“…I’m not a theologian, a chemist, a naturalist, or a physicist, so in my total ignorance of the great laws that govern the universe I’ll limit myself to this answer: I don’t know if other worlds are inhabited, and since I don’t know, I’ll go there to find out!” –quoted out of From the Earth to the Moon
“His looks spread terror every hour; he strove oppression to control; nor could all Hell’s united power subdue, or daunt his mighty soul.” –from Don Quixote
“There is no angel in Heaven who has not got his representative on Earth. And there is no world where you could not meet a little unfallen partner of our own black Archon, a kind of other self. That is why there was an Italian Saturn as well as a Heavenly one, and a Cretan Jove as well as an Olympian. It was these earthly wraiths of the high intelligences that men met in old times when they reported that they had seen the gods.” –from That Hideous Strength
“You have carried your work as far as terrestrial science permitted you. But you do not know all—you have not seen all. Let me tell you then…that you will not regret the time passed on board my vessel. You are going to visit the land of marvels.” –from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
In a future yet to be, humanity has emerged from its heavenly cradle and has spread its influence, for better or worse, into the far corners of the galaxy. They have brought law, art, religion, science, philosophy, agriculture, and business to the very edges of space itself—but they have also introduced countless disasters, waste, corruption, deception, and cruelty as well. Humanity has since learned it is not the only intelligent species in the galaxy, and through constant interaction, a frail coexistence has been formed between all the known races. It is an age of contradictions, where virtue and vice go hand in hand, where adventurers and outlaws fight desperately to leave their mark in the world, and where a select group of talented individuals will be put to the test.
This is the story of…
The Voyage of the Dauntless
By Al Kristopher
VOLUME ONE: THE CREW OF THE DAUNTLESS
“The Miraculous Meetings, Part One: You are cordially invited!”
The fourth planet in the Mekratrig System—the one nobody in his or her right mind could pronounce—did pretty well for itself considering it was no longer a bustling spaceport. Back in the old days, when the Golden Age of Space Travel had reached its zenith, Trig 4 (as it was called) was a veritable metropolis, the center of the new movement, where people from all over the galaxy could congregate in peace. It had been by far the most popular hub since Helios 3, but now, shamefully, it was on the decline. Civilization was on the move for a new throne, having grown tired of this relic, but Trig 4 would survive, like Helios 4 before it, because it was still in “good condition” and it still had plenty of resources, bright minds, conveniences, and attractions to keep it going for eons. Its population was healthy and strong, its ethics solid, its morale sound. People would remember Trig 4 with fondness: it was the first world outside the ancient Helios System that housed multiple races; it was the epitome of pioneer spirit.
Because it was still a popular tourist destination (and an ideal place for business, education, entertainment, etc.), the streets of Trig 4’s cities were usually congested with pedestrians. Unlike other worlds out in the galaxy, Trig 4 had very small cities, the kind a person could walk through: someone in peak condition could walk from one side to the other in an hour. Buses, bicycles, and the occasional hovercraft were the only real methods of transport; the cities were designed for strolling. All manner of shops, houses, offices, and curious buildings squeezed the streets together, like the lining of blood vessels that kept circulation going (a bird’s eye view would improve the metaphor).
As for the populace itself, there could hardly be a more diverse crowd. Humankind had explored almost every kilometer of their Milky Way by then, and they had discovered all sorts of races and species, many very similar to their own. The alien representatives took up almost half the planet’s population—any wandering tourist could spot up to twenty different species any given hour of the day just by going round the block—some, needless to say, more trustworthy than others. An annual galactic census would show up to forty-two different intelligent species (not including those closely related to humans), but nobody believed this was anywhere near the actual number: at least two different races were discovered every year.
Because Trig 4s weather patterns are similar to Helios 3’s, it was an ideal place for so many species and so many pedestrians. It was also the perfect place to advertise a certain company or business—or in this case, as several people gathered around a large bulletin board, a private citizen hiring mercenaries. This was nothing new, as freelancers had been contributing their services long before the first primitive telescopes peered into the heavens, but what caught everyone’s attention were the proposition, the pay, and the person who had erected the ad. It read (and translated, in the two-hundred known languages of the galaxy):
WORK FOR THE LEGENDARY DOCTOR MIRACLE!!
TREASURES AND GLORY AWAIT YOU!!
VISIT "THE DAUNTLESS" ON STRATEGOS TO SIGN ON!!
Dr. Miracle is seeking a number of strong, skilled, experienced, and/or intelligent women to go on a voyage to a distant planet in search of a grand treasure. Due to the high level of risk involved, applicants should consider their abilities VERY CAREFULLY before signing on. Dr. Miracle is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age (if adult), belief (religious or ethical), race, species, sexual orientation, formal education, or criminal record. All male applicants will instantly be referred to Prof. Nimrod, a faithful friend of the Doctor. Applications will be closed on xx/xx/2807 so FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. A payment of 300G will be given upon launch and payment in full will be given upon completion of mission. Dr. Miracle will not be held responsible for loss of mind, life, or limb.
A sign like this cannot help but create an enormous buzz. There was already a crowd gathered around it, pondering what this enigmatic advertisement meant. Everyone there had heard of the mysterious Dr. Miracle, but the name had only been whispered in rumors: there were no facts determining just who this person was. There was not a soul alive that could claim they had actually seen the secretive doctor, or any who knew what Miracle was like; they did not even know if it was a man or a woman, a human or some other alien species, or even a corporeal presence (there were those who swore that Dr. Miracle was a phantasm from “that other plane of existence”). Therefore, simply using Miracle’s name was a sure way to attract lots of attention…and the reward of money, treasure, and glory made the puzzle more enticing.
“I wonder why this Dr. Miracle person wants only women,” said one of the onlookers. “You think it’s some perverted man trying to start a harem?”
“More than likely,” said another, “but at least he’s open-minded. Look at all those disreputable traits he’s willing to overlook!”
“I still say that ‘Miracle’ is just another codename used by the UCM to trap space pirates and outlaws. You can bet they’ll come sniffing at the slightest mention of treasure and fame.”
“But suppose it’s a real person and they’re sincerely scouting for people.”
“That makes me wonder what kind of treasure could be worth recruiting so many unsavory people—or why this Dr. Miracle is making such a spectacle of all this.”
“You mean he might be finally revealing himself?”
“Could be. Do you know anyone who’s signing up?”
“Nah, all my friends’re smart! Hahaha!”
“Now that you mention it, Strategos isn’t very far from here. It’s a major hub for the public transport systems, so it’d only make sense to ask people to go there. It’s nothing at all like Trig Four.”
“Where is Trig Four’s main transport hub? Does anyone here know?”
“Why? You planning on joining that den of pirates?” The onlookers turned around to see who would be crazy enough to sign up, and got the shock of their lives as they saw what appeared to be a gargoyle. One could understand the similarity: this creature had long, pointy ears, like one of the lower saurians, and there were two smoky-gray horns sprouting from the highest place of her temples, moving in a smooth curve along the sides of her head. There was also a long, flexible, powerful tail to complete the monstrous image, but the creature lacked any wings, so she was not a true gargoyle: she just resembled one. Some species might have found her to be pretty, but these people were clearly frightened of her, and most of them ran.
“Why not join up?!” she screamed at the cowards. “I scared you all without even trying! Gods of Maisa, are all humans like this?” She approached the few spectators who were brave enough to stick around and chuckled firmly. You could never say she was evil if you traveled with her long enough: she was puckish and playful and very happy-go-lucky. One could tell from her shining sulfuric eyes that she was just bouncing on the inside, wary of the next possible prank or joke, quick to make friends and quicker to annoy those friends with her free spirit. She lived to play and played to live; chaos was her pastime, and she always expressed her deepest love and admiration with the most intricate tricks. She had very few friends among her own species but had made quite a name for herself in the military, mainly by fighting on both sides of the fence. Her voice was clear and fresh, and she gestured frequently when she spoke.
“So could any of you tell me where the main transport hub is? I’m afraid I’ve never been to Mekratrig Four, so I’m pretty lost.”
Name: Yenae Gwen Marliir
Species: High Saurian (Lacertus sapiens) (informally called “Changelings”)
Origin: Dwarf planet Maisa
Favorite pastime: Gambling
“Are you seriously going to sign up with this bunch of hooligans?” said the remaining onlookers. Yenae nodded firmly and even smiled.
“You bet your life, old man. So can ya help me or what?” He turned around and pointed south.
“Down that road, go under the archway you’ll see. Take the first left you come to and follow the signs. But I would reconsider if I were you.”
“Sorry, you’ll have to do better than that. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often. Well, see ya!” Yenae skipped off, surprising everyone who watched her. The Saurians as a rule are not a very perky race, and to see one bursting with life like that was highly unusual. Yenae didn’t make it very far before she heard someone calling after her. Being an alien in a world she had never set foot on, she suspected that an enemy had followed her and was now challenging her to a fight (not so unusual considering her reputation). She palmed a throwing knife and whirled around, ready to fend off her unwanted follower. It was just a girl, petite and childlike, running as fast as she could and gasping for air. Judging from her looks, she was no threat at all to Yenae, and so she put her weapon away.
“Can I help you?” she asked warily. The young girl bent over to regain her breath, then looked up with a meek, helpless smile.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about going to Strategos. If you’ll pardon the pun, it seems we’re in the same boat!”
“Oh? Are you out for adventure as well, or just curious?”
“No, I’m serious. I’m on a journey. I want to visit the most beautiful worlds in this galaxy and I figured this was the best way. Do you think I could follow you until we get to the transport hub?”
“I don’t see the harm,” Yenae gestured. The girl looked very young—she had a waifish body and a painfully cute face, the kind that could charm a person like Yenae in no time. Her eyes were different colors; they sparkled with interest and joy, gold and green with life. Her plump cheeks looked good enough to squeeze, and her voice matched her appearance well. This adorable little nymph was the kind of girl who became excited easily, and one felt like they could laugh very easily with her around. Her smile was already infecting Yenae and she felt that not only could she trust this girl, but strike a fast friendship with her. She had the pure soul of an artist, but was sharper and more mature than she let on.
“So what’s your name?”
Name: Shana Suing
Species: Human (Homo sapien)
Origin: Epitaph
Favorite food: Everything
“I’m Yenae. Good to meet you.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too. What pretty hair you have!” Yenae chuckled and flipped it vainly. She had a fluffy peroxide mane and wasn’t ashamed to flaunt it; the locks glittered when she danced in the light.
“You’re not afraid of me? Don’t I terrify you?”
“No,” Shana answered innocently. “I think you’re pretty. I can see it in your eyes and your smile. So…so, um, about taking me to the hub…”
“Oh, that’s right! Well, that old guy said it was this way.” Shana became a warm, welcome traveling companion, and Yenae hoped they would both make Dr. Miracle’s cut. She had no doubt that dozens—hundreds—maybe even thousands of other women had applied to this coveted position. How would Miracle sort out the weak from the strong? Would she discriminate based on skill, or were all those pretty words just for show? Just how large was the Dauntless, anyway? Where else had Miracle spread these advertisements? Yenae made it a habit of hers to think about all this, since she was a tactician by choice, but innocent little Shana just smiled and walked beside her, not a care in the world. She kept stealing glances at her new friend and was quick to offer a bright smile.
Once they passed under the arch and into the tunnel, there were plenty of signs to help them along the way—that old man knew what he was talking about. Since most citizens and travelers could not afford their own ship, many planets offered these public transportation systems to ferry people between the planets and the star systems. They were sort of like airplanes or trains had been in ancient times, before space exploration became standard practice, and prices for tickets were usually reasonable. Because the galaxy was so large, however, most transport services made several layovers to refuel and to allow passengers to come, go, and rest in between. It was not uncommon for a service to make seven or eight brief stops before arriving at its destination—most trips took between a week and a month this way.
Strategos, their destination, was quite close, and as the group of onlookers had mentioned, it was an important hub on the galactic road. No sensible service missed that world on their route: citizens, officers, and outlaws alike congregated there. Miracle had wisely chosen an excellent spot to gather all his (or her) applicants. Yenae and Shana found an outgoing transport to Strategos easily, but since they didn’t have permanent passes, they had to buy their tickets right there.
“I’ll cover it for both of us,” said Yenae as she dug into her purse. “I couldn’t very well leave a cutie like you here, not if you have such a wonderful dream.” Shana was easily impressed and her eyes widened at least two centimeters as her new friend paid for both fares. She didn’t know how she’d ever repay her…unless…
“I can draw your portrait if you like,” she offered. “We’ll have plenty of time on the ship—whoops, excuse me. I promise I’ll make it special—pardon me.” There were already scores of people on the ship, buckled in and waiting for takeoff. Shana and Yenae would be seated together, but they were ushered to the rear since they had bought their passes so late. Yenae let her friend have the window seat and wrapped her tail around her waist as she sat down; Shana reached out and played with the tip.
“Are you ticklish?” she asked. Yenae smiled softly.
“Not there, no. What about you?”
“Uh-huh,” she blushed. “I’m ticklish everywhere.” Yenae giggled warmly.
“Oh really? I’ll have to remember that. Oh, what’s this?” Looking across the aisle, Yenae spotted a vaguely familiar Red woman snoring in her seat, the morning paper folded precariously over her chest. Reds are creatures that resemble the human’s conception of devils or demons, although they are not regarded as a malicious species (but certainly a nuisance). They all have a shade of crimson skin—this woman in particular had a reddish-orange tint—and the females have small wings that allow them to fly, though none of the Reds have tails or horns. Few of them are regarded with fondness, and fewer still have earned themselves veneration. They are very intelligent and curious about everything, but this powerful inquisitiveness has been the demise and ruin of more than a few thousand hapless bystanders, and so they are not well-loved. But Yenae believed she knew this one.
“I’ve seen her before,” she mused. Takeoff was going to start in a few minutes and so she couldn’t get up and talk to the woman—and from the sound of that snoring, she wasn’t going to wake up anytime soon, either. But then she got a look at the paper on her torso, and she tensed up as she noticed a striking similarity between the photo on the front cover and the woman snoozing directly beneath it.
“I knew it!” she hissed. “That woman’s one of the deadliest arsonists around! She’s a pyromaniacal mad scientist! How the hell did she manage to get through security?!”
“You know her?” Shana asked. Yenae snorted.
“Only through reputation. I hope she’s not coming with us!”
Name: Kyrie Lastgear
Species: Pyrosian (Rufus pandaemonius) (informally called “Reds”)
Origin: Vulcannis
Favorite pastime: Burning things
“But the Lastgears are famous inventors,” Shana said defensively. “They’ve provided materials for the United Cosmic Military ever since its inception. Why would you think she’s a terrorist?”
“Famous or not, she’s burned down more houses than a volcano. She claims it’s all for science, though—what a nutcase! If she’s coming with us, our trip’s screwed.”
“But don’t you think Dr. Miracle might have a use for her?”
“This ship is headed for Strategos, my friend,” Yenae said wistfully. “But not everyone that’s going there is signing up for Miracle’s voyage. I can only hope Kyrie Lastgear is just passing through. Otherwise, we’ll be up to our necks in trouble.”
……
Strategos was not so close that the transport could make it all the way there in one hop: it first had to stop in the Rennai system, a cluster of seven planets that were infamous for the dregs that seemed to sprout out of its cesspool. Authorities across the known galaxy had been using that star system as a penal colony for centuries, long before the people of Helios 3 emerged to join the cosmic union. The sixth and fifth planets in particular were well-known for being the worst of the worst—and the citizens proudly made sure the rest of the worlds knew it. With number six housing a population of lunatics and number five sporting the moniker of “the butt of the galaxy”, the Rennai system was not a place one wanted to visit for very long. Kyrie woke up just as the ship made port, and turned around to observe her neighbors.
“Howdy, folks!” she exclaimed, her voice as passionate and fiery as her spirit. “You all came from Mekratrig Four, right? Are we on Strategos yet?”
“Um, no,” Shana replied. “We had to stop in the Rennai system. Is it true you’re a member of the great Lastgear family?”
“Hell yeah!” she exclaimed, flapping her scarlet arms wildly. “I’m Kyrie Lastgear, daughter of Kyrshe Lastgear, daughter of Taluna Lastgear, the 3rd. But you may call me AWESOME!” Shana couldn’t help but giggle; Yenae rolled her eyes.
“What’s a pyro like you headed to Strategos for?” Kyrie’s eyes lit up at the mention of fire, and if she hadn’t been fastened in, she would’ve leaped right out of her chair, no doubt crashing into some poor defenceless passenger.
“I’m glad you asked! I’m gonna bless Dr. Miracle with my presence! If he wants to explore worlds and search for treasures, he’s gonna need a genius inventor who knows how to turn up the heat!”
“Oh, please,” Yenae groaned, “you’d burn down the whole ship with everyone in it. Reds are good for nothing but destruction.”
“Hell yeah! I can see we’re gonna get along great on this trip! I hope you two are coming along! You can fight alongside me with your gargoyle bad-ass-ness and insane adorability!”
“I’m not just a cute face,” Shana pouted. Yenae growled and unfastened her belt so she could give the fiery girl a piece of her mind, but the stewards stopped her and told her it was not safe to stand up just yet. Because Rennai was so dangerous and vile, the vessel was only staying to refuel and let out departures—no boarding parties unless they carried valid passes. Unfortunately, as about a dozen people left the ship, two more came on, squeezing and wedging their way through the crowds. Kyrie hollered and gave them an enthusiastic welcome, and Shana quickly joined her. Yenae didn’t feel like being her usual spunky self: just sitting next to a crazy arsonist was enough to dampen her mood. Receiving additions from the Rennai system made things a lot worse.
The first person to make her way down the aisle resembled a spider, probably because she had six arms instead of two. She kept most of them tightly wound around her chest, but sometimes they slithered out to ruffle people’s hair, or to steal things, or to make a quick grope. She was not unattractive at all and in fact looked rather beautiful, with great curly brunette hair and eyes that seemed slightly bemused by everything. She had a playful look on her face, but it was quite diabolical as well, like this woman saw everything as an experiment to be poked and prodded—or dissected. She had apparently not befriended her comrade, since they didn’t speak to each other or give any indication that they were acquainted.
“Pardon,” she said, her voice both pretty and deadly, shuffling past Kyrie. Not one to be intimidated by strange-looking people or residents of the galaxy’s insane asylums, the red-skinned girl warmly welcomed her new friend and shook all her hands.
Name: Valti Brignor
Species: Humanoid (Ambidextro sapien)
Origin: Rennai 6
Occupation: Animal geneticist
“I can tell we’ll get along quite well, Kyrie.” Valti winked—Kyrie blushed—Yenae rolled her eyes. The other woman that came with Valti almost looked like a man, for she had a powerful build and looked quite heavy for a lady. Either she was a master athlete or else a resident of the ironically-named Utopia, fifth in the Rennai system, a world infamous for its heavy gravity and heavier filth. It was a world of miners and fighters, creatures so tough that most travelers went out of their way to avoid the system. The heavy-world woman had a sharp, careful, intimidating look in her eye, borne from years of surviving on one of the harshest worlds in all the Milky Way. Somehow she managed to pull off being fairly attractive, but she frightened a lot of people. Naturally Yenae was drawn to her, one kindred spirit to another, and smiled fondly as the woman passed. There was just enough room to allow her passage.
“You can sit here. It’s a little crowded, but we’ll manage. I’m Yenae, and this is my friend Shana.”
“How do you do?” The petite girl’s friendly smile softened the large woman’s heart, and she relaxed and let out a deep sigh.
“Better now. Is this ship really going to Strategos?”
“Nonstop, once we lift off.”
“That’s good.” She heaved a sigh of relief and laid back in her chair, nearly breaking it with her overpowering strength. “I really don’t care where we’re going, as long as it’s not back there. We could be headed straight to Hell and I’d be satisfied.”
“You don’t wanna go there!” Shana exclaimed. The woman stared at her and laughed.
“You’re awfully friendly. You said your name was Shana, right? If we’re all going to Strategos together, I may as well introduce myself.”
Name: Kate Shepherd
Species: Heavy-world human (Homo-Herculean sapien)
Origin: Utopia (Rennai 5)
Distinguishing trait: Tattoo on her shoulder
“That’s some tat,” Kyrie said as she looked over. Kate covered it up bashfully and turned to face her new friends. The Red just laughed and jabbed Valti. “I think we got us a disciple of Sappho here, Val my dear!”
“She doesn’t look like a poet,” mused the six-armed woman.
“No, ass! I mean she likes other girls! Why else have a picture of a naked broad riding a missile?”
“Don’t ask me. It’s definitely sexual in nature. The missile is clearly a phallic symbol—“
“Will you two be quiet?” Kate bellowed. “Mind your own damned business, okay? I just got it because I liked how it looked. She’s supposed to be a bad-ass, like me.”
“It does look really cool,” Shana squeaked. “I would’ve made it a lot better, though.”
“Oh, are you an artist?” Kate quickly struck up a conversation with her new friends—what nice, warm people they were!—and spent most of her time getting to know her would-be partners. Fate had apparently thrown them all together, for they were dreaming of working for the magnificent Dr. Miracle, each with her own motive. Shana hoped to paint pictures of all the beautiful planets; Valti and Kyrie wanted to expand their research; Kate wanted to get as far away from Utopia as she could; Yenae was a freelancer and an adventurer. They all came with their own set of quirks, problems, virtues, and faults, and seeing how things played out once they arrived on Strategos would be most interesting…
……
Pleasure Unit 729 had gone exactly thirty-seven days without sexual satisfaction, and for her, an artificial human selectively manufactured for the specific purpose of delivering sexual gratification, going that long without getting it on was highly maddening. It was like having the worst possible itch all day and being unable to scratch it, or suffering through a strict diet during holiday seasons, or being stopped by countless traffic lights when time has become an enemy. But there was no use whining, because there were only two people in that entire ship: one the pilot and mechanic, the other a safeguard against marauders looking for a quick plunder, and it was useless trying to seduce the pilot. Unit 729 despised that bratty little girl and her workaholic spirit. What a tool she was! She wouldn’t satisfy her urges with that child even if her life depended on it.
That was perfectly fine with repair and maintenance Unit 18273645: she didn’t want anything to do with “that slutty tramp” either. She was a reclusive workaholic who always went out of her way to avoid a conflict, and true to her programming, kept busy with ship maintenance rather than risking an encounter with her loose companion. She despised that whore for whisking her away and ruining her life, but for the moment, the two mismatched ladies were forced to work together. They needed someone who could work the ship and they needed protection—but once they reached Strategos, they would no longer have to see each other again. Unit 18273645 had no intention of following her nymphomaniac companion into Dr. Miracle’s employ.
Name: Herut (Unit 18273645)
Species: Artificial human (Homunculi sapien)
Origin: Centania
Programming: Craft repair and maintenance
Name: Chandra (Unit 729)
Species: Artificial human (Homunculi sapien)
Origin: Andromeda Prime
Programming: Sexual gratification
Chandra and Herut had rarely spoken since their initial meeting, probably because they both knew it would only lead to another argument. The authorities were after them both—Chandra because she had actually stolen the ship they were using and Herut because she was an accomplice and a runaway, albeit through no fault of her own. Staying on any planet for very long was dangerous, and they were forced to make several quick dashes for freedom as local law enforcement heard about them. Luckily, Herut could repair any craft and wasn’t too shabby a pilot, and so maintenance wasn’t a problem. Also, Chandra could seduce practically anybody with her wiles, though in truth, she wished she could run into more women. A glitch in her program made her attracted to females only—a condition not entirely new for the increasingly-popular pleasure units.
One of their few conversations concerned their ultimate destination. While roaming around several worlds, trying to evade the eyes of the police and military, Chandra had noticed several flyers for Dr. Miracle’s advertisement. Chandra was deathly afraid of danger and risk, but the prospect of being around all those women overruled her fears and clouded her judgment. She vowed to be a part of that crew no matter what it took, and forced Herut to take them to Strategos.
“You do realize that we’re going to a very popular spaceport,” she stated bitterly. “I know your hormones have damaged what little brain cells you were born with, but surely even you realize that if we go there, we’ll get caught.”
“We’ve never gotten caught before,” Chandra replied. Her voice was always sultry, just as Herut’s always got down to business; they couldn’t help it. She giggled and pinched the young woman’s nose. “Don’t worry so much. I can charm anybody into forgetting all about us. You just have to land this thing. I think it’d be best if we destroyed the ship once we got there.”
“For once we agree. You can go play with Dr. Miracle for all I care; I want nothing to do with you anymore.”
“So what will you do when we get to Strategos? Not that I care,” she made sure that Herut understood, “I’m just curious.” Herut shook her head. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. All she wanted was to be far and away from Chandra, but if she started working solo, eventually she would be caught, punished, and maybe even terminated. Artificial humans do not usually come equipped with strong desires to survive, and Herut was no exception. But she deemed herself too important to be scrapped or recycled—she wanted to live after all—and unfortunately, staying with Chandra seemed the best chance she had. Hopefully, Dr. Miracle would not accept the sex fiend, and would pass her over in favor of the superior mechanic. That would solve both their problems…but how likely was that? If Chandra was able to seduce Dr. Miracle, Herut was doomed.
“What will I do?” she said in response. “How should I know? Just go away and leave me alone.”
“Happily.”
……
Yenae had been so animated in her conversation with Kate that she failed to realize that Shana had fallen asleep. She was resting her head on the woman’s shoulder, her mouth slightly open, her breath calming and peaceful, the epitome of adorable sweetness. Yenae couldn’t help but stretch her arm out and brush against her cheek; it had been some time since she had been so close to somebody. Kate smiled faintly and waited patiently for those ahead of her to disembark: the transport had finally landed on Strategos, only a day after leaving Trig 4.
Valti and Kyrie were so engrossed with each other that they didn’t even realize they had stopped. Valti came from Rennai 6, a penal colony, and one mainly populated by criminal scientists such as her. She didn’t reveal how she had escaped that fate, but she was quite open about her occupation, and Kyrie—a fellow scientist with a few screws loose—was enraptured from the first moment. They became inseparable; Kate had to bang against their chairs to snap them out of their engagement.
“If you two don’t stop, I’ll tie you both down and see how you like being cut up into little pieces!”
“A woman after my own heart,” Valti sighed. She wrapped her arms around her body so they wouldn’t bang into anything—having six is a lot more troublesome than having two—and followed Kyrie and the others out of the transport. None of them had ever been to Strategos before, so this promised to be a wonderful experience for them all. It’s officially classified as a gas planet, with massive white clouds full of steam that float across the sky like icebergs. The planet’s atmosphere is similar to Helios 3: its composition is mostly oxygen, with trace amounts of nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, carbon monoxide, and several other gases. Because the atmosphere is breathable, explorers have worked diligently to colonize and populate Strategos—a wise move considering how rich in minerals the clouds were.
“Cloud farming” was a popular and relatively easy way to reap the benefits of a gas planet. The outer worlds of the Helios system provided a nearly endless supply of minerals and elements for those bizarre species that lived on such noxious fumes (and there were a lot), and Strategos was an ideal world for more human residents. Constructing floating “cities” in the clouds is normally a fiendishly difficult and outrageously expensive venture, but to the surprise of explorers and colonists, there were already a few floating islands hovering in the Strategos sky, left behind by some ancient and powerful race. While most of these islands were no bigger than a city, a few were the size of a continent, perfect for creating spaceports. It was upon one of these floating continents that the five travelers landed (with no worry of falling over since there were several layers of security to ensure that even the clumsiest people were safe).
“Fascinating,” Valti said, stroking her chin as she released her arms. “Ahh, that feels better. It’s nice having some elbow room for once. I hope nobody here’s afraid of heights.” Kate was the only one that seemed really uncomfortable; she had lived on solid ground surrounded by buildings and walls all her life, and even though Strategos was beautiful and its air was clear and fresh, she couldn’t properly enjoy it.
“Awesome!” Shana exclaimed, ready to hug the whole world. “I gotta paint this place! Oh, that reminds me…” Shana had been carrying four pieces of paper with her, and she gave them to her new friends. She hadn’t finished Valti’s portrait since she was still stuck on her arms (and she had fallen asleep), but everyone else was impressed at the representation. She had really captured Yenae’s sweet face, Kate’s majestic power, and Kyrie’s burning zeal. “I’ll finish yours in just a second,” she promised Valti. The six-armed woman smiled softly, but waved at her dismissively.
“Let’s worry about later. It seems we have more pressing matters ahead.” Shana looked over and gasped—there were twelve dark, smoky figures barring their way, svelte and strong-looking, their faces covered, their eyes aglow. They were all armed and clearly out for blood.
“Friends of yours?” Kate asked Kyrie. The Red flapped her wings impatiently.
“I’ve never seen em’ before. Just what are you accusing me of, anyway?”
“You and your new buddy are clearly the most evil people in our group, and therefore most likely to be acquainted with evil-looking creatures,” Yenae said. Shana hid behind the Changeling as the mysterious assassins charged for an attack. Valti suddenly burst out in maniacal laughter and reached for her concealed weapons: a sword, a gun, a studded club, a claw, and a chainsaw (how she managed to smuggle all that on the transport was a mystery). Not to be outdone, Kyrie whipped out a flamethrower and brandished it with demonic glee, scorching at least two of the assassins right away.
Everyone else was a little more graceful. Shana was a staunch pacifist and probably wouldn’t even be able to fight for her life, so Yenae and Kate protected her and kept the attackers at bay. Yenae reached into her coat and pulled out several throwing knives; she tossed them with near-perfect accuracy, piercing through three of the enemy and warding four more off. Kate ran in and engaged them hand-to-hand, lifting one high above her head and tossing it into a large cluster. Even Shana helped by kicking one while its back was turned and warning her new friends of approaching danger.
As Valti cut through the last one, she was surprised to discover a dark haze evaporating from the body. The fog drifted into the infinite air of Strategos and was lost. There was now nothing left of the assassin except the passing odor of its remains; it had vanished completely.
“Interesting,” Valti mused. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was some kind of homunculus created by animating smoke or some other visible vapor—mist, fog, steam…there’s plenty on this world.”
“It felt real to me,” Kate grunted as she nursed a scratch. “Whatever those things were, they had weapons and they could definitely hurt people with them.”
“But why would they attack us like that?” Shana wondered, her eyes brimming with fear and questions. Yenae smiled warmly and ruffled her hair.
“Well, Valti is obviously a wanted criminal, and Kyrie is clearly an arsonist. Kate doesn’t seem like a bad person, but she did say she had to get away from Utopia…”
“Stop blaming us for all your problems!” Kyrie screamed. Yenae giggled.
“Just teasing. Maybe they were a test sent by Dr. Miracle.” Shana clung to Yenae suddenly and pulled on her elbow.
“I hope that’s not true—look!” There was now a significantly larger cluster of the Fog-Men surrounding them, roughly fifty in total, if not more. Where they came from, how they had assembled so quickly, and what they were after were questions that would be answered once the battle was over and the travelers made it to the Dauntless—that is, if their enemies allowed them that luxury. For now, there was nothing to do but fight, and hope that they all made it out of this predicament in one piece…
To be continued…
Preview
Kate: Ugh! Can’t these Fog-Ninjas leave us alone? They’re all over the place!
Kyrie: That just means there’s more volunteers for my INCINERATION DEVICE! Hey, do you think these guys might be made of flammable material?
Valti: One can only hope.
Yenae: Let’s not lower your reputations anymore, okie-dokie? I’m sure we’ll be able to beat these guys and con Dr. Miracle into letting us join up!
Shana: But in the next part, the story focuses on completely different people! I wanna find out what happens to us NOW!
Yenae: Then you’d better kick a lot of Fog Ninja ass, sweetie.
Shana: Will do, ultrabuddy! YARG!
Kyrie: Stay tuned to NOT find out what happens to us! Some other chicks hog the spotlight instead, next time: “The Miraculous Meetings, Part Two: the invitation spreads across the universe!”
Valti: It was only a matter of time before we pulled out a Beatles reference.
Turalyen: It’s smashingly smash—
THUNK!!
Kate: You’re not in this story! Stick to your own world, got it?!
Turalyen: Urrgh…such violence is unbecoming of a lady…
Chandra: Don’t hurt my sweet dwarf warrior!
Herut: Hey, are we in this preview as well?
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