The Chronicles of Soemthign: Soemthign

The story so far...

The journey was quick, about eighteen hours. Along the way, Asrayah unsealed his packet of orders. (Normally one was given the option to accept a mission, he explained.) Once on Thebe, the group was to proceed to the colony of Soemthign.

"Soam-thiggen?" Sparky asked confusedly. Forte laughed while Asrayah searched the navcomputer. "Something. Evidently the colonists had to name it, but strongly disagreed on what. Finally someone said to just call it something, but their typist was a little too sure of his abilities, and transmitted the error, with misspelling, before it could be corrected."

With that out of the way, the doctor continued. Soemthign was the home of Jovian Research Outpost 13, the furthest station from earth housing an extra-solar system sensory array. It had been the first to detect the presence of the World-Eaters emerging from the Oort cloud, and Thebe had for some possibly-related reason been the first body in the solar system they attacked. Outpost 13 had barely had time to broadcast a trouble alert before they were destroyed.

"I don't like it," growled Forte. "Too risky. It's obvious why they went for 13 first. And 13… that number ain't right." His gesture might have been a shudder.

"You had every opportunity to learn this before coming out, if you hadn't known already." Asrayah sounded annoyed. "Besides, the Concordat's already paid you; you can't back out. Also, what is this sudden superstition?"

The hunter muttered under his breath, something to the effect of he wouldn't let a bunch of damn politicians decide his luck. "I ain't welshin'," he said aloud. "OK, we do this right. Recon from orbit. Sparky, fire up the Free Will's sensors. If everything checks out, we set down ten klicks from the station and ride in. What equipment do you need, doctor, and how long should it take?"

Asrayah motioned to a small carpetbag stowed in a compartment. "Only that stuff. As far as time, we just need to grab a small crystal, about this big"—he held up a fist—"and bring it back for analysis. We believe it's some sort of supercompressed storage, or perhaps even a conduit into a larger network. We grab it and get out."

"Good. I wasn't looking forward to anything big. Sparky, how we lookin'?"

The ship's sensors didn't show any substantial activity, perhaps a small bit below the surface. The doctor assured them their prize was above-ground ("there's no other way we'd have found it"), so they set down according to plan. Forte pulled three hoverspeeders out of one of the cargo bays, while Sparky retrieved several large guns from another. The hunter chose a pistol and shotgun, while the droid selected two large automatic rifles.

They took it slow—ride about a kilometer, staying in whatever cover could be found, scan the environment, continue. Nobody spoke beyond necessary communication. There was a pregnant silence to the atmosphere that seemed better left undisturbed.

Finally they reached the outpost. Small one-story structures formed a double circle around a derelict four-story skyscraper. Asrayah pulled a small device out of his bag, studied it for a moment, then informed the group the crystal was on the top floor of the central building. They deliberated. It was decided that Forte, despite his better instincts, would lead. Sparky would bring up the rear, with Asrayah in between.

They crept between the buildings of the outer circle. Forte peeked out into the between space, thrust a sensor into the open, then gave the all-clear. They scurried into the inner circle.

Suddenly, a whoosh sounded behind them. Asrayah barely glimpsed a shadowy figure dart into a different part of the circle. Forte bellowed in dismay.

With a grinding screech, the headless body of Spartacus-124 crumpled to the ground.

Next part...