Telarrek told of a brave story in which he had fought the Gomar that Esabelle identified as, Sef. His multiple injuries and cuts were a testament to the fight he had put up, as well as the limp he now walked with. But what troubled them more was the ending to his encounter. When the Helion had fallen from the sky, Sef fled the Outpost as it crumbled under the ship’s weight.
Kalian felt a pit open in his stomach at the thought of a Gomar on the loose. ALF had led Telarrek to safety, before asking him to omit the existence of the AI in his report to the Conclave. It sounded like more manipulation from the AI to Kalian. He hadn’t forgiven him for the way he tricked Li’ara onto the Helion. ALF had calculated that Li’ara’s fate would be the only thing that could give him the strength to overcome Savrick and find a way to survive the Helion, while at the same time he calculated that Savrick wouldn’t be able to stop a Nexus-class starship landing on his head. The AI was a genius, but ruthless. Still, if the Conclave knew an AI existed with his level of sophistication, they would harvest him for parts.
“Has there been any word from, ALF?” Kalian asked.
“No, but I wouldn’t expect there to be.” It was Esabelle who answered him. “He wouldn’t risk so much as a laser-com with the Gommarian, for fear of infection.”
Kalian could accept that, but the presence of Savrick’s daughter didn’t add up. “Everything I know about you and this ship doesn’t add up to what I’m seeing.” Kalian aimed his words at Esabelle, who had been monitoring the readout from a holographic console.
“That’s because everything you know has come from ALF and Savrick, and they didn’t know much.”
Kalian was surprised Esabelle called him Savrick instead of father, but didn’t ask.
“You should be aware, by the way, that a Conclave fleet has just emerged from subspace and is currently surrounding us.”
“They don’t know the situation,” Telarrek explained. “They are simply creating a perimeter. We should make contact as soon as possible.”
Kalian noticed the confused looks from the UDC personnel. Until they received translators they would be useless.
“Wait a minute.” There was one thing Kalian couldn’t figure out from what he had gleaned from Savrick. “How did the Gommarian even get here if you’re not plugged into it?” He knew the ship was controlled by over-stimulating Esabelle’s brain to actually move the dense vessel. But there were no engines inside it.
“I reconfigured the ship before disconnection. We now have everything a conventional vessel has; a bridge, a Starrillium, brig, sleeping quarters-”
“A bar!” was Roland’s only contribution.
“And six fully functioning factories, capable of making almost anything,” Esabelle finished.
That last part was definitely not conventional.
“Where did you get a Starrillium from?” he asked.
“Compliments of ALF.”
Her reply being so vague, Li’ara elaborated. “He ejected it from the Helion before he cut the antigravity thrusters.”
Being so focused on Li’ara at the time, Kalian hadn’t realised that if there had been a Starrillium on board, the whole moon would have shattered.
“So... what? You’re saying the Gommarian is ours? Just like that? Why are you helping us?” Kalian couldn’t put the pieces together.
“I have been trying to help you for centuries. It was I who hid the information regarding The Wall. It was I who kept the ports open for you.” Esabelle shot Roland and the Novaarians a look. “I reconfigured the ship so you could find the others. I withheld the sensor feedback that would have warned the Gomar about the Valoran’s Starrillium. I built the slowest craft I could to give you more time on Naveen. And I have been trying to break free of this monster for an eternity...”
Kalian resisted the urge to comfort her. He couldn’t deny the feelings he had, but he also understood that they weren’t entirely his feelings.
“I am not one of them.” Esabelle looked in the general direction of the Rem-stores.
Kalian wasn’t sure how he felt yet about a dozen Gomar snoozing so close by.
“While they spent millennia sleeping, I grew. I learned everything I could about our potential and endeavoured to teach myself control. I couldn’t disconnect until I knew I could control my abilities. I tricked Elandar into thinking I was inside the virtuality he created. But when we first discovered the Conclave centuries ago, everything changed. When I learned of The Wall, so did it...” Kalian noticed everyone look at each other in confusion.
Li’ara stared at Esabelle intently. “What do you mean, it?” she asked.
“I wasn’t the only one controlling this ship. It took me centuries but I finally contained it before disconnecting. I could feel it like an itch at the back of my mind. It observed everything I did but it had different motives. I had to fight it all the way. When you boarded, it sent those hunter-mechs to kill you.” She aimed it at Roland who was pinching his broken nose. “I never gained full access but its thoughts leaked over. Savrick wanted to wipe out all Terran life, even human life, but I think he was poisoned by its own desires to destroy us. When I found evidence of Terran technology on Naveen, it woke up with a need. I don’t know where it came from but it only has one purpose, remove any and all Terran life from this galaxy. All the while there was a background feeling that something worse was coming.”
“Well whatever it is, it’s either really patient or it lives forever,” Kalian said. “It clearly thinks in terms of millennia if it’s happy to just roam the galaxy looking for Earth all that time.”
“Why human life?” Captain Fey asked with no lack of dread.
“Because it see’s us as a threat.” Surprisingly, it was Li’ara who replied.
Kalian gave her a questioning look and she explained ALF’s findings on the outer reaches of the Norma Arm. It was news to Esabelle who admitted to having no knowledge about the ancient probes.
“I have trapped it inside its own processing unit and severed its connection to the ship. The cube itself is being housed below the Starrillium.”
One of Esabelle’s words caught Kalian’s attention.
The cube...
Was this the same cube Savrick had found buried inside the cavern? He kept the thought to himself for now.
“Why would they see humanity as a threat?” Ilyseal asked the obvious question.
“Because of what we’re capable of. Our potential.” Li’ara looked to Kalian.
He had to agree with her assessment; the Gomar had proved how much damage they could cause with less than a thousand of them. But who was it they were threatening? And where did they come from? They certainly had the time to play the long game.
“In that regard, we will have to deal with the Conclave,” Telarrek said. “After the attack on the capital, they will be highly suspicious of humans, especially if you are to remain in this vessel.”
It did seem highly unlikely that the council would grant them membership or even a planet to call home.
“I think in this instance it would be better if you spoke on our behalf.” Esabelle was looking at Telarrek. “Especially since every ship has just armed their full complement of planet breakers.”
They waited two days before the council finally arrived via the Marillion, a spherical ship the size of a small moon. Telarrek informed them it was the only Galactic Class starship and the pride of the Conclave fleet, at half the size of the Gommarian. Due to the mass of both great ships they were forced to keep their distance from Nova Prime and Naveen.
It had felt like a lifetime to Kalian as they waited. He remained in his fitted suit of Terran armour, it felt like a second skin to him now. Captain Fey had given several speeches already to the remainder of their race. After the first, he didn’t stop to hear the rest but he was glad someone was trying to instil the hope they would need to survive. The population hadn’t taken the news about Earth’s and Century’s destruction very well. There had been several threats of suicide
from the people who had lost entire families. In that regard, Kalian was thankful he had been an only child with no other connections.
Only a handful of people had taken to exploring the ship. Esabelle had supplied handheld Datapads to help with navigating the massive vessel, but most preferred the safety of numbers inside the hold. Captain Fey had separated the UDC personnel from the scientists, so Esabelle could instruct them in the use of the ship’s controls. Not that they could go anywhere with the barricade of Conclave security ships outside. The Gommarian’s ability to produce food and drink had subdued the population somewhat, Kalian decided not to ask how it was made. In truth, it could take years to fully explore the epic vessel.
Telarrek had shown the Laronian survivors to a separate living area since relations had become somewhat frayed. Roland stalked the corridors like a caged animal. Kalian knew the agent wanted to leave it all behind and find his own way in this new world. But that’s why they had to wait for the council.
After initial communications, the bridge crew were informed that the Marillion would be sending a smaller ship with the council on board. They were instructed to meet the ship at the halfway point between them and the Gommarian. Esabelle showed the crew how to activate the factories and build another craft for transport. Everyone was amazed by the nanocelium and their ability to construct almost anything.
To Captain Fey’s annoyance, she was not invited to the rendezvous since her authority was not recognised by the council. Li’ara had informed her that, as a UDC representative, she would speak on the captain’s behalf. Along with the Novaarians, Kalian and Li’ara entered the cathedral-size hangar where a ship waited for them.
“What are you doing here?” Li’ara asked.
“I thought you deserved one last look at my pretty face, Red.” Roland was leaning against their ship. “This is where we part ways.”
“And how’s that exactly?”
With her question, the space next to Roland erupted with activity as another ship became visible. The vessel was somewhere between impressive and a hunk of junk. The hull was tinted bronze around its circular shape, with a large cylindrical extension on one side that was clearly the engine. The starboard side was concave as if a bite had been taken out of the hull. It was three or four times the size of the Fathom and twice as big as the unassuming vessel next to it.
“You cannot leave with the barricade in place.” Ilyseal sounded more concerned for his safety than angering the Conclave.
“The Rackham can, stealthware babe!” He thumbed the ship behind him. “A parting gift from Esabelle, I guess.”
“Or maybe she figured it was more dangerous keeping you on board.” Li’ara retorted.
“Why would you leave, Roland? You saved the entire human race.” Kalian was sad that he was only referring to seven thousand people. “You’re a hero!”
Roland laughed at the word.
“That ain’t me, kid. Besides, they’ve got you now.” He looked at Li’ara with a coy smile. “I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until next time, Red. Try not to be too disappointed.” With that, he turned and left for his new ship as Li’ara gave him the finger.
Kalian had no doubt that the Rackham was filled with stashes of alcohol and weapons. The Conclave just became a little less safe in Kalian’s opinion.
Within minutes they had left the Gommarian with the automated ship flying them towards the council. The Conclave vessel was more of a giant platform with a dome in the centre. The same Nix that escorted them in the council chamber was waiting for them inside the landing platform. They were soon taken to the semicircle chamber that housed the five councillors of the ruling races. Kalian had a feeling this meeting would not be so public.
Elondrasa appeared to be in full health with no evidence that she had been attacked by Savrick, a testament to the Conclave’s medical advancements.
“Greetings of peace, to you all,” said the old Novaarian.
“Peace?” snorted Lordina. “They are warmongers! It was a human who decimated the Conclave, who destroyed the Helion and took possession of a Laronian warship.”
“A warship that abducted thousands of our people!” Kalian winced at Li’ara’s outburst.
This line of arguing continued for several minutes, in which the council explained that the Laronians had every intention of presenting them to the council. Li’ara wasn’t convinced. Eventually, Telarrek stepped forward and told the council everything that had transpired since they fled the Conclave capital. Kalian noted the absence of ALF in his recounting.
Kalian still felt partly responsible for the state of humanity, if only for surviving the catastrophe that befell it. “Now you know our history, as hard as it is to believe. But we need to look to our future. Our home is gone and our origins lie on the other side of the galaxy. We are few in number, the closest to extinction we have ever come. Will you help us?”
The councillors looked to one another but said nothing; their decision had already been made before the meeting.
“No.” It was the Raalak councillor, Brokk who answered.
Telarrek and Ilyseal nearly spoke out before Elondrasa held up a hand to silence them.
Brokk continued, “It may not have been you or your people that attacked us, but that distinction will be hard to make. All the races saw Savrick attack the council chamber. It is as much for your protection as it is ours that we remain apart. In time, a middle-ground may be found.”
Li’ara gripped his hand and he could feel the anger building inside her.
“There is good news,” Nu-marn, the Shay councillor interjected. “Our long-range scans have detected multiple vessels of human design. They are responding to our signal, in binary for now, but they are coming. From the telemetry, it appears they are coming from different regions across the Orion Arm. We will see to it that they find their way to you.”
Kalian looked to Li’ara and he knew she felt the same elation that he did. It was a silver lining of hope against the Conclave’s rejection.
“That is not the end of it, I am afraid,” Ch’lac interjected. The small Ch’kara was examining Kalian with a scrupulous eye. “You must hand over that ship and yourself, Kalian Gaines.”
Kalian instinctively held out his arm, keeping Li’ara from throttling the little alien.
“We have reviewed the data from the Novaarian fleet and seen your... capabilities. The council has deemed you and that ship too dangerous to go around unchecked.”
Kalian took a breath and looked at Li’ara. He felt the energy in his spine give him the feeling of invincibility against such beings. It made him bold again.
“With respect, Councillors...” He converted the molecules around his hands to create organic plasma, more light than matter though.
Li’ara stepped away feeling the heat on her skin as the light increased.
“You can try...” Kalian had no intention of using his abilities; he just wanted to make a point.
“Are you threatening us?” Lordina spat as a dozen armed guards flooded the chamber.
Telarrek appeared partially relieved at the sight of Uthor, who led the security team. There was no evidence that the great Raalak had suffered at the hands of the beast.
“If you aren’t going to ensure our safety within your borders, and give us somewhere to live, we will stay on the Gommarian. It seems to me that ship is the safest place for us. It’s more powerful than anything you have, and so are we.”
He was hoping that last part would make them think. It was entirely possible that more humans might develop his abilities; it was just unlikely to be in this generation. But they didn’t need to know that.
“And if this other threat is real, it might pay to have us on your side.”
The council had been skeptical about the creatures Esabelle and ALF had hinted at. It didn’t help that they had left out ALF and Esabelle from their report, making the source of their facts questionable. The council were silent after that.
After a momen
t of silence, Kalian knew nothing would change. He reached for Li’ara and motioned for her to follow him back to the craft.
“Wait.” It was Elondrasa that made the command. The councillors looked to her as this was clearly not part of their plan. “You have not been accepted into the Conclave, but the Novaarian council will allow you to remain in our borders. Charge Telarrek here will be our liaison.”
Kalian heard the councillors gasp and raise their hands to protest. Elondrasa raised her own and silenced them. Kalian had no idea what was next for the human race, but he wouldn’t refuse help if it came their way.
“You have the gratitude of my people, Councillor Elondrasa.” He surprised himself with his new found level of diplomacy, even if it was a little heavy-handed.
With that, they made their farewells to Telarrek and Ilyseal who would both have to keep in contact on behalf of Nova Prime. Kalian was truly thankful for that; in a chaotic new world, Telarrek and Ilyseal had become his friends. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to feel having more alien friends than human friends. Thinking about this new society they would have to get along with, Kalian realised that such differences would have to be ignored. Despite the multitude of species they were now surrounded by, they all inhabited the same galaxy.
An escort of armed guards walked them back to their ship where they departed for the Gommarian. Kalian sat next to Li’ara in the cockpit while admiring the spectacle of the Conclave fleet against the turquoise of Nova Prime. He had no idea what was coming their way. Humanity was at a crossroads it had never faced before. In the strangest twist of events, this history lecturer had been thrust into leading a people that weren’t technically the same species as him anymore. He pushed the thought away, preferring to consider himself a human rather than Terran.
The Terran Cycle Boxset Page 47
