Chapter 4: Into the Land of Lost Souls
Trey, Da'an and a few soldiers departed from his ship in a shuttle. On the dark side of planet Xanatu was a gigantic ring with ships both entering and leaving it. It was the hypergate, a controlled wormhole that bended the very fabric of space and time allowing ships to pass through it like an intergalactic highway. Most technologically advanced ships used it with border patrol ships lined against the gates to make sure no one unregistered was using the hypergates. Their shuttle had to journey through four different gates before they finally made it to the moon. As they entered the gravity field of the large gas giant, the shuttle began to rumble violently.
"Hold tight. This is normal," Trey assured Da'an.
"I've been traveling through space since before your ancestors existed," Da'an said. "I know it's normal."
"My gosh, you're so funny," Trey said sarcastically. "Has anyone ever told you that?"
"Thank you. I'm here all week," Da'an shot back.
"Sir," one of the officers called, "I think you want to see this."
Trey walked up to the monitor and shook his head.
"What's going on?" Da'an asked.
"We're being followed," Trey said.
"Followed? By whom?"
"Jaridians."
A bewildered expression appeared on Da'an's face. "What in the world do they want?"
"My best guess?" Trey asked. "You."
Da'an sat back and sighed in frustration. "What now?"
"We keep going," Trey replied.
"Are you insane?" Da'an asked. "If we let them follow us, we will lead them right to Tay'jay."
"Tay'jay's not who they want, and we'll last a better chance fighting them on the ground than we ever would in space," Trey explained. "We keep going as if we never noticed them. As far as they know we haven't, which gives us the advantage."
"I wonder who sent them and what they want with me."
"I don't know, but if we strategize well enough, it'll never be an issue."
The city they landed on was much less developed than Xanatu City. It resembled a small suburb more than it did an actual city. Upon walking around, one would never know just how crime-ridden it really was. That was because this was one of the high-class areas. In the lower class towns, one could find an utter wasteland. When the warlords dueled for territory, the battles were often taken to these lower-level towns. People who lived here were crime lords, sleazy businessmen, mob bosses, and high-profile criminals like Tay'jay.
Da'an felt soiled just setting foot on the ground. She tried to avoid the blank stares she got from different people as she, Trey and his soldiers left the port.
"Welcome to the land of lost souls," Trey introduced.
"Charmed, I'm sure," Da'an said unenthusiastically. "Are those Jaridians still following us?"
"Don't think about that now," Trey whispered. "Just keep walking straight and keep your hands in your pockets."
Trey's soldiers crowded around Da'an and Trey in a protection circle as they got nearer to the building. Trey and his soldiers took Da'an's hand one by one, and one by one they changed shifted into Espelons.
As they walked inside the restaurant, a man took the soldiers' weapons and asked them to sit wherever they liked. They chose a large table at the center of the dining room. The server came to them and observed Trey and Da'an very closely.
"May I take your order?" he asked.
"Tell me about your specials," Trey said.
"Our current specials today include the red palagi, the blue granatu, and our always famous golden meal."
"The golden meal please with Haru's finest for the lady."
"Of course."
"I really do not even want to know what all of that meant," Da'an whispered after the server left.
"The short version: I just set an appointment," Trey said. "This table's where Tay'jay's associates look for potential clients. That server will ask you and I to the chef's room for a special order. Then, they'll lead us to the basement, where the associate will be waiting for us."
"Do they take everyone?" Da'an asked.
"No, not everyone. If he says they're fresh out, we'll have to leave immediately. That's where all that attire under your robe comes in. But seeing as we look like Espelons, I doubt they'll turn us down."
"He's coming back," Da'an said looking in the opposite direction.
"The chef will see you to take your order for the golden meal. Only you and your wife will be allowed," the server said.
"Of course," Trey said. "Come darling."
"You are enjoying this," Da'an muttered as they followed the server.
"I enjoy everything I do," Trey said. "It takes my mind off of old wounds."
"Such as?"
"The fact that we're planetless is a good place to start."
"That's one we can both share."
As Trey had called it, they were led to an elevator behind the kitchen that went only to the basement. They were led down a stone hallway into a dark room with a black table at the center.
"Why are these deals always negotiated in the dark?" Da'an wondered. "I feel like a damn vampire."
"A what?"
"Oh, it's a demonic night predator with fangs that drains innocent victims of their blood. It only comes out in the dark."
"Whatever."
"My protector would have gotten it."
"Then maybe you should have brought him."
"Why does no one ever know when I'm joking?"
"I knew you were joking. I was playing with you."
They each took a seat at the table. On the other side, a male energy being took a seat in front of them.
"Interesting," the male said. "You look like Espelons, but I've never seen either of you."
"How would you know about any Espelon?" Da'an asked.
"Apparently you haven't been in the loop very long, or you would know that my boss is the lord of the Espelon Ring," he said.
"Espelon Ring?" Trey asked. "What in the galaxy is that?"
"A network of planets that house fleeing Espelons such as myself."
"What do you have to flee from?" Da'an asked.
"Jaridians, Taelons who do not accept us…spies."
"Well, she's not a spy if that's what you're worried about," Trey said. "She's looking to a job, and we hear your boss is the best."
"He is the best, but he only takes on jobs that interest him."
"We were interesting enough to get here," Da'an said. "Is that a good start?"
"Usually. Usually not."
"Well, I think your boss would be very interested in this job," Trey said.
"Tell me the nature of the job, and I'll ask him."
"It involves a lost family member."
"The boss has no family. They have all died off or were killed in the war against the Jaridians."
Trey scoffed. "Shows what you know."
"I doubt he would be as willing to accept the job unless we met…personally," Da'an said subtly.
"You can do that, can't you?" Trey asked. "You being such a good worker and all."
"Flattery can get you killed in this line of work."
"It can also get you what you want however," Da'an said.
"You dance well for a new player. But not well enough. Tell me the specifics of the job, or I will have to ask you to leave."
"Before I do, tell me, how well do you know Tay'jay?" Da'an asked.
"You shouldn't use names here. But I know him like a brother."
"Good. Then, if I was to say something like…um…pad'ar, you would know what I meant."
"Indeed."
"How about…Tam'bi?"
"Of course."
"And how about…Amo'qui?"
The associate jumped at the word. "I…have no clue what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think you do," Trey said.
"I see," the associate said. "Well then, if Amo'qui's the word, this is the reaction." A squad of troops appeared out of the darkness and surrounded Da'an and Trey with their weapons. "We do not take too kindly to bounty hunters, but I'm not all that bad of a person. I would hate to see such fine individuals as yourselves be grinded into dust by these men. Tell me who hired you—the Synod, Jaridians, the warlords—please, be honest, and you can leave with your souls intact."
Da'an and Trey looked at each other. Before anyone could react, Da'an pulled out a flash bomb and threw it up in the air, blinding the squad just long enough for them to pull out the armed machine gun and shot gun. Trey grabbed the associate and poked him in the back with the barrel.
"We have no intention of leaving," Trey whispered. "We have some business to discuss personally with your boss, Tay'jay Amo'qui."
"That's right," Da'an said, "and you, being so loyal and all, are going to lead us right to him."
"Now, tell us where he is so that you can leave with your soul intact," Trey threatened.
"You think you've won?" the associate said. "You will never get me to lead you to Tay'jay. He is everywhere."
A burst of energy sent Da'an and Trey into the wall while the associate made his getaway. The squad began firing at them. Trey knocked the table over to use as a shield.
"Commander, get down here! Now!" Trey cried on the communicator to his soldiers.
Trey and Da'an began shooting for their lives as the enemy squad tried to infiltrate them.
"We do not have time for this Trey," Da'an said as she fired. "Every second puts that much distance between us and the associate."
"I'll take care of it," Trey said. "You wait for my soldiers. Can you handle them alone?"
"Do not worry about me," Da'an said. "Just hurry!"
"Cover me," Trey said, handing the shotgun to Da'an and pulling a pistol out of her belt.
Da'an put the shotgun down and began firing wildly with the machine gun. The squad all hid to avoid the barrage of bullets while Trey blazed past. The squad never saw him.
Trey ran down the dark hallway until he came to an emergency exit elevator. The associate had just used it. Trey hopped on and waited very impatiently. When the door opened, he hid away from the entrance, but a quick glance revealed more soldiers ready to take care of him. Trey shifted into his true form and escaped into the ventilation system. Then, he shifted into his Espelon form and leapt back into the hallway well away from the squad. He followed the hallway until he came to a secret launch pad. The roof was opening revealing the large planet in the night sky.
The associate was boarding a small shuttle. Trey fired a round of his gun.
"Keep walking and you lose the use of your legs," Trey warned.
"How'd you get past the guards?"
"What does it matter? I want Tay'jay, buddy."
"Never on your life."
"Do you honestly believe we're bounty hunters?"
"Who but a bounty hunter paid by the Synod would know the surname of Tay'jay?"
"How about…a Synod member?"
"All the more reason you should die."
"And what would you say if I told you the Synod member looking for him went by the name of Da'an?"
"I'd ask for what purpose."
"A job, a very high-paying job. We can't do business through associates because the more people who know about the job, the more likely it'll get back to our enemies. I know you wouldn't want that."
"And I suppose that's why you refuse to discuss the details with me."
"Damn straight."
"How do I know you're the real Da'an?"
"I'm not, you idiot. I just work for the woman."
"Hah! Da'an may be many things, but he is far from female."
"She is now, and she's gonna be extremely pissed off if you leave."
"I do not believe you," the associate said, "but it matters not. You won't live long enough to debate this any further." He pressed a button on the side of the shuttle that activated the pad's defense system. Several guns appeared from the walls and began firing at Trey. He ran behind a large group of cargo boxes for cover, but he was pinned and he knew those boxes would not hold for long. The shuttle took off and sped away leaving Trey pinned down.
Suddenly, Trey heard a series of explosions. When he lifted his head, he found his own shuttle destroying the automatic guns one by one.
The door to the launch pad opened, and Trey saw Da'an and his squad in the middle of a shoot-out between the associate's protectors. The shuttle fired a missile that caved the ceiling in, blocking the squad's path to the launch bay and saving Trey's men.
The fighter landed and opened. Da'an, Trey and his soldiers readied their weapons for…Mi'en!
"Ugh, I can tell this is going to become a very old routine very fast," she said as she exited the ship.
"Mi'en! What a pleasant surprise," Da'an said.
"Really, now. What would you two do without me?" Mi'en asked.
"We'd be on the trail of that associate," Trey muttered to himself, but it was loud enough for Mi'en to hear it.
"We have a bigger problem than that at this moment," Mi'en said. "You have to board now."
They wasted no time complying. Trey renewed his control of the helm and sped back into space, where they met an entire fleet of Jaridian battle ships.
"Oh, fun," Da'an said nervously.
"I got worried, so I followed you in a fighter pilot," Mi'en explained. "That was when I saw those Jaridians following you. Right after you landed, they tried to strip search the ship. From what I gather, they're after Da'an."
"Great, now get to the part I don't already know, like how to get out of here, for instance," Trey said.
"Sir, they're sending a hail," one of Trey's men said.
"Answer it," Trey ordered.
"This is Dujak of the Jaridian Empire. We are aware of the Taelon you have on board your ship. We would like to ask her a series of questions. If you return to the moon and hand her over quietly, you will not be harmed," the transmission said.
"Why are you after me?" Da'an asked.
"Are you that ignorant that you are unaware of the reward the Synod has placed for your capture?" Dujak said.
"Reward?" Da'an and Trey asked simultaneously.
"You mean there's a bounty on your head too?" Mi'en asked Da'an. "What else aren't you telling me?"
"Do not try to pin this on me," Da'an shot back. "I have been isolated for ten days. How was I supposed to know?"
"Which is more than enough time for the Synod to post a reward and for word of it to spread to the Jardians," Trey added.
"But why would they want to help the Synod in any way?" Mi'en asked. "What could they possibly have to gain?"
"Are you kidding?" Trey asked back. "Only enough time to torture her into telling them the most well-kept secrets of the Taelon race, and that's just while they wait for the Synod to pick her up. They have a whole galaxy of time to wait before they finally decide to call the Synod and tell them they have her."
"He is correct," Da'an said, "and they can use whatever money they receive for me to buy more weapons to aid them in their cause."
"Now that we've established that, may we please return to the subject at hand: how to get out of here!" Trey asked impatiently.
"You said it yourself. We will never survive a dogfight in space," Da'an said.
"But what about Tay'jay?" Mi'en said. "We have to find him."
"We will," Da'an assured. "We have a whole network of planets to search. Trey, do as he says and land. I have an idea."
The fleet escorted the shuttle to a desert area outside of the town. Dujak's was the only ship that landed. The rest remained in midair. Dujak and a squad of about twenty soldiers left the battle cruiser awaiting their target. Eight Espelons exited the ship with one wearing a large blue robe.
"Bring her to me," the Jaridian told his soldiers.
They raced to the Espelon in the blue robe and dragged her to Dujak. "My, my, Da'an, how the mighty have fallen."
The Espelon grabbed Dujak's hand and shifted into a Jaridian.
"What! Treachery!"
The rest of the Espelons turned into Jaridians and engaged the entire squad. The other ships could not fire because they had no clue who was on their side and who wasn't. While the battleships focused on the small battle, the tiny shuttle sped away. A very angry Dujak began firing his shaquarava wildly, but the eight Shape-Shifters reverted to their true forms and disappeared in the wind.
"Damn that Taelon wench!" cried Dujak. "She's working with mercenary tricksters! Search the entire moon and find her!" he yelled into his communicator. "Nobody makes a fool out of General Dujak!"
Several minutes later the ship's scattered. The eight Shape-Shifters abandoned their true forms for a white alien with wings on its back. They all flew in the sky and into the concealed shuttle waiting for them.
"I have to hand it to you, Da'an," Trey said while shaking the hands of his men. "That was a pretty good plan."
"I am only sorry that you had to lose the robe in the process. It looked pretty expensive," Da'an said.
"I can always buy more," Trey said shamelessly. "Anything for my wife."
"Yeah, nice try, Romeo," Da'an said.
"Who?"
"Oh! I know this one!" Mi'en exclaimed. "He's a character from a play who seduced a girl named Juliet and then killed her and himself."
"Uh…close enough," Da'an said uneasily.
"You have been on Earth far too long," Trey said. "Let's just get out of here."
"And go where?" Mi'en asked.
"Wemri," Trey said. "It's a colony on the far side of the farthest planet in the Haru System. From what I hear, Tay'jay's associates accumulate there too."
"What are you going to do now with nothing to conceal your…accessories?" Da'an asked him.
"You get three tries in this line of work," Trey said. "The diplomatic way, the stealthy way, and the hard way. Time to go in the stealthy way. Just pray to the Supreme One that we don't get to the hard way."
"Well, I doubt I can be stealthy in any way with this dress on," Da'an said.
"There's a soldier's uniform in the back," one of Trey's men said.
"Oh. Thank you," Da'an said lightly.