“Turn to what?” Sel-gar sounded more alarmed than ever. “Have any of you even been to the facility? Have any of you seen what it holds? The security doesn’t even know what it’s guarding. All we have are the original accounts from the first of us. There are no records of it, only what they passed on through the generations!”
“They wouldn’t have organised so much protection and secrecy if they were lying about it, Sel-gar,” Gor-van opined.
“I have seen it,” Kel-var announced. There was silence again from the board members as all eyes fell on their chairman. “My grandfather took me when I was only a child.”
“You had clearance to get in?” Nal-mev asked.
Kel-var had always believed his grandfather had taken him because it would be the last time either of them would be allowed inside. Only days after, the current board at the time changed the security system so that the facility could only be accessed by all the members at once. It was widely believed that the project’s activation would not be for centuries, if not millennia. It had been a privilege and an honour to see such secrets at his young age, however unbelievable they were.
“I did. And I assure you, what lies inside is very real. You will stop whatever you are doing and travel to the facility immediately.” With that he disconnected the array, ending the call. To his irritation, Sal-dev burst into the room a moment later. If it wasn’t so costly, he would end the Tanek line altogether and be done with them.
“Sir!” He ran over to the desk with Kel-var’s entourage of security piling in after him, almost trampling him as they did. “There’s been a breach in the lower levels!”
“Of Clave Tower?” he replied condescendingly. “That is nothing for us to worry about, Sal-dev.”
“No, sir. The headquarters has been breached. Two humans posing as Laronians, their holo devices set off the alarms when they crossed one of the bridges.”
Kel-var was sure he had heard it wrong; Sal-dev couldn’t have said humans. His bio-inserts connected to the tabletop and brought up the relevant feeds from the areas where the alarm was going off. He couldn’t believe his eyes. There were two actual humans inside his building. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realised the Terran was not one of them; his features had been committed to memory.
“Why would they be here?” one of his assistants asked.
Kel-var froze the image of both humans and expanded the hologram. It was the same two who broke into Krono Towers and killed Ral-vet Tanek. This confirmed it; they had found the data on his terminal and made the connection to the AI It was the only reason they would be stupid enough to actually come here.
“Activate every security procedure we have. Do not underestimate them.” Kel-var gave the order to Sal-dev while sending a message to one of his assistants to continue with prepping the ship. “If you have to stand in front of that door yourself, Sal-dev,” he pointed in the general direction of the prophet’s chamber, “you will die before anyone steps foot in that chamber.”
7
Captain Fey looked out on her bridge in dismay and shock. The sparks had finally stopped and the smoke cleared as the nanocelium had already begun to repair the ruined systems. Her dead crew lay motionless, strewn over various stations and left where they fell by the monster that slaughtered them. UDC personnel flooded the bridge searching for survivors among the bloody mess. They had only found two others and herself.
The captain wanted to get out of her chair and rally the soldiers before her, to reassure them that this crime would not go unpunished. The medic by her side had confirmed what she already suspected; her leg was broken along with three ribs and her collarbone. Right now, she couldn’t get up if she wanted to.
She looked down to see the metallic cylinder in the medic’s hand and hesitated about stopping him. Her nervous glance hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“Don’t worry, Captain, we’ve used the Terran medicine on others around the ship,” the medic explained. “It’s a damn miracle if I’m honest. The nanocelium have been specifically programmed to heal human physiology. When they’re finished you’ll just sweat them out in your sleep. And best of all, they work fast.” She wasn’t convinced of the alien medicine but, in her condition, there was no other choice. She still had a job to do.
The pain was brief as the medic injected the microscopic healers into her leg. The reaction she felt was profound. The pain in her wounds dissipated almost immediately, allowing her to breathe easier with the alleviation around her ribs. Her broken leg jerked of its own accord as the bones were realigned and fused back together before the broken skin sealed up. Cautiously, the captain rotated her arm to check the broken collarbone and was amazed to see its full range of motion.
Two soldiers passed her by with a dead crewman between them. The guilt began to set in like an anchor in her gut. How had so many young died and yet she remained? There was no justice in that. Not only had she survived, but she had been brought back to full health in minutes. If only it could heal them, she wished. The two other survivors stood up to check their own wounds had healed properly. Lieutenant Worth and Lieutenant Commander Ramone put an arm on each other with a mournful look to their fallen friends.
“Thank you.” Captain Fey touched the medic’s arm before standing up, gaining the attention of every crewman. “This will not stand. I assure you our friends will not have died in vain. We will discover the truth behind Professor Jones and confront it with the full force of this ship. There will be time to mourn our fallen and pay them the respect they deserve, but right now we all have a job to do. Find somewhere quiet to put their bodies and those of the civilians who died as well. I need a new bridge crew to take over. Lieutenant Commander, I assume you can find the suitable crew?” He gave a sharp nod. “I want a casualty report ASAP, including civilians. I want six men posted outside the basement doors at all times. Under no circumstances are they to enter. I also want a permanent guard post outside the Gomar.”
“But Captain, it can only be accessed with either Kalian or Esabelle present,” Ramone stated.
“That’s what we thought about the basement...” That was all she had to say.
“Captain?” Lieutenant Hiroshi entered the bridge. “It’s confirmed that Professor Jones has left the ship. He killed the Novaarian contingent and had the Gommarian build him a new ship. From the specs, it looks like he used stealthware. The Conclave won’t even know something left the ship.”
After the first few months, the Novaarians had given them some space to move around their territory without being followed so closely. They may have given them a twelve light-year gap but they were always monitoring the Gommarian’s status from afar. She had a feeling that gap would be closed after today.
Lieutenant Worth brought up the nearest holographic monitor and started to furiously type in commands.
“What is it, Lieutenant?” the captain inquired.
“If he had the Gommarian build the ship then it should have logged in the intended destination.” The crew crowded around the Lieutenant and his monitor.
“Where the hell is the Trantax system?” Ramone asked.
“Raalak space...” Worth had brought up the relevant star chart. Everyone turned to the captain for guidance.
“Somebody get onto communications; I need a secure link to the nearest Conclave vessel.” She looked at the bloodied communications chair where Lieutenant Rodriguez had been stationed for so long. They were going to catch this bastard.
Kalian knew it wasn’t a good thing when the AI didn’t say anything for a while. With his computing power, ALF could comprehend a billion thoughts in a second. It had been nearly a minute now since Kalian had informed him of Esabelle and filled him in on the last five months of training together.
“Do you trust her?” he asked finally.
“Yes, she’s done nothing but help us. She taught us how to use the Gommarian and use Terran technology. Not to mention the surviving Gomar she locked up.”
“She kept them alive?�
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“Yes, we have to think of the future, ALF.” He knew he was only echoing Esabelle’s words, but he was starting to come around to her way of thinking. “Who knows what’s really out there, hunting us and the Conclave? We might need twelve all powerful beings on our side.”
“They’re animals, Kalian!” ALF looked almost angry. “Each and every one of them is capable of mass genocide and Savrick’s daughter is chief among them! She killed the most in control of that ship!”
“She had no choice.” Kalian was surprised to hear Li’ara come to Esabelle’s defence. Perhaps it was more to do with her dislike for ALF. “They disconnected her consciousness from reality and handed her mind over to the cube.”
“It’s true,” Kalian continued. “She fought against the cube’s influence and gave what’s left of our species a home. I think you’re just upset because the offspring of two Gomar didn’t grow up to be a disaster. She’s just as powerful as any Terran and she taught herself.”
“It took her two hundred thousand years to learn control, in a virtual reality,” ALF countered. “The Gomar were walking bombs before I implemented the Harnesses. Their children were even worse. I didn’t have two hundred thousand years to just wait and see - people were dying.”
“Either way,” Telarrek stepped in, “the Gommarian cube is safe in the hands of the humans. The Highclave have not been made aware of its existence. After we have inspected this one we can return to the Gommarian for comparison. ALF continued to pace the cube, his artificial eyes taking every detail in. In reality, Kalian knew the armour device was scanning the cube while the hologram imitated life.
“And this, Esabelle, she told you the cube was influencing Savrick? How? I saw him on the battlefield; he was no different from the other Gomar, save his bloodlust, perhaps.”
“When he found the cube on Hadrok,” Kalian explained, “he cut his finger on the rock. I think that woke it up somehow.” He reviewed the shared memory in his mind like stepping into a virtual reality. “After it activated, there was a hole in the middle. He put his arm inside and felt excruciating pain. I know that pain always stayed with him. Whenever the cube wanted something he could feel it.”
“How do you know this?” ALF ignored the artefact completely as he approached Kalian.
“After Naveen...” ALF’s expression told Kalian he understood.
“I was afraid of that. I bet you have some of hers after saving her life?” The artificial intelligence regarded Li’ara briefly. Both humans shared an awkward glance before Kalian continued.
“I have some of his memories, but they’re not whole, they’re fractured and displaced.”
“So you think the Gommarian cube manipulated Savrick into starting the war?” ALF pondered his own question. “I suspected the involvement of a third party for a long time. The things Savrick knew, his armour, the Gommarian, the Eclipse missiles. Well, that explains why he stole the nanocelium...”
Something about that description jumped out at Kalian. “That was his first attack, wasn’t it? On Hadrok when he was on his own, before the war.”
“You have seen this memory?” ALF inquired.
“Not all of it. The cube tasked him with retrieving a canister of nanocelium. I remember his feelings; he knew it wasn’t his own thoughts. Savrick knew he was being manipulated by it.”
“He stole a container of un-programmed nanocelium, but not enough to make the Gommarian or even a single suit of armour.” ALF looked back at the cube. “Unless these things are powerful enough to replicate and actually reproduce any technology they come into contact with...”
“If these cubes are so powerful and ancient,” Li’ara pondered, “why did it only influence Savrick? Why not take him over completely? Or just use the Gommarian to wipe out every Terran without the need for the Gomar?”
“These are questions we can try to answer after examining the other cube,” Telarrek replied. “The Highclave will be expecting a report soon. Should we perhaps consider revealing all the facts and work together, especially since a cube has been found within Conclave borders?”
“We can’t risk it yet, Telarrek.” Kalian rubbed his eyes, wondering how long it had been since he slept like a human. “They would take the Gommarian and who knows how they would react to ALF’s existence.”
Before anyone could reply, the cave shook from a distant explosion. Powdered rock fell from the ceiling like rain as cracks became visible in the walls.
“What was that?” Li’ara looked to Naydaalan standing guard at the entrance. Moments later the cave was rocked by another tremor, closer to their location. The sound of screams and gunfire echoed through the tunnels as Dr Taeril came running around the bend.
“We are under attack!” She burst into the cave, pushing past Naydaalan who disappeared into the connecting tunnel, staff at the ready. Her gaze quickly settled on ALF before Telarrek’s towering form stepped between them. Kalian used the opportunity to scoop up the Terran device and deactivate the hologram.
“Who is attacking us?” the Novaarian demanded.
The doctor hesitated, trying to look past Telarrek at the unknown bearded man. “Who...?”
The rest of her question was drowned out by weapons fire only metres away from the entrance. Naydaalan rushed into the cave, blood dripping down his blue speckled face.
“Mercenaries!” he announced. “We have to get back to the Dawnlighter, now!”
“How did they get past the Nova?” Telarrek asked.
“I don’t know but they have. We must leave!” Naydaalan swung back to the entrance, firing a bolt of Intrinium into a Laronian mercenary.
“Can’t the Nova take them out from orbit?” Li’ara removed her own weapon, instinctively taking a step closer to Kalian.
“They won’t risk destroying the artefact,” Doctor Taeril explained, looking around for the mysterious bearded man. “But they will send down reinforcements,” she added hopefully.
“Ilyseal...” Telarrek made for the entrance holding a weapon, removed from the depths of his robe. The group ran from the cave, returning to the maze of Trantax IV. Water dripped down through the pitted cavern as the storm swelled overhead. They moved through the rocky corridors, stopping every time to check the corners and peer through holes in the rock. Shadows dashed across the surface of the orange membranes with the promise of conflict all around them. Intrinium bolts flew overhead, filling the cavern with the smell of ozone and cries of death from both sides.
Naydaalan held up both of his right hands as the group was forced to stop. The corridor ahead was being blown to pieces by weapons fire from the left. They could hear the deep voice of a Raalak on the other side as he bellowed orders to his men.
“Find the human!”
“The Callic minerals are interfering with our scanners!” That was unmistakably the voice of a Nix.
“Then use your eyes!” The Raalak’s heavy footfalls carried on down the parallel corridor. Naydaalan waved the group on, quieter now, creeping through the winding maze. Li’ara was never more than two feet away from Kalian, often holding him back to assess the path ahead. He caught her eye and gave her a look that questioned her protective role. She shrugged off the silent question and continued to stick to him like glue.
“Old habits, huh?” he whispered.
“Someone’s got to keep you alive.” They shared a smile before more gunfire broke out in an adjacent cavern. Stray bolts flew overhead knocking free the needle-like stalactites. Kalian pushed out his awareness becoming instantly aware of the group around him and the exact measurements between them. He could feel every molecule move as the broken stalactites plummeted towards them. In that moment, he knew one was on course to impale Dr Taeril in front of him. Kalian reacted instinctively with a telekinetic push, slamming the doctor with enough force to push her into Telarrek. As the two tumbled on together, Li’ara yanked Kalian’s jacket, pulling him away from the falling rock.
The wall to their right collapsed completely u
nder the barrage from above. Both humans were cast in darkness after the light fixtures were crushed between the crumbling rocks. There was too much debris to see their companions now. Kalian could still feel the steady glow of their molecules on the other side as they picked themselves up.
“Kalian?” Telarrek shouted.
“We’re ok. Head for the entrance, we’ll meet you at the Dawnlighter!” The air crackled as the distortion around Kalian’s hand coalesced until the darkness was banished by the blazing ball of plasma. He was careful to keep a telekinetic field around it to prevent the heat from burning Li’ara and himself. The stark light revealed a fresh cut above her right eye. He stepped closer, keeping the plasma at arm’s reach, while tenderly wiping the blood away from her eye. The frequencies her brain constantly gave out fluttered under the proximity, but he made no comment.
“I’m ok...” She stepped away looking for her weapon on the floor. He held back from saying everything he wanted to, again. He wondered if there would ever be time. “Come on, we need to find another way out of this hell hole.”
“Hold on, I want to try something.” Kalian had got the idea from the glowing orbs. He held out the plasma, with his palm open, pointing it down the darkened corridor. Confident the miniature sun was confined to his field, he released the orb into the darkness using the telekinetic bubble to control its path.
“Nice trick,” Li’ara commented. “You know I’ve got two orbs on me, right?” She indicated the two devices hanging from her belt.
“Right...” Kalian closed his mind around the super-heated matter and dissolved it. In the darkness that followed they both heard the footsteps ahead. Kalian could feel Li’ara hesitate as she retrieved an orb from its clip. Before he could push out and feel his surroundings, the entire maze was illuminated by a flash of lightning. Everything happened at once after that. The thunder covered the sound of the barrage of Intrinium that cut through the dark. Kalian half picked Li’ara up as he ran them both through the nearest wall, his telekinesis blowing the rock away as well as cocooning them.
The Terran Cycle Boxset Page 64
