EV/EVO Chronicles: Trials of the Void

Here’s part one of however many I decide to do. I figured a Rebel story was in order.


Ensign Michael Keena’s green starbridge accelerated to over five hundred kilometers a second as he flipped the switch for the afterburner. The jets of flame from behind the craft arched out into space, etching the blackness with an eerie blue light. Michael and his copilot were forced into the backs of their seats from the massive amount of G’s they were pulling.

“Patrol boat, three ‘o clock low,” he yelled to his copilot. Keena pulled into a dive upon his new target.

“Michael, god dammit, we’re coming in too fast!” shouted his copilot.

“Shut up, Vigh,” yelled Keena. He pointed out the port side at a federation destroyer that was already actively firing. The orange packets of plasma traced across space towards them.

“It’s still too fast! We-”

“Shut up! Arm the wrathii and blasters,” Michael’s irritation resounded in his voice.

“You’re going to get us both killed,” muttered Vigh.

‘Shut up,’ thought Michael.

“Weapons armed,” Vigh sounded exasperated from the fighting, but Michael realized he probably sounded exactly the same.

“Opening fire.” Michael depressed the trigger and watched the pink wrathii launch forward from six thousand meters away from his target. The projectiles slammed into the ships shields and detonated. The shields went down almost immediately, and Keena opened fire with his blasters. The recoil slowed the starbridge down somewhat, throwing it’s occupants forward.

The blaster bolts ripped into the hull of the federation ship, causing it to swirl into orange-blue flame. Debris fired back at Keena’s ship, phased through the shields, and slashed into the hull. Red light flooded Michael’s vision from the numerous warning lights that had been activated. “And you said too fast,” he said to Vigh. Vigh didn’t answer his taunts so Keena looked over to see the impaled corpse next to him. Blood floated across the cockpit in the zero gravity, obscenely smacking into the windscreen.

“Too fast...”


“... Jesus Keena. You know that Nibos’ll kill ya if ya chug it too fast.”

“Doing other things too fast will kill me quicker,” Keena looked at the barkeep with a tired glance.

“Hell, you made through the war, no reason to kill yourself now,” the barkeep attempted to be pleasant, but Keena knew he was not well liked in the federation.

“Hard way? Bullsh*t. Rebels!” shouted a voice from the opposite end of the bar. Michael turned to see a cybernetic eye looking back at him, “What the hell did you people do in the war? We feds were actually fighting, not hiding in the north!”

“Tell that to Ory ‘Hara,” spat Michael, “He seemed to kill off feds by the bushel.” With that the guy stormed out of the bar, but Keena had a faint idea that he would see him again soon.

As he stood to leave, Keena felt something... something distant... something pressing onto the back of his mind. He ignored it and walked out of the bar.

The rain was coming down lightly. Keena reached his hands out. The rain felt different than the artificial stuff they used on Rebel II. “What’s the matter reb? Too used to that f*ckin’ station of yours?” said the same gruff voice from the bar.

“Actually, yes,” replied Michael calmly, “but only a feddy ******* would notice.”

With that, the man charged, but Keena sidestepped his headlong foolishness, and brought the butt of his blaster into the back of the man’s skull.

Keena’s attacker slumped into the mud unconscious. Clapping resounded from behind him. He turned around and looked upon a peculiar red cloak, the tall stature, and symbol of the polaris slung around his neck. “It’s quite amusing to use your name as a weapon... Ory ‘Hara.”

“Don’t call me that,” Keena yelled bitterly, “My name is Captain-”

“Captain Michael Keena, serial number: 7521-084, Rebellion Navy. Code Name: Ory ‘Hara.”

“Why can’t you people leave me the hell alone?” said Keena desperately.

“I’m sorry, but I’m under orders to find you. Tell me, who died in your dream?”

“They always send telepaths to hunt people down? What caste do you belong to?”

“No, just in your case. I belong to no caste. I leave the Polaris to their own, they don’t seem to like me much.”

“Then who are you? ”Keena was growing impatient with the warrior.

“A highly paid, highly skilled man, who is here to kill or capture you.”

“Seems pathetic for a man of your accomplishments.”

Keena finally reached the end of his proverbial rope and swung his fist at the warrior, but the Polaran grabbed his wrist and threw him down. “Please, Ory ‘Hara!” he said, “I know you can do better than that. In fact, I brought some help!” Four more men stepped out of the shadows wearing the same red cloak. Michael studied them for a second, and realized that they were not Polaris. “That’s right, they’re not, but they are rather mean.”

The three plus the Polaran surrounded Michael. “Feeling fear Ory ‘Hara?” said the Polaran, and an arrogant smirk crossed his face.

“I stopped being scared of fools long ago,” was his reply. The smirk departed and the Polaris knocked him to the ground.

“That’s all you are capable of? Petty words?” mocked the deep voice Polaran. Michael sprung to his feet and yanked his blaster out of its leather holster. “Please, blasters do not belong in a fist fight.”

“I’m sick of fighting... killing. Why fight, just leave me the hell alone!”yelled Michael.

“Because you are Ory ‘Hara...” Michael fired at his nearest attacker. The bolt entered the man’s chest, leaving a charred hole. Michael turned to the nearest exit, but another thug blocked him. He fired twice and the man dropped to the muddy street. The Polaran and other man jumped onto Michael's back

Michael closed his eyes, he hoped he would never have to kill again, but today had changed that. His surge of emotion brought him closer, closer to the thing he feared... the universe.

He reopened his eyes, and saw the weaves. The strings of bright, silver light stretched themselves out. He focused his mind upon and twisted them against his foes. His two assailants flung from his back and smashed against the far alley wall. Michael turned and bolted away from the scene with tears running down his face.

The Polaran looked at his fellow thug. The man was dead by way of broken neck,

“Ory ‘Hara...”


“Hey! Detective Atyai!,” the young officer shouted at Lieutenant Ilu Atyai, “Down this way, sir!”

Ilu looked down the alley in front of a bar. Ilu walked in the direction of the of the shouts. “I heard there was a homicide,” he yelled to the officer.
“Just one, sir? We got a triple.”

Ilu spotted two of the bodies as he neared. “Where’s the third?”

Down at the end, sir. Some one had a busy night. I didn’t touch anything. There was a man unconscious. I don’t know how much you’ll get out of him.”

“Yeah, spacers stick together.”

“You would know, right sir?”

Ilu smiled cryptically, “All too well. Tape off halfway down the ally.”

“Yessir, crime scene is looking for you, by the way.”

Ilu walked past the two bodies with the large blaster holes in their chests and went straight for the third body. He immediately noticed the single set of footprints leading away from the next to the body. “A little bit screwy, huh Ilu?”

“Yeah, Carl. Way I figure it went down, guy comes out of the bar, gets jumped, blasts the two over there with a blaster. This one’s a little tougher.”

“That’s a good forty yards. He couldn’t have thrown him, could he?”

Ilu looked at the body, “I have no idea...”


Hyperspace. Safety. He survived another battle, another day. He knew he’d have to fight again, have to experience more killing, more fear. He leaned back in his chair and watched the swirling white light fling past his sacred Arizona. He hoped Sol would afford him better company.

(This message has been edited by Jas86 (edited 09-16-2003).)

(This message has been edited by Jas86 (edited 09-16-2003).)

sigh The only thing wrong with your stories is that I'm left with nothing but compliments to reply with. 😉

Another excellent story. Keep up the good work.

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Maybe I won't try as hard next time... 😉

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Man have pity on man

Quote

Originally posted by Jas86:
**

“You’re going to get both killed,” muttered Vigh.

--------------------------------------------------------------

“Why can’t you people leave me the hell alone?” said Keena desperately trying to get the Polaris to leave him alone.

**

The first one seems to be missing an "us". The second one seems to be a bit repetitive.

Otherwise? A really excellent story. Well done, Jason! Give us more!

Cheers,
Guapo

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"Quote it, paraphrase it, soak it in peanut oil and set it on fire. I don't mind in the least." - forge
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Excellent writing, Jas86, as usual! Can't wait for the next installment.

One thing I didn't understand was the belligerent drunk's first words, "Hard way!". Maybe I'm totally missing the point?

That aside, I really enjoy your characters. By the way, did I say I can't wait for the next installment yet? 😄

Quote

Originally posted by ElGuapo7:
**The first one seems to be missing an "us". The second one seems to be a bit repetitive.

**

grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble;;Grammar Nazi;;grumbegrumblegrumble 😛

😄 I fixed them you facist.

Quote

Originally posted by Astyanax:

**Excellent writing, Jas86, as usual! Can't wait for the next installment.

One thing I didn't understand was the belligerent drunk's first words, "Hard way!". Maybe I'm totally missing the point?**

No point to be missed. It's just a recurring element that you'll find more on in the future installments.

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Man have pity on man

(This message has been edited by Jas86 (edited 09-17-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Jas86:
**No point to be missed. It's just a recurring element that you'll find more on in the future installments.
**

That's good to know. Now you've piqued my curiosity!

By the way, did I say... 😄

I didn't like it. At all. There.

Seriously.

Ok, it was actually pretty good. But you need to work on your grammar. Really, really need to work on your grammar.

Alright. That was all a lie. It was a fine example of a short story, Jas. Though... 😛

Just teasing.

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Ie amh thuh ilitterit rietur.

Nice story I look forward to reading more, too tired to try and nitpick tonight, will reread in the morning, but again nice story

Joann
"Silence would be golden, if not for the realization that your kids are into something"

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