First Contact Fallout by Aer-ki Jyr (novels for teenagers .TXT) 📗

didn’t release his Ikrid hold on the others. With no one shooting him, he walked around and killed them one by one as he heard the battle overhead continuing, then he reached out to the gunship again.

Surface secure. Show me your status.

He got a mental reply, seeing through the Zen’zat’s eyes at the smoking transport as it continued to fire from two remaining turrets. Its shields were mostly gone, but the gunship was barely flying and fighting.

The Era’tran knew he had to win this, or he’d be killed shortly, so he forced himself to start walking in their direction, for they were no longer overhead. He reached out with his Ikrid, but he was too far. He had to get closer, but fortunately the Zen’zat understood and maneuvered around so the transport had to do the same or expose their damaged side. That left it no longer drifting away from the Era’tran, but towards him.

When it finally did come back within range the Era’tran found the gunners inside and froze them, and fortunately there were no Bo’ja or others that had telepathic skills inside to resist, for his power at this range was tenuous.

Cease fire and board the transport. I have the crew incapacitated.

What is your status? Mario’topa asked.

I am alive. Hurry. I do not know how long I can hold them.

It will be done, the Zen’zat proudly promised. You have your skills back, Tu’vac. Has the healer returned your memory as well?

I do not know what has happened to me, Mario’topa, but you know my name is not Tu’vac. Why do you call me that?

It is what you have been called for the past 2 centuries. You were badly injured and incapable of even moving at first. Your memories were held captive by the damage and unrepairable with Kich’a’kat, or you would have been reverted to a hatchling. The healer has been manually restoring them cell by cell, and she said you were nowhere near full recovery. Do you remember who you are?

Two centuries have passed?

Yes, and we are at war with the Zak’de’ron and the previously independent Oso’lon and J’gar. They have reformed the original V’kit’no’sat, denying us our own identity. Do you remember who you are?

The Era’tran growled, still having to keep his Ikrid constant and fighting the loss of blood from his body, but his anger kept him functioning.

Eldorat. Eldorat did this to me?

You survived, barely. He did not. He was killed in Itaru, then the Elder Council went to war with the Zak’de’ron in your absence. Do you remember who you are?

I do.

What is your name? Mario’topa demanded.

My name is Mak’to’ran, he said as the gunship swung up alongside the transport and two Zen’zat jumped out and began forcing open one of the exterior hatches.

Very good. Do not tell anyone else. The galaxy thinks you are dead, the Zak’de’ron think you are dead, and that is the only reason we have been able to keep Tu’vac safe. Do you understand?

Why is Holloi under attack?

They do not know you are here. Holloi is the last stronghold capable of defying Itaru. That is why they are risking so much to take it. Both sides are gutted, Mak’to’ran. Their invasion here is not guaranteed, but they are gradually winning.

Itaru?

Destroyed by the Oso’lon and J’gar betrayal. We had the Zak’de’ron beat, Mak’to’ran. Your plan worked. Most of their vermin race are dead. But once the war was fully engaged, the others struck Itaru with their full might and canceled out. They retain possession of it, but there is nothing left. Almost all died. No one surrendered.

What of the Hjar’at?

They were the Zak’de’ron’s second main target. Mavro is gone, also destroyed and not conquered. We didn’t think they’d have the strength to mount another heavy assault for another century, but they summoned enough to try here. The outcome is undetermined, but even if we win we will have nothing left. The empire is leaderless, and the Zak’de’ron are scooping up the smaller systems. Conquering rather than destroying. Converting those who have heeded the call to rejoin Itaru willingly without penalty in order to unite to fight the Hadarak.

All this because I was gone? Mak’to’ran asked.

The Elder Council was never your equal.

What of Star Force?

They are neutral and fighting the Hadarak with full force. Neither side will interfere with their outposts and evacuation routes.

And the Hadarak?

Their prime troops have emerged. The grand fight that was predicted has begun, but we are not part of it. Our border worlds fall where encroachment has occurred. We have nothing to defend them with, and Star Force cannot hold them back everywhere.

Mak’to’ran felt the Zen’zat now inside the transport, and a few seconds later the minds he was holding in check disappeared from his view as they were killed.

Mario’topa, there was a Kich’a’kat in the dead drop supplies. Bring it to me. I cannot walk.

On my way, he said as Mak’to’ran sat down on his tail letting his mangled legs splay out and his head droop down. He didn’t want to lay over, and the wounds he was not sitting on screamed at him, but his mind was free of the prison it had been in, and he was intent on remaining conscious no matter what.

He had woken to a nightmare, but awake he was. Now he had to work the problem piece by piece, but nothing would matter if he succumbed to the infantry wounds that covered his body like bee stings. The Kich’a’kat could revive him if he died, but he didn’t know if it was intact or not. It could have been damaged in the firefight, so Mak’to’ran sat and used what little effort he could muster to activate his Haemra and use his healing psionic on the wounds leaking the