Robyn Michaels
The Sunchaser rocketed through the void, its patched hull rattling with the strain of the engines. Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Aline Greaves studied the holographic map, its projection flickering slightly as the ship’s aging systems struggled to keep up.
“The next beacon’s location,” Jessa Quinn said, pointing at a red marker on the map. “Asteroid belt. Dense. Volatile. Perfect for a bad day.”
Harlan Vesh, the ship’s medic, groaned from his chair. “Let me guess. Pirates, unstable rock formations, and death at every turn?”
“Pretty much,” Jessa replied, smirking.
Aline shut off the display, her sharp features set in determination. “The Maelstrom’s growing faster than projected. If we don’t stabilize the next beacon within two days, the relay station and every planet in this sector are as good as gone.”
“Right,” Harlan muttered. “Guess we’re heading straight into the jaws of chaos again.”
Jessa gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll just charm the pirates. Humans are great at that.”
The ship lurched as it entered the asteroid field, the artificial gravity systems straining to compensate. Outside, massive rocks tumbled through space, their jagged edges illuminated by distant starlight. Aline peered out the viewport, her gut tightening. Somewhere in that maze was their next target—and likely trouble.
The beacon was embedded in the largest asteroid in the field, a massive chunk of rock riddled with old mining tunnels. As the Sunchaser approached, its sensors lit up with warnings.
“We’ve got company,” Jessa said, her voice tight.
A cluster of mismatched ships detached from the shadows of the asteroid, their hulls bristling with weapons. Pirate ships, crudely modified but undeniably dangerous. One of them transmitted a message.
“Unidentified vessel, you are trespassing on claimed territory. Surrender your cargo or be destroyed.”
Aline leaned forward, her lips curling into a smirk. “Let’s see if they’re open to negotiation.”
Jessa raised an eyebrow. “We’re negotiating with pirates now?”
“Only because we don’t have time for a fight.”
The comm channel opened, and a gruff voice crackled through. “Who’s in charge over there?”
“This is Aline Greaves, captain of the Sunchaser,” she said, her tone firm. “We’re not here for your loot. We’re here for the resonator beacon on the central asteroid.”
The pirate laughed, a deep, guttural sound. “You expect us to just let you waltz in and take it? That beacon’s been dead for centuries. No one touches it without paying the toll.”
“It’s not about the beacon,” Aline said. “It’s about the Maelstrom. If we don’t reactivate it, your precious asteroid—and everything within three light-years—will be obliterated.”
The pirate went silent for a moment. Then he replied, his tone colder. “Nice try. But I think I’ll take my chances. Prepare to be boarded.”
The Sunchaser shuddered as the pirate ships closed in, their grappling beams locking onto its hull. Alarms blared throughout the command deck.
“Guess they’re not fans of negotiation,” Harlan muttered, grabbing his sidearm.
Jessa rolled her eyes. “What gave it away?”
Aline moved quickly. “Jessa, power up the EMP pulse. Harlan, get to the airlock and stall them. We need time.”
Harlan grinned. “Stall them? Sure. I’ll just offer them tea and biscuits.”
The pirates breached the airlock within minutes, their armored forms pouring into the Sunchaser like a flood. Harlan and a pair of combat drones met them head-on, blaster fire lighting up the narrow corridors.
Meanwhile, Jessa worked frantically at the console, her fingers flying across the controls. “EMP’s ready, but we’ve got one shot. If it overloads, we’re sitting ducks.”
“Do it,” Aline ordered.
The pulse rippled outward, disabling the pirates’ systems in an instant. Their ships went dark, floating helplessly among the asteroids. Inside, the invading pirates froze as their weapons and armor powered down.
“Time to go,” Aline said, grabbing a pack of inertium crystals. “Jessa, stay here and keep an eye on the systems. Harlan, with me.”
The surface of the asteroid was jagged and uneven, its gravity weak and erratic. Aline and Harlan moved cautiously, their boots magnetized to the ground. Ahead, the resonator beacon rose from the rock like a monument, its alien design unmistakable.
“Let’s hope this one’s in better shape,” Harlan said, adjusting his oxygen mask.
As they approached, Aline noticed something strange. The beacon’s surface was covered in unfamiliar carvings—different from the first one they’d activated. These markings glowed faintly, pulsing in a rhythm that seemed almost alive.
“Lyr,” Aline said, addressing the ship’s AI through her comm. “Can you translate these inscriptions?”
Lyr’s voice crackled in her earpiece. “The language is partially decipherable. It appears to be an ancient dialect related to the builders of the beacon network. The markings seem to warn of… tampering.”
“Well, that’s ominous,” Harlan said.
Ignoring the warning, Aline slotted another inertium shard into the beacon’s crystalline core. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the entire structure began to hum, its glow intensifying as power surged through it.
“It’s working,” she said, relief washing over her.
But the relief was short-lived. The beacon emitted a high-pitched whine, and the ground beneath them began to shake.
“What’s happening?” Harlan shouted.
Lyr’s voice was calm but urgent. “The activation process appears to have triggered a defensive mechanism. Hostile automated systems are activating across the asteroid.”
“Of course they are,” Aline muttered. “Harlan, get ready for company.”
The first drone appeared moments later, a sleek, spider-like machine that moved with eerie precision. Its appendages glowed with charged energy, and it wasted no time attacking.
Aline fired her blaster, but the drone’s armor absorbed the shot. “These things are tougher than they look!”
Harlan hurled an EMP grenade, the explosion temporarily disabling the drone. “That won’t hold it for long,” he said. “We need to finish the activation and get out of here.”
Aline worked quickly, adjusting the beacon’s settings while Harlan covered her. More drones emerged from hidden compartments in the asteroid, their numbers growing with every passing second.
“Almost there,” she said, her fingers flying over the alien console.
The beacon emitted a final pulse of energy, and the hum settled into a steady rhythm. The drones froze in place, their systems deactivating as the beacon stabilized.
“Done,” Aline said, exhaling sharply. “Let’s move.”
Back aboard the Sunchaser, the crew regrouped. Jessa was waiting for them, her expression a mix of relief and frustration.
“You two took long enough,” she said.
“Blame the ancient alien death traps,” Harlan replied, collapsing into a chair.
Aline ignored the banter, her focus on the map. The beacon’s activation had pushed back the Maelstrom slightly, buying them more time. But the final beacon loomed ahead—a submerged ruin on an oceanic planet.
“That last beacon’s going to be the hardest,” she said. “We’ve got one chance to get this right.”
Jessa leaned over the console, her brow furrowed. “And if we fail?”
Aline didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. The look in her eyes said it all.
The Sunchaser powered up its engines, heading toward the planet as the Maelstrom loomed ever closer, a reminder of the stakes.
The Conclusion is Posted in 2 Hours
Endless Horizons 