The boss of the mining station occupies a floor high above the Human workers’ factories and offices. There’s a reception type area at the entrance, and for a utilitarian industrial station such as this, it’s surprisingly opulent.

The polished floors are made of rare black Jentian stone, and there is green vegetation trailing up the glass walls, attached to metal trellises.

Again, the lights are irritatingly bright, serving to perpetuate my headache.

Humans must have poor dark-vision. It has to be the only reason they insist on illuminating the entire place like a flaring star.

The space is seemingly empty, but from a distance, I hear something.

Footsteps. Arkan and Kalan sense the same. We’re at a kind of junction, the passageway stretching out in both directions in front of the cavernous space.

“They’re trying to cut us off.” Kalan hefts his giant plasma cannon over his shoulder and gets down on one knee, pointing it down the empty corridor.

I sense tiny vibrations. The disturbance is coming from dozens of Human footsteps.

Arkan takes the other direction, drawing his twin rapid-fire plasma rifles.

It seems as if the Humans are stupid enough to try and ambush us, after all.

Their loss.

“Full armor,” I snap, and the nanites of my exo-suit whirr and click, forming a helmet that protects my face. I get some relief from the harsh lights as the combat visor covers my eyes, its datafeed throwing up numbers and graphics in my vision. It tells me Human enemies approach from both directions.

Just as we’d sensed.

I grab Jacobs’ arm and he whirls to face me, in a panic. “If you don’t want your comrades to die, get your ass up to wherever your leader is hiding and tell him to call off this death wish. Otherwise the fifty or so Human soldiers who think they’re about to get the jump on us will end up painting the walls. Don’t you know that your weapons can’t penetrate our armor? There’s nothing your soldiers can do.”

“I have nothing to do with this,” he stutters. “I swear.”

“I don’t care. Get your Station Boss down here now. I’m out of patience.” I turn to my subordinate, who is now similarly decked out in full battle armor. “Kalan, fire a warning shot. You know the drill.”

“About time you decided to go hostile, general,” Kalan replies. “These Humans are just fucking around.” He steadies himself, and pulls the trigger. A loud boom follows, and screams echo down the corridor.

Jacobs looks back and forth in alarm.

“Run, Human,” I tell him. He wastes no time, scurrying off to enter an elevator.

Although the visor has dimmed the effects of the harsh lights, it hasn’t helped my pounding head at all. A small part of me wishes I could retreat to the cruiser and pop a few of the pills I normally take to help me sleep. I squash that weak, pathetic voice in disgust.

We’re running out of time, and I need results, fast.

Cold logic tells me I should kill all the approaching Humans. But death is a punishment best saved for last, when there are no other options left. I need the Humans co-operative, because I need their machinery, their resources, and their expertise.

We’re soldiers, not mechanics.

Basic military strategy dictates that I should gain cooperation of the leadership first. Only once that option fails do we go on the offensive.

I need these Humans to understand that one does not make an enemy of Kordolians.

The female soldier down in the dock understood it.

The strange female scientist I encountered in the corridor understood it.

This so-called Station Boss had better understand it. For their sake, and for ours.

We need to repair our battle cruiser and get back into the wormhole before it collapses. Otherwise, we’ll have to return the long way, stuck on a six-cycle long roundabout trip across the outer sectors of the Nine fucking Galaxies.

I don’t have time for that shit. There’s a Xargek warship floating around out there, and we need to hunt it down.

“What in Kaiin’s name is taking so long?” The pain is in both of my temples now, insistent and merciless. I’m in a mood to fight, but I need a worthy opponent, not some slow, feeble Human.

Killing these weaklings would just be a waste of plasma cartridges.

We wait, tense and ready, and the footsteps of the Human reinforcements become louder. They’re approaching.

Still, that damn Jacobs doesn’t appear. Perhaps he’s run off to hide, like a coward.

I clench my teeth in frustration. “I’m going up,” I announce, drawing my twin Callidum blades from where they’re sheathed at my back. They’re better for fighting in close quarters. There’s a staircase to the left of the elevator. I head towards it. If the Station Boss doesn’t want to come out, I’ll hunt him down. “Hold the position.”

Kalan and Arkan nod in agreement. We’ve done this sort of thing a hundred times before. As a crowd of Human soldiers converges on us from both sides, I disappear into the stairwell, taking the steps four at a time. I use the synergistic movement of the exo-suit to my advantage, passing four or five floors to reach the top of the stairs.

I figure the Station Boss will be hiding at the top. Most leaders like to position themselves high up. I’m assuming this Human won’t be any different.

Throughout all the galaxies, intelligent lifeforms tend to behave in the same manner.

The doors at the top are sealed with some sort of security code. I stab my blade into the glowing panel on the wall, the sharpened Callidum slicing through the components with ease. A shower of sparks flies out and an alarm goes off, bathing me in red, flashing light.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

I kick the twin doors and they shudder open, sliding to reveal a dimly lit hallway.

There’s thick, plush carpet underfoot. I snort in grim amusement. It’s a wasteful, indulgent choice. As I make my way down the corridor, a faint hum causes me to turn. I raise my sword and slice through a flying drone, a shower of sparks cascading to the floor as the cut halves of the machine drop noiselessly onto the dark carpet.

In the same motion, I turn and bring my sword down through a second drone that has approached me from behind.

Sparks go everywhere, spitting onto the dark carpet. Small fires start to burn, emitting chemical smoke.

I start to run, heading for the big, ornate doors at the end of the passage. Two Human guards are stationed at the entrance, and they start firing at me with their laser weapons as I approach.

Their shots glance off my armor as if they’re nothing. I hold my blades low and close to my body as they raise their weapons for another shot.

“Don’t,” I order, running straight past them, kicking open the wide double doors. In a place where space is at a premium, they’re the old-fashioned swinging type.

Swinging doors. On an industrial station. Really? These Humans are crazy.

The guards fire half-heartedly after me, but my exo-suit absorbs the shocks. I pull a Callidum throwing dagger from a sheath at my thigh and flick it over my shoulder. I don’t look back. It must have done something, because the irritating firing stops.

I glance around the space I’ve entered.

Two pale Human faces stare back at me in shock. I’m standing in the center of a spacious room. It’s framed by wide windows that look out onto the vast emptiness of space. Of course, one of Humans is Jacobs, and the one beside him must be the Station Boss.

Jacobs’ face has turned an odd shade of red. Humans have this strange thing they do when they’re upset. They change color. It happened with the female scientist too. Her cheeks turned a shade of light pink.

With Jacobs, it makes him look ridiculous. But with the female, I found it strangely endearing.

She was small and delicate and smelt incredible, a mixture of exotic blooms and fruits from far-off planets. For a moment, when I was with her, my headache disappeared.

I vanquish the memory from my mind. What a ridiculous thing to think about right now. I wonder if being around Humans is making me stupid.

“Stop right there, Kordolian!” The Station Boss takes a step forward. Unlike the soldiers we encountered in the dock, this Human looks older, his thinning hair shot through with traces of grey. The skin beneath his eyes is loose and dark, and he carries excess fat around his waist. “You are under arrest. Trespassing on sovereign Federation property is an offense.”

“Under whose jurisdiction?” I move forward, looming over the sweating Human.

“You’re on a Federation station, Kordolian. We are still governed by Earth Law. I have two squadrons of peacekeepers on the way. You’re outnumbered. I would advise you to stand down.”

“Peacekeepers?” I stare down at him through my visor. The datafeed tells me his heart rate is high, his breathing is rapid and his temperature is rising. He’s afraid. “Your peacekeepers aren’t coming. You really think you can win a siege against a fully armed Kordolian Elite Division?”

I pick up the sound of movement behind me and realize the two guards are approaching. They think to surprise me. I pretend not to notice.

“I’m out of patience, Station Boss.” He stares in wide-eyed horror as I turn, my movements enhanced by my armor. I execute a wide slash that takes off the head of one of the guards as he raises his laser weapon at me. The second guard is frozen, unable to move. I’ve plunged my other blade into his chest. Crimson blood erupts from his lips as he falls backward onto the carpeted floor.

So Humans bleed red. Strange creatures.

“I need your cooperation, Station Boss.” I reach the fat Human’s side before he can escape. “I need access to the supplies and materials on your station, and assistance from the Humans who operate your spacecraft repair service. I’m tired, Station Boss, and for that reason, I’d rather not kill any more of your people, but if you continue to make stupid decisions, that’s what will happen. I’m offering you a choice. But you’re the one in charge, so it’s your call. Will you cooperate with us, or will you continue this stupid resistance?”

Fear. It’s one of the most useful tools in a war. The first thing we were taught in the military academy was how to instill and manipulate fear.

Create fear. Dominate. Rule.

It’s what we Kordolians do.

The Station Boss will fold. I can tell from his stance. They always do.

“W-we’ll help,” he stutters, looking at me as if I’m a monstrous Xargek. I might as well be, with my full Callidum exo-armor in place. I’m sure the battle suit was designed to intimidate as well as provide the wearer with protection.

“Wise decision. I will send someone with a list of our requirements. If the idea of fighting us enters your thick skull again, think about what just happened to your guards.”

“Uhh,” he makes a low-pitched sound of shock, as a low boom reverberates through the walls.

“Oh, and you might want to call off your troops downstairs, before any more of them are killed.” I turn to leave, sidestepping the bodies of the two guards. As I reach the doorway, my comm buzzes.

“Rykal. What is it?”

“Uh, General, we have a problem down here.”

“What’s the problem, Rykal?”

“We just saw several Xargek larvae escaping our ship.”

I drop several colorful Kordolian expletives. “How the hell did they get on board? I thought we left them on the other side of the wormhole. Did you kill the larvae?”

“Shot three, one got away. Disappeared into a vent.”

“Get a team to scour this station. We have to find it before it grows and starts to reproduce.” I don’t really care about the fate of the Humans. But there’s no way I can allow the Xargek to survive. All it takes is one larva, and suddenly half the sector will be swarming with the creatures. And if their warship has made it into this sector, then it’s only a matter of time before they find a habitable planet.

And then, they’ll start to multiply. I can’t afford to let that happen.

Eliminate them at all costs. Those are our orders.

“Sir.” Rykal grunts in agreement, and logs off. I turn to the Station Boss, who has managed to assume position behind his desk. He’s on some kind of comm, issuing orders in another Human language. I make a slicing motion with my hand, and he cuts the communication, dropping the receiver onto his desk.

“The situation’s changed,” I inform him. “The station’s going on lockdown, as of now. Tell all Humans to return to their quarters and stay there until we’ve found and killed every single last one of those Xargek vermin. Anyone who disobeys our orders does so at their own risk. I won’t be responsible for any harm that occurs as a result.”

“Xargek?” The Station Boss’ pale eyes go wide, the color draining from his face. ‘There are Xargek on Fortuna?” His voice has dropped to a whisper.

“Lockdown,” I repeat. “Right now, we’re your only hope of survival, so don’t fuck things up.”

* * *

I’m in the outer dome of the oxygen filter plant, a huge structure that stretches over the sun-facing side of Fortuna Tau, when the announcement crackles through the speakers.

“All workers return to your quarters. I repeat, all workers return to your quarters. This is a state of emergency. Full lockdown commencing now. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your quarters unless directed to do so. This is an order from Station High Command.”

I pause mid-scrub, flicking phytogel from my gloved hands. A droplet of goop lands on my safety goggles, obscuring my vision. I rub at it, but that only makes it worse, as I accidentally smear viscous slime across the lenses.

I’m about a hundred feet above the floor of the biomeric facility, stuck between rows of oxygen filters. Every day, millions of liters of carbon dioxide is pumped through the filters, and fresh oxygen is generated through photosynthesis, to be recirculated throughout Fortuna Tau.

That’s where the green slime comes in. It sits in the filter cartridges, absorbs a bit of sunlight, and basically photosynthesizes.

In theory, it’s genius. In practice, the filters often become blocked. That’s where I come in. Amongst the bio-sci staff, I’m pretty much the only one crazy enough to climb a hundred meters up a flimsy ladder and dodge in and out of the complex maze of filters and pipes like a monkey, scrubbing at the caked green slime.

The fact that I did gymnastics as a kid probably helps. I’m not afraid of heights and my balance is pretty good.

It sounds like an awful job, but I actually like it up here. It’s quiet. I can see glimpses of the stars through gaps in the machinery. And the soft, rhythmic hum of the filter plant is actually quite soothing.

It also helps that I’m short. My body was designed for navigating small, twisty spaces.

A shrill alarm follows the announcement, along with repeated blasts of “return to quarters,” in a pre-recorded, robotic voice. I groan. I’ve just climbed all the way up here, and now I have to leave?

I peer down through an opening in the machinery, but all I can see is the green canopy of the biosphere below. My co-workers have probably forgotten that I’m even up here.

And if I don’t clear out the blocked filters now, there’s a chance the whole system could become backed up, resulting in a build-up of pressure in the CO2 pipes.

Pressure equals explosion. The last thing we need right now is a circulation malfunction.

No doubt the Kordolians have something to do with this lockdown order. But for some reason, I feel a little less scared now. Maybe it has to do with the fact that the boss alien actually stared me down in the corridor and didn’t kill me, even though I’d somehow offended him with my smirking.

I pull my goggles off and wipe them on my pants, removing the smear of green slime. The rickety metal ladder stretches down the wall behind me, disappearing into the leafy thicket. I reach up with my sleeve and wipe sweat from my forehead. It’s humid up here under the thick glass panels, and now and then, beads of condensation turn into fat droplets of water, catching me in the face or hair.

It’s the closest thing we have up here to rain.

I really miss Earth.

I decide I’m going to ignore the evacuation order and finish my work. It’s so quiet and isolated up here that I doubt anyone is going to find me. And I don’t expect the Kordolians to show any interest in the biomeric facility. Even if they do, they’ll never find me. I know every nook and cranny of this maze-like place.

I don’t want to go back to my sterile, windowless sleeping pod. What am I going to do there for the next several hours? Watch NetCom and chill?

Boring.

I grab the brush and hose, spraying a jet of cool water into my mouth before I point it at the oxygen filters. This is thirsty work. As I hose off the area, bits of caked, greenish-brownish slime start to dislodge, and the wastewater falls to the forest below, feeding the trees.

I smile to myself. While everyone else is stuck in their prison-like quarters, I’ll just hide out here, and carry on with this rather enjoyable work.

Hopefully, when I’m done, the Kordolians will be gone.

I start to whistle an old Earth tune, not worrying if I’ll be discovered. Because up here, no-one can hear me.

* * *

I find Kalan and Arkan in the lobby below, with the Human soldiers nowhere to be seen.

“Tactical retreat on their side, apparently.” Kalan shrugs. “We got the all-clear?”

“An agreement has been reached. The Humans will cooperate.” We break into a rapid jog, returning the way we came. As we turn down another narrow passageway, a shrill announcement in some Human dialect blasts from hidden speakers, unintelligible to us.

It must be a lockdown order.

The warning is followed by a shrieking alarm, blasted at incredibly high volume.

With my headache throbbing at full force, it’s almost too much for my sensitive hearing. Pain shoots behind my eyes, blurring my vision. I slow down.

Kalan and Arkan glance backwards in alarm, sensing my drop in pace.

“Return to ship,” I bark over the noise of the siren, not wanting them to see my weakness. “I have something to do here. Tell Rykal to prepare a list of requirements for the Humans and get them to work. Dissolve the Human soldiers, but keep their female commander as a translator. She seems to have some sense. I will join you afterwards.”

“Sir!” Without another word they take off, not sparing me a second glance. That’s what I like about this team. They follow my orders to the letter.

And there’s no way I’m letting them know that all I need right now is a rest.

I need something to ease the fucking pain in my head. When will that Kaiin-cursed Human noise stop? Why do they have to make it so loud? Are Humans partly deaf?

I will my helmet to retract, taking a deep breath, suddenly needing fresh air.

There’s that scent again.

It’s exotic and fragrant, carrying with it a hint of mystery. It’s like nothing I’ve ever smelt before. It’s complex, with hints of sweetness and bitterness combined.

It smells of her, the female scientist. That strange, tiny Human, who turns a delicate shade of pink when confronted and babbles nonsense through her tiny lips.

The infernal siren wails on and on, and I’m about to go to my knees with the agony of it. I close my eyes, following the scent, allowing it to lead me as it becomes stronger, more intoxicating.

It’s as if the Goddess Kali has wound her ephemeral tendrils around me and I’m powerless to resist as she pulls me along. I’m almost forgetting my headache as I find myself outside a glass doorway.

A pair of terrified Humans stumble past, glancing up at me in horror as I walk past. They make no effort to stop me as I stride beyond the entrance.

I travel down a narrow, brightly lit corridor and come out in a space I can only describe as impossible.

The scent is overwhelming here, surrounding me and filling my lungs. The air is cooler, cleaner, and all around me are signs of life. The place is filled with vegetation. There are strange, exotic fruits, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. Bizarrely shaped flowers appear amongst the foliage, revealing colors I never knew existed.

Things like this could never grow on Kythia. There’s not enough light.

The space is housed in a giant dome-like structure, lined with orderly arrays of panels. Real light from the sun filters through the gaps between the panels, causing me to squint, the bright, ultraviolet light blurring my vision. I command my nanites to form a pair of light-goggles, shielding my eyes. But I leave the rest of my face uncovered, savoring the clean, fresh oxygen.

The infuriating siren has finally stopped. I exhale slowly, trying to force the tension from my body. My head is still killing me, but it’s not as bad as before.

I just need a moment, to close my eyes and forget the noise and pain.

Just a short moment, away from it all.

Even I have my bad days.

I need to rest, even if it’s just for a few sivs. I spot a bench type structure alongside a winding path that leads into thick vegetation.

I’ll lie down until my headache is less severe. I can’t afford to be walking around with blurred vision, sensitive to every alarm because of this ridiculous pain. I can’t afford to take sedatives, either. Not when there are Xargek larvae crawling around the station. I have to be alert.

I need to restore my level of functioning. This vegetation dome seems as good a place as any for that purpose. The Humans have all left, and it’s mercifully quiet. If any Xargek appears, I’ll be able to hear its insectoid skittering long before it can attack.

I lay my swords on the floor beside the bench and lie down, closing my eyes. I allow the sun-goggles to dissolve, because the mild warmth beating down on my face from the bright star above is actually quite pleasant.

It’s a rare moment of weakness, but for me, it’s necessary. Lately, my headaches have been getting worse and worse.

The scent of the Earth vegetation and fruit seems to have healing properties. Because my pain starts to melt away. And as I slow my breathing to its lowest possible rate and force my heart rate down, I hear something.

Strange Human sounds. An odd, wordless type of singing, soft and uneven.

It should be irritating. But somehow, I don’t mind it at all. It’s imperfect and uniquely Human.

I open my eyes just briefly, and squint. The sound’s coming from the roof of the dome. Between the panels.

It’s her. Her scent reaches my sensitive nose, mingling with the smell of chemicals and sweet fruits and fragrant blooms.

I thought all Humans were confined to quarters. Is this one defying Station orders?

The panels are suspended high above the vegetation. I can’t see much. Is the female really up there? There’s no way I’m climbing the flimsy looking structure to find out.

Instead, I close my eyes, waiting for the pounding in my head to subside.