Chapter 18: Renegade

The doorway to Terric's Treasures was dented and dingy, an echo of the building that it occupied. A low haze of smog covered the dirt roads of Elontra outside, giving the copper of the ground a sickly green hue. Zaius watched as a mother and son entered a nearby home with shuttered windows and a crumbling roof. The city of Elontra was one that he had heard about from nearly everyone he met in his time working for Areshia, but he never thought the day would come that he would be standing in its center. Elontra itself reminded him a bit of the Embankments back on Tovarro and the sleepy little town he was raised in on Trantokar. In that sense, Elontra offered an odd sense of comfort.

"How big is Elontra exactly?" He asked Kirrik, making a wide circle with his finger.

Kirrik turned his head in thought. "Elontra itself? Honestly, it's hard to tell. What you're seeing around you are the buildings of the main square, maybe some homes too. That alone isn't much, but there's endless miles of tunnel that stretch outward to different bases, factories and the like. Think of it like a giant web."

"So are we the spider or the flies?" Diah asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I refuse to be the one that's hunted," Imi responded. She sat on top of a large crate nearby and seemed lost in thought about something else.

"I've been both," Kirrik added. "Either way, it all comes down to outsmarting the other one."

Kirrik waved the group forward as he pushed the door to the bar open. A hard stench of sweat, alcohol and a hint of spoiled food assaulted Zaius' nose as he entered. It was a little under half-full, with most of the patrons sitting on the far end of the room. The wooden tables were worn down and lopsided from years of mistreatment. A lone Kunar sat in the corner closest to them, his back toward the door.

"That must be the contact," Zaius whispered to the others, careful to avoid being heard by any unwanted parties.

Kirrik looked around the room briefly, then sat at the closest table. He beckoned the others over with a quick, almost unnoticeable, flick of the wrist. His head pressed down lower as the others joined him, hands outstretched across the table. He gave a sideways glance in the Kunar's direction.

"There is no way Bugu would have sent us to meet with a Reclaiment," Kirrik expressed, his face squished in disbelief. "You know as well as I do that the Kunar are known for their loyalty to the Regime. If we go and talk to that one, word will spread and we'll be swarmed by more in a heartbeat. I don't know about you, but I want to get out of Elontra as quickly as we can."

"What's wrong? Don't like being home with dad and sis?" Imi joked.

Kirrik looked down at the table, running his fingers along a name carved into the wood. A glint of sadness flashed in his warm brown eyes and disappeared as quickly as it came. "You know we have work to do."

Zaius watched as Imi silently placed a hand on Kirrik's shoulder in an unusual show of compassion. Maybe there was something there after all, despite Kirrik's objection on the topic. He noticed Diah staring at the Kunar from his peripheral vision. She seemed to be contemplating their next course of action in her mind. Everyone seemed to be wrapped up in their own thoughts and it gave Zaius a bit of concern. The Kunar, from what he heard, were not the kind of species to mess around or let things go lightly. There would definitely be a battle ahead, and the lack of focus could cost them.

"I say we make contact," Diah said, breaking a long silence. "If there are Kunar around the city, they've most likely already seen us. They've probably been keeping watch on us since we left Bugu's."

"You saying that you think the others are in danger?" Kirrik asked.

"I don't think any of us currently are," Diah clarified. "If we were, the Kunar would be breaking through the windows and tearing down the doors right now. They were impatient enough to pick a fight with us on the Nova, so I would think they would do the same here, right?"

"I agree," Zaius said in support. "The Kunar don't seem like the type to wait. If they saw us as a threat, I'd think they would take care of us pretty quickly. They don't seem like the type to play games."

Kirrik sighed and shrugged, the flaps of his jacket jingling with the movement. Imi wrapped her arm around his shoulder and gave him a sly smile. She wiped a fake tear from under her eye.

"Look, Honey, the kids are growing up so fast."

Zaius let the jest slide, now aware that sarcastic quips seemed to be the way that Imi expressed herself. He found it a bit odd but, then again, each of them had their hangups. His eyes darted toward Diah, who he expected to be fuming as she had at nearly everything that came out of Imi's mouth. Instead, she had a slight grin.

"Don't you have some gears to oil?" She shot back. The two stared at each other, waiting to see who would break first. Surprisingly, it was Imi.

"Alright, enough fun," Kirrik grumbled. He pointed at Diah and Zaius. "You two decide on what you want to do. I'm not making that call. Instead, I'm going to check with the bartender here and see what info he has. He's… another old friend."

Zaius turned to the bar behind Kirrik and caught sight of the Ixr cleaning glasses on the other side. He was notably older with leathery maroon skin and two dark horns that slicked back and around his head.

'An old Terric and an old Ixr,' Zaius thought. 'Kirrik's definitely got some unique friends.'

Kirrik stood and slowly made his way to the bar, fumbling with the cuff of his jacket as he did. He seemed nervous, maybe even a bit unsure. The sadness briefly flickered across his eyes once again as he looked back. Zaius wondered what put him in such a bad mental space.

Imi slid over to Kirrik's unoccupied seat. Her hands drummed against the wood of the table like tiny hammers pounding away an imperfection. The neon green of her eyes seemed to glow brighter. Zaius tried to see what name Kirrik was tracing, but Imi noticed and moved her hand over it.

"Kirrik said it's your call, so make the choice," Imi said in an attempt to distract him.

"I'll go over there," Diah stated. "It's me they want, so maybe he can tell us why. Worst case, I play right into their hands and you rescue me, right?"

She tousled Zaius' hair and he gave her a warm smile in return. Her hand felt nice on his head, her fingers weaved between his locs. There was a bright fire in her eyes as she looked at him, the very same that he felt in his heart every time he looked back at her. What started as a small flicker had turned into a roaring flame, one that burned even heavier since their kisses on the ship. He wanted nothing more than to pull her back into his arms and to feel her pressed against him. His hand reached up and tucked a sliver of her hair behind her pointed ear. He rubbed the edge lightly, noting her shiver.

"I don't think you need rescuing," He replied. "But in the event you do, I'll be there."

_______________________________________

Diah saw the look of slight annoyance on Imi's face from the corner of her eye.

"Please get a room, you two," She sighed. "And I don't mean one on the Nova."

Diah caressed Zaius' face in an attempt to bother Imi some more, then made her way to the Kunar's table. She had only taken a few steps when she realized how big he actually was. His shoulders jutted out of his frame, sharp and broad, and his body was the size of a large container. Diah guessed he had to be at least eight feet tall, maybe nine. The rock-like skin of his body was a charred gray and covered with cracks, the sharper edges smoothed down by time. He was hunched over the table, a large glass of some glittering brown fluid in his left hand.

"It's about time you decided to wander over here," The Kunar's gravelly voice rumbled. "I was starting to think Bugu was full of it."

Diah inched closer, unsure of how to approach the comment.

"Well, come on," The Kunar continued. "Don't be so damn timid. I don't have all day and neither, apparently, do you."

Diah moved around the edge of the table and sat across from the Kunar. He swirled the drink in his hand, silvery wisps winding amongst the brown, then chugged it and slammed the glass on the table. Diah winced at the noise and looked around, expecting attention. No one shifted. The Kunar leaned in and Diah's gaze shifted to the large scar that streaked across and shut his right eye. It seemed like it had been seared by a plasma blast or a hot blade. Diah decided not to inquire.

"So you're the High Mark that they've been after, yeah?" The Kunar mumbled. His words were drawn out and slightly slurred. "The name's Balakus. Former Reclaiment General."

Balakus dropped his head in a small bow. Diah started to question how much and how long he had been drinking before they arrived. She mirrored the bow regardless. He knew who she was, which meant he had the information she needed. While she had her suspicions of why the Kunar were after her, she wanted to know for sure.

"Diah Nollak," She responded gracefully. "You seem to know a lot about me, so I take it you know why I was kidnapped?"

Balakus let out a low grumble that Diah thought may have been a laugh. He leaned back and stretched his shoulders, popping the joints. The black chestpiece that hung to his center heaved with the effort. Three small white gems embedded atop his head shimmered lightly.

"Tell your friends to come over and we'll talk. I don't like repeating myself," He told her. Diah nodded and waved to Imi and Zaius, who had been studying the situation carefully.

"Alright, Balakus," Diah started. "The Kunar have chased me halfway across the system. Why? What are they planning? I need to know if my mother is in danger as well."

Balakus went to take another swig of his drink, then set the glass back down in disappointment.

"You really want to know? It's simple. The Kunar Regime is planning to destroy the High Prime."

A shockwave rippled through Diah's body. There was no possible way that they would be that bold, or think they could possibly get away with something that major to the galaxy. Zaius let out a slight scoff by her side.

"Thats… That's crazy," He stammered. "Like 'impossible to achieve' levels of crazy."

Balakus simply nodded and continued.

"The Regime's leader, Regal, wants to rule the entirety of Atania. Thinks it's some kind of birth right. He wants to destroy Flightline Omega, the High Prime, the Collective, all of it. First, though, he knows that he needs support. They've passed a motion to split the Collective into three branches. That means that he'll have the political and military backing of whoever is aligned with him."

"I don't see something as big and representative as Flightline just going away," Zaius responded. "Even with backing, that's a declaration of war against the rest of the galaxy!"

"And that's why some of my fellow Kunar are stationed here," Balakus revealed. "Flightline is just the first stage, the first casualty of war. They're preparing for something the scale of which we've never seen before. No one has been able to tell me what's really happening here, but from what I gather, it's a new weapon of sorts. I came to Elontra to investigate for myself"

"Why are you telling us all this? Why leave the Kunar, especially before a war?" Imi inquired.

Balakus cleared his throat and then looked away. "I got personal reasons. That's all I want to say about it right now. If this attack goes through, everyone suffers, regardless of species, and I've seen enough bloodshed in my life."

"Where do I fit into all of this, though?" Diah pressed.

"You were taken as a distraction for the Alis. Your mother is Speaker and you're family friends with a member of the High Prime. You couldn't walk around with a bigger or brighter target on your back. Regal needs the Alis in fear, so he sowed the seeds of chaos by taking you out of the picture. Unfortunately, you're a loose end now, and Regal really doesn't like loose ends."

He pointed to his scarred eye.

"I would know."

Diah sat back and went through everything Balakus had just said. She was right about the kidnapping - it was solely related to her mother and, by relation, Gallard as well. While it was nice to have the affirmation, a feeling of nausea refused to leave her stomach. The situation had evolved way past just returning home to warn her mother. She needed to return home to warn everyone.

"Nox was right then," Zaius told Imi from across the table. "The Kunar are working on something in those factories. We have to stop them, whatever it is."

"If you're going to the factories, I can give you some notes from my observations," Balakus offered. "I refuse to get involved past that."

Diah, Imi and Zaius whipped their heads in Balakus' direction. Diah was thrown off by the Kunar's sudden declaration. 'Why back out now after telling us about the attack?'

'Because he's a coward,' Wyrna's voice crowed. 'A turncoat. A renegade. He only cares about himself.'

"We need your help, Balakus," Zaius pleaded. "If we're having to fight your former peers, we need to know everything about them. Their tactics, movement, formations, the works."

Diah noticed the frustration building up in Imi. The android clearly wanted to say something but was trying her hardest not to. Diah rested her hand on Imi's arm and the latter, caught off-guard by the move, let whatever she was holding in dissolve.

"Balakus, We need you," Diah reiterated. "You're the best chance we have at stopping them. Whatever the reason, you've already come this far and shared so much. If we don't fight for what we believe in and put everything on the line to save Atania, then the Regime has already won."

Diah wasn't sure where exactly the speech she had just given came from, but she meant every word. She waited for Balakus to respond. The bar went quiet around them.

"I'll reflect on it," Balakus finally answered. He tapped a MenXhip in his wrist, pulled up a small holoscreen and swiped some files toward them. "Until then, take what I know and go. If you're lucky, you should be able to get a glimpse of whatever they're working on. Take that info to the High Prime."

Balakus took his time getting up, stumbling for a moment. His presence was even more intimidating as he towered over the trio. Diah figured he had to be at least nine feet at minimum and a very muscular four-hundred pounds. His hands formed square fists.

"Kirrik Ishlan!" Diah heard a voice shout from up ahead by the bar. She glanced past Balakus and saw one of the patrons from the other side, an orange Valnaken with seven eye stalks, slither up to Kirrik. He reached inside his gelatinous body and pulled out a solar pistol, aiming it directly at Kirrik's head.

"The Bachi Gang sends their regards."