Preed's Story (fanfic)

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Preed's Story

Darkness. Distant echoes. And suddenly, sensations. The cold floor. The numb limbs, awakening. And with them… the pain! But what wasn’t hurting? He couldn’t move. He could barely breathe. A thread of air, that was all he had. Where was he? He began to remember… the strong pull on his neck… he lost consciousness in a storm of blows, while gravity did its work, down the stairs. How long had he been sleeping? Minutes? Hours? No, there was still commotion. They were still fighting against the Drej. Luck was on his side, if no one had come to check his body. The pain was intensifying. He had to get away, hide. He managed to sit up, with great effort. But he kept looking back… back… Breathe. Breathe. It was so hard… He crawled toward a narrow emergency passage. His neck. He had to straighten his neck. He would not get any farther in that state of pure agony. If he forced it, he might die. If he didn’t die, they might hear him scream. No, too much noise in the environment. He had to try or he would suffocate and die. He figured out to which side he should do it. He held his snout and his skull and prepared himself.

Something cracked.

The Akrennian screamed.

A pain more intense than before. An explosion of bright lights in his retina. The air struggled to flow with a hiss. He collapsed, losing consciousness again. “No… no…”. Another fainting. He woke up again, and began to remember… Where was he? No! He had already gone through all that. The memories returned more quickly. When he reached the most recent point, he looked at his belly and touched his neck. The pain was still there, still intense but better. He began to laugh, hysterically. He had survived. He got on his knees, to stand up carefully. The Drej would destroy the Titan, although he still had a chance to escape… if he found a ship. He could try to steal the Valkyrie, but it was very risky, even counting on the surprise factor. With a little luck, maybe he would find a shuttle… That colossus was well equipped. It had to have something. Time was running out. Yes, here! Escape pods… But his hope faded. That sector barely had any traffic. There was a reason they had hidden the Titan in that place.

Even if he managed to eject, who could intercept him? It was a suicidal mission. Maybe the Drej wouldn’t destroy the Titan, but would simply capture it. Didn’t they want its technology or something? In that case, he would just have to hide and wait. But then they could kill him if they found him. He had found a mechanical wrench, in the absence of any pistol or projectile weapon; it was better than nothing. He opened a first-aid kit and bandaged his aching neck tightly, trying to immobilize it. He also found supplies in each pod. He carried them all to one of them, the one he would use when the time came, tossing them inside unceremoniously. He took the chance to put an algae crunch bar in his mouth and gulped down a metallic pouch that seemed to contain a neutral-flavored jelly. The sounds were so distant now. Where would Cale and the others be? Hopefully Korso was dead. He was startled by a small explosion coming from the control room. And shortly after, he heard a terrible roar. “It’s over.” He went to the pod crammed with provisions to operate it, but a monitor caught his attention. The readings were in green. “What?” He tried to retrace his steps, mechanical wrench in hand and crouching behind the corners. He was prepared to go back if things turned ugly. But after the last turn, the orange light of the reactor blinded him.

“No, it can’t be.” He returned to the escape area, not knowing what to do. The monitor now showed terraforming metrics. He contemplated it for a long while. He smiled. “Good.” He didn’t know what had happened to the Drej or to his former crew, and he didn’t care at all about the Titan. But if it was working, he knew that down there soon there would be a planet. More options to survive. “Patience.” He waited for several hours, hidden.

Finally, he was able to verify that the terraforming process had finished. He went to the escape pod, with no desire to remain in the Titan a minute longer. The system prepared itself. He felt how the clamps released. And unexpectedly, weightlessness. The die was cast. The crude monitor showed some status graphs, and perhaps the controls would allow him to activate a beacon. He decided to leave them alone for the moment. Meanwhile, a vibration became constant, and increased unbearably. The chamber became an oven. The vibration turned into a roar. Preed felt how his body was being crushed as if it weighed tons. More than once he regretted doing that. Impulsive idiot… At that point, all the controls had shut down. He would die burned to ashes, in the atmosphere. He could no longer see, nor hear anything.

He woke up, lying on his side. He felt like he had been sleeping for hours. But, he was alive! The landing had been rough. He took a few minutes before moving again and opening the hatch. The light blinded him. The wind hit his face, icy and heavy. An intense smell, of hot minerals and new earth, filled his nostrils. And yet he was grateful, after so long breathing recycled air. It felt so good… He looked back. The pod undoubtedly had a powerful heat shield, and a basic damping system. Otherwise, he would have ended up in pieces. “Of course, you idiot! To land on the new world…”. He burst out laughing, delighted with his own luck. “Stupid humans. I piss on your legacy.” He unzipped and relieved himself.

But, tempting as it sounded, he couldn’t take refuge in the pod, or explorers would find him easily. Ideally, he would hide it, but after the terrible experiences he had accumulated, he didn’t feel strong enough to move a rock. He gathered the supplies, before noticing that the horn on his snout had broken. Shit. He walked about three miles in some direction.

There was no sign of human or alien activity. The silence was sepulchral, interrupted by strong distant storms. He found a small cave. For now, he settled for that. He dropped the bag and sat down. A planet without noise was fine; if someone approached, he would hear them coming.

He hadn’t thought long-term. Not even medium-term. When the supplies ran out, he would have to go hunting. He didn’t have good equipment either. His clothes were filthy and sweaty. With just a sleeveless shirt, he knew he would be cold. He could go back and sleep in the wrecked pod, somehow wedging the door shut.

But that would be like painting a target on himself. The nameless planet would soon be teeming with settlers, and he didn’t feel particularly honored to be among the first. He sighed.

If he played his cards right, he could join a community without problems. Maybe even get a job, and better yet, leave the planet. Start a new life. Without forgetting to reclaim what mattered from his previous life. But how many days would he have to wait?

For the first time, he noticed he wasn’t alone. Some kind of black birds, with rat-like faces and wings similar to the Gaoul’s, hung upside down from the cave ceiling. “What are you looking at? I don’t even know your names.” But he wasn’t the only audience. From the entrance, a long-headed animal, with antlers and thin legs ending in hooves, watched him motionless. A horse? Yes, like a horse but smaller. “Another Earth creature,” he said, disdainfully. He didn’t know if it would attack, so he grabbed the mechanical wrench. The horse got scared and ran off. Preed stepped out to the entrance.

He spotted a blotch in the distance. Could it be someone? So soon! He dashed toward it, fast but cautious. He couldn’t lose his way back either. Despite being exhausted, he shouldn’t lose the opportunity. On a couple of occasions, he lost sight of the figure. Until finally, he came across a structure made of detachable panels from an alloy he didn’t recognize. Recycled? He saw no one but assumed the figure was taking refuge inside. Still hidden, he stopped and strained his ears. He entered. How would he do this? Peacefully or by force? He thought about a cover story but couldn’t come up with any good reason not to use it. But it was already too late when he heard a commotion behind him. An electric shock jolted his body, and he fell to the ground. He was face down, hands tied tightly behind his back with what seemed to be a cable tie, dug into his skin. To make matters worse, something hard kept him pinned to the floor.

-Who are you?” a shrill voice asked, from someone he couldn’t see.

-Let me go!” Preed shouted, furious.

-Ha ha. Tell me who you are and what you were snooping around my laboratory for.

Preed twisted instinctively. Not that he had any chance of freeing himself.

-Why aren’t you talking? I have more electricity for you. But I’m sure you won’t want another shock, since you didn’t like the last one.

He let out a string of insults, much of it in Akrennian, with intimidating sounds of harsh frictions, guttural exhalations, and clicks.

-That’s rude. I’ll have to kick you out.

-Wait!

He knew he had started badly. He couldn’t anger the first colonist he met like that. He was alone and at a disadvantage on this planet, so he calmed down and tried to speak quietly.

-I’m sorry. It’s just that you hurt me. My ship was carrying cargo until it was wrecked, and I had to escape in a pod, which landed here. I was only looking for help.

-What’s your name?

Preed hesitated.

-Call me Dex -he answered.

He felt her undo his bindings, and he got up as best he could.

-My name is Iji. I’m a scientist specializing in technological environmental regeneration.

Dex found himself facing a gray-green face, with a small smiling snout and two round eyes with pronounced dark circles. Above it all, dense hair with spiky tufts. Her clothes were a kind of denim jumpsuit and sneakers—human fashion. Gender almost unrecognizable. Ugly by his standards. But to her, he probably looked just as bad. Much worse, in his current state. She has some guts, though.

-Vusstran.

-Akrennian -she replied.

Now that both have recognized their respective races in a stupid manner, Dex noticed she slightly wrinkled her nose; or maybe it was his imagination.

-I’m studying the development of this planet -she continued. -I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but… it’s only a few days old! You’ve been very lucky.

-That’s true -he agreed.

He couldn’t hide a smile. Technically, he hadn’t lied once in the entire exchange. And yet, he felt immense relief at having met her. He had a good feeling she would help him. Maybe she’d let him stay for a while or put him in touch with someone who could get him off the planet. His luck seemed only to improve.

-Well, Dex. You’re a mess. You need a bath. Come here -she said.

Iji led him to a small shower booth—a tiny one-person decontamination chamber. She showed him how to use it. Dex felt embarrassed. True, he needed a bath, but he hadn’t expected such a direct and honest invitation. Bashfully, he removed his shirt, but noticed she was still watching him, as if expecting him to do more.

-Uh… does it bother you? -he asked.

-Oh! -she exclaimed, as if remembering something important. -Right, some species need… privacy.

She turned away, and he could undress, though he had to stop at the shower controls, since he didn’t understand them. Iji spun toward him, impatient at not hearing the water.

-Iji! -Dex shouted.

-I thought you needed help! Just press the blue button, okay? -she said.

A mix of water and soap shot out. Freezing. Dex yelped.

-What’s wrong? -she asked.

-Nothing! It’s fine, I can do it myself. Don’t you have something else to do? -he said.

-You complain just like humans -she said.

Dex eventually got used to the cold water and relaxed. He huffed. He didn’t like humans, but it exasperated him to be compared to them. Iji didn’t have clothes for him, as he was significantly taller and thinner. Still, she managed to lend him a work jumpsuit, so short it barely covered half his limbs.

They laughed and talked while sharing the food: a packaged protein mass, brick shaped. Dex felt comfortable and relaxed after the shower, as long as he left out the last, disastrous feat of his life. He still had to stay on guard, though, to improvise on his cover story. Luckily, Iji talked nonstop to the point of being exhausting and even irritating. She noticed the broken horn on the Akrennian’s snout, but Dex downplayed it. He still carried the piece in one of his pockets. Iji got up and went to get something: a little bottle of glue.

-Are you kidding me? -he asked.

She placed the piece back in place.

-I guess it works -he thought, skeptical.

He felt a little more complete.

In the end, the pace slowed, and he felt sleep taking over him. Iji prepared a sleeping bag on the couch for him; no doubt much better than spending the night in the cave. But after the lights went out, a dark thought assaulted his mind: did the escape pod have anything linking it to the Titan? Shit. He couldn’t remember. And it was relatively close to the shelter. Iji could find it, and she would discover the truth. What should he do? If he slipped out at night, he wouldn’t know how to get back inside the tent. If he woke her, she’d grow suspicious and demand explanations. Besides, it was nighttime, and he could easily get lost. On the other hand, if he asked her to let him go fetch his supplies the next day, she would probably accompany him. He chose that option but waited until she was particularly busy. Then, excusing himself, Dex managed to slip out and retrace his steps. He found the cave, along with the supplies he had left behind. That was only the first stop. Now that he was more refreshed and rested, it took him less time to reach the pod. He picked up a stone and scraped the Titan’s logo from the paint until no trace of it remained. He could return and forget about another problem.

His return didn’t bring more questions than usual. Dex could breathe a little easier, while she asked for some of his help. Why not? He wasn’t in any particular hurry for anything. It was probably still dangerous to go out in the open, and the ideal thing was to wait until the situation stabilized, among test tubes, sealed containers, and instruments of all kinds. She filled page after page while peering into her microscope. Working so hard, while he did so little… Days passed, and he watched over the shelter while she made excursions for her fieldwork.

In truth, Dex felt sorry: Iji was a good girl, and he liked her. But she didn’t know much about the cruel outer space. She seemed to have lived a simple life, with certain comforts (like her education), though she worked herself to the bone. He was thinking about accompanying her the next time. However, she surprised him by proposing it first. So, they equipped themselves with sturdy backpacks, and he followed her outside.

That planet fascinated him—so beautiful, pure, and clean. And he could appreciate it better, for Iji led him along a path she knew that began to climb upward. His gaze swept over the young landscape, the semi-arid terrain, the sprouting vegetation… The sky was turning a greenish gray, with dense, fast-moving clouds. A distant thunder rumbled. But she didn’t hesitate.

Until the path ended, and they were at a considerable height. The humidity was heavy. The wind picked up speed, tossing Iji’s tufts of hair, now turned toward him. He stopped at some distance.

-It’s an escape pod from the Titan, isn’t it?

Another distant thunder. It seemed it would rain any moment.

-I saw the Titan’s designs in my father’s study. You lied to me, and you even tried to erase the logo -the Vusstran charged.

Dex took a moment to catch his breath and compose himself. He wasn’t used to walking this much. The backpack was heavy. Was it all a setup by Iji to have him vulnerable? The girl was smarter than he thought. Still, she was taking a big risk. He was taller and stronger than that down-to-earth scientist. A little push toward the cliff, and it would all be over. But who knew what aces she had up her sleeve? What if she had allies nearby? He had only known her for a few days, so he didn’t let himself be caught off guard by turns like this. He clenched his teeth in anger.

-Have you been spying on me to turn me in? I knew I couldn’t trust you… -Dex reproached.

-Idiot. If I had wanted to turn you in, they would have come a long time ago. Maybe while you slept. But it’s just you and me, face to face. I want to know the truth. What happened to you on the Titan? You must have a reason to flee like this. You’re scared. And I want to help you, but you need to learn to trust me.

Dex knew he couldn’t lie. Whatever version he gave, Iji would check it with Cale’s crew… If she had a connection with them. Did she? If he probed, she would suspect. And if he kept silent, she would too. His only way out was honesty, and she claimed she wanted to help him. He clung to that faint hope while watching the young world dissolve into a furious storm.

-I betrayed them.

He let the words weigh like tantalum vapor. But he didn’t want to leave cracks.

-…and they killed me. But Akrennians have more than one life.

There was a pause.

-What are you talking about? -Iji said.

-I worked for the Drej. It went wrong, they thought me dead, and I managed to escape.

Iji had turned away, her back to him. He couldn’t know what she felt, but he sensed the aura around her. The sky began to release its first drops. The pain stabbed deep into his guts.

-Why? -she demanded, without turning.

-…because I was nothing but a damned slave, Iji. And because I didn’t give a damn about the humans, why would I deny it? They were just a species on the brink of extinction. And I took the opportunity the Drej gave me.

His legs failed him. Dex collapsed to the ground, on his knees. His long arms lay limp in his lap. His head tilted to the side. He looked at Iji, expectant, as the rain drenched him. He didn’t understand why he was doing this, but he trusted her. The scientist remained with her back turned. Then she turned her head to glance at him in profile. Framed against the twilight, she had a strange expression on her face, a mixture of anger and cheer.

-Dex, you’re a monster. Did you know that? This planet wouldn’t exist. The humans would be extinct -she told him in a sweet, high voice.

Dex had been treated harshly many times in his life. He had been insulted, beaten, abused. Sold as merchandise. He had pawned his dignity more than once. But none of those compared to the discomfort of this moment. Even if it was nothing he didn’t already know, it was Iji who was speaking. What was she to him? The rain ran down his cheeks, mixing with his tears.

Iji approached. Now he was at her mercy. Whatever happened, he accepted it. It was fair. A much better epilogue than the ending on the Titan. She took his face in one of her clawed hands. He lifted his gaze to meet her eyes, his expression full of pain. Then, Iji pulled away, ready to return, nothing more. And Dex didn’t know what he was doing, nor why. He could have left but decided to follow her. She didn’t stop him. They didn’t speak. And he didn’t know what would happen from then on. But little by little, they regained trust. And things went back to normal. She let him help with her analyses. Dex wasn’t a scientist, but he was a capable helper, strong, and kept her company. And she gave him a solace he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Until, on one of those afternoons, his mouth sought hers… and she slapped him hard across the face.

-You’re a pervert, Dex. We’re not even the same species.

“Like if that’s a bad thing?” For two days he could still feel the sting. The claws of the Vusstran were no small matter. But he had the peace of mind of having tried. Still… this newfound desire intrigued him. “No, I won’t grovel. She deserves better”. The subject never came up again between them. “But this, this is better than I ever deserved”, he thought.

The days continued in peaceful coexistence. Until, somehow, he forgot his purpose of leaving the planet. Where would he go? It was better to stay. And wait. Maybe he’d decide the following week… or the next… Until months passed… and the months became little more than a year, on that not-so-New Earth that he already felt as his home.

***

-We’re running out of food again. But I also need material for my work… probes and filters. The names are too technical. But you know what I mean.

-Yeah, I get it. Your science gadgets and your sexy Vusstran weapons -said Dex, with a serious look.

Iji was caught off guard and burst out laughing, losing her breath. She went on.

-Maybe they’ll have something at the market in New Jamestown. More like a flea market. It’s not too big and there aren’t any major suppliers yet, but maybe we’ll find something interesting we can trade for.

-I’ll go with you.

-It wouldn’t hurt you to look for a job too -Iji said with a slight frown and a hard smile. -I’ve got a grant to be here, but it’s not enough to feed two mouths. Not one as big as yours.

Dex lowered his gaze, ashamed.

-Didn’t you like the roasted deer? I’m getting better at hunting.

Iji looked at him for a while, tilting her head with a puzzled expression.

-You’re right. It’s about time.

A Vusstran and an Akrennian were, without a doubt, a strange pair. They didn’t fit in, and they were two species rarely seen together. Dex knew that the more people they crossed paths with, the greater the risk of being recognized by one of his former crewmates, and that would surely be the end. Where were they now? That’s why he wore a thick cap that hid what gave him away the most: the plate in his skull and his cut ear; he looked just like any other Akrennian. After all, both had grown used to it, and they were usually welcomed everywhere.

They strolled through the bazaar of messy, crowded stalls right at the entrance of the newly formed city. The food left much to be desired: most of it was stasis stock, imported from off-world and without many varieties. Local food industries hadn’t yet been established, so there was little fresh produce.

Surprisingly, Iji had more luck with her instruments than with the food. She found a prime shop ruled by a Grepoan, with a wide scientific catalog. Since she had already used it once and had the data she needed, she brought a fairly expensive topographic mapper to trade for what she needed. It wasn’t hers, but in the end, university equipment was insured. And she took such good care of it that if she claimed an “accidental” loss, it would pass.

-It’s not like the deans really considered that I’d be stranded on a rock without suppliers. Anyway… Do we have our dinner? Let’s go, Dex.

Dex and Iji were walking down one of the side streets when they saw two insectoid alien figures marching toward them with intimidating steps. They were tall, with four arms, and heavily equipped. Iji reacted nervously and pulled Dex by the arm to get out of their way.

-Who are the cockroaches? -Dex asked, surprised, since he didn’t even recognize the race.

-Tserkaash -Iji muttered. -An isolated race of religious fanatics. They’ve been seen more and more around here. But I don’t understand what they’re doing here, on New Earth. I’ve heard ugly stories, mistreatment of new settlers.

They watched as the two stopped at a street stall selling handcrafted ceramics. The vendor went around the stand to speak with them. A human wearing a djellaba. Dex had seen such clothes in a few drifting colonies. He looked frightened.

-Do we have a debtor here? Why aren’t you paying the toll? -one of the Tserkaash scolded the human, while checking a report on his transparent eReader.

-Please, sir. I’m not avoiding it. I’ll pay the semiannual fee. I… couldn’t manage the initial tax. They told me it wouldn’t be a problem. I’m working hard to sell everything.

The quieter Tserkaash grabbed a flowerpot, examined it without interest, and let it drop to the ground. The piece shattered into fragments. His companion looked on, indifferent.

-Then you’ll have to work harder. This junk isn’t durable.

From a distance, Dex asked Iji in a low voice:

-Why doesn’t anyone do anything?

Iji tried to explain what she knew. They were protected by the emperor, and whatever they did was nobody else’s business. All you could do was hope not to anger them.

Back at the scene, the silent Tserkaash picked up another piece. It looked like a plate with some carved design. He snapped it in his hands. Then he spoke:

-Iskaal, how am I supposed to eat from this? It’s softer than my own food!

The two Tserkaash let out rhythmic guttural sounds; laughter. The human, stricken and resigned, could do nothing but hope it ended quickly.

The one who had spoken reached for another piece when a hand grabbed his wrist… Dex’s hand.

-Hey -Dex said calmly. -How do you expect him to sell anything if you smash all his goods?

The Tserkaash yanked to free himself and stared, opening slightly a mouth full of sharp teeth. Dex could already tell he’d gotten himself into trouble, and he didn’t know why. “What am I doing?”

-What are you doing, Akrennian? -said the Tserkaash.

The pair of cockroaches looked at each other. The human vendor glanced at the Akrennian, puzzled, as if echoing the question. Damn. Akrennians weren’t known for solidarity. Now everyone around was watching. “I don’t know what I’m doing. But… this isn’t right. I had to do something.” But he had no plan.

-Come with us -the one they’d called Iskaal raised his weapon.

-Okay, you’re right. But there are more things here still waiting to be broken. Like your face -Dex retorted.

At that moment, he grabbed Iskaal’s rifle with one hand and, spinning, elbowed him in the mouth. A few teeth fell from the bloody mouth. The rifle fired somewhere. Screams. Dex tried to break free, but it was like pushing a wardrobe… one with a couple of extra arms holding him. The other insect rushed to help. The Akrennian tried to kick him. But the struggle over the rifle made the weapon fire again, and Dex saw him collapse in the dirt, his stomach pierced and oozing yellow blood. He heard an impact behind him, and the hold pinning him loosened. The body fell to the ground. Iji was there, holding thick shards of what she’d just smashed over the Tserkaash’s head.

-Are you okay? -she asked him, terrified.

-What am I gonna do now? More of them will come after me! -the vendor spat.

-Maybe you wanna make him breakfast and ask -Dex said, out of breath, pointing at the cockroach still alive.

Several figures stepped out from the barrier of people who had been keeping their distance. Humans and aliens of various species. Dex and Iji didn’t understand what was happening, but they seemed well-coordinated. With a few words and hand signals, they quickly and coldly finished off the one still alive. They began to drag the bodies away.

-Come with me, quickly. We need to hide -a human in a mask and worn tunic whispered to them.

Before leaving, they saw how every trace of the scene was erased. Following the mysterious man, they slipped through a nearby backroom and walked down a narrow passage, twisting here and there until they lost their bearings. A hidden labyrinth inside the market.

-Where are we going? Dex! -Iji shouted.

-I don’t know. Stop yelling! -he shot back. -Either way, we don’t have a choice.

They arrived at a dusty, spartan room with hardly any furniture or lighting. More rebels were there, armed this time. Before either of them expected it, they were tied up tightly, hands behind their backs, and thrown to the floor. Iji squealed, and Dex started cursing at everyone. Iji stayed anxious and sobbing, head bowed, glancing at Dex from time to time as if seeking answers.

-Is nobody gonna say anything? Hey! Ass-face! Can you even talk? Yo, Mantrin! -Dex complained.

The rebels stared at them, still and silent. Dex grew tired of yelling. It was just a waste of energy. What were they waiting for?

-Preed? -asked a mysterious woman.

The voice struck like a bucket of ice water. The Akrennian felt a strange mix of relief and panic, as the inevitable question was put in his mouth.

-Akima? -he replied.

-Dex? -Iji cut in. -You know her?

-Preedex -Akima repeated, stepping out of the shadows. A smile danced on her lips. -How sweet… I used to have that name. But call me Seiko.

Akima (or Seiko) began to laugh. Preed, on his knees, couldn’t help but join her. After a while, the two were laughing hysterically, like old friends reunited. Until she slapped him across the face.

Shit.

The blow was so hard it split his lip. The tip of his horn decided to come off again and rolled to the boot of a nearby alien, who looked down at it. Preed felt a jolt of pain and numbness until he tasted something metallic. He licked his lips.

-Nice hit -he said once he gathered himself.

Akima kicked him in the stomach. Preed doubled over in pain. And that was only the beginning…

-Stop! Leave him alone! -Iji cried, dragging her knees to place herself in front of him.

-Brave girl. Do you even know who this is? Just a lying, treacherous worm. I don’t know what he told you, but he nearly got us all killed -Akima accused. -The whole of Humanity -she stressed.

-I know… I know! I know what happened on the Titan -Iji replied. -He told me everything.

Akima took a step back. A change crossed her expression, surprise quickly shifting into rage.

-You… who are you? -Akima asked, with a hint of fear.

-My name is Iji. Cale Tucker is my stepbrother, and he told me about you. I trust Dex. Listen to me -Iji stood tall on her knees.

-What? -Preed exclaimed.

Akima had already guessed. Cale had spoken of her several times; some environmental scientist or something like that. She never imagined she’d end up on New Earth, much less in her hands. And defending that bastard? It was too much. Akima struck her across the face, knocking her aside with a cry of pain.

-So now you’re a terrorist? -Preed muttered. -You like hitting defenseless people. Then hit me, bitch. What is this circus? Honeymoon gone wrong?

She kept kicking him. “That’s it. Here, come for me. Leave Iji alone. Leave Iji…” Preed thought, writhing in pain and brushing against unconsciousness.

Soon she was tired of it. Preed felt the whole world spinning. Akima crouched at his side and grabbed his bloody face, forcing him to look at her.

-Just because you decided to melt when you found her while licking your wounds, doesn’t mean you’re not the same fucking traitor -Akima told him, intimidating, her voice too soft.

The exertion had raised her pulse. If he had the strength, maybe he could’ve taken a good bite and kept something. But he was battered after the beating, and besides, what would it serve? They were surrounded by trained fighters and tied up. Akima stood up.

-Fuck Cale. He’s nothing but a xenophobe and a dictator. He just wants to expel non-human races from his planet while he allies with those disgusting bugs.

-What!? -Iji exclaimed. -That’s absurd!

Preed couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He didn’t understand anything. Either Akima had radicalized, or something had gone very, very wrong in the planet’s takeover. An alliance with the cockroaches?

-What the hell is going on? -Preed gathered the strength to ask.

-Tell me, how did you survive? -she asked, out of curiosity.

-Go to hell.

-Enough. Lock him up -Akima ordered her men. -The Vusstran can go.

Akima went to her and lifted her from the floor.

-You’re lucky today, girl. But watch out for those cockroaches. And send Cale my regards.

Iji spat in her face; a greenish glob. Offensive. But Akima had no more time, nor anything else to say. She wiped it off and left for her office, needing time to think.

Preed was in her hands. She could torture him all she wanted or execute him. No… she was getting carried away. And she wouldn’t get anything crucial. One thing was certain: the vermin wasn’t a spy for Cale, nor for the Tserkaash. Preed was a card so overplayed it had lost all value. Yet he had trusted Iji, and she him. He didn’t seem to be running from the truth but facing it with the only thing left to him: honesty. Some tiny piece of logic suggested Preed might have repented. She couldn’t trust him, of course. But neither would he have the chance to prove it. He was just a pathetic worm worth nothing. A worm with a lot of luck, at least. She sighed.

Later, escorted by her men down a long corridor, she brought along a battered Preed with his head covered.

-You know, Preed? I could make every day of your life a hell. Feed you only rotten food, torture you now and then, even strip you naked to humiliate you in front of my men. Not the kind of intimacy you were hoping for with me, right? This wouldn’t be some bar hookup anymore, but something a little more sophisticated. Call it hardcore porn. And you’d be the star.

Her voice echoed down the walls. Preed didn’t answer, but a shiver ran down his neck. His legs trembled. Suddenly, they crossed a doorway and were outside. Light filtered through the cloth, and the breeze brushed his bare shoulders. With a violent tug, the hood was pulled from his head. Before him stood only Akima and two of her men. He looked at them, bewildered. Akima savored the moment of domination before speaking again.

-…but I won’t do any of that. You simply don’t matter to anyone in this world, or any other. Go wherever you want, do whatever you want. I don’t care. I forgive you for the time you shot me. You survived a fucked-up situation, and you have my respect, so it’s fair. You’re not a danger to Amalgam either. But if you ever stand in our way, I won’t show mercy. Better yet, I hope I never see you again.

What did she see in Preed’s eyes… gratitude? Disgusting. She turned, and they shut the door, leaving the alien stranded at the edge of the city.

***

The way back to the lab-refuge was slow and painful. When he knocked, Iji threw herself into his arms with reddened eyes. They didn’t say anything for quite a while. Both were thinking about what question to ask to break the ice.

-Are you all right? -Preed asked. She clearly wasn’t.

He sat down while Iji treated his wounds, wrapping some bandages.

-So Cale is your brother…

-He’s my pod-brother, or stepbrother, if you prefer. I was adopted by Tek, a Vusstran who worked with Sam Tucker.

Tek. That name sounded familiar. From the mission with Korso and the Valkyrie, before finding Cale on TAU-14. Iji, Akima, and now Tek. The planet was a handkerchief.

-It’s rare to see any family adopt a human -Preed remarked, trying to lighten the mood. -What about Cale? There’s a whole rebel gang against him, those… Amalgam. Commanded by that witch.

-I don’t know either. But whatever Cale does… I’ll support him. I know he would do the right thing. I trust my brother -Iji answered, her face darkened. She leaned back a little, with a hint of doubt about which side Preed would choose.

-Iji, please… -the Akrennian pleaded. -If that man finds out I’m here, he’ll hunt me down.

-No, I… I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to run away.

That admission caught Preed off guard.

-I don’t want to leave, you’re my friend. But I need answers. I need to know what happened. I have to go back -Preed said.

-Why does it have to be like this…? You’ve already cheated death once. You could start a new life, find something to live for. But you’re chasing the past, maybe throwing yourself into a war that doesn’t belong to you. Who knows what happened after the Titan. Maybe just an internal fight among them, and that… Akima, dragged the conflict into her mafia. Or a power feud. What does it matter? The only good thing is that we have a planet in progress.

While she spoke, Preed leaned closer.

-It would all be clearer if I could contact one of the others. Stith, or Gune. But it’s impossible. And too risky.

-I don’t want to lose you -Iji confessed.

-You won’t lose me.

In the end, despite Iji’s efforts, Preed set out for New Jamestown, the improvised capital of New Earth. He couldn’t delay it any longer. Surely Akima would still be in the city. He packed one of the explorer backpacks with supplies, several items, and some money, while Iji watched him, unconvinced. They would see each other again, whether he found Amalgam or not; but they didn’t know when. Preed knew how to return to the refuge. Iji offered him a Vusstran communicator she had once received from Tek, paired to her portable terminal so she could keep in touch. But Preed refused: it would be too suspicious to enter Amalgam with such a device, especially if he needed to convince them he wasn’t a spy. Preed found it amusing that the traitor, so unlikely to betray again, might actually do so in some sort of “double negation” ruse. Better not to risk it.

He rented a room and asked around the city. “Amalgam” didn’t spark any answers, not even in the traders’ cantina. Some people distrusted the outsider, while others simply evaded the question. But it was in one of the alleys that the answer came to him. He noticed they had begun to follow him, not even trying to hide it. As he moved forward, more figures joined in with casual steps, unconcerned about being seen. He stopped in the middle of the alley, and the figures stopped as well. He understood and smiled. He had found them.

-I’m looking for Seiko -he demanded, to no one in particular.

-You really shouldn’t have come looking for us, mule-face -answered an unidentified voice.

-Of course. No one can look for Amalgam; Amalgam finds you. I need to speak with your boss. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll take me to her. I’ve got information she’ll appreciate. I’m unarmed.

A blow, and he sank into unconsciousness.

After the nap, the only things he could see were a Qu’utian and a Dimetronus standing in front of him. They must have carried him here. His backpack was gone, unsurprisingly.

-Guys, it would’ve been enough just to invite me in.

He was in an unknown room. The witch entered the scene.

-Missed me? Or do you just want to die? For real this time, of course -she said playfully. -Maybe now you can tell me how you survived the fight with Korso. Honestly, I’ve been intrigued.

Preed shuddered.

-If you’re going to kill me, can’t you bring me up to speed first?

-So that’s it. You’ve been wanting answers too… -Akima deduced. -All right -she announced.

Akima laid out the whole current situation. Cale had struck a deal with the Tserkaash to protect the vulnerable planet and the trade routes, in exchange for a cut. But the people had lost their freedom, since the Tserkaash were extremely fanatical and xenophobic. It had been a terrible decision. Many races had been expelled, and the aliens trying to survive were being oppressed, leading to endless riots. And the humans weren’t doing well either; their reputation was leaving an indelible stain in History.

Preed listened to the whole story as he sat cross-legged, staring at his hands.

-I want to join Amalgam -he said bluntly. -I want to defend this planet.

Akima’s eyes widened, and she burst into laughter. Preed looked at her, determined yet a little embarrassed. When the human calmed down, she glanced at him sideways, full of curiosity.

***

He started taking care of basic tasks like organizing supplies and cleaning. As a former flight petty officer, he was qualified for much more. But everyone has to start somewhere. He was always watched by the Dimetronus and the Qu’utian from before (named Tuun and Ch’issrak), who didn’t bother to hide their frustration with such tedious duty, nor did they have much sympathy for him. They rarely spoke to him. Preed wondered how many others knew about his fiasco on the Titan, but he hoped it hadn’t spread. He was already paying a high enough price to try and clear himself.

And without realizing it, he began to take on more tasks. This time also maintenance work around the facilities, inventory, and basic courier duties between outposts. He stayed diligent and worked very hard. One day, Tuun had been called on a mission due to a lack of personnel, and he was left alone with Ch’issrak. The Qu’utian eventually slipped out of sight as well but still met with him later to report. From what he’d seen, Amalgam was much larger and better organized than he’d thought. How long had they been active?

Then Akima appeared with a weapon.

-Come with me -she told the Akrennian.

He followed her to what looked like a shooting range. She handed him the blaster. Preed took it and stared at her, stunned.

-A simple hand blaster with a half-drained battery. Enough to practice -her lips curved into a half-smile. She crossed her arms, confident.

Preed turned toward the target, aimed, and fired. His aim was terrible. From a distance, Akima watched behind him, suppressing a comment. After a few shots, Preed stopped and turned his head. She explained:

-It’s part of your training. And later, maybe I’ll assign you to a mission. It’s fair… even for you. I don’t think you’ll ever really pay for what you did. Consider this an exchange for your work so far. Trust is something you cultivate, if you even know what that is.

Her words were cruel, like everything about that woman, hardened in poor human colonies and now in her crusade against Cale. Preed frowned, stung.

-I know what that is -he answered bitterly. -And I’m working my ass off just for you to step on me like a dog.

-Good, because you and I will never be friends -she said, with a sarcastic, motionless expression.

-Never wanted to be -he shot back.

-But you can be more than a dog.

Preed fired the blaster. This time he hit closer to the center.

-Good. Anger keeps you focused. Use it as a weapon. Think of the mistakes you made, and you’ll be useful.

Akima knew she shouldn’t push the alien too far, but she found it a forbidden pleasure. Preed breathed and calmed down, lowered the weapon, and looked to the side, still with his back to her. He braced himself, a knot in his throat.

-I d-didn’t… mean to…

-Oh, come on. Don’t give me that, Preed -Akima cut him off, cringing. -Spare me. Of course you don’t mean it.

He fired a couple more times. It helped him think. Was this her exercise, distracting him with target practice while he opened up?

-We Akrennians have flexible, strong cervical joints. You can’t kill us by breaking our necks. That’s why… a human military technique doesn’t work. You asked about it before.

Akima hadn’t expected that. Then she nodded slowly.

-Where’s Korso? -he asked, turning this time and meeting her eyes.

This time Akima wore an expression very different from her earlier boastful air. She was once again the Akima of the Valkyrie, sweet at times, only now much sadder and more vulnerable. Then she lowered her gaze.

-He’s not… -was all she could manage. Then she quickly left the room. She inhaled through her nose before shutting the door behind her.

Preed understood.

In a fit of rage, he kicked a nearby crate hard and hurled the blaster away, shouting a curse. He sat on the floor, in the middle of the cold room, and stayed there as his memory drifted. Aimless in an ocean of pain, part of a shipwreck that never ended.