Prologue
Authors Note: This tale takes place in my ReBoot universe, about six months after the future scenes of Daemon's Chosen. It is after what will be the third installment of the series (unwritten) but it should still be easy to understand. Even better if you've read Daemon's Chosen. Don't ask me why I did it this way. An old enemy of The Crimson Binome, thought long dead, returns for revenge.
Not all ships that travel the net are friendly.
�This is Garamond of the cargo ship Omega. I am two sectors from System Template and am requesting assistance.
�We read you Omega, this is the Port Authority Control Tower � what is your status?�
�Nothing serious,� Garamond said, �Unfortunately, I procrastinated in replacing a cooling cell and now --,�
�You need a tow, Omega?�
�I�d be much obliged.�
�Dispatching a ship now. Sit tight Omega, we�ll be there shortly.�
�Thanks, pal.�
Garamond sighed and leaned back in his seat. Served him right. He should have gotten that cell replaced a cycle ago. Now he�d be late on his deliveries. If the old man didn�t dock him wages he�d be surprised.
He switched on the radio, listening to the various conversations going on around him. After a time the mindless drone of speech lulled him to sleep.
And a nano later, he was awakened by the sound of something smashing into the hull of his ship.
Garamond was thrown from his seat to slam painfully against the floor. Warning alarms were screeching with the cockpit of the ancient cargo vessel. Garamond managed to crawl back to his seat and activate the outside viewer.
What he saw made his core-com jump into his throat.
A ship � the largest battleship he had ever seen, was bearing down on him. It was coal black � with blood-red sails and the image of a flaming skull painted on the surface of the largest one. Bile rose in Garamond�s throat. He had heard the rumors of a ship like this. He knew then and there that even if help did come from the system, they would be too late.
Garamond heard the noise but was unaware of it until a few nanos later. He was being hailed.
He turned to the console. �This is Garamond of the cargo ship, Omega.�
�This is First Officer Evan Var of the Blood Skull,� The voice said, �You will make no attempt to escape. We will delete you. Prepare to be boarded.�
�I read you, Blood Skull,� Garamond felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe if he just let them have what they wanted, he�d get out of this with his skin intact.
Garamond waited for them at the cargo hold. They flew over on two rocket cycles. The large sprite man, Garamond guessed he was Evan Var, was the first to approach. He was a fierce warrior-type, with red and black body armor. His head was shaved bald and his silver face seemed to consist of harsh angles and puckered scars. Hard dark-green eyes scrutinized him.
Var�s two companions began to examine the crates and boxes in the hold. One man was a painfully thin, almost emaciated sprite, with a rat-like tan face. He was practically drooling over the cargo. The other was a one binome female, dark blue in color, her entire body covered in tattoos.
�I�m just a cargo transport pilot,� Garamond said when Var�s scrutiny became uncomfortably long, �I�m not --,�
�Quiet!� Var said, �Well?�
The rat-faced man turned, �Weapons components in this one.�
�Exo-suit components here,� the woman said.
�They�re for the mining project on --,� Garamond began.
Var struck him across the mouth, �Didn�t I tell you to shut your face?�
Garamond cringed away where he lay on the floor and covered his face with his hands. He wasn�t a soldier, just a simple pilot.
�Call the others,� Var said, �Have them load all of this stuff on board.�
�Yes sir!� Rat-face said, �The captain will be pleased.�
�Yes he will,� Var said.
Garamond didn�t move from his position on the floor. Not even when more of the crew filed onto his ship and by hand or mechanical device began to remove the cargo. After a time the hold was empty, Var approached him again.
�Get up,� he said.
Garamond obeyed.
�I see nothing in you,� Var said.
Garamond�s face twisted in confusion but he was too afraid to say anything.
Var turned and left him standing there without saying another word.
After a time and still thoroughly puzzled Garamond rushed back to the cockpit. He placed a frantic call to System Template, �This is the cargo ship Omega, need immediate assistance. Have been seized by --,�
Something to his left out the window drew his attention. A flash of red light that Garamond only had a nano to comprehend before it blew his ship to pixels.
Evan Var nodded as his order was carried out. The rat-faced man named Fisher danced around on deck clapping his hands with glee. Var turned on the scene and went below.
At the end of the hall, a thick wood door stood silent sentry before him. Var knocked four times.
�Enter,� came the voice.
Var opened the door to the rich scents of a warm supper and was reminded that he had not yet eaten. He�d partake of a meal, after he made his report.
The room was not ornately decorated. It was however filled with the finest of furniture and creature comforts, all in spartan tones and designs. A warm fire blazed in a hearth.
A small table was opposite the fireplace and at it, sat the muscular sprite man that he had served for well over ten hours.
�Sir, the cargo is aboard,� Var reported, �It was just as you said. We have what we need now.�
�Good,� the man said. �And what of the ship?�
�Destroyed.�
The man looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
�The pilot was a coward and not worthy of serving you.�
�Very well,� the man said. �Have we set course for System 0071?�
�We have sir,� Var said.
�Good, advise me when we arrive.�
�Yes sir,� Var turned away, �Captain?�
�Yes.�
�I don�t understand sir,� Var turned to look at him with a familiarity of their time pirating, �Why is it so important that you destroy this one binome? I know you have your secrets despite our years but -,�
The captain held up his hands, �There are many pirates sailing the two seas but this is the only one who could be an annoyance. Besides, we are old enemies him and I. There is a score to settle there. And what better way to settle a score then to take everything a man has and then take his life?�
�Agreed,� Var said, �Very well. I shall inform you when we arrive.�
Var left the captain to his meal.
The captain lifted himself from the chair and stretched and was disturbed when his links cracked. Hopefully, with the fruition of this plan he would not only be able to retire wealthy, but have a system to call his own. The captain reached for the cup of ale he had been drinking and carried it over to the fireplace and settled down into his chair. He stared at the dancing flames and a smile played across his lips as the image of his old enemy appeared.
�I�m coming for you, my old enemy,� the captain said. �Crimson Binome you had better beware.�