whole symbiont was ever located. After decades of investigation and analysis the Anari learned enough to manufacture a prototype symbiont. When the prototype was tested with a control ring the Anari volunteer had suffered an agonising death while the symbiont successfully formed an armour suit before becoming unstable and terminating itself, after which its control ring had gone permanently inert. This first tragic failure gave the science teams huge amounts of data and they refined their understanding and experimented more.

Eventually the Anari scientists successfully managed to bond Anari, key and a symbiont, producing a warrior who went down in Anari history as one of the most celebrated in their history. All this occurred perhaps 2500 Sol years before the attack on the creche. The changes wrought on Anari society by the symbiont technology produced generals with huge skill, leaders with charisma and force of personality that was unmatched. The formation of the guardian and prime system led to a stable government that was able to dominate hundreds of light years of the galaxy. Their dominion was only a miniscule fraction of the galaxy itself, but enough that the Anari were recognised as a young developing power in their own right.

The Anari accomplished this without a true understanding of the technology they had acquired. The AIs were used within the symbiont facilities because of the immense computational power involved in developing the symbiont units, as well as the needs for security and sterility in the environments. Empirical science, trial and error eventually produced a biological organism that could be grown within the lab facility, which could be sustained almost indefinitely so long as sufficient reserves of power were available. This symbiont would rely upon its host for energy until it was sufficiently bonded to the host that the Key could initiate its organic energy core.

Initiating the energy core would provide access to vast amounts of power which would stabilise the symbiosis. Once stable the symbiont would spread rapidly throughout the body before forming the armour. Anari science knew the armour was organic and based around molecules that in a liquid form resembled silicates and ceramics. Physical damage to the armour would self repair very fast, and the host was able to operate in environments ranging from vacuum and extreme cold in space, to high pressure atmospheres toxic to unprotected Anari at high temperatures. Once in place the symbiont armour took the genetic enhancements that went with being an augmented Guardian or Prime and added raw power and durability governed by the processing ability of the Key, with a nervous system that processed data far faster than the human brain ever could. It was a potent mix and formed the basis for Anari power.

During its long isolation Vault continued the empirical science, making minute incremental modifications to the organism, testing to destruction, before recycling, analysing and producing the next generation, all very theoretical and within his original programming to further develop the technology that formed the Guardian culture. With vastly reduced power reserves after the attack and lacking available host the AI had been limited in what it could do. Therefore it chose to try and isolate those portions of the organism’s DNA that served to produce the organic energy core. The AI concentrated on increasing the core’s tolerances and improve its capacity under the logic that more available power was a better thing.

The result of Vault’s scientific work was that the symbiont available to combine with Rin's new body, would the AI theorised be a significant improvement on previous models. Either that or there was a small but definite chance that the new model would have gone further than the Anari body and Key could, which would be fatal. The AI declined to mention this data to Rin prior to the augmentation process as it realised that additional nervousness wouldn't do Rin any good, not that there was a choice anyway.

***

Vault directed the droids moving Rin's comatose form to the lab operating suite, through the airlock into the sterile environment. The droids rapidly sterilised the area around the symbiont insertion point, to minimise the chance of infection after the operation. The sophisticated robotic surgeon then positioned over the body and under the AI control first a laser scalpel incision was made then a miniature saw facility cracked open her chest cavity, before machinery carefully spread her rib cage slightly to provide access, while suction devices removed blood from the wound. Once this was completed the AI disconnected the symbiont from the storage facility's power supply and moved it into place next to Rin.

Time was now critical as the symbiont could only survive for minutes without its new host. The symbiont resembled a child's liver, with a bump at one end that the power supply had been connected to. As seconds passed the organism quivered as if realising its predicament and the bump morphed into tubular tentacle about 5 cm long. Ensuring the orientation was correct the AI inserted the organ into Rin's chest cavity fitting it slightly underneath her second heart. The symbiont was held in place for a few seconds before its gently questing tentacle brushed against the side of the Rin’s second heart and speared forwards forming a new attachment. The slow beating heart paused as the symbiont punctured it, then resumed its beat rapidly speeding up, Within seconds any trace of the wound in the heart muscle vanished as the symbiont adjusted the tentacle’s fit and healed the wound. The AI withdrew the operating implements and then closed up Rin's chest. If one could shine a light in Rin’s body you would have seen an explosion of activity from the symbiont and the Key. In one direction the Key extending its neural network into the symbiont organ, in the other the, symbiont began rapidly to spread tendrils into its new host.

Key was satisfied the augmentation of her new body was a complete success. Now Key maintained Rin's unconscious state as the AI performed the symbiont implant. Key knew the original users of the symbiont technoilogy had never had to go through anything as crude as chest cracking but the Anari had worked out a process that worked for their species. It made no difference in the long run. Monitoring the operation’s progress a portion of Key's attention ensured Rin didn't feel any pain, and temporarily paused her body’s healing process so it did not interfere. Most of Key's attention was focussed on the symbiont. The symbiont felt healthy, although its metabolism was faster than she anticipated. The operation would need completing as fast as possible before it ran out of energy.

Almost immediately Key felt the symbiont quiver after being removed from its energy link, followed by its feeling of hunger and awareness of falling energy reserves. The AI placed the organ within her body, and as the symbiont feeding tube emerged it brushed her new heart triggering its bonding spear into the muscle to form its new feeding tube. Immediately the symbiont's metabolism kicked back into high gear as it sensed the availability of fuel, rapidly drawing energy from Rin's body. Key felt it begin the process of expansion as it detected its new organic host, and the race to integrate was on. Key directed her nearest main nervous cluster to connect, which it did in seconds, while the symbiont sent out tendrils to surrounding organs beginnings to link in to Rin's body. Key noted her energy levels falling, although this was slowed by the infusions being received from the operating suite equipment and IV lines. Still it was apparent that initiating the energy core was going to be critical.

Through the new neural link to the symbiont Key exerted her control and began directing operations, feeling its compliance in return. The symbiont radiated intense hunger, a desperate need for energy, and the urge to expand and protect its new host. At this stage of its development the symbiont was like an infant following instinctive responses. Gently Key triggered the integration of the new organs the Vault AI had detected developing in her body. When the link was made she was able to start the production of the hormonal charge that would be needed to force the energy core to activate successfully.

The symbiont responded to Key’s control and ceased random connections to its host, fighting its instinctive drive to spread to reduce its energy demand as much as possible. Key ordered the preparations for the energy core and exotic biochemical changes began developing within the Symbiont’s core. As it did so Key became aware that the biochemical mix at the core of the Symbiont was not what she had expected. The energy demands of the symbiont were getting frantic and rapidly rising even as she fought to calm the organism and adjust the hormone mix in her supplemental organs to complement the core charge.

It would be close. Rin's body was beginning to suffer under the extreme energy demands being placed on it, and even under Key’s control her body could not keep up the transfer of energy for much longer. If the core link was not successful at the first attempt it would be too late for a second try. Rin's pulse and brainwaves began to spike erratically as adrenalin surged in spite of Key exerting control. The combined assault of the Symbiont energy demands and Key’s own needs were close to being too much. It was only seconds, but it felt like an eternity to the Key that could measure time in millionths of a second. The hormone organs, forced to accelerate production beyond their normal schedule by Key, finally charged to the right level.

Instantly Key fired the hormonal charges. The two swollen organs simultaneously delivered every molecule of the alien hormones through the feeding tubes to the symbiont’s dormant energy core. Their hormone charges delivered the organs shrank almost to nothing and Key shut them down, reducing her energy needs as much as possible. The symbiont’s dormant core, half full of the symbiont’s own chemicals was flooded by the surge. The exotic mix hit the right composition, chemicals reacted forcing a violent muscular spasm in the symbiont, and her core woke.

Rin’s comatose body contorted, spasmed and then screamed long and loud, as the most excruciating agony surged throughout every cell of her body. A gigantic fist hammered into her chest. Unimaginable power burning in her, overwhelming her cells and changing them, flooding onwards through her radiating from her core. Muscles contracted into spasms, daggers of pain stabbed Rin lancing through her traumatised brain. Rin wasn't conscious yet her mind would remember this. Vague unremembered nightmares would haunt her sleep for years. Rin’s brainwaves spiked once again then fell to normal levels as Key finally managed to contain the incredible energy surge.

Vault’s scanners burned out as an energy surge atomised most of the equipment in the lab, burning out what little was not destroyed immediately. In its hardened and shielded core Vault knew its functionality would not be impaired. The surge was unexpected but similar to experimental data from the early years of Anari research although seemingly more powerful. Vault’s working sensors showed the lab access had been fused closed. It would take 3 hours to regain access to the Symbiont laboratory before it could determine the status of the Prime. As Vault sent additional droids their instructions the Vault AI analysed what data it had, showing the Prime seemingly engulfed in a surge of crackling black flames of power.

Key knew in the tiniest fraction of time why the Symbiont’s energy demands were so high, and its metabolism so fast. It had been modified to move the core link higher up the energy gradient, and the energy flood was horrendous, far more than she had expected. Still she was the prime Key and was linked to an extent that actually offered the possibility of handling the link. If she failed it wasn't as though there would be anything left anyway. With all its attention now, knowing Rin would feel agonizing pain but with no other option, Key diverted the energy throughout her body, forcing the almost instant maturing and transformation of the cells as the warp energy burned through them.

As the warp energy hit her neural and nervous network the flood empowered her as well and Key diverted energy back to the core’s structure, forcing its expansion in seconds, erecting barriers to absorb the flood, before triggering the symbiont’s muscular new core chamber to contract. Finally the energy link was reduced, then stabilised to a nominal level, a forced balance where the energy link empowered the barriers that held it in place. If Vault’s sensors still functioned in the lab, they would have recorded a sphere of blazing black energy crackling around the body, suddenly enshrouded in jagged crimson fire before vanishing to nothing.

The body at the centre of the sphere fell with a thud to land in the perfectly formed crater carved by the ball of energy almost 3 metres across. The crater was eaten from the armoured floor and ceiling of the lab, with nothing left of the bed or nearby equipment. The remains of two attendant droids stood where they failed. Their remaining fried internal components visible where the energy sphere had eaten away their matter instantly. There was a moan and the body curled up into a foetal position before falling back into unconsciousness. Silence reigned in the lab again.

Key checked on her unconscious host. The damage caused by the warp energy was rapidly vanishing as Rin’s now fully empowered body healed her nerves, tissues and burns. Rin’s pain was successfully blocked once more and she would be fully healed in minutes. The armour symbiont was fully active now, and under Key’s guidance, began a methodical integration, radiating calm and a sense of protection and deep satisfaction now its energy demands were more than amply satisfied. With minimal gentle guidance Key ensured that the armour would fully assimilate then return to functioning at a minimal level.

Key noted the symbiont was now virtually mature due to its forced core growth, and was under pressure within Rin's overcrowded torso. Key instructed the symbiont on which organs where unnecessary now, including the twin hormonal chargers that had activated the core. Gradually the armour began to absorb them, releasing the pressure on itself, and freeing up room for future expansion if needed. Finally with all else well Key checked over her own links, ensured that Rin's brainwaves were satisfactory and started to work out just how far up the energy gradient, the Anari's armour Symbiont had climbed.

LEGACY OF THE ANARI

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 5

There are some things in a modern technological society will generally be detected. The colony on Yasm was relatively young and lacked the very latest equipment, but the low orbit satellites that served as its combined geological survey, weather system and communications network was more than adequate to detect a sudden energy bloom. The large energy spike was in the foothills of a towering range of mountains. Seen from the colony's main port and original founding Talont, and daily bathed in the setting sun the Korkari settlers called them the Sunset range, and then ignored them.

The energy spike was gone as fast as it appeared and the satellite only logged its approximate location, not having adequate resolution to get an accurate positional fix, and downloaded the data to Security at the port in Talont. The colony’s threat level was still high after the Dtilla raiders had finally been driven off planet 2 days previously, and the information flashed in front of the gaze of the Korcari watch commander. He demanded more detail and not getting any swore briefly and shunted the data over to his terminal to examine more closely.

“Katx! This energy spike where is it?”

His Sergeant grunted, checked his map data and replied. “It’s about 220 klicks from the Mining town Phifthar (translated as Rocky Money).”

“Didn't they get hit by those Dtilla scum?”

“Yes Sir quite badly. They lost a lot of gear, half a season’s ore and took over 50 casualties with a load more wounded. You think those pirate shits left some stragglers?”

“Dunno Katx but there isn't supposed to be anything out that way. The closest place was Rijkards Hold, on the other side of the range, but the Dtilla completely scragged it. Killed everyone.

“We have anyone at Phifthar that can have a look?”

Katx scrolled through the available roster, grimacing in disgust at the lack of resources.

“No Korcari troops but we asked some of the mercs from the port to provide additional security and assistance to the settlers there for a few days till we get them back under the defence grid.”

“Hmmm, okay check which merc unit, then give them a call and tell them I want a recon.”

“Yes Sir.”

***

When the symbiont Armour's warp core awoke and linked, several things happened. The energy link first bent and then broke the space time continuum for the 4th Plane and held one end of portal open from the 4th Plane into the warp between the Planes. Then it cast its portal out and up the energy gradient of the warp searching and grasping to the furthest extent that it could whilst also searching instinctively for a particular energy signature detectable from the warp, before plunging the other end of the portal tube back into spacetime.

The far end of portal opened and held, forming an energy sink in the Spacetime of the 5th Plane. Energy and matter flooded through the portal, transmuting instantaneously into raw warp energy as it fell down the energy gradient to the 4th Plane. The armour instinctively sought the largest and most powerful source of power that it could, and when the link opened, it did so to the fiery nuclear inferno of the core of a star. A class M star, very active with a lifespan of a several billion years to go, but without life in its system of rocky planetoids, and gas giants. As Key struggled to get control of the portal to reduce the flood of ravening warp energy to a mere trickle the warp flooded through Rin before being restrained.

***

There are observers of the 4th plane that play the games of deities and demagogues, power and control, in an endless struggle for domination, war, peace, chaos and order, as well as more inscrutable motives. Mostly these observers are from the 5th plane. They vie for superiority, many seeking to manipulate the 4th plane of existence to increase their power in the 5th. The goal is survival, supremacy and the ability to rise higher up the plane. Power begets power. There are also those who observe from the 6th. Their motives can be beyond comprehension. Occasionally however they are simple.

One observer from the 6th Plane watched the 4th Plane, also paying close attention to those of the 5th Plane who felt themselves entitled to take an interest in proceedings, or even an active hand. It's not a simple matter to directly affect matters in a lower plane, it requires patience, planning and generally believers. There is some truth in belief equalling power. For a being of the 6th plane to affect proceedings on the 4th should be extremely difficult. They are too far removed from the actions they wish to influence.

The being that watched now had seen its plans for this particular galaxy corrupted over the last few millions of years. It found this irksome as it was quite fond of this galaxy, indeed it felt that it had managed a rare balancing act in the formation of the galaxy itself, its rules were elegant. It had taken steps millions of years previously, an appreciable passage of time even for one such as this, when it could be bothered to allow time to affect it. Those steps had resulted in the ascension from the 4th Plane of a species that now served well on the 5th Plane. The Baughtmach were a bulwark against the madness that infected the 5th plane and which sought to rise higher. It had hoped that in time the legacy left behind would be reused and it could acquire more allies but this had not happened.

The formation of a point singularity went almost unnoticed, save by the lone observer from the 6th. Deep within a giant star power began to pour down the energy gradient, a flood that almost vanished to a trickle and then stabilised, gradually feeding warp energy into the 4th Plane. It knew this galaxy intimately, knew that the power loss was of no importance to the star itself, recognised the portal as an event it had seen once before, although in recent times it had noticed similar but lower tubes for a blink in the galactic history. It would pay more attention, it decided, the 4th plane might yet prove interesting again.

***

The mercenaries that had been asked to give the small mining settlement of Phifthar, some additional sense of security was little more than a detachment, from Narwhat's Fourth. The Fourth, a mixed brigade was stationed on Celus I, a little more than 40 light years from Yasm. Having just finished a deployment against Phrangian regular forces on Celus Secundus, the Fourth was on R&R. For the enlisted it meant Rest and Relaxation, for Narwhat and his officers it meant Refit and Recruitment. They had taken casualties during the fighting on Secundus, before a political settlement between the Phrangians and their employers, Celus I's government had brought an end to the fighting, for now at least, and the contract. Narwhat was just happy that it was over.

It was a fornicating damn mess from start to finish, once it became obvious that the rival factions in Celus's administration were preventing the Celusian forces from completing an otherwise very achievable victory over the Phrangian interlopers. If there was one thing Narwhat couldn't stand it was religion and religious fanatics, they messed every damn thing up. Phrangian cultists had successfully pressurized the Celusian administration, effectively hamstring their military forces. So now while the unit stood down he had dispatched a recruiting team to Yasm. The Korcari made fairly decent heavy weapons guys given the time to train them properly, and the slums in Taront produced a real mixture of all walks of life looking for a fighting chance. Still Narwhat was hoping to get more than just a few Korkari.

The Korcari had also taken human refugees with them when they founded the colony, and although they had no home system, the humans could be found on a hundred worlds now in greater or lesser numbers. They bred like vermin but damn they could fight as well, especially if gene modified or equipped with heavy equipment. So damn adaptable it made you sick. Uppity though. So Narwhat dispatched his human Lt Resnij and expected he would bring him back a mixture of recruits. Then he could get them trained up or shipped out if they didn’t fit in his mixed species mixed speciality brigade.

****

Lt Resnij was tired, covered in damn awful mine dust, and thirsty for a drink. Right now he would trade a promotion for a cold beer. Phifthar was a piss poor excuse for a town, and if wasn't for the fucking Dtilla, there would never have been any chance in a million years of getting him there. Yes the miners had gotten hit pretty hard when the pirate scum landed their shuttles, but the Dtilla had been driven off Yasm days ago, and wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. He didn't want or need to be stuck in this shit hole. The quicker the Korcari Security Bureau got its defence grid back on line, the sooner Resnij could take his Fourth detachment back to the Port and get his damn job done. They’d barely arrived before the raids began. The pirates knew enough not to take on Talont's defences but they had been able to knock out big chunks of the periphery grid with kinetic strikes from low orbit before dropping the damn lizard raiders all over the shop.

The predictable result was the reactive Korcari buttoned up and the pirate scum had time to cause chaos in the outlying regions. It wasn't politic to talk about it but he reckoned their Administration had fucked it up big time. They should have gone out and tanked the fucking Dtilla. So now his 15 man troop was playing fucking nursemaid.

It was a mess, and Resnij was eager to help when the Security chief's request for a flypast over grid coordinates for a power surge was relayed. Anything to get out of this shit hole town. He had to leave a minimum to babysit so taking half the squad, Resnij piled into one of the flyers that Korcari Sec had helpfully provided and they took to the air. Flying low over Yasm's strange forest, and plains the demi squad went to investigate.

***

Rin wake up please. It’s all over. You’re okay.

Key’s voice was calm and reassuring in Rin's head. He remembered the sudden intense pain burning, like acid eating every nerve ending in his body all at once. Then everything had gone black. Gradually, consciousness returned, and eventually he forced himself to open his eyes. He was curled up like a baby, lying in a crater, and his body felt...different.

Rin knew what the difference was, but that didn’t stop him cataloguing the sensations and feelings of his new body. Fingers and toes check.

I can wiggle them, great not paralysed then. Hands and feet checked as well, flexing fingers made Rin conscious of how soft the skin on his fingers felt. In his mind he already knew that if he was alive then he was now a she, a girl even, as he had been told it would happen. Lying there on the floor Rin gave himself a mental oh boy, and sat up. Everything was the same and oh Gods so different also.

“Key” It was a young woman's voice, a little husky but sweet as well. Surprised, she raised a small hand to her throat.

You don’t need to speak Rin. Key's voice echoed in her mind.

“I know Key, just an excuse. Oh Gods Key, I have breasts.” Rin could feel his, her she corrected herself, her breasts moving as she sat up. Looking down they seemed huge. She closed her eyes and looked away.

And now moving quickly on. Rin looked around, everything seemed bigger.

“I shrank?”

Yes Rin, you are now 1m 74cm tall. Currently you mass 122.7kg. Your overall density has significantly increased.

“Crap, I liked being tall. How the hells can I weigh 122.7kg?”

Your body is significantly reinforced and armoured internally Rin, your musculature is denser as well.

“Well I don't feel heavier, I feel lighter than ever.”

That is the result of your increased strength Rin, you will not notice the extra weight at all, but be aware that your body has a lot more mass than is apparent.

Rin shrugged, wincing mentally at the jiggling and swaying that motion caused, deciding weighing 122.7kg wasn't relevant when her body looked like it couldn't weigh more than 60kg. Doing her best to ignore her breasts for now she continued taking stock of her new form. Her arms seemed so much more slender than before, her hands slim, long fingered and dexterous. Her legs looked, well fantastic really, they seemed so long. She felt like she was sitting on a pillow though. Standing up she absent mindedly crossed her arms under her breasts shivering at the sensitivity and gazed around at the destruction in the lab, mouth dropping open as she noticed the perfect sphere carved around her through anything and everything.

“Vault, report please.” There was silence.

“What the fuck happened Key?”

The sensors in this location were destroyed by the energy surge that caused this damage. Vault can’t hear you at this time. However I can sense droids at the airlock, and they should have entry in a few minutes. How do you feel Rin?

“Hmm well actually I feel pretty awesome considering.”

She realised it was true as she thought it. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so energised, so light, so fit and healthy.

“Although I guess I don't feel like a Rin any more. I feel great.”

A lock of hair fell in front of her face and she brushed it away.

Oh Gods I've gone blonde as well, I think I need a mirror, actually I think I need some clothes.

“Did everything go okay Key?”

Actually yes, despite the damage around you. The optimal mix of Rin and Yeshi’s genetic structure was achieved, your augmentation went very well, and you will be at least as capable as any previous prime. Your armour symbiont has integrated successfully as well, although not without some difficulty. The energy surge was due to the symbiont linking to the warp higher than expected on the energy gradient, but that will wait for later. When the surge happened, it forced the extremely rapid maturation of your Symbiont, so right now it’s adult and completely interfaced with you.

Currently the armour is in a passive mode, which is why you notice no difference. Your body has also rapidly matured from the adolescence you were at prior to the symbiont link, to your near physical maturity now. Physically you are now aged approx 23, and will have matured to your optimal state within a few more days, although the changes now would be very small. You are a completely healthy female and essentially complete adult Avatar now. We will talk later about what that means. Vault has almost achieved entry via the airlock.

“Okay.” Rin agreed despite wanting to know more.

***

There was a hissing sound, and the sudden brilliant flare of a plasma cutter burned through the airlock, before rapidly cutting an entry way into the laboratory. The slab of metal fell inwards with a clang and before the droids could enter, Rin was out, aware of the heat from molten metal but not feeling it.

“Vault, do you hear me now?”

“Yes Rin, I have you on sensors now, I am…glad you are well Rin. There was a surge of energy, which destroyed all sensors and droids within the laboratory. This was unexpected although there are records of similar experimental results in the past. My core functions are unimpaired. The size of the energy burst may have been detectable, but due to lack of external communications or sensors it is not possible to say.”

“What do you recommend if the facility is discovered?”

“It would not be advisable to have symbiont technology revealed as this currently represents your only asset. While I detect no more Keys within this facility, my data records do indicate possible locations where Keys may have been located off world. The remaining Symbiont units are all inferior to yours which is the most current generation, however when you leave I would advise that the remaining units be recycled and the vault secured.”

“When I leave?” Rin asked.

“This would be the most practical solution to your needs as my programming does not extend to training. In addition this facility is not defensible at this time. For you to get the experience and skills you need to be a successful Prime, you will require assistance and resources. If the vault remains undetected and can be brought to fully operational status in the future then it will be a useful strategic asset.”

“Vault, all this has happened because I couldn't get that ring off my finger. Being a bison herder wasn’t great, but what if I don't want to be Prime?”

There was a slight hesitation before the AI responded. “You are the Prime now Rin, you are defined as such by your key, armour symbiont and genetic legacy. What you do with that is up to you, what you make that mean is up to you, but it will not change regardless of your wishes. All remaining Anari technological devices that are functional will recognise you as Prime. This facility is code locked to you. Essentially it is yours to do with as you please. If the Anari's enemies become aware of your existence they will definitely respond as though you are Prime. To be able to defend yourself you need to be who you are now.”

Rin was suddenly very aware that her life was going to be different now, as she carried on walking to the recovery lounge, the unfamiliar sway of her hips and movement of her new breasts reminding her that nothing was the same. The thought made her want to cry and giggle at the same time, she opted for giggle.

Oh Gods I just giggled, this is going to take some getting used to.

Overwhelmed she started to cry. Emotions in turmoil the young woman headed for a shower.

It will be all right Rin.

The wave of reassurance from Key was comforting.

Vault is correct about the need to move. This place may well have been detected. We should leave soon.

“Okay, I’m going to get washed. Vault, I need some clothes so get the droids to find me something please, and bring my clothes and the gear that I had when I arrived to the recovery lounge. Then we can work out what happens next.”

Rin was surprised to find she was suddenly feeling confident and in control despite all the weirdness, which seemed very bizarre but rationalising it to herself with a laugh as good genes, she decided to just carry on in the same vein.

***

A short while later, Rin sat perched on the bed, looking at the her equipment and the clothes the droids had been able to provide. Her old utility trousers would have been the most practical but they wouldn't fit now. The battered gloves that had served her so well in the caves were now a bit big as well. At least her warm hooded herder's jacket was only a bit big around the shoulders but otherwise not too bad. She was amazed at the differences in her new body. She had been slightly built with a runners' frame as a guy, but now, even though she was denser than before and therefore heavier, she had a slender well muscled but curvy body, and none of her old clothing was right.

There was a mirror in the wash facility and seeing a gorgeous young woman, with a flawless complexion and skin a creamy olive hue with a mane of luxuriant blonde hair, then realising it was her had been an experience. Rin grinned while she studied the clothes, not as much of an experience as the shower itself.

Oh Gods, my body is sooo sensitive now!

There was a pair of armoured boots that fit her, they looked similar to the ones she remembered seeing in the entry to the facility, could even be the same pair for all she knew. The clothing the droids had found was limited to gym style gear from the recovery room's lockers.

Rin you don’t need to worry about clothing, your armour can clothe you.

“Huh?”

The symbiont is designed to be able to take the shape of clothing in texture and colour, you can’t take it off, you reabsorb it, but to all intents and purposes you are clothed, and it allows the armour to function more actively as defence. All you need to do is instruct it, and it will do its best to meet your needs. The longer you are together the better it will be able to serve you but for now clothing will be possible. It has some default settings for clothing as well.

“Such as?”

For now as we need to leave soon, I would suggest the basic combat suit. This provides you a comfortable body suit that serves as low to medium grade armour while being functional. You can then customise the appearance if necessary.

“Okay so what do I do Key?”

Think about your armour, focus on it and it will communicate with you. It’s not fully aware, but is intelligent to a limited degree. Let it know that you want to get dressed and tell it default combat suit. It will communicate with you in feelings, or pictures. It might feel odd when it forms on you but don’t worry about it. Your symbiont will never do anything to hurt you. Okay?

“Sure, I guess.”

Slightly bemused and a little scared, Rin closed her eyes and tried to focus on her symbiont to get its attention. She was trying to visualise it but struggling when suddenly she felt bathed in a torrent of emotions from within her. Love, affection, the need to protect, and be close, complete loyalty, devotion and the desire to do what she wanted. In a flash Rin realised that her Symbiont felt like a faithful wolfenhound, bonded to its mistress, boundless enthusiasm, energy and love rolled into one, and that would be how she treated it. Rin sent a mental well done and the sense of an affectionate ear scratch to it and the symbiont seemed delighted. Laughing now, and no longer even slightly worried, Rin sent it her need to be dressed in her combat suit. She felt a small pulse of energy within her and the armour began to form.

The sensations were strange but Rin was more fascinated than freaked out. In seconds what seemed like a black oily substance began to ooze from her pores, clinging to her skin. Spreading rapidly it covered her naked body completely from her neck to her toes. Then it thickened becoming more substantial and changing texture to form a matt black body suit, which seemed to be made of an armoured fabric that stretched to her body. Moving to the mirror in the washroom, she felt the armour cupping and supporting her breasts. Her jaw dropped in surprise at her reflection.

“Key? You neglected to mention the default combat suit looks pretty damn sexy as well. I look hot, dangerous and hot. Damn.”

Wait until you start customising it! Some of the guardians and Primes have been just scandalous.
Key was laughing. Try changing the colour if you want. Just tell Hound what you want.

The next minutes were taken up by Rin gazing fascinated in the mirror as the armour changed from colour to colour picking up one Rin's wishes more and more rapidly. In short order the bodysuit went from black to crimson, jade, scarlet, blues and purples, camouflage hues, yellows and browns, while changing in textures from armoured fabric to buttery smooth leathers, to silky via synthetic armour plate. She was delighted and could have spent an age exploring what Hound could do.

At a gentle mental nudge from Key she settled on a look she found she loved, turning the suit into an armoured fabric that looked like leather and felt like silk, in a matt black , with flashes of deep purple. Grabbing her old jacket and pulling on her newly acquired boots, Rin found herself satisfied at the look, and a little surprised at her sense of pride at looking good, and her attention to it. Key picked up on her feelings.

It’s perfectly normal to want to look good and feel good about yourself when you do. It’s even more normal for you to take pride in being a sexy young woman. It's just a part of being female. That’s what you are now. It’ll take you some time to adjust, but you’ll be fine. Enjoy it and have fun. But we do need to leave here so if you are ready? Oh and Rin it is time for you to think of a name for yourself, Rin is not really appropriate anymore, don't you think?

“No I agree I’m definitely not Rin anymore. I’ll think about it for a while Key, I want a name I like. Okay let's go.”

She took a last look in the mirror and then paused.

“No this isn’t going to work, I look too good, no way I would believe that a girl as hot as me is a herder. Maybe a herder's girlfriend? Or a family friend visiting the Rijkards? I know they had some family in the trade quarter in Talont. I don't look like I’ve spent days on the run in caves, my old jacket is beat up enough but now I’m in this body suit I’m just too clean.”

Even as she thought it the body suit began to look worn and aged before her eyes, acquiring wear on the elbows and knees, some dirt stains, what looked like an old blood stain that just seemed visible on the black fabric of her arm.

“Wow, that’s perfect. I look like I’ve been wearing the same bodysuit for days. Well done Hound.”

The symbiont pulsed with satisfaction.

Taking a shoelace from her old boots, she tied her long hair back, before securing her utility belt around her waist, absently noting the adjustment she made to the belt proved that she now had an hourglass figure. Finally satisfied, she gathered together the remainder of her gear, not really surprised that she didn't even notice the weight of the pack, heavy hunting rifle, or flechette gun.

“Vault what can you tell me about the condition of the creche facility? Are there likely to be any useful supplies up there?”

“My sensors are almost all degraded from the attack, but what is available to me shows that the elements have been able to gain access to the facility. Not unexpected given the heavy damage that occurred. It is highly unlikely that there is anything left that has not rotted away. I would suggest leaving by the back entrance you arrived at, this way if the facility has been detected you will not walk out the front door.”

She blanched, “Oh shit, that’s exactly what I was about to do, I have a lot to learn about thinking ahead. Okay Vault can you get me back to the back exit and I will leave from there. I’ll go back to the stream I saw and find a route from there.”

“The stream you mention is in a cavern you arrive at soon after leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Follow it downstream. It used to come out at a lake approximately five klicks from here. That should be far enough for safety.”

“Okay Vault that sounds good.” She headed for the door only to be stopped by a droid carrying a small box.”

"What's this?"

“With no external communication links I will be unable to assist you Prime. Within the box is an Anari data core with a reader and a hand communicator. I cannot physically accompany you but on the core I have downloaded my data files with all the information I have on this planet, Anari culture, history, technology, schematics for this facility and others I have data on, as well as what kinds of training a Prime would likely get from her tutors. The core also contains a copy of my AI logic program. If you can obtain access to a high capacity and powerful enough comp system this will allow you to awaken a version of myself. Its capability will depend on the system you are able to obtain. If the system is not powerful enough then you will still retain manual access to the data. It may help you plan, and is stored on this data clip. Its reader will allow you to access or upload the files. Once you have left I will secure the Vault again, and begin making what repairs I can with the Vault maintenance droids. If possible I will try and restore external communications. I have included Anari data codes so that if you can gain access to a transmitter I will recognise your transmissions once I have restored communications. Currently however without additional resources that will take almost a year to achieve. Should you return you will be able to gain access.”

“Oh. Okay. Thank you Vault.” Rin was stunned by the lengths the AI was going to to try and assist her. “I hope I'll be able to come back some day and see a working facility.”

Rin slipped the small box into the pocket of her herders coat, before pulling it on. Her smaller body meant the coat now came down to just above her knees. After Slinging her pack on and checking for anything forgotten she head out of the recovery lounge and followed the light bead back to the atrium then out of the vault itself, before following it through the ruined creche facility to the back door, realising as she did so that the damage had indeed been extensive. She doubted that she would be back.

****

There was something odd about the landscape that the flyer was skimming over, but Lt Resnij hadn't quite figured it out yet. It was heavily forested, forest that looked like it had been there since time began but it was different some how. He checked their distance to target on the flyer's HUD. Just under 5km. The valley they were flying down led almost all the way to the coordinates which according to the low resolution imagery a passing survey sat had done turned off to the left up ahead about 3km before gradually petering out as it moved into the more rocky terrain of the foothills of the mountains.

“Hold us up here for a moment.”

“What's up Lt?”

“Dunno, but this valley is...wrong. Take us up to 1000m passive sensors minimum power.”

The mercenaries’ troop flyer began to brake before climbing in a spiral manoeuvre to 1000m, and circling. No trooper likes being up high and a sitting duck for anti air weaponry, so the half squad of mercs was now nervous and all of them were scanning for threats. When nothing happened to shoot them down the tension level faded but still they remained alert.

“Lt?”

“Yes?”

“No one’s been here yeah, since the Korcari colonised this planet?”

“That’s what I was told. Why?”

“Well you tell me Lt, but doesn't that look like a block layout with roads and crap?”

And that was what was wrong Resnij realised. There was an old forest below them. That was fine, the fact that said forest was sitting on top of the regular artificial lines of old ruins was less so. Now that his mind was noticing it he could see the signs of habitation under the primary forest or jungle below, stretching all the way along the valley they were flying down.

“Well boys, now this is definitely news for someone. Someone else used to own this world. But this shit below us is way old so I reckon we can forget about them. Get us to those coordinates, Banks, no more low level lets just go and overfly and see what the hell is there.”

Banks banked the flyer and headed direct for the coordinates. As Banks flew, the troops began pointing out craters, the evidence of their existence bowl like depressions in the forest. There were several, ranging in size from large, Lt Resnij guessed at around 150m diameter through to quite seriously large. Ahead of the flyer there was crater almost 600m across, straddling the broken ridge where they overflew the valley walls.

“Damn. There was a big assed fight here sometime, those have to be kinetic strikes or something similar, any rads Banks?”

“Neg, Lt the sensors are clear. No nukes used here.”

“Ok, just record everything okay.”

“Gotya.”

As they approached the target coordinates the signs of ancient devastation got even worse, the landscape devastated and scarred with the remains of cliffsides, tumbled down into the end of the valley, more hidden craters, layered over one another. The flyer was circling the coordinates now, still recording. This valley ran into a line of hills and then mountains that had plains beyond them according to their survey images. From their altitude you could clearly see where craters were punched into the line of hills. As Lt Risnij had begun to expect the coordinates matched the main concentration of the devastation to the landscape, but there were no clearings, no evidence of a downed lander from the pirates or anything except ancient forest overgrowing everything.

“Okay Banks you got anything on passive?”

“Neg, no radiation, lots of thermal but just routine wildlife.”

“All right give me an active sensor burst and see what we got.”

Seconds later and the flyer gave them more detailed imagery of the battlefield below, but still didn't reveal any signs of current activity, only the ruins of buildings below, hidden in the trees. Nothing worth landing for.

“Huh, nothing here but ancient history, well an overfly they wanted, an overfly they got, get us back to town Banks.”

“Roj, on the way.” The flyer banked and began accelerating away towards Phifthar.

LEGACY OF THE ANARI

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 6

Sorry about the wait!

The trip through the tunnel the stream had carved over millennia had not been much fun. 5Km of wading, swimming, crawling over dams of fallen rock and mud, had left her thoroughly dirty, making a mockery of the artificial wear on her bodysuit, as well as soaking wet. It hadn't been physically difficult at all, and she had found that she didn't seem to notice the cold either. It was frustrating that she hadn’t been able to keep her equipment dry, but the submerged tunnel sections had made that impossible. She finally breached the water’s surface after swimming out the tunnel, to find herself paddling by a cliff face at the side of a lake, with the rocky shoreline only a few metres away.

Pulling herself out of the lake, she threw her sodden pack down, and sat for a minute looking around. It was still day light but it would be nightfall soon. Rin had no idea what Yasm wildlife would live here but all animals needed water, so she was sure that there would be a lot of activity around the lake come dusk and nightfall. The Rijkards had taught her that much at least. It would be too dark to see much soon, so it seemed like a good idea to pitch camp, and this seemed as good a spot as any. Deciding to get a fire going, Rin spent some time finding kindling and small pieces to start a fire, and some larger logs for fuel through the night.

It was dusk by the time she had finished building the fire and was ready to light it. Around the lakeside she could hear the calls of animals, and hoped that the fire would keep them away. The magnesium fire striker struck first time, showering sparks onto the tinder and soon the fire was burning away brightly casting flickering light around her and boosting her morale. Taking some of the slightly longer branches, she easily snapped them to size, and lashed them together with cord. After draping her herder's jacket over the wooden frame to dry, she placed her boots upside down in the heat of the fire to dry out as well. After refilling up the pack’s aquasack, she emptied out her gear sack and began trying to dry her belongings.

Ruefully she reflected that her pack was a lot lighter than it had been, both from the lack of ration packs, and her increased strength. Rin was pleasantly surprised to discover that the pack’s waterproof pack compartment had actually met its claim. The comm unit she had been unable to help the Rijkards with, Vault’s data reader and data chips were all still dry. So was the change of clothes that had been kept in there. The jeans wouldn't fit over her hips now but the T shirts would fit if loosely. She placed the rest of her stuff in the heat to dry it out, before looking at her weapons.

Rin knew she ought to do something with them but stripping down the guns was beyond her. She opted to remove the ammo clips, then try to dry the guns and ammo as much as possible with the dry t shirts before propping them and the now damp t shirts to dry against the wooden frame. The fire was blazing merrily, the crackle and pops of the damp wood reassuring against the strange sounds beyond the fire's blaze now that darkness was settling properly on the lake. Satisfied that she had done as much as she could, and deciding to leave off the comms until morning, she lay down on her back, gazing at the stars. Wondering what to do next, who she now was, and trying to get her mind around the drastic changes in her life, Rin drifted easily off to sleep, confident that if anything came near, Key and Hound would wake her in time.

The armour symbiont rested as Rin slept, its passive sensors watching the world. It didn't dream but was content in its own way that its host was satisfied with it. It felt happiness that its bonding to its host was so thorough, it could protect her more easily. Key watched, having no need for sleep. Her host didn't actually need to sleep either, but hadn't realised that yet. As the night passed the temperature fell low enough that frost formed on the ground around the fires heat and light. The logs held up well, reducing to smouldering embers by morning, but even though the cold encroached as the fire dimmed, it had no effect on the sleeping figure.

As morning came, the light from the rising sun, rolled down the cliff face and across the lake before passing over Rin's small camp. She was already awake and feeling good, enjoying the still tranquillity of the lake scene in front of her, and mentally composing her history. The slum survival instinct was in full 'on' mode. She had some limited equipment and limited skills, after all before the Rijkards had taken her on she had been drifting in the slum, working here and there when it was possible to find a temporary job. From those she had learned to drive and a bit of basic mechanics, she knew enough to get by on a computer terminal but anything sophisticated like hacking was way out of her league. She was good at moving boxes and crates as well, the shit scutwork that humans managed to find generally on Yasm.

Landing up with the Rijkards had been a real job, the chance to learn real skills, and she had been promoted fast enough that she knew she had been doing okay. Rin shook the thoughts of the Hold and her friends away. It wouldn’t do her any good crying now. Now with the changes to her body, Key, Hound and all the weirdness about being Prime, Rin had a good sense that things were gonna get complicated. Probably fast. Her major problem was that she no longer existed, Rin had been a refugee drifter but at least he'd had an ID.

I need a new name, an ID that will stand up enough to get me through basic crap, protection and skills. Being a good looking woman on my own in the slums is soo not hot.

Rin shuddered at the mere thought at what could happen. Rape and murder were just the start of the list. Slavers often hunted in slums as well. Actually the idea of getting off world sounded very good, but not as a sex slave. This was startling in itself, her outlook was changing, the new life that had opened up ahead of her looked exciting, as well as scary, challenging as well as difficult.

As Rin she had wanted a job, had wanted a better life, and the herding had been a start, but hadn't ever really considered going off world. It cost too much, no slum born trash ever got that kind of money. She hadn't really ever considered being a merc before, and it was usually only people joining mercenary bands who left Yasm from the slums. Even the gang bangers and criminal fuckheads who ruled the Port didn't bother leaving. What was the point? They had their turf and ruled it viciously and a looker like her would be open season. But I have a reason to leave, got stuff to learn before I can start hunting pirate scum. The need for a bit more vengeance for the Rijkards, the Hold and herself ached in her.
She mentally asked.

“Key?”

Yes?

“I’m worried you might just have created a monster here. Before all this I wasn’t much I know, but I don’t think I was too much of a shit. Basically honest, I would graft. I could fight enough to get into trouble, and I understood the slums, eye for an eye and all that. But now you’re telling me I’m stronger and faster and all that, that I’ll have skills to make a difference, that I have a destiny to be some kind of leader for humans. And you know what?”

What Rin?

“I get some of that I do, but right now all I want to do is line up every fucking Dtilla in existence and wipe the galaxy clean of them. I have stuff to learn so I can do that. Then I am gonna do my best to do exactly that.”

Key felt her host's angry thoughts, and the need for retribution burning brightly in her.

And the galaxy will be a better place without them, if they’re the Dtilla I remember. They were like a ravening virus before. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You’re going to have a long time to get your revenge and much to learn on the way. You’re Prime. Nothing changes that. Over time you will learn, become skilled, become known. You could bring back old ways, you might make up new ones. You need to be strong because you do have enemies now, even if we don’t yet know who or what, and they will not yet know either.

The more you learn before they discover you the better prepared you will be. Sometimes you may see yourself as good, at times you may feel you must be something you call evil. Normally that distinction is just a question of perspective. Nothing stops you from being both. Nothing is all good or all bad. Viewing the world in such simple black and white terms causes problems. But for now you have enough to learn. You’re female now, and the world will see you as one. You need a new name, and a new life. It’s good that you see this as an exciting challenge. Yes you’re different now but that isn't important. Skills will come to you in time. Finding the right training will help in everything that we do together. A life as a mercenary may be the right start, and at least life off world will hold more opportunity, your memories of Talont and Yasm show it to be a back water. You will like some where more exciting. Have you had any thoughts on who you must be now?

“Edgar once mentioned an old girlfriend from Talont. I remember because the neighbourhood she lived in was near to the ghetto I was in as a kid. I know the streets round there. Much better area than most. I never realised before that the Rijkards must have done well to have their own ranch, and to know people from that hab complex. So I will be his ex, come to see my old boyfriend Edgar to try and rekindle a relationship. That will give me reason to be there. I know they all died, I will say that I was out riding with Edgar when we saw the shuttle coming in. We rode for home because of the jamming, to tray and warn them. That Edgar had made sure I had a gun in case of predators. Attacking them from the trees. That his trynlar was killed. We fled for the caves. Edgar being killed holding those bastards off so I could escape. I don't know what happened to his body, and only had what gear he shoved into my hands as he pushed me to the cave entrance.”

Your memories are very similar so that will be a good story, a good lie should always have some truth to it. Your name?

“I don't think he ever actually told me her name, so I’ll have to make something up. So who am I now?”

Rin was mulling that question over as she tidied up her small camp site, taking care to douse the fire's embers thoroughly before kicking sand over the ashes, like the Rijkards had said to do. After packing away the dirty but now dry t shirts, she reloaded the dried out weapons, before stowing the flechette gun, figuring the rifle was more likely to be useful, especially once she had reattached its scope. Hopefully it would work fine if needed. With the rest of her gear packed away, Rin picked up the comm unit that had been so useless in the attack, as well as underground for the last several days. Its batteries still had a decent charge so there might be someone who could hear her. Which would be helpful, as she had absolutely no idea where the hell she was, except that the jungle or forest which came almost to the lake's edge looked like a really unpleasant walk. Selecting the emergency channel, Rin gave a silent prayer, and toggled transmit.

“Hello? Hello is anyone there? Can anyone here me? Hello?”

****

“Where is your Lt? Lt Resnij? Lt Resnij, we need you at the mine office right now sir.”

Resnij felt like crap. The constant minedust that filtered into everything in this shithole of a town kept on giving him headaches. Every time he blew his nose clear, he produced a load of black crap, then a little while later he would be stuffed up again, barely able to breathe. If the Korcari didn’t get their defence grid fixed soon he was likely to start dreaming about ways to burn this place to the ground just to have a chance to get back to Talont. The irony of these thoughts was not lost on him.

He was busy somewhere between a cough and a chuckle when the shout came through the door closely followed by one the mine's office clerks who looked around hurriedly before spotting the Lt lounging with the third of his squad on rest in the mine's canteen. The Fourth detachment had taken one look at the town, or what was left of it after the pirate raid, and picked the canteen as their new home. They had occupied this corner of the building with their gear, turning it into their den.

The fact the canteen was an old industrial unit that had been converted, (and was much more heavily constructed than the prefabs which had been shot full of holes), and that its windows were fairly small (and just happened to give an excellent field of fire from said stronghold) was lost on the mine workers who had grumbled and then let them get on with it. Now the miners just gave the piles of gear and lounging mercs a clear space and ignored them. Most of the ready third’s downtime was spent playing games, bullshitting each other, or maintaining their gear. There wasn’t a lot else to do. The third on duty patrolled the mine’s outer facilities and helped out if needed. The rest third could generally be found snoring.

Resnij had 8 hours sleep after getting back from the bizarre but fruitless flyby the previous day. He reported back to the Security Bureau at Talont about both the lack of anything visible and the destroyed landscape, sending them a copy of his data as well. It had at least given him the satisfaction of ruining the Korcari watch officer's day by not having a downed pirate to go hunt, not that the Korkari would have done the hunting. Oh no that was what mercs are for.

It had been evident from their film of the area that the Korcari hadn’t been aware of it either, so who knows he might have stirred up a mystery. Hell yeah. Not that he gave a shit. Resnij was uncomfortably aware that he didn't have a huge amount of time left before he was supposed to be back on Celus with recruits and spending time in the dust in the fucking mountains was not getting his job done. Not that Narwhat would take an excuse. Shit. And now this.

“What?” His tone conveyed his pissed off demeanour even more than the surly expression on his face. He had pitched it just right to carry through the canteen to the clerk, who skidded to a halt.

“Lt Resnij sir? The mine office has picked up a distress call from a survivor of the Rijkards Hold raid.”

“Rijkards Hold?”

“The mega bison ranch they had us overfly last week boss, place was a fucking mess. Fucking pirates even mowed down the cattle. What a stink.”

Banks was quick with the information. Actually the ready squad had perked up their attention at the conversation now. The Hold had made an impression, even on experienced mercenaries. The bodies they had recovered and the wanton destruction purely because they couldn't take it with them had been sickening. They had at least been able to fight back a bit, and had obviously caused the Dtilla raiders casualties but had not stood a chance overall. Lt Resnij turned back to the clerk. “And?”

“She’s near a lake, got mountains and forest around her but doesn’t know her location, says she escaped out of a cave system last night. The comm scanner has her on emergency freq 102. On a bearing back towards where you were yesterday sir. The Security Bureau in Talont is requesting you pick her up and then grab your gear and escort her back them for a debrief.”

Resnij grunted before turning to the squad, “Saddle up, get Max's third up, get the gear loaded on to the flyers and ready to go. Have Kym bring her third back in from patrol and ready to go. Move.”
As he turned to follow the clerk to the mine office, the men behind him broke into organised chaos.
“She eh?, who is she?”

“Ashai Lennox. She says she lives in Talont and was visiting an old boyfriend, the Holder's older son. They were out when the raid began, he got killed making sure she got to some caves.”

“Fucking hell.”

***

It took both flyers to carry the 15 man squad and their gear, but they had enough space to spare for their expected passenger. Less than 20 minutes after the comm cast on the emergency channel, the flyers took off in formation and headed down the comm bearing they’d been given, climbing to 1000m altitude. The troopers were more relaxed today, the uneventful trip the previous day reassuring them about the area’s safety, and they sat in their crash chairs, talking, scanning the scenery below or in one case, taking a nap. After they reached altitude Resnij reached for the comm button, and spoke into his headset in the co pilots seat.

**

Ashai reached for the comm as it squawked into life. “Ashai Lennox, come in please.”

“Lennox here.”

“Ashai, this is Lt Resnij, detached from the Narwhat Fourth. We’ve been tasked to pick you up, and take you to Talont Miss. We have your signal clearly. Are you safe and well at this time?”

“Other than having no idea where I am, yes I’m fine. I’m still at my campfire at the moment.”

“Is there a clear area there for us to land a flyer?”

“Yes, I’m near the shoreline of the lake, you should have enough room.”

“Good, can you describe your location please Miss.”

Rin had settled on the name Ashai after some thought, remembering it belonging to a good looking girl on a vid program he’d watched in the slums. Now she gave Lt Resnij a quick description of her surrounding, telling him about the lake, cliffs, trees and shoreline. Resnij said that the flyer was going to follow her signal in to her, so as she waited she carried on the conversation with the flyer's commander. A short while later, two flyers zipped over her head, appearing over the tree line. The flyers waggled their stub wings in greeting, the morning light glinting off their metallic surface. Spray blasted off the lake as the flyers reversed course and slowed towards her, before the lead flyer landed on the lake shoreline in front of her. Quickly she picked up her gear and jogged towards it.

Banks brought the flyer smoothly into land. Resnij hit the controls for the flyers side hatch, watching as the woman on the shore smoothly picked up her belongings and approached without showing any visible effort. To his side Banks gave a quiet whistle of appreciation. Resnij shot him a glance that quieted the pilot, although mentally he had to agree. Even after spending days in a cave system and with her hair lank and dirty, Miss Lennox was definitely easy on the eyes, his first impression was that she was tall for a woman, with hair the colour of platinum shot through with silver, a generous mouth set in a welcoming grin, and she moved with easy lithe grace. The filthy herder's jacket she wore over her battered and dirty body suit was too large for her and mostly hid a curvy figure. Resnij figured his crew in the rear of the flyer wouldn’t object to her squeezing in at all. The hatch opened with a whine and he turned round to greet her as she climbed aboard.

“Lt Resnij, Miss Lennox, welcome aboard.”

“Thanks Lt, I’m Ashai. I'm very glad to see you.” Ashai gave a wave to the mercs aboard the flyer.

“Well it's a very welcome surprise for us as well Miss Lennox. If you want to grab that crash couch over there, we'll get you strapped in and back home to Talont as quick as we can.”

Resnij turned to one of the troopers. “Vance grab the lady's gear and stow it.”

There was a flurry of activity and Vance grabbed the pack with a surprised grunt at its weight before stowing it, while Ashai was strapped in facing two mercs, who welcomed her with wide appreciative grins. Resnij handed her a headset, plugged it into the internal comm system and returned to the copilots crash couch. With a nod to Banks the flyer lifted off smoothly before picking up speed and setting course for Talont, its partner settling into the wingmans' position off to the left.

“Okay Miss Lennox,” Resnij's voice sounded in her headset, “Could you give me the basics of your story please as we head back. The flight is going to last about 3 hours and this will let us start a report for the Security bureau.”

“Um okay, but first could you tell me the date please?”

“The date?”

“Yeah, I don't know how long I was in the caves.”

“Oh. Sure. Today is Octem 21. The raids were on Octem 12.”. Ashai hadn’t thought she had been in the caves and the creche for so long, and her surprised what? brought a sympathetic reassurance from Resnij.

“Don't worry Miss, it’s real easy to lose your bearings and time sense underground. Now just start from the beginning.” So, Ashai began her story, conscious of the attention the mercs were paying to her words.

The flight went smoothly, and Resnij had completed the first part of the survivor’s debrief. The woman's story was something else but he had to admit he was impressed. She’d managed to survive quite an ordeal, and apart from seeming surprised by how long she had been underground, had coped well. He could think of several of his squad who would’t have coped with 8 days underground anywhere near as well. Toms particularly hated enclosed spaces, and Resnij could well imagine his face as Miss Lennox described her time underground. Toms was always pale but Resnij was sure that during the flight he was white as a sheet.

The trip passed quickly, and he had time to double check and ask questions about the Dtilla raid, so as the flyer neared Talont Port where they would land and take Ashai to the Security Bureau office to finish the debrief, he commed a recording of her story to the watch commander's office for the Korcari officer to go through before they arrived.

***

Ashai watched through the flyer's screens as they swooped in over Talont City's boundaries. Yasm's wilderness terrain gave way first to cleared ground, then to the outskirts of the city. They flew in from the South over the industrial districts, heavy manufacturing plants spouting columns of waste steam and smoke, alongside smaller factory units in a wasteland of concretes, plastics, chemicals, metals and machinery that surrounded them. The flyer flew under a chemical haze of pollution from the hundreds of flues and cooling towers. Yasm colony was still young, no importance was attached to environmental controls. Eventually when the Administration decided that the colony had grown enough to sustain harsher economic controls they had informed the population they would do so. For now, pollution around Talont was the norm.

The flyer left the industrial districts and skimmed over the surrounding slums gradually descending. These were where Talont’s poor, labourers and homeless generally lived, or more accurately tried to survive. Somewhere down there was where she had been born and lived. Never having seen the city from this angle it was a little hard to recognise places. Memories of her years growing up in the slums districts flitted through her mind, some good, many bad, mostly hard times. She picked out Hive Mart off to the flyer’s left, one of the main trading spaces in the slums, you could buy almost anything there if you had the credit chips.

Before the riots, the Hive Mart had been her gang's domain, the traders and merchants there were people Rin had been mostly friendly with. She sighed, thinking about the lives that had been lost. Not anymore. Ashai wondered if the Cobalts who had taken control of the slums still held control, or if some other group had wrested it away from them. How many of Rin's friends were still alive? Would any be able, or willing to help Rin now he was a she? Would anyone believe her. There were people, humans and Korkari alike who would help Rin before. Now? She didn’t know. Her expression hardened, thoughts lost in the past as the slums rolled beneath her. The mercenaries opposite her, both wondered what the pretty girl was thinking about that had darkened her mood so much, before thinking that the Dtilla raids had been enough to darken everyone's mood.

****

The Security Bureau's main office was housed in a refitted unit that was over 30 years old. The environmental systems worked, but also had a mind of their own, running colder than they were supposed to. Humans weren’t keen on that but the large heavily furred Korkari loved cool conditions and couldn’t care less. Katx was the duty sergeant again, and sat reviewing the file Resnij had commed him. Now he waited impatiently to interview the woman who survived the raid that left Rijkards Hold a burnt out ruin and slaughterhouse.

He had some doubts that she would know much, humans tended not to be too observant in his opinion, but he hoped for more information on the Dtilla raiders. Perhaps he would get lucky and she would remember some clan markings that would be traceable. Yasm’s Korcari administration wouldn’t be able to do anything, but the data could be passed to Korcar. They might even be granted a local space patrol vessel. It was unlikely though, the Korcari had spread successfully to over 40 systems in the last century, and the needs of a backwater like Yasm didn’t come high on the list of priorities for the home world's Dept of the Exterior.

Katx's terminal buzzed that the mercenary Lt Resnij had arrived with the survivor... Ashai Lennox, and were waiting for entry at the security reception. Sending an acknowledgement and permission to enter, Katx sat reviewing the file again as he waited for them to arrive. The details of her story were pretty straight forward, so it looked like he would be able to avoid disturbing the watch commander's work of reintegrating the security screening for the colony and outlying settlements.

The Dtilla raids had done enough damage that the commander had been working 16 hours a day since to get the damage fixed. The stress was telling, his fur had been greying around his horn stumps as though he had aged a decade. Seeing as how that was making him less of a hot prospect for the administration females he was permanently in a foul mood. Personally Katx was just glad he had never got past Sergeant, too much crap, and not enough pay.

***

Ashai was a little nervous but Key was helping her keep it under control. In the slums you avoided Sec Bureau's sweeps like you would Bacnar Pox. They kept order with straight forward brutal system of kicking the crap out of anyone stupid enough to commit crime and get caught, or just stupid enough to get in their way. The high powered electric shock batons and staves security carried had a fierce reputation, so generally that was all they needed to do. If you pissed them off enough that they broke out heavier weaponry, you were in a world of hurt.

The big Korkari Sergeant introduced himself as Katx, had her sit down, and repeat her story for him. It took longer than she expected, Katx was very interested in anything she could remember about the Dtilla raiders. Her description of gazing down the scope of the rifle and opening fire, slightly embroidered to include Edgar's own attack, had the big, heavyset alien slapping the table, Korcari applause, and loudly delivered. She gave him a description of some of the markings that the Dtilla had been daubed in, which Katx had given her a marker and slate and to show him. Korcari have a racial fear of the dark, and Katx was only too happy to skate over her recounting of her time in the tunnels. Ashai saw that just thinking about that made him uncomfortable. Finally she drew to the end of her account, explaining how she found an underground stream in the caves and had managed to follow it, being forced to swim underwater at times before she broke out into the Lake before finishing with the flight back to Talont. Katx leaned back in thought for a moment before speaking.

“Miss Lennox, on behalf of the Administration, I apologise for the loss of your loved one in the raids. I know it means little but you did well to exact some revenge for your loss. It will probably take you some time to come to terms with everything that has happened. I wish there was more I can say or do to help but our resources are always overstretched and now more so than ever. There were many severely traumatised by the attacks. I am happy to be able to judge you as being of sound mind, and in good health, so I’ll discharge you to your own care. What will you do now Miss Lennox?”

“Go home I guess sir. With Edgar gone…well there’s not a lot for me here right now, but I’ll just carry on.”

“Yes I suppose you will, you humans are survivors. Shame you don't fancy life as a mercenary, poor old Resnij here was on a recruitment drive before we packed his lot off to Phiftar. Sodding Dtilla fucking that up as well eh Resnij?”

Lt Resnij, leaning against the office's wall, grunted his agreement before turning to Ashai.

“Yes Miss Lennox, if you fancy the glorious life of a grunt in Narwhat's Fourth we will be happy to take you and anyone else we can get our hands on in the next three days, after that we lift for Celus where my boss will ream me for being late and not bringing more recruits.”

He turned back to Katx “And we are going to get paid as well Katx yes?”

The Korkari started coughing at that. “What? You never had to do anything at all! And it was an emergency.”

“Precisely Katx, You deployed my men in an emergency, to the middle of frigging nowhere, with no intelligence or support available into an unknown situation.” Resnij countered, determined to ensure the Korkari would pay for the costs involved and then some. Food, fuel, spares, ammo from shooting practice, danger pay, it all had to be accounted or. His face was set grim and the Korkari recognised it was going to be a hard argument with the human mercenary. Katx turned to Ashai.

“Apologies Miss Lennox, I’m done with you now. If you head out and down the corridor back to reception they will release you and, your equipment will be brought down for you. As you can see I need to settle up with Lt Resnij here while he tries to steal my budget.”

The Korcari dismissed her from his attention and began arguing with the mercenary in earnest. Ashai gave a quiet sigh of relief and left them to it, picking up her equipment, checking everything was there, and leaving the Sec Bureau offices before anyone could change their mind. Banks had brought her gear down from the flyer and before she left she asked him what the mercenaries would do now. The mercs were heading back to Dock 14 to resume their recruiting mission. With a nod and a wave she wished him luck and headed off at a steady walk away from the Sec Bureau station.

***

The skies had clouded over as they had been flying in to Talont. While Ashai had been talking to Katx the rain had begun, a heavy downpour that was already bouncing out of guttering and filling drains, filling the potholes in the pitted concrete roads and sidewalk. Ashai looked a bit bedraggled as the rain poured down her face and matted her hair against her skull and back, but inside the armour she was dry and warm, although the herders jacket was soaked through again. The weather didn’t bother her as she walked to an autohov stop. Ashai was busy trying to work out what to do next.

There was a touch screen directory booth at the autohov stop and she spent a few minutes looking for to a cheap place to stay that was near but not in the slums. After retrieving her credit chips from her gear, the automated system took her credit, and allocated a room to her palm print. Ashai pinged for a ride and a minute later a hovering auto cab pulled up for her. After giving the destination she palmed her authority for the charge to her chip and sat back as the vehicle smoothly accelerated through the driving rain.

***

'The Hab 27 Hotel' as its imaginative sign declared itself was located just outside the slums district proper. The automatic reception unit spat out her magnetic door card in response to her palm print, and Ashai had made her way up to room 15. First floor, and facing out over the main road the room was clean if nothing else. Functional and dated, the wall mounted screen was old but worked at least, although the picture was distorted a little by a sheet of transparent alloy that protected it from room 'disturbances'. There was a bed, big enough for a couple of Korcari or a group of smaller humans, a small locker unit, wash facility with a mirror and that was about it.

Ashai saw no one when she arrived, and didn’t notice any obvious surveillance either, so she figured the Hab 27 was one of those places that valued its discretion. The value of being able to say “I saw nothing officer.” is universal after all. It was early afternoon now although the heavy black clouds and downpour outside made it feel hours later. She spread her gear out on the bed, and wondered what it was worth, and what a basic forged ID would cost. The Administration was not exactly fastidious in its checking of identity, and most slum dwellers never bothered with ID, after all if you’re below the radar anyway, it is often best to stay that way.

When the Rijkards had hired Rin they insisted on an ID, and he had been surprised how useful it had been. Suddenly life had been easier, he was able to move around, get access to library systems, start taking advantage of computer systems to learn. In all his years in the slums Rin had never realised how much time and effort all his evading of authority had cost him, simply because that was his life. Now, knowing what life was like with ID, suddenly starting from scratch with no history at all as Ashai, was a nightmare. She needed to move freely, and make use of whatever she could. So ID was essential, besides if she wanted to get off world, she assumed she would need one for Port security.

The slum districts weren’t a safe place for anyone, even more so for an attractive girl but that was where she had to go for her shopping list. The better parts of the city had always been off limits to her as human trash, so she knew nothing about them. At least in the Slums she would know something even though Ashai imagined a great deal had changed over the last year. The more she thought about it the more getting off Yasm made sense and Lt Resnij's recruitment drive was looking like a good idea at the moment. First though she was more concerned about staying safe.

“Key?”

Yes Ashai?

“Now that we have a bit of time, I need to plan I guess. But I don’t even know what questions to ask you. I need to be able to defend myself. I know how men will look at me now, and it’s confusing. Part of me likes being able to attract attention, takes pride in it, but mostly right now it’s just plain scary. I never felt so ... vulnerable before.”

Shhhh, relax Ashai, relax. You’ve nothing to worry about. You’re female now, and you have rivers of hormones flowing around your body that you’re not used to. You have years to come to terms with and learn about all being a female, and you will, and I’ve no doubt you’ll enjoy it. For now just concentrate on what you want to do next. You will be safe. Hound and I will ensure that.

“Easy for you to say Key, but I'm the one who's freaking out.”

Okay then Ashai, try this. I want you to concentrate and think of your anxiety level. Think of it as a percentage, what would you say it is at, how anxious are you?

“Maybe 60% Key, pretty freaked but not full on panicking.”

All right then maintain your concentration and think of a control, like a slider, of you turning the anxiety down to 0%. Visualise it for me Ashai.

“What? Oh okay Key here goes, I mean what is that going to do? It ....I feel calm, icy calm almost, how is that possible Key, what did you do?”

I didn’t do anything Ashai, you did. You’ve more control over your body now than any human ever has, you just don’t know it yet. Still calm, feeling in control now?

“Yeah. Hey Key that’s a real clever trick.”

It’s nothing Ashai, as you will learn. You can control your emotions, hormones, muscular responses, nervous system, even your pheromones if you want. With concentration and practice you will be able to do a great deal. When you think of something like your anxiety level with our bond, you are exerting conscious control over your body through Hound.

“All right I can think clearly again Key, thanks, but what about defending myself? I don't know anything much about fighting, just a few dirty tricks from the slums, and when I go there tomorrow I know I’ll need to be able to fight. I’m a bit scared not stupid.”

You need to get used to your body. Okay turn on the wall screen and find an exercise cast.

“Huh? What? Oh okay.”

Doing what Key asked, Ashai found a cast with something called Sumtrin Yoga on, and began to follow the trainer’s lead although she felt ridiculous. Surprised, she found it was easy to follow and she got in to it, stretching out her muscles, discovering a sense of balance and flexibility that was far beyond what she had known as Rin. Without consciously thinking about it she learned to adjust to the differences in her body’s movement, the gentle sway of her hips and breasts. The cast carried on, the trainer moving through gradually more difficult forms that Ashai found she copied with ease. As the cast finished she was more relaxed than ever before, almost blissful.

Do you understand now Ashai? Your body is supremely capable, flexible, resilient and with perfect balance. With training you will be a devastating combatant, and even without training, your natural abilities make you a dangerous adversary.

“With training?” Key's comments sparked an idea.

“Key look through my memories and tell me if Visually Assimilated Learning chips would count as training.”

VAL chips were programs designed to allow people to upgrade their skills at a cost financially but without the need for study, loading the information directly into the user's brain, via the optic nerve. Great for when you needed access to a skill in a hurry. Assuming of course you had the cred chips, and a convenient source of VALs. Ashai felt the curious sensation of Key searching her mind, it felt as though she was a book being read. Very strange. After a moment Key gave her an answer.

“Yes it should work Ashai, but it will depend on how well you can integrate the information any chip gives you.”

“Good.”

Seconds later Ashai was busy navigating the electronic directories on the wall monitor, trying to get an idea of how much the skills she wanted would cost. The answer? Way more than she had. Going through her gear earlier including the chips she had recovered from the Dtilla, gave her a total fund of 725 creds. At least her room was already paid for, it cost her 20 creds for the night. She could sell the vibro knife, not that it would get much, the flechette gun was formed with a Dtilla hand grip and wouldn't be worth much. The big hunting rifle was worth a lot, maybe 1500 to 2000 creds. It was high powered with an expensive scope, and in good condition. She didn’t have anything else of any worth in her belongings.

Going back to the market pages in the directory, she started trying to find weapons that were similar to her rifle, to get an idea what it was worth. When she sold it she might get a quarter to half of its value, especially as without ID she couldn’t sell it legit to a weapons dealer in one of the Trade Habs. It would have to be the weapons market in the Slums. Okay then the plan was walk into the slums looking dangerous enough not to be hassled, sell the weapons, buy a weapon cheaply, get the chips she needs, and an ID and get the hell out. Yeah, tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.

Finally once she was finished trying to plan her day in the slums, she returned to the exercise casts, finding a program that taught meditative relaxation techniques and within minutes Ashai was deep in a trance practising meditation and concentration.

LEGACY OF THE ANARI

Chapter 7

by Ashleigh Blayze

Apologies for the delay! Enjoy!

The morning arrived, the rain stopping during the early hours, and the heavy sluicing had left Talont cleaner and smelling fresher. The sun had just risen and without much cloud in the sky, and a mild breeze it was looking like a good day. It was still early, most of the toughs, thugs and general lowlife who inhabited the slums were either still in bed, or going to bed after a long night working at anything from burglary to murder. The merchants were already up of course. They had been arriving steadily at the Hive Mart for the last hour, some before dawn broke, to set up their stalls for the day. Most wouldn’t leave stock in their stalls overnight, and were going through the morning rituals of putting their goods out, sharing the early morning banter and grousing with their neighbours and colleagues. A few traders, more permanently established, or with better guard systems left stock behind, and these just checked their security and made ready for the early morning trade.

The wealthier merchants had bodyguards, large slabs of muscle, with constantly moving eyes and weapons that ranged from spiked clubs through stun prods to firearms, it all depended on what was being sold. Ashai walked easily through the outer limits of the slums district and headed towards the Hive Mart. The smells from the breakfast stalls drifted through the market area on a slight breeze. She had been awake all night, meditating and thinking, practising concentration that came more easily now. She had discovered her mind worked much more rapidly than before.

New concepts and ideas were coming to her with great ease, her reaction time had improved enormously and the night with no sleep was not troubling her at all. If anything she thought the meditation had given her more rest than several nights sleep previously. Ashai, was worried that today could go badly wrong, and she’d given some thought to her look for the day to try and look like a hardened mercenary in the hope that it would reduce the trouble she was sure would happen. So with the room's mirror to help, Hound's willing assistance and the wall screen for research she had modified the matt black body suit that was set as Hound's default for combat.

The standard suit looked fantastic on her and that was the problem as far as she was concerned. It looked like it was just painted on so by telling Hound to make the armour weave thicker, and assume a more carapace like form she had managed to take the clingy standard armour weave bodysuit and make a look that incorporated armour plated thigh pads, shin and knee guards, forearm and shoulder guards as well as torso, chest, and back protection plates that did enough to hide her bust and thickened her waist to present a more intimidating picture rather than a man’s wet dream.

Hound and Key told her that the changes had also increased the armour's protection substantially, so she was feeling happier about that as well. The last glance in the mirror had left her feeling pretty good, although Key's snickering comments about warrior queens didn't help. The new armour felt and looked good enough that Ashai had Hound make it the default combat appearance, and the knowledge that at a thought she could be dressed and protected was very comforting. She had clipped on her utility belt, grabbed her gear with the flechette gun in the pack, and picked up the big rifle, reassembled with the scope mounted. Taking a last look in the mirror, she grinned wickedly at her reflection, a tall sexy dangerous woman in black with a damn big gun. She checked the room making sure nothing was left behind and headed for the Slums.

In the Hive Mart you could buy a large variety of illegal goods, amongst the more mainstream products. Dozens of traders who held stalls there had adverts posted in the electronic directories, and Ashai had been happy to see that Haskins was still advertising. 'Haskins Armouries' proudly announced itself as the longest established weapons emporium in Talont with a permanent stall in the Hive Mart, a wide range of gear and guaranteed security provided by the Cobalts. Haskins was an old Korkari male and an excellent gunsmith. Even though Rin’s old gang used to run the protection for the Hive Mart, Rin had been friendly with him and several other traders in the Mart. The old Korkari had befriended Rin after he lost his parents and joined the street kids that became gangers. Over time Haskins had become almost a surrogate father figure for Rin, giving the youngster a sounding board for his wilder ideas and worries as he grew up.

When she entered the Slums Ashai was confident that Haskins would be able to help but as she got deeper into the Slums, the district's atmosphere changed, and her confidence began to fade. The district felt much tenser than she remembered and even though it was early morning the people walking about did so hurriedly, as though afraid. It looked like things had changed for the worst since the Cobalts had taken overall control of the Slums district. The Cobalts would guarantee a clients safety inside Haskins shop but Ashai doubted that protection was any good once you left again. She was also sure that Haskins wouldn’t have any choice about his protection. So now it boiled down to Ashai having no idea whether going to Haskins was a good idea, or a nightmare about to happen.

The walk in through the slums outskirts had been a new experience. Rin had been used to being largely unnoticed as he slipped through the slums alleyways and streets and he liked that just fine. Ashai found that the combination of her looks, platinum silver hair, and gun with a bore big enough to qualify as a small cannon was garnering plenty of attention from those who were awake and about as she strode in. Expecting the attention didn’t made it any easier to deal with, but mentally tweaking her anxiety down and steeling her determination to get it over with she walked in bold as brass.

The looks thrown her way ranged from bitchy disgust (some of the local whores off to bed after another night) through to admiration, and lust (local men, toughs as well as some of those same whores). By the time she got to the Hive Mart proper and headed through the growing traffic for Haskins Armouries Ashai was pissed at being mentally undressed and her nerves were frazzled. Ashai concentrated on getting to Haskins while Key lurked in the back of her mind paying attention to the aliens and humans she passed in case of trouble.

Haskins Armouries was open for business when she arrived. There were three large Cobalt thugs on guard outside, and the weapons stall was marked in various signs and languages that proclaimed loudly and explicitly what would happen to anyone that decided to mess with them. The Cobalts were an all human gang and disliked other species to the point of xenophobia, which was one of the reasons they were mainly found in the slum district where poverty ensured most of the humans in Talont could be found.

The three thugs on guard were a mixed bunch, one was obviously just there as muscle, he was huge, standing over 2m10 and looking almost as wide as he was tall, looking like a statue carved out of granite, bulging muscles, that were starting to go to fat, but definitely big enough and nasty enough to give casual thieves pause for thought. Muscle man leant against the side of the stall, with a large steel mace propped up beside him. The other two Cobalts had lean hungry emaciated appearances and looked more like your typical street tough. They were dressed in dirty jeans, flak jackets, heavy boots and the obligatory Cobalt bandanas that gave the gang their name.

One carried what looked like a machine pistol and the other some type of shotgun style weapon. Shotgun seemed to be the small group's leader and he barked instructions to the others as Ashai was approaching, giving her the benefit of a leering grin as well, although his eyes also paid a respectable amount of interest to her rifle which she was holding casually, not quite pointed at them but close enough to be in play very quickly.

“What you wanting girlfriend? You come to play with us?”

Ashai grimaced mentally, she knew exactly what the Cobalts wanted to do for play, given the chance, and that was enough to make her queasy. Without a lifetime of practising feminine charms to fall back on, Ashai just played it by ear and hoped that an illusion of self confidence and bravado would be enough.

“I am here buying and selling Blues, and sorry hun but you really can’t afford my playtime. Tell Haskins he has a customer. Shoo.”

Shotgun started to react angrily. “Fuck you bitch...” and tailed off as he looked down the rifle's muzzle. He turned and stomped into the stall throwing curses back at her. Ashai waited quietly, the rifle once again not quite pointing at anyone. She let a mild smile play over her lips as she looked around the market place, while her mind was gibbering inside. A few of the stall holders and early customers were watching this play out, although generally with a quiet 'I saw nothing air' about them. It was a couple of minutes before Shotgun came back outside, gesturing Ashai in.

“Shop’s open girl. You be careful now pretty one, all sorts of dangerous stuff in there.” Another leer.

Gods what a fucking creep.

“Well it’s good that Haskins is guaranteed protected then isn't it Blue? Besides nothing in there’s more dangerous than little old me anyway.”

She smiled sweetly at Shotgun, and allowed the thug to move out of the doorway, before passing the Cobalt without taking her gaze off him, still smiling. Shotgun was smart enough to notice the smile never reached her eyes, and the rifle barrel never twitched off target on his torso. As the stall door slid closed behind Ashai the Cobalt thugs had a muttered conversation amongst themselves before machine pistol walked off further into the slums.

Ashai stood frozen in place behind the door and tried to stay calm. The walk to the Hive Mart had been stressful enough, but she had managed that okay, even though the looks she had been getting from men were making her skin crawl. Ashai now knew first hand what it’s like to be mentally undressed and fucked by a man, and all she wanted to do was cry, scream, and go back out and shoot the bastards. She hoped her bravado act had hidden the alien sense of vulnerability that almost over whelmed her.

Mentally thanking Key again, she forced herself to concentrate and followed Key's trick to tone down her anxiety once more. It worked but was noticeably more difficult than during the walk to the Hive Mart. Calm again she turned her attention to the shop itself, which was larger than it looked from outside. Equipment racks lined the walls behind the display cabinets, filled with a variety of weapons that Ashai found bewildering, although she refused to let it show.

“Welcome to Haskins Armouries, the finest selection of weapons and gear in the Slums. I’m Haskins, weapons dealer and gunsmith at your service. What can I do for you this day?”

The voice came from his office to the rear, sounding more tired than in Rin's memories, followed by the sounds of someone walking to the shop front. The voice turned into an older Korkari male, smaller than most with an optic implant, a slightly haphazard appearance, and a shrewd gaze. He looked older, and as tired as his voice suggested but it was still the same merchant that Rin had run errands for as a kid, and done protection for as part of the Hive Mart Crew.

Zazt Haskins had dealt in weapons and equipment for decades, since a few years after the Korkari founded the Yasm colony, and bitter experience had made him a quick and accurate judge of character. Walking through from the office he bade the customer come in, already knowing from Carlo's angry comments that it was a human female, and that Carlo expected to be enjoying her later. That didn’t bode well for the female.

Carlo was pure scum, and would be much better off dead. Unfortunately he had enough fire power to control the market for his gang boss Grinder. You might think about crossing Carlo, not wise but you might think about it, you didn’t cross Grinder, not and live to talk about it anyway. The Cobalts had the Slums District completely under their control, since they had eliminated the other gangs in a bloodthirsty display of power the year before. Giving them a reason to put up his protection rates, or worse, was not an option, so there was little he could do for the female.

The woman was still partially hidden in the shadows behind the armour door as he got to the counter. Confirming she was alone, Zazt quietly placed his sawn off shotgun under the counter top. No need to be hasty, after all.

“Come on in lady. Let me see who got that Cobalt fuck wit so riled up.”

The woman seemed not to hear him for a second before moving into the light, a large calibre rifle still in hand. She was tall for a human woman, and he judged her to be very young, in her early twenties. She was wearing an armoured body suit, with built in plating. It wasn’t a model he was familiar with but from the fit alone, Haskins was certain it was good quality. The suit disguised a very trim waist, with fitted breast plates protecting a full bust. Her head turned as she looked around the shop and Zazt's attention was caught by her hair. A thick mane of long strands that flowed half way down her back. It was the colour of polished platinum, shot through with silver.

The female looked at him, and Zazt puzzled at the recognition in her gaze as the girl relaxed slightly. Did he know her? She definitely seemed to know him, and regarded him with trust? It was sometimes hard to tell humans apart, especially as they didn’t use scent for identifying themselves but he was fairly sure his mind wasn’t so feeble that he would have forgotten this face. A flawless pale olive complexion, generous lips, small sharp chin, strong high cheekbones, the nose was slightly too large to be called cute, but was straight and slim, perfectly set between large expressive blue eyes, highlighted by long lashes and fine brows, also the colour of platinum. All in all, a very strikingly good looking woman, although as far as Haskins could tell she wore no make up or tattoos, which seemed a little unusual for a young human woman.

He finished looked the female over before grinning at her.

“Very nice as I understand humans judge these things. Carlo is not particularly pleasant to deal with lady but I wish you hadn’t pissed him off. The Cobalt guarantee of safety in the shop helps my business a bit, but it’s not as though I have a choice after all. I am protected or my stall has a fiery accident you know. Carlo handles all of the market protection and he thinks the whole world owes him. He also believes that every female should worship at the altar of his dick, so you watch yourself when you leave here. You just cost him face in the eyes of the market place, his own little empire and he knows it. You made out you can look after yourself so I hope you’re up to proving that. Now enough unpleasantness, I’m at your disposal in all things.”

Zazt gave a little bow and another grin. Ashai sighed mentally and visibly shuddered, then turned and glanced at the stall's armoured door.

“Am I safe for the time being Zazt?” She cursed herself for the slip but it was too late. Haskins had already reached for his shotgun again, his expression a mixture of confused worry and hostility. Ashai was sure she could beat him to a draw but she needed help not another fight. The old Korkari pointed the weapon at her.

“I think you need to tell me how you know my name human, and quickly. First though please put the rifle on safe, and place it on the ground. Put your pack beside it and then stand in the middle there. I want you to move slowly. Do you understand human?”

“Yes. This is…”

“Shut up.” Ashai followed his instructions slowly and carefully, holding her tongue, cursing herself for getting the old merchant's guard up. Moving slowly she stood in the centre of the room, while Zazt moved her gear away to one side, keeping the barrel of his weapon steadily on her.

“Talk girl, who are you and how do you know me?”

Ashai hurriedly tried to think what she could tell the old Korkari that he would believe, that wasn’t an outright lie. Zazt had always been very sharp with his customers, very good at catching falsehoods, at judging character. One of the initial reasons the Korkari had got on with Rin, had been his willingness to acknowledge that the human boy was smart, where most humans and Korkari alike saw a street kid and thought scum. Zazt was not going to give her more time. Just as he was about to demand an answer she started speaking.

“As I tell you this you’re probably going to think that I’m crazy Ser Haskins,” showing Zazt the respect due an elder wasn’t going to do any harm, “but I’ll rely on your ability to judge character.”

“And what do you know about me being a judge of character girl? You know nothing about me, now talk, or I’ll get Carlo in here to get your human backside out of my shop.”

Doing her best to ignore his threat, Ashai carried on.

“You knew enough about character not to treat Rin as trash. Or are you saying you have gone senile old one?” Once Rin had got to know Zazt he had constantly teased the Korkari about his age by calling him old one. Ashai hoped that she could divert Zazt’s anger and get him thinking at least.

The human female’s mention of Rin was completely unexpected, and threw him completely.

Rin? What has this to do with Rin? Old one? Cheeky human bitch, no one calls me that any more, not since Rin vanished in the riots? Is that daft kid alive? What the Maker is going on?

Memories of the human youngster who had alternated between respect and mockery, and who had first been his favourite amongst the human street kids, then polite and considerate in the HMC, who had always wanted to learn and be more, floated around in Zazt mind. The old Korkari was a little surprised to discover that he still cared, but it wasn’t Rin's fault that things had gone to shit since the riots.

“Human, what do you know about Rin?” Ashai could tell Zazt was still tense but now he also seemed interested, possibly curious.

“I know enough about Rin Turvik, to know he thought a lot of you, enough to know your name, and how he used to tease you. If you wouldn’t mind pointing that somewhere else, I’ll tell you.” Ashai held her breath and prayed Zazt's curiosity would win out.

“Rin survived the riots? He got out of the slums?” The old gunsmith slowly lowered the shotgun, his hostility slowly ebbing under an assault by concerned curiosity, which wasn’t an emotion he generally felt for humans any more.

“Yes he survived the riots, managed to get out of the slums, beat up but still alive. He managed to blag his way out of Talont on a transport and ended up on the plains. Got a job.”

“Rin Turvik got a job?” Ashai thought the old Korkari didn’t know whether to be incredulous or impressed.

“Yeah, with a family of ranchers called the Rijkards. He moved to their home called Rijkards Hold, started to learn ranching, even got promoted to a herder, made some friends. The Rijkards were like family to Rin.” Haskins watched the girl closely, puzzling over her human facial expressions, and her choice of words. She looked very…sad the Korkari thought, as he noted the reference to Rin in the past tense.

“And you know Rin from this place? What happened? You talk like he or they meant much to you, and in the past.”

It was difficult but Ashai tried to choose her words carefully, at the same time as images of the ruins of Rijkards Hold paraded through her mind, the bodies of her friends, the destroyed and burnt buildings. Her flight from the Dtilla.

“This is complicated Ser, yes they all meant a lot to me. Rijkards Hold was destroyed in the Dtilla raids, everyone except Rin died. The whole family died and all the ranch hands. Rin only escaped because he was out guarding the herds when he saw the attackers’ shuttle approaching. He went to help, but was too late. He saw what the Dtilla did and managed to kill several of the them. They pursued him and he was chased into some caves in the hills. I......came along afterwards.”

“Why then do you feel so strongly about the Rijkards? How did you meet Rin? Where is he?” Zazt demanded.

“I told you it's complicated Ser. Rin worked his way through the tunnel complex, and along the way he found an ancient artefact, from millennia ago.”

The merchant snorted “Phah, you expect me to believe that Rin found treasure? That still does not explain you.”

“No Ser I don’t. It wasn’t treasure. He found a key to a, well I suppose the closest thing would be a medical facility. Using the Key he escaped from the tunnels into the facility. Rin was affected by the facility, it was going to kill him before he could leave. He managed to work out the only way to heal himself but there were.... side effects.”

“Side effects? What he is insane now? Blind? Disabled?”

Zazt was concerned now for his old favourite. He could tell the human female was sincere. Her story was obviously grossly simplified, she certainly wasn’t telling him everything, but what she was telling him appeared to be the truth, which was bewildering. Ancient alien medical facilities? He was confused why the girl's reaction to his question appeared to be acute embarrassment, a red blush suffusing her cheeks, before she looked at her feet and spoke again.

“Umm the side effect was I got changed into a freaking girl old one.” Ashai didn’t think she could ever feel more humiliated. She wanted to curl up and die of mortification. There was a very long pause while Zazt tried to get his head around her statement.

“Rin?” She forced herself to nod jerkily.

“Gatchi shit, there’s no way you are Rin, what crap is this human?”

Zazt was getting irritated again. First the female tells him Rin is alive then this crap. He raised the shotgun again, thoroughly pissed off, as the memories of the riots aftermath ran through his mind. The rebuilding, and the Cobalts taking control of the district had been bad enough, grieving for the loss of a friend, a human friend had been harder. He would not take this insult. The girl threw up her palms in Korkari appeasement.

“Old one I am Rin, or at least I was. Please!! I’m telling you the truth!” She was frozen for a second as the barrel rose again.

Oh Gods no, I can’t fight Zazt, I’ll kill him!

“Don't shoot me Ser! Test me!” Ashai pleaded, ready to move, praying she wouldn’t have to.

Zazt still looked angry, but he held off on pulling the trigger, and Ashai could see him thinking.

“Test you to see if you are Rin? Hmmm, okay I will human, and if you’re not Rin, I can at least acknowledge that you are brave to try such a bluff. Or very stupid... let us see. When did I first meet Rin?”

“Umm, I was just past my 10th birthday and I started hanging around with the street kids in the Hive Mart. I met you a couple of weeks later, but that wasn’t the first time I was here.”

Zazt remembered the young boy who had been very curious about his shop, and the girl had the date about right. Not been the first time in?

“So when were you in my shop for the first time?”

“Um I sneaked in as a test to join the Hive Mart street kids, about a week before I met you. I had to steal something from your shop to prove I went in. I sneaked in while you were dealing with a customer.” Her face was bright red. If it was possible for her to feel more embarrassed and humiliated, she now was.

“Hmm and what did you steal?”

She had to think frantically for a second, before Key came to her rescue and provided her the memory. “It was a small throwing blade, good quality. It was unusual because it was made of plassteel and was matt black.”

Zazt remembered the incident as Ashai described the weapon, Rin stole that blade? The row that had caused, he had been sure the customer must have stolen it, had even had the poor guy searched to no avail, and it had cost him a good sale. He glared at the girl. It didn’t seem likely that Rin would have told a girl this story but still.

“On your eleventh birthday I gave you a present. What was it?”.

“Trying to be sneaky Zazt? You didn’t give me anything on my 11th birthday. But on my 12th you gave me a small lock knife.” The female grinned at him.

The old Korkari still couldn’t quite believe his eyes but this had to be Rin Turvik, come to think of it the shape of her face was actually very like Rin's and her nose…
“You actually look like Rin you know, although much prettier. That really is you isn't it?”

“Umm yeah old one it really is me, and believe it or not, apparently I look like my daughter would have looked. Just too freaking weird for words.” She was flushing again in embarrassment.

“Well I’m guessing that you got most of your looks from your Mother, although your nose is definitely Rin.” Zazt could not help it, he exploded in barking laughter at his old favourite's predicament, ignoring the girl as her expression went from embarrassed to stunned to furious.

“Zazt!! This is not funny, I need Help!!!”

“Has anyone told you Rin you are beautiful when you are angry?” Zazt laughed again, then held up his palms to appease the furious girl.

“Easy, Rin I’m just teasing you. You have to admit, it’s not every day I have this sort of opportunity to laugh at your expense, and that old one crack of yours was very tiresome. Consider that the start of payback, but a very small part of it.” He sniggered again.

Ashai opened her mouth to retort, then shut it again. There wasn’t really anything she could say to that, seeing as how much she’d wound up Zazt over the years. She decided instead to just be grateful that Zazt had lowered the shotgun again and seemed to believe her now. Zazt saw she wasn’t going to bite, and grinned hugely at her

“Learning when to shut up Rin? You have changed more than is obvious then. While I have to say you look much much better for it, I’m truly very glad to see that you are alive. I grieved a lot for you boy after the riots. What do I call you, as Rin doesn’t really suit you any more hmm?”

“Um, when I thought about names after I...ended up like this, it was difficult to think about girls names, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. I ended up thinking about Korkari words that I liked that sounded feminine to me and translated well. I chose Ashai.”

“Ashai?, Beautiful Thorn? Yes I think that would suit you well. Ashai it is. The question is what do we do with you now Ashai? What are your plans? I’m assuming any plans don’t include being raped and murdered which is what that Cobalt has in mind for you when you leave.”

Zazt carried on quickly seeing the girl shudder and her face tense in fear and worry. “Don't worry about Carlo now, you’re safe for the time being. He can’t get in here without a major effort, and he won’t do so. It would violate his protection contract with me, and show him up even more. What we need to do is solve your problems. Now let us assume that you didn’t talk to me about being Rin once you came here, what would you have done?”

“Well Zazt I figured I need some ID, and I need to get off world I think.. I stayed in Hab 27 last night and did some thinking. I had figured I could sell some gear I acquired, and buy some gear in replacement. I intended to get some VALs to give me a head start on skills as well. Now though? Maker, I’m open to advice Zazt, I mean going through an alien device and getting turned into a girl is freaking me out, not to mention I’m only 23, and apart from being a ganger all I know how to do is herd mega bison, so any help would be kinda welcome Ser.”

The old Korkari nodded his head in understanding.

'”Well I’m not keen on VALs Ashai but I understand why you would want to. Put your gear on the counter and let us take a look at what you were going to sell and I will do the best I can for you.”

With that any last tension dissolved and a relieved Ashai placed her pack on the sales counter and pulled out the flechette gun, vibroblade, and the spare clips for both the flechette and rifle. Then she took the scope off the rifle and laid both it and rifle on the counter as well.

'That’s what I have Zazt, what do you think? Can I look around while you check them?” Zazt nodded his assent absently. It was a gesture that had taken a little time to sink into Korkari culture on Yasm, the Korkari had no equivalent of their own. He bent over the weapons, giving them an assessment. Ashai divided her time between watching her old friend and wandering along the weapons racks, wondering what would suit her best. A little while later Haskins interrupted her musing.

“Hmm. Ashai this flechette weapon is Tocpak42. It’s a decent, cheap model, mass produced. Reasonable market for gangers but this grip is modelled for Dtilla. I assume you got it off some of the scum that raided a little while ago?”

“Yes Ser, I killed it with the rifle there, from about 5m range.”

Zazt grimaced. “Ouch that would have been messy. Well done. Anyway without a grip replacement it’s not saleable. Assuming the grip was right I would normally offer a customer say 190 for it another 50 for the ammo. For you I can do 300 creds for them. The vibroblade is cheap shit, 40 creds is your top for that. The rifle and scope…These you shouldn’t sell here, I can’t give you what they’re worth. This is a cultured weapon Ashai. Very deadly. Made off world. You see these?” the Korkari pointed out markings on the stock, “These are from Jatwon & Thort. They’re famous Gunsmiths on the Hive World Geremon. How did you get this weapon Ashai?”

“It was Edgar's...He leant me it before I went out herding. He was killed by the Dtilla.”

“Hmm well this weapon is exceptional, the barrel is lighter and stronger than normal and has 25 rifling turns instead of 18, the quad recoil absorber is more efficient and I could go on. The scope is not of quite the same calibre but is also very good. The rounds are standard 20mm AP, but fired by this weapon you get higher muzzle velocity, greater accuracy, greater range. You made my year Ashai just by getting to see it. Most weaponry on Yasm is basic. This rifle is elegant, and I can’t afford to purchase it. You need to sell it up town.”

“But Zazt, I can’t sell it up town, you know I have no ID now.”

If you were able to put Zazt Haskins on the spot and ask the Korkari his opinion, he would have described himself as a realist, possibly with ethics. Over decades Zazt had turned Haskins Armouries into a regular emporium for the fire power challenged, and the dishevelled Korkari's appearance hid a perceptive mind. He had a good idea what the rifle was worth, more than a substantial portion of his stock put together. There was an opportunity here to make substantial profit which was what Zazt lived for, especially as the Cobalts charged outrageously for their 'protection', and Zazt was acutely aware that it had been a slow month, he needed creds.

The idea of ripping off the woman in front of him just ground against his morals too much, even if he hadn’t been aware that Ashai was his old favourite Rin. The Korkari had been around long enough to believe that what goes around comes around, and that the honesty that stopped him from being a business tycoon had kept him going in leaner times. However he genuinely couldn’t afford to buy the rifle for even a small fraction of what it was worth. He pondered for a long moment, how best to proceed, before a possibility sprang to mind.

“Okay Ashai this is what we can do. There are plenty of places up town that bend the rules, and even in a scrupulously honest establishment like say Tayis Brest Equippers you only need ID to buy weaponry, its not needed to sell it. I truly can’t afford to purchase this weapon from you, but if you sell the weapon there and leave unarmed Carlo will have you wishing you were dead soon after so ID would be a problem. Plus it would be bad for me as well. If you leave and go there to sell your gun Carlo will blame me for making killing you more difficult. The Hive Mart is his empire, up town belongs to other gangs.” The Korkari looked somber for a moment before continuing. “With your permission however I can act as a broker for your weapon. Thus you are able to sell, at a fairer price, I make a profit, which I need, and Carlo can’t hold me to account which I am thankful for. I would charge you for this service of course. The standard commission is 14%.”

“I’ll give you 10% Zazt.”

“Hmm 12%.”

“Done.”

“Well bargained Ashai, you’ve improved. Wait here I must comm Tayis.”

Haskins disappeared into the back office, and came out a short time later, collecting the rifle, scope and ammunition clips for it and going back in. Ashai waited, having a mental conversation with Key as to the best things to do next, and what might be suitable weapons, but the truth was she didn’t know enough to know. Eventually Haskins came back to the shop counter, with a print out bearing the letterhead of Tayis Brest Equippers.

“What’s that?”

“Heh, this Ashai is Tayis' best and final offer to you for purchase of your heirloom weapon, with its scope and ammunition.” Zazt was looking very pleased with himself.

“Heirloom?”

“Yes, that is the only plausible reason she would take for a weapon like this coming on market here. If I know Tayis she will have it sold inside of a day, very good at making male Korkari swoon that one is. Her final offer is to transmit 14800 creds via comnet to your cred stick here. You need to buy a more secure model and transfer the creds to it as soon as possible Ashai. This print out from Tayis Brest is her confirmation of offer so that our deal is honoured fairly. If you accept then you will pay me 1776 creds after you have received the transfer. I will take the equipment and arrange for shipping to Tayis and this print confirms that is my responsibility as the dealer for you. Is this acceptable?”

Ashai was stunned. “14800?”

“Yes. Tayis is quick and knows a situation when she smells one as we Korkari say, I don’t doubt she will sell it for at least 26000, but there’s no way you would be able to achieve that selling it yourself. Do you agree?”

“Umm. Yes, yes thank you Ser.”

A stunned Ashai quickly accepted and the Korcari weapons merchant headed back to the office with her credit stick. The 725 creds she had before was the most that Ashai had ever had in her entire life, and the idea of saying yes and thousands of creds just appearing on her credstick was bewildering. Minutes later Zazt returned, interrupting a bemused Ashai looking at his stock and insisted she check the stick, which she duly did- balance 15525 creds. Maker.

“That was good business Ashai. Now my payment for this service is 1776 creds, or I will take the remainder of the equipment you wanted to sell and 1500 creds, is this acceptable to you?”

Ashai confirmed her assent and then arranged the transfer of 1500 creds, leaving her with 14025 creds. Then with her head still spinning she started to discuss her needs with Haskins.

“Thank you Ser, I don’t think I’ve ever had so many creds, now I guess I need to spend some and get some replacement gear. I know I need a weapon or two, and like I said if you have any VAL chips I would like a look at them, plus ID. Where do we start?”

Zazt couldn’t help but notice that the look Ashai gave the shelves of equipment and weaponry lining the walls was pensive at best. He was delighted with the days business so far, brokering the weapon to Tayis had made him 1500 creds pure profit, so he decided he wouldn’t tease the youngster too much.

“Well Ashai, whatever else has happened to you, you’ve not learned much weapon craft yet have you? If you’re going off world you need to know more, and quickly.”

Asgai sighed and shrugged in frustration. “You know me Zazt, I never spent a lot of time with guns and stuff in HMC did I? What am I doing wrong?”

“It’s not what you’re doing wrong, although you are indecisive about what you want to buy, which shows you haven’t developed your preferences yet. The problem is more what you haven’t done right. It’s a small thing but telling Ashai, you’ve obviously used the rifle and seem familiar with it, but after it was last immersed in water you didn’t clean this exceptional weapon properly. Not a major problem incidentally with a rifle of this quality but it’s not a good habit. Always look after your gear. Any experienced mercenary or soldier or some such will know this and it’s a rule that most don’t break because it can kill you. A recruiter for example would notice this and realise that you lack experience, which could mean you don’t get work, or get paid less.”

Ashai listened glumly to her old friend and nodded her understanding. Feeling a bit down she thought if she survived the rest of the day, at this rate it would be a minor miracle. Key heard her thoughts and quietly chided her for being hard on herself.

“Thank you for that observation old one, I know I don’t know enough, but I guess I know even less than I thought. Are you going to be able to help me further Ser?” Ashai felt certain her friend wouldn’t let her down, but in the sudden cold hard light of her ignorance, hearing it seemed much more important. Zazt looked at her shrewdly, and she knew that he could still read her like a book, even in a new body.

“Stop worrying Ashai, of course I’ll help you girl. It sounds so strange saying that and thinking about Rin,” he grinned at her “come on I have some VALs, and there is also a reader somewhere here as well. ID I can’t solve but I can at least point you to those who can. They’re in the Port District so you won’t need to worry about Cobalts there, although the Port has its own problems. Weaponry we can deal with after the VALs Ashai. At least we’re not lacking for time, the day is still young.”

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 8

A slightly shorter 'chapter' but the action is hotting up.

The next few hours passed in a blur for Ashai. As a child of the slums Rin had been fairly smart, but lacked any formal education after his parents vanished. Apart from the Rijkards, no one had ever really cared enough to offer Rin a chance. Now Ashai not only had a huge incentive to learn, but Zazt was working hard to impart as much information as he could. The old Korkari was a fountain of information, some useful, some useless about this and that topic, weapons, materials, products, and methods. Ashai was again surprised at the improvement in her faculties, she was soaking information up effotlessly, and enjoying learning as well. During a small pause Zazt dug out a battered but serviceable VAL projection unit, and then rummaged around looking for VAL chips while Ashai familiarised herself with the unit.

Visually Assimilated Learning was a wonderful method of teaching that was developed by the Hanrup, a species that to humans resembled bizarre walking jellyfish. The Hanrup were scholars and for them any method that improved learning was a boon. Various species had experimented with the technology. Information was converted to an electronic format then transmitted at a fantastic rate through the body's optical sensors, and essentially downloaded directly to the brain. The system had pros and cons of course, nothing that useful ever has no downside.

Some species found that they couldn’t use the techniques at all due to physiological differences. The Markot had discovered to their sadness that VAL induced a catatonic seizure, with no reason ever found as to why. Humans sometime complained of headaches and for them the retention of information depended on the motivation and mental capacity of the individual. VAL were normally only used by humans to enhance training, as without working the data through it was essentially like loading an unread book into your mind, heavy but useless without assimilating the information. Other less publicised problems with VALs for humans included everything from urban myths of subliminal programming to the causing of stroke like symptoms and death. It was fair to say therefore that Val chips were not for everyone. Still as far as Ashai was concerned if the chips were right it might well be worthwhile.

Zazt turned up a variety of chips that had been through his stall reader. Quite a few were for a variety of alien species and no use at all to Ashai. Zazt had managed to find a general use small arms encyclopaedia, mathematics courses, and basic science chips. He had also found a chip that covered human biology in detail- it looked to have belonged to a mission school for refugees that had shut down in Talont 20 odd years previously. Last but not least the Korkari had rummaged around in his office safe and found an infamous Tyrellian combat primer.

The primer had been big business amongst human mercenaries based on Tyrell two decades previously. That all came to a crashing halt, when a mercenary group was contracted against a Tyrellian government outpost and discovered they weren’t able to fire their weapons. Casualties were understandably one sided and near total. Once the news leaked out it was discovered that the Tyrellian government had secretly used the VAL chip to implant hundreds of very deep and very strong command suggestions, suggestions that would have given it an army of mercenaries.

Unfortunately for the Tyrellian government who had intended to use their human refugees as deniable and highly capable army, a delay that was supposed to have been built into the programming failed completely totally derailing the project. They also soon discovered a major oversight in that there was no suggestion preventing programmed individuals from contracting unaffected groups to target Tyrellian interests. It was an extremely messy episode in Tyrellian politics that still rumbled on in some of Tyrell's hive worlds. The Primer itself had become infamous. The warnings on the chip were detailed and to the point. Haskins had shown Ashai the combat primer reluctantly, pointing out its problems but it seemed to her that this could be her best chance for survival. After all as long as no one knew she was using the Primer, it couldn’t be used against her, but if some one did she would be in deep trouble.

“Key we need a solution to a problem. This chip will give me many of the skills I need to survive, but it is contaminated, and Haskins thinks it’s very dangerous. I don’t want to be left vulnerable to suggestions and commands hidden in the information. Is it possible to filter the information as it is processed?”

I’m fully bonded into your neural network Ashai, as well as your optic process. You have vast amounts of capacity to store information that is not used. The visual transmitter that downloads the data can be used in either a mono or binocular mode. If the information is downloaded in a mono mode it will take longer but I can divert the information from the visual process in use, store and filter the data in a portion of the brain neural net that is not used at present, essentially placing the information in quarantine. Then as it is cleared of any hidden suggestions I can copy the information across to portions of the brain necessary for use. You may experience some discomfort, and will be essentially blind in the eye that I have rerouted until use is returned after the chip is completely loaded.”

“Good we’ll do that.”

“Zazt, I’m going to have to chance the combat primer. I have to risk it if I want to see tomorrow.”

“Very well Ashai. I think your logic is correct but I deeply regret I have no alternative chip. Let us proceed then.”

The weapons trader pulled out a collapsible work top and set up the projector and reader unit on it before inviting Ashai forwards. She explained she felt better using the slower mono load facility and Zatz configured the unit accordingly. Pulling out all the chips that Haskins had found that were usable Ashai loaded the combat primer first. Ashai grabbed a seat, leant forwards and placed her chin into the support on the projector stand. Haskins swung the optic holoprojector into position, its complex emitter resting millimetres from her left eye. Finally he began counting down from 10.

“5..4..3..”

Optical process diversion commencing now.

Ashai suppressed a whimper as she went totally blind in her left eye instantly.

“2...1...Activating VAL.”

She couldn’t see anything of what was happening with her right eye, the projector was designed so there could not be any bleed of information. Instead she concentrated on just breathing calmly while information was loaded into her brain. Just not to where its makers had intended.

“Initiation sequence completed.” The electronic voice of the projector was supposed to be reassuring. But at least it let her know how much longer the chip would take.

“Primary load begun......”
“Primary load complete... Secondary load begun...”

Minutes passed.

“Assimilation matrix initiated....”
“Assimilation matrix complete in 5...4....3....2....1......”
“VAL Chip title Combat Primer version alpha 42.8 complete. You may sit back user.”

“Well Key, I don’t feel any different, how did it go?”

The files are downloaded and they are being cleaned now. Extensive programming detected. Suicide commands detected. Loyalty modification protocols detected. All subversive programming isolated and deleted. All Combat primer files are now safe. Assimilation and data moving commencing.

Keys voice was grim as she told Ashai how dangerous the VAL chip had been, but her normal tone returned as she confirmed that the download had been successful and that Ashai could continue with the remaining chips, which Key would treat in the same manner as a precaution. The assimilation of the combat learning would take some time, but would seem to Ashai like she would just know what to do and how to do it when necessary.

Meditation and consciously working through the information would improve the process but that was for later. Ashai finished the remaining VAL chips she had set aside as useful, before telling Haskins she was going to rest for a while and meditate. Then she assumed a lotus position in a corner of the stall and within moments was in a trance like state.

It was a vast amount of information to take in, and the assimilation process was nowhere near complete but Ashai had roused herself and working with Haskins started checking over his stock of weaponry for equipment that would be suitable. She was immediatley aware of a huge difference. Now as she looked at a weapon, it was like a curtain was drawn back in her mind, and its name and statistics, maintenance and repair, guide to field stripping and modification, how the weapon worked, became clear, that she could use it and when she needed to fix it would be able to do so. The general encyclopaedia was comprehensive and there was information on virtually all of Haskins stock, as well as general physics and chemistry principals, and tactics of use.

“From your expression Ashai I’m guessing you know a lot more about these weapons than most women would find healthy now. Correct?” Zazt chuckled at her stunned expression as the capability of the downloads started to become evident.

Ashai this exercise of examining the weapons on sale is assisting with your assimilation of the combat primer as well, so please continue. The combat primer will take longer to assimilate as it is far more involved than the encyclopaedia or other chips in that they are essentially databases of information and the primer is the equivalent of a thorough course of military training.

“Um yes Ser, I can honestly say that I never expected to know so much about for example this Ditr-Amanj 32 gauge shotgun. Piece of crap that it is compared to some of the stock you have.” Zatz laughed and nodded his agreement.

“Good, it sounds like you’re able to judge the merits of some over others already, correct?”

“Yeah Zatz, it’s weird but I know exactly why this knife is a premium weapon compared to that terrible vibro blade I brought in earlier. Wow, this is such a strange experience.”

“Good, good, quickly then let us find you appropriate equipment.”

Ashai realised quickly as she pondered her equipment choices that with her increased strength she could now carry far more than would look ridiculous, not to mention suspicious on one woman. So she had to be selective, rather than inform the world she was unusual. Now would it be better to use ammo based or energy based weapons? Deciding that because a great many energy based weapons had standardised energy packs they would be easier to reload, as well as less bulky to carry, Ashai decided to focus on energy based weaponry if possible.

In general her choice would mean heavy pistols or larger for the type of weapon. Energy based weaponry manufactured as small as a solid slug thrower was hideously expensive, not to mention that Haskins didn’t have any. Most of his stock was ammo based, as you would expect in a poorer, less populated colony in early stages of development. Still Haskins did have a few pieces worthy of a look. Pulling out the pieces she was interested in, and conscious of Zazt watching from the side, Ashai gave her selection of a dozen weapons some serious scrutiny.

Her eyes were drawn to a pair of blasters, but deciding that just because they looked sweet didn’t mean they should get priority, she examined the others first. A Ditr-Amanj Pulsed Phase Assault Rifle and scope was the first to get examined. With unconscious precision Ashai checked the weapon over before reaching over to Zazt's work desk, grabbing a multi tool and stripping the weapon down, learning as she was doing so, the feel and names of the components, how they should function, signs of damage to look for. The primary capacitor for the weapon was not functioning correctly and she realised would seriously affect its range and power. Telling Haskins the problem, she reassembled the gun and down checked it, scrapping it off the list of possibles.

Next she picked up a Viko Emag Pulse Shotgun, a nice weapon against droid adversaries, but not much use against a thug with a hand cannon. Ashai checked it over and stripped it anyway, judging the time doing so was worth it for the help it gave her assimilating her new training. As she worked, Ashai found herself idly considering best ways of approaching droid targets with the Viko. It was working fine and she placed it on one side.

The Erickson Plasma 12 gauge was a powerful weapon but short ranged and slow firing Once it was stripped down and reassembled, she had confirmed it was in working order but Ashai discarded it to one side, she wanted more firepower. She had ruled out all the larger weapons, leaving only a selection of pistols. Checking them through on the way to the matched pair she noticed at the start, all the pistols were in working order, but none of them squared up to the paired blasters.

The blasters were Makatov 50s, designed to give a combination of heavy firepower, good range, and could fire rapidly, until their charges were exhausted. This pair also boasted customised ports for an external power source. Ashai felt they looked intimidating as hell. 50mm big bore emitters produced half again the power of the Qualkon 21 which was the only other pistol there in the same league. Ashai knew would be expensive but after testing the balance, decided they were perfect for her.

“Okay Zazt I’ve got a winner, this pair, their holsters, and clips plus maintenance kits and charging unit, how much?'

“Well you have learned your weapons all right Ashai, and you've expensive taste, very good taste but expensive. Each one plus the accessories is 6000 cred.”

“Maker’s breath, no Zazt, I’m a friend! 9000 the lot.”

“I can’t take less than 10250 Ashai, what I paid for them.”

“Done. Okay now I need a close combat weapon, and a secure cred stick.”

“No problem Ashai let me see what I have.”

Zazt vanished to gather equipment from various shelves before coming back with a crate full of weapons. There were knives, a couple of swords, a chainsword, maces, clubs, a flail, stilletos, stun sticks, staves, as well as Korkari clubs. The selection was quite astonishing. Zazt laughed at her expression.

“What do you expect? This is the slums after all Ashai, down and dirty is how it goes here. Bullets cost money and a knife can be quiet. Anything you like the look of?”

“I want a sheath to go with that big Bowie blade I had hold of earlier, that will do for a general use knife, but also I think I’m looking for a sword Zazt, clubs and stuff, just not my style. No elegance.”

“You know how to use a sword Ashai?”

“No, but I’ll learn real fast. What’s that blade there?” Ashai pointed out a blade hidden at the back of the crate.”

“It’s called a Di Kat I believe. Magnesium Tungsten Carbide Alloy blade, I was told by the guy who left it in place of a debt that they are made on Lofthar, modelled on a type of ancient human weapon apparently. Deadly but not easy to master. Don't know any more about them myself.”

“How much you want for it, and the Bowie?”

“500?” Haskins sounded a little uncertain for the first time.

“You can have 450.”

“Done.”

*** f

A short time later Ashai left Haskins Armouries. Her new Di Kat held in a sheath strapped to her back. The Makatov 50s were in thigh holsters, with fully charged clips loaded. Spares also fully charged clipped to her utility belt. The rest of her purchases were in the pack which she slung once more over her shoulder. She’d been in the Armouries all day, and the afternoon was rapidly giving way to dusk. She had been sorry to leave her dishevelled Korkari friend, wondering if she would see him again. She made sure to give the ageing alien a big hug of thanks, as well as the formal bow more appropriate to a Ser.

Now she scanned the market, with a new sense of awareness. There was no sign of Carlo or his thugs which was worrying, Zazt had been sure he would be hanging around waiting for her, and Ashai couldn’t imagine the Cobalt thug was going to leave her be, so he had to be somewhere. The combat primer was mostly assimilated now, and Ashai found herself unconsciously checking vantage points. It was a different view of the world around her that was a little disturbing.

Totally different from the streetwise instincts of a Slum dweller, or the innocence of a girl newly exposed to the outside world. This was like ingrained trained highly developed paranoia. It was the knowledge that the world is a vastly more dangerous place than you imagined previously. When you know the tactics of urban warfare, what is possible in a confined space with an improvised explosive, was more than a little scary. Ashai checked with Key that everything was okay with the Combat Primer, to be soothed in response.

“It's okay Ashai, the Primer is clean and assimilating very well. The Tyrellian government was thorough though, they wanted their mercenaries to be capable and the training in the primer is highly comprehensive. Everything is fine.

Ashai walked back towards the Hab 27 Hotel, she knew it after all and it was cheap enough, as well as being on a direct line out of the slums district. Ashai was still worried about Carlo and the Cobalts trying to jump her, but so far so good, and it was not far to go now to the Hotel. It was the sudden lack of other people on the street that cued her first. Rin had seen the same thing in the slums as a kid, how the street emptied before it kicked off. The wind was blowing a just little colder it seemed, as she stopped.

There was an alleyway 10m ahead that was the perfect spot for an ambush, and there had been another a little way back behind her as well, perfect for a blocker to hide in. A glance back confirmed it. Three Cobalts, completely unbothered about showing their colours as they went to commit a crime. They were on their turf. One looked like he had a pistol, and the others had a flail and a stun club. The three had spread out behind her, 10m or so back. They stood there laughing and sniggering. The one with the pistol waved her on down the road.

“Go on bitch, C is waiting for your fine ass.”

Looking forward Ashai saw Carlo and four more of his crew swagger out of the alley ahead of her. Carlo had his shotgun, Machine Pistol was there as well, plus the giant thug Musclebound and 2 others she decided to call the idiot twins one and two. Rin had never been in a situation quite this fucked up, but Ashai’s emotions shocked her. She thought she should be scared and instead she felt very angry, but terrifyingly glacially calm. Carlo had fucked up big time, he just didn’t know it yet.

The Hive Mart's boss wolf whistled at her. “You're a fine looking bit of pussy bitch. I told you you’d be my girlfriend and would play with me. You disrespect me in my place? Now me and all my boys are gonna play with you, and then when you are good and broken in, I am gonna sell you to one of the Red pimps. A stuck up bitch like you will make some good creds. Don't got no big gun anymore whore? Don't you worry, my gun is big enough for you.”

Ashai very deliberately yawned at him. “Oh it's you Blue. For a minute there I was worried it was someone scary. I already told you hun, you can’t afford me. Go on home with your boyfriends while you’re still alive moron. If they’re so anxious for a fuck, let them use your ass, you know you want it.”

Carlo was incoherent, spluttering with rage. “GET THE BITCH! FUCK HER UP!”

With a roar the Cobalts charged.

It seemed like there was all the time in the world to Ashai. Hound was there at her call, was available if she needed it. Key faded to the back of her mind. It was like playing a hologame. A fight game with the action paused while she decided what she needed to do next. How did she feel? Should she shoot them? Engage them hand to hand?

5 in front, 3 behind. Key informed her as the Combat primer displayed possible responses, hand to hand combinations, dirty tricks. The cold angry part of her decided that she wouldn't be leaving enemies behind her. It wasn’t wise, or efficient. Then Ashai moved.

The Makatov 50s leapt like quicksilver into her hands. A useful time to discover you can genuinely two gun, and are now ambidextrous. Left hand fired. Right hand fired. The idiot twins died first, coherent blasts of energy punching through leather armour, skin, muscle and bone, turning human flesh to vapour as the bolts burned through before carrying on down range.
Makatov 50s are a lot of gun to use on a person.

3 front 3 rear.

Hound's sensors kept track of the Cobalts while Key relayed their numbers and the primer told her the pistol carrying thug behind her and Carlo, are the main priority now. She spins left. Right hand fires as she tracks past Machine Pistol, the blaster bolt punches through his breast bone and hurls him backwards. Still Spinning left. Right Hand holstering. Left Hand tracking. The smug thug with the pistol behind her loses his head, the body falls, spine and neck cauterised and steaming from the bolt. Left Holstered.

Leap forward. Closing the distance on Flail in a flash. Glide pass on Flail's left, blocking Stun Prod's possible attack. The Primer provides a good combination. Sudden intimate knowledge of human anatomy flares, guiding her strikes. Closed fist right to outer knee. Knee joint permanently disabled. Rising left fist to groin, crushes Flail’s genitals to bloody mush. Gliding around Flail's left side. Right hand knife strike to kidneys. If Flail managed to survive he would piss blood for weeks. Not that he was going to survive. Flail howls in agony, cut off as left hand strikes his trachyea from the side, shattering his Adam's apple. Force of the strike rupturing his carotid artery. Flail is dead before he hits the floor.

One attacker is close, with Musclebound and Carlo closing. Stun Prod has closed to range. Swings. The primer shows the evade and the follow up attack. Ashai ducks and glides in to attack. Stun Prod just has time for his face to register fear as his attack misses. Ashai's right fist hammers into his sternum. The Breast bone disintegrates into fragments under impact, shock stops his heart. Left hand follow up palm strike drives nasal cartilage into brain.

Stun prod is dead as he’s falling backwards, falling between Ashai and Carlo taking the force of Carlo’s shotgun blast in his back. As the shotgun rises under recoil the Di-Kat seems to magically appear and strike high low, leaving Carlo with a stump. Arterial spray jets from the wound, the shotgun still recoiling away with its triggering hand attached. A low spin and Musclebound loses his right leg below the knee.

0 viable targets remaining. Time elapsed 7.9 seconds. The information passes through her mind unnoticed.

There is a moment of silence then. Carlo hasn't felt the loss of his hand and wrist yet, although he's staring speechless at the blood spraying in thick red pulses from the wound. Musclebound starts to make a mewling sound, down on one knee and a stump. Ashai feels the glacial rage still roaring in her. She looked around looking for more enemies, but there were none.

She put Muscles out of his misery first, the anatomy lesson going on in her mind marking the exact point to sever the spinal cord with a clean stroke between the vertebrae. The giant’s beheaded body slumped slowly to the ground. She flicked drops of blood off the sword, before turning back to face Carlo. Carlo knew he was dead, could see his life spraying away from his arm, heart pumping frantically under a massive adrenalin hit, trying futilely to compensate for falling blood pressure as he bled out. Ashai crouched down and pulled Carlo's cobalt bandana off his head, before wiping the sword blade with it.

“Sorry Blue,” She muttered as the light went out in his eyes. “I told you I was the most dangerous thing in there.”

I didn't believe it myself though.

Her mind went blank then and the survival instincts that the slums had bred kicked in. Moving at a speed that was now merely human, but with rough and ready efficiency, Ashai rifled the bodies of valuables, claiming the firearms, cred sticks, and any valuable she could find. Then running on autopilot, her mind elsewhere, she carried on, walking rapidly out of the slums.

****

Ashai was busy crying and throwing up. The bathroom stank of vomit, and stomach acid. She was not bringing anything up, just dry heaves but so far she couldn’t stop. She had managed to make it all the way back to the Hab 27 Hotel and up to the bed in her room before her defences broke and she freaked. She’d just killed 8 gangers in massively brutal ways. The shock and remorse she had been suppressing had surfaced in a flood of tears of self recrimination before the retching had taken over. There hadn’t been much to bring up, it was mostly just stomach acid. Head in the bowl of the toilet Ashai blindly concentrated on not retching again. She’d noticed a switch for an extractor fan before and slapped for it, hearing a click and then the whir of the fan as her hand found the target. Key was waiting for her attention.

Why are you distressed Ashai?

“Why? Key I just killed… no I just slaughtered eight men.”

So what Ashai? That is how life is sometimes. You killed them in self defence. Do you doubt that what they intended for you would have been worse?

“No....” She retched again as the thought of what the gangers would have done to her made her spew once more.

“No I know what they planned for me. But Key, I killed them. I’m a killer.”

You have killed before. You killed Dtilla with no warning, how is this different?

“It was close up, I felt them die as I killed them, and that was fine. Key, it was so easy. They never stood a chance. They attacked, I remember deciding that leaving enemies alive behind me was a bad idea, and that was it, they died. Carlo and his thugs never even came close to hurting me. What am I that I can do that?”

You are Prime now Ashia. Far more than merely human. That you had to kill is regrettable, but you weren’t aware of any other choice. You’re not trained yet and don’t know the extent of your capabilities. For you to respond to the threat of gang rape and death or slavery with lethal force is just and natural. You have remorse which is human and welcome. Do you feel remorse for killing them, or for the fact that it was so one sided?

“I dunno Key, they were scum and I know Yasm is a better place with them dead. I think I regret killing them now that I’ve discovered that they had no chance. It was so easy. They were so slow, I might as well have been crushing beetles underfoot.”

In that case Prime you must remember that if they attack you, they force you to defend yourself. It is not your responsibility if a foe badly underestimates you. If however you’re choosing someone to attack, you merely need to ensure you find worthier enemies.

Key's tone carried a grim amusement forcing a short laugh from Ashai as she finally decided that the heaves were over and got up from the stinking soiled toilet bowl.

“Thanks Key I needed the pep talk.”

Do you feel better Ashai?

“Actually I do. That cry really helped. I feel lighter somehow.”

Catching sight of her reflection in the mirror, she groaned. “Oh Gods look at the state of me.”

Wiping spittle from her lips didn’t really help with the picture, eyes red from crying, face dishevelled mane of hair and body suit liberally splattered with drying blood, none of it hers.

Oh I need a shower really bad, I gotta this stuff out of my hair. Hound move to passive mode please.

Ashai wasn’t watching in the mirror as the armour disengaged, she was already heading for the shower unit, turning it on and checking the water temperature. The body suit first changed to an inky black before seeming to evaporate or rather drawn back into her body, pores in her skin drawing it in, rivulets of black ink running into tiny streams, back to larger pores and vanishing within her once more. Within seconds the armour was gone, and naked she stepped into the shower, wanting to clean herself of the gore and the memories of the ambush.

*****v

Ashai lay on the bed and gazed out of the window at the stars in Yasm's night sky. It wasn’t possible to see much from Talont, compared to her star gazing from the Rijkard’s Hold, but that was the price of the cityscape, it came with pollution, light as well as effluents and exhausts. The visible constellations were beautiful but she wasn’t really paying any attention to them. Her mind was elsewhere, pondering her new body. Ashai was feeling very relaxed. The pace of events had been rapid since waking up in a female form and she hadn’t had much time to consider what it meant.

The decision to live as a woman instead of die as a man had been simple to make but she was still only beginning to coming to terms it. Apart from the physical changes to her body, her outlook, moods and emotions, everything was different. How much of that was down to hormones and her new body, and how much the result of new experiences she had no idea. It was hard to put into words how she felt about everything. Key was a big help, providing reassurance and constant comfort, but Ashai was taking the chance to think about the differences.

Her shower made some of those differences very apparent. Taking the time to slowly wash her body clean, the pleasure from the caress of the water on her more sensitive skin had led to cautiously exploring her new form. Ashai discovered that simply tracing a long nail across her skin could make her shudder. Her entire body felt like an erogenous zone. She cupped the weight of her full breasts, gently squeezing and teasing with her nails, pinching them harder as they became hard and erect. The sensation was electric and she gasped as arousal flooded through her. Her right hand drifted down her flat tummy to her pubic mound, as heat flared in her groin. She began to explore her sex, probing and teasing, caressing and rubbing, discovering what felt good as her vagina flooded with moisture.

A tingling tightness began to build within her, and she moaned as she discovered the hidden nub of her clitoris, a jolt of pleasure which made her head swim as she began to pant for breath. Dipping a finger into her tight wet sex, the sensations almost buckled her legs and leaning against the shower wall her exploration became vigorous as pulses of pleasure began to ripple through her. The pressure inside her grew in intensity as Ashai stroked into herself instinctively before she began to crest a wave of pleasure. Biting her lip to stop herself screaming, she squeezed her engorged clit between thumb and forefinger and sent herself over the edge into her first mind blowing orgasm.

After that, well Ashai had decided that if nothing else she had come out ahead as far as sexual pleasure went. The pleasure she had felt from exploring herself had blown her mind. Now, hours later lying naked on the bed she’d come to the conclusion that while she would much rather none of this had happened, it had and she was going to be able to cope. Plus she had to admit that this new body was outstanding, and felt very good. Ashai had no doubt that she would feel freaked out in the future as different situations cropped up, but now she would just have to deal with it, and learn as she went along.

Life was there to be lived, and that was just what she would do. Ambitions to be more than a mere herder as Rin, had given way to the possibility of a destiny in life. No human could think about humanity's homeless refugee status without anger, but now Ashai felt that maybe sometime in the distant future she would be able to do things to correct that wrong and redress the balance. For now she intended to learn about the life of a warrior and see where that led her. The sunrise would come soon, and before long she would dress and head out.

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 9

Enjoy!

News of the sudden, brutal and unexpected demise of eight Cobalts including Carlo the Hive Mart Boss spread faster than a virulent disease through the Slums District. The only witness to events, was Twitchy Tash, a cheap whore perpetually in debt to her MethHeaven addiction. Twitchy had just shot up, hiding herself for safety in the alleyway when the Cobalt blockers arrived. Even high Twitchy knew enough to stay hidden from the Cobalts, she knew a prepared ambush when she saw one. When the blockers had moved into position, Twitchy crept to the edge of the alleyway, anticipating news that would buy her next hit of MH. She watched, high, trying to work out what was real and what was MH hallucination.

Terrified out of her wits by the lightning quick and brutal violence which killed the Cobalts Twitchy stayed utterly frozen long enough that she began to come down, her faculties slowly returning. She’d been raped by all of the dead Cobalts at one time or another, and in her addled mind decided that retribution was abroad. Still the agent of retribution terrified her, surely only a devil or angel could move so fast and no angel would be so brutal. Eventually she was able to force herself to move, and quickly Twitchy Tash sold her tale for a hit as fast as she could to her supplier, also a Cobalt, who quickly confirmed the tale.

Word spread rapidly, the story evolving as the rumours spread. By the time Grinder heard the word for the fifth time, Carlo had attacked a witch who cursed him and all Cobalts, summoning death for them to punish their wickedness. Grinder was unimpressed to say the least, but mostly by the loss of the Cred sticks that Carlo had held, and the challenge to his rule of the Slums. The order went out, find the witch, woman, devil, angel, or whatever that had butchered Carlo's crew. Find it, kill it, and bring him its head.

*****v

Rumours travelled fast and far through Talont during the night. Rival gangs in surrounding areas heard of a monster in the slums, word was someone or something was killing off Cobalts. Not necessarily a bad thing from their point of view. Some gangs made preparations just in case. Who knew whether the monster was after more than just Cobalts, or if possibly the Cobalts would lose enough bodies to weaken their hold on the Slums.

News services in Talont’s commerce habs heard the rumours of witchcraft and brutal gang killings in the Slums. Within 2 hours of the Twitchy Tash fleeing the scene Channel 42 News was vying with Talont Times for the best holocam angles while Sec Bureau guards cordoned off the area around the bodies, which still lay where they had fallen. In the morning Sec Bureau would start its investigation. No one at Sec Bureau was really taking tales of witches and curses seriously and the Slums were a really bad place to go kicking down doors during the night.

The Watch Sergeant figured waiting for the morning was best way to avoid a riot and casualties to his troopers. If the beast or whatever got away in the meantime that was just fine, anything that killed human gangers was just fine with the Korkari sergeant. He had a team grab Twitchy Tash from her usual dope house and once the Medics managed to get the MH head lucid, a couple of his techs did their best to get a description of the killer from the still freaked Twitchy. It left them little the wiser.

One who had a damn good idea what was actually going on was Zazt Haskins. Two plus two equals four — most of the time at least, and Haskins was sure that Ashai was responsible. Not that he would say anything, that would be a death sentence from Grinder, silence was his best bet. During the night rumours spread, chaos reigned and tension in the Slums rose, while oblivious Ashai planned for a trip to the space port, before crashing out.

As morning came Ashai watched the news holocasts with dismay. The bodies of the Cobalts still lay in the dirt between the alleys. In the light of day their wounds looked particularly graphic to the delight of the newsies. Their reports filled the casts with garbled stories of a demon woman with white hair who killed gangers. Clad in black and able to move with terrifying speed was the only description so far. Security outside the Slum was reportedly being stepped up as a precautionary measure.

According to reliable sources in the Slums, Grinder had ordered the death of whoever was responsible and the Cobalts were hunting the killer. Sec Bureau had also begun an investigation, but didn’t have many leads at this time. A confidential Sec Bureau source was reported as saying that the night's rainfall had ruined much of the forensic evidence, but the causes of deaths were very self evident so Sec Bureau weren’t too fussed. The newsie who tapped that source had the good sense not to ask why the investigation hadn't begun sooner.

After watching the holocasts, Ashai decided to head for the Space Port sooner rather than later. Her combat body suit wasn’t a good idea, much as she wanted its protection, a different look was necessary. Turning to the wall monitor she began browsing the directory clothes stores for ideas. There were hundreds of ideas, but after a mental conversation with Key and Hound she settled on a look that comprised black leather pants with chunky knee high boots, accompanied by a long thigh length blouse of like jade silk.

Looking in the mirror after Hound successfully managed her requirements Ashai felt she looked good but realised that other human women would be wearing makeup. She didn’t have any or any idea what to do with it, so she would have to do without. Finally she tried to decide what weaponry she should carry, and what would have to be stored in the pack. The Di-Kat was too long to fit so she would carry its scabbard over her back. The weapons she'd recovered from the dead Cobalts were evidence if she was found with them. They weren’t worth much, but she was sure that sooner or later someone would search the room, so leaving them here was out. So in the pack they went, though Ashai had to break the shotgun down to make it fit. Her two Makatov blasters? One carried enough intimidation for most situations. Carrying both would look out of place with the rest of her outfit. Strapping on one thigh holster, and clipping on her utility belt, she stuffed the rest of her gear into the pack, it fit but only just. She transferred the creds from the Cobalts to her secure stick, and stuck the empty sticks in her belt. Somewhere along the way she would need to find a recycling unit to dispose of the evidence. Preparations complete Ashai headed out.

****b

Korcari guards from the Security Bureau where patrolling the crime scene, when Katz pulled up on his hovertrike. He waited as his passenger dismounted then parked the machine designating a guard by the simple expedient of grabbing a Bureau private and pointing at his trike with a curt order to 'Keep it safe'. That done he walked the short distance to the investigation where his passenger was already observing the scene. The passenger was an officer from Korcari Intelligencia and usually worked in Administration House, and his remit was very vague and very wide.

It was rumoured Officer Gantol was on personal terms with the clan heads who ruled Yasm, so irritating him was not something Katz was keen on doing. Sergeants don’t make much, forcibly retired ones even less. The intelligence officer had been visiting the Watch commander as the rumours had come in of witchcraft and a demon or monster on the loose. As the rumours turned into confirmed stories of a blood bath Gantol expressed an interest in viewing the scene, which was enough for Katz to be ordered to escort him there. So here he was.

Gantol stood at the edge of the crime scene, quietly observing first the work going on, nothing obviously wrong there, before looking at the bodies lying on the ground. Part of his wide range of skills was as a tracker, and he gazed at the ground looking for the minute trace disturbances that told him about an individual’s weight, height, and movement. After a short time the picture building in his head made no sense, and with a sense of irritation he curtly ordered everyone outside of the crime scene so he could concentrate and work on peace.

The Sec Bureau investigators paused, saw who was doing the ordering and followed Katz' silent hand gestures and made themselves scarce. Gantol was already oblivious to them, there was something here.....he had a sense for trouble that wasn’t often wrong, and right now it was shrilling loudly at him. Walking slowly and carefully with light feet, to avoid disturbing the ground any more, he examined the bodies of all the dead gangers. Then Gantol traced each ganger’s footprints back to their starting positions outside the alleyways, 5 on one, 3 at the other. Gantol nodded to himself, whatever happened started with an ambush then.

That being the case the target would have been about...here. Boot marks in the dirt, not a tread he recognised, depth and the soil type and moisture levels, gave a weight of around 120kg. 120kg would be very substantial for a human female in the slums. Poverty meant there wasn’t enough food for women to grow fat here. The witness description said a tall slim woman, all in black, who seemed to vanish. The weight clearly didn't fit the description.

He put that thought aside for a second as he concentrated on the ground, and the placement of the dead, reconstructing the events. Okay the Cobalts spring their ambush, there’s an exchange of insults etc. Then the fight starts, the Cobalts charge, 4 die from single shots with blasters? These two, same height and weight, matching clothing, twins perhaps? Hard to tell now. They are killed first, roughly the same distance from the female. They were killed at virtually the same time then.

Gantol stopped for a second thinking. The positions of the first two deaths ruled out a single two handed weapon, and confirmed two shots, so that meant two weapons, and implied the shooter was ambidextrous. Okay the wound size and cauterisation pointed to blast weapons. Blast rifles? The diameter of the wound burned through the torso was inconsistent with blast rifles. They focussed narrower for longer distance and accuracy so the target was using blast pistols maybe heavy blast pistols. Gangers ambush an ambidextrous target using two heavy blast pistols. Stupid fuckers. Maker she could have killed them all at distance, so why didn’t she? Gantol scratched his left horn in puzzlement.

Okay our unknown kills those two with her first shots. Then what? There are two more deaths from blast wounds, a little closer as the Cobalts charge. Follow the boot prints, okay so the target spins left leaving this one dead first with the chest shot, then that one behind her with a headshot. Good shooting. Excellent shooting and the Cobalts have barely moved. Very fast. Much too fast. The shooter could easily have shot the rest, but didn't, she went hand to hand. There that depression, angled boot mark from leaping forward, the shooter closed the distance to engage the next Cobalt?

Gantol moved back to the body lying near to a crude flail. Following the footprints told him this Cobalt died next. He examined the body for damage noting the wounds to groin, knee, the position of severe bruising on the lower back, the smashed trachyea and ruptured carotid. Very strong strikes delivered very quickly. The ganger was completely disabled by the knee, and the groin strikes. Ouch, definitely not a threat anymore, but killed anyway. Why? Overkill suggests a lot of anger. To be expected if someone ambushes you I guess. Enough anger to kill all eight? You don’t take the time to finish off eight gang thugs in a fight without a reason. If this was straight forward there should have been wounded. Still dead bodies don’t talk. Gatchi shit.

Gantol started to worry as that thought drifted into his mind. The Cobalts were so outclassed they were basically executed. The shooter was showing clinical efficiency with the first five deaths and then this one was next. Gantol crouched over the Cobalt's body, the shoulder was almost blown away by the force of a shotgun blast hitting from the rear. The face wasn’t recognisable, the post mortem bruising turning it a purplish hue but the damage to the nose was obvious enough.

Gantol turned to the Sec Bureau investigators outside the crime scene and found the one who was examining the body as he arrived.

“This one, any more wounds?”

The Korkari investigator looked a little sick as it replied, “The human's chest Ser, under its clothing. May I?”

Gantol signalled his assent and watched as the thug's clothing was opened, revealing a mass of bruising and bloodied flesh. It looked like shards of bone were trying to erupt out of the chest cavity. Impassively although he felt nauseous, he watched as the horrific wound was covered back up. And then there were 2 left Gantol muttered to himself under his breath. Who was next? He looked at the last two corpses.

That one lost a hand and bled out, I guess he had the shotgun. The weight shift in the footprints means the shotgun wielder was disabled first before the big one lost his leg. The footprints changed to more normal movement so the fight was over before the decapitation. A mercy stroke? Eight armed men dead, 4 shot, 2 hand to hand, 2 by the blade, almost before they could move after beginning their attack. Worried Gantol turned and found the Sergeant.

“Well Katz you’ve a dangerous adversary on the loose. Assuming it is a human female, she is much faster and much stronger than any normal human, or Korkari for that matter. These idiots died before they knew it. I expect they thought she was a target for an ambush for robbery and rape, from the description we have been given of tall and slim. The tracks say she was heavy as well weighing almost twice as much as an average human female. She is very well armed for this area, probably 2 heavy blast pistols rather than a blast rifle, plus a bladed weapon. The first two died at the same time so she can fire the pistols simultaneously. This shooter isn’t your normal human. You had any reports of humans with heavy mods, prosthetics, bionics, or cyborgs?”

“No Ser, no one like that I’ve heard of in the Slums at the moment. Things have been reasonably quiet recently, just the usual levels of crime. Someone like you describe would be quite obvious? Like a mercenary, bounty tracker or something like that?”

“Probably Katz, probably, unless the mods are very expensive, which would present another problem.”

“Ser?”

Gantol sighed. The sergeant didn’t get the bigger picture.

“Simple Katz, What the fuck is a disguised killing machine like that doing on this shit hole? Yasm is the arse end of this fucking sector. Who is it after? It probably butchered this lot when they interrupted an op. How many fights can you remember with eight fatalities and no wounded? That doesn’t happen Katz unless you’re deliberately leaving no witnesses behind. Of course it could be a demon summoned to kill off the Cobalts but personally I don't think it would be using blasters.”

Gantol grunted in disgust as he looked at bodies in the mud.

“Come on, back to the office to speak with the Watch Commander, then you can give me a lift back to Administration, I need to make a report. In the meantime get your investigators into the Port and Trade districts and anywhere else you know of that might get visited by an augmented human. And tell them to be careful. They might only have been humans but whoever we're after killed that lot without breaking a sweat, and based on those wounds she could beat the shit out of us Korkari just as easily.”

*****h

The Space Port district of Talont was the original site of the main industrial unit that had accompanied the Korkari when they colonised Yasm. After planetfall, the Korkari and their machinery quickly turned the landscape around the industrial plant into a sea of plascrete, machinery and building operations. As the colony successfully developed and expanded, the industrial focus of Talont had moved elsewhere and the original unit had been redeveloped to form Talont's only spaceport.

The original ad hoc landing arrangements gave way to a more formalised approach and the Spaceport rapidly expanded. Myriad industrial units and businesses sprang up in the barely regulated warren of above and underground construction. Fuel refineries, distribution systems, hangars, accommodation, shops, brothels, drinking dens, drug dens, alleys, storage warehouses, and landing pens, everything that formed the import and export facilities of Yasm.

Now the imports could be almost anything, while the exports tended to be foodstuffs or cattle, live or already slaughtered, which were Yasm’s main export to nearby Korkari systems. When a cattle shipment was due, the land for miles around the Port became a sea of mega bison.
For weeks after the cattle shipped, the stench of dung and animal sweat drifted in the already polluted air, while cleaning crews of human labour struggled to get the situation back under control. The entire district was a mass of heavy construction, heavy machinery, cacophonous noise, throngs of workers busily or idly passing the hours. The regular arrival and departure of vessels set the rhythm of the whole district.

Ashai got on a busy early morning public transport into the central port terminal. The journey was without incident although she was conscious of the newscasts she saw playing on various screens. The casts were attracting a modicum of attention from the passing public, but nothing spectacular. She had never been to the Space Port before, so had nothing to compare against but it looked like there were a lot of security forces around. It could also be her nerves making her imagine guards around every corner, waiting for her.

The events of yesterday had made an impression, and thinking things through during the long night, Ashai eventually came to the conclusion her only fault was not knowing what she was capable of. Considering she’d only been a she for a few days, Ashai wasn’t going to beat herself up for that. She was now stronger, much faster, and healthier than before, although at times it felt like her moods and emotions were like quicksilver. Her old life as Rin, already seemed a long time ago. Swapping gender? She thought she was coming to terms with the differences overall, and it beat the alternative of being dead. The downsides of her changes would take time to come to terms with.

She was constantly conscious that now she attracted attention where before there was none. That had sparked lethal consequences already and there was the disturbing possibility of more. There was so much she didn’t know and it wasn’t like she could buy a VAL chip titled — ‘Being a woman, everything you ever wanted or needed to know, for the recently transformed’. Ashai sighed as she walked along, her sense of humour was definitely getting darker. She headed towards one of the terminal’s shopping concourses, splitting her attention between her thoughts, and the crowds of humans, Korkari and other aliens all mingled together.

Haskins had given her the details of a contact who could provide an ID, a dealer who apparently dealt in imported leisure goods, at least most of the time. Ashai didn’t know what to make of that, leisure goods was a very vague description, but right now she too was busy looking for Talont Entertainment Industries, to worry about it. It was supposed to be on the right hand side of this shopping concourse, and so far there was no sign of it. Where was a directory terminal when you wanted one?

***f

Katx was busy examining the hotel room for clues. The woman was long gone, having released the room that morning. The bed was still messed up, the cleaners hadn’t been yet, and nothing appeared to have been left behind. The fan in the bathroom was still running, and he’d noticed flecks of vomit around the toilet. He pointed them to the investigation team as they came in through the busted door. The entrance team had withdrawn along with their 'door knocker', a large metal ramming bar, once they had checked the room for threats. Not that they were certain this was the right room, or even the right Hab. That would be way too easy.

Gantol had filled him in on his suppositions about the killer on the ride back to Sec Bureau's offices, where he updated the Watch commander. Katx to admit he was impressed by Gantol's deductions, and his skill in tracking. It looked like his reputation as a skilled officer was deserved. He wouldn’t expect an Intelligencia Officer to know how to track, but it was a useful trick. Gantol's logic had concerned the commander enough that he ordered a general increase in security throughout Talont, and requested the Intelligencia's assistance.

Katx was ordered to keep Gantol in the loop and then kicked back out into the field to find this modified human or whatever the hell she was. Gantol headed back to Intelligencia headquarters to see what he could stir up. By the time Katx got back to the crime scene the bodies had finally been removed, and a search was being conducted along the possible paths out of the slums. He ordered any available surveillance footage be examined. He didn’t expect many buildings in the area that would admit to having vid systems. Discretion is prized in the slums and as expected, so far his search teams hadn’t found anything useful. With no other options they continued searching house to house.

The Hab 27 Hotel was just one of many buildings that were to be checked for information, and Katx was here because the hotel’s owners ran an anonymous house. That made it a more likely place for the shooter to stay, all sorts of people liked their privacy. One of his search team had visited initially, found an automated reception system and commed the owners for their records and surveillance.

The owners had quite naturally denied any surveillance existed, which would have been the end of it. Except that Gantol was in the loop, and Intelligentsia had levers that Katx wasn’t aware of. The Intelligentsia Officer had spoken to the owners privately, and returned looking smug. Suddenly there was mention of an old vid system, that 'because of its poor imagery and reliability issues' wasn’t mentioned previously. This vid system was usually turned off, but by lucky coincidence there were some records from the time in question.

It was mid afternoon by the time the surveillance data was hand delivered to Sec Bureau, along with the palm scanner records from the automated reception. Time stamps on both allowed Katx' officers to start comparing data and eliminating potential leads, on this source as well as the various other vid systems that the investigation had turned up in the neighbourhood. Late afternoon was the time for an update from the investigation teams on their progress, which Katx and Gantol both attended.

The team reported that the search had so far been inconclusive although they had uncovered plenty of anonymous meetings that could be interesting in the future, as well as a completely unknown palm print. That sparked Gantol interest who asked if they had more information on the unknown palm prints. The investigator explained the print had been on a data disk that had been delivered a little while earlier, and was from Hab 27. So far they’d been able to correlate the palm print to an image from the vid system by its time stamp. The investigator showed the image on his projector. The image quality was poor and in black and white, the vid system was an antique for sure, but it grabbed Katx' attention.

“Maker’s breath I’ve seen that face, I know it. Blow it up.”

“Yes Sergeant.”

Katx stalked forwards from his desk and gazed intently at the displayed picture.

“Can you enhance it at all?” The investigator adjusted his software settings, and the image sharpened, losing some of the interference. Katx was looking at a head shot of a young human female....one he had seen recently....he racked his brains, trying to think and it came to him.

“Galont, her name is Ashai Lennox. She was here in the office, 2 days ago with Lt Resnij from the mercenary team we sent out to Phiftar. Lennox came back with him after escaping from a cave system she fled to after the Dtilla raids. She lives in Talont, was the girlfriend of Edgar Rijkard who was killed defending her. Her story was plausible so she was released.”

The investigator began tapping away searching for information in Sec Bureaus databases.

“If she lives in Talont, why was she in Hab 27?” Galont queried.

“Ser, I have no record of Ashai Lennox in the Talont databases,” The investigator continued, “In fact Ser there’s no record of Ashai Lennox anywhere, no property records, no licence, no tax, birth or criminal records of any kind. She’s a ghost.”

“She doesn't exist?” Katx asked, while Gantol wondered, “Her palm print is unknown?”

“Get that room at the Hab 27 searched right now. Move. “ Katx ordered.

He was already on his way out the door heading for his trike, with Gantol following close behind him. The thought that a mass murderer might have walked out of his office as he was bickering with a merc over their charges for deployment during the raid was enough to form a frozen ball in his second stomach, and to ignite his temper. The search was now personal. Katx didn’t take kindly to being made a fool out of.

Gantol was busy searching wall terminal’s archives, pulling up the records of data access. It looked like the room’s occupant had been about to go shopping for clothes, there were dozens and dozens of items looked at. So far, so normal. Directory searches for weapons? That was more suspicious. The search entries included Haskins Armouries, which was located in ...the Hive Mart in the Slums, which also happened to put the crime scene directly on the best route from there to here.. Gantol didn’t believe in coincidence, so it looked like he had a solid suspect.

Pointing out the data to Katx he headed back down to the Sergeant's hover trike, Katx close behind him. The question was, where was Lennox now? Katx ordered the distribution of her known details to all security officers, Talont wide with the instructions she was to be detained, preferably alive, and also to be regarded as armed and dangerous. On the off chance he had the Port Security forces ordered to locate and watch the Narwhat 4th Recruitment mission.

As the Sergeant followed the Intelligencia Officer out of the hotel, Private Taryil held back, before heading to his vehicle outside. As he walked he had a brief conversation with Grinder on a private com. After receiving a healthy dose of funds to his secure cred stick, the informant delivered Grinder the information he badly wanted, then carried on with his duties.

“Got the bitch.” Grinder grinned hugely, ugly face lit up in anticipation. “Pick up Haskins in the market. Move it now before the pissing Sec Bur get there. I want to talk with him. And get this picture and description out to the other gangs, city wide. Anyone who coughs up information will be rewarded. If she’s on anyone else's turf, I’ll appreciate being informed. Appreciation in goods or cred. No one disrespects me.” The Cobalts scattered.

***bb

The hover trike was parked in the market, and Sec Bureau officers were clearing the area of onlookers. The sliding door to Haskins Armouries was broken open, the shop inside dark. The entry team had already confirmed that the owner Zazt Haskins wasn’t inside. Katx was angry, angry that his only good lead had vanished. He had a hunch that the Cobalts that ruled the slums would probably be behind the trader's disappearance. Whether or not the Korkari ever showed up alive again was doubtful. In the meantime all he had was the shop itself. He turned to the nearest of the Bureau teams.

“Secure it, and begin the search for evidence. Nobody comes in or out without my approval. Understood?” The Sergeant’s expression was thunderous.

“Yes Sergeant, right away Sergeant.”

Katx turned away from the rapidly retreating trooper and back to Gantol before speaking.

“Well we know Grinder has his crew looking for her as well, and the other gangs, so I guess this just became a race. Particularly as it looks like someone is updating the Cobalts on our movements as well. We only just found out about Haskin’s connection so either Grinder is well ahead of us already, or he was tipped off and moved damn fast to make sure we couldn’t speak to him. We could search the Slums, turn over the Cobalts haunts, but it’ll start a battle in the Slums if we do. It will be last year’s riot all over again.”

“Not worth it Katx, we lose this round I think. Get whatever we can out of the shop, and try to keep tabs on the Cobalts, that’s all we can do here. Let's get back to the office.” Gantol's tone was deceptively calm but his movements were quick and angry. Intelligencia would be tasked with finding the source of the leak. Now all he could do was wait, and hope for another break. Neither Korkari was known for being patient.

****b

Ashai finally located Talont Entertainment Industries, or TEI as its sign proclaimed itself. She had to resort to the concourses directory, but was eventually able to find the shop which was on the right side of the concourse, but was actually at the end of an alleyway just off it. She had missed it on her first walk past. The alleyway was dark, but empty, with the illuminated sign for TEI at the end. Or rather the T and I glowed brightly, the E was burnt out and dark. The door however was functional and slid open automatically to the right as she approached. Bright light and noise spilled out into the alley way and Ashai walked in.

Ashai stopped dead trying to make sense of the chaos. The shop was crazy, a seemingly random jumble of anything and everything that could be even vaguely deemed entertainment. It took her several seconds to find the shops counter over to her left as she entered. In those seconds she saw Virtual Reality Sim consoles, climbing gear, collections of popular vidcasts that had been imported from nearby systems, some type of single person boat, that was hanging from the ceiling upside down. There was a stand filled with sports gear of various types, music chips of various types were stacked up in piles, and a local band's latest electronic music was being blasted out of a sound system.

There were even old fashioned paper books! Who uses books? The cost of shipping them was crazy. Everywhere she looked there was something else, that someone had deemed to be fun and entertaining, plus a price tag. It was without doubt the most eclectic mix of stuff she had ever seen. Ashai also noted a couple of wall mounted spy eyes that surveyed the shop, and she realised were actually very well sighted for maximum coverage. Information surfaced in her mind highlighting the one blank spot in coverage. If the coverage was to be complete there should be a third spy right…there. She spotted it, pretty well hidden and was reassured about the level of professionalism in the surveillance. It didn’t really fit with a trader in entertainment but did fit with someone who could provide false ID.

The shop front was actually about the size of a small eatery but was so crammed there was only a single route through the chaos. There was no sign of the owner yet, so she walked round to the counter. Stepping forward set off some sensor and rang a bell over the door, making her jump. She swore briefly before resuming the somewhat roundabout journey to the counter, stepping carefully to avoid tripping or standing on one of the many piles of …stuff.

“Hello? Anyone here?” Ashai called out.

A lilting voice's tones called back “We will be right there dear customer, please just look around for a moment.”

Ashai looked in the direction the voice had come from, to see a couple of Eckt coming towards her. The female in the lead was dressed in her species' traditional bright gaudy robes, which clashed against the Eckt’s mauve skin. The male behind her was also brightly clad in green pseudo leather trousers and a bright yellow jacket.

Eckt evolved on a world with higher background radiation and harsher light radiation than humans were familiar with and their skin colour was just one of the adaptations nature had provided them with, as well as eye membranes that acted as sunglasses in bright conditions. A humanoid species, slightly smaller than humans but with 4 digit hands whose wide spread fingers were known for being exceptionally dexterous. The only time Ashai had ever seen Eckt before was on vid cast in a band, they could be exceptional musicians.

“Hello, and welcome human youngling”

The female Eckt was wearing a translator box around her neck, an ingenious device that took the Eckt own voices and reproduced their speech in the either the language the Eckt was spoken to in, or whatever they set it to. The Eckt themselves did not speak, they only had to subvocalise their response for the box to transmit it, so conversation with an Eckt seemed like exactly that, conversation, rather than noise interpreted by language nanos in one's brain, or robotic aids.

The male moved from behind the female and spoke, his box producing a melodic voice but with lower pitch and tone than his partner.

“What can we do for you customer? Welcome to our house of all things fun and exciting. Do you have a special need? Are you a fan of vid casts? The latest imported music chips that humans seem to rave about is just behind your left shoulder…”

He was interrupted by the female. “Hush, Poftanichek let the human speak dear one.”

Ashai grinned, surmising this was a fairly regular conversation. Poftanichek seemed intent on speaking as rapidly as possible, describing the stores stock for her.

“Um hello, I’m looking for Poftan and Foithar?” Ashai jumped in before the male began again.

The female's head was cocked now, eye membranes apart revealing sparkling violet eyes.

“He is Poftan, I am Foitharilyeic. How do you know our family names human?” Her tone was curious but also cautious, and Ashai saw the male pick up on the female's body language and tone. His body shifted stance subtly, to a more balanced position, better for fighting or running she guessed.

“I didnt know your names, I was told to ask for those people by a Korkari called Zazt Haskins.”

Ashai kept her hands open, and her arms relaxed. The male tensed at Haskins name, and Ashai worried that this trip was about to be a big mistake, or worse that she was about to find herself in another fight. She wasn’t worried about surviving a fight, but didn’t want any more deaths on her conscience.

“If Haskins gave me bad directions then I’ll leave, it 's fine, I will go.”

Poftanichek was confused. Haskins had never given out their names to just anyone, especially their family names, but this… girl, she was barely in her twenties, didn’t appear to realise the significance of the names, or of Haskins relationship with the Eckt. Now she was offering to leave as though there was a mistake, which was unlikely knowing Haskins despite their difficulties. Was she going to leave to avoid a confrontation? A possibility but anyone armed with a Makatov heavy blaster and a blade weapon of some kind was prepared to handle a fight. Too many unanswered questions so the girl needed to stay for a while.

“Wait human. Stay please.”

The girl stopped and studied him, her arms relaxed and posture open but balanced. Abruptly Poftan realised he’d slid into a defensive stance- huh must be when she mentioned Zazt. Is that why she offered to leave, she noticed me move? That was unusual most other species took one look at Eckt and discounted them as potential adversaries, usually with unpleasant consequences. For all their slight looking almost skeletal appearance, smaller size, and colouring that he knew humans in particular found comical, Eckt were comfortably stronger than humans, a legacy of a heavy gravity evolution.

Taking a breath and aware his life partner Foithar was watching from the right waiting to follow his lead, Poftan shifted to a neutral position, and with a suddenness that was deceiving to many, the Eckt once more became a peaceful trader, seeking a customer.

“I would ask you human, how do you know of Zazt?”

“He has been helping me, and suggested you might be able to help with a problem I have.”

Haskins was sending a human to him for help? After the fiasco last year? That damned Korkari had nerve, not to mention more sense. “And how is my young friend?”

“Young? Ser Haskins is old for a Korkari, he deserves the title for his age alone. You know that though.”

The answer came back immediately, and carried an undertone of surprised pique at a test, as well as a modicum of amusement. The human wasn’t stupid then, and she did indeed appear to know Haskins.

“Forgive me human, indeed as Korkari go Ser Haskins is a good age, although it is worth remembering such things are relative, I for example am much older than Haskins is, so I can call him my young friend. Still enough of trick questions, did he give you a message for us?” This would be the acid test then.

Ashai grinned and spoke. “Actually he did, he had me memorise it. It was, Portal is holding, mortar is strong, flower is but budding, water of life afore nightfall comes. The Stream sings its blessing. Destiny is but history for some. The message that Haskins had given her was very vague, but obviously gave the Eckt information in code. It all made her wonder just what the old Korkari was into, and she hoped her curiosity would be rewarded. The male Eckt listened to the message then relaxed further.

“Come through to the back please human, Foithar would you lock up please, while I see how we can assist Zazt's young friend. So human your message tells me that Zazt did send you to us, and asks that we assist you, also that he is well. But it doesn’t tell me why, or what Zazt has told you about us?”

Ashia thought that Poftan was intrigued now, not that she was any judge of an Eckt facial expression, it was more his tone. Key had told her the core of any good lie is truth so quickly Ashai revised her recent history.

“Zazt has been a friend of mine since I was a young child. I escaped the riots last year and worked as a herder. We were raided by the Dtilla. I survived but lost almost everything. I got back to Talont and Zazt helped me a great deal already. I need a new ID, so he sent me to you, but I don’t know anything about you.”

“You lost your possessions including your ID and need a new ID. Why not just arrange to have your old ID reissued? That is easily done. For Zazt to involve us means your problem is more unusual than missing ID, you need a false ID, so why? What trouble have you got into?”

Ashai winced at the Eckt’s perception although she wasn’t surprised. Stupid criminals get caught after all, but she still wanted to tell the Eckt as little as possible.

“Trouble with the Cobalts, and I need to leave Yasm.” she replied. Poftan looked at her intently waiting to see if she would tell him more but when the human said no more he nodded. There was obviously a lot more of a story there but she had told him enough. No one would actively want Grinder after them. No doubt going off world seemed like a good solution to the young female.

“Well I think we can help you Ashai, a new ID is certainly possible.” Poftan said before Foithar interrupted him as she returned.

“What Haskins didn't tell you Ashai, is that we deal in all manner of items, including entertainment products but Poftan here is also expert in data manipulation, and can build an ID with little difficulty for a price of course. The price is to reimburse us for both Poftan’s work, as well as the risk to us of becoming involved in your dealings. You’re fortunate that we have dealt with Haskins for years, for anyone else the cost of helping you with your gang related problem would be substantially higher. We don’t know you, but we know him, and Zazt has been helpful to us, so yes we can sort out an ID for you. The cost will be 6000 creds, and before you say anything we don't negotiate. Take it or leave it.”

“I'll take it.”

“Good doing business with you Ashai. I’ll leave you here with Poftan, as I have some other business to take care of. The basics won’t take long to construct, but hacking the Administration’s systems and modifying their data can take hours. I'll see you later Ashai.”

With that Foithar gathered up her colourful cloak to complete her outfit and left the shop. Poftan called Ashai through to the backroom where he sat working at a high powered terminal. He placed a portable palm scanner on the table top.

“Okay Ashai first of all we need to scan your palm print.” The small machine did its job in seconds taking a perfect record of Ashai's palm.

“Okay, now we have your print we need to run a comparison, and check for your records....Hmmm, your palm is unknown, how did you manage that I wonder? Never mind, a story for another time perhaps. Your print doesn’t exist at all, and neither does Ashai Lennox. Hmm, so what we’re doing is creating an identity for you, so that you can make use of the system, rather than taking your existing identity and making you somebody else yes?”

Ashai agreed that his description sounded accurate.

“And you are concerned that you are under threat and want to leave Yasm?” Again Ashai agreed.

“This will be more difficult, the charge is the same, there is no difference in the files we need to access, but I must be more sophisticated about it. It’s going to take some time. I suggest that you take yourself off to the concourse and explore perhaps, come back in about 5 hours. I should be done by then.”

“Thank you Poftan.”

“No human, thank you, I like a challenge, and the mental work out will do me good.”

With that Poftan bade her farewell for the moment and settled into his work. Ashai gathered her pack from where it lay and left TEI. Now seemed like a good time to find somewhere to dispose of the Cobalt's weapons. The first point of call was the local directory board, which after a little bit of coaxing displayed a map of the concourse for her to study and try to plan her movements.

As she worked the directory terminal Ashai pondered where to get rid of the weapons. The problem was she didn’t know enough about the Port. She had never been here before, not many Slum dwellers had the creds to buy anything worthwhile here. The local gangs were, supposed to be more heavily armed and dangerous than the Cobalts, as well as not being human only which meant to her inexperienced gaze anyone could be a ganger.

If the Port was anything like the Slums the local gangs would concentrate in the poorer, rougher areas. Those same areas would be better for losing the evidence as they were the darker areas that security forces don’t like. So if she wanted to dump the parts she would probably risk running into the gangs. Ashai decided it might be better to just try and sell them, perhaps in several shops. That would be safer than blatantly sticking her nose into the gang territory. She scrolled through the directory displays looking for traders marketing weapons and equipment.

The shopping concourse ran North to South in a figure eight. The directory showed that Ashai was on the Ground Floor mall, South East loop. She had arrived at the Port at the Southern most entrance, and made her way North to TEI. Further North the concourse led to the landing and blast pads as well as the main Security checkpoints before accessing the blast pads. Ashai wanted to find a trader that was away from the security points. A quick search showed several dealers and after a second to orientate herself she walked North.

The walk took a few minutes, as she worked her way through the thickening crowds. It was just after midday, and lots of the Terminal’s workforce was taking their lunch breaks, heading to the various eateries from which a melange of cooking smells drifted out. There were, Ashai noticed, a lot fewer humans in the Port, and far more Korkari, as well as a variety of other species. Glancing at a food stall that was serving some type of fish, cooked in spices that would make Korkari drool and humans hurl, she shook her head at something smelling so good being so bad for you. The only reason you would know was a sign warning humans that the food was inedible for them.

It was relatively easy to get through the crowds, and Ashai quickly found the second hand equipment dealer she had seen advertised. The 100 creds the Korkari paid her for the machine pistol and pistol was quite good considering that both were pretty crap as slug throwers go, but from the looks of the gear the dealer was flogging, he was not especially fussy about the merchandise.

As a courtesy she spent a short time browsing his stock to see if there was anything useful, but no golden nuggets were visible amongst the crap so Ashai gave her thanks and headed for the next dealer. The shotgun was a better quality weapon than the pistols had been and she hoped to get a better price at the weapons dealer. It was located on the level above, just North of the central junction on the west side loop, and would again be a few minutes walk.

By the time she got there lunch break was over for most and the upper concourse was fairly quiet. Despite the awful name Hooters Shooters, the shop had a far more professional feel to it. Clean and well lit, the walls were lined with secure display cabinets stocking a wide range of guns, both energy weapons and projectile. Hooter was human in his mid fifties with a bulbous nose, which dominated his face, which was lined and blotchy from drink.

Hooter was sober enough to drive a hard bargain, as well as be a complete creep and leer at her breasts when he thought she couldn’t see it. Ashai left 250 creds richer, with some space in the pack, and the urge to beat the shit out of the storekeeper. Only the sure knowledge that if she turned she would see him leering at her rear stopped her. That in turn just made her feel humiliated and she could feel a flush rising. Ashai walked away, searching for a way back down to the ground floor, out of the Hooter’s gaze.

Back on the ground floor she spotted a drinks stall and stopped to settle her nerves and her temper. She ordered a steaming Hi Caff and not feeling like being watched settled herself in the rear corner of the shop, her back to the wall, to wait for her drink. The shop was quiet now, and taking advantage of the space at her table Ashai rearranged her pack. The contents were pretty sparse all things considered, just her equipment, no clothes, or even wash gear, she had made do with the Hotel 27s amenities that morning. With a glum feeling Ashai decided that she really ought to do some shopping, which was not something she had ever enjoyed, or ever really had the credits to do either.

“Key, umm do you think it’s a little odd to be travelling with no clothes in my pack? Hound is fantastic but I think having the armour for clothes all the time is going to look weird. How do I explain dressing differently to people if I don’t have any clothes? I think I will have to buy some clothes and then wear them with Hound either in passive mode, or as the plain body suit under my clothes. Does that make sense?”

Yes Ashai it does. It’s sensible not to rely on Hound for clothing, especially as the choices are limited to form fitting clothing. Having your own clothes would be practical as well as helping you to develop your own sense of style, and having some variety.

“Sense of style? I just meant it would be weird having no clothes is all.”

Ashai you’re thinking like Rin you were, not the woman you are. How you feel about yourself can be influenced by your clothes. You know this already, think about why you modified the default combat suit. How did the original body suit make you feel?

“Exposed, I thought I’d draw way to much attention and that was scary, I didn’t want, and do not want hordes of gangers thinking about me with their cocks. I mean I looked fantastic which was cool, but having people see me like that? No Way. Not Happening.”

And how do you feel in your combat suit as you have modified it to be?

“Well it made me feel protected I guess, not so much on display for the world, but I still think I looked pretty good. I looked more intimidating as well, stronger, and that was good for my confidence in the slums.”

So then what you wear affects how you feel. So what will you wear when you want to feel sexy and have men drool at your feet? What will you wear when you want to feel empowered and be the Prime you are? What will you wear when you need to lead or command your forces? Do your want their love and lust to be the reason they follow you, respect? Fear? All of these can be influenced by what you wear and how you feel.

Ashai started to feel a little panicked at where Key was leading with her questions.

“Stop Key! I totally don’t want to think about that stuff now. I don't want guys following me around drooling. Maker, I don’t know anything about being a woman. I confess I love the body, I feel awesome, strong, light, flexible, fast, better than I ever did as a guy. And yes it’s very pleasurable as well, but I’m not ready for thinking about sex with guys, gross, or leading armies like some general or something. Leave me be okay?”

I’m sorry Ashai, I wasn’t trying to upset you, or force anything on you. You will become used to your new form in time, and we are always here for you.

There was the sensation of a mental hug from Key and a fierce sense of being protected from Hound. Ashai found the panic ebbing away at the reassurance.

“I know Key, I’m sorry for being upset, it’s just so new. I’m just not used to thinking of myself as a girl or a woman yet, and well it’s just a bit much for me, thinking about what I should wear to get a man in my bed. I know I’ll get used to it sooner or later, but for now I’ll just concentrate on the basics. I know what you meant, and I do get it. I do need some basic clothes, and other ...stuff. Sigh I guess some shopping is in order.”

Calm again, Ashai sat at her table and watched the world go by as she slowly drank her hi caff, wondering what clothes she would need, and wear to find them. She decided that once she had finiished her drink that she would find the nearest directory and try her hand at shopping. It promised to be a whole new experience.

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 10

A big apology to everyone for the lack of individual responses to their comments. A big thank you to you all for your thoughts and thank you for reading. I promise normal service will be resumed straight away just real life has been a bit of a mare. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy the next chunk of Ashai's misfortunes!

Poftan was well into the formation of the new identity for Ashai. So far everything had gone well. First he flagged her palm print in case any one else should access it. His flag was unnoticeable but would warn him of potential trouble. After that he had begun the formation of a plausible history for the human woman. Hmm girl seemed more appropriate, but really he guessed she was somewhere in between, perhaps a little socially shy or naíve, despite physically being adult.

Hacking the firewalls around some of the Administration's databases was surprisingly difficult. Either they had gotten new software or he was out of practice. Still he had just about finished constructing the viral data packet that once released would tag to Ashai Lennox' palm print and then begin inserting a history of internet use, a financial history complete with banking and nominal credit facilities, nothing flashy just functional, with a small balance that would not excite any alarms. For education the common basic schooling for humans on Yasm was included as well as a work history, nothing extensive but that wasn’t unusual for a 24 year old, and a family history in addition.

That was where the art came in, Ashai was born on Yasm, so she needed parents, and despite their being non existent, presumably dead, they needed to exist electronically as well, otherwise while an automated search program would accept her, a skilled comp technician would flag her up as a ghost, and at that point the search would begin and his work could be undone. Poftan was he admitted a perfectionist. The girl said she wanted to get off world, so probably these levels to her ID were unnecessary but Poftan wasn’t going to take the chance. He was just about finished with his art, and had already got the supposedly hack proof ID card that Yasm citizens carried loaded with the data.

The audible alarm interrupted his concentration, what was that for? Shit. Poftan swore in his native Ecktan for 2 minutes solidly as his flag showed a whole series of data search imprints from... the trace came back...a terminal off the main server in the Sec Bureau, and her palm was now linked to additional files...one a photo....head shot only but it was enough to identify her…double shit… and the remainder was a link to a case file? Hmm I guess this is the trouble she was worried about.

Five minutes later Poftan snapped his attention back to the trace program, his mind still trying to grasp the images of a bloodbath, amputated limbs, lethal hand strikes, and bodies either decapitated or chests blown through by blaster fire. There was a note on the file that was added by an Intelligencia Officer Gantol detailing his analysis of the fight scene. The note suggested the combatant was much faster and stronger than a human, and was possibly either a gene mod, some cyborg type, or using heavy duty bionics. The notes included Gantol’s speculation as well as to possible concealment and the reasons for that.

Pafton knew how Intelligencia Officers thought, they were thinking of an assassin. Reading further the news got worse. Security had been ordered to a higher level everywhere and Ashai's photo and palm print had been distributed to all security points. That tore it, his work was now useless. It didn’t even matter if the human was a cyborg assassin or not, the Intelligencia would assume the worst case. They would assume that a bunch of 8 thugs had managed to stumble across a deadly secret, ending up dead for attempted rape, robbery, murder or possibly all three.

Intelligencia would want to know what operation the assassin was on. A covert operative on an unimportant world like Yasm demanded explanation and they would pursue her anywhere on Yasm. They would come after Lennox, and in doing so would find Poftan and Foithar as well. By human or Korkiran standards Poftan was very old, and it made the Eckt shudder when he remembered again the girl noticing his slip into a defensive stance earlier in the shop front. The files he had seen, made it terrifyingly clear that had he attacked, neither he or his beloved Foithar would have walked away.

Poftan wasn’t certain what the girl's plans had been, but he assumed she wanted the ID to head into orbit and then away from Yasm. That was no longer possible. Even as Poftan was thinking that he didn’t want to be involved any further, he realised that they were already committed to helping the human. Lennox would be coming back to TEI, was due back shortly in only 20 minutes or so, and in all likelihood Sec Bureau and the Intelligencia would be following close behind.

The girl's presence here in, of all places, an entertainment shop would be suspicious and the Korkira authorities would dig to find out why. It was time to leave. Damn Lennox, damn Haskins, why the fuck did he have to send her here? Foithar, were was his love when he needed her? She was the brains in their team. Poftan reached for his com.

Ashai was aware of the increasing security for a little while. She surprised herself by actually enjoying her little shopping expedition, buying a basic wash kit, some women's combat style pants in a dark green and black armored boots , a knee length leather jacket that was similar to her lost herders jacket, but cut for a woman's figure. It was stylish, practical and didn’t interfere with getting her weapons. The coat was gorgeous black leather from an animal she wasn’t familiar with, and when she saw it, Ashai knew straight away she was going to buy it.

The clothes trader seemed to have realised as well, but the Korkari’s service had been excellent and Ashai wasn’t regretting the cost, 400 creds, at all, that leather was sweet. A couple of body suits for general use, some underwear. That had been a little bit of trial and error, the female assistant understandably bemused by the young woman who had no idea what she wanted, what would fit. Ashai came up with a lame story about losing most of her belongings during the recent raids, and having recently had a growth spurt. The assistant had still been a surprised but she’d been very sympathetic and helpful and got Ashai organised with the basics. Some cotton shorts panties, socks and a pack of coloured sport tops that would restrain her breasts. Key had explained that Hound was automatically supporting her figure, but agreed it was practical to have the basics. Ashai had left the store with more packages and her head spinning. Some of the underwear the store sold looked beautiful, some scandalous, her mind had been bouncing all over. Key had been laughing gently with her though, a reassuring presence.

She was making her way back to TEI, and wasn’t far away when she saw guards in the distance. They were reinforcing the security check points and obviously armed. That didn’t look good. Ashai wasn’t sure they were looking for her, but the swarm of troopers that were spreading out to checkpoints were sure as hell looking for someone, and she had to be a good bet. Ducking into a shop next to her let her avoid the first troopers who moved past heading further north up the concourse.

A glance as three security troopers went past, had been enough for her to see they all carried images of someone's face. The angle wasn’t right for her to see more clearly, but Ashai had seen what looked like platinum hair and that was enough for her.

Maker’s Balls, now what do I do?

Aware of a Korkari looking quizzically at her, Ashai glanced around to see what kind of shop she was in. Got to be more aware of where I am she chided herself. It was, she noted disgustedly, a Korkari curios shop, so there was no good reason to be here. Time to think quickly.

“Sorry, Ser Trader, I’m meeting a friend outside, what time do you close?”

As she spoke Ashai realised there was no one else in the shop.

“I close at 6pm human.”

The trader hadn’t moved from his position next to a variety of stock he was busy putting on the shelving. Ashai made her decision and hoped it worked out okay. The trader froze mid movement as he found himself looking down the barrel of a very large pistol, that seemed to have magically appeared in the strange human's hand, as her packages were dropped to the floor.

“I’m sorry Ser, but you’re going to have to close early. Quickly now, come and lock this door.”

Ashai gestured to him with the Makatov. “I don’t want to hurt you, I just want to use your back exit.”

“But…” The trader began to protest.

“No talking. The door. Lock it now.” Her tone was more forceful now. Ashai had visions of more troopers walking past the shop and just happening to see her brandishing a weapon at the Korkari. It wouldn’t be good. She moved to the side of the door and was glad the small shop was filled with crap from floor to ceiling. The windows were blocked so she wasn’t visible from outside now. The Korkari moved now, obviously shaken at this turn in his day. Inserting a small key in the control box on the door frame, he turned it and the security door slid closed, all the while he stared up the barrel of the Makatov, held steady between his eyes. With a click the door's locks engaged and Ashai relaxed very slightly.

“Now what human? You rob me? Kill me?” The Korkari's tone was bitter, obviously expecting the worst.

“No Ser, and I apologise again for this inconvenience. I’m going to restrain you, and disable your comm temporarily, and then I’m going to leave through the back. I’m not going to rob you, or harm you in any way. The restraints are only so that you can’t get free immediately and raise the alarm, as I’m in a little bit of trouble as you might have gathered.”

The trader was surprised at the respectful address and polite tone, and Ashai found herself grinning at the mild insanity of events.

“What is your name please Ser?”

“Daytrih human.”

“Well then Daytrih please move back to your office. Slowly now...Thank you.”

She moved Daytrih into his office with no difficulty, Ashai going first, but keeping the Makatov on target. There was no one else in the office, and the small corridor behind the office led to Daytrih's back door, which he used on the morning to open up and bring in stock. Ashai opened her pack and withdrew the strong but light survival cord that had been part of the Rijkard's gift to her. She had Daytrih kneel on the office floor with his arms behind him.

“Remember please Daytrih I don’t want to hurt you. This will be tight but you’ll free yourself in time, or will be freed. Don’t fight me or I will have to hurt you.”

Daytrh swung his head to look at her, thoroughly confused, “You’re truly just going out the back?”

Ashai grinned and nodded.

“Then go ahead human and tie me up. I won’t resist. If nothing else you give me a good story to tell.”

Daytrih remained docile as she tied his hands behind him, before tying his feet as well. That forced the trader to sit back to stay balanced, lastly with another length of the cord Ashai tied his two sets of bindings together. She knew little about knots but figured it would keep Daytrih busy for a while at least. She glanced down the corridor to the back door. Code locked of course. Worry about that in a moment.

A quick trip back to the shop space and Ashai had her packages. The door was locked, windows covered.

“Hound go passive.”

Seconds later she was naked again as the armour vanished into her pores. She knelt down and ripped open her shopping pulling on the cotton boy shorts panties, and a crimson coloured athletic top which restrained her breasts which she immediately became aware of again.

Heh, I guess Hound really does give me all the support I need.

The green combat pants were next, then socks and boots. Everything fit well and was comfortable.

She slipped the sword scabbard into place behind her and once more donned her holster and belt. Lastly almost reverently, she pulled on the black leather coat, pausing to smell the leather. That coat had really made her day even if she was on the run. Stuffing the spare clothes, and her other purchases into the pack she picked it up, thankful that girl's clothes took up so little space compared to her old stuff, and headed back to the office.

“The back door code please Daytrih.”

For a second Daytrih pondered giving a false code which would set off an alarm in front and back of the shop, but decided against it. His visitor was being very polite and hadn’t made any move to take his stock or creds, and he was still alive. He suspected if the alarms went off that merciful mood would evaporate as fast as the hand cannon she carried fired. He took note of her new attire and gave out the 8 digit code, repeating it to ensure it was correct.

Then Daytrih shook his head in bemusement as the human got him a drink of water and helped him drink his fill, before gagging him, and apologising one last time. She took his com unit and removed its battery, before bidding him farewell, and vanishing down the corridor. He heard the code being entered, and the sound of the door opening and closing, and the sound of the door locking again.

It would be less than an hour before an assault by a team of security troopers blew in his shop's armoured door with explosives. After he was released from his bonds and his story was given the Sec Bureau forces would fan out again.

****h

Foithar arrived back at the shop within minutes of Poftan's very short urgent comm demanding she come back, that Sec Bureau were after the human. Hearing his anxious tones the Foithar abandoned her chores and headed back South down the concourse at a fast walk, senses alert now to the increasing levels of heavily armed security forces being stationed across the Port. She noted that the local gangs were also reacting...to the security increase? Foithar didn’t know but her instincts told her that the gangs were looking for the human as well. Certainly there were more gangers than normal on the concourse proper. Normally they were down in the basements.

She locked the front door behind her as she came back into TEI, and headed for the office.
Poftan was at his keyboard, tapping away furiously, dexterous fingers a blur.

“There are security everywhere, and gangers as well. Where’s the human?” she asked.

“I don’t know dearest, but we couldn’t comm her even if we had a code for her which we don’t. Intelligencia and Sec Bureau would track it back to us. We must prepare to leave Yasm, it is time to find another base for our business.” Poftan carried on working as he talked.

“What?! What does Intelligencia have to do with this? What are you talking about Poftan, what is going on?” Foithar was stricken but her mate merely looked miserable before turning back to his equipment and bringing up files which he gestured her to examine. As Foithar read, Poftan carried on working on his equipment. By the time Foithar was finished the Eckt’s normally mauve skin had acquires a greyish hue she was so shocked.

“How could that human be so dangerous Poftan?” Foithar normal fluting tones had acquired a strident edge. “She’s the one the newscasts are all about? What are you doing now Poftan?”

“I’ve just finished moving funds and changing what assets we have here to cash that I can, and requested that Emydia be fueled and prepped for launch. We must leave Yasm. The Intelligencia will link her to us, and that will undo us.” Poftan carried on working as he gave Foithar instructions.

“Foithar you must pack quickly for us. You don’t have much time as Emydia will be ready shortly. We might need to take the girl with us as well.”

“Take her with us? After all she has caused? No Poftan this is crazy.” Before the brewing argument could even be started it was silenced by the buzzer for the TEI warehouse.

****

Ashai found she was in the supply tunnels that ran behind the shops on the concourse. She turned right towards TEI and started running. These passageways ran everywhere, their walls covered in piping and cables, ceiling low with ducts and more pipes. She just hoped she would not meet anyone before she got there, TEI wasn't far. The passageway opened into the rear end of a loading dock that serviced the lower floors. It ran high across dock's back wall, suspended from the ceiling, above the crews of workers who took little notice of a running figure above them. For her part Ashai ignored the figures below and kept going. She spied the TEI warehouse sign a small distance further along the passage and headed for it. As she got there, she saw a code pad, and a buzzer. Pressing the buzzer she could hear the buzzer sound in the warehouse. The side door opened and Foithar beckoned her inside. Ashai breathed a sigh of relief and walked through the door which clanged closed behind her.

***

Everything was pain. Pain was everything. Like steel slivers in his gums, where they had pulled out teeth. Jarring, grinding agony in his hands, from broken fingers and knuckles. The pain flared terribly and died down each time the broken bones were wrenched by his tormentor. He couldn’t see them any more, his eyes had swollen shut, the bones of his eye socket felt crushed. More pain. He screamed again, voice hoarse now, vocal chords strained past their limit as electricity surged through his weakening frame. Anything! Anything! Tell you anything! His muscles contracted in spastic motion as the current flows through him, held down in the Chair.

He remembers vaguely seeing the chair when he arrived. Now it’s the Chair. Where his pain started, and stayed, and stayed and is still...His body slumps down as the current stops, too tired to scream again now as the movement jars his broken hands again. He manages a whimper as the demands start again. INFORMATION. He can’t remember who he was before he was broken, what else can he tell them, what will stop the pain? Fire flares in his genitals, more agony than even before as the electricity flows again. WHERE DID YOU SEND HER? A name flashes through his consciousness, two names. They mean something? Will it stop the pain? He is screaming with the electricity. Poftanichek. Foithariveic. POFTANICHEK. FOITHARIVEIC. The pain stops. He cannot stop screaming. POFTANICHEK. FOITHARIVEIC.......WHERE?........WHERE?. Port. PORT. PORT. PORT. PORT. Cannot stop screaming. PORT. PORT. Mind gone. PORT. PORT.

GUNSHOT.... Silence.

“Find them, and get rid of this trash.”

****

The Port District's main security station, was located just outside of the South point Entrance, and was linked into the Terminal's network of monitoring equipment. The orders to go to a higher state of readiness and security arrived from Sec Bureau accompanied by Ashai's picture. Immediately the high priority alert and orders to reinforce the security stations were broadcast throughout the Port, along with orders to issue heavier weaponry. The watch officer had the image printed and ordered its distribution immediately to all personnel.

All on duty officers were dispatched to their stations and off duty units were called in for backup. In minutes, the station’s armoury and locker rooms were a hive of activity as heavily armed Sec Bureau forces were dispatched. Minutes after the orders went out, the substantial processing power of a full secondary data core was allocated to taking that digital image and begin running comparison checks against the imagery being recorded real time by the Port's security systems.

Unknown to the Sec Bureau officers, 2 minutes before the program started to run, Ashai had seen the increasing security and begun to head for TEI. It was a close run thing, but mere seconds after Ashai entered Daytrih's curios shop the security systems for that section of the Terminal were retasked to searching for her. Within 2 minutes the secondary data core reported that there was no sighting of the Ashia Lennox in the Port. Across the Space Port Sec Bureau forces kept watch and waited.

The Korkari watch officer was pondering the allocation of his troopers when he realised that they hadn't yet searched earlier security data. Immediately he accessed the system and ordered the data core to search the day's recorded data. After which he returned to the task of organizing the security station. The data core followed its programming and began the systematic search of all its stored data from the monitoring devices across the Port, starting at 00:00:01 local time.

***

Poftan had a large energy weapon aimed at her. It was ... the information flashed into her head...a Kyon Starbeam mrk2 Plasma Assault Carbine. A fully automatic weapon, 200 rounds a minute, with a power pack good for 500 rounds. The Starbeam was focussed for short to med range urban combat and wasn’t accurate at long range. And it was loaded. Poftan was standing carefully out of her reach right now, but he was still close.

“Stay very still human, if you are human. I doubt you can kill me before I can fire. I know what you did, why they are after you. Who are you?”

“Poftan please put the gun down. I don’t mean you any harm okay? I need your help. Please.”

Ashai tried to sound calm, to sound reasonable. It was easier than she thought it would be, given the circumstances. .

“Because of you human, our lives on Yasm are over. Security Bureau and the Intelligencia are after you. Your image is all over, security is on high alert. They think you're a fucking assassin. Not surprising since you left 8 bodies in the slums. They will come here. You have fucked it all up girl. SO WHY SHOULD I PUT THE FUCKING GUN DOWN?” Poftan's finger was right over the firing stud.

“Because I have done nothing to you? I know nothing about you? Haskins sent me here, so why have I fucked anything up for you? I'm in the shit and I just want to get out Poftan, please put the gun down, I’m not a fucking assassin okay?” The combat primer was filling her head with possible tricks and tactics. She used an ancient trick instead. “Besides you still have the safety on.”

It was a fraction of a second that his attention was diverted, eyes glancing down involuntarily, the movement to check shifting the barrel slightly off target but Ashai was ready for it and Poftan was not. Time slowed again. Ashai had all the time in the world to wonder how it was that this increase in her reactions was so easy, to plan and execute the gliding motion that took her forward and sideways. Poftan had realised his error, was trying to get back on target, his face taking on a shocked, horrified expression in such slow motion. As Ashai's left hand forced the Starbeam's barrel up and wrenched the gun out of the Eckt's hands without a shot fired, her right brought her Makatov to a stop with the muzzle of the barrel pressed against the side of his head. And the world resumed normal motion.

“And if I wanted to kill you, you couldn’t stop me.” Ashai’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

There was a pregnant pause before Ashai fluidly holstered her weapon and safed the Starbeam.

“Go and help Foithar.”

Poftan moved to comfort his mate, who was standing by the warehouse door still, shaking in fear, her composure now well and truly shattered..

“I...” The Eckt hugged his mate, while looking at Ashai in disbelief, at the speed, at the strength as she wrenched the gun from his grip, at being tricked, at being alive. Poftan shuddered before seeming to search for words.

“Why? What are you?”

“Why aren't you dead?”

Poftan nodded.jerkily.

“Because you’ve done me no harm, and tried to help me Poithar. Lots of reasons, perhaps its because I understand your fear if you know why I’m in trouble. Maybe its because I need your help, and I need some friends. Maybe because I’m not an assassin and never had any intention of hurting you. If I’d known my presence would cause you such problems I wouldn’t have come. All of those are reasons why you’re both alive, and hopefully will stay that way.”

Ashai could feel her anxiety rising and forced it down. Looking at the embraced Eckt, she felt quite alone. Poftan gave Foithar a comforting squeeze and then slowly stepped towards her, keeping his gestures non threatening.

“I’m sorry Ashai, for my ...hostility. I have been reacting to these sudden events and I was afraid. We were distressed by the files we saw, were about to argue when you rang the buzzer. I grabbed the weapon and just reacted when I saw you.”

“I understand I think Poftan. As for what I am, that’s a long story, which I might tell you. Now, how do we leave?”

The direct question seemed to stir the male Eckt, who shook his partner gently.

“Foithar my love, go and pack for us. Quickly we must leave. There is no choice.” Foithar looked at her mate and nodded. She looked at Ashai and seemed to be about to say something before she turned and fled back to the offices to gather what belongings the Eckt had there. Poftan turned his attention back to the human.

“We need to leave soon Ashai. I’m surprised that Security hasn’t arrived yet but they won’t be long. Foithar and I have a ship called the Emydia. It’s a small fast vessel, which we have owned for many years. In many ways Emydia is our home and this place and our apartment are just temporary. There's no time to gather our belongings from the apartment but there’s nothing of importance there. The ID I was constructing for you was almost complete, but it’s now compromised. It’s of no use to you at all, if you use it anywhere on Yasm, an alarm will immediately flag up in Intelligencia and Sec Bureau. So will your palm print, and the name Ashai Lennox. I expect that the Intelligencia will update their data across all Korkari systems and worlds, so I’m afraid that anywhere that Korkari own you will most likely be pursued.”

“But all I did was kill gangers who were going to rape and kill me.” Ashai felt her frustration and fear spilling through into a pleading tone. “It was self defence.”

Poftan looked sadly at the human, who suddenly looked and sounded very young and overwhelmed by the speed of developments.

“Ashai, it’s not what you did, but how you did it. Your very appearance, a young girl combined with abilities you shouldn't have, causes the Korkari Intelligencia to fear the worst. They assume you are an assassin of some kind, your covert status betrayed by the last acts of idiots. I expect that the violence of the deaths you meted out would be regarded as a punishment for blowing your cover. And so they will come for you regardless.”

Ashai sat lightly on her pack and held her head in her hands. The whole world seemed like it was going mad around her.

So much for having time to think and plan. Even her thoughts felt bitter.

Poftanichek is likely correct in his analysis. If this Intelligencia is chasing you believing you an assassin they will not be likely to stop.

“I was going to get an ID and then see if those mercs who were hiring would consider taking me on. I thought it would be a good start in getting training, making contacts. And now that’s screwed because of Carlo the rapist and his crew. Now what do I do?”

That was simply one plan Ashai, you react and you make another. Deal with the situation as it presents itself. If nothing else the fight with the Cobalts showed your idea of using VAL chips was a good one and a success. The training in it is being integrated well. So there is a positive. The data in the Tyrellian primer was very comprehensive. By the standards of most combat units you may be considered highly trained already once that data has finished integration.

“So I must deal with it then? Okay if the Eckt have a ship maybe they can get me out of here.”

Indeed. It will be interesting to discover why the Eckt are so concerned about the Intelligencia, and Sec Bureau. There is more there than meets the eye.

Poftan watched the girl, as he waited for Foithar to grab the few important things in the office. His work on the data systems was complete. He had downloaded their files to an encrypted chip and the data core was busy scrubbing right now. Now all he had to do was work out how to get to Emydia. There were many tunnels, and maintenance passageways aplenty in the bowels of the Port. Getting through them might be possible. There would be less security presence, but the gangs might be a problem. The human looked up at him.

“Poftanichek, your ship Emydia, do you have room for one more?”

Decision time then. Ally with the human the Korkari Intelligencia were searching for or separate? Before Poftan could reply, Foithar trotted back into the warehouse, carrying a small case in one hand and her own weapon, a las pistol in the other. Her carriage was strong and confident, very different to the fearful female that had fled a short time before.

“You come with us human.” Foithar's fluting tones sounded more robust than previously.

“I apologise for being witless before. I’m not as young as I once was, and it takes me a little longer to adjust to events these days.”

“It’s good to see you awake my love.” Poftan grinned at his mate, and then also at the human who was watching Foithar curiously.

“Well Poftan I was getting bored on Yasm any way. Come on let us be off.” With that the female Eckt headed for the door controls.

***

For the criminal gangs in Talont the Space Port was prized territory, and fought over hard.. Different gangs had footholds in across the sprawling complex of structures that made up the Space Port, but three gangs in particular had carved out large domains. The Krayt controlled most of the smuggling of narcotics and other exotica in and out of Yasm. Their domain was mainly limited to their control of the landing pads and cargo control facilities. The Blue Tanto controlled the prostitution that is endemic anywhere there are males wanting to get laid, and they ruled the Port’s nightclubs and whorehouses. The central Concourse itself was the domain of Heti's Reivers. Protection rackets, robbery, murder, slavery were her main trades.

The gangs had heard about the Cobalts’ misfortune and the offer of appreciation in creds for anyone with information on the demon or whatever it was that had slaughtered Grinder’s thugs. The general reaction amongst most of the gangs was that they didn’t give a shit one way or the other. The Cobalts were a bunch of xenophobic human slum rats, so who cared what happened to them. The gangs did take notice of the general increase in security. Suspecting that the Sec Bureau where preparing to conduct raids, the gangs made their own preparations and started tooling up. The three main gangs that ruled the Space Port maintained an uneasy truce, but the increase in firepower being carried around started to make that look more temporary buy the minute. It was just a matter of time before something kicked off.

Heti wasn’t interested in anything Grinder wanted. Her attitude changed with word that Grinder was interested in Poftanichek and Foithariveic. She knew her domain and TEI was in it. Over the years the Eckt had been occasionally useful to Heti. Poftanichek was a hacker with skills, and the couple occasionally smuggled interesting hardware into Yasm. They didn’t clash with Heti’s business, paid their protection money on time and generally kept their nose clean. So what did Grinder want with them?

The conversation she had with Grinder was enlightening, as was the Sec Bur data and pictures he shared with her. If Grinder's demon or monster was actually a cyborg assassin or something equally exotic, then what was it doing going to the Eckt who did a bit of cyber crime but not much else? Or did they? Was it possible the Eckt did far more but were skilled enough that they had remained under her radar. Heti had survived as gang boss of the Reivers for 15 years by being smart, as well as ruthless and a complete sociopath.

In that time she had taken over the entire concourse and made her Reivers the largest gang in the Port. She didn’t like puzzles, and the Eckt’s involvement was a puzzle. Her mind made up to investigate, Heti decided to send one of her more ambitious lieutenants to find out why the Eckt were involved. They would go tooled up and ready to rumble. Fortax was particularly ambitious, and had his own crew, loyal to him. Heti regarded him as a threat but gang politics meant just killing him was unwise. So if Fortax got killed chasing Grinder’s demon then so much the better.

After giving Fortax her orders to go to TEI and pick up anyone there for her to question, Heti went back to fucking the brains out of one of her slaves. Fortax was well aware that his boss would shed no tears if he got killed, but that didn’t faze him at all. After all he had built his own crew up and they were all solid. Gathering his crew of 15 he told them to grab their biggest guns and come running.

***f

“Okay, first thing is to get outside the Sec Bureau's control.” Foithar explained their plan to get to the Emydia “We need to head for the lower levels where Heti's Reivers have control. They might cause us difficulty. If they do then we need to deal with it quickly because a firefight down there will bring every Reiver running, and once they figure out what’s going on so will security.” Ashai nodded her understanding as Foithar continued.

“The orders to detain you are strongly worded so expect Security to be persistent. As soon as we see a security camera we can assume that we’re all targets. Unfortunately Poftan and I don’t have much in the way of armour or weaponry, so any fights will mostly be down to you in Ashai. Once we’re in the lower levels we need to take the maintenance tunnels that lead to the launch pads. The pads are Krayt territory and they won’t appreciate us being there or leading anyone else to them. Do you understand Ashai?”

Foithar was efficiently gesturing on a map the best route to follow as she spoke. Poftan meanwhile was keeping watch down the passageway. It was perhaps the reverse of what Ashai had expected but she nodded her understanding before opening her pack and taking out the other Makatov 50, which in seconds was strapped in place. Poftan saw the second heavy blaster and visibly winced, making Ashai grin. At the same time she held a conversation with Hound.

“Hound, when I say, I want you to activate the armour to the body suit default, but I want you to make the body suit transparent. I want the armour under all my clothing. Assign a new code to this configuration of the armour. Code is Hidden Suit. Do you understand?”

Hound sent back a series of images showing a transparent body suit covering Ashai's body under her clothes.

“Excellent. Activate Hidden Suit. Thank you Hound.”

Under her clothes the armour flowed like liquid glass in seconds from her pores, with only a slight tingling sensation as it spread over her skin. The body suit reformed under her clothing and Ashai felt better knowing she now had a significant level of protection. Glancing down she confirmed that all her clothing still appeared normal, and turned to Foithar.

“I’m ready Foithar.”

Foithar nodded and gestured down the South passageway and the trio began a quick walk away from TEI through the supply tunnels. Shortly on their left they got to a maintenance stair well which would gave them access into the lower levels. After quick glances up and down the passage to check for security they headed down. The trio would descend two levels here before heading back North, and dropping down a third level about half way up the North side of the concourse. This would lead to a transfer depot, where stocks where brought in from the landing pads and cargo warehousing. Follow the access tunnel out of the transfer depot and head to Pad 41B. Simple.

***

The secondary data core reached 11:53:47 on the time stamp of the day's recorded data before it successfully matched the picture of Ashai Lennox against imagery recorded at the Southern point entrance. Immediately it notified the watch officer who grabbed a technician and had the data core start tracking the image at high speed. In seconds the technician and watch officer followed Ashai's attempts to find TEI, and her eventual success.

“TEI what's that?” The technician asked.

“Talont Entertainment Industries” replied the watch officer who was wondering why the human had gone there of all places. It obviously wasn’t on a whim as they watched her search for that particular place. It was enough to merit a search. The watch officer beckoned over the ready squad's sergeant.

“Hanotz, take your squad, and raid TEI. The priority target went there earlier today. Go fast and heavy, I’m not worried about objections and protests today.”

The heavily built Hanotz knuckled a salute and set off at a run. The technician carried on the trace speeding through the data. Soon the human showed again, embarking on what looked like a shopping trip. The locations of her shopping places were passed to the nearest security points and heavily armed security forces began a sequence of raids. Tracing the owners of TEI was simple for the technician who quickly located the details of the Eckt couple. After bringing them to the attention of the watch officer, she was ordered to start investigating the Eckt to try and find any possible links. The data was passed back to the main Sec Bureau offices, and also to the Intelligencia, and as Poftan had expected the digging and searching began.

***

The Reivers base was located almost centrally under the concourse, on the 2nd Basement level. From here Heti ran her empire with precision, and her troops could quickly make their presence felt throughout the terminal. Fortax's crew geared up and left their base, immediately heading at a run up a level before turning south towards TEI, following the Eastern loop tunnel on basement level 1. The hammering of boots on the concrete floors preceded them along the tunnels. Below them on the 2nd basement level the trio of Ashai, Poftan and Foithar, looked up at the ceiling as thudding went over head. They didn’t know who was making the noise, but all three guessed the activity was aimed at them. The trio picked up their pace slightly.

Fortax crew quickly made their way to the ground floor access tunnels for the Concourse and thudded South towards TEI, the occasional worker in the tunnels scattering to make way for the band of armed aliens. Arriving outside TEI the gang crouched ready, and then at Fortax's hand signal, a portable grenade launcher in the hands of a hulking Togan fired and obliterated the warehouse door. The gangers poured in.

***

Hanotz's ready squad of eight Security Bureau Troopers entered TEI through the front door, using blasting charges to ensure fast access. The troopers charged in before hurling their armoured forms through the stands of merchandise and heading for the office. Sec Bur forces didn’t have access to powered armour, but the ceramic and silksteel armour they were equipped with was the heaviest available in the local armoury. The troopers were equipped with a mixture of plasma carbines, grenades, and stun weaponry. Securing the shop, and then the office, the squad quickly spread out to check the small lounge that Poftan and Foithar used occasionally, and then the warehouse.

Hanotz had just begun examining Poftan's scrubbed data core when the warehouse entry detonated inwards in a shower of alloy shards and debris. The squad's linked comm system was immediately filled with “Hostiles! Hostiles!” before Hanotz regained control and had his squad return fire, and assault the enemy by fire and movement. A volley of grenades from the three squad members already in the warehouse, was quickly followed by plasma fire from the remainder of the squad charging forward to reinforce their colleagues.

Fortax's crew charged through the warehouse entrance even before the smoke was clearing, charging to get to the Eckt and human before they could respond. The first notice they had of the plan being badly fucked up was the volley of micro frag grenades that covered the warehouse entrance in a shower of shrapnel, shredding the lead ganger into bloody meat, and wounding three others. The hardened gangers quickly responded in kind, looking for cover in the warehouse, and opening up with everything they had from a combination of shotguns, a variety of assault weaponry including projectile and energy weapons, the grenade launcher that destroyed the warehouse entrance, and two flechette cannon. The battle was well and truly joined.

Hanotz immediately called for reinforcements as his squad took their first casualty, telling the Sec Station he was under heavy attack from unknown forces. Neither side truly had the advantage of surprise, but the Sec Bur forces held the edge in equipment, training and comms. Unfortunately for Hanotz’s squad the gangers had the tactical advantage, able to bring more of their weaponry to bear on his squad, and also the advantage of numbers.

Fortax didn’t know what the Maker was going on, but he wasn’t backing down from a fight. It was more than a minute into the fire fight before he was able to work out the incoming fire was coming from Sec Bur troops, and wasn’t from the Eckt and human he was after. Fortax cursed, he didn’t know how many troopers his crew was facing, but he was damn sure there were more on the way, and they wouldn’t be long. The first minute of the shoot out cost him five dead, and left another three injured although they could still shoot.

Hanotz knew he was fighting Heti's gangers now, after he recognised their gang tattoos. Reivers, Hanotz cursed to himself, fucking thugs with guns, although they had a lot of them. The thugs didn’t have much in the way of armour, so when they were hit they generally went down, and stayed down. The incoming fire was diminishing now, probably down by a third. That reduction had cost two of his squad were dead, and another three were seriously injured, but at least they’d managed to take out the Maker Damned flechette cannons.

The sheer volume of fire the cannons had put in the air had been serious, and the flechettes could pierce parts of the troopers’ armour. Now with the cannons out of commission the fight was more one sided, and with a savage grin Hanotz ordered his squad forward, accepting the hits and fragments from grenades and the lighter weaponry in order to get shots with the plasma carbines. Another minute of firefight and his squad was mopping up. A couple more minor injuries in exchange for 7 more dead gangers and the remainder all too wounded too fight. From the way they were bleeding it looked like there would be fifteen dead Reivers for his losses.

Fortax fled. His entire crew had been mauled, they weren’t prepared to go up against an armoured Sec Bur squad. His arm was mangled and he was losing blood. Right now he wasn’t sure if he would make it back to Heti's place. It would probably be better for him if he didn’t. Heti didn’t tolerate failure. Trying to staunch his bleeding Fortax looked for somewhere to hide up.

Hanotz let the reinforcements finish dealing with the Reiver dead and wounded, while he saw to his squad's wounded. The medic had patched up his two walking wounded and managed to stabilise Kris the most seriously wounded. She was badly shot up and was critical but stable, at least for now. The tech he had summoned after the firefight examined the data core and pronounced it irretrievable. Whoever had scrubbed it was a pro.

Hanotz was pissed, he had dead and wounded, missing Eckt, a missing human, and no further information, other than the Reivers were interested as well. Without more information he wasn’t about to go blindly blundering around in the lower levels. Catching gangers by surprise was one thing. Hitting territory where they were dug in hard was quite another. Still swearing Hanotz headed back to the security station, looking for someone to kick the shit out of.

Fortax found a maintenance closet to hide in. He broke in and counted his blessings at the sight of first aid kit. It was going to be difficult to tend to his mangled arm one handed but at least he had a better chance now. After locking the door behind him, he opened the medical kit, and first reached for a hypodermic labelled as a pain killer, before with difficulty managing to bandage him self. It would have to do for the time being. Last but not least he reached for his com unit and contacted Heti. Her reaction to the death of his crew, and the failure to locate the Eckt or the human was unpleasant but Fortax was expecting that. At least she didn’t tell me I’m dead he thought. He turned back to the medical kit to see what else it held, wondering how long it would be before Heti had other lieutenants after her prey.

The sounds of weapons fire echoed along the passages, bringing the trio to a halt as they listened. No wiser as to the cause, but glad not to be involved as it sounded like a vicious fight the three moved on. According to Foithar, they were actually close now to the area used by the Reivers as their home. While there was no direct passage from the Reiver hideout to this passage, they did face a much greater chance of running into them in this area. Still the ramps down to the lowest Sub level were not far off. They moved carefully now, walking to avoid the echoing sounds that running feet would cause.

There was a junction up ahead. As they headed North a side passage joined from the West. Foithar consulted her map as they paused before pointing it out as a maintenance tunnel that linked the Western and Eastern loop sections. Halfway along the tunnel was a passage north that led to the Reiver's hideout. They planned to skirt past this maintenance tunnel and carry on north for a 100m or so where they would find the access ramp to the lowest levels. Nearing the tunnel, Ashai could hear and feel the deep thudding bass of music playing in the Reivers’ den.

Gesturing to the Eckt to wait Ashai crept forward to the side of the Western tunnel, pressing herself against the wall. As the trio made their way through the tunnels, Ashai had scouted the junctions, and so far they had been lucky. Taking a breath, she calmed herself, and then sneaked a peak around the junction, to find herself looking at a trio of Reivers walking up the tunnel towards her, no more than 5m away. From the startled expressions she knew all had seen her, at that distance it would have been hard not to.

“Run!” Ashai yelled at the Eckt.

Swinging around the corner Ashai had the Makatovs in her hands in an instant and energy erupted from the muzzles to puncture through the left and right Reivers, one Togan and a Korkari who both fell in heaps, while the middle Reiver opened fire with lightning reactions. Ashai noted the Reiver was an Immit, a furry humanoid that looked vaguely feline and had superb reactions to match, far faster than those of the Korkari or Togan. Armed with a large calibre automatic autogun, the Immit screeched for help and let loose a shatteringly loud 3 round burst of Armor Piercing slugs at Ashai. Each of those rounds held sufficient kinetic energy to burst through an armoured door, or most medium armour plate. Time seemed to slow once more and Ashai could see the individual heavy slugs coming towards her, spinning from the rifling of the autogun's barrel.

“Shit this is going to hurt.”

The primer cycled through possible movements, taking into account her momentum from swinging around the corner. Whatever else she did at least one of those heavy slugs was going to hit her in the torso. Hound was already increasing the armour’s thickness, but she knew it wouldn’t be quick enough to deflect the slugs. The combat suit would probably have stopped them dead, but in its hidden configuration there was not enough protection. Ashai wasn’t sure how she knew that, probably Hound giving her the information, but it wasn’t really relevant. Right now all that mattered was staying conscious to target the Makatov's and put the fucking Immit down hard, other wise she would be really very dead.

The slugs were getting closer but everything was still moving incredibly slowly. Ashai concentrated going on instinct. Key had taught her to adjust anxiety levels, now she adjusted her pain threshold, forcing the level way up, so the agony to come wouldn't stop her. Finally she chose the primer’s best tactical choice, a slight twist and sway movement. The first round would miss, the second would hit to the right of her navel, and the third round would either miss or graze her left arm. Best I can do. That sucks. Ashai concentrated on staying conscious. Time moved again.

The twist of her waist evaded the fist slug, and her sway was enough that the second round would no longer hit her centre mass, but instead would impact around waist height near her ribs to her right hand side. Ashai was bringing the Makatov 50s on target when the second slug hit her. The armour was extremely effective but in a minimal mode it couldn't offer enough protection. The bodysuit tore under the coring action of the armour piercing slug.

The heavy slug was barely slowed, beginning to deform as it tore a hole through her body, smashing the lowest of her reinforced robs, glancing sideways and upwards off the internal armour protecting her Core before exiting through her back below her right shoulder blade taking more reinforced ribs, muscle and tendon with it, punching its way through the body suit again in a gout of blood and gore.

It wasn’t mere pain. It was fiery agony, lancing through her body. Even as the first inkling of agony hit, the third round ripped through the meat of her upper right arm, cutting a fiery line across her. Ashai stayed conscious and wished she’d died, she could feel the agony of the large entry wound and the crater of the exit wound in her back. She knew the torso wound would be fatal for a normal human. The hydrostatic shock the huge slug delivered was enough to destroy normal internal organs as well as cause massive cardiac arrest. The armour reinforcements to her organs and skeleton were enough to stop her organs liquefying from the shock, and Key’s brute force control of Ashai’s hearts forced them to continue beating preventing cardiac arrest. The wound to her arm was a scratch by comparison.

Her wounds should be fatal she knew, but she wouldn’t allow that and she wasn’t a normal human, first though... The Makatov 50s spoke, Ashai keeping them both on target, even though her body was being jerked like a rag doll by the heavy slugs hitting her. Twin blasts, wiped the Immit's head and chest from existence.
Ashai could feel herself being thrown backwards by the impact.

“Fuck it hurts, do something. Please Key.”

Key analysed the damage to Ashai’s body. Serious but not life threatening, no critical organ damage, just skeletal and flesh damage. Right Arm partially impaired, movement not impaired. Combat effectiveness reduced slightly from damage to right arm. She instituted emergency circulatory control measures, directing the damaged blood vessels to pinch and restrict any blood loss to a minimum while a flood of nanos were directed to the wounds to begin repairs. The repairs would need energy.

Key sensed a change in the Core. Hound was doing something. It was widening the warp portal? In a fraction of a second the portal trebled in diameter. The energy of the warp that sustained the armour, Key and Ashai poured through, a gushing jet, where before there was the smallest trickle.
The Prime's body would heal extraordinarily quickly but even faster with the additional power. Key directed as much of the extra energy to the nanos as she could and redirected the remainder to Ashai to damp the pain and give her the boost she needed.

Ashai stayed conscious as she landed on her back, the pain bringing a scream from her throat. She was conscious as Key catalogued the damage and told her she was still able to fight and she was conscious as Key implemented her emergency procedures to stem the flow of blood from her body. Ashai felt Hound widening the Core portal and the flood of energy blossom in her. Strength surged through her wiping away the last vestiges of the shock from her wounds. Glancing down the passageway she saw the Eckt fleeing towards the ramp they needed to take. Over the sounds of the thudding bass music she could hear the sound of many heavy feet.

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 11

On the run from the Korkari Authorities. A price on her head. Under attack by the feared Reivers. Wounded....

Poftan heard Ashai's yell “Run.” and was moving before he realised it sprinting up the passage to get past the tunnel she was looking into, pulling Foithar along, before his mate began running full tilt as well. The passage was lit every 20m so it wasn’t dark, but still he was almost blinded as Ashai fired the paired heavy pistols, the blast bolts leaving after images in his eyes. Then he heard an ear splitting THUD THUD THUD from a big autogun burst. Poftan was still sprinting almost up to the tunnel now, when he saw the human seem to twist then stagger and stagger again. Poftan saw the gout of gore spray from her back and knew she was dead, even as she fired both pistols again. Damn it. He kept running pulling Fiothar again. There was a sense of electricity in the air. The tiny hairs covering his head and back stood on end at once. No time to look back at the human falling backwards. She’s dead. The Reivers are coming. Come on my love. Run. Run. There's the ramp. Keep running.

***

Ashai pulled herself up from the floor of the tunnel, unconsciously returning her pain threshold to a high but more normal level, as the world resumed a normal pace. Her body ached as she moved but the aches were melting away under the energy flowing through her. Her athletic top was covered in blood but the wound had stopped bleeding. Her arm wasn’t moving quite right it felt stiff but it was moving. The tear in her arm had stopped bleeding as well. She took a deep breath and flexed her neck. She felt sore and in dull pain, but most of all she felt angry.

“Hound activate combat suit default.”

Ashai what are you doing? It’s time to leave.

“No Key it’s time to kill some gang bangers.”

Ashai felt her armour thickening and solidifying over her body, but under her clothes it wasn't very visable, as Hound shifted to the combat default. The footsteps had almost reached the maintenance tunnel, and it sounded like there was a lot of them. Ashai didn’t care. She was pissed, and this tunnel was a perfect choke point to buy some time for the Eckt before she had to retreat.

The first Reiver ran into the maintenance tunnel, and died. Time slowed as Ashai aimed and fired a single bolt from her left Makatov. The bolt burned through the Korkari’s body, to the shocked shouts of the Reivers in the access tunnel. The second Reiver was Immit, and Ashai blew it away with the right Makatov before its heightened reactions could respond.

Left pistol 10 shots remaining. Right pistol 10 shots remaining. Key supplied the information.

Ashai knew it but appreciated Key helping keep track. The Reivers had stopped in the tunnel as two of their group died gruesomely in front of them. Ashai grinned savagely wondering how long they would be held in the bottle neck. Every second let Poftan and Foithar get further down the tunnel. It would be a perfect spot for a few grenades, such a shame she didn’t have any.

A Korkari stuck its head out to spot her, and Ashai obliged by delivering a blast bolt into its face. There were screams from the tunnel as its head exploded. She could hear shouted argument in the tunnel, but not what was being said. She guessed that Heti was probably not asking for volunteers, and wondered how long it would take for the Reivers to try and flank her from another tunnel, or if they would try and overwhelm her with a mass charge.

After more shouts in the tunnel the Reivers went with a charge. With savage yells that warned Ashai they were coming the gangers erupted into the maintenance tunnel, firing their weapons unaimed in the hope of catching her with a random shot. As time seemed to dilate again, Ashai crouched at the end of the maintenance tunnel, presenting a smaller target, and opened up with the twin Makatovs on automatic.

The maintenance tunnel was only wide enough for four Reivers at time, and in the chaotic charge not even that. The Reivers charged and died screaming with blaster bolts burned through them. The tunnel was full and the bolts would punch through the first line of Reivers before killing in the second and often wounding in the third line. Ashai had 20 bolts remaining in her clips. She fired them all in seconds killing a dozen Reivers and wounding more. Her face was a savage feral grimace at the slaughter. As she fired the last of her bolts Ashai span and ran for the ramp. There were still plenty of Reivers pursuing but she’d given them a very bloody nose.

Ashai ran North to catch up to Poftan and Foithar, who had already descended the ramp. She ran hard, fast enough to have almost reached the ramp before the pursuing Reivers burst out of the maintenance tunnel opening up as they saw her. At almost 100m distance their fire wasn’t even remotely accurate. Reaching the ramp she skidded around the corner, and kept on running hearing the Reivers pursuing again. Ashai grinned as she pelted down the tunnel to the transfer depot, gaining on the two Eckt.

Foithar ran as fast as she could remember, the fear and the sight of the human being punched backwards by fire, spurring her on. Poftan ran beside her. The small case she had been carrying was abandoned in favour of speed, but it didn’t matter. The sounds of weapons fire roared behind her for long seconds, and Foithar wondered who it was aimed at. She glanced back, and gasped then gestured for Poftan to look.

Poftan heard his mate gasp and turned his head to see her gesture back as she ran. He glanced over and saw Ashai running hard and fast along the tunnel behind them. That was impossible. No human could survive the gore he saw punch out of her body could they? Such questions would have to wait. For now there was nothing to do but run and be thankful that the girl still lived. They had almost 2 km to go until they reached the transfer depot, which lay to the North East of the Terminal and rose eight levels from its foundations. From there they would gain access to the Landing Pads, either through more of the maintenance network or above ground. Poftan was hoping that the tunnels would be viable but there was no way to know until they got through the depot itself.

Ashai kept running along the tunnel, swapping out the energy packs for the Makatovs as she ran. She was gaining on Poftan and Foithar quickly and had seen them look back and soon the trio would be together again. That was good, as much as the Eckt were relying on her to deal with any trouble on the way, Ashai was relying on them to get her off Yasm. The thought of blasting into space, sent excitement flooding through her. She’d never thought her future would lie off world when she was herding mega bison. Ashai was about 200m along the tunnel and about 100m from the Eckt when the weapons fire began again behind her. Immediately she began jinking randomly sacrificing a little speed to be a harder target.

“Weave!”

Ashai yelled out as she ran, and was relieved to see the Eckt begin jinking as they ran. Looking ahead down the tunnel, she started trying to plan a defence. Carrying on running and getting shot in the back just did not appeal. This access tunnel to the transfer depot was large enough for 4 loaders to run side by side, maybe 10 m across, its bare grey concrete walls studded by lighting units every 50m or so, The central lanes of the tunnel were empty and the side lanes were mostly, except for occasional loads of cargo, boxes or other miscellaneous trash.

It looked like they had expected the tunnel to get more use when it was built, and with less traffic, the locals used it as a dumping ground occasionally. Some of those obstructions might offer decent cover from the increasing volume of fire coming from behind. Weaving to the right Ashai glanced over her shoulder.

Oh Shit.

She had no idea how many were in the Reivers gang, but a big chunk of them were chasing her. The first of them was in the tunnel proper so under 200m behind her, and the access ramp down was crowded with running aliens. Ashai guessed 15 already down in the tunnel or on the ramp and more were still coming. That was the bad news. Combat primer knowledge popped into her head as she realised the good news was the Reivers were thugs with little training, and few skills.

The gangers were charging along yelling and screaming like banshees, but most importantly firing on the run, drastically reducing their accuracy, if they managed to hit her like that it would be pure luck. Ashai guessed the primer was correct because the incoming fire seemed to be almost random, splashing against walls, floor, the tunnel ceiling, only a small percentage of the fire was even remotely near. More good news from the primer was that if she turned and fired it would be hard to miss such a bunched target even at long range for the Makatovs.

“Poftan!! Give me covering fire from those pallets!”

The Eckt raised his hand in acknowledgement as he ran. Ashai readied herself as the Eckt neared a pallet of cargo, stacked against the tunnel's left wall, then timing her weaves she moved to the right out of Poftan's field of fire as the Eckt skidded in behind the stack of loader pallet, and raised the Kyon Starbeam. A second later and the weapon began sending incandescent bursts of plasma flashing down the tunnel.

Poftan, Ashai noted, was firing the weapon in controlled semi automatic bursts, minimising the recoil, it was long range for the carbine but the Reivers made a big target. As screams began behind her, Ashai spun and crouched, raising the Makatov 50s before letting loose with both not bothering to select individual targets at this range, just aiming for the mass of Reivers and trying to target a portion that the Poftan was ignoring.

The heavy pistols burned through their power packs in seconds, sending a storm of blast bolts through the Reivers. Holstering the guns Ashai sprinted the short distance to the pallet of cargo that Poftan was taking cover behind, and slipped in behind him. Foithar crouched against the wall staying out of sight, her las pistol too short ranged to be effective.

Ashai leant against the cargo and with the familiarity of long use, despite it being only the third time she had performed the task, rapidly ejected the spent power packs from the pistols, taking charged packs from her belt and reloading the Makatovs before storing the empties back on her belt. The VAL chips were she considered just brilliant. Poftan let off another burst from the Starbeam, before shifting his aim slightly and firing again, then crouching down.

“Ashai those blasters of yours are brutal, glad you have them. I think we’ve downed maybe ten, dead or wounded, and the rest have now taken cover and the range is too long for accurate fire. Time to run again I think.”

The incoming fire was picking up again, and was beginning to concentrate on their cover. Foithar yelped as a bolt impacted against the tunnel wall a metre over her head, showering the trio with concrete fragments. The Reivers were able to fire more accurately now they were stopped. Definitely time to move.

“Poftan take Foithar and head to the next pallet. Sprint and weave. Foithar keep an eye up the tunnel let us know if anyone’s coming. When you’re in position, give them a burst Poftan to let me know and I’ll get ready. When they get to about 200m from you cover me, and I’ll move up. Understand?”

The Eckt nodded.

“Good. Go.”

Foithar started running, Poftan stood, let off another long burst with the Starbeam that brought more screams from the Reivers and took off after his mate. Ashai moved to where Poftan had been and glanced around the pallet, wincing as she heard rounds from something shoot past uncomfortably close. The Reivers had seen the Eckt disappearing along the tunnel, and began to pursuing again, firing as they came. Ashai crouched, counting seconds, listening to the Reivers approach, waiting as they closed to a good range for the Makatovs, waiting for Poftan to resume covering fire.

Twenty…Twenty One.

The Starbeam opened up again, laying down a fury of plasma.

Twenty One Seconds. Say 8 metres a second, 168metre. They should be about 30m away.

Ashai calculated the distance as she rose to a shooting position. Pistols held at her eye line, ready to fire. The big blasters shifted onto targets as soon as they were visible. Most of the Reivers were a little slower than she’d figured, it didn’t matter. At less than 50m the blasters were deadly accurate in the hands of a good shot. Ashai had all the time she needed to place each shot. Single shot selected..

“How many are there?”

29 visible targets. Key supplied the answer instantly.

26. Nice shooting Poftan. My turn. 2 Immit in the lead. Take them first. Fire Left, Fire Right, Targets Down. Next. 12 shots each pistol left. Good time to use them. Firing.

Poftan sighted down the Starbeam and opened fire to cover the human. It had taken longer to get into cover than he anticipated and the Reivers were closer to the girl than he had hoped. Poftan's Starbeam was a powerful weapon but this was its limit for accurate fire. Not a good situation. His burst of fire tore into the closest clump of Reivers felling them, and as his covering fire screamed past her, Ashai rose like a coiled death adder and began firing.

The Eckt was very experienced in a fight. Centuries of history with ‘interesting’ career choices provided him with more memories of combat than he cared to remember. Afterwards Poftan was sure he’d remember that tunnel until he died. He had worried before about the young human's inexperience, but she’d already done the impossible surviving wounds that Poftan knew should have been fatal. Not only that but she carried on fighting and running like she was never hit by the heavy shells from what had to be a heavy autogun, they didn’t sound quite like anything else.

Now he watched the girl rise from her crouch in a fast gliding motion, arms raising, levelling the heavy blasters to fire. Faster than he could follow she was aiming and shooting, not blazing away, these were precise aimed shots conserving power. How was she doing this? Blasts of energy punched through Reivers. Humans, Korkari, Immit, Togan went down with torsos destroyed, limbs or heads removed. Each shot felled a victim, sometime wounding another. Poftan felt rather than saw the fractional pause in the rhythm of Ashai's fire before one shot removed the heads of two Korkari! Maker! That was deliberate! Who is she?

The mass of Reivers shuddered with shock as the rearward ranks suddenly found themselves in the firing lines in less than six seconds. Poftan remembered to fire again and sent another flurry of shots down range, keeping up the pressure. The human crouched again, changing out the power packs in a blur before gliding upwards again two seconds later, resuming her lethal winnowing of the enemy's ranks. Each pistol firing aimed shots twice a second, blinding gouts of energy that left Poftan's vision awash in afterimages, and each one reduced the incoming fire.

With seven shots fired from each blaster Ashai turned and ran, jinking as she sprinted. Poftan could see the heavy Makatovs still in her hands, their discharge bores actually glowing yellow hot from the extreme rate of fire. Poftan fired another long burst to cover her. He didn’t know how many Reivers had died but for sure the gang had taken a beating. Ashai slipped in beside Foithar behind the dubious protection offered by piles of crates, Poftan checked his power pack. He was down to less than 30%.

“You think they’ve had enough?' asked the incredulous Eckt.

“Gods, I hope so, I really do.” The human looked sick as she replied

Ashai wanted to puke, but there was no time, and she fought the urge down. The blasters’ barrels were sullenly glowing with heat, the ceramic cooling fins slowly fading back to dull grey. She had 6 more shots with both blasters and one more power pack each, after that it would be up to the Di-Kat. The primer’s knowledge told her she should evaluate her shooting, so reluctantly she stood up again and peered back down the Tunnel.

The nearest living Reiver was just over 70m, the last of a clump she had targeted before she charged back to Poftan and Foithar. The female Togan was hiding on the other side of the cargo pallets the trio had used as cover, and keening in pain. Further away the Reivers had sought what ever cover they could. Some were using their fallen gang mates as cover to lie behind. She could see the furthest away already retreating down the tunnel, wanting no more to do with the chase that had turned into a massacre. Poftan held his fire and waited to see what would happen next. The weapons fire slowed, then stopped and suddenly the Reivers broke and ran.

11 visible targets, 3 in range. Key supplied.

The Togan female seeing her gang retreating behind her, threw her weapon out from cover and ran for it, cradling a wounded arm. Ashai rested the pistols on the crates, checking to see the cooling barrels would not set them alight, then turned and slumped down, her back against the crates. The Eckt were on her right, so Ashai managed to turn left when she puked. Shortly she regained her composure and dragged herself upright. Holstering her blasters the human trotted along with the Eckt towards the depot. As much as a cold analytical part of her said it made sense, Ashai couldn’t bring herself to salvage what she could off the dead Reivers. The tunnel smelled of coppery blood and the sweet stench of burnt flesh. All Ashai wanted to do was get back to fresh air.

***

The Krayt ran or controlled the vast majority of all smuggling and narcotics business on Yasm. Their dominion over the lucrative business was possible as they controlled the cargo handling areas of the Port, as well as the vast majority of the launch and landing pads that were dotted around the Port. Some fifty pads had been constructed during a major construction surge about twenty years previously that had finally completed the Space Port. Most of these were arrayed in the shape of a large capital T, with the base of the T formed by the huge long access tunnel that ran from the transfer depot. Most of the larger pads were arranged at the far ends of the T shape, with medium and small pads filling in the gaps, and dotted along the main access.

The tunnel itself provided loading facilities to the pads and ran from the base of the transfer depot. The landing pads were built down into the earth with embankments around them in addition. From altitude or the controls of a descending vessel, the Port's pads looked like an array of craters of various sizes and shapes, mostly circular, but the larger pads more oblong. One of the benefits of the design was the risk of damage to the facilities was minimised in the event of a catastrophic failure. Crashes on take off or landing were rare but they did still happen. Another benefit was that the noise and thrust was confined to the pad for as long as possible, improving efficiency and reducing the chance of burst ear drums.

Poftan explained the layout of the transfer depot to Ashai as they trotted towards the end of the tunnel. They hoped to get lost in the transfer depot itself before too much attention was paid to them. The Krayt would defend their interests against another gang viciously. In theory at least the Administration itself controlled the actual transfer depot. A vast circular construct of plascrete and alloys, the depot was over 200m in diameter, with a network of lifts, ramps, warehousing, cold storage, secure storage and a myriad other facilities for trading merchants and factors.

The immense transfer facility was being patrolled by Sec Bureau forces at increased readiness. The main tunnel to the landing pads ran from the bottom floor of the depot, but from high above at ground level a network of roads also serviced the pads. Security were concentrated on the bottom and ground floors ready to respond as needed, with roving patrols moving around the depot. Sec Bureau tried to maintain security coverage in the depot, the pads and access tunnels but was losing that battle.

The Reivers took delight in blowing out any surveillance they came across through out their domain and as far as they were concerned that included the access tunnel. The Krayt on the other hand tended to be more selective choosing to target devices that would give them effective blind spots. These blind spots as well as effective bribery and intimidation meant they kept control of their business dealings, blending in with the rest of the throng that used the depot.

Everyone from traders and engineers, to crews of vessels coming from or going on shore leave as well as starship pilots, and most trades in between walked the floors of the depot. Very few would then take the long tunnel through to the Concourse. Since the Reivers had gained undisputed control the tunnel was not healthy. Some helpful individuals had painted graffiti around the entrance graphically illustrating the Reiver's bad habits. The throng would made its way up to the ground floor exits and then took moving walkways to the Concourse’s Northern point.
As they neared the tunnel exit the trio hoped that the firefight had been far enough away that the cacophony had faded enough to be drowned out by the constant din in the depot.

***

Heti, glared out over the maintenance chamber that served as the Reiver's base. It had been too small, and she was considering moving but now that was no longer a concern. The survivors from the tunnel were dotted around, tending to wounds in some cases, although most of the wounded had died already, trying to put their mauling and defeat behind them in others. One or two just gazed into space, unheeding of anything else going on around them.

More than half of her gang destroyed in minutes, it was a disaster of unimaginable proportions. Most of the survivors were generally the slowest, weakest and most cautious who fell behind in the chase after the intruders. She still didn’t even know who they were, maybe that ‘demon’ human that Grinder was after, but those who came back swore blind that there were only three intruders. Three. Had cost her...

If Heti was given to screaming and wailing she would have done so with abandon, but her cold calculating mind was busy working out how much territory would have to be ceded to other gangs. Could she disguise their weakness? Would they be able to maintain overall control of the Concourse? Would they be able to defend this base if Sec Bureau came in strength now? Cold rage flowed through her at the knowledge she didn’t even have the numbers left to mount a serious attack on the depot to get some revenge and seek out the intruder. Heti doubted that the shell shocked and scared beings in front of her would even obey her orders to do that. These shrunken thugs where a shadow of their former swaggering confident selves. It was going to take time to repair this damage. Heti wondered if she had it or not.

****

The transfer facility section chief was on the comm to the Sec Bureau offices. He had informed the watch officer of a fire fight in the base level access tunnel and was requesting instructions. The fight had ended a little while ago, or at least the shooting had stopped. He had forces on station able to recon the tunnel, but he guessed it was the fucking Reivers ruining someone's day or life. He didn’t have enough resources to guard the whole transfer facility anyway, and if he sent a small unit down the tunnel the most likely result would be losing that unit.

“Don’t you have any surveillance from the tunnel at all?” The watch officer asked.

The section chief looked at him for a long moment before asking when the systems had been replaced? He hadn’t been aware of it. The watch officer raised a hand in acknowledgement of a stupid question getting a stupid answer, there had been no working surveillance in the damn tunnel since the Reivers got themselves established at the far end. Making his decision the watch offier gave his orders.

“Okay Brax, get someone monitoring those systems you have working in the depot. Have everyone keep an eye out. I’ll try and send you some more bodies’ next shift, but don’t count on it. At the moment all resources I have are fully deployed. The last sighting of the human that’s the priority one target for Sec Bureau and the Intelligencia was on the Eastern side of the Concourse so it’s possible the human’s coming to you. It’s also possible that Poftanichek and Foithariveic are with her although that’s a guess. They seem to have vanished as well.”

The transfer facility section chief paused as his memory twitched at the mention of the Eckt couple. Now why was that? What had he seen?

“Hold on a minute Ser, I might have something.” He turned to the security technician beside him.

“Bring up the ship list and their status on the screen.”

The wall mounted screen in front of him changed to a listing of all the vessels currently either in orbit, or landed at the Port and their status. Touching a control he displayed the vessels by ownership. Seconds later he had the information his memory had been searching for.

“Ser, Poftanichek and Foithariveic are the owners of the ship that is currently docked in Pad 41B. The Emydia. She's listed as ready for departure.”

“Good work Brax. Redeploy your men and get a squad guarding that pad. I’ll send you some more reinforcements when I can. Out.”

The watch officer signed off and section chief Brax thought for a moment, working out which unit he could steal off their current deployment before toggling his comm once more.

“Porst, take Beta Squad and set up outside 41B. Secure the pad and vessel, no one in or out. Move.”

***k

The last section of the trip down the tunnel had been nervous but quiet. To their surprise and relief the trio didn’t come across anyone venturing into the tunnel to find out what all the noise was about. Ashai moved out of the tunnel last and quickly followed the two Eckt, trying as agreed to stay a little way behind them. Glancing around she could see various disabled security sensors and realised they were in one of the security blind spots that the Poftan had told her the Krayt regularly created to cover their activities.

Following the pair around the huge depot was an easy process. Especially as Poftan and Foithar knew an awful lot of people and were regularly stopped for a quick chat by a wide variety of individuals. At one point Ashai had to duck in behind a huge stack of alloys as a patrolling quad of Sec Bur troopers moved past. She held her breath, but they missed her completely and she sighed in relief, before moving on and watching for the next patrol.

Ashai was looking around for another security blind spot as she would be visible again shortly. Glancing to the left her attention was taken by a news cast displaying on a wall nearby.

“…the body was recovered earlier on today from the Slum District’s sewer system. According to reliable Sec Bureau sources, the body was an elderly Korkari male, and had been extensively tortured, before being killed by a shot to the back of his head. The Sec Bureau source have confirmed that is believed the execution is related to the ongoing intensive hunt for this human woman, whose identity is unknown but is known to use the alias Ashai Lennox. Although the body’s identity has not yet been confirmed due to the nature of the wounds inflicted, it is most likely to be Ser Zazt Haskins, a respected trader in the Hive Mart. Ser Haskins was last seen…..”

Ashai didn’t hear anymore of the newscast, her mind was in the Slums district reliving earlier memories of Zazt Haskins. Zazt who looked out for her, been her friend, and a father figure for a young ganger. Zazt went out of his way to help her, and was now dead.

“They tortured my friend Key. Grinder and his Cobalts, killed Zazt.”

Key monitored the outside world as Ashai was frozen in place, her anger building, her hormone levels spiking.

What do you intend to do Ashai? We are close to escaping Yasm. Poftan and Foithar still need your help to reach their ship.

“I know Key and I’ll make sure they get there.”

And then?

“And then I’m going back to the Slums to pay a debt.”

Prime is this wise? You’re being hunted here. You should take this opportunity to leave Yasm Ashai.

“I understand what you think Key, but this is my decision to make. What kind of Prime would I be if I don’t defend my friends and family? They have taken from me, and I will punish them for that. They are hunting me? Maker have mercy on any that find me, because I will not.”

Key remained silent as her host turned from the news cast and her face set, stalked out of the security blind spot, heading for the tunnel to the landing pads, her anger an almost palpable wave radiating from her.

The datacore was once again monitoring real time data feeds and running facial comparison software. Less than a second after Ashai cleared the black zone, the monitoring data core sounded an alarm and displayed her position for the watch officer.

“Shit, she’s in the Transfer Depot. Tell Brax the priority target is heading for the landing pads.

***

Poftan and Foithar reached the tunnel to the landing pads, circling around the transfer depot. Foithar glanced behind her to look for the human as a patrol was passing and was relieved she couldn’t see her. She didn’t know what to make of the human girl. Ashai was a mass of contradictions, strong, fast and graceful, and yet occasionally her carriage was odd, uncomfortable. The young human seemed a little naíve and inexperienced, yet Foithar had seen her deal out slaughter with those two Makatovs that would terrify a hardened veteran. She was sure there was more to tell, but first they had to get off Yasm in one piece.

Exchanging greeting with some of their many acquaintances took time but it also allowed her to get a good look around the Depot. There was less obvious security than she had expected, which was good, but left her wondering where they were if not here. Looking at Poftan she saw he was watching something to their left. Following his gaze Foithar swore under her breath. A squad of eight armoured troopers went past on a tram heading towards the landing pads. Foithar just knew those troopers were going to be a problem. Not good odds at all. Catching Poftan's notice, the Eckt walked quickly on as Foithar tried to think of a way to even up the numbers.

****

With a strident wail an alarm klaxon pierced the noise of the Transfer Depot.

“Okay now they know I’m here. Time to get Poftan and Foithar out of here.”

We need to leave here soon Ashai. That alarm will bring security swarming. Follow Poftan and Foithar.

Ashai’s stalk towards the tunnel changed to a dead run. The Eckt also started running when the alarms sounded but they were still a way ahead. Further in the distance Ashai could see what looked like more troopers, but they were too far to be sure. With excellent timing Hound assisted by revealing a trick she had not needed until now. As she started running, her vision split. Her left eye focussed normally. Her right suddenly displayed a zoom facility that let Ashai clearly see the eight Sec Bur troopers stationed at Pad 41B, as though she was 20m away and not nearly 400 she guessed, the armour supplied the zoomed image of the waiting squad suddenly individually tagged as targets, with distances. For the first time Ashai began to get an idea of what her three way symbiosis might actually mean. Hound zoomed the image and Key analysed it for her displaying the range data.

398, 390, 380, 368

“What are they armed with?” Ashai wondered.

Compiling threat assessment. Key responded.

Graphics highlighted the troopers’ weapons, a mixture of heavy assault shotguns, and plasma carbines, plus grenades and stun weaponry, detailing the weapons makes and models. Ashai suddenly realised the Tyrellian primer and the weapons encyclopaedia had integrated far more thoroughly than she would have thought possible. Key analysed the imagery and broke down the threats. As Key provided the details, knowledge of the weaponry and possible tactics, sprang instantly to her mind, and she knew what to do. The assessment continued showing the squad's heavy armour that combined ceramics and silksteel.

Eight to three but Poftan and Foithar have no armour. They’ll get chewed up, it's up to me again. Me and Eight trained troopers with mid and short range weaponry and heavy armour. Oh fuck. Need to move faster.

Ashai sprinted harder trying to close the distance, to get past the Eckt couple before they could come under fire. Time seemed to slow once more and Ashai ran faster.

Section Chief Brax watched the wall screen as the terminal kept track of the priority target running into the tunnel towards the pads and Porst's Beta Squad. The software changed camera angles as different systems got the best vantage point on the running human. Brax pulled up another angle from above Pad 41B, showing the human in the distance and two Eckt closer.

“Porst. The priority target is headed right at you, and you have two Eckt closing as well that may be hostile.”

There was an answering double click on the comm from Porst as he began rearranging his squad into a battle line. Brax switched back to watching the wall screen and then reached for the comm to direct another squad down from the Ground floor as reinforcements. The human was sprinting flat out, almost as fast as an Immit. Then something changed. Brax watched in puzzlement and then in horror as the sprinting human accelerated. Oh Elders. How could anyone move so fast?

“Porst. It’s on you. PORST!”

The wall screen was flicking between cameras, as the system tried to the target. As Brax yelled into his comm the screen showed the first bolts from two heavy pistols, punching into the side of Porst's armoured helm. The squad leader' armoured torso hadn’t even begun slumping down before more blast bolts thudded into the squad suddenly deprived of its leader. Beta squad weren’t ready and as they were firing their weapons the streaking, gliding, jinking figure seemed to move between the plasma bursts spat from their carbines. And it was a blur among them almost too fast to see.

The camera changed back to the sensor tower above 41B, and it showed carnage and chaos. The target fired once more as it closed to point black range, two more blinding bolts that reduced the squad to 4 from 8, holes burnt through the silksteel breast plates. The thing dropped its pistols to its holsters, and reached behind it even as it dove under a trooper's guard and rolled and span with a Sword? Brax wanted to close his eyes but couldn’t. He watched helplessly instead.

Ashai was almost in a trance, her intense anger powering a dance of blade and time, motion and strike, following the perpetually changing tactical advice delivered by Key from the assimilated primer, targeting the weakest points of armour. The Di-Kat was a blur as it cleaved the air in two. She felt no remorse, no hatred towards these foes. Just anger, glacial in the pit of her stomach. Ashai felt a little pity for these enemies who needed to be removed so that she could move on. She felt some satisfaction as the efficiency of the strikes increased the tempo rising, the knowledge of how and when to use the blade sinking into her mind with each deadly stroke.

The Sec Bureau heavy armour was tough, the Di-Kat would have had a very tough time penetrating the plates, but the joints were another matter. The joints didn’t have armour plate, just shock armour fabric. With her strength and speed behind the blade, the energy each blow delivered was phenomenal and the fabric stood no chance at all. Ashai targeted the elbows, knees, wrists, ankles, necks in precise devastating strokes.

The fight was over before Poftan and Foithar ran up, without even a shot fired from the Starbeam. Both Eckt were an ashen grey colour, and as time returned to its normal pace Ashai understood why. She felt a little sick in a distant kind of way, but still her rage was immense. There was carnage all around, armoured corpses with blaster wounds, others with dismembered limbs or decapitated. Automatically she flicked the blade clean of the Korkari blood in its gutters, before sliding it back into its sheath behind her. A look up took in the camera trained on her blood spattered figure, arterial crimson splashed across her. The Makatovs were empty, so she picked up a troopers shotgun, and blew it to tiny spinning fragments. Then she turned and followed the Eckt into Pad 41B.

Poftan and Foithar watched her fearfully, wondering if this terrifying human who did the impossible would turn on them. Ashai saw their fear and smiled bleakly.

“It’s time for you two to leave Yasm.” Ashai stated flatly.

“What? I thought you intended to come with us?” Poftan asked confused.

“I did Poftan but things change and now I have something I need to do. I will have to find another way off Yasm. At least you get to leave now, and I’m sorry that I’ve ruined things for you here. I was looking forward to talking with you both as we travelled.”

Foithar and Poftan shared a silent conversation looking at each other before Foithar turned to Ashai.

“I don’t understand Ashai, but I will be honest and tell you that part of me is glad. You scare me human. You do things that should not be possible, and well…you’ve got us here alive when I don’t believe we’d have survived alone, that’s more than payment enough so forget the 6000, and perhaps we’ll meet in the future. Is there anything we can do for you before we leave? Security will be here soon I think.”

Ashai thought for a moment. “Do you have any charged packs that will fit these?” She patted her Makatovs. “And do you know any way to disrupt security’s surveillance all at once?”

“I will find you some packs Ashai, security is Poftan’s area of expertise.” Foithar turned and hurried to Emydia, keying a hatchway code, and vanishing within.

“What are you going to do now Ashai?” Poftan asked.

“Now? I’m going to get out of the Port and back to the Slums, and then I’m going to slaughter the Cobalts who killed my friend. Then I’ll leave.”

Poftan just looked at the human female, wondering what to say. Finally he shook his head and explained what he knew about the Ports’s surveillance system.

“As far as I know you’ll need to either shoot out the cameras, or disrupt their central system somehow. EMP would work unless it’s hardened.”

Ashai was about to ask what EMP was when the information popped into her mind, Electro Magnetic Pulse, along with the types of weaponry which caused such effects. She grinned at Poftan.

“I doubt you have a spare nuke around Poftan and somehow I don’t think I will find that kind of weaponry here on Yasm. Anything else?”

“Well a cyber attack on their system might work but unless you’re expert in datacore systems,” Ashai shook her head as Poftan spoke, “well other than that the only thing I can think of would be a big power surge through the surveillance system, that might disrupt their system.”

“A power surge, what like electricity?”

“Correct.”

“Hmm, okay Poftan I might be able to work with that.” Foithar had returned carrying a small carry sack, that she handed to Ashai.

“Some power packs Ashai, plus some grenades. Good luck.”

“Thank you both. Fly safe.” Ashai glanced in the carrysack, counting eight charged packs, and a dozen micro grenades of various types. Quickly she swapped out her empty power packs from her belt sticking the empties into her own pack, reloaded her blasters and stuck the remaining micro grenades and two power packs into the pockets of her leather coat. Giving the carry sack back to Foithar she gave the Eckt a final wave goodbye and turned away to leave the landing pad. Poftan and Foithar watched her for a second before hurrying into their ship. It was time to leave.

“Key I need a way to plug Hound into the surveillance system and send a blast of power down it. Is that possible?”

A novel idea Prime, Hound can configure the Core energy output as electrical energy, but I’m not aware of any way to hook up to the wiring here. Hound may be able to assist further.

Ashai glanced out the armoured hatchway from the landing pad into the access tunnel. So far no one was coming to investigate, but she was sure she didn’t have much time. Concentrating she spoke with Hound in mental images, trying to get across the concept of electricity. To her relief the armour symbiont readily agreed that electricity could be produced, but how to transfer the power? With an idea forming in her head, Ashai formed the images of power, electricity flowing from the core with her, through her body and down her arms, and of a probe extending from her body suit to a wire transferring the electricity.

“Hound can you do this?”

There was a sense of confusion and uncertainty from within her, before the symbiont grasped what she wanted and responded with a flood of images. Images of tendrils spreading from the Core extending through her body, and down her arms following her circulatory systems, accompanied by the certainty of pain, sliding between her arm bones to her wrist, and joining up to the special pores in her wrist from which her armour spread when activated or retreated to when moved to a passive mode. More images showed two black rubbery tendrils extending through her skin, more pain, and the tendrils stretching from each wrist up to about 1 metre in length, and the tendrils burrowing into a cable connecting a circuit, and delivering a pulse of power.

“Well done Hound. Thank you, that is what I need. Do it now.”

Uncertainty and pain came back to her. The symbiont didn’t want to hurt her. Ashai sent it reassurance, and asking Key to help her damp the pain, told Hound to do it.

Ashai bit her tongue as the pain began in her chest, Key assisting in damping it down. It felt like something was boring through her body, similar to the pain the heavy slug caused as it burst through her ribs and back, but far far slower. Instead of an instant of fiery agony this was drawn out, seconds stretching out as Hound worked as fast as she could to spread the two thick tendrils through her host. The agony was so intense, even with her pain damped down it was excruciating. Ashai screamed.

The battle in the access tunnel had been more than enough to deter anyone further down the passage from trying to reach the transfer terminal. At the terminal end the squad of reinforcements waited, weapons ready. Section Chief Brax had intended they would reinforce Porst, but there had been no time, and now they stood guard hopefully to prevent the human from leaving that way. Not that Brax expected to see the human again. The trio of fugitives had made it to their destination and the pad systems showed that Emydia was readying for launch. There was nothing he could do to stop the launch. The security grid was still inactive from the Dtilla raids and the colony had no interception craft. He wasn’t going to risk another squad down the tunnel after Beta was butchered, in case the human was waiting while the ship prepared to launch. Not until he had more firepower available.

After a frank comm call to Sec Bur, the watch officer was finding some droid support for his troopers. That would take some time but Brax was perfectly happy to wait. Intact security systems a distance away from Pad 41B, were sensitive enough to pick up the blood curdling shrieks and screams that sounded from the Pad area. He had no visual feed any more, and flicking between surrounding landing Pads showed nothing except thoroughly spooked workers and travellers. Almost to a being, everyone was looking in the direction of the screams, but no one moved to investigate. The security alerts and now these hideous noises meant no one was willing to risk it. After a few minutes the screams stopped.

Ashai whimpered her throat raw, and her arms throbbing. She looked at her wrists now showing slightly raised small circular patches on her combat suit. Compared to that, being shot and having a hole through her was nothing. She knew her body was healing from the gunshot wounds, Key kept her informed of the progress of the nanos, but this wound was more mental. Ashai knew she was going to remember that agony for a long time.

That was brave Prime. I hope your idea works Ashai. Key’s mental voice was sympathetic and caring.

“You and me both Key. Let’s do this.”

Ashai looked to the destroyed camera system above the pad entrance and traced the wiring down the wall. Quickly she moved to the wall where the armoured cabling ran at head height. A quick glance around showed nobody nearby still, and she raised her arms up above her head. Visualising the spearing action of the tendrils into the cable she asked Hound to proceed, reassuring her symbionte again that she was now fine, after the pain she had endured.

Ashai had expected the tendrils to slowly extend but in fact they were the opposite. The two sharp tips of the rubbery tendrils appeared from within the raised patches on the wrists of her combat suit. Then the tendrils speared out in the blink of an eye, punching into the cable’s covering. Ashai found it a peculiar sensation, she couldn’t directly feel the through the tendrils, but through Hound she could tell when first one and the second tendril forced its way into a strong connection with the wiring of the surveillance system. Hound temporarily opened the portal wide, gathered a charge and then pulsed the energy into the wiring system, then returned the portal to normal and retracted the tendrils.

Ashai felt what seemed like a massive glowing ball of energy shoot out of her body in a fraction of a second.

Thousands of times the normal capacity of the wiring the energy pulse spread into the surveillance system. Almost simultaneously every camera system up and down the access tunnel, and through out the huge transfer terminal failed, reduced to smoking ruins as they overloaded and catastrophically failed. The pulse surged into the Sec Bureau’s control office, and the wall monitors and computers exploded in spectacular cascades of sparks and some flames. The most important casualty was the transfer terminal’s data core. The current surged through it, reducing the expensive hardware to smoking melted circuitry. In a second Sec Bureau lost its eyes and ears.

Ashai heard the whine of Emydia’s powerful engines powering up to an ear splitting shriek before the ship launched on a fiery gout of incandescent plasma, slowly at first, before accelerating out of sight of Talont in seconds, as Poftan and Foithar made good their escape. With a sigh she checked she had everything, and then ran further down the tunnel at fast but normal human pace. She needed to find a Krayt and scaring the crap out of them could wait for a little while.

“What the Maker just happened?” Brax demanded as he and his technicians struggled to extinguish the small fires that were all that remained of the surveillance system. The technicians began arguing possible causes. EMP was suggested but a glance out the office windows showed machinery and vehicles moving, lighting systems unaffected. EMP would have destroyed everything. The two techs decided that it had been a huge power surge. Brax ignored them as he struggled to get a comm. Call through to Sec Bur. After three attempts using different circuits he manage to get a connection and explained what had happened. The Pad status sensors showed that Emydia on 41B had launched, and with it his fugitives.

The watch officer wanted confirmation that the ship was gone and that the fugitives were gone as well. Brax argued but was overruled. Five minutes later his squad of troopers accompanied by a quad of combat droids, cautiously made their way into the access tunnel.

Ashai calmly jogged along the tunnel that was periodically littered with smoking or burning electronics, she was approaching the next launch pad, which confusingly was numbered 19. A group of technicians and warehousemen watched her apprehensively, but nobody seemed actively hostile, and she couldn’t see any weapons. She wondered which of the group would be the best to question about the Krayt, before realising that if this pad was controlled by the Krayt the foreman was the obvious choice.

“Which one of you is the foreman?”

No one said anything but the Korkari warehousemen instinctively looked at their boss, who realised he had been pointed out and swallowed nervously, and tentatively raising his hand.

“That would be me lady.”

Ashai was surprised at the respectful tone before thinking that given the chaos and bloodcurdling screams that had been going on in the direction she had come from, the foreman was simply trying not to insult her.

“Good, I want you to do something for me. I am going to be heading in that direction,” Ashai pointed further along the tunnel. “Now I know the Krayt control a large part of this area, but as I’m new here I don’t know who to speak to. Now I don’t believe that you’re a member of the gang my friend, but I am sure that one of your lads will know of someone, who knows of someone who is in the Krayt. I need a message sending to the boss of the Krayt. So I want you to pass it on for me. Do you understand?” The foreman nodded.

“Good. The message is simple, I want to meet the boss of the Krayt, I have urgent information for the boss, information that is worth a great deal to them, and I want to trade. I don’t intend to harm anyone, but if anyone attacks me as I head up the tunnel, they will die. Understood?” The foreman nodded his head rapidly.

“Good, I suggest you get talking to your lads then foreman, oh one more thing. If I don’t get some idea that my message had been passed along by the time I get to the next pad, I won’t be happy.”

Ashai turned away and continued up the access tunnel.

Back down the tunnel, Delta squad slowly approached Pad 41B, with at least one of the troopers being violently ill as the hideously wounded corpses of Beta Squad came into view. Slowly the nervous squad headed into Pad 41B, before comming back to section chief Brax that yes the Emydia had taken off, and there was no sign of anyone. Brax came back to Delta’s squad leader Tartik with new orders. Continue into the access tunnel and check for any sign of the fugitives. Delta. With more than a little reluctance the squad left the launch pad and carried on down the tunnel.

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 12

The Eckt have escaped Yasm, but Ashai still remains with a score to settle and anger seething. Who will be next?

******

Ashai approached another Docking Bay, this one busy and with obvious gang members on guard with carbines. Key noted the weaponry and Ashai kept a wary eye out. When she got 10 metres from the nearest guard, a large Togan turned and walked across to her.

“You want to meet the boss human?”

Ashai nodded.

“Drop the cannons.”

Ashai smirked, “Just how dumb do you think I am Krayt? Not gonna happen. You boys can have as many guns as you want, I’m not planning on killing anyone, but you’re not getting my guns.”

The Togan gave a guttural grunting sound Ashai knew was laughter.

“Boss say to try. He not bothered. Wants to know why he shouldn’t just kill you for trespassing on Krayt turf.”

“Well, for one I've information your boss really wants to have, about the Reivers,”

The Togan look a bit more interested at the mention of their rivals.

“For two, you don’t have enough weapons or fighters here to kill me, and if anyone tries I'll give you a bloodbath. I’m perfectly happy to kill gangers as well as Sec Bur troopers.”

Ashai stayed outwardly relaxed but she was keyed up, waiting for a response. This could go two ways. If the Krayt Boss was curious enough about her mention of the Reivers then things would be fine. Otherwise the fight would be very one sided. The Krayt weren't heavily armed and only had limited armour. Ashai doubted she would even need the micro grenades she'd palmed, and already had her first half dozen targets chosen based on their species, location and weaponry.

The Togan walked back into the crowd, talking on his comm, while the Krayt guards and Ashai watched each other. A few minutes later it returned.

“Walk on up the tunnel human. These two will escort you. The Boss says he wants to talk about the Reivers so you have safe conduct. You will be met.”

***

Delta squad approached the pad with the armoured mechanical forms of the droids bracketing them. The foreman and his crew of warehouse labourers saw them in the distance and rapidly concluded that sending a Sec Bur squad further down the tunnel to the Krayts was liable to be bad for their health. So when the squad leader walked up and asked if anyone had come past recently, the group collectively assured them that no one had. After reporting in and updating Brax, the squad was ordered to return to the transfer terminal. Brax was relieved Lennox was gone. He was well aware that the Krayt actually ruled further down the tunnel, and with depleted resources he didn’t want to start another fight looking for the human.

***

Ashai was escorted along the tunnel, which hummed with activity. She was taken down a connecting maintenance tunnel and led through a warren of connecting passageways, spotting numerous booby traps and guessed this was the first layer of the Krayt’s defences, designed to confuse trap and kill attackers. She knew the Krayt would feel they had the upper hand, that she would be disorientated when she spoke with their boss. With Key mapping the route as they went that wasn’t going to be a problem. Eventually she was brought into a large chamber that looked like it had been converted from a machinery room into a control bunker, with wall screens, comp terminals and comms equipment as well as Krayt moving busily around. Ashai could immediately tell who the Boss was.

The head Krayt was a Togan, but he was at least a metre larger than any of the other Krayt around him. The Togan moved with surprising dexterity amongst his gang, directing operations with quiet intensity. Ashai was surprised by the purposeful direction amongst the gang. Her escorts calmly waited for their leader to finish giving his instructions before bringing her to his attention.
The Togan turned and studied her for a long moment, assessing with intelligent dark eyes. Finally he grunted and gestured to a separate room with a desk and chairs, inviting her to enter. With a last look around this surprising place Ashai walked in. The Togan followed and sat himself at his immense desk, sized to fit an alien 3.5m tall and weighing over 300kg.

“You have information, and you want to trade Human. You are the Human Ashai Lennox that Grinder wants, correct? You call me Shatrtick. You have killed his Cobalts, why should I not hand you to him and take his reward?”

“I didn’t think Space Port gangs cared what Slum dwellers want?” Ashai mused.

The Togan grunted his laughter. “True Human, Grinder has nothing that I need or want. What do you have I want?”

“You have an impressive operation here Shatrtick. Not what I expected I must admit. Organised. It must be galling for you to have to rely on that organisation to keep parity against the Reivers.”

The Togan snorted his irritation, but grudgingly nodded his agreement.

“The Reivers are thugs, terrorists, extortionists. They are brutal, feared, and have numbers to spare. I am a businessman. This is my business. What do you offer for trade?

“I can give you the Reivers.”

“You? And what do you want for such a bold claim?”

“Simple, you’re business is import and export yes? Smuggling, in other words. I want you to smuggle me into the Slums so I can kill Grinder, and then I want you to smuggle me on a ship off Yasm and out of Korkari space.”

“What you want is relatively easy for me Human. I think what you want is very difficult for you to deliver. I want proof you can do this thing.”

“I suppose that’s fair. Okay Shatrtick I'll give you this present as proof. Send a group down the access tunnel. You'll find your present and proof 200m from the far end. Send them in a vehicle which has space for cargo. Tell them to salvage whatever's useful, but do it quickly, you have a small window of opportunity.”

The big Togan gazed at her impassively for a second before calling one of his Lieutenants, and giving rapid orders. The Lieutenant looked at her before hurrying out. Shatrtick suggested they move back out of the office so he could watch over the rapid reconnaissance he had ordered. A few minutes later Ashai was surprised to see that one of the wall monitors changed to a camera image from a vehicle rapidly moving down the access tunnel. Shatrtick explained it was mounted on one of the Krayt’s hover cargo trucks.

The truck moved into the transfer terminal, completely ignored by Sec Bur guards, before moving through the heavy traffic and shortly down the empty tunnel to the Concourse. The truck travelled, the atmosphere becoming tense in the Krayt’s command centre. The silence broke as the first bodies came into view. Murmurs from the Krayt were silenced by Shatrtick, as the carnage came into view. There were no live Reivers in the tunnel, but bodies littered the ground.

The Krayt squad could be heard swearing and praying as they panned the camera around. Ashai watched long enough to see the dropped weapons and equipment hadn’t yet been salvaged by the Reivers, and turned to wait in the other room. She didn’t need to watch. Key could replay any part of the bloodbath for her if she wanted. She heard Shatrtick give orders to strip the dead of weapons and usable equipment, quietly and quickly, and ignored proceedings after that.

***

The Togan came back after almost an hour, sitting down quietly behind his desk. Shatrtick’s expression carefully schooled to be impassive. His group of Krayt had driven back with the truck loaded with a large haul of weapons and equipment, which they stripped off the dead Reivers. The weapons included autoguns, shotguns, flechette weaponry, grenade launchers, as well as power swords, combat mauls and other melee weapons. There was also a collection of armour that had been removed from the fallen Reivers. The recon group had reported a total of 23 dead Reivers in the access tunnel. Shatrtick wasn’t absolutely sure the human was responsible for the deaths, but his group had reported that the vast majority of the dead had blaster wounds. The two Makatov heavy blasters the human wore seemed unlikely to be coincidence. Which meant the human was a lot more dangerous than she appeared.

“What happened in the tunnel?”

“I was escorting two friends to their ship. The Reivers objected violently. Do you know how many Reivers Heti has?”

“Around 80 are known to be in the Reivers. So I would estimate, around 60 now.”

“Less than 50. I left another dozen dead before the tunnel. There was also a firefight in the concourse, but I don’t know who was in that.”

“So the Reivers are much weaker than before. The haul of weaponry has also strengthened our armory.”

“Don’t forget they have wounded as well Shatrtick, so their fighting strength is reduced, and their morale will be low.”

“Well Human I believe you’re capable of doing what you said. You've already put the Krayt in a much stronger position, a welcome gift.”

“Yeah well Shatrtick, I’m sure that is worth what I want.”

The Togan pondered for a second. “For what you’ve done so far, I will get you in and out of the Slums so you can settle your issues with Grinder. A flight off planet and out of Korkari space is more expensive. Settle up with Grinder and then finish off the Reivers and Heti and you have your ride, plus I will give you a bonus as well.”

“You want me to take on the rest of the Reivers single handed?” She was incredulous.

“I know my troops Human. They’re good in a fight, but as you say so bluntly we are smugglers, not soldiers. The Reivers are the worst of the thugs and killers that Heti could find. This is why I have to be organised. You've given me the best chance to break the Reivers in years, but to attack their base? I don’t have enough fighters to accept the losses, so yes it will be up to you. I don’t know if it’s possible but I didn’t think that the Reivers losing at least 35 of their soldiers in a single day was possible.

Ashai glared at the Togan, wondering if it was possible. “This bonus you mentioned, what is it?”

“Anything you can recover from the Reivers is yours, and in addition I will pay you 25000 creds when you bring me proof of Heti’s death.”

Ashai stared coldly at the big Togan, who managed to gaze impassively back at her. She knew she scared Shatrtick but she had to acknowledge his points. If Shatrtick wanted control then he needed the Reivers gone, but in such a way that he could secure the vital points they held without tipping off other gangs. If The Blue Hand got wind, then they would do their best to fill the power vacuum.

“So I’m an assassin already then.”

You do what you must Prime. At the moment you don’t have much to bargain with. The payment is a mere drop in the ocean to the funds you will need in the future, but it would significantly increase your resources.

“I know Key, this is the only option I have. I don’t know whether I’m more worried about the prospect of the fight, or the fact the idea of being paid to do this killing doesn’t actually disturb me that much.”

“Shatrtick, I have to kill something like 50 gangers and Heti to get my ride off Yasm, so it’s going to cost you more. As you said, what I want is fairly easy for you, while my job is very difficult. For a fair trade I think 150000 would be more appropriate.”

The Krayt leader grunted. While he hadn’t really expected the Human to agree to 25k, 150k was simply more than he could arrange at such short notice even though control of the Concourse access was worth much more.

“I can offer you 120000 creds Human, but that is all.” It would deplete almost all of his available funds but the rewards were huge. The human looked intently at him for a couple of seconds before nodding her understanding. “Agreed. 120000 it is.”

“Good. I will arrange to get you into the Slums tonight. Is there anything you need now?”

“Some food and drink would be welcome Shatrtick. I want to see what you salvaged from the tunnel, and I have some power packs that need charging. After that just some sleep.”

“I will have a meal sent to you shortly.”

The Togan left and went to make preparations. Ashai turned the chair around and watched the Krayt carrying on with their business, her thoughts elsewhere.

***

Getting back into the Slums had been ridiculously easy. The Krayts had simply loaded her into one of their trucks and driven her through the checkpoints. Well bribed on a regular basis the guards never even stopped the vehicle. A short drive through the evening traffic and they came to a halt, before the driver opened the smuggling compartment hidden under the truck’s floor and let her out. The driver stepped back as Ashai stepped out warily holding a Makatov ready. Looking around she could see she was in garage lockup. After checking the time with the driver, Ashai ensured the lock up was secure and then sat down and leant against the wall to wait for the middle of the night, her mind on memories of the Hive Mart and her dead friend.

As midnight approached Ashai slipped out of the lock up into the familiar streets at the Slums outskirts. Moving quickly she slipped through the shadows, having Hound reconfigure to the combat default but with a camouflage scheme of browns and greys. With her long coat left back in the truck, the camouflage pattern effectively disrupted her outline as she stalked unseen deeper into the Slums.

Ashai headed for one of the slum flop houses that served the Cobalts as a drug den and crash pad. There were several such places in the Slums, but this was one of the smaller ones, and should be easier to deal with. She wanted a prisoner she could find Grinder’s location from, and a small den would be easier to deal with. Getting there took 10 uneventful minutes, and as she slipped into the pitch darkness of the filthy alley beside the house, Hound helpfully adjusted her vision so she could see almost normally. The flop house had a double door at the front and a side door she was crouched beside. There was no sound nearby or from behind the door so very carefully she tested the door's handle. It was locked and mostly likely barred as well, it didn't look like a quiet entry was going to be possible. With a shrug she drew the Di Kat with her right hand, the blade singing softly as it slid from the sheath, and with her left hand aimed the Makatov and fired, obliterating the door lock before sending the door crashing inwards with a solid kick, and gliding forwards into the darkness that didn't slow her at all.

The room was a dirty empty kitchen, and Ashai was through the next doorway into a dark hallway before the flop house erupted into noise in response to her blaster fire. Hound began plotting the noise sources and targeting icons began bracketing noise sources in her vision.

“How many Cobalts in here?”

Hound supplied the data immediately — 4 targets on the Ground floor and 5 on the 1st Floor. Ashai moved rapidly down the hall, not bothering to boost, watching the targeting information. The first target threw open the door from its room on her right and ran into the Di-Kat's blade at neck height. There was a gurgling noise as the body continued to move forwards, the Di Kat's razor sharp blade opening the Cobalt's neck to his spine before Ashai whipped it back in a crimson spray.

The second Cobalt was moving out of the next room down, the barrel of a gun visible to Ashai's enhanced sight. Hound automatically adjusted her vision as the Makatov blew through the lightweight wall and Cobalt at the same time. According to Hound the last two targets on the ground floor where hidden by the closed door at the end of the hallway. Target 3 was moving towards the door, while target 4 was static at the other side of the room. From the sound of screaming target 4 was female. Target 3 was yelling at her to shut up. Ashai never stopped moving, slamming a powerful kick into the door as Target 3 moved behind it, the door bursting inwards and slamming the Cobalt sideways. She moved into the room, a young naked girl huddling in bedding against the wall immediately identified as Target 4, the room empty except for her and the dazed Cobalt laying under the door. Ashai knelt and with a carefully weighted punch knocked the thug senseless.

The girl was looking around blindly in the darkened room, and Ashai realised the Cobalt had been heading for the light switch. She could see so easily that it seemed very strange that this girl was obviously terrified out of her wits in the darkness, unable to see whatever demon had destroyed the door. Ashai guessed the girl was barely a teenager, possibly younger and she stood silently not wanting to terrify the girl any more than she already was. A man's angry shouting came from upstairs, and Hound placed it as positioned at the top of the stairs. Ashai glided silently across the room towards the stairs, crouching a little way away.

“Kort, Kort! What the fuck's going on down there?” Silence greeted the shouts, apart from the girl' whimpers and sobs. A light flicked on at the top of the stairs, a weak dirty yellow illuminating the stairs and a perhaps a third of the room. The girl was caught in the light and the man shouted again as the girl looked frantically around the room that was now barely visible. Mentally Ashai snorted in disgust as her eyes immediately adjusted. Whatever night vision the Cobalts upstairs had, was now utterly ruined.

“Neti you little slut, where's Kort?” The girl ignored him, her eyes wide as she caught Ashai's feminine silhouette crouching in the shadows near the bottom of the stairs, blaster and sword held ready. The man shouted again but the girl just sat frozen in fear. Ashai slowly moved her finger to her lips and shushed the young girl, then slowly and silently stood in the shadows at the base of the stairs. The Cobalt swore again, and began clumping down the stairs promising Neti a beating for disobedience. As he reached the bottom of the stairs Ashai stabbed the Di Kat through the side of his neck. The Cobalt died almost instantly as Ashai pulled the razor sharp sword free, the thug's dead weight hanging in place for half a second, before its bowels voided and the corpse slumped forwards to fall flat at the bottom of the stairs. For a moment there was stunned silence, before the remaining Cobalts began to move. Not giving them more time to react Ashai swung on to the stairs and opened fire with the Makatov. Blaster bolts punched through the four Cobalts, turning the staircase into a steaming morgue. Ignoring the bodies Ashai ran lightly up the stairs to check for more enemies but a quick search showed the upper floor was empty. When she made her way back down stairs Neti was still huddled in her bedding, gazing blankly at the bodies.

Ashai checked the last Cobalt was still unconscious and then holstered her pistol, and sheathed the Di Kat after wiping it clean. After a glance at the huddled girl she quickly hauled the bodies one at a time up the stairs out of sight, as she wondered what to do about the traumatised child. Finally she went back downstairs and flicked the light switch by the shattered door. The weak light thrown down the stairs was drowned by the white glow from a ceiling strip light. Neti was still huddled in her bedding, but as the light came on her gaze snapped to Ashai, her eyes growing huge. Ashai walked across and then sat cross legs in front of her, noting Neti's dirty skin as well as the remains of fading bruises across the girl's thin body. She had been beaten, and in the light Ashai guessed she was not even in to her teens. She wondered what to say first, what to ask the abused child in front of her, and struggled to keep her anger off her face.

“What's your name sweetie?”

“Neti.”

“Neti? That's a pretty name. My name's Ashai okay? Do you have anyone you can go and live with?”

The girl paused for a second, looking elsewhere, then shook her head as a tear ran down her cheek, carving a passage through the dirt. Then she seemed to focus on Ashai again before speaking, her voice flat. “You killed them.”

“Yes Neti I did, except that one. I need to ask him some questions.” The youngster seemed to consider her answer before nodding at her.

“I wanted to kill them. Thank you lady. They....they hurt me.”

Ashai didn't know what to say, what to do, and just opened her arms offering Neti a comforting hug.
The girl looked at her for a long moment as if judging her, before hurling herself into Ashai's arms with a sob, wrapping her arms around Ashai and holding on for dear life. Ashai held Neti and let her cry, comforting her, and rocking her, planting occasional gentle kisses on Neti's head. After a few minutes Neti calmed down and then pulled away from Ashai and looked at the still unconscious thug. A fierce hungry expression flitted across her face, before she turned and looked at Ashai again.

“I want him Ashai, when you're done with your questions, I want him, I.....owe him.”

Ashai studied her, seeing the seething anger and hatred Neti had for the Cobalt.

“What happened to you Neti, how did you end up here?” Ashai asked the questions gently, wanting to both distract the girl from her vengeance and get some more information. Neti didn't want to answer but seeing that Ashai wasn't going to let it drop, sighed and answered.

“During the riots, Grinder and his thugs came to my parents house. I was with my sister when we heard lots of shouting about debts or something. I heard my Daddy shouting as well, and then a gun and my Momma was screaming. Then the door burst open and these two huge guys grabbed me and Emilie my little sister. They took us to the kitchen and my Daddy was lying in a pool of blood,”

Neti started crying again and Ashai gathered her back into a hug as she talked.

“my Momma was pleading with Grinder to let us go but he said she was too old and had no value to him, so the debt would be paid by her children. Then he told the two men holding us to bring us along. Before we left he told two of his men they could have Momma and to kill her when they were finished. I struggled but I couldn't get away, and Emilie was only four. I heard Momma screaming in the house as they carried us away. They took us somewhere and I was put in a cell with some other girls. I never saw Emilie again. Kort told me the slavers took her. I miss her.”

Neti pointed at the unconscious Cobalt. “He's Kort. He's one of Grinders lew-ten-ants,” Neti pronounced the word hesitantly. “Grinder gave me to him when he was finished with me. Grinder had me first. I....” Neti just curled up tighter in Ashai's arms and cried. Ashai stroked her hair gently, while her eyes gazed flint like at the unconscious thug, as she pondered what to do next.

“Key?”

Yes, Ashai?

“I was a ganger for years. We ran the Hive mart. But we never did this. How can this happen?”

Evil comes in many forms Ashai.

“I was going to kill Grinder for myself, for Zazt but I guess I never really considered what Grinder has done to everyone in the Slums. I want vengeance, but I think it will be justice as well.

Under the circumstances Ashai I think both those needs are real.

“Neti...I think she's twelve Key. Twelve. She's been raped, abused, humiliated, beaten, given to this bastard as a toy for his mob to use...she wants me to give her Kort. Neti wants vengeance. Should I give her it? What will that do to her? Will it help? Or will it make her life worse?”

The young lady will need a lot of help Ashai. The trauma of what she has been through will be very severe. I cannot say whether letting her take her own vengeance will be wise or not. It may give her some sense of personal closure at least, especially if she knows that Grinder has been dealt with as well.

Ashai stroked Neti's hair again as she made her decision. Then she gently cupped the girl's chin and pulled it up so she could get eye contact.

“Neti, you've been through things that no one should. So when I have answers from Kort, if you truly want to deal with him yourself then I will make that possible for you. Do you understand?”

The tearful girl hesitated and nodded.

“Okay. I promise you Neti, Kort will pay for his crimes against you with his life, and Grinder will pay as well, so no matter what you will never have to worry about them again. If knowing that lets you feel like it's okay for me to deal with Kort for you then that's okay. It's also okay if you still want to deal with it. That good with you?”

Neti nodded again, a serious expression on her face, before offering a small hand to shake and seal the deal. Ashai shook it gently and Neti's expression changed to relief and acceptance.

“Okay Neti, I want you to go and get yourself a wash and find yourself some clothes okay, plus you can look for anything else you want upstairs. If you find any credit chips or something you think is valuable then bring that down as well. The other men who hurt you are upstairs. They are dead. You watched me kill them so you know they can't hurt you any more. Okay?”

“Okay Ashai.” Neti's voice was sweet and quiet, but steady and the girl gathered her bedding around her and headed to the stairs.

Ashai turned her attention to the unconscious Kort.

Bastard.

With a not so gentle slap she brought the thug around. As the Cobalt jerked awake, Ashai waited until he started to move before she moved into his field of view.

“Hello Kort.”

Before he could respond in any way Ashai reached out and struck two points on his neck, firmly, each with a single rigid finger, watching for a response. The combat primer listed these strikes as temporarily paralysing the arms and legs of the victim, with control returning after approximately an hour. The Cobalts suddenly wide eyes and the straining of his neck muscles showed the strikes were successful. The discovery that he couldn't move his arms and legs prompted a volley of abusive language. Ashai let the Cobalt swear at her for half a dozen words before slapping Kort across the face with the faintest trace of her enhanced strength, snapping the man's balding head sideways.

“Shut up you stupid fucker.”

“Bitch you any idea who you dealing with? Grinder's gonna...”

“All Grinder's gonna do is die. The question is whether you're gonna live Kort. The only people alive in this shit hole are you, me and Neti upstairs. Your boys are dead, and pitifully easy to kill as well. You're going to tell me where Grinder is in the Slums.”

“Fuck off.” The Cobalt spat at her, which she easily avoided.

“Hmm it seems like you need to understand your situation a little better,” Ashai slid the Di Kat from its sheath, “Kort either you tell me what I want to know, or I hurt you, hurt you badly, and eventually kill you. Oh and I don't bluff. When I say you'll die, you will die.”

“Fuck you.”

“I didn't think you'd really be that dumb Kort. Okay, that's cool.”

Ashai slid the Di Kat into the Cobalt's eye line to catch his attention, the thug's neck muscles still straining in his attempts to move. Slowly she lightly dragged the swords tip down his body, the razor point slicing effortlessly into his flesh, fresh red blood welling up in its track. Kort gasped at the pain before clamping his jaws shut. Ashai grinned wolfishly at him.

“Ooohh a tough guy huh? Okay Kort, next stop is your achilles tendon, which one do you want to lose your right or left? Gonna be a bitch being a cripple Kort.”

Korts eyes were wild as the Di Kat moved down his body out of his vision. He tried to crane his neck to see but all he could see was the sword being waved between his ankles.

Ashai paused for a moment letting the thug watch her moving the sword. Seeing that he hadn't broken yet she shrugged, and very deliberately severed Kort's achilles tendon in his right leg, sparking fiery agony in the Cobalt's nerves. Unable to stop it a scream and a whimper burst from Kort's mouth.

“You fucking bitch, fucking shit, my leg oh fuck my leg.”

“You've still got a good leg Kort. If you tell me what I want to know I won't kill you.”

The sound of Neti coming downstairs made Ashai turn around. She'd found some pants, a tatty sweater, a dark jacket that was a little big for her, and some ankle boots. She was carrying a small sack over her shoulder up as she came down stairs. Seeing Kort writhing in pain, Neti walked across.

“Oooh Kort that looks painful. Has he told you what you want yet Ashai?” she asked.

“Not yet Neti, but he will. Would you wait in the kitchen for me sweetie?”

“Okay, but remember you said I can have him when you're finished.” Neti's grin at the stricken Cobalt was feral, and her gaze was implacable.

Ashai saw that however scared the thug was of her, the prospect of being left helpless with the abused girl terrified the wounded Cobalt who was almost hyperventilating from the pain. Neti looked down at Kort before crouching down beside his legs next to the unnaturally bunched calf muscle where Ashai severed his achilles. Ignoring Ashai's quizzical expression, Neti shot out a hand and dug her small fingers into Kort's severed calf muscle, making Ashai wince and Kort scream in utter shock as agony exploded up his nerves. She held her grip for two long seconds, long enough to have Kort begging for an end to the pain, before just as suddenly Neti stood up and walked to the kitchen.

“Don't take too long Ashai, I want some time with him.”

Ashai waited until Neto had left the room before turning her gaze back to Kort.

“Where's Grinder?”

Kort gasped, his eyes glazed from the pain in his leg, cold sweat running down his face. “He'll kill me.”

“Maybe. But I'll definitely kill you if you don't. If you talk I won't kill you and you have a chance. Not much but better than nothing.”

Ashai's callous tone and obvious indifference were enough to push the thug over the edge, and Kort talked, spilling his guts on Grinder's current base in an old warehouse near the Slums' border with the industrial district. Once he was finished Ashai called Neti back in, and then while the girl watched renewed the nerve strikes.

“He's all yours Neti. You have fifteen minutes then we need to leave. You need anything?”

“No, this will be fine.” Grinning coldly Neti brandished a long wicked looking knife.

“You're sure about this?”

At Neti's definite nod, Ashai stood up and headed to the kitchen.

Kort yelled from behind her. “Wait, you said you weren't going to kill me if I told you...please.”

“I'm not, Neti is.” Ashai shrugged and turned away.

A little less than fifteen minutes later, Kort's screams and whimpers had finally ceased, and Neti joined her in the flophouse's kitchen, spattered in blood. The two women shared a look for a long moment, before Neti turned and vomited her stomach up on the kitchen floor. After a second retch, she dropped the bloody knife and then moved into Ashai's open embrace, sobbing.

“Shhh, baby. It's done. It's all over now. Time to leave, I'm gonna take you to some friends while I deal with Grinder, and then we'll get you safe okay?”

With a nod, the crying girl burrowed in tighter.

**

It was a little before 2am and Ashai crouched in the shadows, looking over the clear space surrounding the old warehouse that Grinder had claimed for his Cobalts. She'd taken Neti back to the lock up garage where the Krayt driver was waiting for her. A short conversation had ensured that Neti would be safe with them and a slightly longer talk with the girl had reassured her she wasn't being abandoned, before she had walked back into the Slums, following Kort's directions to the warehouse.

The warehouse was constructed from corrugated alloy sheets over a rusty frame. Two large open sliding doors at the front were guarded by a handful of Cobalts, armed with various weapons and accompanied by a handful of girls keeping them supplied with drink, drugs and affection while the majority of the gang partied inside the warehouse. The music thundered from the open doors, reverberating across the open concrete. The front entrance was a possibility but if possible she wanted a more stealthy approach.

Quickly Ashai did a stealthy circuit around the warehouse looking for an alternative. The only other option was a back door, with a single guard outside, under a flood light. The guard was smoking, and the acrid smell of his smoke wafted in the night air. Around the corner from the guard there was a wire fence surrounding a power generator that thumped away into the night. Deciding that the power supply was the obvious target, Ashai moved around the compound until she was opposite the generator and then satisfied she was out of view she slipped across the open concrete towards the fence.

The fence's builders had spooled tangle wire between the tops of the fence poles to deter intruders, and for a moment Ashai wondered whether to cut the wire fencing with the Di Kat or climb it. Then she realised the generator control panel was within the range of her armour's new tentacles. She held her hands near the fence instructing Hound to build up a charge of power to deliver. A couple of seconds later the tentacles extended from her wrists, easily slipping through the large mesh fencing, before spearing into the generators control panel, forming the circuit which Hound then blasted a charge of electricity down, instantly overloading and burning out the circuitry, which exploded in a shower of sparks. The power spike flooded the warehouse's power system and all at once the sound and lighting system became showers of sparks as the warehouse plunged into darkness. Ashai retracted the tentacles, unholstered the Makatov and Di Kat and moved around the building to the back door at a run. The single guard suddenly blind as the floodlight failed, never even saw her coming. The Cobalt was young, barely fifteen and in a moment of pity, Ashai shifted her blade, and knocked him senseless with her fist, before wrenching open the door and plunging into the darkened hallway beyond, as Hound adjusted her vision to compensate.

**

Grinder cursed as the lights exploded and the speakers burst. He thrust himself into the girl bent over the table in front of him, making her whimper again. Holding her in place with one hand he grunted at his lieutenant to go find out what was going on. Faltr obeyed, leaving the whore he had been fucking in place as he buckled his pants and left Grinder's booth to find out what had killed the power and the party. Grinder pulled his hips back and then slammed forwards again making the girl whimper, as he fucked her hard and deep, impatient to let his load go now.

Faltr stood on the raised dais outside Grinder's private booth and tried to make sense of what was going on. The warehouse's open floor was lit now only by sparks and a couple of small fires that had started in ruined electronics. The floor was crowded with drunken Cobalts, hangers on, whores and guests all stumbling around in the sudden dark. Three of the more sober thugs had grabbed flashlights and opened the door to the back, heading to the generator to try and repair it.

**

Ashai swept down the darkened hallway like an avenging fury, her mercy spent on the youngster outside. She charged into the group of Cobalts coming into the hallway without warning. The Di Kat flashed in the light beams as Ashai effortlessly cleaved through the gangers, but not before the rearmost shouted an alarm. She charged through into the quietened party where the drunken gang and party goers began to react to the shouts and screams in the hallway. To her enhanced vision the warehouse seemed well lit, but the sight of men and women stumbling in the dark as they either fled from the screams or ran towards them, reminded Ashai of the advantages she had and how essentially unfair this combat was about to be.

Well if they hadn't killed Zazt I wouldn't be here, so fuck em all.

She skidded to a halt and quickly scanned around the open space.

“Opposition?”

Her vision lit with target icons as Key highlighted Cobalts armed with firearms in red and those with close combat weaponry in orange, fleeing non combatants in blue as well as a few who were not yet classified in yellow. In a second she absorbed the targeting data and prioritized her enemies. No sign yet of Grinder, but there was a room at the back that was a likely place for the Gang Boss. First to deal with his mob, so far as she was concerned they were all culpable. Key displayed a target summary and told her as well.

7 Priority Targets identified armed with firearms, 19 additional combatants identified armed with close combat weaponry, 27 non combatants, 3 non classified.

With a bleak grin, Ashai span to face the nearest priority target, the Primer and Key mapping suggested movements in her vision, and charged, the Di Kat slicing open for the Cobalt's throat as she passed on his right and sprang at the second red icon, almost casually killing an orange icon as she passed, almost invisible in the darkness as she moved at high speed, save for her platinum mane which caught the flickery light from the small fires, making Ashai seem a spectral figure lunging at shadows that screamed and died. Losing herself in her fury the number of targets fell very rapidly as she slaughtered the Cobalts, to give Zazt's memory his revenge.

***

Faltr gaped as he watched first in disbelief and then in horror and fear. Grinder's demon. The thought ran through his head charged with superstitious dread. It looked like a woman but that wasn't possible. The demon moved so fast, none of his boys were getting anywhere near it. Shouting for Grinder he ran back to the VIP room, looking over his shoulder to see yet another Cobalt die with a scream. It was some kind of obscene dance where every step claimed another life, the long platinum hair visible as it whipped one way and another, leaping, sliding, twisting, jumping and spinning, kicking and striking amongst the Cobalts who were dying so fast the blood from one hadn't hit the ground before another was being slain.

Slamming through the door to the VIP room he grabbed for his prized assault rifle, as Grinder was yanking his pants up utterly ignoring the whore he'd been sodomising seconds before as he reached for his weapons, while screams continued in the warehouse.

“The demon's here boss. It's wiping the gang.” Faltr fought to keep panic out of his voice as
he told the Cobalt boss what he'd seen.

“Fuck Faltr. I told you there's no such thing as Maker fucking demons. Let's go kill the fucking bitch.”

Grinder pulled himself to his full height of just over 2 metres, his massive frame dwarfing Faltr, shaved head scraping the low ceiling of the room. The gang boss was a monster of a man, scarred from almost forty years of brutal living, heavily tattooed and hugely muscled with immense hands that he would literally grind his enemies into the plascrete with. His rule of the Slums by violence and intimidation was total and the idea of anyone challenging his rule, let alone a woman was incomprehensible to him.

With a bellow of anger at the invasion of his domain, Grinder charged out of his booth, brandishing his power axe, cursing and swearing, then promptly skidded to halt, dumbstruck by the carnage in his base. Eyes wide, the veins pulsing angrily on his bald head, Grinder gawped at the blood that was pooling around his minions' bodies. Some had limbs lying around, cleanly amputated by a viciously sharp blade, others lay with their entrails visible. The screams and yelling that had been so audible moments before had been replaced by eerie silence broken by whimpers and moans of pain. These were gradually cut off as the demon casually finished off the wounded with precise mercy strokes. She utterly ignored him as she finished the grisly task she was doing, and Grinder found he couldn't move to try and catch her unawares. His legs wouldn't obey his commands, they were rooted to the stop. Beside him Faltr gasped and the noise caught the demon's attention.

She couldn't be human. It simply wasn't possible that this tall slim girl had destroyed the empire he had taken years to build. His demon was clad in the form of beautiful blond woman wearing a mottled grey and brown camouflage bodysuit up to her neck, and was liberally coated in the crimson blood of his Cobalts. Even the long platinum hair that was picked out by the light from the fires that were sputtering in the warehouse was spattered with gore. Seeing the Cobalt boss and his surviving lieutenant gazing in horror and dismay at her handiwork the demon gave a small smile that managed to be both mocking and feral at the same time.

'Fuck.' Grinder muttered the epithet, not conscious of speaking.

Faltr gave a scream of rage and whipped up his assault rifle. The demon moved lightning quick, drawing, firing and returning her blaster to the holster before Grinder even thought of reacting. Faltr's rage was cut off in mid shout, as a blast of energy obliterated his head. That was the moment that Grinder knew he was about to die. His strongest lieutenant died with casual ease, and the mocking smile never reached the demon's eyes which were glacially cold with fury. For the first time in years Grinder felt fear, and with it resignation. He wanted to piss himself but pride wouldn't let him.

For all his power in the Slums, in his heart that he knew he was a nobody on the grand scheme of things, even in Talont city itself, other gangs were far wealthier and more powerful as they weren't ruling the human detritus and other poor. Grinder had vaguely expected to think about his life when it came time for him to die, but instead he wanted to know why this terror that outclassed him so much had decided to wipe him off Yasm.

“Why?” It was only one word and he croaked as much as asked it, but Grinder's expression as he surveyed the warehouse spoke volumes. The demon cocked her head at him for a second, idly flicking blood off her sword.

“Simple punishment Grinder. You took from me. You let scum like Carlo exist, and killed someone precious to me. You should have left Haskins and mine alone, and this” she gestured around “ wouldn't have happened. But you tortured him, when he did nothing to you, and killed him like he was nothing, so I'm doing the same to you. Maybe whoever comes next will learn the lesson. I doubt it but you never know.”

The demon finished talking and stood waiting for him. Grinder looked around disbelieving, all this because he killed a fucking Korkari?

“What? You're not taking control, making a power grab? You slaughter my guys over a fucking trader?” Grinder's voice radiated confused outrage. The demon sighed.

“I'm not after the Slums Grinder. I'm leaving anyway. I'm coming back to Yasm eventually, and when I do, then I'll take control and things will change, but for now killing you will have to do. You terrorized the people in the Slums, treat everyone like a slave and killed my friend. So now you die. Now come on and fight or are you a coward as well?”

His machismo stung Grinder finally surged forward, swinging the power axe two handed in a powerful horizontal slash, its wicked blade crackling with energy. The demon stood motionless as the big Cobalt committed his full bodyweight to the blow, before darting forward, ducking under his swing, inside his guard, her sword lashing out with precise control. There was a brief moment of sharp pain for Grinder before his corpse slumped as its momentum carried it forwards, severed head rolling away as the body landed, heavy axe still flickering with energy crashing with a metallic ring against the plascrete floor.

Grinder's demon stood and gazed blankly into space for a few moments, her thoughts elsewhere, as the rage and need for retribution cleared from her expression and gaze. She shook herself, looking for a moment full of self disgust before turning and walking away, ignoring the corpses around her, or the Cobalts' piled goods and booty in the warehouse. Now she was done she wanted away as quickly as possible. Ashai's expression hardened again, there was still more killing to do if she wanted to get off planet. Quickly leaving the way she arrived, she paused momentarily and checked the youth she'd knocked cold was still unconscious. He was and after a moments consideration she hefted him up and carried him over her shoulder to the walls of the building across the open ground. The boy never even stirred as Ashai laid him down, making sure he would live if the warehouse caught properly ablaze. The kid was underweight but fairly well built. Thoughtfully she took his weapon a basic club and snapped it, and his bandana shredding it, maybe he would get the message. Without another look back Ashai headed for the garage and her ride back to the Port, as Hound took care of the blood and gore covering her bodysuit by simply refreshing the upper layers of armour that were spattered along with the evidence, absorbing all trace of the fight. The spatters on her face and hair Key directed the nanos to destroy.

Inside the warehouse for minutes nothing moved before two women peered from the VIP booth at the carnage. They were sisters both biologically and in the oldest profession, and had been 'entertaining' Grinder and Faltr. Lennox was gone. Everyone knew the name that Grinder's 'demon' used from the holocasts, and they knew what they'd heard. Lennox was leaving but would be back to take Yasm and woe to those she judged unworthy. Whispering the women grabbed their scant clothing and left. As they hurried into the night they came across the unconscious boy, the youngest Cobalt they'd seen and wondered how to interpret the snapped weapon and shredded bandana. Considering the judgement rendered inside there had to be a message there. After a brief discussion they hoisted the youth between them, managing his limp weight as they headed for safety. In the distance they could already hear Sec Bur sirens approaching.

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 13

Ashai Lennox has finished the first part of her deal with the Krayt's leader. The Cobalts are destroyed and their boss Grinder is dead. Now Ashai must deal with the Reivers and their cyborg leader Heti, to get her ride off Yasm.

Talont Spaceport: The Krayts Stronghold- 4:27am

Ashai sat on the side of the fold up bed that Neti was sleeping on. The youngster was exhausted after the events earlier. When she returned to the garage, Neti had flung herself into her arms. The Krayt driver had been kind to the girl, sharing the sweetmeats he was snacking on with her, but the girl was still scared with Ashai away. The presence of an adult who cared about her had a powerful effect on the girl. She didn't want to be away from Ashai for any reason.

Ashai watched quietly as Neti slept, wondering what she should do with her now. She had no family to leave her with. Neti shifted uneasily in her sleep, whimpering at a bad dream. Ashai leaned over and gently tucked the thin blankets around her, before softly stroking her hair. Neti snuggled deeper into the blankets, her expression relaxing at Ashai's touch.

“What am I going to do with her Key? I can't take her with me.”

Why not Ashai?

“Huh? What do you mean why not Key? You said yourself my life is going to be dangerous, she could be hurt or worse.”

Do you think her life will be safer here on Yasm? Key's tone was gentle yet pointed.

“Maybe, I guess, I dunno Key.”

Are you trying to convince me or yourself Ashai?

“Huh? What do you mean?

Key's voice started to sound exasperated.

“Simple Ashai, do you think Neti will be safer here on Yasm? She is a pretty, traumatised young girl, not even a teenager. Would you leave her alone in this city, or do you think she will be safer off planet? You can give her a new life and new opportunities under your protection. With the love and guidance of a formidable warrior who can defend her from any number of enemies, as well as provide safety, companionship and look after her who knows what Neti can make of her life? I know your feelings better than you do Ashai. You want to take Neti with us, why not admit it?

“I'm not her mother Key! Hells, I'm not even used to being female! I'm not ready to be a big sister, let alone a mother.”

Key's mental snort was unconvinced.

What are you afraid of? Is it being responsible for Neti, or that you already feel responsible for her?

“I...can't be a mother Key...I'm not ready for that.”

Key’s mental tone softened slightly.

If we left Yasm without Neti, can you tell me you wouldn't miss her, that you wouldn't worry about her?

“Of course I'd worry about her Key, she's a little girl.”

And would you wonder what she 's doing? Would you miss her?

“I...I guess so.” Ashai stroked Neti's hair again as she held her silent conversation with Key. “I would miss her.” Ashai unconsciously mimicked the sleeping girl as Neti smiled happily in her sleep at the reassurance of Ashai's presence.

If you left Neti here and she was harmed, how would you feel, what would you do?

Ashai didn't answer. She didn't need to, Key's question had her feeling physically ill and berating herself for even allowing such a possibility. Key had made her point, forced Ashai to acknowledge her feelings, unexpected as they were. Neti had already suffered too much. If anyone hurt or threatened her, there would be hell to pay when Ashai found out. Ashai gave a small bemused smile, she had been told of an animal on Lost Terra. Bears had been famed for being fiercely protective of their young. She wondered whether mama bears felt this way.

“Is this what being a mother feels like Key? Where did this feeling come from? I don't want to let her out of my sight, I want to protect her, keep her safe..it happened so fast.”

In part Ashai. It's not all worry though. There will be joy and happiness as well.

Now that she had acknowledged her feelings, a jolt of panic flashed through her.

“What if she doesn't want me Key? What if she doesn't want to leave Yasm?

Don't worry so much Ashai, I think Neti is already very attached to you. Talk with her about it when she wakes and then you can make whatever arrangements are needed with the Krayt. For now though you might want to take advantage of the time to rest before we deal with the Reivers. It will let us face them in peak condition.

“Okay Key that sounds like a good idea.”

The bed was wide enough, so Ashai carefully lay down beside Neti, watching her sleep. Sensing her presence Neti rolled over enough to snuggle in before relaxing into a deep sleep again. After watching for a few minutes Ashai asked Key to wake her around 6am and drifted off to sleep herself. Key spent the rest time ensuring their body was fully healed from the day’s combat, before resuming integrating the data she had absorbed from the VALs. Hound maintained its vigil over its host and the surrounding area, calm and content.

****

Intelligencia HQ Talont City 8:07am

Gantol looked up from the classified report he was working on, at the knock on the door of his Intelligencia office.

“Come.”
His tone was curt, he wasn’t in the best of moods. The escape of the covert operative Lennox yesterday had to be explained to his superiors, as well as his suspicions as to her motives for being on Yasm in the first place. In reality, he had to concede that Sec Bur appeared to have worked reasonably well, considering that it was pure luck that they had become aware of Lennox's presence on Yasm in the first place. A group of gangbangers blowing her cover because of their hormones must have been incredibly frustrating for the assassin. Certainly from the deaths she had meted out she had known her op was blown immediately, the Cobalts hadn’t stood a chance, as the assassin took her frustration out on them.

That still left the vexing question of what exactly Lennox’s operation had been. Who dispatched an enhanced operative out here? Why in the Maker’s name? Lennox had left a trail of bodies behind her on her route off planet with the Eckt couple. Records indicated the Eckt had been on Yasm for years so whatever the connection it was obviously deep. He’d assigned a team of Intelligencia analysts to digging for further information on the Eckt but didn't hold out much hope of any immediate answers that made sense. The Eckt had hidden their tracks very well. Sec Bur had raided TEI and walked straight into a firefight with the damned Reivers, who were obviously interested in Lennox after the Cobalt boss Grinder put the word out after their failed ambush. Bodies at TEI, and the slaughter of Beta Squad in the terminus. Lennox had a lot to answer for but as she was off planet he doubted he would ever get the chance to get those answers.

The door opened and an office administrator poked her head in hesitantly.

“Sorry for the interruption Ser, but I have a Sec Bur Sergeant Katx on hold on the comm. I explained you were busy, but he insisted I speak with you.”

Her polished horns dipped as she looked down nervously. Gantol wasn't known for being kind when he had a bad day, and from the sounds the big Intelligencia officer had made when he returned, the females in the admin pool had no doubt he was in a bad mood. Gantol almost barked a response, but he composed himself. Juti was such a pretty little thing and was due in season soon. Sighing, he nodded and told her to patch the call through. Juti vanished and he grabbed the comm, waiting for a couple of seconds as she patched the Sergeant's call through.

“Sergeant Katx, what can I do for you?”

“Morning Officer Gantol. There was a disturbance in the Slums again last night.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, Sec Bur forces responded to calls of a battle in a warehouse. Turns out it was the Cobalts' main stronghold. Someone slaughtered them, including the Boss Grinder. He was beheaded. One corpse with a blaster wound and the rest all look like blade work. Lots of amputations. Very messy.”

Gantol was silent for a second as he processed Katx’s information. There was only once reason Katx would comm him directly, because he had reached the same conclusion. Lennox hadn't left at all. She was still on Yasm. So why did Lennox butcher her way to an escape route off planet and then not take it? To get the Eckt off world? Distraction and diversion? Could whatever operation she was on be so important she would go to such trouble and then not leave? Then why go and finish off the Cobalts? Too many questions. Important questions and the source of the answers was still on planet.

“Where are you?” He wrote furiously as Katx gave him the coordinate the warehouse.

“I'm on my way Katx.” Gantol said, pausing barely long enough to issue orders to reinstate the raised security around Administration facilities, throughout the Port, as well as monitoring of the surveillance systems for Lennox and reinstating the surveillance on the mercenaries which had been removed after the Emydia launched. Orders given, Gantol ran for his transport.

****

Docking Bay 14- 9:42am Talont Spaceport

“Hey Lt!” Banks called out from his position in the portabooth where the 4th detachment had set up their recruitment station in the Port.

“What is it Banks?” Lt Resnij's voice came from the portabooth’s little office at its rear where he was trying to complete the small mountain of paperwork that had grown because of their deployment to that shithole of a mining town.

“They're back again.” Banks' tone was calm, and unhurried as though he was commenting on something completely unimportant.

“Huh?”

“The Korkari surveillance team that was out there yesterday. They're not subtle at all Lt.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn.”

There was silence for a moment before the sound of a chair scraping the portabooth’s floor and Resnij walked out front to stand over Banks as though checking on his work. Glancing casually as he pointed at Banks paperwork, Resnij had no problems spotting the Korkari surveillance. Two 'technicians' working on a camera system at the end of the Docking Bay 14. Except it was a one Korkari job and neither one was spending much time working or had the tools they would need. The third member of their team was even more blatant, a Korkari in work clothes who just happened to have chosen a pile of boxes as the perfect spot for his 'lunch break' and who was quite blatantly watching the mercs. He was even taking notes. Between them, the team had the Bay's entrance and the mercenary recruitment booth very thoroughly observed.

“Well I guess we won't be getting any more recruits before we launch then.” Resnij commented sourly. Banks grunted his agreement.

With a curse the tired recruiter returned to his private hell of paperwork. The deployment during the Dtilla raiding had cost him lost time, plus ammunition, rations and broken equipment that all had to be accounted for. Worse, the Maker damned Korkari had shafted him on their 'payment' so not only would the detachment return without their quota of recruits, but also with a negative balance sheet.

That fricking Sergeant Katx had even refused to cough up for the emergency nature of the deployment, although Resnij still had to pay his troops their contracted rate for an emergency. And now with this fracking surveillance, his last day of recruitment time was a fucking bust.

Resnij shook his head in exasperation. Even though she’d been totally hot, he wished that his troop had never heard of, nor seen Ashai Lennox. The Korkari went nuts searching for the girl, implying she was an assassin in the news coverage and swamping his booth with surveillance in the hope she would walk up. He snorted in disgust. If Ashai Lennox was half what they claimed, he would love to have her sign up, but even that wasn't an option, the political flak for the unit would be too extreme. He'd thought all that crap had finished yesterday when the surveillance disappeared as obviously as they had originally arrived, but now the bastards were back. With an exhausted dispirited sigh, he tried to work out what he could do to salvage the recruitment op in the last eleven hours of its time on Yasm.

*****

Ashai had roused as Key awakened her about 7:30am. Neti was cuddled in to her and somehow the blanket had ended up over both of them. Gently she tried to extricate herself and tuck the girl back in under the blankets. Neti complained sleepily as the motion gradually woke her up.

“What you doing Ashai?”

“I need to get up hun, and go finish some business.”

Neti roused herself to a semblance of alertness. “Business, like dealing with Grinder business?”

Ashai nodded. “The people we're staying with are having problems with a gang. I need to arrange transport and they can help me with that so we're doing a trade.”

At mention of transport, Neti snapped alert and looked distressed.

“They're Krayt aren't they? We're in the Port. You're leaving Yasm? Noooo...I don't want you to leave me. ”

“Shhhhh Neti. I...I don't wanna leave you either but I have to leave Yasm....I want you to come with me.”

Neti seemed stumped for a moment, her eyes huge and wet. “You want me to come with you?”

Ashai nodded hesitantly reaching for Neti's hand. “I'm gonna have a dangerous life, but if...if you want me Neti then I want you to come with me so I can look after you, keep you safe.”

Neti's expression was stunned as she realised the depth of Ashai's offer, to her it meant only one thing. “You want to be my Momma?”

Ashai found she couldn't speak she was so choked with emotion. She nodded holding Neti's gaze, hoping that her new found hopes and emotions weren't going to be dashed. There was a long moment before Neti leaped happily into her arms. Ashai held her and with a sense of relief, she simply enjoyed Neti's company.

Key had been correct again, she'd never expected to feel this way let alone so quickly after her change. Perhaps it was the intensity of the experience she shared with Neti or perhaps it was some latent maternal instinct surfacing with surprising ferocity. It didn't matter really, and the emotions she felt now were filling a hole she’d never even realised was there.

“Okay Momma. Thank you.” Joyful tears ran down both faces. With a sniff, Ashai gave Neti's forehead a kiss and reassured her she would be back soon. Getting up from the bed, she grabbed her gear and headed to the washroom next door. After locking the door and placing a Makatov at hand, she stripped off and had Hound retract the armour before savouring a quick shower. The water was warm rather than hot but just being able to get clean after such a savage night was good for her mood.

Once she was clean she dried her self off and then looked at the remains of her crimson top from the day before. It was heavily bloodstained and torn where she had been shot. Ruined. Sighing at the sight with a shiver at her memory of the pain Ashai packed away the top.

“Hound, combat suit please.”

The inky black liquid spread across her body in seconds, forming into the reassuring armour, and quickly she strapped on her Makatovs and then pulled on her new and already battered leather. Looking in the washroom's mirror she recalled the Hab 27, checking her reflection while carrying the big hunting rifle. The armour looked the same, but the woman wearing it was different, prouder, more at ease with herself, but with eyes that showed a measure of pain and sorrow. She still looked sexy as hell, but perhaps the Makatovs didn't have quite the same impact as the rifle. She could feel Key studying her reflection as well, assessing, measuring her growth and development. The woman in the mirror was already vastly more capable and dangerous than the girl at the Hab 27.

How do you feel Prime?

“Mixed emotions I guess Key...so much has happened and I have changed...not just physically but mentally, emotionally.

You are growing Ashai. Her partner's voice was comforting and reassuring in her head.

“Yeah I know but I'm having difficulty with what I'm going to do now.”

Why? Key's tone was gentle and curious rather than demanding.

“Everything I've done before this, everyone I've fought or killed, I've been reacting to circumstances. Situations develop and I dealt with them. I have killed a lot of beings in the last couple of days Key, but it's kind of like they brought it on themselves. Today feels different. I'm not reacting, I've made a conscious decision, made a deal with the Krayt to get off Yasm, and as a result I will be killing Reivers, preferably all of them and especially Heti. I know they can hurt me, but given the advantages you and Hound give me, it's not very likely. The damn Sec Bur are hunting me because they think I'm an assassin and today I am going to be exactly that. Getting paid to kill. I just showered but thinking about this make me feel....dirty.”

Good.

“Huh?” Ashai felt confused.

Just because killing is necessary at times doesn't mean it should be easy, Prime. There have been times in the past where Primes and Guardians forgot this...it led to dark events. I can easily argue that killing the Reivers is necessary, as well as just and well deserved, for the benefit of the populace generally as well as the Krayt and yourself, but none of that means that it should be easy for you to take that action. You have a conscience and that's a good thing. It will prompt you to make such decisions with care. In this case the Krayts's needs and yours coincide and your abilities are the only resource that you have that they need or even want. Do the Reivers deserve what is coming to them? They made their choices long ago, and all you are doing is putting down rabid animals. They make the Cobalts seem like custodians of law and order by comparison.

The fact remains that you don't have much in the way of resources, so if you can hugely increase your resources at the same time as performing a necessary operation, it's sensible to do so. It’s not pleasant to be paid for executing the Reivers but in the circumstances, it is preferable to doing so for free.

Ashai gave a snort of laughter at Key’s black humour.

“Yeah I know Key, and what you say makes sense, but I still don't like it.”

As I said before Prime, good.

Ashai shook her head, reassured by Key although still not happy. Which was apparently exactly how she should be feeling. Picking up her belongings she returned to the small room Shatrtick had allocated for their use. Neti watched as Ashai checked over her equipment. Struck by a sudden thought Ashai got her cred stick and changed some settings to it, before getting Neti’s fingerprint for the stick's sensor. Seeing Neti's quizzical expression, Ashai explained.

“It's just a precaution so I anything happens to me you have some money hun. If I'm not back in a day you can access the stick.”

Neti looked at the cred stick as if it was poisonous and at her suddenly distressed expression, Ashai laughed gently and pulled her into a hug.

“But what if something happens to you Momma?” Neti asked

“Don't worry silly, nothing's gonna happen to me. I'm just making sure if I'm delayed you can get food and stuff until I get back. You keep that for me, okay?”

Neti looked at her searchingly and then finally reassured nodded and accepted the cred stick. Ashai checked the time, it was 8:25, told Neti to get up and dressed so the Krayt could bring her some breakfast, gave her another hug, and a quick kiss and headed out to find Shatrtick.

***

Ashai found Shatrtick in the Krayt's command room, giving instructions to his Lieutenants and their troops. The Togan acknowledged her presence with a nod, not stopping his orders. So far as she could read Togan body language, Ashai thought the Krayt boss looked tense. She was ready to deliver her end of the bargain, but first she needed to ensure Neti was safe.

It was a few minutes wait before Shatrtick moved soundlessly across to where she waited.

“Human, I believe your presence in the Port has been revealed, security has been steadily increasing for the last few minutes. Your handiwork in the Slums is already known, and while there has been no official word at least one news service has suggested that you are responsible by name. I have ordered my Krayt to report any sightings of Sec Bur forces, and be alert in case of attack.”

“What? How?” Ashai asked, surprised by the news.

Shatrtick big black eyes blinked as he considered how to answer the human’s question.

“Sec Bur forces have been at a warehouse, reportedly the Cobalt’s base and the scene of a massacre, since about 4am. The Cobalts have all been killed by a blade or by blaster fire and given that you have been identified as the Cobalt's 'demon' you are been held responsible. This is not surprising as the causes of death are the same as those who were killed two days ago. Sec Bur began reacting a little while ago and security is increasing across the city and Port.”

“It appears the Sec Bur think the use of the blade and the Makatov is a signature of sorts. In a way they are correct, your speed and agility makes it possible to take down most opposition here in close combat so you have been using the Di Kat a lot.” Key said.

“Damn, I hoped they thought we were off Yasm all ready Key, now what?”

“Well, this means that once you attack the Reivers there is a strong likelihood that Sec Bur will react quickly and aggressively, and if they throw enough manpower at us it could become an issue. We won't be able to renegotiate the deal with Shatrtick, getting rid of the Reivers is all he wants and now that Sec Bur is aware you are still on planet, harbouring us poses a risk for him. We need to get the Reivers dealt with and get off planet as soon as possible. It's only a matter of time before someone orders a thorough search of the Krayt's dominion as well as the rest of the Pads.”

“Crap, crap, crap....okay so either I need to take out the Reivers in a way that doesn't attract attention from Sec Bur, or I need to be so fast they can't react, and disguised in some way so that when they search the area no one recognises me. Okay, let's see what Shatrtrick can suggest.”

Ashai's mental conversation took a fraction of a second and there was only a second pause before she responded to Shatrtick.

“I will need to deal with the Reivers rapidly then. Shatrtick how soon after I am done can we get off world?”

“We, Human?”

“I need to take the girl with me as well. I'm sure that's just as easy for you to accomplish as it would be for just myself.”

“It is,” The Togan conceded, “but that was not the deal.” His tone was a little harder, reluctant.

Ashai cocked her head at him, Key and Hound already feeding her tactical data on the Krayt busy working all around. Some had paused at the change in the tone of the conversation their boss was holding.

“So what would you suggest Shatrtick?”

***

Shatrtick saw the tiny movements in the human's body as she shifted her weight, and knew that his next words could provoke a bloodbath. Lennox was, he noted, fully armed, while most of his crew were not armed here in his base. The human had brought in its juvenile the night before and he cursed himself for not recognising the potential danger. He should have distributed weapons ahead of time, made arrangements. Still how was he supposed to know how humans felt about such things? Lennox though was clearly not prepared to leave Yasm without the juvenile. Yet he couldn't just let the juvenile on for free, it would be a loss of face, and his Krayt would remember it as weakness. Maker curse Sec Bur for making his life even more complicated.

“Let me make a comm, Human,” Shatrtick temporised “I don't think it will be an issue but the courier may charge extra.”

There was a tiny nod from Lennox and he retreated to his office to make a call as the human relaxed. The sudden air of tension in the command room eased slightly. Shatrtick hoped that his Lieutenants, had recognised the sudden danger and begun unobtrusively making preparations. Not, he thought ruefully, that he expected it would make much difference to the human. This situation was like being on the back of an angry Gatchi with no way off.

His comm call made a successful connection to the cargo carrier 'Wayflyer'in orbit around Yasm, and the bulky vessel's system routed him through to Dveina Thurti. Dveina was the loading officer for one of the atmo shuttles that the 'Wayflyer' carried. She quickly confirmed that it made no difference to her whether his package was a female and juvenile, or just a female. It was only a small adjustment in mass, and the scheduled run had mass to burn. In her eyes the extra mass helped to further clear the rather large personal debt she owed him faster. Shatrtick decided that he would take the opportunity to reduce the cost to himself of this deal slightly, but not too much, he didn't want Lennox upset.

**

Ashai watched as the Togan came back from his office looking more relaxed and pleased with himself.

“It is not a problem Human. A difference in cost of 10,000 creds, which I will deduct from our agreement; if that is acceptable to you.”

Ashai was going to protest for a moment before she realized that Shatrtick discussing this in the open meant that the extra cost being mentioned was more for the listening Krayt than the money. The big Togan was protecting his reputation and position. She could tell the gangers were happy at the extra money, and assumed they all guessed that the smuggling run was costing their boss next to nothing. Therefore, he would benefit from making the dangerous human pay for taking Neti as well.

She nodded her acceptance with a small smile to indicate she knew exactly what Shatrtick was doing, but was fine with it anyway. Whether or not the Krayt leader picked up her signal, Ashai wasn't sure, but regardless; he relaxed and there was a collective hiss of released breath around the Krayt command room as his gang relaxed and stood down. Ashai let Hound and Key keep on tracking the Krayt around her and followed Shatrtick into his office where he gestured to the seat for her, the office door closing behind her.

“The atmo shuttle we'll smuggle you out on is due to launch at 10:27pm from Docking Bay 14. It's the orbital link to the cargo carrier'Wayflyer'. The ship is too large to land on the planet. It does a regular circuit of nineteen systems, mostly carrying cargo but occasionally also some passengers. My contact on board will ensure you get on board and have the necessary documents to get out of Korkari space.

“Thank you Shatrtick, I’m sure that will be plenty of time. Now we need to deal with the Reivers, without alerting Sec Bur, or at least without giving them time to react. Do you have any plans of their base?”

“That should not be a problem, Human.”

Shatrtick spoke through an intercom and a couple of minutes later a small Korkari brought in a sheet of schematics, which were quickly rolled out on the large desk. Ashai wasn't really sure what she was looking at, but Key quickly began analysing the drawings looking for possible options.

Ask if these drawings are current Prime.

Ashai did and the Krayt leader responded that to the best of his knowledge they were. One of his Lieutenants knocked and Shatrtick excused himself, leaving Ashai to plan. As Key highlighted the relevant sections of the drawings and explained them to her, it was quickly apparent why Heti had chosen her base's location. There was no scope for sneaking her way in. Any approach she made would be in full view of the Reivers on either of the two access tunnels into Heti's base.

“I understand why no one's been willing to commit sufficient force to digging out Heti's forces, casualties would be bad.” Ashai said, muttering to herself unhappily.

I agree Prime, assaulting this position would be unwise. However we do know that the Reivers are understrength and will be demoralized, so it may be possible to try another approach.

“Oh? What are you suggesting Key?”

In the same way that in your negotiations with Shatrtick he was ensuring his position was secure with the Krayt, it may be a reasonable conclusion that Heti position will be significantly weaker after the setbacks you have inflicted on her. A direct challenge should force her to fight you herself, to prevent the Reivers from removing her themselves.

Ashai wasn't sure what to make of Key's suggestion, but Shatrtick returned shortly afterwards.

“Shatrtick what can you tell me about Heti herself?” She asked to see if he had any additional data on her target. Shatrtick shrugged his shoulders.

“Heti?... She's Korkari. Big, vicious, with no respect for anyone or anything. She was in the Korkari military I think then became a mercenary. Went renegade or something and ended up here. Part cyborg from serving in the military. That's how she keeps control of the Reivers. Pure strength and fear. None of them will cross her because she's meaner, faster and stronger than any of the rest of them. When she arrived, she decided the basements in the Port were the safest place for her. Went in, killed off the leaders of the gang that was there and took over. Gathered the biggest, nastiest scum she could find around her and quickly made herself too tough to take out without unacceptable losses. She's a disease, Human.”

“How will the Reivers react now they've taken losses? Will she still be able to command them? Or will she need to reinforce her authority?”

The Krayt leader was silent for a minute while he considered the questions.

“I think she will still have control, it's too soon for the shock to have worn off. Later? She may be weaker. Why?”

“I'm wondering what you really need Shatrtick. Do you really need rid of the Reivers, or do you really need rid of Heti? If she was removed would the Reivers themselves disband? Would you be able to deal with them if they didn't have her in control? Would you be able to absorb the Reivers into the Krayt as soldiers if she wasn't in control?”

The Togan was silent, the idea of combining the two gangs under his control had never occurred to him, but it did offer possibilities. Especially as now the Krayt had far more weaponry and armour after the battle in the tunnel.

“How would you do this, Human?” Shatrtick asked, his eyes blinking with surprise as he considered the human’s interesting strategy.

Ashai smiled. She knew she had him now.

“I would need your help Shatrtick. If I deal with Heti, then I need your forces armed and ready to fight outside of both passages to her base. You disarm them as they come out and then do what you want with them, kill em, or recruit them I don't care, but at least it gives us a chance of removing the Reivers without a mass firefight, and if you can persuade them to join the Krayt then you get more territory, more soldiers and equipment in one go. I think a direct challenge to her authority will force her to come and fight me personally, and when she's dead the problem is done with. If none of them are willing to challenge her, when I defeat her they won't dare fight me either. At least that's the plan. I'm willing to try it as long as you can deliver the support.”

Shatrtick considered for a moment, trying to gauge the Human's chance of success. Her body count at least suggested the plan was basically feasible. There was a lot to lose, but also a huge amount to gain. Nodding his agreement to the plan the Krayt leader began discussing the logistics involved with the Human.

****

Talont Spaceport Docking Bay 14, 10:23am.

The engines of the atmospheric shuttle whined down, once the short ranged craft settled its weight onto the landing pad. Faint trails of steam and exhaust gases peeled away from the thrusters as they began to cool, making occasional popping noises as they cooled and the alloys shrank slightly. Lt Resnij gave the craft a once over with an experienced eye, everything looked fine to him, not that he really knew enough about shuttles to tell if there was a problem. Still nothing was obviously about to fall off, which since the small ship was his detachment's ride off Yasm, was a damn good thing.

The portablock was rapidly opened up again as it was obvious there wasn't about to be a catastrophic failure during the landing. The building's ceramic armour did a good job of protecting the group from the heat of the landing, but with everyone crammed in plus the heat from the shuttle's engines, he was desperate for some ventilation.

“Get the Maker damned door open and get that aircon working Banks!” Lt Resnij said, venting his frustration.

“Got it Lt.” Banks said with a nod.

Lt Resnij turned to a the second man standing next to him. “Yossi, wait until the shuttle debarks and then get chatting with the crew. Find out how long til we can get loading the gear, and ourselves, and get off this mudball.”

“Kay, Boss.”

“Misha, keep an eye on our newbies for me. I'll be in the office if anything crops up.” Lt Resnij said before he muttered to himself. “killing some more paper.”

Rubbing the stubble on his chin and cheek and wishing he'd had a shave earlier, Resnij headed to the back room. Outside, his troops rapidly took up the spots they had occupied in the shade from the Docking Bay’s protective embankments. Nobody wanted to spend longer in the stifling heat, but unfortunateley for the tired and stressed Lieutenant it was necessary.

***

Warehouse in the Slums: 10:47am

Intelligencia Officer Gantol looked around the carnage in the warehouse once more. This second look around refused to reveal any more than the first. When he had arrived he had immediately ordered the building sealed to keep the ever inquisitive newsies out, and the thick stench of human blood was overwhelming to his sensitive Korkari nose. Every so often Sergeant Katx would bring him an update from the technicians processing the slaughter. More than one had taken a short break from their work to let their senses recover. Gantol noted however that Katx was as determined as himself to stop Lennox, and never even flinched from the smell and gore that was all around as he barked out orders to his crews.

Gantol's initial examination of the scene had allowed him to plot the macabre dance that Lennox had cut through the Cobalts. Katx had identified all of the Cobalts lieutenants amongst the dead, as well as the big human called Grinder who had ruled here. Idly scratching behind his left horn, Gantol visualised the scene in front of him. Lennox had no difficulty with fighting in the dark, an important detail to add to the growing file on the assassin. Just as obviously the human trash she had executed were not so blessed. They'd been ripped apart, but where the strikes at the ambush scene were purely efficient punishment, the warehouse scene spoke of Lennox's rage. The Cobalts had stood no chance whatsoever and the human female had sliced them apart, very, very quickly. Only a single blaster wound in the site, on a body which Katx identified as Faltr, Grinder's top Lieutenant. The boss himself had been killed with the same blade that slaughtered the rest. Grinder's execution could best be described as...contemptuous, Gantol decided.

The question was what would Lennox do next? More importantly how the Maker could he stop whatever operation she was conducting? That she hadn't been found when Sec Bur investigated the docking Bay after the Eckt escaped Yasm meant that the Krayt had to be involved somehow in Lennox evading Sec Bureau. The Krayt's leader maintained a business like relationship with the Intelligencia, so it was time to put some pressure on Shatrtick.

Stepping out of the warehouse he walked outside through the rear entrance. Another note on the file was that the warehouse's power supply was completely burned out, apparently the result of a power surge. Sec Bur had reported a power surge destroyed a great deal of their equipment in the Cargo Transit. Initially that had been presumed to be an unusual coincidence, but a second surge meant that Lennox was somehow responsible for that as well. More unanswered questions to add to the list. Growling with frustration, Gantol reached for his comm.

Krayt Den, 10:59am

Ashai waited for Shatrtick to come back from his office where he was taking the comm call that had interrupted their planning. It wasn't a problem, they had already made the arrangements. The Krayt's boss just needed to give the orders to his troops. Feeling the sensation of being watched she glanced around.

Shatrtick was still in his office, gazing intently at her while he talked animatedly on the comm. The Krayt leader hurriedly shifted his gaze, leaving Ashai with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't hear what he was saying, the office was sound proof with the door closed, but now really wished she could.

“Key, do you think Shatrtick is talking about me?”

I can't answer that Ashai. If he was Human or Anari, then analysis of his body language could indicate agitation but I don't have enough data on Torgans to make a comparison. The best I can say is see how he behaves when he comes out of the office and trust your instincts.

“What do I do Key? If Shatrtick betrays us we are screwed. Can I leave Neti here?”

I don't think we have a choice Ashai. Neti is safe here for the moment and Shatrtick is our route off Yasm. If things go to hell then we know which Docking Bay to head for, and the Krayt's defences are fairly feeble at best.

Ashai watched as the Krayt's leader finished his comm call, looking uncomfortable under her scrutiny. Finally the big Togan stood up and left his office.

“Everything okay, Shatrtick?”

“Yes Human, everything is fine. Just an old ...business contact looking for a deal. Sorry about the delay.”

Ashai nodded her understanding, trying to read the Togan's body language. Finally she decided there was nothing else she could do right now except take a couple of precautions. Leaving the Krayt boss giving orders to his troops Ashai walked across and casually looked though the equipment salvaged from the tunnel. Spotting a couple of comm units she slipped them into her coat pocket and headed to the room where Neti was resting, quickly programming them as she walked.

***h

Shatrtick gave the Krayt their orders, while his mind hurriedly calculated, looking for the best of an increasingly bad series of options. Sec Bur and Intelligencia were after Lennox, and somehow or other Gantol knew she was with the Krayt. He hadn't said so, not outright, but that bastard spy was too damned smart. For him to comm Shatrtick cautioning him that unless Lennox was detained the administration would be forced to impose a quarantine on all trade....it was a threat and not even a subtle one. Still at least Gantol obviously had no inkling of his deal with Lennox, if he had Sec Bur would already be swarming around. If he gave Lennox up, he had to do it while she was dealing with the Reivers, as far from the Krayt base as possible, and preferably once Heti was dead. The human juvenile could serve as a hostage...His mind still working the Krayt leader continued giving his orders.

***h

Ashai crouched at the top of the access ramp, and peeked around the corner. Nothing. It wasn't really surprising the Reivers hadn't posted a guard on the access tunnel, but it definitely wasn't smart. They had at least hauled their dead away, or somebody had. She was sure that Heti was thrilled at the loss of weaponry and equipment the Reivers had suffered. Ashai grinned wolfishly, the Reivers should be thoroughly demoralized by now, and she intended to really ruin their day now.

The Krayt had piled into the back of two trucks, loaded down with as much weaponry as the two 6 man squads could carry. The twelve Krayt were the most Shatrtick was willing to commit to Ashai's plan. She would have preferred more, but the gang leader was adamant that a third truck would attract unwanted interest. Ashai had hidden herself in the second truck, but once again the Sec Bur guards in the Cargo Terminus ignored the gang vehicles. The aliens crouched around her in the truck had relaxed once they reached the access tunnel, before the tension resumed when they reached the far end. Ashai remained calm, ignoring the Krayt, paying attention instead to her comm's earpiece.

Neti had been reluctant to see her go, but understood that Ashai had to conclude her dealings with Shatrtick. She made Ashai promise to come back though, and was very serious as her new mother gave her a liberated comm unit. With a final tearful hug and kiss, Ashai left and Neti locked herself in the room Shatrtick gave them to use. Ashai had her long duster on, both Makatovs with their spare power packs and the Di Kat over her shoulder. Reluctantly she left the rest of her belongings behind in her pack with Neti. She didn't like that idea but going off to fight carrying surplus gear was pointless.

As a last precaution she left Neti with a handful of micro stun grenades, explaining their use to the youngster. She hoped like hell Neti didn't need them, but if everything went to hell at least the youngster would have a chance, especially as her comm was slaved to keep her in constant contact with Ashai. The second comm had been quietly deposited in a corner of the Krayt command room as they made final preparations. If Shatrtick planned a betrayal Ashai might have some warning.

The plan was simple. The Krayt were waiting behind her, and would move up into the passage once Ashai was on her way. There they would move to cover the two entrance passages that led to the Reivers den while Ashai challenged Heti. It was stupidly risky and could go horribly wrong but she still felt it was a better option than going in all guns blazing and bringing Sec Bur down on her head. Shaking her head at a the lack of good options, Ashai decided that now was as good as any other time. Clearing her mind of her worries about Neti and her frustration, Ashai signalled behind her to the two Krayt squads and quickly and silently moved down the passage towards the junction where she had bottlenecked the Reivers before. After a few seconds she heard the slight noises made by the Krayt. Ashai was almost to the junction when there was a dull thud behind her and a muffled curse.

“Oh crap. All the idiots had to do was move quietly.”

Hound almost immediately detected two noise sources moving to investigate the disturbance, Key painting the hostile indicators on her vision. Ashai sped up, still managing an eerie silence as her enhanced body placed every footfall just so, and the Di Kat appeared in her hand almost magically. She was committed now, and praying silently that there weren't any more Reivers close by. Ashai seemed to glide around the corner to engage the gangers, the Di Kat held high ready to strike.

Time slowed. The nearest target was a Togan. A big male. Not the size of Shatrtick but heavily armed with an over sized flechette cannon. His targeting icon turned glaring red as Key locked and analysed the data. The second was a Korkari female, still bigger than a human but already injured. Armed with a power maul the Korkari female lagged behind the Togan. Key painted the second target's icon a yellow on Ashai's sight.

Selecting her strike, Ashai had plenty of time as she angled deeper into the tunnel, closing the distance before the Togan could react, legs flexing in a leap that took her striking blade to the hapless Reiver's neck. The big alien was dead before its nervous system had even begun to react to her sudden presence. Ashai's leap carried her past the falling body as she twisted in mid-air, powerful leg muscles absorbing the force of bouncing off the tunnel wall. The Korkari female's reactions were quicker than the unfortunate Togan, but not fast enough to avoid an arm stronger than an alloy bar wrapping itself around her neck in a choking hold while Ashai's momentum yanked the larger figure to the ground. With lightning speed Ashai shifted her grip bringing the blade to the Korkari 's throat with enough pressure to draw blood.

“Freeze Reiver, or I'll take your head as well.” Ashai hissed venomously in the Korkari's ear. Time returned to normal as for a half second Ashai thought the Reiver would struggle, and increased the blade pressure, cutting deeper.

“I yield human, I yield...please...” The female gasped out the words and stopped struggling.

“Wise, very wise. Do exactly as I say and I won't gut you right here. Disobey and you will be the first to die. Understood?”

****h

Heti looked up as one of her newly promoted Lieutenants caught her attention with a grunt. What was that stupid mare Oscht doing back in the den and where was Gurt the Togan? Where's her fucking maul? Heti caught the scent of Oscht in the draught as she stood up. Maker's breath, she's terrified! The other Korkari in the den could smell the stink of her fear as well, and shifted uneasily as Oscht stood frozen in the tunnel entrance. Heti snarled and the smaller Korkari tried to back away then jerked to a halt before being shoved forward. What the?

A human female stepped sideways from behind Oscht, who stood frozen, radiating shame, fear and submission. The human was holding a blaster, its bore shoved in Oscht's back, and in her other hand she held...

The Reivers began moving as they saw the human, some reaching for their weapons, others to escape. Heti's augmented brain noted that all those looking to escape carried previous injuries from the mauling in the tunnel, even as her processors identified the shapes in the human's hand.

“STOP!”

“FREEZE.”

The Reivers stopped in mid motion, looking at Heti uncertainly, while their leader scowled, noting that almost half of what remained of her troops seemed to be as scared of the human as they were of her. That was intolerable. The scowl turned to a darkly surprised chuckle at the speed the human reacted, shouting her command with a good deal of authority at the same time as Heti herself.

“She's holding armed grenades you idiots, no one move.”

The human grinned nastily. “Four Blarcht Suprex Detonators.”

Heti winced mentally, although her expression never changed. If those grenades detonated the blast wave would bring down the roof as well as pulverise everyone in the den.

“Well you have my attention human, what do you want?” Heti demanded icily.

The human female prodded Oscht who jerked and then took a deep breath before speaking loudly and clearly.

“The human's called the Leader's Challenge.”

Heti snarled at the outrage, the gall of this wretched human, before her cold laughter echoed in the Reiver's den.

“You mean to take the Reivers from me human?”

“It seemed easier than slaughtering the rest of them, I've done enough of that already.”

The human looked alert but at ease and her scent wasn't fearful. In fact she didn't smell quite the same to Heti as other humans she'd come across. Heti sensed her gang reacting to the human female's statement, and realised she had no choice. Regardless of the rules she'd made herself about who ruled the gang, the scent of their fear in the den was thick now, leavened with anxiety and edged with panic. The only way her gang wasn't going to unravel before her eyes was if she killed the human who had ripped their collective swagger and machismo away in the access tunnel. Well, if this human thought killing her would be as easy as killing her Reivers it was in for a nasty surprise.

“Fine human, you want me, come and get me.” With that Heti fluidly stood and stalked across the den, her cybernetics reporting fully capable as the cyborg readied herself for a fight.

***r

Ashai knew she looked unconcerned as the Korkari female scrambled out of the way giving her first proper look at Heti the Reiver, but mentally she took stock and wished Heti was smaller. The Reiver's feared leader was a freak. Physically she was huge for a Korkari female, almost as large as the Togan male Ashai had decapitated a minute before. Shatrtick had told her the Reiver was augmented, but seeing Heti in the flesh made it clear the Krayt boss had somewhat underplayed Heti's augments.

Heti was well over 2.2 metres and seemed almost as wide, but where Ashai expected to see the heavy coarse fur Korkari had, most of the Reiver's body seemed to be cybernetic, matte black metallic plates of armour that moved smoothly and soundlessly. Even Heti's horns had been augmented. Instead of facing a female Korkari, Ashai found herself facing a full cyborg, even most of Heti's face had been replaced, her snarling muzzle and nose jutting out from the armoured form. Heti wore a strapped combat harness but obviously felt that was all she needed given almost all of her body was artificial. She stepped away from her gang and moved into the clear middle of the den.

Warily, Ashai unsheathed the Di Kat, the metal whispering as it slid free, her other hand holstering the big Makatov, as the gangers moved to form a big circle around the duel. Hound and Key struggled to analyse Heti's augmentations as Ashai disarmed the grenades and took up a guard position the Di Kat blade held high. Heti took note of the Di Kat with a snort of dismissive laughter. The cyborg spread her arms wide and there was snick of sound as wicked paired blades extended from hidden sheaths in her arms.

“Shit. That frickin metal monster has more height, weight, reach and now those blades as well.”

Heti laughed evilly as Ashai was unable to stop a surprised expression flitting across her face.

“I'm gonna carve you into little bits human. You have no idea what you're facing.”

“Is that so Heti?, I dunno you look like you're a little rusty.” Ashai sneered back, putting on a brave face in spite of suddenly feeling very over matched. The Reiver growled angrily and stepped forward.

“For your impudence I'm gonna hurt you instead of just killing you.”

The Reivers around them roared their approval and the fight was on.

Ashai gave ground as she barely parried Heti slashing arm blades, managing to redirect the lightning fast strike as Heti lunged in.

“Shit she's fast.”

Heti pressed the attack, a series of swipes and lunges with her twin pairs of arm blades, the sheer weight of her strikes forcing her smaller foe to try and divert and dodge her strikes. Ashai rolled desperately hurling herself under Heti's offence, flicking the Di Kat blade as she moved trying to hamstring the cyborg. Heti laughed manically again as she easily stepped away from the strike, and followed Ashai's movement turning defence into a lightning fast kick that Ashai barely avoided, dodging once more.

There was a moment's pause as the first exchange ended with both fighters in a guard position. Ashai grimly wondered how this was going to turn out. The Korkari Reiver was far faster than she had expected, fast enough that Ashai was having to work hard to avoid her lethal strikes. Ashai thought she was still faster but only just, and Heti's cyborg reactions were death adder quick, comparable to her own. Key was running analysis looking for weaknesses in Heti’s technique and her armour but so far there was nothing.

Heti surged forward again attacking in a blur of alloy. Ashai's evaded the first swipe but was forced to block the second with the Di Kat, throwing a shower of sparks along the clashing blades. She grunted in sheer shock at the strength behind Heti's attack, even as the cyborg span with lethal grace, unlocking the blades and planting a fierce kick in her ribs.

Ashai screamed in pain as she was hurled clear across the gang's den, time slowing as Key catalogued the damage. The kick badly fractured five of her reinforced ribs, even with Hound's protection. The flying impact with the concrete wall hurt like hell but didn't do any substantial damage. She fell to the floor with a grunt, before forcing herself to ignore the grinding sensation in her rib cage as she rose quickly in case Heti followed up.

“I'll admit you surprise me Lennox. You Humans are normally so damn squishy but you seem to be made of sterner stuff.” Heti spoke calmly, watching as Ashai readied herself for the next exchange, “Still I haven't had a fight last even this long in years so I suppose I should thank you for the workout, pathetic as it is. Ready for more pain, Lennox?”

Ashai coughed out a bloody mouthful, as Key damped down her pain and began repairs, Hound shunting a trace more energy to speed the process.

“Dammit so far I haven't even hit the bitch! If this keeps up she'll murder us.”

Combat effectiveness impaired 5.23%
Repairs engaged, completion in 4 minutes 37 seconds.

Key supplied the information, as Ashai warily watched Heti. The Combat Primer was suggesting the use of ranged weaponry but that wasn't an option for this challenge fight. It's best advice after that was taken into account was to disengage in face of an opponent who seemed as quick but had all the physical advantages.

“I need to be faster.” Mentally Ashai demanded the speed from Hound and Key and then charged.

****

Heti’s cybernetic reactions let her meet the attack as the human hurtled forwards much faster than before. Surprise flickered through her cold mind as her processing was forced to trade resolution for speed to keep track of the engagement. Having two sets of blades allowed the cyborg to deflect the whirlwind of steel but as the strikes flickered out her guard was being forced wider. Finally the Human's sword was inside her guard and slashed down her torso. Heti ignored the pain stimuli, they meant nothing as her armour deflected the blade, allowing the sharp alloy to peel away a strip of fur before sparking off her. Laughing at the dismayed expression that flashed across Lennox's face, Heti turned it to horror by trapping the blade with her left arm and its blades, before her right came slashing across, the lethally sharp tips ripping across the Human's left bicep in a spray of blood as Lennox's coat and armour failed and the human was forced to give up the sword to get out of range. Heti laughed again evilly as she stalked the human across the den.

“It's a good blade Human, but you'll need more than that to hurt me.” Heti casually threw the Di Kat aside as she moved forward going back on the offensive, easy slashes from her blades forcing the Human backwards across the den.

***d

Ashai cursed herself for getting involved in Shatrtick's schemes as she dodged another swipe, with a rolling evasion, ignoring the pain from her ribs and arm as best she could. Key informed her that her left biceps was almost half severed and would take at least 5 minutes for initial repairs. Ashai savagely muttered mentally that she didn't have 5 minutes. If Heti got close again with those blades Ashai doubted she had 5 seconds. A normal human with those blades or even a Korkari or Togan and she wouldn't have been worried, Hound's armour would have coped easily but with Heti's immense cybernetic strength behind each strike all bets were off. It would be wonderful to just shoot the damned cyborg but the Reiver's challenge fights were melee combat only, and surrounded by armed and ready Reivers Ashai didn't like her chances if she cheated because she was losing. Sooner or later Heti was going to get lucky or smart with her strikes and Ashai would be in more shit.

Heti was getting closer with her strikes and Ashai was running out of room to evade the cyborg's attacks. The Reiver boss was herding her back towards the wall, and kept on manoeuvering to cut off her escape. A desperate plan sparked in her mind as Ashai threw herself sideways again, feeling the momentary tautness in the fabric of her long coat before Heti's blades sliced through it. Urgently she sent her instructions to Hound, feeling the her Warp Core widen in response as Hound readied the charge for her tentacles. Key dampened her Prime's pain receptors as much as feasible and Ashai finished her last evasion roll, slapping her leading palm to the floor with all the augmented strength she possessed, redirecting her motion and throwing herself up before surging forwards, trying to get under Heti's guard. The cyborg had anticipated her movement and was fast enough to land another glancing strike on her, the blades ripping another bloody gash from her back.

Locking her right arm around the Heti's torso, Ashai spun herself to leap and grapple with the Reiver from behind. She had fractions of a second to make this strike, so vulnerable to those lethal blades the cyborg possessed. Grabbing Heti's armoured head from behind, with her wrists pressed against the Korkari exposed muzzle, Ashai triggered the tentacle spikes and the massive electrical charge that Hound had built. The hard tipped spikes sank into Heti’s flesh, boring into her skull, and as the charge erupted Heti shrieked as millions of volts of power ripped though her, cooking her armoured skull and brain, shorting her cybernetic augmentations.

Even in the face of such horrendous energy it took long seconds for Heti to die, her flesh cooking as secondary and tertiary safety and backup systems failed. The charge shorted her motive systems first and the Reiver endured a short but interminable agony, as her body locked up and refused to strike the human female killing her. Finally Heti's core processors failed under the onslaught and the cyborg monster that ruled the Reivers with terror and an iron fist died in a stench of actinic ozone, burned cybernetics, and cooked meat. The spikes retracted and Ashai fell off the burning corpse which toppled forwards. Ashai rolled herself feebly extinguishing the flames that had reached her ruined long coat and just lay there, exhausted, tired beyond belief.

****g

There was silence in the Reiver's den. The gang was too stunned at the conclusion of the savage fight. Most of it had been too fast to see clearly, a welter of sparking blades and the flowing motions of the small Human, mixed with shouts and grunts of pain. No one moved. Whether through fear or respect of anyone who could take down the cyborg didn't matter. Any single one of them could have killed the Human laying on the plascrete floor but no one did. Finally Lennox rolled to her feet, staggering over to her sword before propping herself up with it as she leant against the den wall.

“Anyone else feel the urge to fight me today?”

There were no takers and Ashai nodded in relief as Key directed the energy flooding through her, healing her Prime as rapidly as possible. Ashai stood up straighter as the fatigue drained away and examined the Reivers around the den. They looked shell shocked, although there were some alien expressions she interpreted as relief as well. None seemed hostile to her directly and all were doing their level best to appear non threatening. Good at least she didn't appear to have a second fight to worry about immediately. She examined the Di Kat's blade, happy the alloy had withstood the fight with such a strong being with no more than a couple of minute nicks before sheathing it and with a deep breath moved on to the second part of her plan.

“Heti's dead, and with her gone the Reivers are finished. I killed her to give you a chance to live. I've butchered half of you already and I don't want to finish the rest but if I have to, I will. The Krayt are taking control of the Reiver's old territory. Their squads are now much more heavily armed than before and they're waiting to come and kill the lot of you. You can either drop your weapons and surrender, or fight and die. Those who surrender will be allowed to leave unarmed and unharmed, or given the opportunity to join the Krayt if you want. Given there are a lot of people looking to settle scores with the Reivers I think you should join the Krayt but the choice is up to you. You have five minutes to think it over, then you need to walk out there. Either you walk away or join the Krayt. Anyone who shows a weapon outside will be shot down with no warning. Start thinking.”

There was a moment of silence before a few voices began talking urgently amongst themselves. Soon the den was a hubbub of noise and conversation as the Reivers argued amongst themselves. Ashai stood to the side and watched and waited, alert to the possibility of an attack but none materialised. With her declaration that the Reivers were finished, it seemed the group dynamic had decided she was too big a threat to face and therefore best ignored. Less than four minutes after she finished speaking the first Reiver carefully put his combat maul on the plascrete floor and then walked to the tunnel and out of sight. The Reivers listened as his exit was met outside by shouts to walk out unarmed. When there was no weapons fire the single Reiver became a trickle, and then a general exodus as weapons were discarded. The demoralised gang was beaten and they knew it, no point in being killed to prove a point. As the group shrank Ashai found the Lieutenant that Heti had reacted to earlier and called the Korkari male over.

“What's your name?”

“Juver.” The Korkari was calm and more curious than fearful. “What you want Lennox?”

“Show me Heti's stash.”

The Korkari paused for a second then shrugged, and walked across the den to where Heti had been lounging, Ashai following. Behind a flimsy screen there was a pile of bedding with the face down naked figure of a heavily bound and gagged male Korcari on it. The young male was bleeding slowly from several superficial wounds, with many more scabbed over amidst matted fur. At Ashai's shocked expression the Lieutenant grunted a bitter laugh and then pointed at the security casket lying under a pile of clothing and weapons.

“Free him Juver, and get him patched up and dressed, and then kick him out with the rest.”

“He's not a Reiver human, Heti had that one picked up to play with. She's had him most of this season.”

Ashai shuddered in horror. “Maker. Gods wept, set the poor bastard free and give him some creds to get him on his feet, what the fuck did she do to him, his horns look like he's 80.”

“Heti liked pain Lennox. The creds are in the secure casket but I know the code. You'll need her print though, for that and the bonds.”

“Fucking hell. Go and get her print Juvar, cut the Maker damned bitch's hand off and then free him.”

The former Lieutenant nodded and shortly returned with the Heti's augmented hand. With surprisingly gentle movements Juvar moved the now whimpering younger male and found the contact plate for the bonds. Pressing Heti's thumb to it and a hidden catch made the restraint system release its victim. The young male began to struggle weakly as the restraints loosened and quickly Juvar rolled him on his side so he could see that Heti wasn't present.

“Easy youngling, you're free now.” He continued muttering soothing words to the younger Korkari as he released the gag. The male lay there, dazed and confused as Ashai watched in horrified fascination. She could see there was still a trace of sanity in the tortured Korkari's gaze but not much. Shuddering again she took the severed hand and activated the secure casket, getting Juvar to give her the codes. The 50cm casket held a pile of cred sticks and a bag of uncut gems. Ashai was surprised to find the cred sticks were unsecured. Juvar noticed her confusion and explained Heti never felt the need when there was no access without her authority, which no one lived to challenge.
Nodding her understanding Ashai grabbed two mid value sticks and both were full with 10k. 20000 creds from two sticks and there were another fifteen of varying denominations including an unlimited stick.

“Here Juver give him those, and this one's yours. Thanks for your help, now get yourself out of here please.”

Juver half carried the former slave out into the main den that was now almost totally deserted and with a final wave headed for the tunnel. Ashai woefully examined her long coat wondering whether it would be repairable before deciding that she needed its pockets anyway. After checking the pockets were whole she pulled the long coat back on, stashed the cred sticks and gems before retrieving her detonators, disarming them before walking slowly for the secondary exit tunnel.

***h

Gantol had moved from the warehouse crime scene to Sec Bur's main station in the Port District. He would have preferred to be in the Transport Depot closer to the landing pads, but the facilities there hadn't been repaired yet so he was having to take command from much further away than he liked. He was sure Lennox was somewhere in the Port's massive facilities, and he was sure the Krayt knew where. He had no proof, but his instincts told him that Shatrtick had to know, so he had applied some pressure and moved while he waited to see what developed next. Gantol knew something was happening, he could just feel it, but the question was what?

Sergeant Katx was prowling around in the cavernous Transfer Depot, steadily working his way down through the levels, looking for some sign that Lennox had been around. So far all he had come across was teams of technicians replacing power cabling and datalines, from the sabotage that Gantol had insisted was down to Lennox somehow, or to her accomplices. Katx thought the idea that Lennox had collaborators assisting her on Yasm had the Intelligencia officer more worried than anything else. Gantol was smelling a conspiracy and was demanding results from his Intelligencia teams and Katx's Sec Bur colleagues. Katx had finally made it down to the Transfer Depot's lowest basement floor, and was working on identifying the local gangers when he spotted the trucks coming out the access tunnel from the concourse and heading into the Landing Pad Access.

Something was odd about those trucks, and he began looking around for transport while his mind turned the problem over. Quickly he spotted an electric buggy the maintenance teams used and striding over showed the poor tech his ID, then relieved him of the control key. Yanking the buggy around Katx set off after the trucks, while he got on the comm.

“Officer Gantol, I might have something, I'm following two trucks that have exited the concourse access tunnel and are headed for the landing pads. Something’s not right.”

Gantol listened and looked at the Station Watch Officer who looked bemused.

“What?”

The Watch Officer started and dipped his head in apology. “Apologies Officer Gantol. It's just that no one uses trucks to ferry goods down the tunnel since the Reivers took control at the other end, and they're just bandits they don't bother moving cargo.”

Gantol nodded thoughtfully as his pulse sped a little. The Krayt controlled the smuggling, and the Reivers the protection rackets in the Concourse. Blue Hand ran the drugs, prostitution and gambling.

What would throwing Lennox into the mix have done? Gantol mused. The human needs a way off Yasm, which Shatrtick can supply. What would Shatrtick want enough that he would risk deceiving me? What could Lennox offer him? The answer was stunningly simple he realised. Lennox offered violence. Her covert status was blown anyway and she needed the Krayts's smuggling connections to escape Yasm. In exchange she could what? Slaughter the Cobalts? That made no sense, Shatrtick would ignore the Cobalts as the scum they were. Could Lennox have decided to go after them for their attack on her? It seemed unlikely but it was even more unlikely that there were two killers around that would produce the scene of carnage in the warehouse, so most likely that was Lennox and it was personal for some reason. With that level of violence temporarily under his control what would Shatrtick do? Control....it was about control.

“Katx, how much do you know about the Port gangs?”

“Not much Sir, just the basics, not my district.”

“Hmmm okay keep following the trucks, I'll be back to you soon.” Gantol clicked off the comm and turned to the Watch Officer. “How are things between the gangs in the Port?”

“It's a stalemate most of the time. Blue Hand have the Red zone, Krayt the Depot and Pads, and the Reivers have the Concourse. Blue Hand and the Krayt aren't allies but they don't squabble as much. They've more in common with each other than the Reivers. The Reivers had been eating into Krayt territory as they got stronger. More thugs, better weapons and arms, and they like using them. I think it's stable at the moment.”

Gantol nodded as his understanding came together. “Anything in the last few days? Other than Lennox.”

“Well it sounded like a firefight in the access tunnel before Lennox arrived but we figured the Reivers ambushed some unlucky bastard. No way of telling with the surveillance system in the tunnel out, and I didn't have the resources in the Depot to go check, even before that human trash slaughtered Beta Squad.” The Watch officer finished bitterly, his set stance daring Gantol to pass judgement.

Gantol nodded his understanding, “Well, we have the resources now Watch Officer. I think we should go check on the Reivers.”

Gantol turned away, switching comm channels and ordered heavily armed Intelligencia squads into the Depot from where they waited above ground. Their orders were to secure the Depot and tunnel entrances to the Landing Pads and Concourse, No one in or Out, and additional squads were tasked to proceed along the tunnel to the Concourse to recon in strength the Reivers territory. The Sec Bur Stations ready and reserve Squads were deployed to the Concourse Lower levels to ensure there were no ready escape routes into the Concourse proper.

The Watch Officer obeyed his orders while wondering how big the casualty list was going to be. His squads had always been mauled when they probed the Reiver's positions. Gantol's response to his concern was dismissive. “I think, no I'm sure, that this time they won't have any problem Watch Officer.”

His orders given, Gantol checked on Sergeant Katz. The Sergeant had parked his requisitioned buggy just short of Krayt territory, and been able to observe the two trucks being emptied further up the tunnel. Expecting boxes of cargo he was surprised when Korkari and other species climbed out and were escorted into a maintenance access by waiting Krayt troopers while the two trucks turned and headed back down the tunnel, past him and into the Transfer Depot. Gantol told him to hold his position and watch for more Krayt activity while explaining his theory and the orders he'd given. It would take a few minutes to get everyone in position but soon the Transport Depot would be locked up tighter than Intelligencia's cells.

The Krayt trucks moved swiftly towards the Reiver's den. Too fast in fact, as the first Intelligencia Squads arrived on the Depot's lowest level two minutes behind them and immediately secured the facility and tunnel entrances. The Krayt's drivers, escorts and their new prisoners or recruits were trapped.

***d

Shatrtick cursed as the news of Intelligencia squads taking control in the Transfer Depot rapidly fed back to his command centre. The situation could get worse but not much. Half of the surviving Reivers were back in his base, disarmed and under guard until he could evaluate them. The other half were still waiting to be picked up and were now behind the Intelligencia forces along with his men. There were reports from the Concourse of Sec Bur troops heading into the lower levels and more reports of at least 2 Intelligencia squads heading along the tunnel towards the Concourse. He had immediately instructed the trapped Krayt not to resist, that he would get them released as soon as possible.

His gamble had been a stunning success, Heti was dead and the Reivers were effectively no more, but with Gantol's interference, it might be for nothing. He was losing his precious window of opportunity to secure the Concourse before the Blue Hand discovered his power play and the vacuum in the district's power structure. Last but not least, he didn't know where Lennox was and he didn't know what Gantol would do next. Right now Shatrtick reflected he wished he didn't have Lennox's juvenile under his care. He was too exposed, both to Gantol, and to the murderous human, although at least she hadn't been paid yet. Giving instructions for a warning to be commed to Lennox, Shatrtick headed to his office to wait for Gantol's next move.

Legacy of the Anari

by Ashleigh Blayze

Chapter 14

Apologies for the delay....join me now for the final chapter of Ashai's first tale.... Will Ashai get back to Neti? Will Shatrtick and Gantol get their asses kicked? What will those mercs do?

Ashai ran along the secondary access tunnel to the Reiver's base as she heard the noise of Intelligencia troops in the tunnels, and Sec Bur getting closer. With the depot locked down how was she supposed to get back to Neti? Damn, how was she supposed to get paid? The only route left was going above ground through the Concourse and then out to the Docking Bays. That meant she had to get out of Sec Bur's security sweep before they got established thoroughly. Telling Hound and Key to give her maximum sensor coverage Ashai ran. She was accelerating hard as she left the small tunnel, jinking rapidly in a blur as she avoided the Krayt squad milling around with their Reiver prisoners. The startled gangers barely had time to see her let alone move before she was around them and away, sprinting North, through the Concourse's maintenance system.

Ashai passed the first stairwell up almost before she realised it, even with Key's warning she barely had time to glance and confirm it was empty.

“I've gotta slow down a bit, no good running straight into Sec Bur.”

I doubt Sec Bur would appreciate it if you did run into them Prime. Not for long anyway.

“Very funny Key.”

Ashai slowed from a sprint, halving her pace to a run that would put an Immit to shame and was faster than any human had a right to move.

“How am I gonna get back into the Transfer Depot Key? If anyone sees me there's gonna be a huge fight and I still need to get back to Neti.”

Key saw with satisfaction that her Prime was worried for her young charge than about the prospect of another fight. The protective instincts of a parent were valuable for a Prime, and a much healthier source of motivation than pure revenge on the Dtilla. Her neural chemistry was definitely adjusting to a parental role, and her lack of fear of another confrontation with the Korkari forces was down to increasing confidence in her new form and skills. All in all, Ashai’s adjustments were going well.

Well if it's a bad idea for us to go to Neti then we must get the Krayt to bring her to us, Prime.

“Hmmm, that sounds like a plan Key. Okay let's find somewhere to hole up and comm Shatrtick.”

I believe the maintenance stores bay coming up should be suitable Ashai.

The dark maintenance stores bay off the side of the passageway was locked with a length of dirty heavy metal chain through its chain link fencing, and Ashai looked at the rusty chain speculatively, wondering how strong it was. Only one way to find out. Grabbing the Di Kat she slid the blade through the 10mm thick links and stabbed the sword’s point into the frame, before taking up the slack in the chain. Slowly Ashai pulled, hoping the chain would give before the Di Kat. She needn't have worried. With the added force of her augmented muscles, the Di Kat carved through the chain link. The link fell apart easily, allowing the rest of the chain to slide loose.

Quickly, she stepped into the darkened bay before securing the fencing again with the chain and a handy pry bar. The store’s light came on in murky illumination in response to her presence. She looked around, finding nothing more useful than cleaning equipment and chemicals plus an assortment of tools as well as a couple of lockers. Spotting the switch for the weak overhead lighting Ashai quickly turned it off. Her enhanced vision was more than adequate and the last thing she wanted to do was attract attention as she rifled through the lockers. Inside she found a dirty orange work suit that was far too big for her, with it's accompanying hard helmet, a well used tool belt and a cred stick she ignored. Ashai glanced again at the work suit as an idea began to form in the back of her mind.

“Key I need a disguise to get us out of here, and I think a technician carrying a tool case sounds about right. Go anywhere and do anything and you're just part of the scenery right?”

There was a small pause as Key examined her idea.

That sounds workable Ashai. It has been my experience in the past that looking like you belong is the simplest way to hide, and it should allow us to get close enough to the Depot and Krayt that we can work out our next move.

“Good then this is what I want...”

The process of disguising her combat suit took a while. Ashai and Key worked up the images of the work suit and then Hound set to work. The colour changes would be the last thing to do, just before Ashai risked more travelled areas. Down here in the basement levels she would stick with broken greys and browns. The tight, sleek and sexy armoured body suit took on first the appearance of heavy duty fabric liberally patched with leather protection for knees and elbows, before filling out as Hound added more armour to fill out her torso and make her curvy figure less obviously female and far less distracting or noticeable. The way the armour now flattened and squashed her breasts was definitely uncomfortable but she just had to cope with it. Additional layering in the arms and legs gave her a heavier more muscled appearance. Once they were happy with the general appearance, Hound began distressing and dirtying the suit, while Ashai liberally wiped her arms and thighs with accumulated grease from the workbench leaving the marks of a worker wiping their hand clean. Her armored gauntlets similarly became disguised as heavy duty work gloves.

“Okay we're getting there, but I still need a hard hat.”

Hound can form a hard hat but you won't be able to remove it. It will offer substantially head protection, and your disguised suit also gives more protection than normal.

“I like being protected Key, but it looks so damn ugly and it’s not comfortable either.” Ashai complained referring to her flattened bust.

If you would like the work suit in a fetching shade of purple it can be arranged. Key twitted her, and Ashai laughed quietly despite the circumstances.

“No I think we'll stay like this and then move to greasy orange and dirt brown as planned. Nice idea though, and I’ll just put up with being a little squashed for now. We do need to do something about my hair though, it’s too distinctive.”

No problem Prime, we can just change it too something less striking. My nanites are throughout your body and hair. I can use them to modify the reflective properties of your hair and alter its colour temporarily.

“Wow. That sounds like a very useful trick Key.”

It's been used by Guardians and Primes for disguise many times Ashai, as well as simply for self expression.

“Hmm, can you change my skin as well as my hair? Make it so I look older?”

It’s possible although again the effect is only temporary, as it involves counteracting many of your nanites normal maintenance functions.

“Okay, Key can you show me what I look like in the work suit?”

In Ashai's mind a sharp image of how she looked appeared.

“Is that really how I look?” she asked surprised, “I look different somehow.”

That's because normally you only see yourself in a mirror Ashai, not how the outside world sees you, and it reverses the image.

It was a weird experience, but Ashai found it fascinating.

“How bizarre. Okay Key, I want you to show me what I would look like with dull brown hair, and make me look older, rougher skin, can you manage that?”

Of course Prime, I hope you're not too shocked at the results.

Ashai laughed mentally, then stopped abruptly as the image in her mind suddenly changed and aged 20 years. It made her look like a very good looking woman past her prime who had a hard bitter life, her full lips thinner and cracked, her skin's pores more visible and with a pasty complexion, with hard lines around her eyes. It was an image of a hard life gone badly wrong and for a moment she found it quite disturbing. Key's reassuring voice reminded her that the disguise would only be temporary.

“Okay Key how long would it take to do this?”

Only about 6 minutes.

“Okay then start the process please and change my face and hair, but have Hound leave the suit colour as it is for now.”

Confirmed Prime, commencing.

Ashai felt a strange tingling in her scalp and face. It was a little uncomfortable but not painful at all. Satisfied that the disguise problem was being solved she decided that it was time to talk to Shatrtick. Reaching for her comm, Ashai hunkered down in the darkness behind the lockers to wait for her disguise to complete.

***

Shatrtick picked up his comm, and took a breath before answering the call.

“I am pleased you succeeded Human. Are you well?”

“I'm just fine Shatrtick. I got your warning comm. What's the situation now?”

“Sec Bur forces are reportedly searching the Concourse for you in strength, they have been observed with your picture. Intelligencia Squads have taken over the Transfer Depot, and secured all the access points above and below ground to the Landing Pads. They have not yet begun searching Krayt territory, but I suspect that will not be long. They are already approaching the Krayt and Reiver prisoners I have trapped behind their blockades. I have instructed my Krayt to surrender. They are not equipped or trained to deal with Intelligencia forces.”

“Okay Shatrtick, I understand that. Has the shuttle landed yet?”

“Yes Lennox it has, and your contact's name is Dveina Thurti. She has made the arrangements to take you off Yasm, along with your juvenile. The Landing Pad is under heavy surveillance at the moment though.”

“Oh? I thought you were being discrete Shatrtick.” Lennox's voice was surprised.

“I am Human.” Shatrtick replied, growling softly in irritation. “The Intelligencia team is watching the Mercenary detachment who have been recruiting from Pad 14. Apparently, they have been associated with you already and are therefore suspect.”

“I suspect you would prefer it if we didn't meet in your base.” Lennox sounded thoughtful but as she was correct about his worries Shatrtick was happy to agree.

“You understand the situation well Human, I have no wish to have Intelligencia and Sec Bur finding us together.” Shatrtick replied. There was a pause before the Human spoke again.

“Then you're going to have to bring Neti and my gear, and my pay to me, very quietly, and meet near Landing Pad 14.”

“That would not be wise Lennox not with Sec Bur and Intelligencia all around!”

“I don't care that it's not wise Shatrtick. You will bring me Neti, my pay and belongings. You, yourself so I know there is no deceit.”

“There is no deceit and what you ask is too dangerous. I will not Human.”

“You will Togan. If you don't want me to come to you, then you must come to me.” There was a slight pause before Lennox's voice continued on the comm, but the change in her tone and the threat it carried was undeniable. “Or would you rather I begin clearing a third Gang from Talont City?”

Shatrtick's anger and fear at the threat made his fur bristle as he replied coldly. A threat for a threat.

“You threaten me Lennox? When I have you juvenile so close at hand? That is...unhealthy.”

There was another long pause, but Lennox's voice when it came was tone dead and flat, seemingly patient as Lennox spoke. In Shatrtick's mind he remembered the human, fully armed, in his command centre, the tiny shifts in body weight as she prepared to unleash slaughter around her.

“Shatrtick, let me make myself plain. You thought I couldn't deal with Cobalts or Grinder and I have. You thought I couldn't cope with Heti, and your description of her cybernetics was sadly lacking. Heti's dead and the Reivers are no more so you have the chance you wanted to control the Concourse and the Landing Pads, all because of me. I've completed my half of the bargain, and now you personally will complete yours. If any harm comes to the girl then I will revisit that pain on you fiftyfold. I will take your feeble band of smugglers and I will gut them. And lastly, I will gut you. I will not care how many die as I come to get you, and I will level this entire Port if I have to. Now make your choice Togan before I lose my temper and declare our bargain void and everything you hold dear forfeit.” Lennox's tone turned cold and vicious as she finished her promise of retribution.

There was a moment of quiet as Shatrtick recoiled from the deadly promise in the Human’s words and hastily weighed up the the situation. Looking down he noticed his hands trembled slightly with his anger and fear. He was caught in a web made of his own ambition, and it shamed him to realise that the trembles were more from his fear then anger. There was no choice, the Intelligencia were bad, but the thought of Lennox ripping through everything he had built....He was caught on the Gatchi's back with no way off except to do as Lennox demanded.

“I...I will comply Lennox. When and where?” The Togan asked, eyes closed in resignation.

“Good. This is what I want you to do...”

***

Dveina Thurti closed the comm call from Shatrtick and wondered what the Krayt boss had gotten into. Intelligencia and Sec Bur were both looking for the cargo he was smuggling aboard her shuttle. There wasn't anything she could do about that now, she'd agreed and that was that. If Shatrtick failed to get the cargo to her, then she was not at fault, but if he succeeded then she had to ensure the Shuttle got off planet. Honour and economics demanded it, plus Yasm would be a piss poor place to be detained, it was a dump. Thinking intently, Dveina cast her gaze over the Launchpad Bay 14. Her crew were busy unloading the cargo they’d brought down into Yasm's gravity well. Talont Spaceport technical teams were moving around the shuttle, performing routine maintenance tasks. Across the Bay, in the shadows cast by the early afternoon sun, a group of mercenaries were clustered around the bay's portabooth. Giving the mercenaries a closer look, Dveina decided that the veterans looked competent enough, while the recruits looked mostly hot and bothered in the stifling Docking Bay atmosphere. Thinking about the potential issues with her unknown, but Human cargo as well as the Human mercenaries in the Bay, Dveina decided a chat with the mercenary officer was a necessity.

***

Lt Resnij looked up as Banks escorted the Shuttle's loading officer into the portabooth's tiny office. Waving a hand at the only free seat, Resnij wondered what the Shuttle's officer wanted. Looking about with her species's characteristic rapidity, the female Immit waited for her escort to leave, then she closed the door and sat. The Immit reached into her pocket and withdrew a small pyramid that appeared to be made of ceramic. Resnij's eyes widened slightly as he realised the small device was a sonic muffler. The Immit pressed a button, which recessed into the top of the pyramid and the air around them took on a shimmery quality as the muffler ensured that the conversation would not be overheard. Leaning back in his seat Resnij waited.

“Hello Human, my name is Dveina Thurti, and I'm the shuttle's loading officer. According to my manifest you are Lt Resnij of Narwhat's Fourth?”

“That's correct Officer Thurti. What can I do for you?” Resni asked.

“I have a problem.”

“I had guessed that.” Resnij replied as he wondered if Immit understood irony. “What does that have to do with me?”

“I am told the Port is being searched by the authorities. I have been asked to assist a cargo off Yasm, and I am concerned that the heavy security may prevent this.

Resnij snorted. “Yeah security is tight, as well as Intelligencia surveillance.”

“Surveillance?”

Resnij laughed and explained about the not so subtle surveillance his detachment was under and Intelligencia's suspicion of the mercenaries. All because he had picked up Lennox when Sec Bur had asked him to.

“Is Lennox your cargo?” Resnij asked bluntly.

“I do not know. I was advised the cargo would be a human and a human juvenile. They are being brought here, but if there is an issue because of the security then my honor is threatened. I wished to get your assistance in ensuring my cargo's safety once it arrives.

“Why would you ask us?” Resnij asked. The Immit female cocked its head at him in apparent confusion before responding.

“You are Human. Your mercenaries are Human. My cargo and the juvenile are Human. You will help yes?” The Immit’s tone clearly asked what else was necessary?

Resnij sat back and gazed at the Immit waiting impatiently. He thought briefly about trying to explain that Humans were not like Immit with their extended clan family system. Honor alone would compel an Immit to offer assistance. Sadly, in his experience, Human honor was more flexible. Still, it didn't seem right that this person and child would be prevented from leaving Yasm because the damned Korkari were hunting for Lennox. It didn't seem likely that the cargo was Lennox, not with a child being mentioned. Resnij doubted that Lennox was old enough to have a kid anyway, which was another reason why the Korkari hunting her made no sense. There was no way that young girl could be everything Sec Bur claimed. That hadn't stopped Sec Bur and Intelligencia from utterly fucking up his mission on Yasm. He was nowhere near quota and Narwhat was gonna kick his ass once he reported in. Resnij nodded as he decided. Fuck the Korkari, fuck Sec Bur and fuck the Intelligencia, he would help, it was good karma, and would sooth his frustration at the Maker damned Korkari.

“Yeah, we'll help. What do you want me to do?”

***

Ashai carried the large toolbox which she'd liberated from the maintenance bay, as she walked calmly through the Concourse. Sec Bur were everywhere and she had been stopped several times as she made her way up from the basement levels. To her amazement though, the Sec Bur troopers had simply compared her face to the photo they had, decided she couldn't be the terrifying human Ashai Lennox and let her go. All Sec Bur forces had a photo, and all of them seemed to think that was all that mattered. If the person in front of them didn't match the photo they couldn't be the person they wanted. It was ridiculous but she wasn't going to complain. Maybe the Sec Bur didn't think Humans were devious enough to change their appearance? Maybe it was related to the Korkari use of scent primarily for identifying each other? After the first few checks where Sec Bur troopers compared her face to the photo, Ashai had simply relaxed and looked bored, wishing she had realised it could be this easy earlier.

Before setting out through the basement passageways, Ashai thoroughly searched the maintenance bay. She found a clipboard with a sheaf of paperwork on it, as well as filling her tool belt and hiding her weapons in the toolbox under more tools, but so far no one had even opened the tool box, or asked for ID. It was complete idiocy and she almost felt like jumping up and down and waving at the squads of Sec Bur troops scanning the crowded Concourse. Still, there was no reason to tempt the Maker's sense of humour, so instead, she kept her head down as she joined the throng of Port workers heading to hundreds of destinations. Working her way up to the ground floor had been simple, and now she stepped out into the sunlight of mid afternoon to queue for one of a stream of automated buggies that were shuttling ship crew, ground staff, passengers and many others back and forth between the Concourse and various Docking Bays.

As she waited Ashai glanced at the large board displaying the map of the Landing Bays, knowing that Key would store the data, before looking along the wide covered plascrete strip that marked the pathway out to the Bays.

“Key display the Landing Bay map please.”

The map appeared over her vision, and Key highlighted her current position, her destination Landing Bay 14A, and the Krayt's den which was displayed at the other end of the Landing Bays.
Studying the map for a moment, Ashai decided that the Landing Bay 16, which was the neighbouring Bay closest to the Krayt's den would be where she would head. A few minutes later she reached the front for the queue for the buggies and hopped on the next one as it arrived, along with a half dozen others. Punching in Bay 16 on the keypad next to her seat, Ashai stowed the tool case under the seats and sat back to wait. The buggy's electric motors soundlessly pulled it away from the queue, Ashai sat and carefully watched around, Key and Hound filling in her map with every scrap of relevant data. Security positions, armour and weaponry, surveillance systems, power lines, as Hound's sensors detected items Key would analyse and display it, while the buggy soundlessly moved through the Landing Bay network. Once she was off the buggy, she would comm Neti.

***

Neti squeaked in surprise as Ashai's voice suddenly spoke directly in her ear. Her new Momma had given her the little comm bead and told her to put it in her ear. Neti had obeyed immediately and waited anxiously to hear from her. The day had been boring so far. She had stayed in the room the gang had given her Momma, except when she needed to pee. One of the Krayt had brought her a small meal, which had tasted okay, but mostly she'd just been waiting.

“Momma?”

“Hi Baby, are you all right? Sorry I didn't speak to you sooner hun.”

“That's okay Momma I know you're busy.”

“Yeah but I'll be finished soon. Did you put the comm unit in the bag like I asked?

“Yes Momma, everything is packed, and I have that bead in my ear. You surprised me Momma.”

Ashai's voice laughed gently and Neti could feel the humour and love in it.

“Sorry about that hun, is the bead comfortable? I need you to keep it in your ear if you can.”

“It's fine Momma and I checked in the mirror like you said, you can't see it unless you really look hard. I hid it with my hair as well.”

“Good girl, are you ready to go? Did you hide the stunners like I told you?”

“Yes. I just need to grab my jacket and I'm ready. The stunners are hidden in my jacket pockets and the cred stick is in the inside pocket like you said.”

“Good girl Neti. Okay, in a while the Krayt are gonna come and get you so they can bring you to me. Be a good girl for them but make sure you bring everything okay, we won't be coming back to the den afterwards. I will keep the the channel open so if you need to tell me anything you can do, just whisper okay.”

“Okay Momma.”

“The Krayt are going to bring you to me near Landing Bay 16 and then we can get our shuttle. Don't let them know you can hear me if I speak to you and someone is there okay.”

“Yes Momma.”

“Okay baby, if anything else happens just let me know if you can and be brave okay, I'll be with you soon. Love you.”

“Love you too Momma.”

Neti sat back on the bed to wait, smiling quietly to herself. It felt good knowing her Momma could hear everything and was looking out for her. She pulled the jacket on and grabbed her Momma's carrysack. Now she was ready to go.

***

Ashai leaned back against the pile of crates and storage containers, letting her emotions settle, the love she felt for Neti, the sense of protectiveness just seemed to get stronger all the time. She felt anxious being away from the youngster, relieved to know she was all right at the moment, and proud of her all at the same time. It was a little overwhelming in the intensity of it all but Key was there reassuring her everything was well.

The buggy ride had gone smoothly and she'd got off at Bay 16. As the buggy moved past Bay 14A Ashai had seen a half dozen Sec Bur troopers on guard as well as technicians at work. She hadn't been able to see inside the Bay itself though. There was a lot of cargo stacked outside Bay 16 but only a single guard.

Looking around when she got off the buggy, Ashai saw a power junction box on the wall behind one of the large piles of metallic storage containers of cargo waiting to be shipped out. Above the Bay's entrance hatch a large status screen showed that an arrival was due in a few hours, so there was no one else around outside the Bay except the single guard who wandered across.

“What they got you doing Tech?”

Ashai waved the clipboard of paper at the Sec Bur trooper.

“They got me stripping down the damn box power junction box, on my own as well, it's gonna take hours.” Ashai made to offer the trooper the clipboard of paper to inspect but the Korkari just chuckled and waved her away.

“On your own? You must of pissed the supervisor off! Good luck with that Tech.”

Ashai made a disgusted noise. “Phah, you said it, I have another on Bay 23 as well.”

The Korkari trooper gave a pained grunt of sympathy and headed back to his post, ignoring her as Ashai walked behind the pile of metal out of his view and opened her tool case for appearance's sake, before quietly comming Neti.

Now, the call to her new daughter complete, Ashai began inspecting the power box, and taking a good look around the area. In a few minutes she would give Shatrtick his instructions.

***

Katx had been waiting calmly down the tunnel for hours. Every hour he would comm Gantol with an update and check if the Intelligencia officer had any new instructions, but so far he'd nothing new to do except wait for the Krayt to make a significant move. It was boring but it wasn't as though it was the first time he'd been on surveillance. The buggy he had requisitioned was parked behind a pile of cargo and his position was in the shadows so he was satisfied he hadn't been spotted. Not that it would change much if he was. Sec Bur could do what they wanted. Katx was busy thinking about which of his department's young female administrators was due to come onto season next when movement along the tunnel caught his attention. Raising his low light monoscope to his eye the scene jumped into focus.

A couple of Krayt had appeared out of the maintenance tunnel that was their access to the Krayt base. The Krayt spoke to the guards on duty then one walked back in while another trotted up the tunnel around the bend. A couple of minutes later a hovertruck appeared around the bend and pulled up alongside the tunnel. The driver got out, and vanished inside the tunnel. Katx wondered whether he should comm Gantol that something was happening but as he reached for his comm a large Togan male appeared. Focusing on the Togan, Katx recognised him as Shatrtick, the leader of the Krayt. The Togan got into the hovertruck, and a Korkari Krayt appeared escorting a much smaller figure to the truck. A human female? A juvenile female? Why in the Maker's name would the Krayt have a human juvenile in their base, and why would Shatrtock himself be escorting the juvenile somewhere? Hurriedly taking his seat in the buggy, Katx pressed the power button as he commed Gantol that he was following.

***

Gantol sat back as Katx finished his comm. A Human child? That was new information and possibly vital. Lennox was still on Yasm and after what his Intelligencia squads had found there was no doubt she'd been working for Shatrtick. The discovery of the cyborg's burnt out body and its severed hand had been a shock, but it answered some questions and asked more. Obviously Lennox had killed the cyborg although how was unknown. The Reiver's body had been taken for an autopsy but apparently had suffered massive burns. His Intelligencia squads had captured a number of Krayt and Reivers at the end of the connecting tunnel to the Concourse. The Reivers were unarmed and apparently prisoners but the Krayt had surrendered peacefully as well. Gantol assumed that Shatrtick was counting on his businesslike relationship with the Intelligencia to secure the release of his smugglers. In the meantime, the Reivers had been beheaded and removed as a power in the gang war for control of the Port District. Shatrtick was now in a powerful position, assuming Gantol decided not to intercede.

Was this female child why Lennox hadn't left Yasm already? Gantol would readily concede he wasn't an expert on Humans, who would want to be? He didn't think Lennox was old enough to be the juvenile Human's mother. Possibly a broodkin? Did this explain why Lennox was on Yasm in the first place? There was no obvious reason why Lennox would be associated with the juvenile other than being kin. The chances of the juvenile not being anything to do with Lennox at all? It was possible Gantol conceded to himself, but it was such an odd thing to be happening at the same time Lennox was at large, and for Shatrtick to be involved as well. The odds of coincidence were vanishingly small. In that case if Shatrtick was taking the Human juvenile to meet Lennox where would they go? Gantol instincts were talking to him and they were saying Lennox was ready to leave Yasm now. He still didn't know for sure why Lennox was on Yasm, but if Shatrtick was moving the Human juvenile then as far as Lennox was concerned the work had to be over. Assuming his assumption that the juvenile was brood kin was correct. Gazing into space Gantol nodded to himself, there was no proof but it felt right. So Shatrtick would be taking the Human child to…. Could the mercenaries really just be a coincidence? Only one way to find out. Picking up his comm again Gantol issued new orders.

***

Katx listened to Gantol's update with savage interest. Finally something was happening, and the boredom would cease. He closed up the distance behind the Krayt hovertruck. Gantol would rely on him to close off any escape when the trap was sprung. As the Krayt leader moved deeper into the Landing Bay's tunnel network, Katx wondered whether Gantol's analysis of the situation was correct. He had decided that the gang leader would be heading for Landing Bay 14A, and was deploying forces to ensure that Shatrtick was not able to get there. Which just left the question of where Lennox was and what the Human would do when it became obvious that her plan had collapsed. Not long now.

***

Ashai looked up from where she was working in the guts of the power supply junction box then back down as she cursed mentally at the sight of a dozen heavily armoured and armed Intelligencia troopers running past her stacks of crates and cargo containers. One of the two squad leaders gave orders and quickly the Korkari pulled apart a pile of metal cargo packs and formed a makeshift barricade. Grimly, Ashai approved of the ambush's placement, the barricade was just behind the tunnel corner, it would only be visible at the last moment, and just as anyone was forced to slow down by the piled cargo stacks. The Intelligencia troopers took up their positions around the barricade and levelled their weaponry through the gaps, to wait for their prey, while their squad leaders conferred briefly with the lone Sec Bur guard.

The guard pointed across at her and explained she was repairing the power system. The squad leaders briefly watched her before returning their attention back to the Sec Bur trooper. Half a minute later both squad leaders walked back to their men. Ashai breathed a quiet sigh of relief at not being discovered just yet. She had worried the Intelligencia troops would be more perceptive, but it seemed that knowing the Sec Bur trooper had 'cleared' her was enough. Now all she had to do was wait and work out what to do next. Hound and Key had already analysed and highlighted the Intelligencia's equipment and Ashai was satisfied that she could deal with them. The odds weren't that great though. Lights moving on the tunnel walls in the distance announced the imminent arrival of the first to discover the hasty barricade.

The lights turned out to be another of the silent electric buggies that moved through the tunnel network. It rounded the corner and braked to a sudden halt. In front of the containers making the metal barricade. Half a dozen surprised and alarmed Korkari were quickly checked out and waved on in seconds, three troopers moving to allow the buggy through the staggered crates of the barricade, all under the weaponry of the remaining Intelligencia troopers. Ashai wondered how long it would be before Shatrtick ran into the ambush.

“Should I try and warn Shatrtick Key?”

I do not think so Prime.

“But Neti could be hurt if he tries to escape the ambush!” Ashai argued, concerned for the little girl.

Analysis of Shatrtick's behaviour so far would not suggest any likelihood that he would be willing to get involved in combat with the authorities. He is a businessman, not a warrior. His most likely reaction would be to surrender, and wait to see what happens next. If we were able to provide him with sufficient warning that he avoided the ambush, all it would mean is that either he would retreat back to the Krayt base, or would try to find an alternative route here. Either way means that we are not in a position to assist Neti, and we may be delayed or prevented from escaping Yasm. You might warn Neti that the ambush is coming but anything else would be counterproductive.

Ashai growled in frustration before acknowledging the validity of Key's analysis. She was worried for Neti and having to wait and do nothing was not sitting well with her. Hound's sensors warned her of another buggy coming along the tunnel but this time from the nearer Concourse end. She ducked her head back down and covertly glanced to see who was in the vehicle.

***

Gantol hopped off the buggy as it rolled to a stop just short of Landing Bay 16 and behind his two Intelligencia squads' barricade. Katx had just informed him the Krayt boss was only a couple of minutes away at most, and had shown no sign of stopping short of Landing Bay 14A and the Mercenaries waiting there for their shuttle off Yasm. He had no proof, and the surveillance at Bay 14 had shown no sign of anything suspicious but Gantol was sure in his gut that his guess was correct. Shatrtick would soon prove that one way or another. He strode over to the barricade and casually answered the salutes of his men.

“Everything ready?”

“Yes Officer Gantol. The barricade is in place, and Bay 16 is empty. Just a single guard here and the technician doing repairs to the power junction over on the far wall Sir.”

Gantol looked where his trooper pointed. The orange clad technician was hard at work repairing a power junction. Gantol's suspicion flared momentarily as he realised the dirty tech was a Human female, but another look showed her to be decades older than Lennox, with dirty brown hair and a much heavier build. The technician was well out of harm's way so he decided to leave her be.

“Excellent. Remember, I want them captured unharmed if possible, especially the human juvenile. Sec Bur Serageant Katx has informed me our targets are almost here so be ready.”

The squad leaders returned to their troops, urging them to a higher state of alertness, and Gantol stepped back into the enclosure around the armoured hatch to Landing Bay 16. Despite his suspicious nature the Intelligencia officer missed the twitch the Human technician gave as he mentioned the juvenile.

***

“Neti, stay silent. You are about to be stopped by troopers. Do what they say, and stay alert. When I say so, use the stunners. Remember to close your eyes hun. Cough once if you understand hun.

“Cough.”

“Good girl.”

***

Shatrtick peered down the tunnel as the buggy neared the last corner before Bay 16. Lennox would be near and the Togan felt nervous. The situation was out of his control now and his nerves were jangling from the tension. The juvenile Human coughed in the back of the truck, and then was quiet again. The hovertruck slowed as his Krayt driver braked for the corner, and then swung the vehicle into the corner. The truck's headlights swung around the corner and the driver braked as the piles of cargo containers suddenly came into view. Shatrtick rocked forward under the truck's braking, and he braced himself against the hovertruck's dash. Finally the turning truck's headlights swung further and the driver cursed as he slammed the brake all the way down, to try and dump the slowing hovertruck's remaining inertia. Shatrtick went to curse the driver then his gaze caught the barricade in front of the truck, the weaponry aimed right at them, the heavily armoured troopers swarming to the hovertruck.

Shatrtick sensed more than saw his driver begin to move for his weapon.

“STOP.” The driver looked at him, as Shatrtick glanced in the truck's rear view screen. The sight of a buggy immediately behind their vehicle blocking their escape, settled the decision.

“We're caught Idfari, no point in getting killed as well. Leave the weapon.” Shatrtick ordered, his voice calm.

Outside the truck the troopers surrounded the vehicle, and the amplified voice of a Squad Leader boomed out, ordering that the truck be powered down. Shatrtick nodded and the driver complied, the hovertruck settled down to the ground. Armoured hands ripped open the truck's cab doors, and pulled the Togan boss and Korkari driver out of the vehicle. Shatrtick glanced left and saw another Intelligencia trooper throwing open the rear of the truck, before gesturing into the truck. A trooper prodded Shatrtick to move and he obeyed, looking around, trying to work out what to do next. As the Intelligencia troopers moved him through the barricade, Shatrtick caught his breath as he spotted Gantol. That Maker cursed spy. How? This wasn't random, he was here waiting for them to arrive. Maker Damn him.

The troopers stood Shatrtick against a pile of containers as one quickly and efficiently searched him and removed his weapons and comm, while another trooper kept his plasma carbine aimed at him. A second pair of troopers searched the driver and then stepped back. The driver submitted to the search with ill disguised anger, but obeyed Shatrtick’s example and stood beside the Krayt leader when the search was finished. Another trooper escorted the Human juvenile out of the truck. The Human did as the trooper asked, sitting against a pile of cargo crates, with her arms wrapped around her carrysack. The trooper obviously considered taking the carrysack from the juvenile, then decided he had nothing to fear from the Human girl and let her keep the sack as she sat with it between her knees. Shatrtick tried to decipher the juvenile's expression but it was difficult. She didn't behave in a manner that suggested fear, in fact the Togan concluded the juvenile appeared to be waiting, looking calm and alert, almost expectant. Shatrtick's thoughts were interrupted as another Korkari walked through the barricade, this one dressed in Sec Bur uniform, and Shatrtick realised this must be the driver of the buggy that blocked the hovertruck's only escape.

“Ah, Katx, well done.” Gantol congratulated the Sec Bur Sergeant. “ You timed that very well. They had nowhere to go and no time to escape. We detained the Krayt leader and also the human juvenile you saw. Now we will be able to dictate what Lennox does next. When she tries to contact Shatrtick we can step in and force her to surrender.”

Shatrtick couldn't help it, he snorted his laughter at Gantol's presumption. The Maker Damned spy was so smart and yet he was going to provoke Lennox. Gantol and Katx turned as they heard his snorts, and seeing their indignation made the Togan laugh harder, ignoring the weapons trained on him completely.

“Something amuses you Shatrtick?” Gantol's tone was cold.

“Nothing much Gantol. Just listening to your plan to force Lennox to do what you want. You haven't even the faintest idea of what that means. You're going to take a Gatchi and piss it off. All Lennox has been trying to do is get off planet, with her juvenile, and to do that the mad Human has ripped the crap out of two whole Gangs. And you're going to make her mad at you deliberately? Crazy.” The Togan laughed some more but his tone was bitter.

“That human assassin is on Yasm for a reason and I will find out what.” Gantol declared loudly.

“Lennox slaughtered Sec Bur troopers and she's going to pay for that.” Katx promised angrily.

Shatrtick shook his head as he sneered at the Intelligencia officer.

“Officer Gantol of our revered Intelligencia, I'm no expert, but Lennox is planning on leaving today, and would have been gone already if not for the deal she made with me, so whatever the reason the human is here on Yasm it's already completed. I'm sure you would have heard if some high ranking member of the Administration had vanished or turned up dead."

The Togan turned his loud angry scorn on Katx.

“I know all about Lennox slaughtering your precious Sec Bur thugs, Katx, and you want to give her more bodies to cut her way through? Arrogant fool. Lennox killed Heti single handed and barely broke a sweat. Heti was a fucking psychotic bitch but she used to be an Imperial Assault Reiver. The only reason the Reivers had a hold on the Concourse was because Sec Bur was too scared to try and go in and get her. So now Heti's dead and you want to match Sec Bur and Intelligencia thugs on our little backwater against the Human that killed her? The Administration will hang you both for incompetence, assuming Lennox leaves enough of you in one piece to hang.”

Katx's moved, the enraged Korkari going to strike the Togan. Shatrtick's blistering mockery was enough to infuriate the Sec Bur Sergeant beyond his short temper's already strained limit. He lashed out with a big fist, Shatrtick taking the heavy blow to his midriff with a grunt. The Krayt leader sneered again as the Intelligencia troopers guarding him raised their weapons, and Gantol ordered the Sec Bur Sergeant to stand down after second heavy blow to his torso.

“Enough Sergeant.” Gantol barked.

“You're very brave Katx,” Shatrtick taunted, “attacking an unarmed Togan with plasma carbines pointed at him. You Korkari hit like Togan kits.”

“Sergeant Katx!” Gantol voice was like a lash, halting Katx as he raised his fist again.

Gantol also found the Krayt boss's mockery hard to stomach but even as he forced his own anger down he was analysing Shatrtick's words. The Togan had contradicted some of his own assumptions. He implied that the reason Lennox was still on Yasm was the juvenile not some other operation. If the Human was only interested in getting herself and the juvenile off world, then could Shatrtick be right? By capturing the juvenile could they have just made themselves Lennox's main target? Or would she cooperate with threats to the juvenile's safety? Caught in a rare moment of indecision Gantol wondered whether it would be better to just let the juvenile go and let Lennox leave Yasm unhindered any further. Katx and Sec Bur would never go for it, the deaths of their troopers had to be avenged, but Gantol came to the unwilling realisation that the vast majority of the deaths inflicted by Lennox had helped not hindered the Administration. Disposing of the Cobalts and destroying the Reivers had made the situation in Talont and the Concourse overall far easier to control.

Of course, none of that answered the questions about exactly who or what Lennox was, and the Intelligencia's concerns ran somewhat deeper than Sec Bur. Was Lennox a threat to Yasm or the Administration in general? Why didn't any record of her exist? Where had she come from and how? He shook his head in frustration. It didn't matter if Lennox was only trying to leave, there were too many questions that he, that Intelligencia, needed answered. His thoughts had only taken a couple of seconds, and Katx was still waiting for instructions.

“Shatrtick, I think your attitude will be improved by some time in Intelligencia's cells. I've lots of questions to ask you.”

Shatrtick blinked slowly and if the Togan was intimidated he didn't show it, instead Gantol thought the Krayt leader almost looked relieved.

“That might just be the safest place in Talont for me.” Shatrtick muttered bitterly, thinking of Lennox's promised wrath.

“Sergeant Katx, take Shatrtick and his driver back to Intelligencia for me. Take a couple of my troopers for security as well.”

Katx knew an order he couldn't avoid when he heard one, and saving his grumbling for when he was out of Gantol's sight, grabbed a couple of troopers and gestured for the two captives to walk in front of him back to the buggy. Gantol waited until the buggy was out of sight then detailed a trooper to remove the hovertruck. He glanced around, the lone Sec Bur trooper was still on guard, the technician was still busy, and he had nine Intelligencia troopers still on guard at the barricade. With a trace of worry, Gantol wondered whether that would be enough. Intelligencia troopers had better training than Sec Bur but he would never consider sending only nine troopers after an Imperial Reiver. With a quick comm call he ordered his remaining Intelligencia troopers to reinforce his position immediately. It would take almost 10 minutes, but shortly he would have another 3 full squads on hand.

**

Ashai peered round the cargo containers and swore quietly as she overheard the Korkari officer giving orders on his comm. From the way he spoke, it sounded like he had at least another couple of squads on the way. Whatever she was going to do would have to be quick. Neti was only a few metres away and Ashai felt very proud of her. She looked calm, not scared like Ashai was sure she would have been in Neti's situation.

You forget Prime that you didn't have a Warp Avatar as a personal protector. Neti knows you will come for her, and she knows you are close, how else could you have warned her about the ambush. She is smart, and I think resourceful and brave.

“I know Key but I'm still proud of her. It looks like Gantol is going to ask Neti some questions. If he hurts her...”

I’m sure the spy knows that would be foolish, especially after Shatrtick's comments. Key reassured her.

***

Neti leant her back against the cargo containers and wondered what the big Korkari was going to ask her. The Korkari had been giving orders to everyone else so she guessed he had some power, but he didn't look scary. The Krayt boss had been led away and had gone quietly, in fact the big Togan had sounded relieved. Neti grinned to herself, Shatrtick was probably glad to be away from her Momma's anger, she wondered whether this Korkari had any idea how much trouble he was in. Momma was close and would be here soon.

“What is your name Human?”

“Neti.”

The big Korkari male, crouched down before he spoke again.

“Neti, my name is Officer Gantol. I work for the Administration, and I need you to answer some questions for me. You understand?”

Neti cocked her head at him for a second, then nodded.

“Good. I am looking for a Human female, called Ashai Lennox. Do you know her?”

Trying not to roll her eyes, Neti nodded again. This Korkari was being polite but she was sure he must already know that or why else would he have stopped Shatrtick?

“Do you know where Lennox is Neti?”

She shook her head and the Korkari's expression changed slightly. Neti wasn't sure if the Officer believed her or not, he looked disappointed maybe, or was that worried?

“If you know where she is, you must tell me Neti, Ashai is in a lot of trouble.”

“I don't know.” Neti answered verbally for the first time. The Korkari flared his lips in irritation.

“Well you will be staying with me until I find Lennox.”

“I don't think that's a good idea Ser Gantol.” Neti said respectfully.

“Oh and why is that Human?” Gantol sneered.

“Because you want to take her away and she won't let you. If you make her come and get me, she'll get mad. If you try and stop her you'll die.”

Neti looked up at the Korkari as she spoke, and locked gaze with the big male. There was a long pause before the Korkari looked away and strode over to the troopers at the barricade. Neti watched the Korkari leave and grinned. Momma was coming for her and Ser Gantol was in deep shit.

***

Gantol took the status report from the squad leaders almost on automatic. He would never admit it, but the Human juvenile's piercing gaze had worried him. She was so...certain. Again the treacherous idea of letting Lennox go, flicked through his mind. Was this going to be worth the cost?

***

Ashai grinned at Neti's bald declaration to Officer Gantol. The Korkari's body language was decidedly unhappy. Well shortly the Korkari would be more unhappy. First to spirit Neti away, then deal with Ser Gantol. Moving back into cover behind the Cargo containers she heard the Intelligencia troopers being ordered to change position to cover the tunnel in both directions. The combat primer was pointing out to her that they should be moving her as well, but the Korkari complacently continued to ignore the Human technician, as they moved around efficiently. Hound and Key plotted their movements and new positions, and Ashai checked over her plan. It was spotting the hatchway in the tunnel floor that had sparked the plan. Hidden behind the cargo piles the hatchway was simply marked as Conduit Beta Hatch 16. Pulling up the hatch as part of her repairs on the power junction box was simple, and revealed a small dark tunnel running in both directions along the tunnel, and a junction that led toward Bay 16.

While the squads of troopers had waited Shatrtick to arrive at the barricade, Ashai had rapidly explored the conduit, discovering that it also had access links to other Bays further along the system, and that the exits were operable from inside with the assistance of a basic hydraulic system. Ashai wondered who it was intended for as Korkari would find it very cramped, but supposed there were plenty of other species who would fit. The plan was simple, she would give Neti instructions by comm, then free her and get her into the conduit. Neti would then get herself into Bay 14A to the shuttle, and wait for her there. Ashai would provide a distraction for Gantol and his Intelligencia squads, before joining her in time for lift off. Neti would hopefully be safe and they would be off world. Whether or not Gantol and his troopers were alive was up to them. Ashai had finished her preparations including planting a pair of armed detonators in the repaired junction box. Show time.

***

“Key how long to shed our disguise and change back to the combat default? I'm sick of looking like this.”

The nanos are still active Prime so the hair colour will only take seconds. Approximately a minute for Hound to reconfigure the armour, and just under 4 minutes for the facial disguise.

“Good. Okay begin the changes please Key, while I speak to Neti.”

Ashai ducked back into hiding behind the cargo pile and reached for her comm, whispering into it as she felt the strange tingling in her face begin again, and the orange colour in the armour leached away to blackness as her combat suit began to reform.

“Neti, you're doing really good baby. Stay there and I'll tell you what I'm going to do. When I tell you, I want you to call Officer Gantol to you. Give a small nod, if you remember how to use the stunners I gave you....good girl. Okay this is what we're going to do...”

***

Gantol checked his chrono, the first squad of reinforcements were only a minute away and he felt the tension beginning to loosen in his neck. He could still almost feel the Human juvenile's gaze on his back, following him around as he talked to the troopers. As an experienced Intelligencia Officer, he felt irritated with himself for being nervous and tense. That same tension communicated itself to his men, so now he had almost two squads of nervous troopers. Being in these damn tunnels didn't help. No Korkari liked it, but sometimes you just had to get on and deal with it. Still with another 3 squads he would feel a lot less exposed.

“Ser Gantol?” The juvenile called him, and Gantol peered round the corner. The Human was leaning against the cargo boxes, waiting calmly with her carrysack slung over her shoulder and hands in her jacket pockets.

“What do you want Human?”

“There's a message for you Ser.” The juvenile spoke respectfully and was looking away to his right behind the stacked containers.

“Message..what message?” Gantol started around the containers towards the Human and the pair of troopers followed him, dragged by the sudden urgency in his voice. The three Korkari cleared the stack, and Gantol looked where the juvenile had been staring. There was nothing there, and he turned back to the Human, irritated at being mocked.

“You should have let me go.” The juvenile spoke as she pulled her hands from her jacket, flicking small objects away from her as she clamped her hands over her ears, screwed her eyes shut and opened her mouth all in one seamless movement. Gantol's mind was hurrying to catch up with his instinctive glance to see what the objects were when ear shattering THUMPS of sound and blinding flashes of light went off in his face.

He couldn't see.....he couldn't hear......He pulled himself off the ground, staggering, disorientated, daggers of fiery blinding pain behind his eyes …..and retched helplessly propping himself up against something. Tears streamed from his eyes as Gantol frantically blinked to try and clear the after image on his retina from the flash. Rolling he put his back against...he realised it was a stack of cargo containers...his vision started to return, blurred and eyes streaming but at least he wasn't blind anymore. Looking around he stumbled against the trooper that had been on his right....his head was lolling at an unnatural angle.....the trooper on his left was slumped against the cargo stack, arterial blood pouring from a wound under his arm....Maker's Mercy ...How long was I out? Seconds...minutes? He grabbed one of the plasma carbines lying on the tunnel floor. The Human juvenile was gone...Lennox was here somewhere...How had this happened? Did the juvenile have the stunners on her or had she been given them....by the other Human? The Human technician was gone from where she had been working...was she part of Lennox's support team? Another coincidence?

Gantol's ears were ringing now, and he stumbled out from the cargo stacks, there was light shining down the tunnel to his left around the corner and he guessed it was his reinforcements arriving, but where he should be able to see barricade and one of the squads, the barricade was down, and he could see the feet of another body. He spun right looking down as he sensed a movement, his balance still off and his ears ringing. A fist smashed into his face and his jaw exploded in pain and darkness took him again.

***

Resnij stood beside Banks and glared at the Korkari surveillance team. They pissed him off and he really wanted to make that clear but so far nothing untoward had happened despite Dveina Thurti's concerns. He shook his head, and idly scratched at the stubble on his jawline. His squad had been repositioned slightly in case of action, with the new 'recruits' kept off to one side and under cover in case of a fire fight. Orders had been given in case of action but it wasn't looking promising so far.

“Okay Banks just keep an eye on those fuckers for me, while I kill some more frigging paper.”

“You got it..”

The two mercenaries were interrupted by the sudden sharp cracks of a pair of stun grenades in the distance. The sound was muffled by the tunnel and across the Docking Bay but even then it was loud, and very distinctive. Resnij was moving before the reports had finished echoing. Seconds later there was another two stun grenade detonations followed by a brief burst of weapons fire.

“ACTION FRONT! COVERING POSITIONS!”

The mercenaries chatted idly amongst themselves as they casually lounged around in the shade. The veterans either bullshitted each other or hazed the newbies depending on their mood. All the while maintaining a lazy alertness that was very deceptive. Most of their personal gear had been stacked away waiting for loading aboard the shuttle, but since Lt Resnij had spread the word, the various trips back and forth had inconspicuously managed to ensure the squad had their weapons and were loaded. As the sounds of weapon fire caused consternation amongst the various beings in the entrance to the Docking Bay the mercenaries exploded into action.

The squad had been together for a long time and immediately slipped into their well worn roles. Each mercenary fought with a buddy, firing and manoeuvring, and providing fire support and first aid if necessary, while the squad itself fought as pairs of elements, with manoeuvre elements as well as heavier support weaponry. With the grace and speed of long experience the casual lounging around dissolved into the fire support elements setting up a lethal crossfire zone while the manoeuvre elements sprinted to secure the entrance to the Docking Bay. The Armoured Docking Bay Door was the focal point of the tactical situation and Lt Resnij was damned if he was going to allow the Korkari to secure it while his ride off Yasm was stuck on the ground.

He watched with quiet pride and satisfaction as the elements performed their roles, while Banks dealt with comms and he maintained oversight. The 'technicians' that were spying on the mercenaries suddenly found themselves overwhelmed and roughly disarmed before the smaller but armed Humans used zip ties to secure the spies as prisoners. Outside the Docking Bay the pair of Sec Bur guards turned at the disturbance, and found themselves outmanned and outgunned. They surrendered, and were immediately disarmed, then zip tied while their comms were disabled. The Mercenaries then bundled the two guards into the Docking Bay along with the genuine civilian techs and loaders who had been outside the Docking Bay when the Mercenaries secured it.

With the immediate situation dealt with, a manoeuvre elements dealt with the prisoners while the remainder of the Squad rapidly advanced and began dragging the cargo containers outside the Door into makeshift fortifications and setting up new fire zones while they waited to see what happened next. As Lt Resnij began to make contingency plans, there was a thunderous roar, much longer and louder than the sharp cracks of the stun grenades. He winced as he recognised the sound of military grade explosives. Wherever that detonation had been was now rubble, and the stakes had just risen. There was a flicker and all the power in the Docking bay died, before battery powered emergency lighting came on. From outside the door his elements reported a blinding thick wave of dust and smoke that surged down the tunnel from the direction of Bay 16.

***

Someone shook him roughly awake and Gantol groaned at the thumping ache in his head and the pain in his jaw, then coughed and snorted the dust from his lungs. A none too gentle toe in the ribs flipped him over onto his back, and a Human face with long hair that somehow was shining platinum in colour despite the dirt in the air looked down at him with a frown. Strange, Gantol thought, Lennox looks older than her picture. The Human female held out his comm to him.

“Tell the rest of your reinforcements to back off Gantol. I don't want to have to blow them up as well.”

Gantol's mind swam as he tried to piece together what had happened.

“Blow them up?” He muttered to himself. Lennox heard him and answered coldly.

“I brought the tunnel down on your first squad, you're not getting any help from the Depot. Now unless you want me to do the same for the Concourse end tell them to stand down.”

Shaking his head to try and clear it, Gantol looked at the Human again, she looked younger than before. Lennox must have hit him harder than he thought, Gantol mused.

“Do it.” The order was unmistakable and despite himself Gantol was impressed at the force of command in the Human's voice. His hands shook slightly as he accepted the offered comm. He felt too stunned by how quickly his command had been shattered to do anything else except obey her commands.

“This is Ser Gantol. All units hold your positions and await orders. Confirm.”

The voices of three squad leaders confirmed his orders although the third sounded furious, and he realised that was the squad from the Depot.

“Yostar, Ser Gantol. What's your situation?” Gantol asked tiredly.

“I have two casualties Ser, and the access tunnel is collapsed. It’s totally impassable. We haven't been able to retrieve the bodies yet.” The anger and grief in Yostar’s s voice was palpable.

“Understood Yostar.” Gantol sighed.

Following the human’s instructions galled him. There had to be something he could do, but he felt at a loss for what that could be and not get him or more of his people killed.

“Stand down, and hold position at the Tunnel's exit. Get any medical needs dealt with and wait for Sec Bur to relieve your position. Get a tech team to start clearing the rubble while you get patched up.”

“Ser.” Squad Leader Yostar signed off.

Gantol pushed himself into a sitting position, noting he was filthy. Not exactly how Intelligencia Officers were supposed to look. Lennox was damn strong to have dragged him across to the doors of Bay 16. It was very dark...No power...The only light was coming from emergency lighting.

“What did you do Lennox?”

“Blew up the power junction.” The human shrugged.

“With what?” Gantol demanded outraged.

“Blarcht Suprex Detonator. Two actually. Cut the main power circuit and brought the tunnel down.”

“How many of my troopers have you killed?”

“Thankfully just those that were with you here.”

“Just? Just! Maker's spawn you Human bitch those were Intelligencia troopers. Nine troopers...”

“You forgot the Sec Bur guard.” Lennox's voice was arctic cold. “You forced this situation Gantol. None of this had to happen. You could have just let us leave, and you shouldn't have stopped Shatrtick from delivering my daughter to me.” Lennox voice was heavy with contempt.

Gantol blustered at the Human. “Murderer, you have slaughtered too many for us to just let you go.”

He shifted back at the sudden angry expression that flitted across Lennox's face.

“Murderer? All I've tried to do is get off this dump, and defended myself. You put the manhunt on my ass, you think I'm some enhanced assassin and yet you still send your piss poor Sec Bur thugs after me. If anyone's a murderer Ser Gantol it's you for throwing bodies that had no chance against me. Your arrogance and incompetence has murdered your men. If you think I'm going to go easy on you when you have my daughter you're a fool.”

Gantol looked at the angry Human standing over him and tried to work out what to say, what to do. Lennox's biting comments sounded all too similar to his own thoughts.

***

Neti stumbled down the tunnel with the torch the woman in orange had given her. Her Momma had given her instructions over the comm, and everything had gone as her Momma had said. She dropped the stunners and clamped her hands over her ears remembering to keep her mouth open, and screwing her eyes closed. It was so loud but she was expecting it and stumbled towards the woman in orange as Momma said. The woman took the other two stunners from her and gave her a torch and a very quick hug. There was a hatch open in the tunnel floor and quickly she climbed down the ladder and turned right, flicking on the torch. The hatch closed behind her and Neti felt a jolt of fear but her Momma had told her to be brave. She was only small so there was plenty of space for her to run.

Past the first junction off the small dark passage, she ran onwards. Distantly she heard another two sharp bangs, and then what sounded like someone firing a weapon. Neti ran onwards. There was a much larger bang behind her in the distance and Neti screamed in fear, crouching as vibrations reveberated through the dark passage. Dust swirled around her, and the torch light had difficulty getting through the haze. Nothing else happened and with a whimper she picked herself up and carried on running, quickly coming up on another junction and turning left following a sign for Bay 14A on the wall.

She soon found a ladder on the wall with a short climb and a hatch above her. There was a long lever on the wall with an arrow pulling down beside it and Neti followed her Momma's instructions, pulling on the lever with her full weight. Nothing happened for a few seconds, and she fought down panic. Planting her feet against the wall, Neti grabbed the lever and pulled with all her strength, pushing against the wall with her legs as well. With a sudden squeal the lever jerked loose and then moved smoothly down, and above her a hatch opened. Overhead Neti could see blue sky and anxious to be out of the dark she hurriedly clambered up the ladder towards the daylight.

***

Lt Resnij paid careful attention to the comm channel as his detachment's element kept up a steady stream of reports. So far everything was quiet, and after the initial explosions and weapons fire the dust had begun settling outside the Docking Bay in the access tunnel. Catching movement with his peripheral vision Resnij glanced out towards where the shuttle lay, its sleek form nowhere near filling the Docking Bay. What was it he had seen? There! On the far side of the shuttle a hatch had opened near the periphery of the Docking Bay, hard to see because of the shadows. Someone's head popped up and looked cautiously around, and Resnij watched as a young girl, pulled herself out of the hatchway pulling a carry sack with her, looking uncertain for a moment before she did something and the hatch closed again. The girl then disappeared deeper into the shadows into the piles of baggage waiting for loading.

Resnij considered the cargo Dveina Thurtin had mentioned and decided the girl was most likely part of that cargo. There weren't likely to be many other people sneaking into the Docking Bay.

“Banks, you take over here, I need to go and pick up a stray.”

“Got it Boss.”

Leaving the portabooth, Resnij walked around the Bay's exterior, taking his time but keeping the girl's hiding place in view. It took a couple of minutes but soon he was near the baggage pile where he thought she was hiding.

“You can come out of there now kid, you're okay, it's safe.” Resnij called.

There was silence and nothing moved. Resnij stopped moving and kept his distance not wanting to freak the girl out.

“Dveina Thurti already asked us to look out for you. Tell me you're okay and I'll go and get her for you.”

There was a pause and then he saw a young girl's face in the shadows after she peered out from between a big cargo sack, and a pile of luggage. She appeared to listen for a moment then spoke.

“I'm okay. What's your name?”

“Lt Resnij. What's you name kid?” He wanted to put the girl at ease, but being around young kids was not something Resnij had a huge amount of experience of. He watched and the girl seemed to be listening again. Her next words confirmed that.

“My name's Neti, and my Momma says she'll be here soon. Momma asked you to get Dveina Thurti and take me aboard the shuttle. She won't be long but thinks it would be wise to be ready to leave as soon as possible.

“She does huh? What's your Momma called Neti.”

The youngster gave him an impish grin. “She says hi and that you've already met,” Resnij stiffened as a chill ran down the back of his neck at the sudden certainty of what Neti's next words would be.

“Her name's Ashai Lennox.”

“Aw crap, Narwhat's gonna kill me.”

***

Ashai grinned to herself as she heard Lt Resnij's exclamation over Neti's comm.

“Neti, could you give Lt Resnij your comm please. I need to talk to him.”

“Okay Momma.”

“Good girl.”

“Momma wants to speak to you.”

“Umm, okay.... Hello?” The mercenary Lt's voice sounded uncertain.

“Hello Lt Resnij, it's good to speak to you again, what's your situation?”

“Complicated, thanks to you Lennox.” Lt Resnij sounded irritated.

“Why so stressed Lt?”

“Simple Lennox, you're wanted as a mass murderer by the Administration here. Not good for me if I help you, and my Commander is gonna have my balls.”

“The Administration here believes I'm an assassin Lt and want me dead. I'm not and all I want is to get the hell off Yasm with Neti. Last time I saw you the Administration didn't seem keen to deal fairly with you, so don't help me, just stay out of my way. I'd rather not have to shoot my way through you as well. I'm dealing with the Administration problem at the moment, and then I can get off Yasm. I'll be at the Bay soon, just make sure Neti is on the shuttle.”

“Unfortunately for me I'm already committed to helping, mostly because the Administration screwed us over. Dveina Thurti asked my assistance in ensuring her cargo was able to leave Yasm, and I said yes. I have control of the Docking Bay and its access, and I have....restrained the surveillance team and guards who were on duty.”

“Fair enough Lt, you didn't know you were helping me, that's fine as far as I'm concerned. Just make sure your squad holds fire when I get there, or this mess gets a whole lot more complicated.”

“I hear you Lennox, believe me, simple sounds best.”

“I'm very glad you feel that way Lt Resnij.” Ashai said sincerely. “Can I ask you to get Neti to Dveina Thurti?”

“Yes Miss Lennox you can. Your little girl is safe and sound and will be aboard in a couple of minutes.” Lt Resnij's tone was friendlier as he got over the surprise of her involvement.

“Thank you Lt. I suggest you make preparations for a quick departure.”

“Already ongoing, but thanks for the thought.”

“Okay good. Could you hand the comm back to Neti please.”

“You got it, speak to you soon Miss Lennox.....here you go Neti your Mom wants to speak to you.”

There was a small pause and Neti's voice came back on.

“Momma?”

“Hi baby. I'll be there soon. Lt Resnij is gonna take you to Dveina Thurti and get you on the shuttle okay, so be good for him.”

“I will.”

“Good girl. I have to go now. Love you.”

“Love you too Momma.”

Ashai looked at the comm unit in her right hand as Neti's voice clicked off. So much had happened, and Neti was so unexpected but already she couldn't imagine being without her. Taking a breath and clearing her thoughts she looked back at the Korkari who was still sat where she had put him, not willing to risk her reactions with the Makatov aimed at him with her left hand. Ashai pondered what to do next before reaching a decision.

“Get up Gantol.”

The Korkari looked at her for a moment then pulled himself to his feet.

“Start walking.”

“Where to Lennox?”

“The next Bay down. 14A.”

“I cannot let you go Lennox.”

“It's not like you can actually stop me Gantol. Just be quiet and keep walking, and I might not even kill you for getting your men slaughtered.”

“You won't get away with this.”

Ashai laughed briefly.

“Gantol, Yasm is a backwater with no space fleet, and no defences after the Maker damned Dtilla finished with us. The nearest thing to an elite soldier in Talont was the rogue Reiver I killed earlier, and frankly nothing else here has a hope in hell of stopping me. You've already wasted plenty of lives Gantol, and all I've ever wanted to do is leave for the Maker's sake, so just shut up, keep walking and this will all be over soon.”

Ashai thought for a moment the Intelligencia Officer was going to say something else, or even try and stop her physically but after the faintest pause, the Korkari kept walking.

***

Gantol kept walking, images of the bodies of the troopers killed outside Bay 16 in his mind. Lennox was a demon, and his emotions were demanding that he attack and try to best her, but he knew he was totally outclassed. The Human bitch had put it quite accurately, the best hope for stopping her had been the outlawed Reiver Heti. He swore to himself though that this wouldn't end here. She could leave Yasm and even Korkari space but he would track her down and settle the score. Bitterly he thought to himself it was only Lennox being merciful that had left him alive...not that would help him when the Administration was through with him....his career was probably over.

They rounded the bend in the tunnel and Gantol could see Docking Bay 14A up ahead, but only because of the emergency lighting. Where are the Sec Bur guards? As they got closer he saw movement, but not the Sec Bur figures he expected. What the? Those smaller figures were Humans...They were the mercenaries that had been recruiting in Bay14A....They'd taken control of the Bay...

Gantol felt his anger rising again bubbling volcanically.

“So you were working with the mercenary scum all along...I knew it.” He crowed caustically at Lennox.”

“Keep walking Gatchi bait. They have nothing to do with me, and once their Lt found out I was coming he just about shit himself, worrying about your fucking bureaucrats.”

“Is that so Lennox? So why are they holding the Docking Bay and where are the guards?” Gantol demanded.

“Ah well Gantol I believe that your.....Sergeant Katx was to blame for that.”

“Katx?” Gantol sputtered confused, and Lennox continued talking amiably as she walked behind him.

“Yeah, your Sec Bur fuckwit screwed the mercenaries over during the Dtilla raids. Deployed them, cost them, and then refused to pay. I guess they're not feeling so well disposed to the Administration at the moment, but nothing to do with me.”

Gantol groaned internally. It was news to him, but not really surprising given how Sec Bur viewed mercenaries. Still he was going to burn that unit as far as working in Korkari space.

“Stop here Gantol.” Lennox ordered him as they reached the Docking Bay, where the Human mercenaries covered their approach professionally.

“Ashai Lennox. I'm expected.” Lennox called out before stepping out from behind him. The mercenaries held their fire and Gantol breathed a sigh of relief.

“Come on in Miss Lennox. Who's he?”

“Gantol. Intelligencia Officer and the idiot who's being telling people to hunt me. I have a small job to do before we're ready to leave. The tunnel back behind me is collapsed so you can move your fire zones, but we won't be here much longer. Ask your Lt if he wants to pull you back yet as I'm gonna collapse the tunnel in the other direction as well.”

“Yes Ma'am.”

The Mercenary got on his comm while Gantol swore mentally. She was cutting the Bay off completely, short of climbing in from above which was just asking for a massacre with dug in mercenaries below, not that he had the time or resources to arrange that. Or a comm unit.

“Gatchi shit!”.

***

Corporal Vance watched as the tall woman walked away, quietly amazed at himself for managing to stay professional and not start drooling. He remembered the first time the mercenaries had met the girl and she was hot then, in that tight fitting bodysuit. She was different now though. It had only been a few days, but the Lennox that strode away seemed much more confident, and her stride was graceful but definitely predatory. Vance's danger meter was singing out loud. The armoured body suit the woman was wearing was sexy as hell, and the sight of a woman with a pair of blasters and a sword of all things did it for him, but it was the way she carried herself. The experienced merc ran through the last few seconds in his mind, before he realised what one of the signs was. Lennox's eyes had never stopped moving, the professional unconscious scanning for danger that spoke of highly developed training and skills. She also walked on the balls of her feet, constantly ready for danger. Quickly, he commed the Lt and gave his observations. Lennox, the girl, might have looked sexy as hell at the lake. Lennox, the woman, was still sexy as hell but way dangerous.

***

Ashai left the Korkari under the guard of the mercenaries confident that he wouldn't be dumb enough to get himself shot, and trotted further down the tunnel. The tunnel itself was empty so it must have been evacuated by the Korkari after the explosions. After a couple of hundred meters in the distance she could hea Korkari voices talking. Hound quickly interpreted the noise as multiple sources just further along the bend.

“I guess this is far enough . No point in attracting another fight.”

Are you sure Prime you seem to enjoy them at times. Key teased her.

Ashai moved to the outside of the tunnel and placed the two detonators she had left together against the wall on top of a cargo container. Arming the detonators she moved back a safe distance, then drew a Makatov. 30 metres was an easy shot. The big blaster gave its thunderous crack of energy and the tunnel wall erupted as the explosives detonated simultaneously. With a booming rumble the ceiling and wall collapsed and sealed off the tunnel. With a satisfied grin Ashai trotted back to the Docking Bay Door, as Key laughed in her mind about Ashai enjoying large explosions far too much.

“The tunnel's sealed.” Ashai told the Mercs.

She walked past them and gazed at the Korkari where the Mercenaries had him sat outside the Docking Bay.

“Gantol, you are going to be left outside in the tunnel for your Administration to recover, I don't suppose it will take them too long to get through to you. Leaving you alive is not the wisest decision as far as I'm concerned, I'm sure you have some idea of seeking revenge, but I'm going to do it anyway. I simply can't be bothered to kill you. I'm leaving Yasm and I don't expect to be back anytime soon. It would be best if you just let me go and get on with your life. If you don't and we meet again, I promise you will regret it.”

Ignoring Gantol sputtering behind her, Ashai walked into the large Docking Bay. It was a throng of activity, the loaders had been freed and were rapidly moving the piles of luggage and loading crates of cargo onto the shuttle. The shuttle itself had various species scurrying around it checking over equipment and bits of the vessel itself. Looking around Ashai saw a group of restrained Sec Bur guards being watched over by a pair of mercenaries.

On the other side of the Docking Bay there was a portabooth where she saw mercenaries moving in and out, packing and loading their equipment to leave. They were almost finished loading. Behind her she heard the sound of men struggling to close the heavy access door without power. Over it she could hear Gantol's voice cursing the mercenaries and herself. The Korkari's voice was abruptly cut off as he was locked outside the Docking Bay, and the heavy portal was sealed.

There was a quick burst of weapons fire and she jerked around to see a mercenary holstering a heavy pistol, and the control panel of the access door smashed beyond repair. Ashai grinned at the merc's choice of locking gear. Not subtle but effective. Glancing back at the shuttle she saw the tall figure of Lt Resnij walking down the shuttle's loading ramp and headed towards him.

***

Resnij walked off the shuttle's loading ramp and moved to check the porta booth had been cleared. The update from Vance made it clear that it would be best to leave soon, and the sound of explosions as the tunnel was sealed had reinforced that idea. He glanced around and stopped dead at the sight of Ashai Lennox strolling across the plascrete Docking Bay towards him. Vance was right he thought, she looks sexy as hell in that armoured body suit, and if she's half as dangerous as the damned Korkari make out she'd be a hell of an asset. The politics with the Korkari would be an absolute bitch though, Narwhat might even veto recruiting her to smooth things over with the Korkari Administration. He turned his thoughts back to the present as Lennox arrived.

“Hello again Lt Resnij, thanks for your help.” Lennox said with a warm friendly smile.

“I guess that you're welcome Miss Lennox, although I have no idea how much shit this is gonna cause. Did you deal with the Administration problem?”

“I've done what I can, but I'm not sure how much good it will do, Gantol seems to think I'm to blame for everything. Is Neti safe and sound?”

“She is, come on I'll take you to her and introduce you to Dveina Thurti as well.”

Resnij turned away and led Lennox up the ramp, into the bowels of the shuttle, while Lennox followed. His back itched as his professional paranoia screamed at letting a dangerous threat behind him, but mentally he told it shut up and keep walking. For now at least they were on the same side.

A couple of minutes later he brought Lennox to the cabin where the shuttle's passengers sat on the ride into orbit. His new recruits were mostly already sat, their personal belongings locked away. There was an excited shout of “Momma!” and the small girl he had taken to Dveina hurtled past him into Lennox's arms, crying with relief. Dveina Thurti's comments about humanity sprang to his mind again and with a smile, the somewhat jaded mercenary found he couldn't manage to be upset over causing the Korkari Administration difficulties any more. Lennox picked up the youngster easily and carried her as Neti pointed out their seats. She deposited Neti in her seat and then sat down in her own, ensuring Neti's restraints were properly closed, before tending to her own. With a nod Lt Resnij turned away and headed back to the shuttle's exit. He found Dveina Thurti there, supervising the final loadout process.

“I see you Lt Resnij. My assistants tell me my cargo has arrived safely. Your men have been a big help, securing the Docking Bay.”

“It is an unusual situation Dveina Thurti, but we’re happy to help. I don't believe the Administration will appreciate the Shuttle leaving so early.”

“Then the Administration should make sure that their Docking Facilities are not the site of gunfire and explosions. I am not allowing my shuttle to be damaged by their incompetence. Hence your assistance in securing the Bay. The shuttle is ready to launch, call your men in please Lt Resnij and we can leave this mess behind.”

“As you wish.”

The alien loading officer turned away to head for her station in the Shuttle's command cabin, while Resnij commed his troops.

***

The Docking Bay looked empty, the prisoners locked in the porta booth which was then sealed for launch. Normally, warning klaxons would blare out a warning, but with no power they stood silent.

The mercenaries had quickly and efficiently withdrawn to the shuttle at the last moment, covering each other in their long practised buddy system. With a whine that was felt in the bones first before it became audible, the shuttle's power core was brought to full power for lift off, and the shuttle's paired repulsor plates began to glow as power surged through them, fighting and then conquering Yasm's gravity. With a crescendo of noise the shuttle's flattened ovoid form lifted its landing gear from the plascrete before accelerating into the sky, hurtling spaceward under high gee, its fragile living cargo and crew safely enveloped in the shuttle's internal grav field. The shuttle tore through the atmosphere and into orbit before its engines nudged it towards its parent vessel, a short journey away in high orbit.

***

Ashai sat and tried to relax, as Neti cuddled into her, sleeping quietly. Overhead a view screen showed Yasm dwindling in space as the Wayflyer moved away from orbit, the shuttle locked against one of its many ports. Once the shuttle had reached orbit, a female had introduced herself as Dveina Thurti and explained she was going to ensure that Ashai and Neti got out of Korkari space safely. Dveina spent a few minutes with Ashai and Neti talking about shuttle procedures before leaving the pair alone to collect themselves. Ashai was sure that her face must show her complete ignorance of space travel, and her confusion and awe at being in space. The sight of the planet below her had been truly strange. Still, she tried to appear calm and collected for Neti and the mercenaries' benefit. She mostly succeeded.

Neti took a few minutes to decide she was safe and secure before cuddling in and falling fast asleep. Ashai fondly looked on and wished she could do the same as easily, but with the end of the fighting; her emotions were surging. She found herself reliving the massacre at Rijkard’s Hold, grieving again at the deaths of her friends, thinking about her time in the caves, her unwanted changes, and this new life. It was over for now and Ashai wanted to cry and let the stress go, but she couldn’t do that near the Mercs. It would wait for privacy so she spent the time reflecting, glad of the little girl cuddled in beside her, her faithful armor and Key that gave her this new destiny, and turned her life upside down.

Her old life was over, and she still had little idea what this new enhanced life held, other than the certainty that her future was no longer as a herder, and that she now had a daughter to care for. With a body she was still adjusting to, physical abilities that scared the crap out of her when she had time to think about them, Ashai had a lot on her mind, not least wondering whether that idiot Gantol would follow her off world, and how to deal with being the Anari prime. With a sigh, she leaned back in the seat and watched the display of Yasm shrinking gradually as the Wayflyer accelerated away to the system's jump point. Hours later the huge bulk cargo carrier slowly braked to its nominal jump velocity, and its navigational systems aligned it on the distant star that would be its next destination. Deep in the leviathan power was diverted and shunted to jump emitters. With a spike of energy Wayflyer’s emitters warped spacetime, tore a hole in it and the huge ship jumped, vanishing in a burst of light and radiation.