Memories of Hel

Memories of Hel

  by Jason Dodge

  Published by The Writing Network

  Copyright 2012 Jason Dodge

  https://Xarrok.com

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover Designed by The Writing Network

  License Statement

  This ebook is intended for your enjoyment. The story within is entirely fictional and any resemblance to events outside the confines of this book are purely coincidental. This book may not be resold, or copied in any manner (digital or otherwise) without consent of the publisher, author or their representative. If you would like to share this book with another individual, you are requested to purchase an additional copy for that reader. If you would like to purchase either a gift copy or a copy for yourself, please visit your favorite online retailer.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  Xarrokian Titles

  Xenonian Origins Series

  Below the Surface

  Change by Design

  Mind Tricks

  Through Anguish

  Birth of an Empire

  The Beginning

  Consequences coming fall 2012

  Glimpses

  Memories of Hel

  Captain Kasha Eaves stands quietly on the bridge, sipping her coffee, enjoying the peace and quiet. There would normally be three or four others with her at this hour of the morning, but she dismissed them early from their shifts so that she could be alone with her thoughts.

  The sound of the door sliding open behind her causes Kasha to check the time. She finds herself annoyed as she sees that the day shift won’t begin for another hour, until she turns around to see who is disturbing her solitude. She smiles warmly, “You’re up early.” Rachel Garringer, the ship’s Second in Command, simply shrugs. “I knew I’d find you here.”

  Kasha rolls her eyes and turns back to the viewscreen. She watches the stars move slowly by, a constant reminder of her failure to earn the funds needed to include her vessel in the final refit cycle several years ago. Her ship’s engines remain as they were over a century ago, when the freighter was first commissioned. “Where else would I be?” Rachel walks up behind Kasha, wraps her arms around her waist, and rests her head on Kasha’s shoulder. “You know what I mean.” Kasha smiles and takes Rachel’s hand with her free hand, and takes another sip of coffee. “You want some?”

  “That depends, is it black?”

  “Yes.”

  “Nope.”

  Kasha chuckles, takes another sip and goes back to quietly watching the viewscreen as Rachel does the same. Kasha’s eyes drift over the starscape, focusing in on one pinpoint of light – their destination. Despite being one of the closest stars in view, it is still three months distant at their vessel’s best speed. Rachel finds herself drawn to another, more distant point of light – the Dentonian sun. Home.

  Several peaceful moments go by until Rachel notices something unusual on the viewscreen. A tiny object seems to appear as if from nowhere at the upper left of the display, followed by two more near the center in quick succession. She squints, trying to make out the details. Her face pales.

  “You see that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Shit.”

  Without another word, Rachel turns and sprints to the Tactical control station while Kasha moves to Sensors. Rachel works her console for a moment, and a klaxon sounds throughout the ship. “I’ve got the turret online. What are we dealing with?” Kasha looks up from the sensor readout and over at Rachel. “Three android drone ships closing fast. Scout types, I think, but there are seven… no, nine more still in transit.” Before Rachel can respond, the comm panel beeps. Kasha steps quickly to the panel and activates it.

  “Allen here. Me an’ Cechsa’ll be on the bridge in five minutes.”

  Rachel glances up from her station in annoyance. Kasha scowls, “I just dismissed you ten minutes ago! What the-”She slams her fist on the panel in frustration, “Never mind, just get up here now!”

  Rachel enters another set of commands into the console, “Intercept in thirty seconds.” A female voice comes over the comm line, “Intercept? What’s going on?” Kasha yells, “Cybernetics, damn it!” She closes the comm line and transfers power to the long-range transmitter.

  “DCCS Memories of Hel to any vessel within range – We are under attack. Repeat – We are under attack! Twelve Cybernetics vessels. Requesting immediate assistance at the following-” Kasha and Rachel both wince as a piercing screech comes over the speakers. As the noise subsides, an even, synthetic voice takes its place, “Power down your propulsion systems and prepare to be boarded.” The freighter rocks as an energy beam grazes one of the outboard cargo pods. “This is an essential process.” The lights on the bridge flicker and dim as their forward phase turret unleashes a punishing blast, landing a direct hit on one of the attacking vessels. The scout drifts past, its propulsion system destroyed by the energy burst. Less than a second later, though, the ship rocks violently as another energy beam impacts the forward section. “Cease all activity.”

  Rachel frantically rechecks the Tactical console, “The turret’s gone, navigational shielding down to seven percent.” Her eyes go wide as she reads the display, “We’re being boarded! Intruders on Seven, Two, and One!” Rachel sees a bluish flash out of the corner of her eye, and turns to see an android materializing directly behind the Captain. She yells out,

  “Kasha, behind you!”

  In one fluid motion, Kasha reaches under the comm panel, pulls a semi-automatic handgun from the mounted rack, turns on her heel, and fires three quick shots point-blank into the android’s false metallic torso and face. The android leans back slightly, then falls. Kasha runs a hand through her hair.

  As more androids materialize, Rachel reaches under her console and pulls her grandfather’s old war rifle. She empties a magazine into the group of androids, and sparks fly as several rounds shatter the viewscreen. As Rachel pulls another magazine from under the console, a lone android makes its way toward her. “Kill it kill it kill it!” Kasha aims and pulls the trigger, but nothing happens. She pulls the trigger again – nothing. As she desperately reaches under the comm panel for another weapon, Rachel pops in the new magazine, aims, and fires a burst into the android’s chest. It stumbles forward, lays its right hand on Rachel’s shoulder, and punches her hard in the chest with its left. Rachel doubles over in pain as she feels several ribs crack from the force of the impact, and though she barely notices the concussive pressure of the injector against her skin, she quickly feels the searing pain of the microscopic machines beginning their work in her veins. Kasha turns away from the comm panel, her revolver in hand, in time to see the android slump to the ground in front of Rachel, as a small bloodstain appears on her shirt. Rachel looks down at herself, then up at Kasha, eyes wide, paralyzed with fear, “Kasha, don’t let them take m-” The sound of the gunshot echoes through the bridge as Rachel Garringer falls, dead instantly from a bullet through her heart.

  Kasha turns back toward the comm panel as she tries to blink through the tears, the bridge sitting in eerie silence around her. As she approaches the panel, she finds to her surprise that it hasn’t stopped transmitting. Her voice shaking, Captain Kasha Eaves sends the following:

  “DCCS Memories of Hel to any vessel within range – this ship is to be considered hostile. Repeat – the Memories of Hel is hostile. Destroy on sight.”

  Before she can say more, she hears the distinctive sound of a relocator beam behind her. Swearing, she dodges to the left as an android throws itself at her from behind. The android stumbles into the comm panel and Kasha takes the opportunity to fire two rounds, killing it but putting holes in the panel in the process. She pushes the android aside, grabs a bo
x of ammunition from under the panel, and reloads her revolver before shoving the box into her pocket.

  Kasha makes her way across the bridge toward the exit, but stops in her tracks when she hears the distinctive whine of the lift door mechanism. The door slides slowly open to reveal an android standing perfectly still, facing away from the bridge. As soon as the door slides completely open, the android falls backward onto the bridge to reveal Cechsa standing behind it in the lift. The felinoid Sandran stands in nothing but pale pink underwear and a matching nightshirt, her tail swishing back and forth, claws extended and coated in black machine lubricant. She steps out onto the bridge, stops, sniffs the air, bares her teeth and lets out a low growl, “They killed Rachel?”

  “No… I did.” Cechsa’s eyes widen with understanding, “I… I’m sorry.”

  Kasha barely nods, then locks her eyes on Cechsa, “Where’s Allen?”

  “Engineering. He’s the only reason Hel’s still moving.” Cechsa walks over to Sensors and pulls a long, slightly curved sword from its mount above the console. She motions toward the open lift, “Shall we?” Kasha nods and follows Cechsa into the lift, and the door slides shut. “Engineering.”

  They stand in silence for a moment as the lift starts downward, until Cechsa speaks, “We’ll have a proper service for Rachel, once this is over.”

  Kasha stays silent a moment before responding, “No, we won’t.” Cechsa doesn’t respond.

  The lift door opens to a corridor a short distance from Engineering. An android walks past the lift, and before it can turn to examine the new arrivals, seven bullets pierce its body. Cechsa gives Kasha a sideways glance, as Kasha reloads her weapon. They step out of the lift and make their way quickly down the corridor.

  As they round a corner, they are forced to stop and grab the railing as the ship begins to shake violently. Cechsa looks over at Kasha, her expression reflecting her growing panic as she realizes what’s happening – the Memories of Hel is losing speed. As the shaking subsides, Cechsa breaks into a full run, Kasha struggling to keep up as they make their way toward Engineering. Cechsa bursts into Engineering with her blade raised, in time to see Allen Bruekner, dressed in jeans and a white black-stained t-shirt, bent down over a fallen android, retrieving his serrated dagger.

  Allen stands, looks toward the entrance, and smiles, “You’re looking good. What’s the occasion?” Cechsa drops her blade, runs, and hits Allen with something between a hug and a tackle. Allen stumbles backward a bit, “Whoa… okay. Hi.” Kasha walks into Engineering, stops, and barely smiles. Cechsa lets go of Allen, takes a step back, and looks him over.

  “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “What gave you that idea?”

  “Well… you were keeping the engines running. We lost engines.”

  Allen turns to the side and pats the inactive generator core casing near a massive dent in the structure, “Yeah… Kex has a funny story about that.”

  A lizoid Xentue man sitting on the deck in the far corner looks up at the sound of his name. “Don’t go blaming me just because some androids fly better than others when you throw ‘em.”

  Kasha lifts her eyebrows, “Right. Hate to break up the moment, but can I get a status report?” Allen nods and moves toward a nearby display.

  “Yes, of course.” He pulls up a series of cross-sections, sensor readouts, and live images from the external imagers. He presses a button and the ship cross-section fills the display. “This shows everyone on the ship. The smaller blips are androids, we’re the larger blips. Needless to say, they’ve taken the ship.” Cechsa points out a single large blip on Deck 5 surrounded by smaller blips. “Who’s this?” Allen studies the display for a moment, and two of the smaller blips on Deck 5 disappear as he does. “If I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably Hoil.”

  Kasha lifts her eyebrows, “We have to get him out of there.”

  Allen turns to face her, “Hold on, I haven’t even gotten to the best part.” He pulls up a rotating feed from Hel’s external imagers. “We’ve got eleven hostiles scattered on all sides, and we’re completely disabled.”

  Kex looks up again, “So we’re all dead.” Allen gives him a look, and he turns away.

  Kasha steps forward, “Alright, our next move needs to be to get to Hoil. Agreed?”

  Allen nods, “Only one problem – there’s about fifty drones between here and there.”

  Cechsa walks over to the display and leans forward to take a closer look. Her tail begins to twitch back and forth. “You want a distraction?” Allen smiles, “What do you have in mind?”

  Cechsa continues to study the display. “You’ll see, but first a question – Kasha, do you hold even the faintest hope of recovering the Memories of Hel?”

  Kasha considers her answer for a moment, “No.”

  Cechsa smirks, “Good. Hold on to something and have your weapons ready.”

  Cechsa watches the display while entering a series of commands into a nearby console. She selects a rear facing view from the imager on the upper forward section of the ship, expands it to fill the screen, and waits. After a long moment, she sees what she is waiting for. One of the scout vessels makes an extremely close run alongside the cargo pods, from the front to the rear of the ship, exactly as it had been doing every few seconds since the Memories of Hel fell out of warp.

  Cechsa waits for exactly the right moment, confirms one last command, and tightens her grip on the handrail lining the console. Kasha’s eyes widen as she feels a slight jolt in the deck and watches on the display as one of the massive outboard cargo pods explosively ejects directly into the hostile vessel’s path. Unable to adjust its course in time, the vessel collides hard with the ejected pod, sending debris in all directions. As the remains of the vessel drift into space, the pod is sent careening back toward Hel. It violently rips two neighboring pods from their mooring points before drifting off. In Engineering, Cechsa is the only one left standing as the lights dim, flicker, and finally go dark.

  Almost immediately, Engineering is flooded by a new source of light – numerous bluish relocator beams. In the brief flashes of light, Cechsa sees Kasha and Allen still on their knees. She just catches the bluish glint of her blade, reflecting the lights that deposit several androids between her and the weapon. As the relocator beams fade, Engineering returns to darkness.

  Kasha struggles to her feet and draws her revolver, but there is nothing to shoot at. For what seems like hours, she hears the sounds of scuffling feet, tearing, and the thud of lifeless bodies hitting the deck. After entirely too long, the emergency lights flicker on, illuminating Engineering with a deep red glow. Gunshots ring out as Kasha drops two androids, and Cechsa rips into another android’s neck with her claws. Kasha looks over to her side to see Allen jump on an android from behind and force his dagger into its chest. The android staggers and falls and Engineering falls silent.

  As Allen recovers his dagger from the fallen android, Kasha looks around Engineering. At least a dozen bodies lie scattered throughout. If she didn’t know better, Kasha’s first assumption would be that most were mauled by a wild animal. Kasha turns toward Cechsa who, aside from the black on her still-extended claws, seems to have avoided any spatter.

  “What did you say you did before I hired you?”

  Cechsa smiles as she bends down to pick up her blade, her tail twitching slightly. “I didn’t.”

  “Oh, right.”

  Cechsa glances toward the door. “You ready?” Kasha nods, and looks back at Allen.

  “I’m staying.”

  Kasha frowns, “Why?”

  “I’ll be one hell of a distraction when you need it.” He smirks, “Besides, you need someone to keep the lights on.”

  Cechsa turns toward him, “If we find a way out, you’re abandoning your post.”

  “No shit, love.”

  Without another word to Allen, Cechsa starts toward the exit. “Let’s go.” Kasha takes one last look at Allen, who has already turned his
attention to a console on the far wall. She can’t help but smirk when she notices the tailored tail-hole in the Dentonian man’s jeans, but decides not to comment on it and follows Cechsa into the corridor.

  As they move toward the lift, they find the corridors oddly empty. No movement, few sounds, no screams or pleas for help. They round each corner carefully, but encounter no resistance. Kasha and Kecsha exchange glances as they reach the lift, and step inside. “Deck Five.” The door slides shut, and they begin their descent.

  After a short moment of silence, Cechsa turns toward Kasha. “You don’t think we’ll make it out of this, do you?”

  “Nope.”

  “Then why are we working so hard?”

  “Something to do.”

  Cechsa smiles.

  Her smile fades quickly as the lift shudders and comes to a complete stop. She sniffs the air, her eyes going wide as she detects a faint scent of ozone. “Oh shit.” Cechsa thrusts her blade toward the rear of the lift just as an android materializes in that very spot. As the relocator beam fades, she pulls the blade out of its abdomen, and it doubles over. Before the android has time to hit the ground, another begins to materialize inches away from Kasha. She raises her revolver, and the moment the relocator beam releases it, circuits and coolant decorate the wall behind it.

  As waves of androids beam into the lift, Kasha and Cechsa fight for their lives. While Cechsa decapitates one android with her blade, Kasha kicks another away long enough to chamber a round and finish it off. Cechsa swings around to attack a third android, but it catches her off-guard when it grabs the business end of her blade with both hands. While Cechsa fights for her weapon, Kasha offloads two bullets into an unusually tall android whose outer body seems reminiscent of a caninoid. One bullet passes unimpeded through its neck, piercing through the wall of the lift near the ceiling.

  Silence. The remaining android, still holding firmly onto the blade, stares unflinchingly into Cechsa’s eyes as she stares at the torn metal palms of its hands and broken servomechanisms within. Kasha pushes herself quickly to her feet and moves to finish off the android, but loses her balance when the lift shudders again. An instant later, all involved are swept off their feet and into the air as the lift lurches downward, gaining speed almost as if intentionally propelled. Cechsa takes the opportunity to pull her blade away, but the android holds on and they tumble uncontrollably. She lets out a snarl, frees her right hand from the weapon, and gouges out the android’s neck with her claws.

  Just short of a second after it began, the lift stops with a jolt, throwing Cechsa hard to the deck. Sprawled out on her back on top of the numerous mutilated machines that cover the deck, she turns her head to check on the blade still in her left hand, and her heart stops. Beside her, Kasha lays on her back, staring blindly, eyes wide, at the ceiling. Her lips move as if she is gasping for air but she doesn’t make a sound. Cechsa lets go of her weapon, embedded firmly in Kasha’s abdomen, and scrambles away. Her back against the bulkhead, she curls into herself, tears streaming down her face through her fur.

  “I-I’m sorry… Kasha, I’m so sorry… it was an accident, I didn’t… I’m so sorry…”

  The lift lists suddenly to the side, shaking Cechsa from her grief as she loses her balance. She sits in numb silence for a moment, until the deck begins to vibrate and the deafening sound of grinding metal engulfs the tiny chamber. The horrible sound seems to come from beneath her and sounds as if receding. Deep within this deafening noise from below, Cechsa picks up the faint sound of something else – two voices, screaming. Her ears fold back against her head as she tries desperately to block out the cries and fails. A short moment later she hears a crash below her and the lift goes silent once again. Cechsa curls into herself for a second time, shaking uncontrollably.

  Several moments later, the lift door stutters open with a screech, an android standing on the other side. It stands in the doorway, appearing to visually scan the inside of the lift. Cechsa watches as its false eyes seem to travel over the carnage, mesmerized as those false eyes lock on hers.

  She is on top of the android as it falls back, tearing at everything she can reach with her claws. As it hits the ground, it kicks her off with both legs, and she hits the bulkhead, hard. She snarls and launches herself back at the android, sweeping it off its feet before it can stand. The android hits the opposite bulkhead head-first and her right foot impacts its left shoulder, pinning it in place as she grabs onto its arm and yanks back. She hears a popping sound as the arm goes limp in her hands, and with one more tug, the arm pulls free.

  She feels a pressure around her right ankle, and before she can react, the android throws her backward. As she regains her balance, the android returns to its feet. It throws itself at her, remaining arm outstretched with an injector visible within the palm of its hand. Cechsa twists out of its path and grabs hold of the arm, using it as leverage to pin the android to the other bulkhead. She quickly wraps an arm around its neck, grabs its head with her other hand, and twists. A loud snapping noise emanates from the android’s neck as it goes limp.

  Slowly, she pushes the abomination away. Unable to look at it, she turns back toward the open lift, only to see Kasha staring at her, eyes wide, her lifeless expression forever one of pain and shock and fear. Cechsa takes an unsteady step forward, desperate to do… something. As she does, the lift suddenly shifts again, and falls. Cechsa runs to the lift door but it’s too late. She searches the downward expanse with her eyes, but finds only darkness.

  Desperate, afraid and very alone, Cechsa does the only thing she can – run. She runs from the fear, from the guilt, from Kasha Eaves. She runs down the corridors of Deck 5, around corners, avoiding the androids no longer paying her much attention. She runs blindly, from everything, until finally she hits him.

  Hoil staggers back, hurriedly pushing Cechsa off him. “Watch your step, kitty!”

  Cechsa regains her balance and glares.

  Hoil quickly presses himself against the bulkhead. “You may want to find cover.”

  Cechsa tilts her head.

  “Um, now.”

  Her eyes widening, Cechsa jumps out of the middle of the corridor and presses herself against the bulkhead next to Hoil. She winces at the percussive blast as an explosion nearby rocks the deck and a fine mist of fluids and metallic particles paints the bulkhead in front of her.

  “What the fuck Hoil!? Were you saving that grenade for a rainy day?”

  Hoil grins as he walks out into the corridor, “Something like that.” He turns to face her, suddenly more serious. “So, who’s left?”

  Cechsa shakes her head, “Besides Allen and Kex in Engineering, it’s just us.”

  “What? What about Rachel and Kasha?”

  “Rachel was killed when they tried to turn her. Kasha… she’s just dead.”

  Hoil takes a step toward her, “What do you mean, ‘just dead’?”

  He gives her a look that she can’t return, as she looks down at her hands. “It wasn’t…” She looks back up at him, desperate. “I didn’t mean it.”

  Hoil gives her a long, hard look, then simply steps past her and starts walking. “We’re better off with Allen. At least he knows how to keep his weapons trained on the enemy.” He turns the corner into an adjacent corridor, stops and backs back into Cechsa’s view. “Uh, not that way.” He moves quickly in another direction, but stops when half a dozen androids come into view ahead of him. “Okay, shit.”

  Hoil moves hurriedly back to Cechsa as more androids pour in from the adjacent corridor. Cechsa steps out from the bulkhead, “You’re armed, right?”

  “Ran out of bullets.”

  “Fantastic.” As she extends her claws, she faintly registers a feeling of weightlessness, and everything goes black.