The Star Masters (Mastery of the Stars Book 6) Read online

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  CHAPTER 1: THE COPPERHEAD

  As soon as Scotmax’s shuttle emerged from the portal, she could see the three stars of the Sirius system. She went straight to the scanners.

  “You were right,” she said to Sevan. “There are signs of life, two sizable colonies, one Arint, and the other Ocrex.”

  “Told you,” said Sevan.

  “I’m still surprised to see Arint. I thought Akpom Chuba, the begetter of Kcokaep, had wiped out the last of them.”

  “We rescued them and brought them here.”

  “Will they have supplies?”

  “We left some supplies with them, but I think it will be highly unlikely if they have anything to spare, much less fuel cells.”

  “What about the Ocrex? If they are living in a colony, then it means that times are hard. The Ocrex hate each other and only live together in the most desperate of times. The chances of them having supplies are low and my own chances of being able to communicate with them are pretty slim. There’s still the possibility of the old Republic launch site.”

  Scotmax inspected the communications panel.

  “I wonder whether we are now close enough to Herse to reach them with a tachyon transmission?”

  “Haven’t you been sending signals?” asked Sevan.

  “Yes, since Bondauzuno. But, so far, I’ve not received a reply, and I’m worried that a stronger signal might alert the Republic to their presence.”

  As the shuttle approached Sirius, there were a few gaps in the cloud, revealing mainly blue ocean with the occasional grey landmass. Scotmax plotted a course for the Arint first.

  In the distance, Sevan recognised the volcanoes spewing smoke into the atmosphere. And as they approached the land, the stepping stones lining the coast.

  “It looks like a pile of scrap metal,” said Sevan as they approached the Arint encampment.

  “It’s made of Corporation containers,” said Scotmax.

  “Yes, we left them there for them.”

  “I see.”

  The Arint had constructed their settlement on top of a rocky outcrop, and immense waves crashed against the rocks below. Scotmax found a space on the volcanic rock large enough to land the shuttle.

  “The atmosphere is high in carbon dioxide and there are high readings of UV,” she said.

  “Yes, we had to wear our suits last time we came,” said Sevan.

  Once they had put on their suits, they descended from the shuttle and approached a container. A door in the container opened a crack, and a long snout emerged. The door opened a little more and behind the long snout appeared a pair of small eyes. A clawed hand pushed the door open wider and Scotmax saw a creature half her size emerge, covered in fur with spikes protruding from its back. More followed it.

  Scotmax attempted to communicate that she needed to refuel. Her suit made the task even more difficult. The Arint took an interest in the shuttle and she allowed them to wander around so she could point to the fuel cells. They had nothing to give her and she ended up letting them take some items from the shuttle that they seemed very attached to. They also took an interest in the sleeping Matthews and probed Sevan with their snouts until he waved them away.

  It took them quite a while to clear the shuttle of the Arint and even longer to persuade them to move to a safe distance so that they could take off. Scotmax set a course for the Ocrex colony.

  “I hope we will have more luck with the Ocrex,” said Scotmax. “It’s our last chance.”

  They found the colony as Sevan remembered it, built into caves around the rocky outcrop where Scotmax landed the shuttle. The colony looked a mess, with belongings strewn all over the place. No sooner had they landed than the Ocrex emerged from their caves, waving their tentacles wildly and changing colour rapidly.

  “I don’t really want to go out there,” said Scotmax.

  “Me neither,” Sevan agreed. “Further along is the rocket launch pad.”

  Scotmax looked where Sevan was pointing, but she could see no fuel cells.

  Finally, Scotmax and Sevan summoned the courage to open the doors and descend from the shuttle to face the Ocrex. As soon as they did, the Ocrex swarmed around them and some boarded the shuttle. Sevan and Scotmax rushed back on board, waving their weapons to encourage the Ocrex to leave. When this proved unsuccessful, they focussed on protecting Matthews from the tentacled beasts who were searching every alcove of the shuttle.

  The Ocrex appeared to find what they wanted. Scotmax and Sevan watched as the Ocrex removed all their stocks of fushy and pish and returned to their caves. They followed them and tried to communicate that they needed fuel, but it was useless. The Ocrex were too busy drinking, and sometimes fighting over the fushy and pish.

  “It’s pointless,” said Scotmax. “Let’s go back to the shuttle.”

  She checked the remaining power levels.

  “It’s not enough to make it to the portal to Lenguicarro,” she said.

  “Now what?” asked Sevan.

  “Only one option remains. I’ll set a course for the portal and hope that, after the power fails, the life support system operates long enough for the shuttle to drift into the portal. If it emerges from the other side, the Saturnian monastery on Lenguicarro will certainly spot it.”

  “Doesn’t sound great.”

  “We don’t have any choice.”

  While Scotmax set the course and sent more tachyon transmissions, Sevan checked on Matthews, who was still sleeping.

  Not long after leaving Sirius, the engines failed, and the shuttle drifted.

  “According to the instruments, we are still on course for the portal,” said Scotmax.

  Shortly afterwards, the emergency lighting failed and next the instruments died.

  “The life support system is still functioning,” she said.

  “How do you know?” asked Sevan.

  “The air is still coming out of the vents.”

  But soon the air stopped.

  “We only have as long as the air in the shuttle lasts,” she said, getting up and going over to where the space suits hung.

  “What are you doing?” asked Sevan.

  “Removing the breathing apparatus from the suits,” she said, turning them all on to release the oxygen into the cabin.

  “I can see the portal in the distance,” said Sevan. “Will we reach it before the oxygen runs out?”

  “No idea,” Scotmax admitted.

  Slowly, the temperature in the shuttle dropped. They wrapped themselves and Matthews in whatever warm things they could find.

  Sevan looked out the observation windows towards the portal until they iced over and then, slowly but surely; he fell into unconsciousness.

  *

  “You owe me fifteen credits from our last game of Mastercore,” said Sevan.

  “Shut up, Sevan.” Said Ay-ttho

  “My name is Edicla and I am a bounty hunter from Daphnis.”

  “Now he remembers who he’s meant to be,” Tori groaned.

  “Tori? Ay-ttho? Where’s Nadio?”

  “On Herse with Yor.”

  Scotmax, hearing the commotion, slowly opened her eyes. Everything seemed white and bright. She perceived a figure leaning over her and, as her eyes adjusted to the light; she saw a Saturnian nun.

  “So the Saturnians were right after all,” she mumbled. “Is this the great hall of Chronos?”

  “You are not dead,” said Ay-ttho. “I’m Ysteb. We picked up
your shuttle on the Sirius side of the portal. We are on our way to Lenguicarro, you are in the sickbay of Flavia.”

  “Let’s stop all this dreqneod waste product, let’s just tell him who we really are,” said Tori.

  “Is that Sirrah,” asked Scotmax, recognising the voice.

  “No! My name is not Sirrah, it’s Tori and I’m not a cleaner, I was a Republic war clone and now I owe nothing to anyone.”

  “I am confused,” said Scotmax. “What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing, he’s a terrible cleaner. I should fire him,” said Ay-ttho.

  “Come on, Ay-ttho, let’s stop this ridiculous pretence,” pleaded Tori. “Kirkland isn’t president anymore, neither are Ydna nor Kcokaep. We don’t need to hide anymore.”

  “Yrag is president. Nothing has changed. He will not overturn Kirkland’s curse and even if Matthews here became president, she’s Kirkland’s offspring, Sirrah, nothing is going to change, so you’d better get used to who you are.”

  “What wouldn’t I change?” Matthews asked from where she lay in the sick bay.

  “Matthews! You’re awake,” Scotmax tried to sit up.

  “Whoa! Steady, you big stuvel,” Ay-ttho warned. “Stay where you are. You are not well enough to be gallivanting around yet. Wait until we have got your oxygen and life juice levels back to normal.”

  Ay-ttho went over to check on Matthews.

  “How are you feeling, Matthews?” she asked.

  “Exhausted.”

  “I’m not surprised. Rest more. We’ll arrive at Copperhead soon.”

  “Copperhead?”

  “It’s High Priest Brabin’s Saturnian temple on Lenguicarro.”

  “You are very kind, Saturnian. Remind me of your name.”

  “My name is Ysteb. I am a Saturnian missionary.”

  “Your name is not Ay-ttho, then?”

  “No, it is Ysteb.”

  “You spoke of my begetter’s curse. Whatever my begetter’s grievance against you, I am sure it could be easily forgotten, if you were to help me raise a resistance to overthrow President Yrag.”

  “We will help you overthrow the president,” said Scotmax.

  “Let’s get you all to Copperhead first,” said Ay-ttho.

  “What did my begetter threaten you with that made you want to hide your identities?”

  “We are not hiding our identities, Matthews,” said Ay-ttho. “My name is Ysteb. I am a Saturnian missionary.”

  “I understand. May I ask you a hypothetical question, Ysteb?”

  “Of course.”

  “What would it take to force someone to feel the need to adopt a false identity? Hypothetically.”

  “Hypothetically, I would imagine that someone who had been wrongly convicted of a crime they did not commit, which meant that they could not gain access to Republic space ports might want to adopt a fake identity.”

  “And those other crimes what you did,” Tori mumbled.

  “An individual wanted by the Republic might assume a false identity, I imagine,” Ay-ttho clarified.

  “And I imagine,” said Matthews. “That anyone who helped to reclaim the presidency would receive a full pardon, regardless of the quantity or seriousness of the crimes they committed.”

  Tori and Sevan exchanged glances and then stared at Ay-ttho.

  “We are approaching Lenguicarro,” said Ron.

  “Good,” said Ay-ttho. “Would you excuse me, I am needed on the bridge.”

  “No, it’s okay,” said Ron. “I can land the ship alone.”

  “I said I am needed on the bridge!”

  “Oh, yes. That’s right, we need you on the bridge.” Ron agreed.

  “Where’s Nadio,” Scotmax asked once Ay-ttho had left.

  “He’s with Yor on Herse,” said Sevan. “Let me help you get ready. We will land soon.”

  When they landed in the hanger which faced the large courtyard of the Saturnian temple, in the centre of which was a colossal statue of Chronos, High Priest Brabin descended the temple steps to meet them.

  He stretched out his wings, his blue bug eyes glistened, and his grey hair and antennae moved slightly in the light breeze. He waved his wooden staff.

  “Ysteb, so nice to see you again, and so soon,” he greeted Ay-ttho.

  “Thank you for remembering,” she said.

  “You are like a public transportation shuttle. To don’t see one for ages and then two come in quick succession. What can I do you for?”

  “Hilarious, Brabin. May I speak with you in private?”

  “Of course. Come this way? How is your anti-matter drive?”

  “Very good, thank you. We shall not need to trouble you for fuel on this visit.”

  Brabin led Ay-ttho into his private office.

  “May I speak freely,” she asked.

  “Of course, we may have Republic patrol ships, but I am not yet under surveillance myself, as far as I know.”

  “We have Matthews on the ship.”

  “Kirkland’s offspring? The whole Republic is looking for her. In fact, this entire region of the galaxy is searching. President Yrag has placed a record bounty on her. It’s a good thing you have a bounty hunter on board. You could make yourself rich.”

  “You are full of jokes this rotation, Brabin. We also have Scotmax. She is one of the surviving swordsmen of Angetenar. We wish to raise a fleet to overthrow Yrag.”

  “So, it’s true, you have become an idealist.”

  “Matthews has promised to drop all charges against us.”

  “Has she now? It will be difficult to raise a fleet under the gaze of the Republic patrols.”

  “I am aware of that. The best plan would be to amass the fleet at Herse. Would the Saturnians care to join us?”

  “Saturnians are always interested in backing the winners. Can you convince me you will be on the winning side? What about Angetenar?”

  “Destroyed by an asteroid storm.”

  “How unfortunate.”

  “We rescued many. If we could get them ships, we could collect them from where we left them on Sonvaenope.”

  “We could easily fill the cargo bays of the Mastery of the Stars… I mean, Flavia, without the Republic patrols noticing.”

  “Thank you, Brabin. I suppose I owe you again.”

  “You will always owe me.”

  CHAPTER 2: WHERE BRAVERY IS TESTED

  Some time before.

  They had decorated the Presidential Palace on Future to celebrate the inauguration of President Kirkland. They had prepared a sumptuous feast which included bite-sized catlan batons, preserved cat’zed chunks and bosnirs sloth steak.

  Kirkland was in the great hall, overseeing preparations with his advisor, Kcokaep, when his partner approached.

  “Ah, Ydna, my dear. Doesn’t everything look marvellous,” he said.

  “Yes, it does. I thought you’d want to know that your co-beggotton and her partner have arrived. They’re on their way up now.”

  “Good, our begetter would have been so proud to see his offspring leading two of the most important regions in the galaxy.”

  “Yes, he would.”

  “Sgniwef! How are you? Thanks for coming.” Kirkland said, seeing his co-beggotton enter the great hall. “You will be pleased to hear we are in the ultimate tests of the scorpion lizards.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed your inauguration for the universe,” Sgniwef exclaimed.

  “And Luap, you look as beautiful as ever. Possibly the most beautiful creature in the universe except for your co-beggoton,” Kirkland turned and smiled at Ydna, who brushed away his compliment.

  “Co-beggoton!” she greeted Luap. “Why do we always have to wait for these stuffy occasions before we get together?”

  “I agree. We should get together more often,” said Luap.

  “You all know Kcokaep,” Kirkland said, gesturing towards his adviser

  “You must introduce me to this delightful creature,” said a Zistreotovean, approachin
g them.

  “This is Luap, co-beggoton of Ydna and partner of my co-beggoton, Sgniwef, who I am sure you know is the ruler of the Ao-Jun region.”

  “Why, of course, please forgive me for not recognising you immediately,” said the Zistreotovean. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Enaud, Zistreotovean Ambassador to the Republic.”