16. All the Moments Lost
Aboard his flagship the Sabertooth, General Cataloupe staggered, catching himself on the navigation station as he was released from whatever force had gripped him and his ship and, seemingly, the entire battlefield.
"What just happened?" he demanded of the universe at large. There was no time to figure it out now. "Batteries, fire at will! Local control. Bring us to bearing 459.3 by 60 -"
"What the - WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IMBARA? What happened to my father's ship?"
Colonel Cato's shocked voice tore over the comms and immediately the lieutenant at the weapons station brought the corvette up on the screen. Cataloupe gaped in astonishment. Avocato's command ship, the Imbara, which had not been engaged in the battle, looked as if the command bridge had been sliced clean off. Plasma fields sealed off the breaches until repairs could be effected, and as he watched, her course was corrected as surviving crewmen reached the secondary bridge and kept her from drifting.
"Where is my father?"
"Colonel Cato," General Cataloupe interjected sharply before the boy's panic could infect the allied troops. "Stand down. That's an order. Stay with your squadron. Keep in formation. We'll find out what happened." He tapped the comm officer on the shoulder, quietly ordering, "Get me a visual to the whole fleet. Keep trying to raise the Imbara."
"Yes, sir. Line open, sir."
He drew himself up tall and radiating command presence. "All ships, this General Cataloupe. The phenomena we experienced seems to have affected the both fleets, possibly connected to the rift in space being created. The only ship impacted was the Imbara, which sustained heavy damage to the bridge. We are trying to raise her now to assess damage and casualties. Until we have a full understanding of what's happened, as per General Avocato's orders and battle plan, I hereby assume command. All captains, maintain positions and carry on with your attacks! Focus on the incinerators! Fighter wings, regroup and start another run!"
His calm assurance and crisp orders kept the allies from breaking, but it was Resistance Leader General Menendez who sealed the deal for the anxious rebels. Spilling over the comms with more sass, attitude, and style than the whole Tera Con fleet combined, Tribore dropped his own version of a pep talk.
"People, listen up! We didn't come all the way here to stand around looking dashing. We can do that anywhere. We came to kick their asses! Can we do that? Hell yeah, we can! We're not leaving until we're done, and we're not done yet. Listen, they have Viro, but you have me. We can't lose! Plus, the sooner we get done here, the sooner we can go get drinks!"
"Consider that an order," called Cataloupe. "Kick their asses!"
He gave Tribore a quick nod of appreciation before returning to the battle. Drinks actually sounded like a damned good idea.
"Get me a report on the Imbara immediately," he ordered. "That wasn't laser fire that did that."
"Ye - General, incoming call from the Imbara," exclaimed the communications officer. "It's . . . the third officer, Lieutenant Commander Ux."
"On screen."
The image of the crippled Imbara was replaced by a limp and harried-looking e'Endith officer. In the hall behind them, repair crews raced about, fighting fires and locking down the plasma shields in the emergency lighting. Ux got straight to business.
"General, as far as we can tell, the bridge has been torn apart and the bridge crew is dead, including General Avoca-"
Suddenly Ux was unceremoniously shoved aside and a gray tabby Ventrexian filled the picture. "Move! Cataloupe," he said with authority, steamrolling everyone in his path. "It's Mogs."
"Report, Doctor," said Cataloupe, knowing the doctor would never interrupt unless it was absolutely urgent.
"Avocato's alive," Mogs said without preamble. He waved a medical scanner, frowning and glaring all the while. "I don't know how, but he's alive, and unless I'm interpreting this data incorrectly, he's on the Mynn."
Cataloupe could feel his heart racing, as much from relief as fear for his friend and superior. "How do you know?"
"He's got a bio-scanner implanted in case something happens and he can't call. I'm still getting steady readings from it. If he was dead, I'd know. You've got to get him back."
He said it so matter-of-factly, as if Cataloupe could drop everything and just rush in to save one man. If only that were the case. However much he wanted to go in guns blazing, he knew exactly what Avocato would say if he tried it, at least at this point.
"The Lord Commander has him," whispered Cataloupe, knowing it was the only possible answer.
"Ventrexia help him," answered the comms officer.
Cataloupe paused, racking his brain from the pre-battle briefing. "Maybe she already did. Get me General Menendez! Now!"
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Gary stumbled into the docking bay, Mooncake still clutched tightly to his chest, with a battle-damaged Boobies a few steps behind. Bo had been lost back in the service corridor behind the battle deck, but since then they'd met no resistance. Bodies and smoke still filled the docking bay, though of Clarence there was no sign.
"We gotta get Mooncake out of here before that tiny terror notices he's gone," he said, activating his helmet as he hurried to the spaceside entrance. "We'll call for pickup when we've put some distance between us and-"
"Goods-peed!"
Tribore. He was chipping away at the name. This was a personal best. Maybe he'd get it right eventually. Gary growled in annoyance at the interruption, but nonetheless activated the comm unit in his bionic hand. Tribore in all his many-eyed, bereted, blepping glory was displayed above Gary's wrist.
"I got Mooncake," he reported quickly. "We're about to blow this popsicle stand."
"Can you leave? No, you can't."
"I got Mooncake, yo. The hell else you want?"
"Avocato."
His heart skipped a beat. "Huh-wha?"
"He's been captured by the Lord Commander."
Gary slapped the control to deactivate his helmet and stared wide-eyed at the Resistance Leader. It suddenly felt as if a tremendous weight was dragging him under and his mind went absolutely blank.
"Whut?" he rasped. "How?"
"The Lord Commander froze both fleets, trashed the bridge of the Imbara, and grabbed Avocato. Avocato's bio-scanner shows him onboard the Mynn. Alive. You're the only boots on the ground we have."
Dear god. Avocato. If he was lucky, the Lord Commander would just kill him.
But Gary knew he wouldn't be lucky.
"I'll get him," he promised recklessly.
"Things are too hot right now to send in a tactical team. You're it. Call for pickup as soon as you can."
"Will do. Hey - how are we doing?"
"Asses are being kicked."
"Ours or theirs?"
"Yes," said Tribore with a knowing smirk, ending the communique.
Gary took a breath, taking a moment to think and collect himself. There wasn't time to plan anything, but what he could do, he would.
"Take Mooncake," he ordered Boobies, shoving the still-limp facehugger into the SAMES' arms. "Get off the ship and track Boyardee down. Fox and Ash should have the Crimson Light in the asteroid field. Get Mooncake to them fast as you can. Guard him with everything you've got. Got it?"
"Got it," said Boobies, cradling Mooncake carefully.
"Don't stop for anything," he added, petting Mooncake between the antennas. "You're gonna be okay, bud." He stepped back. "Go. Hurry."
He watched until Boobies ignited his boosters and flew through the plasma field over the entrance to the docking bay. Then he drew his gun and raced back the way he'd just come.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
He had been here before, in this ice-cold grasp. That night on the lava flats, when he had turned on the Lord Commander and refused to kill Little Cato. He had been held crushing tight and immobile, helpless but aware. Oddly, he had struck an almost identical stance now as then – one arm outstretched, reaching for someone no longer there. This power of the Lord Commander's was terrifying. Avocato was not one easily frightened, but he had been yanked from his crippled ship to this one in the blink of an eye.
He had not seen the Lord Commander since he had rescued Little Cato from the prison on Zetakron Alpha, and the ensuing years had not been kind. Had he been able, Avocato would have frowned at the sight before him. He knew using his powers took a toll upon the Lord Commander, but by all appearances, the corruption was eating him away. How was he even alive and upright with a body that was visibly festering? What had this last, massive show of strength cost him? Everything was not an overestimate. And what for? Revenge? By the look of things, if he didn't get it soon, he never would.
Not that the Lord Commander hadn't been getting his revenge for almost three years now. If only he knew . . .
A hearty glare was interrupted by a coughing fit. The Lord Commander, clearly furious, had to turn away to hack up thick black bile. Revolting.
"You can see what use of my power has done," the Lord Commander rasped, wiping his mouth. With each word, his smile grew a little wider and his eyes glowed brighter. Avocato knew exactly how dangerous, how petty he could be in this mood. "What you've driven me to, Avocato. But for this moment, it's worth it, old friend."
He threw Avocato across the room, releasing him at the last moment to slam full force into the wall. Avocato felt a rib break at the impact before he spilled to the deck. For a moment, pain and exhaustion weighed him down before he rolled to his side and got his hands beneath him. A little gasp escaped him and he tasted blood. He had hit his head in both collisions, and he knew the moment he moved he'd be nauseous beyond telling.
The Lord Commander stepped closer to inspect his handiwork, coughing and wheezing all the way. "I bet you enjoyed that little show you put on. It worked a little better than you anticipated, eh?"
Ending up here was a bit of a surprise, Avocato had to admit, but freeing Mooncake? That part of the plan had gone perfectly. The only question was – why hadn't the Lord Commander noticed? Could he truly hate Avocato so much he would let his greater plans go unfulfilled? Only a handful of minutes had passed since the beam had stopped. At least he could take comfort in knowing Gary's mission had been successful. The human would escape. Little Cato would not be without a father after all.
"Get up," ordered the Lord Commander savagely. "Stand up so I can knock you down again."
Avocato frowned, making no attempt to obey. "I don't take orders from you anymore."
"Still defiant, General," jeered the Lord Commander. He coughed, splashing dark spittle on his face and robes. "Did you ever?"
"I did. For ten years. Until you asked the impossible."
Losing all patience, the Lord Commander gestured at the expanse of battle going on throughout the Tarb system, his mounting frustration a sure sign that the rebels were winning. "All this over that obnoxious brat? Was he worth an empire?"
Avocato shook his head, unable to keep a small smile from his face at the thought of the vibrant little prince who had adopted him. "No. He's worth more."
"I should have killed him with his parents." He shrugged. "No matter. I'll destroy you, then him, then your whole miserable plan-"
The Lord Commander broke off. He turned back to the battle, frowning to see the beam splicing this dimension with another was gone. He whirled back to Avocato, realizing E35-1 was no longer trapped in the siphon.
"What?" he demanded. He looked to Avocato, still laying where he had fallen. "Where is E35-1? What did you do with him?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Up until three minutes ago, I was on my ship," Avocato snapped.
"LIAR!"
He was seized as if in a gigantic hand and slammed through the wall.
On three separate instances in his military career, Avocato had been caught in the blast zone of an explosion. The first two times had been in service to Ventrexia and had left him with minor injuries and, on the first occasion, temporarily deaf. The third time had been during his tenure as the second in command of the Tera Con Empire, when an assassination attempt had nearly succeeded. Only the presence of General Marcht between Avocato and the device had saved him, at the cost of Marcht's life. He could remember with disturbing clarity the shockwave passing through him as every cell of his body was hit, burns and shrapnel penetrating him as he was thrown by the blast. He had been sliced to ribbons by Marcht's shattered bones and many medals. He had never known such pain as in that instant.
Until now.