Ranger Dawning

  Bakkatt pulled the zip line tight, wedging the grappling hook at the opposite end. He then secured the cylinder by wrapping it around one of the many short chimneys that protruded from the roof. ‘Wait until I am across, then follow,’ he said. Vance nodded his reply. Bakkatt grasped the line and hooked one leg around it. Expertly, he pulled himself across the gap between the buildings. Despite the Minbari’s bulk, he took only seconds to reach the other side.

  Vance followed immediately. He had traversed rope lines a hundred times before on an array of different assault courses, but never at such a height. Blocking the prospect of imminent death from his mind, Vance pulled himself across as swiftly as Bakkatt. The words “we live for the One” unconsciously popped into his head as he reached the other side.

  The two Rangers moved like hooded ghosts across the rooftop to the edge of the building. Without pausing, Bakkatt swept over the side, clinging to the scant undulations of the red slabs that made up the brickwork. Vance followed, shadowing the more experienced Anla’shok all the way down. When Bakkatt was level with the window, he peered in. Vance watched, holding his breath all the while. When the Minbari was satisfied, he grabbed the ledge and eased himself in. As Vance followed, Bakkatt grasped his arm and helped him through.

  Richly embroidered throws and rugs decorated Musan Volt’s apartment, alongside the strangest ornaments Vance had ever seen. Drapes hung from the ceiling and walls, and an array of twisted pottery and carved idols, resembling various animals that Vance could not identify, dotted shelves and other surfaces.

  Dragging his eyes away from the splendorous sight, Vance followed Bakkatt toward the room’s nearest exit. Before they could reach it, footsteps approached. Bakkatt darted behind a trestle partition at one side of the room. Vance glided to an identical partition at the room’s opposite end. Crouched low with their hoods pulled tight, the Rangers were all but invisible in the drape-covered room.

  The fattest Drazi Vance had ever seen strolled into the room moments after the Rangers took their positions. Every finger on his hands bore a large jewelled ring, and a sparkling purple robe hung from his greying shoulders. The Drazi was old, but he still conducted himself with a regal demeanour. This had to be Musan Volt.

  Vance felt every muscle in his body bunch. He was ready to leap out, but he knew to wait for Bakkatt’s move. For now they would wait and observe. Musan Volt gazed from his window for several seconds as though looking for something. Then, with a shrug of his sloping shoulders, he turned and poured a glass of pale yellow liquid from a crystal decanter. He held the liquid to his nose and sniffed, closing his eyes and savouring the aroma. When he was satisfied, he pressed the glass to his lips.

  A noise from outside made Volt freeze before he had the chance to swallow. The scraping sound grew louder, as though something were approaching up the wall. Vance could see Volt’s hand begin to shake. Whatever was drawing nearer, Volt had a pretty good idea what to expect. Like a huge spider crawling from its web, the source of the noise arrived. One long limb after another crept over the window’s ledge. Volt did not turn to greet his new “guest” even though he must have heard its arrival.

  The creature was spindly, clad in plates of chitinous armour. Its face, fully visible, was wedge shaped and bore both dog-and snake-like features. ‘Musan Volt has done well say the Ky’Thain,’ hissed the creature. Its eyes looked Volt up and down, as though it were about to devour him. ‘The Ky’Thain’s masters are pleased with Musan Volt.’

  ‘This has gone too far,’ said Volt, spinning on the creature. ‘I never intended to end up a murderer. There is no honour in it.’

  The creature regarded Volt blankly for a few seconds before breaking into peals of hissing laughter. As it watched Volt, it swayed from side to side hypnotically. ‘What did Musan Volt expect. Never going to be easy. Musan Volt should be happy.’

  Volt turned his back on the creature once more. ‘Well, Musan Volt is not happy,’ he said, almost under his breath.

  The creature suddenly halted its movement, the mirth draining from its bestial features. ‘Musan Volt’s happiness is not of importance. Only the Ky’Thain’s will. Musan Volt will obey, and reward will be great. Musan Volt fails and even Ky’Thain will not be able to protect him from consequences.’

  ‘Don’t try threatening me,’ said Volt, his anger rising. ‘We had a deal. You help me gain influence within the Thath Vorak. I act as your eyes and ears within the establishment. I have held my side of the bargain, but I have seen nothing in return.’

  ‘Time, Musan Volt. All in good time will the Ky’Thain uphold its end of the bargain.’

  ‘You’ve had more than enough time. All I’ve had is orders and demands. When do I start gaining from the deal?’

  ‘Patience is all we require. Though a demonstration can be arranged if it is a show of strength you wish to see.’

  ‘It’s too late. I’ve had enough of you and your brethren. Start delivering on your promises or you can find someone else to be your spy. Do you know who I am? I am Musan Volt of the Caves of Shuur, Slayer of Kin-ram, the deadliest vorlath ever known. I am no lackey. Go back and tell your masters that.’

  The creature bowed solemnly before Volt. ‘As you wish, Musan Volt.’ The Drazi turned and reached for his decanter once more. As he did so, the creature looked up, venom in its eyes. Before Vance could move, Bakkatt burst from behind the trestle, denn’bok in hand. The creature glanced towards the charging Ranger but did not deviate from its target. An eight-inch spike lanced out from the chitin vambrace at the creature’s wrist, and it leapt forward on its spindly legs. Before the spike could pierce the back of Volt’s head, Bakkatt parried the strike, following up with a counter-strike toward the creature’s head. Before his blow could land, a spike shot from the creature’s other wrist, parrying the denn’bok.

  Volt spun, the decanter falling from his hand and smashing into tiny shards. Vance moved from behind the cover of his trestle, extending his denn’bok as he charged. Volt shrank to the ground as the Ky’Thain looked around, deducing which would be the most sensible target. The Rangers waited for its next move as footsteps approached along the corridor. Volt’s sentries, alerted by the sound of the smashing decanter, stopped dead as they entered the room, taken by surprise at the sight of three armed intruders who had managed to enter unseen. Vance gripped his denn’bok tighter, itching to act but not wanting to pre-empt Bakkatt. The Minbari simply stood and waited, not taking his eyes off the Ky’Thain. Vance glanced from the Drazi guards to the strange jittery creature as it looked at each of its enemies in turn, its monstrous head darting to each of its potential targets. Volt remained still, not even daring to move into cover.

  The Ky’Thain was the first to act, snarling in fury as it once again leapt toward Musan Volt. Although the creature was shockingly fast, Bakkatt managed to intercept it mid-strike, batting the beast sideways. It landed in the centre of the room, next to the sentries.

  Simultaneously, the Drazi guards reached to their hips, grasping for their autopistols. The creature moved so swiftly its attacks looked blurred. In a split second it sliced one Drazi’s throat and pierced another in the chest. Without pause it turned toward Vance, who only managed to block its blow on pure reflex. His hands shuddered as the Ky’Thain’s weapon struck. Despite its spindly limbs, a feral strength powered its attacks. Before the creature could unleash a second blow, Bakkatt was on it, his denn’bok flying in with strike after crippling strike. The creature managed to parry some of Bakkatt’s attacks, and others it simply absorbed on its hard carapace. Vance attacked as well, raining blows down upon the seemingly invincible creature. Although it did not seem to be wounded by any strokes of their denn’boks, the Rangers managed to hold the creature at bay. The three danced across Volt’s chamber, their steps a series of strikes and counter-strikes. Vance had never faced an opponent like this. The Ky’Thain seemed to possess a combination of speed and strength that no other race could possibly match. Despite being faced by two sk
illed opponents, it not only held its own, it managed several counter-strikes that Vance only blocked because of luck and the aid of the other Ranger.

  After parrying a blow from each of its adversaries, the creature somersaulted away from the Rangers, who manoeuvred themselves in front of the cowering Musan Volt. The creature knelt by the window, panting like a cheetah that had just missed its prey. ‘The eyes of the Ky’Thain are watching you,’ it spat, and then leapt through the open portal.

  Vance sprinted forward and leaned out, just in time to see the beast nimbly crawling away down the side of the tower. When he turned, Bakkatt had already picked up Musan Volt. The old Drazi stared into Bakkatt’s face as though unable to comprehend what had just happened. ‘Can you hear me?’ said Bakkatt. Volt gave no answer; he simply stared towards the open window. Bakkatt slapped him hard. Volt’s tough skin absorbed the blow, but it roused him from his stupor. ‘Can you hear me?’ Bakkatt repeated. Volt simply nodded, his mouth open and eyes wide. ‘You will come with us. It is your only chance for survival.’

  Volt looked around the room until his eyes came to rest on his two bodyguards, their corpses bleeding on the ground. Volt’s nod grew in conviction as he regarded the corpses. Bakkatt grabbed him by the arm and guided him toward the door. Vance followed, quickly glancing back at the window in case of attack. As Bakkatt and Volt left the room, Vance looked at the two sentries. He unbuckled one of their gun belts and strapped it on. The autopistol was a useful weapon to have in a tight corner, and if any more of these Ky’Thain creatures stalked the night, they would need all the firepower they could get.

  They reached the door and Bakkatt peered out carefully. Jerklenn and Merreck waited in the shadows; the two remaining sentries were prone and unconscious in a corner. ‘They must have heard you inside,’ said Merreck. ‘We thought it best to secure your exit.’

  ‘Good work,’ said Bakkatt, pulling Musan Volt beside him. ‘We need to reach a safe place so we can question our new friend. Keldulan had a safe house not far from here. I doubt we will be disturbed there.’

  As they moved once more into the shadows of Torvag’s narrow streets, Vance turned a watchful eye toward every shadow, above them as well as on the ground. If the Ky’Thain was going to return, he wanted to be ready.

  Interrogation

  Keldulan’s former bolthole was more of a warehouse than a safehouse, positioned on the edge of the Merchant’s Quarter, bordering the Craftmen’s District. Vance wondered why the Merchant’s Quarter was so far from the spaceport. Surely merchants would want to be in close proximity to air travel so that their goods might more easily be transported through Torvag’s tight streets.

  Bakkatt explained that the separate districts of Torvag had been in place for thousands of years, much longer than the Drazi possessed the ability to travel in space. Consequently, the spaceport was built in one of the few remaining places available in Torvag. The Drazi’s attachment to their traditions and history prevented demolition of large parts of the city to make room for a convenient spaceport.

  Traversing Torvag’s streets and finding the safe house took almost no time. Again, Bakkatt led the way as though a built-in radar guided him to his destination. They pulled Musan Volt’s limp form along with them, and he offered no resistance. No one paid them any mind as they travelled. A merchant being dragged along by hooded figures was not out of the ordinary, and it paid to mind one’s business in Torvag.

  Now they stood in a brick room with a high ceiling, some broken furniture and little else. The Rangers entered and checked the exits. A set of double doors led to the main street. Merreck posted himself beside them, spying through a crack in the wooden doors. They had entered through a side door in a back alleyway. Stairs led down from the side door into the safe house, and Jerklenn posted herself at the top of these, listening for anyone approaching.

  Bakkatt found a chair that wasn’t smashed to pieces and sat Musan Volt down roughly. Vance stood to one side, watching the senior Ranger at work. Volt was still dazed. He did not seem to notice the Rangers around him, his mind obviously elsewhere. ‘Who are the Ky’Thain?’ said Bakkatt, his voice low so as not to echo in the ramshackle chamber.

  Volt shook his head. Vance at first thought he was refusing to answer, but Volt looked up, tears welling in his deep-set eyes. ‘I only did as they said to aid the Drazi. You understand that, don’t you?’

  Bakkatt nodded, his scarred face managing somehow to look sympathetic. ‘Nobody blames you, Musan. I know of the Ky’Thain’s masters. They have sweet tongues and whisper a thousand promises, but in the end they just use you to further their own ends. Now, who are the Ky’Thain? I need to know as much about them as you can tell me.’

  ‘They came to me several weeks ago. They said they were servants of a great master who would soon be unleashed upon the galaxy. They showed me such things--you have no idea.’ As he spoke, Volt clawed at Bakkatt’s robes. The Ranger made no attempt to stop him, patting the old Drazi on the back as he wept.

  ‘Believe me, my friend. We know what horrors you have seen. We also know the “masters” the Ky’Thain speak of. We have come to stop them.’

  ‘You can stop them? You have seen their power? There were two of you, plus two of my guards, and still you could not defeat it. And it is not alone. Soon it will return, bringing more of its kind with it.’

  ‘You are safe here,’ said Bakkatt, his voice surprisingly soothing. ‘This place is secret, known only to a few of my order.’

  ‘They will find us. I have refused them, turned my back on them. Now they will come to finish me.’

  ‘Fear not. I can send a message to my brethren, and more warriors will come to our aid. All I require is that you tell me all you know of the Ky’Thain. Where are they from, and what are their weaknesses? Tell me, Musan, and I can get you far from here where nobody will find you.’

  ‘You are only a Minbari. How will you protect me?’ Volt had managed to stifle his tears, suddenly growing serious. ‘What were you doing in my chamber to start with? Are the Minbari spying on us, on the Thath Vorak? How can I trust you? Maybe the Ky’Thain were right, and their masters are not the enemy of the Drazi. It is you and the humans.’ Volt glanced quickly at Vance. ‘You are in league together. Maybe it is you who want to conquer the galaxy.’

  Bakkatt moved like a coiled serpent, so fast it made Vance jump. He grasped Volt’s head and placed his fingers under the Drazi’s eyes. Moving his own head close to Volt’s, he pulled the Drazi’s lids down.

  ‘What was in that decanter, Volt?’ he asked. ‘It has obviously fogged your thinking. The Ky’Thain tried to kill you, and we saved your life. Tell us what you know or we will leave you on this rock to die at their hands.’ Volt gripped the sides of the rickety chair, staring at Bakkatt. ‘Alright,’ he whispered. ‘Just don’t leave me here.’

  A sudden feeling of sorrow for the old Drazi overwhelmed Vance. He was a big individual, even for his race. Before the flab had set in, he must have borne considerable physical power. His claim about having slain a mighty vorath was probably true. Even if it wasn’t, no Drazi could rise to Volt’s level of power and influence without having been a formidable warrior, even in the merchant’s guild. Seeing such a character reduced to a simpering coward was hard to watch.

  ‘I know I was their tool, but I was a willing tool. They offered power but not what you think. Personal power means nothing to me. What they offered was far more valuable. Through their masters, the Drazi would become one of the most powerful empires in the galaxy. We would no longer be among the League of Non-Aligned Worlds, no longer grouped with the rest of the minor powers. We would be able to stand beside the Centauri and the Minbari, equals... no, betters!’ Volt’s rant had grown steadily more shrill, but Bakkatt allowed him to continue despite the danger of being heard. Now Volt made a visible effort to calm himself.

  ‘I was supposed to influence the Thath Vorak. Subtle persuasion here, stern guidance there. Enough to bring people to my side
but not enough to make them think I was power-mongering. It wasn’t until the bodies began to pile up that I realised I was in too deep. I thought I could control the Ky’Thain--they seemed primitive and unintelligent--but they are nothing of the sort, and their masters even less so.’

  ‘Do you know who their masters might be?’ asked Bakkatt. He once more affected a sympathetic tone.

  ‘I never saw them. I asked and they did indeed promise, but a meeting never happened.’

  And what of Keldulan?’

  Volt looked confused, but then an expression of understanding crossed his face. ‘You mean the other Minbari? I knew he must have had something to do with you. After all, how many Minbari do you ever see in Torvag?’ He paused when he realised the unpleasantness of what he would have to say next, continuing in a much more subdued voice. ‘I never meant anything to happen to him. He would not heed my warnings, and that gutter slurper Rottik did nothing but encourage him. Everywhere I turned, there he was. I even sent some of my employees to discourage him, but they said they could not locate him. Now I know why.’

  The Drazi glanced from one Ranger to another, as though unsure of how to proceed. Vance simply stared back, trying his best to look neutral, neither threatening nor sympathetic. ‘I did not ask for his death,’ continued Volt, ‘if that is what you want to know. I guess you are not merely assassins; otherwise I would be dead already, right?’ Volt smiled nervously. The Rangers merely stared back blankly. ‘He got too close, and he was always there. When the Ky’Thain questioned me about him, I had no answers. One day he stopped shadowing me, and I can only assume it was because of them. But I didn’t ask, and they didn’t tell me. I am sorry for the loss of your friend, I truly am, but you must believe I had nothing to do with his death.’

  A silence filled the room. Volt seemed to be waiting for reassurance, but when no one spoke, the squirming Drazi panicked. ‘You have to get me off Zhabar. I have told you all I know. You have to believe that. You promised!’