Seraph's Break: Seraph

By Wayne Basta

With no safe harbors available to them, the crew of Seraph takes a dangerous contract out in the unexplored regions of space. Faced with boredom, unknown alien civilizations, and a group of once murderous drones in need of help, the crew finds themselves pushed to the breaking point. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Many Worlds Fiction
• Release date: Dec 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958159088

Wayne Basta

Wayne Basta is a lifelong science fiction fan. Reading and watching it proved not enough, so he turned to creating his own universes. Aside from writing novels, he also loves games and works as the editor for d20 Radio. 

Book preview

1-  Serene

Serene batted at the bugs buzzing around her head. Fortunately, they didn’t appear able to bite, stab, or burrow into her grey Echanic skin. Not getting an alien disease or having alien larva implanted in her was nice, but of small comfort. At the moment, all she wanted was to be able to open her mouth without bugs landing on her tongue.

I can’t believe you volunteered for this., Serene grumbled after covering her mouth with her hand so she could talk.

The scientific opportunities are fascinating, Sapik said. The Zolan hovered beside her, millimeters above the ground, his mutable body currently shaped as a semi-humanoid, with functional arms and a ‘head’, but no legs. He spoke, but without any visible mouth. Little puffs of smoke waffed up from him as curious bugs landed on him and were zapped by his charged skin.

The pair of them stood on a small patch of dry land in the middle of a swampy region of a planet with no name, merely a scientific designation. Submerged plants with their leaves and flowers jutting out above the water let off a sweet aroma that mingled with the general smell of decay from the bog. When she had arrived here, Serene had actually wished she had an artificial nose to match her cybernetic eye. That way she would be able to turn off the smell.

You call this an opportunity? Serene asked. We’re taking water and soil samples from the middle of a goddamn swamp.

But a swamp that no sentient creature has ever visited before. We are the first. Who knows what we could learn about biology from even these innocuous bugs, Sapik said.

Serene rolled her eyes behind her implant, Scientists. So annoying. Besides, I thought you were a stellar something or other? You study stars.

I do. But I am still fascinated by all science. We have visited fifteen new star systems in the last few months. New stars to study. Granted, most are unremarkable. But every new datapoint helps our understanding of the universe.

What exactly are we going to learn from an annoying alien bug that we couldn’t learn from one of the other million varieties of alien bugs we’ve already discovered?

Sapik gave an unexpected shrug, I have no idea. That’s why it’s fascinating.

Serene sighed and turned back to the bog in front of her. She snipped off a flower from one of the plants and put it in a jar, sealing the lid as tight as it would go. The last thing she wanted was to smell this aboard the ship or have some of these bugs hatch and spread.

I don’t really see the point of this part. There have to be thousands of varieties of bugs and plants and whatever on this planet. Surely these samples aren’t enough for someone to decide this place is safe to colonize. Serene waved her arm over the expanse around them.

It will help begin to build a profile of the planet. If the samples we collect meet certain criteria, then it will be worth sending a more detailed survey team, Sapik answered.

If you say so. How many more samples do we need before we can move on to the next area? Preferably someplace with less bugs. A desert maybe. The frozen icefield at the poles even.

Serene placed the sample containers into a crate while Sapik looked around them. She continued to swat ineffectively at the bugs. As annoying as they were, at least she wasn’t in an environmental suit. They had only found two planets with breathable atmospheres on their survey of the sector. She tried to focus on the positive of being off the ship for a change.

I believe we have enough to meet the requirements, Sapik floated over to Serene. You are correct. There is no way we could sample everything in a biosphere as diverse as this. But we have a sample of a variety of different lifeforms.

Fantastic, Serene said and then activated her comm. Okay, Mesu, the port chamber clear? We’re ready to come back up.

Seconds of silence dragged out into a minute. Serene sighed, That damn drone is probably reciting some poetry or something and ignoring the comm. Let’s just port back up.

Serene hit the recall button on the crates and it vanished in a flash of light. She turned to look at Sapik, You want to go first or you want me to go first?

The bug life here is of little consequence to me. I would be willing to stay behind for a moment while you clear the second chamber, Sapik said, his tone agonizingly polite.

Suit yourself, Serene said. She then triggered the button on her own recall device. Nothing happened and she pushed it again. Goddamn it Mesu.

What is it? Sapik asked, annoying her with his calm tone.

Stupid drones let the chamber clog up, Serene complained. Now we’re stuck down here.

2-  Noah

Noah took in a deep long breath. He closed his eyes and let the breeze flow across him. For a few seconds it felt calm and wonderful. Then a wave of vertigo washed over him. His legs started to shake. He stumbled, tilting forward precariously. Forced to open his eyes, Noah reached out and braced himself against the nearest tree.

Mesu told you this wasn’t a good idea. Olivia remarked.

Since when do you listen to the drone? Noah snapped.

Since he made it so you could walk again.

Noah waved a dismissive hand, Exactly. He’s fixed me all up. I’m right as rain. Good as new. One hundred percent. Healthy as an ox.

Uh huh. That’s why you keep stumbling around like a drunk, Olivia put her hands on her hips and glared intently at him.

I’m fine, okay?

Then why didn’t you bring your big gun? We’re on an unknown alien planet. Who knows what kind of creatures wait for us in these dark, scary woods, Olivia gestured to the dense bands of trees all around them.

Meh. That’s overkill. This one will take care of anything we’d need to worry about, Noah hefted his rifle threateningly at the quiet trees.

So, it’s not because you can’t lift the big one anymore? Olivia raised a pointed eyebrow.

Are you my mother now?

I just think you’re being reckless. A few months ago, you were bed ridden and unable to walk. Now you’re traipsing across alien planets against the advice of your doctor.

Olivia continued to berate him as she bent down and plucked a flower to place in her collection jar. Noah scanned the woods, letting Olivia do the sampling. He had told her it was for safety but the truth was, he got even more dizzy every time he bent over.

I also noticed that Serene volunteered to go with Sapik. What’s going on there? Olivia added.

The new line of questioning froze Noah. He suppressed the emotions that welled up inside him and deflected, You turned eighteen last week. I thought this would be my chance to get you alone.

Bullshit, Olivia said, not even glancing at him. You haven’t so much as glanced at anyone’s ass since you got back. Anyone but Serene’s, that is.

What’s your point? Noah barked, his temper flaring. He closed his eyes to try and suppress it but it wouldn’t go away. He hated people who lashed out but felt that if Olivia asked another question, he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

Olivia cast him a sympathetic expression, I’m concerned is all. We went through a lot to get you back. Serene especially. I’d hate for you to go and hurt yourself because everything isn’t working out between you two.

Yeah, well, I appreciate the concern, I guess, but we don’t live in a fairy tale. There’s no happily ever after. Just more of the same, Noah said, finding he did genuinely appreciate her concern.

Olivia went quiet after that and resumed working. Noah kept her in his peripheral vision, but didn’t look directly at her. He snipped some branches from the trees and even managed to find some kind of worm or caterpillar type creature.

The shadows in the clearing grew longer and Noah glanced uncertainly into the darkness of the forest. Almost half the jars were still empty. They hadn’t seen any creatures bigger than the worm he’d found. But that didn’t mean much. Predators came out at night.

Mesu, we’re coming up. It’ll be dark here soon, Noah said into his comm.

He got no reply and frowned. Vlasa, do you copy? We’re ready to come back onboard?

Olivia shared a look with him and the concern he felt radiated back to him in her eyes, Captain? Squee? Serene? Sapik? Anyone reading me?

I read you Noah, Ariana’s voice came back and he felt sudden relief flood him.

Anyone able to reach the ship? Noah asked.

A moment of silence went by as Ariana tried to communicate on a different channel before her voice returned. "We’re not able to reach anyone on Seraph either. But the fact we can still talk to each other means the ship’s still in orbit."

Anyone tried the porter? Noah asked.

Umm... Serene’s voice sent a tingle down his spine, "I ported up our samples but it doesn’t look like anyone cleared the chamber from the previous one."

So, you sent both crates up without getting word that the first had been cleared? Ariana asked.

Maybe, Serene said. The drone was supposed to clear them.

Something must have happened to Mesu and Vlasa. And now the port chamber is full. Ariana’s voice made her exasperation clear.

Is there no way to port up with the chamber full? Serene asked.

Not safely, Noah answered. Unless you want to get merged with the sample crates.

I may be able to override the safety, Olivia said. But I don’t know how long it will take.

That will still leave us with the risk of porting into whatever’s in the chamber, Noah finished.

One problem at a time. Everyone, find shelter for the night. We’re thousands of kilometers from each other so we’re on our own unfortunately, Ariana ordered. There was a noticeable pause before she added, "Seraph is still up there. We will find a way back up."

Noah nodded in agreement even though Ariana couldn’t see him. He added, Don’t eat anything. Who knows what it will do to you. Don’t drink the water either. Not unless you can boil it first.

The group comm channel went silent and Noah looked to Olivia. The girl shivered even though the temperature hadn’t changed. She gave him a weak smile.

Looks like you’ll get that alone time. We may be stuck here awhile.

3-  Squee

Squee shivered. The planet’s twin suns had begun to dip behind a range of mountains in the distance, casting their valley in shadows at least an hour before the land outside the valley. The wind, that had been an irritation during the daylight hours, now chilled him to the bone.

He followed behind Ariana up a gentle slope of yellowish grass. Ariana made a point of holding her hands up above the grass as she walked, wincing occasionally as she stepped through a denser portion. Squee glanced down at the grass and noticed tears in his pants. He brushed the grass with his hands and found it stiff. If it was sharp enough to tear his pants, it must be cutting into Ariana’s fragile human skin.

Squee tried to push forward so that he could clear the path in front for Ariana, but the cold made his muscles stiff. He found he couldn’t move fast enough to catch up to her and in fact, was getting further and further behind. The coldness around him turned into a feeling of cold dread inside.

Captain, we need to find shelter and a fire, Squee shouted, trying to be heard over the insistent wind.

That’s what I’m looking for, Ariana called back.

Very soon. I do not know how much longer I can endure this temperature.

Ariana stopped and looked back at him in the fading light, It’s well above freezing. Cold, sure, but we won’t freeze if we keep moving.

You may not. But Rokma do not do well in cold.

Ariana’s lips tightened and she nodded, Okay, you survived stranded on an uninhabited planet before. What can we do? I was trying to reach the mountains to look for a cave for shelter. But they’re at least another hours walk. Maybe two. There’s no trees out on this plain.

We will have to make do with a dip in the terrain. Dig a hole for a fire pit. Hopefully this grass burns well, Squee suggested.

Hopefully not too well. I’d hate to get stuck in a brush fire, Ariana said with a nod. The last rise we came over had a bit of a hollow at the bottom. The wind wasn’t as bad there.

With a nod, Squee turned to go back down the hill. At the bottom, the wind did lessen but it was a small comfort. He started to tear at the grass at the lowest point. It caught on his shirt sleeve, fraying it in places but did not cut into his stony flesh.

The ground proved more difficult. The soil was dry and hard packed. Try as he might, he couldn’t scrape away more than bits of the top layer. Growing frustrated, Squee pounded at the soil and succeeded in denting it.

A hand appeared on his shoulder and Squee looked up, barely able to see Ariana in the dim light. She handed him a rock and then squatted down beside him. Together they dug into the soil, creating a wide circle. The digging took some time, but it did help him ignore the chill.

When he judged the size sufficient, Squee threw the grass he had torn up into a pile. He grabbed more clumps from around the circle, making the pile higher and higher. When he finished, a clear line of dirt surrounded the shallow hole for a little over a meter.

I hope you know how to start a fire, Ariana said.

Squee took a lighter out of his pocket, This was in the emergency kit from my escape pod. I have carried it ever since. I would be dead without it.

He bent down and ignited the flame. At the bottom of the stack, he found a few scraggily blades that had frayed ends. He held the flame against them, praying to the Gods to let the flame catch. After an agonizing moment, the flame caught and the pile quickly became engulfed.

The pile gave off heat which Squee leaned in to absorb. His muscles relaxed slightly and movement became easier. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He turned to Ariana to smile reassuringly at her. In the flickering light from the fire, he caught the sight of blood dripping from her hands.

The grass is a bit sharp, Ariana said with a shrug, continuing to wind her sleeves around the cuts.

Squee tore at his shirt’s sleeves. The fabric gave way easily, given the amount of tears it had taken when he dug up the grass. With those he helped Ariana wrap up her cuts. Fortunately, none of them looked deep and the bleeding soon stopped.

By the time they had finished, the light from the fire had dimmed and the pile had become a smoldering pile of embers. Squee’s shoulders slumped at the disheartening sight. Ariana held up her handheld for additional light.

Without any stronger fuel, that burned away quickly, She said.

Squee turned to look at the field around them. Then I must get more grass. Fortunately, there is no shortage in supply. But I think this is going to be a long night.

4-  Olivia

Something touched her foot. Instinctively, Olivia kicked at it. One of the other street rats trying to move into her crate. The touch returned and she kicked harder. She had to make it clear she wasn’t moving or they would just keep trying until she was the one without a crate.

Then she remembered. She hadn’t lived with the other street rats on the Hub for almost two years. She was in a tree on an unexplored alien planet. And something was nibbling on her boot.

Olivia jerked awake. The sudden movement almost sent her careening out of the tree, but she managed to steady herself against a branch. She glanced down toward her feet and saw...something. In the darkness she couldn’t make out any features beyond a furry looking shadow.

Fumbling with her pocket, Olivia withdrew her handheld and turned on the flashlight. The light illuminated a creature with a long, almost snake like body but covered in fur. Eight limbs protruded from the creature, all gripping the long tree branch above her. The creatures face bend downward in the process of once again reaching down with its mouth toward her boot.

In the light, Olivia and the creature both froze for a moment, staring at each other. Then the creature withdrew its head back up to the upper branch. It scurried away, climbing higher into the tree before disappearing into the darkness.

Her heart pounding, Olivia stared after the creature. Had it been trying to eat her? Or was it just curious about this stranger in its tree? She continued to watch above her as she reached a hand out and felt for Noah who slept in a nearby branch.

A hand slapped hers away, Goddamn. I just got to sleep.

Something tried to eat me.

Good. Then you’ll stop snoring and I can get back to sleep, Noah grumbled.

I don’t snore, Olivia said.

You do. And it probably sounds like whatever tried to eat you’s usual breakfast. I’ll go to sleep, you stand guard.

Olivia frowned. She glared in the dark at Noah., "How can you be so calm about this? Something just tried to eat me."

I’m used to people putting various parts of my body in their mouth.

What? Why...Oh, gross, Olivia gagged. You’re disgusting.

You know it.

Silence returned. Olivia turned her handheld off to conserve the battery and stared into the darkness around her. As her night vision returned, she saw more and more details. Unfortunately, everything looked scary and alien.

She pulled her jacket tighter around her and listened to the darkness. Instead of comforting silence she heard rustles and flutters and clicks. She couldn’t tell what was made by an animal and what was just the wind. Her mind assumed the worst.

How can you be so calm? She finally asked so she wouldn’t have to imagine the source for all those sounds anymore.

It’s night. And I’m tired, Noah said quietly.

"We’re trapped on an alien planet. Vlasa and Mesu aren’t responding and could be dead. We have no way back aboard Seraph. We might be stuck here forever."

Could be worse.

How?

We could be aboard a ship about to blow up. Or imprisoned by a sadistic wacko who wants to see us suffer, Noah mused. Spending the rest of our lives on a peaceful, untainted world doesn’t seem so bad.

I guess, Olivia said non-committedly. A few moments of silence passed while she drummed up the courage to say it out loud. The dark alien world felt liberating because she wouldn’t have to see any reaction. "I’m...I’m thinking about leaving Seraph."

"You’ve already left Seraph. We’re spending the rest of our lives on this planet, remember?" Noah said.

That’s not what I meant, Olivia snapped. I’m eighteen now. I can legally get a pilot’s license. I appreciate Ariana letting me fly these last few years, but I can’t be dependent on her my whole life.

Noah said nothing for a minute and she started to wonder if she had pissed him off. When he did speak again, the calm tone made her jump. "You know, you could get a license and still fly with Seraph."

I could. But then Ariana would have to pay me guild rates.

She should be doing that anyways, Noah sounded shocked.

I was a kid when she hired me. I practically begged her to take me on. I offered to fly for a reduced rate. I can’t go back on that now, Olivia said.

You haven’t gotten a raise since signing on?

"No. It’s not like we’ve exactly had a steady stream of income. Seraph has been chased or shot at by everyone from here to the edge of the galaxy."

All the more reason you should be paid even more. When we get back onboard you need to... Noah started and then cut off with a yelp.

Olivia