Bigfoot Galaxy: Star-Striker: Bigfoot Galaxy, #3

1

Weather Report

star-strikeraelson mopped his brow with his sleeve as the massive swinging doors boomed shut behind him. The city of Undermountain was always hot and muggy, but with the Hall packed full of bigfeet, it felt like a sauna.

He searched for Grizz, picking his way through meditating bigfoot acolytes. Each wore a white robe cinched at the waist by a frot, a silky sash of red, yellow, or blue that signified seniority. Though they sat cross-legged on the stone floor, his head was level with theirs.

A human voice hissed at him. Hey!

Danny peered past a beige-furred acolyte to find Bronson motioning to him.

At eighteen, Bronson had been the oldest on the hiking excursion that had ultimately led Danny into the world of the bigfeet.

Well over six feet tall and nearly three hundred pounds, Bronson looked strangely Buddha-like as he sat cross-legged among the others. The irony was that, though Bronson wore the white robe of an acolyte, he'd never meditated for so much as a second.

Where've you been? Bronson asked in his outside voice.

The beige bigfoot opened one eye and turned his head a fraction. His ears flattened slightly, a sure sign of irritation.

Danny held his hand out in the universal gesture of helplessness. I'm sorry about my friend. I can't take him anywhere.

Except Bronson was not, and never would be, Danny's friend. They saw the world from completely different perspectives. Which was why Bronson had voted in favor of First Contact, the moment the bigfeet would make themselves known to the human race. Even worse, Bronson had sold his vote. He claimed that the bigfeet were going to make him King of Texas.

Why have you guys been avoiding me? Bronson asked. His voice reverberated in the Hall, and more bigfeet acolytes stirred discontentedly.

We've been busy, Danny said in a whisper.

Bronson smiled evilly. "But not gettin' busy, eh? Not since your wife died, anyway. Heh, heh."

Even in the heat, Danny felt his face go hot. He took two steps toward Bronson and cocked his fist back. Bronson's face went slack with surprise, and his arms flew up to ward off the attack.

A warm, furry hand closed over Danny's fist. Please, not in the Hall of the Strict.

It was Grizz. The bigfoot's strength easily overpowered Danny. He let his arm go limp.

Join me, Grizz said, guiding Danny toward the back of the Hall.

Danny threw a hate-filled glance back at Bronson, but the big dillhole just flipped him off and grinned.

Grizz brushed Danny's head with his hand, sending a trickle of calm into him. His anger at Bronson drained away.

I'm sorry for calming you, Grizz said, but you were drawing attention to yourself.

Danny hated being calmed, but given Grizz's gentle nature, the bigfoot had probably hated doing it.

No, I'm the one who should be sorry, he said. I let Bronson get to me.

He sighed and tried to forget Bronson even existed. So why did you want me here? Your message was vague.

Grizz scratched an ear and regarded him with his wide, green eyes. Hanameesovenama is going to announce his plans for First Contact. I thought you'd want to hear.

Danny glanced to the dais at the far end of the Hall. Light shone down from the high ceiling, illuminating the three bigfeet councilors. Like the acolytes, they sat motionless, eyes closed in meditation.

The mere sight of the center figure made Danny grit his teeth in irritation. It was Hanameesovenama, the leader of the Council of the Strict. Wa had named him Shaggy because of the ridiculous poofs of black fur that shot from the collar and sleeves of his robe.

On the left sat Terrenora, Shaggy's yes-man. To the right was Notchy, a plump and tan-furred bigfoot with a reputation for good humor and wisdom.

Danny frowned at Grizz, disappointed that he'd been called away from his planning for something so pointless. He should be focused on GorVit, not First Contact.

Let's just listen.

Shaggy got to his feet and raised his arms like a messiah. This is a very important day. We approach the long awaited moment when we make our introduction to the human race, the First Donovthosameezu.

The councilor made it sound like he was giving everyone a free car. If the audience had been human, there might have been applause. The acolytes sat in silence, most of them with their eyes closed.

Shaggy went on. "I shall call upon each of you to serve in this great effort. Those of the third through fifth don shall serve as ambassadors or local governors. Your specific assignments will be delivered to your trainers.

"As you know, construction of human-sized apartments is underway here in Undermountain, but we will not have enough space to handle the influx of new human acolytes. We're going to have to rely on the existing human infrastructure. I'll direct the leaders of the various human nations to set aside facilities for the purpose of indoctrinating the population in the ways of the Oath.

But the sad truth is—and you all know this—there likely won't be time to accomplish any training on Earth. The rebel tangoga GorVit has come into possession of a terrible weapon, the so-called star-striker. We expect that Gor will attempt to use it to destroy the Earth's sun within the next few weeks.

Hearing Shaggy talk about the destruction of Earth with the indifference of a weather report made Danny's jaw muscles twitch.

It'll be cloudy today, and there's a 100 percent chance the sun will be extinguished. Expect temperatures to drop to minus one hundred by Saturday.

On impulse, Danny cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, Why don't you do something about GorVit?

Even from across the Hall, Danny could see Shaggy's displeasure. His ears lay back, and his eyes narrowed. You humans have had your say. Be silent or you'll be escorted out.

Being silent wasn't one of Danny's strong suits. It's a simple question. What are you doing to stop GorVit?

Acolytes leaned away as Shaggy stomped his way through their midst.

Danny felt Grizz's presence behind him. This will accomplish nothing, Danny. And it could jeopardize your plans.

Danny straightened as if he could match Shaggy's height with his attitude. I want to know why you're going to let Earth die. None of this would be happening if you hadn't come here in the first place. This is your responsibility.

The bigfoot councilor loomed over Danny. His eyes narrowed to the barest squint. You act like the child you are.

The statement rang like a denunciation. Shaggy turned to address the acolytes. We are not ignoring the threat of GorVit. In fact, we have a contingency plan should the rogue tangoga carry out his dire scheme. He held up a long, sausage finger. Once we make First Contact and establish communications with the nations of Earth, we will commence evacuating important humans to the planet Hoo.

He pointed at Danny. The very planet this human discovered via the teleportation spheroid just a few days ago.

Danny cocked his head in disbelief. "What do you mean by important humans?"

Shaggy sighed as if reacting to the silly complaints of a toddler. We all know what important means in this context. Some humans have a higher status due to the positions they hold. We should be able to get many thousands of them off Earth before any disaster strikes. Certainly enough to provide breeding stock to colonize Hoo.

Danny's mouth fell open. Breeding stock? That's just twisted.

As he turned to leave, he thought he could feel Shaggy's eyes boring into the back of his head. He half expected the councilor to grab him and calm him into a stupor.

Shaggy's low, rumbling voice tumbled after Danny as he swung the door open. A dying star won't freeze the plant solid overnight, boy. There will be plenty of time to get others away. Perhaps several hundred thousand.

Hatred for Shaggy fueled Danny's steps as he strode through the ornate corridors of the Temple of the Strict. The councilor's words solidified Danny's commitment to his own plan. A plan Shaggy would try to prevent if he discovered it.

A plan to stop GorVit once and for all.

2

Ah, You're Alive!

Breyona jumped from the city wall.

She felt no fear, only peace.

Her feet struck the ground, followed a thousandth of a second later by her head.

Blackness.

Breyona woke up and squinted against the bright lights in the room.

Nefertiti squinted against the painful brightness. How many times had she had told the tangoga to dim the lights upon her resurrection? She would not tolerate this kind of outright disrespect any further.

Breyona tried to move her head, but a strap squeezed her forehead like a too-tight headband. She wiggled her fingers, her toes. She must have been in an accident.

Nefertiti recognized the room. It unsettled her, even though she had awoken in it over a hundred times before.

Breyona focused on her breath. She relaxed a bit, but she couldn't quite find her center of peace, that meditative calm she'd so carefully cultivated since her ordeal with Shaggy. She breathed in and out, but it did little good.

A clatter came from her left.

Ah, you're alive, said a familiar voice. She looked sideways and just made out a tangoga. The two-headed creature stepped close, its four, slender, pointed legs clicking on the stone floor. It wore a boss armpack, which gave the otherwise armless creature four prosthetic limbs. One pair ended in steel claws, the other in long, wicked blades.

Tog, she said, her voice a dry croak, what are you doing to Yip?

One of Tog's steel claws held the snout of his other head, squeezing the mouth closed. The head let out a mournful, nasal moan.

The minuscule feathers on Tog's body rippled from gray to teal. This is most certainly not Yip. He was murdered. Remember?

Breyona did remember. Poor Yip. Her brain felt full of fuzz. Unstrap me.

Tog reached out with one clawed hand and fiddled with a strap near her head. It didn't release.

What is wrong with you? Nefertiti demanded. I command you to unstrap me.

Tog huffed and looked from Breyona to the head he held in his other claw. Releasing the straps is a two-clawed task, but I simply must not let go of this head. He swung one of his blades across her field of view, causing her to flinch. A second later the tension around her forehead eased and the strap slid away.

Tog moved along her body, slicing through the straps binding her waist, legs, and feet.

Help me up! The tone of her own voice surprised her. She hadn't meant to be so forceful.

Tog steadied her as she sat up.

Breyona put a hand to her head, which swam and throbbed. What happened to me?

You jumped off the city wall. You instructed me to be here when you awoke in order to explain your plan and assist in your escape.

I jumped off a wall? Breyona dropped her legs over the edge of the table and stood. She looked down at herself to discover she was completely naked.

Aten have mercy! Nefer cried. Her limbs didn't look like her own.

Tog pointed to a full-length mirror mounted on one of the gray walls. The image Breyona saw there filled her with a strange blend of relief and horror.

Those idiots resurrected me in the wrong body!

No, they didn't, Tog said. This was one of the things you wanted me to tell you at this moment. Believe me. I had a difficult time convincing JieBik not to put you into a Nefertiti. But you were very clear in your wishes. You wanted to be resurrected in a Breyona body, which is why it took so long.

Nefertiti glowered at her reflection. Why in the name of Aten would I want to be resurrected as her? She remembered the name Breyona, the girl that Danny—her husband—had claimed to love. She stepped back, leaned against the steel table, and squeezed the bridge of her nose. But I am Breyona. I want to be Breyona. That's who I am.

In addition to being Breyona, Tog said, you are also Nefertiti. You'll start remembering all this as you build synaptic pathways to the memories in your implant. And from my perspective, it's good news. It's like you aren't just a single-head. Think of Breyona as your primary.

Breyona closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths. Yes. She did remember. She had followed Danny through a teleportation portal to this planet. Hoo. A giant bigfoot—a horgodon—had carried her to the city after she'd been injured. Then she'd bled to death. The tangoga in charge, JieBik, had resurrected her, believing her to be Nefertiti, the human queen who reigned in the city. Jie had given Breyona the tangoga implant and restored Nefertiti's backup to Breyona, infecting her with that horrible woman's thoughts.

I did jump off the wall.

Due to the Asht's hospitality directive, deceased guests in the city cannot be allowed to stay dead, Tog said. Therefore, JieBik saw to your resurrection. It all went as planned. Tog turned his eyes to the head he still gripped in his claw. I had to request a head splice in order to be admitted. The plan is for me to conduct you to the interplanetary hub where we will teleport back to Earth.

Breyona took all this information in. Her head ached as if someone had driven a spike into her left temple.

Shall we proceed? Tog asked. There are a couple things we need to do before we leave, and JieBik could return at any moment.

Breyona nodded and tried to stand again. Where are my clothes?

This way. Tog led her into a dim hallway. They passed two more doors before turning into a small walk-in closet. It contained several human-sized white gowns of ancient Egyptian cut, obviously intended for Nefertiti.

Breyona grabbed the first one and squeezed into it. The garment constricted her chest and barely fell to mid-thigh. Nefertiti would've been too short for Danny.

He didn't have any trouble bending down to kiss me.

Breyona took in a quick breath then clamped her lips. She would not rise to the bait of Nefer's catty thoughts.

Let's go, Tog.

The tangoga reached into a compartment at the base of his armpack and pulled out a shiny object, which he presented to Breyona. You entrusted this to me before you jumped. You wished to have it back.

The charm bracelet Danny had given her.

It bore a musical note, a small kitschy alien, a glittering capital D, and a tiny skeleton key. She thumbed the key, remembering that Danny wore a necklace bearing a heart charm with a keyhole in it.

We must stop at the implant lab, Tog said. I can't teleport back to Undermountain with this raving tangeg head.

Of course. Breyona clasped the bracelet around her wrist and followed. She tugged the hem of her gown, wishing it were longer. And looser in the chest.

Maybe you should eat a bit less.

Breyona shook her head as if she could fling Nefer out.

Tog turned into a barren, gray room with a steel table in the middle, very much like the one Breyona had awakened on. Doorways opened to each side. She glanced into one and stopped. A table sat in the middle of that room too. The unmistakable form of a body, shrouded in a white sheet, lay atop it.

You don't want to go in there, Tog said as he started toward a cabinet against one wall. I could use your assistance with this implant.

The body fascinated Breyona. It had to be her—whatever remained after she had jumped off the city wall. Though part of her resisted, she continued taking slow steps forward, like the long, torturous climb of a roller coaster car.

Tog clattered behind her. I strongly recommend you not look. It will only disturb you, and you're still in the settling phase. I would hate for your download to become corrupted and you to have to go through this again.

Breyona ignored the tangoga. Hand trembling, she pulled the sheet down.

All the air went out of her at once. The face she knew so well lay slack and waxen. The once mischievous eyes were closed. The slight smile that always played on those lips gone. She stepped back and covered her mouth with her hand. Her center of peace shattered, and tears came to her eyes, flowed down her cheeks. She staggered and grasped the table to steady herself.

Oh no, she said, her voice small, child-like. She stroked a lock of black hair from the smooth, cold brow. Her lips trembled.

Oh no!

It wasn't her at all.

It was Wa.

3

Apology Rejected

Danny fumed as he marched away from the Hall of the Strict. For all he cared, the bigfeet and their ridiculous Oath could take a long walk off a short pier.

He turned a corner and ran smack into a ginger-furred bigfoot wearing a white smock and chef's hat.

Danny's jaw dropped in surprise. Chef? I thought you died in the siege.

Chef sketched a slight bow and made a flourish with his hand. He pressed the other to his chest. "I was once a champion deshuk player. No rampaging tangoga is going to get the best of me."

Danny smiled. Seeing the bigfoot cook was like a ray of sun on a cloudy day. I was sorry to hear about what happened to Kio. I hope you've been able to find groceries as good as his.

Chef acknowledged Danny's condolences with a solemn bow. Unfortunately, I haven't. Kio's tangoga has tried to pick up where he left off, but no tangoga possesses Kio's discriminating palate.

Danny remembered the tangoga who worked for Kio. Are you talking about BevNap?

The very same.

When Danny had been a prisoner in Undermountain, BevNap had spilled the beans to Danny about teleportation, which had given Danny his idea for escape. I thought BevNap had been reassigned, that he got in trouble for talking to me.

That was GorVit's doing, Chef said. But now that GorVit's gone from the sub-city, BevNap is back in his old position.

That gave Danny an idea. With Tog missing, Danny didn't have any tangoga to talk to. None that he really knew. Given what Danny planned, a tangoga's insights might be essential to his success.

I'll talk to you later, Chef, Danny said and picked up his pace. He passed through the Hall of Statues, sparing a glance for the giant hologram of Voo the Asht King. He rode the monorail to the old food court in the center of the city, one of the first places Grizz had taken him on a tour many months ago.

He found Kio's grocery counter and leapt over, conscious of the bigfeet staring at him. None pursued him, nor so much as said anything. He supposed he'd gained a sort of bad behavior exemption in return for what he'd done to save Undermountain from GorVit's army.

He wound his way through the storefront and rode an elevator down to the grocery warehouse. Long rows of shelving ran through the immense