Broken Horizon Read online

  BROKEN

  HORIZON

  BOOK TWO OF

  SHATTERSPACE

  Charles Nall

  Works by Charles Nall

  Shatterspace

  Orchestra of Shadows

  Broken Horizon (Shatterspace)

  Copyright© 2015 by Charles Allen Nall

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in

  any form, by any means, without prior permission from the author.

  First Edition

  v1.2b

  Cover Artwork bySelfPubBookCovers.com/VISIONS

  This is a work of fiction. The characters and events in this

  work are fictitious. Any similarities to real people, living

  or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Broken Horizon

  January 3, 0267 AC - 18:30 Local Time

  Terran Debris Field, Sol System

  Orion Confederation Space

  The ion engines let out a droning roar.

  Zebediah looked around the cargo bay. He wondered what sort of starship he was on. He knew it was a ship; the sound of the ion engines rumbling was unmistakable. There was no sound in space, but the reverberations of the thrusters caused the structure of the ship to vibrate and emit a tone.

  The cargo bay smelled like a barn full of cattle. The stench came from the prisoners that were shackled along the dirty walls.

  There were stacks of crates and containers blocking most of his view of the other side of the bay.

  He assumed this starship wasn’t exactly designed for hauling prisoners. Every inch of space inside a starship was a precious commodity. Large warships had plenty of room, but he figured this was some sort of freighter. If the ship was designed for hauling prisoners, there probably was a more efficient way to transfer them to wherever they were going. In fact, this whole operation seemed amateurish. Half of the containers didn’t even seem to be secured. He wondered if a container would slide out of its position and splatter him all over the bulkhead he was chained to. Maybe that would be for the best.

  He looked over to a prisoner to his right that was chained to the grimy wall. “Hey,” Zebediah called out.

  The prisoner stared directly ahead and did not reply.

  Zebediah grumbled, “Fine.”

  He tried to make himself comfortable. It was pretty difficult with his hands behind his back. His head still hurt. He wondered how bad his face looked after the beating he took.

  He glanced over to the prisoner to his left. “Hey?”

  Also no reply.

  Zebediah sighed. “Anybody in this pig sty want to talk?”

  No response.

  “You guys are effing boring,” he said.

  He heard footsteps on the plating of the floor. It sounded like it came from behind the pile of crates.

  “Who’s out there?” Zebediah asked.

  There was no reply.

  Zebediah struggled in his restraints.

  A man walked around the crates and looked over to Zebediah. “Quiet down. You are spooking the cargo,” he said.

  “I’m trying to have a discussion with these human beings. We’re not cargo,” Zebediah replied.

  “You are property. You belong to Mars. Trust me, you aren’t humans anymore. You gave up your right to humanity when you performed your heinous crimes. So heinous that you were sent to Mars. You will never hurt a real human ever again.”

  “We’re real humans! We made mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. We don’t deserve to be treated like animals.”

  The man chuckled. “Animals should be treated better than the likes of you.”

  The man walked up to Zebediah. Zebediah was having trouble focusing on the man due to the injuries to the side of his face.

  The man was wearing a functional gray jumpsuit. A machete hung off the side of his belt. His face was weathered. He had short, silver hair with a widow’s peak. He seemed agitated.

  “What’s your name?” asked the man.

  “You first.”

  The man laughed. “I’m Warden Ross Algol.”

  “Warden?”

  Warden Algol looked over the wretched prisoners. “I run the Orbital Guard. It will keep you savages on the surface of Mars. This ship should arrive over that sodding rock in a few days.” Algol paused for a moment and finally said, “What’s your name?”

  “Zebediah.”

  “Zebediah?” Warden Algol laughed. “You’re the worst of the lot. You will enjoy the surface of Mars. I’ll look down from the Citadel and revel in your suffering.”

  “I’m a changed man.”

  “Even if you did change, you can’t change the past. You deserve hell.”

  “Terra will make that judgment.”

  Algol scoffed, “Terra. She doesn’t exist. You have to be punished for your crimes. A non-existent god won’t punish you...” Algol pointed at himself and growled, “It falls upon me! I am your god.”

  Zebediah shook his head. “She exists. She’s the spirit of the Earth.”

  “Even if she did exist, she would send you to the deepest level of hell,” Algol said. “You deserve hell for what you did to those girls.”

  Zebediah chuckled. “You aren’t listening. It wasn’t me.”

  “You sodding piece of shit.” Algol punched Zebediah in his already tender face.

  Algol shook and flexed his hand after the punch to try to minimize the pain that now coursed through it. “It is not enough for you to rot down there on that bloody planet. It is not enough.”

  Zebediah coughed up a bloody tooth onto the steel floor.

  Warden Algol pulled out his machete. “Speaking of Terra, we are currently traveling through the Terran Debris Field. The remnant of Earth. In the grave of your god, you will make a sacrifice to me. I am your true god. I reign from my tower above your hell.”

  Warden Algol stepped closer and removed the tattered pants from the struggling Zebediah.

  “I am your god. Terra is dead. Remember, you deserve much worse than this.”

  The other prisoners looked away as Zebediah began to yell in pain.

  It took much longer than Zebediah would have liked. Of course, he would have rather the situation not happen altogether.

  The pain was intense. Blood began to pool beneath Zebediah. After the deed was done, Algol wiped the blade on Zebediah’s tattered clothes.

  Algol smirked. “Enjoy your stay on Mars. We’ll have somebody fix up your wound.”

  Zebediah struggled to breathe.

  Algol pointed at Zebediah’s severed manhood on the ground with his machete. “You can keep that.”

  1

  February 27, 0270 AC - 15:34

  Captain's Quarters, CFS Iriguchi

  Edge of Confederate Space

  Lieutenant Riko Maeda hesitantly pushed a button on the console outside Captain Tanari Oshiro's quarters. The current executive officer, Yamato Koizumi, had told Riko Maeda that Captain Oshiro wanted to see her. Captain Oshiro had been acting strange lately.

  “Haitte kudasai!”

  Riko pushed another button and the door slid open. She walked into the captain's quarters. Her stomach felt like it was clenching into a knot.

  Oshiro was sitting at his desk. He had a grin plastered on his face.

  Riko’s friend Arnold Lawrence had recently cleared her name in the murder of the former executive officer, Commander Tyr Tsukino. The captain was planning on arresting Arnold and his companions but they luckily escaped off of the hypership Iriguchi before the security captured them. Maybe she should have went with Arnold.

  “Lieutenant! Peace. I'm so glad you got out of that cell. Sorry, I know I put you in there. I was wrong to put my trust into Slade. I've known you much longer. I can't believe I was about to all
ow an execution of someone I consider my daughter. I'm so glad you are free. Please, take a seat.”

  Riko slowly walked towards the captain and then took a seat in a chair in front of the desk. “A daughter? I'm touched.”

  “It's true. I apologize for what I did. Slade will rot in that cell, though, for killing one of my best friends.”

  Riko nodded. “Justice.”

  The conniving Mr. Slade had been the one that actually murdered Commander Tsukino. What was Mr. Slade up to? He appeared to be part of some dark conspiracy. Riko was relieved she would not have to worry about Mr. Slade, at least, as he was locked in her former cell. She did not realize that he would also be dead soon.

  Oshiro smiled. “Exactly. I'm glad the information got out, but I still don't know how someone came across that vid file. Do you have any idea who revealed the murder?”

  Riko hesitantly replied, “No, sir. I was stuck in a cell during all of that.”

  “Oh, I just figured you may know.”

  “I do not. But I think you sent security after them,” Riko said.

  “Oh? The crew of those corvettes were behind that? Well that makes sense. How do you know I sent security after them?”

  Teresa Day and her crew, the Marauding Mad Cats, had also docked on Iriguchi for a while. Switch Austrinus, part of Teresa’s crew, helped Arnold prove Riko’s innocence. The Mad Cats and Arnold’s crewmates had all escaped. Riko stayed behind.

  Riko sighed. “A bunch of security rushed the hangar as they were lifting off. I'm surprised you didn't jump after them.”

  “I have no reason to believe it was worthwhile to chase them. They are a minor pest!” Oshiro slammed his fist down onto the desk. “I shouldn't have let those despicable pirates onto my ship! They snooped around my home.”

  “Sir, I'm not comfortable with this conversation,” Riko said. “I think it's best if I leave. I'm glad I'm out of the cell, and it was good to see you.”

  “You stay in that seat. You leave when I tell you that you can leave.”

  “Sir?”

  “That's an order, Lieutenant. Stay in that damn seat.” Captain Oshiro stood up and paced around the room. “I've known you a long time. I can tell when you are hiding something from me. You will reveal it to me, I guarantee it. This can be painful or not. It's really your choice.”

  Riko stood up. “Sir, I don't know what you are talking about. I knew this was a mistake. Good day.”

  “No, stop. Do you think you can do anything to stop us? Will anyone trust a rat that just got out of her cage?”

  “What's got into you, sir?”

  Oshiro laughed. “You have no idea...”

  Riko shook her head. “I'm sorry, sir, for whatever happened to you. Good bye.”

  She started walking toward the door when Oshiro ran in front of her and blocked her path. “You aren't allowed to leave, yet.” He shoved her onto the floor.

  “Captain, please...”

  Oshiro slapped her. Blood started to flow from Oshiro's mouth and nose.

  Riko felt the slapped side of her face and looked back up to Oshiro with concern.

  “You chose the painful way. It was your choice.”

  Oshiro walked behind his desk and produced a silver chest that he sat on the desk. Blood was dripping onto the chest from Oshiro's face. He opened the chest and something jumped out into the room.

  A black, slimy creature with a long tail and insect-like legs scurried across the room towards Riko. The creature let out an unearthly hiss. A hiss that seemed to chill the very soul.

  Riko didn’t know, but a creature such as this was inside Oshiro. The creature, called an ‘imp,’ burrows into a victim’s brain stem and attempts to control the host. If the host fights for control, the host will begin to bleed. Mr. Slade had brought these creatures on board, part of a plot to control Iriguchi so it could be used in an assassination attempt on the Galactic Union’s President.

  Riko screamed.

  It leaped into the air towards Riko. She quickly retrieved her sidearm and fired.

  The creature fell limp onto the floor.

  She jumped to her feet and ran out the captain's quarters. She ran as fast as she could. She ran until she could not run anymore and then she ran some more. She had no idea where she was going. She just had to get away. She ran into Yamato Koizumi's arms.

  “Riko? Are you okay?”

  Riko cried in his arms. “Yamato–It's–Oshiro had something. I–I'm so scared. I have to get off this ship. We all do. Something twisted is here. He was bleeding–and acting strange I just–”

  Yamato cooed, “It's okay. I'm here with you. You're safe.”

  Security walked up to Riko Maeda and Yamato Koizumi. “Is anything wrong?”

  “I'm not sure,” Yamato Koizumi said.

  “The captain. It's the captain,” cried Riko.

  Yamato Koizumi hugged Riko tighter.

  He stared into Riko's eyes. She sniffed and looked up to him.

  Blood began to trickle out of Koizumi's nose.

  She shrieked in terror and tried to escape Koizumi's arms but could not escape. She had realized that Koizumi was not himself.

  “Shhh. It will be okay, Riko,” he said as he continued to bleed. “I have been enlightened for weeks now, it's not that bad. You'll see. Everything will be okay.”

  The security surrounded them.

  Riko screamed.

  Captain Tanari Oshiro walked up to the commotion. “You can’t run from it forever, Riko.”

  “What have they done to both of you?! What are those things?!”

  Tanari Oshiro laughed as the security restrained Riko.

  Yamato Koizumi smiled. “We have more, right?”

  “We do have one more,” Oshiro said.

  The security had no idea what the captain and executive officer were talking about. They placed handcuffs on Riko.

  “Well, where is it?” Koizumi asked.

  Oshiro replied, “Stored in a very special place. Follow me. Security, unhand her. We can take it from here.”

  “No! Don’t let me go with them!” screeched Riko.

  The security dispersed from the area after handing the key to the handcuffs to Oshiro.

  Koizumi dragged Riko by her cuffed hands. “Listen, we don’t want to kill you. We don’t want to do a lot of things. There is a way to preserve your life. It’s not that bad, honestly. This is bigger than any of us. You’re getting recruited to the winning side.”

  “Those—things?”

  Oshiro nodded as they continued down the corridor. “Symbiosis.”

  “I don’t want a parasite in me!”

  Koizumi dragged Riko into a lift. “They aren’t parasites. Sharks can have remoras latched onto their bodies, but the remora does not harm the shark. Commander Tsukino would have realized that.”

  “But he’s dead—because he didn’t want any part of this!” Riko yelled.

  Koizumi shoved Riko into a corner of the lift. Oshiro and Koizumi both entered the lift as well. The lift began its journey.

  Koizumi snarled, “You’ll see! You’ll embrace it!”

  Oshiro sighed and blood began to trickle down his face. “I can’t do this, Yamato. This whole thing. The attack over Artemis. I just can’t.”

  “You are weak,” Koizumi stated.

  “We should let her go and just try to end this.”

  “What?”

  “We are better than this.”

  Koizumi turned to Oshiro and snarled, “Watch your mouth!”

  “This is wrong, Yamato. This is so wrong,” Oshiro said.

  Koizumi scoffed, “Don’t be a fool.”

  The lift doors opened.

  Teresa Day and Switch Austrinus were on the other side of the opening doors. They both were carrying automatic rifles and sneaking down the middle of the corridor.

  Riko immediately recognized them, even though she barely knew them. Riko thought these two women were both off the hypership by now. Teresa had long dark hair an
d a scar that ran down her face through her right eye. Switch and Riko had similar builds, but Switch’s lithe body was covered with tattoos. Switch had short, spiked black hair.

  “Oh... Hi.” Teresa nervously smiled as she noticed the group inside the lift.

  The two armed women pointed their weapons at the captain and executive officer.

  Koizumi pulled his sidearm. “You know if you harm us you’ll be hunted to the edge of the galaxy.”

  Riko stammered, “What-what are you two doing here? I thought you escaped?”

  “Change of plans, sweetie,” Teresa said. “We’re here to end this mess. Rylan and Russell were the only ones that left on the corvette earlier. Get out of the lift—all of you!”

  Koizumi pressed his sidearm to Riko’s head. Oshiro, Riko, and Koizumi slowly exited the lift. The two groups circled each other.

  Denys Tauran, another crew member of Madcat-2, walked up to the two rifle-wielding women. He was also carrying an automatic weapon.

  “We’re all good, coast is clear,” Denys said. “Oh... It seems we have some company.”

  “You’re Arnold’s friend, Riko, right?” Switch asked.

  “You’re coming with us,” Teresa said. “We’re stopping this ship!”

  Koizumi curled his lip. “You can’t stop us.”

  “What are you planning?” Oshiro asked.

  “We’re busting up your hyper-drives,” Switch said.

  “Can’t assassinate the President if your ship can’t get to Artemis, can ya?” Teresa mocked. “Let Riko go!”

  Koizumi pressed the gun to Riko’s head. “No! Computer! Security! Security!”

  “Security is heading this way now, the computer had to pick that up on the internal sensors,” Oshiro said.

  “It’s a good thing, sir,” Koizumi stated.

  Teresa laughed. “You think a little bit of security will stop us? We’re the good guys. We win.”

  Koizumi grinned as blood dripped from his nose. He pressed the sidearm harder to the side of Riko’s head. “No. You lose.” He started to press down on the trigger of his sidearm.