Anarchy: Revolution

Unseen Wounds

Opening the carrier door, Trykerius waited, holding the Cosmic Joker steady as Novidia glided the mini fighter in. Outside the craft, space stretched in a cold, endless black, pricked with hard white stars and thin veils of distant dust that shimmered like powdered crystal. The carrier’s running lights painted faint blue bands across the open bay as the smaller fighter was locked into place.

Their mission had been a simple in-and-out, but nearly getting caught had tipped it into slightly complicated. Watching through her vid-cam, he’d seen her fight like the predator she was – all claws and fanged death despite looking like an adorable cat.

“She’s cuter when she’s sleeping.” The muttered compliment was out in the open before he could stop it. Thankfully, Novidia was not in earshot, so she wouldn’t gut him for it.

Unless she somehow found out, she would never know he called her adorable. She hated comments about her looks, and he didn’t want to die turned into a ribboned human.

Looking over his shoulder as his work partner padded into the cockpit of the larger fighter, he grinned.

“What’s your problem?” she asked in that same snarky tone as always.

Sitting in the co-pilot’s chair, she pulled the belt over her body before loading the video complete with original audio to the Helix mainframe. When that was done, she looked at her paws, scowling at the fluids staining the tan-and-black fur. Purring slightly, she started cleaning them with her rough, pink tongue.

He grinned wider, showing his slightly stained teeth while his silvery eyes glittered with unobstructed pride. “You really showed those Arians, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Novidia replied as she finished with her paws. Tapping the console, she pulled up the maps and star charts. “They have two satellites in the area, but both are currently out of range. We have ten minutes or so before they coast back to this side of the planet. Once that happens, we’ll be in range for detection.”

“Then we need to jet before those sats come back this way. Pattern?”

Tapping a few more commands in, she brought up the schematics for the satellite projection. “They cross paths twice as they circle. Once on this side, and once on the other. Current position is on a return track for this side of the planet.”

“Got it,” Trykerius said, locking in the coordinates for Helix. “Let’s get outta here.”

Lights flashed behind them as an Arian fighter locked onto the Cosmic Joker. The Terran cursed as he input the last of the hyperdrive commands. “Get ready for the jump, Furball.”

Snarling softly, the Katzenfurg grinned. “I don’t know about you, but I was born ready. You got this?”

“Yuppers,” Trykerius called as the shields went up, shimmering like reflective plating. “All set.”

“Heading to the rear gunnery to hold them off.” Novidia called over her shoulder as she vanished into the hall on all four paws. Seconds later, she was on the com once again. “In place. Prepping for warning rounds.”

Streaks of red pulsing light streaked past the bridge’s viewports. Shivering with anticipation, Trykerius slammed his hand on the launch button as the final command registered. “Time: six seconds to launch into hyperspace.”

Novidia’s voice came through the cockpit, excitement and fury showing in equal measure as she cackled maniacally. “Fire on us, will you? Fine. Eat some tungsten rounds, you centerpiece fixtures.”

The echo of the railgun reached the cockpit, making Trykerius laugh. “Get ‘em!”

“Just shot out their right thruster. I thought chandeliers went on the ceiling? What the heck are they doing in a fighter?” Novidia called back through the com.

“You sound a little more than a bit happy there, Novi.”

She snarled, gnashing her teeth in feline fury. “Aha! I just scored a direct hit on their center mass. They are going down!”

“Sweet,” the Terran said, laughing as the hyperspace jump temporarily knocked them off balance. “We are free and clear. Going to have to repaint my ship, though. They would totally recognize the decals.”

The communication system went off as Novidia made her way back to the co-pilot’s seat. “It’s Bane.”

“Hey, Boss. What’s shaking?” the blond man asked as he combed his fingers through his hair.

The Concloian shook his head. “Got bad news and good. First, did you find what we were looking for?”

“Am I a tiny vicious killer?” Novidia commented dryly. “Yes, we got the proof that our new doctor is innocent. Sent the encrypted vid to your mail.”

Trykerius yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes as he tried to relax during the jump. “So, what’s the news?”

Stars streaked past the window like lines of white light and swirls of gaseous miniature nebulas. The ship’s engine purred with power as it propelled them closer and closer to home.

“The bad news is that the Coalition military of Neo Solas has sent out messages to the Bounty Hunter class. We also know who took the contract. Captain Veron Xen of the Bloodhound.”

“f**k me. Who invited my older brother to the party?” Trykerius snapped, his anger overthrowing his usually happy demeanour. “What the hell, Bane? I cannot get caught by him! He’s the reason my ass was kicked out of home.”

“Oh no, family drama,” Novidia groaned, covering her face with both front paws. “Spare me the boredom.”

The Concloian nodded, the chest plate of his armour polished to a matte finish as he stepped away from the screen then reappeared. Something sped across the back wall, and the room behind Bane broke into peals of laughter as Axel squawked in surprise.

Peaking through the openings in her paws, Novidia caught sight of the tiny black-and-white being clinging to the wall. Childlike giggles filled the air as the rustle of an anxious Avian’s feathers burst through the speakers.

“Uh, Bane? What was that?” Novidia asked, her tone cautiously curious.

“The good news is that the Weaver came out of her molting pod today. Her exoskeleton is still a bit weak, but she’s fine. Playful, smart, and empathic. Apparently, she’s been trying to play with Axel, but he’s freaking terrified of her.”

“I don’t eat things the same size as me,” a small voice giggled before the Weaver climbed Bane’s back to see what he was doing. Waving a three-fingered hand, she clicked her mandibles as she laughed. Her six eyes flashed with delight as she saw the same Katzenfurg as before. Four eyes fixed on the screen while two tracked something off-screen as she said, “Hi! Hi!”

“That’s freaking adorable,” Trykerius laughed, temporarily forgetting the bad news for a moment. “We’ll talk more when we get back.”

Again, the Weaver vanished from view. Something that sounded like armour crashed to the metal floor of the station. “I got you! Now you have to get me!”

Novidia, trying and failing to hold in her laughter, broke as Axel begged the Weaver not to eat him. “I think I’m going to enjoy living with that thing, Bane. Since we’re both predators and I sleep light, why not have her room with me?”

“She’s claimed Talis’s room in the med bay as their shared sleeping quarters,” Bane replied. “Besides, she’s only a baby at six cycles old.”

Trykerius’s face fell. “Wow. So she sounds like a kid playing because she is one? Man, I need to see that crap in person.”

“As soon as you return, take a rest. Novi, I got your file. Nicely done, guys.”

The screen went dark, the holograph dying as the bridge fell into a comfortable silence. Folding his hands behind his head, Trykerius closed his eyes until a pressure fell into his lap. “What?”

“Why are you so worried about some brother you haven’t seen in four cycles?” the Katzenfurg asked, perched on his legs like a house cat on steroids. “Did you kill someone he liked?”

“No.”

“Did you sleep with his lover?”

Raising a brow, Trykerius shook his head, “No. nothing like that, Novi.”

“Did you steal something from him, then?” she asked, her golden eyes shimmering in the dull lighting.

His eyes fell, closing slightly as he nodded. “Not really and yes at the same time.”

“You are confusing, human. Do explain,” the feline said, continuing to press the wound he never talked about.

He paused, grinding his teeth in defiance as she watched his face. His silvery eyes were closed, making it hard to read the emotions that he’d mastered into a mask of calm. “When we get back, so everyone can find out at once, okay? I’m not ready to keep repeating what happened if I can help it.”

Sighing heavily, Novidia jumped off his lap and silently padded over to her chair. “Fine. You better keep your word, Terran. I’ll keep you up all night if you don’t.”

“You do that, and I won’t be able to fix a damn thing when I wake up.” He said, sighing with the knowledge he’d just opened something he never thought he’d revisit. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he got to his feet and moved into the bathroom.

Staring into the mirror, he pushed his bangs to the other side, staring at the scar above his right eyebrow. Letting it fall back into place, he let out a dry laugh as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Some things were better left unsaid, but these were not strangers in some backwater dive bar. These people, this collective of species sharing a living space, a workplace, and a common goal, were his found family. Letting himself just be upset for a minute or two, Trykerius relieved himself and washed his hands.

Their covenant was stronger than he ever thought it would be after Misha found him barely alive on an outer rim station called Dune. They called him brother when his own blood had tried to drown him in ruin.

“It’s time to come clean,” he finally said to his reflection before straightening to rejoin Novidia on the bridge.