The Search for Gram (30 page)

Jotunn Jail, 14 Herculis ‘a,’ Unknown Date/Time

Like the tide, the advance of the Jotunn this time was slow but unstoppable. Chomper knew it was a factor of the Terrans’ weapons; they weren’t big enough. They needed something bigger if they were going to stop the Jotunn…like maybe an M1A1 tank. Too bad there were never any tanks around when you needed them.

Demonstrating that even the Jotunn can learn if you kill enough of them, two giants had gone back to their armory and returned with oversized sheets of metal, which they used like police riot shields. Rectangular, and curved to shed thrown objects, they were strong enough to resist the Terrans’ lasers and tall enough to go from the floor to above where the Terrans could see anything to shoot at.

The Jotunn with the shields advanced while the ones behind them provided covering fire. Both the Sila slug-thrower teams were down, proving that having to stand in the open to fire your weapon wasn’t conducive to your long-term health in a combat environment.

Only the Terrans were left to defend the women and children, and Chomper saw that the only way they were going to stop the last six giants was to go around to the back of the shields. That meant exposing themselves to the Jotunn laser fire, which had already killed the slug-thrower teams. There was no good choice, Chomper knew; the Terrans could either wait and be overwhelmed, or they could attack and be shot once they came out of cover.

As he fired, Chomper could hear one of the Sila children crying. The child’s mother tried to comfort him, but she was too scared to be very good at it. The giants were almost upon them.

Chomper looked over to Rock, who was trying unsuccessfully to bounce a laser bolt off the floor and under one of the Jotunn shields. “You go right, and I go left?” he asked.

“Might as well,” grunted Rock. “I’m not having any luck doing it this way.”

“Ready?” asked Chomper.

“Does it matter?”

“Not really,” said Chomper. “Go!” He jumped up and ran to the left of the advancing Jotunn. The giants saw Rock move first, and they turned to defend themselves from his laser, leaving them unprotected on Chomper’s side. Before they could turn back, Chomper shot the closest giant in the head, and it began its long fall to the ground.

As he turned toward the second giant with a shield, a glancing hit from a Jotunn laser burned through the left arm of his suit, searing his arm and causing him to miss his shot. The giant lifted his shield and slammed it down on Rock, smashing his head like an overripe watermelon.

Chomper fired again, hitting the Jotunn in the head with a long blast. He fell. Chomper started to turn toward the laser-armed Jotunn, but a battle axe struck his rifle, shattering it beyond repair and throwing him to the floor.

He tried to push himself up, every fiber of his being yelling, “Run! Escape!” but his left arm wouldn’t function properly. Chomper looked down and saw the battle axe hadn’t just destroyed his rifle, it had also removed the lower part of his arm. Blood spurted from what remained of his arm, which now ended just below the elbow. The pain hit, and everything went black for a moment. As his vision cleared, he looked up to see a giant standing above him, and Chomper watched in horror as the Jotunn raised his axe in preparation for the blow which would end Chomper’s life.

Before the blade could fall, a mass of black fluid struck the giant from behind, and the Jotunn screamed. Some of the spray landed on Chomper, and he watched in rapt fascination as it began to eat through his suit. The burning sensation when it reached his skin caused him to forget about the pain of his missing arm, and his screams echoed the Jotunn’s.

The giant threw himself to the ground, trying to put out whatever was burning his back. Chomper watched through graying vision as the Jotunn thrashed back and forth, until finally a massive claw appeared to pin him in place, and a silvery head leaned in to tear out his throat.

A smaller shape came into Chomper’s view. He could hear a voice although he couldn’t make any sense of it. The form shook him, and Chomper tried to focus. The voice became a little clearer, but still sounded like it came through a foot of water. “Hold on,” said K-Mart. “We’re here to help you.”

“Took you…long enough,” wheezed Chomper.

He closed his eyes and died.

“The marines confirm the device destroyed the enemy’s suits,” said the intelligence officer, looking up from the claw-held radio he was talking into. “The marine commander reports they have brought up one of their combat laser systems and are making great progress. He warned us to stay away from the door and says he will have the enemy destroyed within moments.”

“Ziiiiiip-
PEW!
” The laser system that killed Sergeant Graham fired again, striking Sergeant Lancaster in the back. As he slid to the floor, Calvin could see a three centimeter hole all the way through him.

Calvin had seen the device as it turned the corner. It looked like a seven foot tall box on a tracked wheel system. It had to be a robot or something similar; Calvin didn’t think there was enough room inside it for one of the Efreet. From the front, all the Terrans could see was a rounded shield which protected the machine behind it. A small firing slit was cut into the shield for the laser to fire through. Bullets from the Terrans’ guns whined off ineffectively from its shield.

Gunnery Sergeant Bryant was down. Mongo had tried to charge the robot and had died with a laser shot to his chest.

“We’re screwed sir,” said Sergeant Jones from the door. “The laser bolt that killed Lancaster also struck the door control panel, and it’s fused into a solid lump. We aren’t getting in this way.”

“Is there anything we can do?” asked Calvin.

“No, sir,” replied Sergeant Jones. “Like I said, we’re screwed. I can’t do anything with the door.”

“Ziiiiiip-
PEW!
” Sergeant Hiley’s head exploded as the next laser bolt struck.

“We’ve got to get out of here, sir,” said Night. “We can’t stay here and take this.”

“I know,” said Calvin. “Let’s try to break out and make it back to the shuttle.”

“I’ve got this, sir,” said Sergeant Tomaselli. He dodged as he ran down the passageway, arming a grenade. A flechette round struck him in the right shoulder, and he was spun around and knocked to the deck.

“Ziiiiiip-
PEW!
” The laser fired, the bolt going through the space where Tomaselli would have been, had the flechette not hit him.

Tomaselli scrambled forward, rising as he continued toward the robot.

“Ziiiiiip-
PEW!
”

Tomaselli fell as the next round hit him in the chest, the grenade rolling free from his lifeless hand to roll up against the bottom of the robot’s shield. It detonated.

“Ziiiiiip-
PEW!
” The laser fired again, and the machine rolled forward, seemingly unaffected by the blast.

“Terrans! We are leaving,” yelled Calvin as the ship shuddered noticeably. “Back to the shuttle on three. One…two…”

Before Calvin could say, “Three,” the door to the bridge slid open. All the Efreet inside had their claws up. They were in.

“Well, sir, you know I was a little disappointed when you left me behind,” said Master Chief, “but then I realized you must have done it for a reason. I asked myself, ‘Now Ryan, why would he have taken your squad and left you, his best assault tactician, behind?’ The only thing I could come up with was that you were probably going to get yourself into trouble like you always do, and I would have to do something to save you, like I always do.”

“I seem to remember you being in the jail cell next to mine when we were down on the planet,” noted Calvin.

“True,” said Master Chief; “very true. However, in my defense I’d like to point out the only reason we were in jail in the first place was because of you; I didn’t want any part of coming to this universe.” He paused. “I’d like to go get my ribs taped at some point today, sir. May I continue?”

“Be my guest,” said Calvin.

“So, since I knew you would probably get in trouble, again, I knew I would probably have to come up with something to save you, again. Since we didn’t have another shuttle pilot, I knew trying to fly over to the freighter was going to be difficult, so I had to think about a different means of saving your ass. Then it dawned on me. What has the biggest guns in this system? The Efreet ship we’re currently on. I just needed to figure out how to use them, and everything would work out fine. Long story short, I told my plan to the Mrowry officer, and we grabbed a couple of them giant salamander things and convinced them it was in their queen’s best interest to fire a few warning shots across the bow of the freighter you were in, just to get their attention. When we accidentally hit the ship with the second shot, their captain was more than willing to discuss his surrender.”

“I am glad to see you again,” said the caliph. “It is with great sorrow I note your numbers are much diminished. My vizier has already given me a quick report of your accomplishments, and I am astounded at the odds you have overcome. Although many of my own citizens were killed in the revolt, we are overjoyed to have thrown off the yoke of the Efreeti oppressors. I have arranged a ceremony tomorrow at which all of your men, both living and dead, will be honored for the sacrifices they made to help us in our struggle for freedom.”

“I’m sorry, Caliph, but we will be unable to stay for that,” said Calvin. “We have already been in your universe for far longer than we initially intended, and I am sure our people are extremely worried about us. We must get back.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” said the caliph; “you must promise to come back as soon as you are able to formally receive your awards.” He clapped his hands twice, and two stewards approached. The first steward carried a box, and the second brought a control rod on a crimson pillow.

The caliph handed Calvin the box. “This box contains your awards, naming each of you as a ‘Hero of the Caliphate.’ It is the highest military award we have.”

“Thank you,” said Calvin. “We were honored to help you free yourselves from the Efreet.”

“And this is our last control rod,” said the caliph, handing it over. “I would like to give it to you for your service to my people. It is my hope that someday you will return so my people can thank you properly for that service. If there is ever anything we can do for you, you only need to ask, and it will be done.”

“Thank you for this gift,” said Calvin. “We will use it to make more of them, so we
can
return to establish relations between our two cultures. I am sorry to leave you ill-prepared to defend yourselves if the Efreet return; however, we will leave the warship in orbit to help with your world’s defense. You are going to have to begin training a space force of your own as you will need it if you intend to keep the freedom you have won.”

“Your words are wise,” said the caliph. “I have already appointed a vizier to oversee the creation of this ‘space force’ of which you speak. It will not happen overnight, but I hope to have a space force in place before the Efreet return.”

“There is one other thing I would ask of you, Caliph,” said Calvin.

“If it is within my ability to provide,” said the caliph, “it shall be yours.”

“It would be very helpful if we could have a couple of your people return with us to our universe,” said Calvin. “We are going to take the freighter and some of their engineers with us, but we will need someone who can speak Efreeti to translate for us, at least at the start.”

“There are only a few who are able to speak a common language with you,” said the caliph. “I cannot leave during this time of upheaval, nor would it be proper for my daughters to return with you without appropriate chaperones.”

“I will go in your place, my caliph,” said Grand Vizier Jafar al-Barmaki. “I have already spent much time with them. Although they are strange, I am familiar with their ways.”

“I will miss you, my friend,” said the caliph. “Thank you for volunteering.” The vizier bowed.

“Is there anything else you need?” asked the caliph.

“No,” said Calvin. “The cost was great, but I think we achieved everything we came for.”

Dendaran Valley, Wendar, Day 16 of the Second Akhet, 15th Dynasty, Year 14

“It’s going to be tough to get through their lines,” said K-Mart, looking over the crest of the hill at the battle playing out in the valley below. The longer he looked, the less it looked like a battle and more like a rout. The caliph’s troops were fleeing toward a city on the horizon in disarray, pursued by a larger number of enemy forces. “They’re all spread out…we’re going to be seen, and when we are, we don’t have the weapons necessary to fight our way through.”

“I would fly you over them,” said Bordraab, “but I am not strong enough to carry more than just a few at a time. I would have to make at least 20 round trips, and I do not think I have regained enough of my strength to do that yet.”

“It won’t be a problem,” said the third person on the hilltop, Captain Elorhim Silvermoon. Although K-Mart and Bordraab had arrived too late to save Rock and Chomper, they had only met one Jotunn on the way to rescue the Aesir; it had been quickly dispatched by Bordraab, and the elves set free.

When they transported back to the Jinn Universe, though, they found the battle had passed them by, and they had spent most of the next several days trying to catch up with the caliph’s troops while dodging enemy patrols.

“I’m not sure why you think it won’t be a problem,” said K-Mart. “Bordraab can’t carry everyone over the lines, and I don’t want to risk the women and children trying to sneak them through the Efreet.”

“I have a couple of Eco Warrior teams in my group,” stated Captain Silvermoon. His tone indicated he thought that explained everything.

“I don’t know what those are,” said K-Mart, “but without weapons, I don’t see how even the best warriors are going to get us through that mess down there.”

“The Eco Warrior teams
are
weapons,” said Captain Silvermoon. “They have a number of types of nanobots they can use to accomplish more than you ever would have thought possible.”

“If they are so powerful, why didn’t you all escape before now?” asked K-Mart.

“Where would we have gone if we escaped?” asked Captain Silvermoon. “We haven’t used them because we didn’t have anywhere to go until now. Had an opportunity presented itself, we would have taken it; sadly, we never had the chance.”

“So, what’s your plan?” asked K-Mart.

“We wait until nightfall, then we slip through the lines,” said Captain Silvermoon. He looked at the dragon. “We send the women and children back on Bordraab; hopefully, he can carry all of them.”

“She,” said Bordraab.

“She what?” asked K-Mart.

“Your language doesn’t have a word which properly defines my gender,” replied Bordraab. “Of the choices you have, I am closer to a ‘she.’”

“My apologies,” said Captain Silvermoon. “We wait until nightfall, then we slip through the lines. Hopefully
she
can carry all the women and children and fly them back to your ally’s side of the lines.”

“There are only two women and three children,” replied Bordraab; “I can do that.”

“Good,” said Captain Silvermoon. “Okay, that just leaves us to sneak through the lines, and that’s the easy part.”

“That’s the
easy
part?” asked K-Mart. “Sneaking through the enemy lines is going to be easy?”

“No, it will be quite challenging,” replied the Aesir; “however, I have faith that my teams will get us through the Efreet. The problem is, what then? How do you plan to get us through the friendly lines without being shot? While I appreciate you setting us free, it really isn’t much of a rescue if we get shot by the people we are risking our lives to help.”

“Ah, I see,” said K-Mart, finally understanding.

“Bordraab is going to have even more difficulty,” added Captain Silvermoon, “as it does not appear there are any dragons on this planet. What would you do in the middle of a war if an enormous, unknown creature suddenly appeared?”

“I’d probably shoot first and ask questions later,” said K-Mart with a sigh.

“I’d expect as much too,” replied Captain Silvermoon. “I don’t know how well her scales will stop bullets, but I’m sure no one wants to find out.”

“Especially me,” said Bordraab. “I think you will see, however, that just like your Eco Warrior teams, I am more than I appear.”

“You are already quite formidable,” said Captain Silvermoon. “What else can you do?”

“
I can also talk to them like this,
” said Bordraab telepathically. “
Hopefully, I can convince them not to shoot me before they are able to see me. Maybe I can even warn them about your arrival so you don’t get shot by the caliph’s troops when you approach.
”

“That would be nice,” said Captain Silvermoon. “Is there a range to your telepathy?”

“Alas, it is rather short-ranged,” said Bordraab. “You would already be within weapons range before I could hear you coming.”

“Then we will give you a sign when we are close,” said Captain Silvermoon.

“A sign?” asked Bordraab. “What kind of a sign?”

“I don’t know yet,” replied the Aesir, “but knowing my people, it
will
be obvious. You will know it when you see it.”