KARRIN: Warrior Woman (Excalibur Saga Book 4) Read online

  Brownie did a backflip, giving her a goofy grin.

  “Quit laughing at me, you little imp,” Karrin said petulantly. “I can’t help it. I’m not a monkey.”

  He held up a harness attached to the back of his chair, gibbering at her again.

  With a frown at her irritating friend, the young woman searched behind her and found the same restraint attached to her seat. Drawing it over her head, she fastened it into a notch between her legs. It helped stop her from falling out of her chair, but it was awkward and the straps bit into her shoulders.

  Now that she wouldn’t fall flat on her face, Karrin leaned forward to study the console. Rows of vertical buttons and horizontal dials covered it. Intrigued, she traced one button with her fingertips. “Say, these markings look just like the ones on the sword and knife you brought back. I wonder what they mean.”

  Brownie chittered again with more emphasis, pointing at her and the console as if trying to tell her something.

  “You know I can’t understand you,” Karrin said with a loud sigh. “I wish I could.”

  The screen in front of her blazed to light, blinding her, and made her shove back as far into the tipped chair as it allowed. Strange symbols flowed across the screen, and halted.

  Karrin held her hands up, staring with round eyes at Brownie. “I didn’t touch anything, I swear.”

  The same symbols moved across the screen again.

  Brownie bounced in his recliner, chittering at the screen.

  The patterns changed shape and flowed again before they paused when he did.

  Karrin glanced at Brownie then at the screen. “Wait, a minute. Are you talking to the machine? It understands you?”

  The symbols moved again, changing as they flowed. Karrin stared in wonder at what she beheld. English dialect, but the words were all mixed up and gibberish.

  The young woman leaned forward with excitement. “Are you a language Contruda?”

  English words flowed again, but at the word ‘Contruda,’ they turned to Ispepyein.

  Karrin recognized a few of the phrases, but she couldn’t figure out what they meant. Turning toward Brownie, she said, “It played me English and Ispepyein words. I think the computer is trying to figure out my vocabulary. Maybe it can learn yours, too.”

  The screen cleared, and showed in broken letters, ‘Ispepyein,’ and ‘yours, too.’ Then, it went blank again. Two new words came up – ‘speak more.’

  Karrin laughed in delight. “It wants to learn more.” Clearing her throat, trying to be serious, she said, “I’m Karrin, from the planet Earth. This is my companion, Brownie. We are on a world, called Switch, named by my Ispepyein friend, Lurga Pukani.” She cocked her head. “Is that enough? Do you need more?”

  The screen read: ‘Who is Leader – you, or the Omar? I will use Leader’s dialect.’

  Karrin stared in puzzlement at Brownie. “Is that what you are? An Omar?”

  Brownie chattered at her, nodding his head.

  The screen threw up a line of unrecognizable symbols.

  “No, I am Leader,” Karrin interjected. “Use my language.”

  Lines of broken English appeared on the screen. ‘Senod greets Earth Leader, Karrin. What your requirements? Our stores contain items you need, for payment, or trade.’

  “No, we’re not here to buy or exchange anything. I found this ship wrecked on our world. Who are you? What happened?”

  ‘They are traders from Senod. They were orbiting this globe, scanning for precious minerals or metals, when they encountered a meteor storm that damaged the power drive. The crew fled on an emergency shuttle before the ship crash-landed. They could not return to claim me since the atmosphere of this planet is poisonous to their species. Unfortunately, my power unit is destroyed beyond repair.’

  “How long have you been here?”

  ‘I have no sense of time, but three cold seasons passed since I crashed here.’

  Karrin stared at the screen, chewing on her lip. Three years? Wasn’t that around the time when Tatum came and the Ispepyeins and Calens were searching for me? She bolted upright in the chair. This is the black ship I saw before – the one that made me act so paranoid.

  “Where were you before you arrived at Switch?”

  The screen displayed a list of planets. Most Karrin never knew about, and the ones she did, she’d learned from Lurga. Still, the names Calen and Ispepyein caught her attention.

  “You were on Ispepyein before you showed up here? Did you know anything about a Challenge between Lurga Pukani and Kargan?” Maybe Karrin could finally find out what happened to her protector and friend.

  ‘I have no knowledge of a Challenge for Leadership, and Kargan was Leader when we left.’

  The disappointed woman slumped back in her chair. Her last chance of finding out about Lurga just melted away like the winter snows.

  ‘Would you like to see an inventory of our stores? We had just procured some strange silver ore from Calen that produces powerful radiation.’

  Karrin shook her head. “No, that’s fine.”

  ‘But, as the finder of this abandoned ship, under Senod law, you acquire salvage rights. Everything on board is yours, without payment.’

  The woman perked up. “What? Really? You mean everything is mine?”

  'Yes. All you need do is present your application on Senod.’

  “Wait. That makes little sense. You can’t fly from here, I can’t leave here, and the Senold’s can’t come here because of the atmosphere, so how does it get filed?”

  ‘If you direct me to, I can send a request via space message. Once Senod receives it, they will realize the ship survived. They will send auditors, in space suits, to access the damage and pay you for the return of their property. You will make a nice profit.’

  Karrin’s eyes narrowed. “Well, if getting in touch with your people is that easy, why didn’t you contact them before?”

  ‘Because I was not directed to. I have been inactive since the crash. You activated me when you sat at the console. The Omar turned me on, on several occasions, but it only speaks gibberish. Omars are difficult to converse with and are impossible to trade or consummate agreements with.’

  Karrin looked over at Brownie, who was preening his ears, uninterested in what was going on. “So, he’s an Omar. Where is his world? I always wondered how he ended up on Switch.”

  ‘Omars come from Deseption, where they are one of the lower life forms. Deseptions look similar to an Omar, but they are born with no tails and have separate genders, unlike the Omars who change genders during their breeding time.”

  Karrin glanced at her monkey friend with wide eyes. “Really?”

  The ship continued, “The Deseptions are small, friendly, and industrious, as well as excellent craftsmen. Omars are just as friendly, but their thoughts are scattered and disoriented, thereby making communication impossible. They are, also, referred to as Watchers, though no one knows why. It has been said there are many Omars at the outer rim, watching. It surprised me to find one here.’

  “The outer rim? I’ve never heard of that place. Where is it?”

  The screen showed four words. ‘I do not know.’

  “If you don’t know of it, why are the Omars there? What are they watching for?”

  Again, only four words appeared. ‘I do not know.’

  Karrin shook her head in confusion. They were going around in circles. An idea formed in the back of her mind. “Can you show me where planet Deseption is located?”

  The words disappeared, and the screen lit up with a thousand tiny, white dots. Two dots blinked with the words ‘HERE’ over one and ‘DESEPTION’ over the other.

  “Oh!” Karrin said with a heavy sigh, her idea falling apart. “Deseption is a long way from here. Where is Ispepyein on the chart?”

  A star blinked with the name above it. Deseption was closer to Ispepyein than either of them was to Switch. Lurga had told her he picked Switch since it was such a remote planet, and,
now, she finally understood what he’d meant.

  Another screen lit up, showing a still picture of an idyllic scene with green grass, trees, and a yellow sun. Karrin swallowed the lump forming in her throat as homesickness unexpectedly overcame her. She never realized how much she missed Earth, her birthplace, until now.

  Gazing upon the peaceful setting, she noticed yellow flowers growing in the brown dirt, and animals that reminded her of dogs. The scene caught them in the act of jumping and running. They appeared to be happy.

  Karrin pointed at the screen. “Those look like dogs. What are they?” She always wanted a dog, but Mamma Claudia said they were impractical, just another mouth to feed and body to take care of.

  Words replaced the star chart on the screen. ‘I have no classification for them, but after the Omar, they are the lowest life-form on Deseption. According to my records, they are more docile and trainable than an Omar.’

  The young woman had to agree, remembering how fickle Brownie acted, sometimes. Engrossed in conversing with the ship, she forgot about the Omar. The lack of chittering and scratching drew her attention, and when she glanced over, his seat was empty.

  Now, where did he go? she wondered, sighing in annoyance

  The ship’s screen read, ‘It is in the forward hold, pilfering from my stores, again. I am unable to prevent the stealing without my power drive.’

  “I’m so sorry. I’ll go get him, but, first, how long will it take to send my claim to Senod?”

  ‘Any Senod trader within distance can record your application, but depending on how close they are, it could take hours. Do you direct me to send the message?’

  Karrin swiveled the chair, tapping on the armrest as she surveyed the room. I have never owned anything before. Even if it’s only a broken-down spaceship. Should I make a claim? What if they don’t honor my petition?

  “Go ahead, file the application, and tell them I will negotiate for a fair price. However, if they don’t honor my request, or come at me with any form of aggression, I will retaliate with force.”

  The screen lit up with new words. ‘Senods do not use force. They are businessmen only, not warriors. I sent your message in the official Senod salvage claim format. Your application has been filed, Owner Karrin.’

  The young woman smiled as excitement overcame her at the new title. I’m an owner, now. But, an owner of what?

  “Turn on the lights in the storage holds,” she instructed. “Let me see what I’m the proprietor of.”

  ‘I turned the lights on.’

  Looking out the doorway, Karrin discovered the walkway was lit up. She unbuckled her harness and stopped. “Can I communicate with you anywhere on the ship?”

  ‘No, Owner Karrin. You must use a hand-link. Please, press the white switch on the front of the console.’

  Karrin peered down and, sure enough, there was a small button she didn’t notice before. She pressed it and a small drawer slid out. Inside sat five small, gold hand-links, about the size of a wristwatch. She put one on, and it adjusted to her wrist.

  The young woman moved her hand, back and forth, admiring the craftsmanship. It was much nicer than Lurga’s clunky one. “How do I activate it?”

  As words appeared on the screen, a tinny voice came from the hand-link. ‘It is done.’

  As she unsnapped herself from the tilted chair, she said, “Keep me informed of any messages.”

  Her heart filled with excitement, Karrin walked out of the room with a smile on her face. Treading up the tipped walkway, she headed for the nearest rectangle of light on her right. There were doorways on both sides, spaced the same distance apart, lit up, beckoning her to enter.

  She peered into the first doorway. Inside were rows and rows of rifles like Brownie had drug outside. Also, swords and knives like she already had. After a fleeting glance, she proceeded to the next chamber and leaned in. Her breath caught in the throat at what she discovered.

  Most of the room was a shiny silver and so bright she had to squint. All along the white walls stood crates of silver rocks, which were turning the ship silver. However, what got her heart thumping was the dense, football-shipped sphere Brownie was trying to lift.

  Isn’t that the orb I trapped the energy beast in along with my own powers?

  Brownie sat on the floor, gibbering away as he struggled to pick it up.

  Karrin took the orb from his trembling arms, and the minute she touched it, the burning hatred from the evil entity engulfed her. But, there was another presence, as well.

  She focused on the orb. That’s me. Those are my powers. She turned the rock over in her hands. How can I retrieve them without releasing the Other? Karrin sighed in frustration. As much as she wanted her abilities back, she couldn’t take the risk. Just one free energy being could wipe out this whole system.

  The hand-link beeped, startling her. ‘A Senod ship near Calen recognized your claim, Owner Karrin. The Captain informs me they are proceeding here to negotiate terms with you, but a small fleet of Calen ships will accompany them.”

  “What?” Karrin shook her head. “Why?”

  “The Captain is communicating via our secret code as he fears deception is on the Calen’s minds. He stated several more Calen ships are leaving Eilsel and some of their bigger vessels were recently outfitted with the new power nullifiers.”

  Anger fueled by fear washed over the young woman. “How many ships?”

  “There are twenty-six Calen craft and eight Eilsel ships en route. The Captain, also, advises you send for help from Ispepyein since we are under a contract for protection from them. Estimated time of arrival is two days.’

  Two days? Karrin thought with mounting anxiety as she hefted the sphere and tucked it under one arm. She ran back to the control room, jumped back into the tilted chair and fastened herself in. She glanced over the buttons and dials, not understanding any of them. “Do you have any weapons on board to defend us with?”

  Through the hand-link, the ship responded, “Senod craft are never armed. The only weapons aboard are trade items.”

  Oh, great. I own a spacecraft totally useless in battle. Karrin huffed in irritation. “What about those big rifles in the hold? Are they powerful enough to stop a Calen ship?”

  “If they are in range. However, the nullifiers the Eilsel craft are equipped with will shut down the Istibein Crystals, which run the Quatek weapons.”

  “Damn,” Karrin muttered as she slumped back in her chair. She gritted her teeth, hating to ask for help. “Okay, deliver a message to Ispepyein Leader, Tatum, from Warrior Child, Karrin. Send it with no code, so the Callen can intercept it.”

  The young woman took a deep breath before continuing. “Tell him I claim salvage on a Senod commerce vessel. The Captain of a Senod ship is en route to negotiate, but he requests Ispepyein protection as twenty-six Calen and eight Eilsel ships are accompanying him. They plan to kill me and take my salvaged ship. If my Lurga were here, he would wipe them all out with no trouble. So, Tatum, either come right away or not at all. They arrive in two days.”

  Three words flashed on the screen. ‘Sent, Owner Karrin.’

  Karrin wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. I’ve never started a war before. I hope I honor Lurga and fight bravely. She stared at the silver orb in her lap. There has to be something else I can do to defend myself. What would Lurga do? A plan formed in her mind. “How strong are these Istibein Crystals?”

  A tinny voice came from her hand-link along with words on the screen, “Istibein Crystals are one of the most forceful elements in the Universe.”

  “Are you sure? What if there’s something even stronger? How can I use it with the rifles?”

  “Impossible. There is no other known substance.”

  “I believe this silver is. Can you analyze it for me?”

  “I tried numerous times since they brought the mineral on board, but spectrum analysis is useless with the radioactive element. Our only knowledge is it comes from the planet Lear and is powerful
and dangerous. I would advise against using the silver metal as we do not understand its properties, and it could destroy us.”

  Karrin grunted, scowling at the console. “Look, ship, Lurga used the Lear ore in his Seeder pistols, rifles, and even his fighter. I know I can do it. Just teach me how.”

  The ship said, “The procedure is too dangerous, Owner Karrin,”

  “Enough,” Karrin shouted, slapping her hand on the armrest of the chair. “I’ll take one of those guns and fire it at your console. Then, no one will own you.”

  An answer came back, “DO NOT. I will show you.”

  Steps for the procedure appeared on the screen. One button on the side of the rifle opened the chamber for the crystals while another started the energizing process. Then, you aimed and squeezed the switch on the fore grip and a bluish beam shot out of the barrel. It looked simple enough.

  Karrin stroked the silver orb in her lap, sensing her power trapped inside. If I had my capabilities, I could defeat the Calens and Eilsels. But, if I release my powers, the Other would, also, be freed, and it might end up with my abilities instead of me. Who would stop it, then?

  The young woman signed with longing and set the orb on the ground, bracing it against the console so it wouldn’t roll down the slanted floor. She would only release her powers if no other choice presented itself. If the Other was freed, as well, who’d care? She’d be dead, anyway. In the meantime, she had other alternatives.

  Karrin strode into the storage area where the Lear ore was turning the spacecraft silver. She sorted through the pieces until she found a handful small enough to put in the chamber of the weapon. She had no idea what would happen when she energized the silver metal, so she walked outside, a safe distance away from the ship.

  The rifle was cumbersome as she maneuvered it, searching for the opening she sought. If the guns were going to be her main line of defense, she needed to do some practicing. At least, she had two days.

  Karrin paused in her efforts and peered around. Why am I fighting for this stupid ship? I could take off and hide. They didn’t find me before. They won’t discover me, now. But, an emotion never experienced before overcame her. The pride of ownership.