by Luigi Robles
“I’ll have Mikey establish a direct feed to the bridge,” Fain said. “I might need everyone’s help on this one. Pycca, Kya, let’s suit up; you’re coming with me.”
Pycca stood from her station and walked towards Fain. Kya did the same, and the group began walking towards one of the bridge’s doors.
“August,” Fain said as he opened the door without looking back at the bridge. “Don’t let them shoot us down.”
They called a pod, and the group of three headed straight for the docks, where Eora and her team of two were already waiting for them. An Anvelin with a large but still mobile closet attached to it was there, with fitted spacesuits waiting for them. The mobile closet was complete with small changing rooms and an area to hang their own clothes.
“Let’s get these on,” Fain said. “We need to hurry up and help Mikey. I’m starting to get a weird feeling about this.”
“Me too,” Pycca said as she went into one of the changing rooms.
“Captain,” Eora asked from outside the changing room. “I wasn’t sure if this was a weapons kind of mission or not, but I brought them anyway.”
“According to Mikey,” Fain said as he threw on the undersuit, “there are around a dozen or so Acram subspecies on board the ISCO. To be clear, we won’t be looking for or pushing any kind of trouble. There should be no show of force on our side. But be ready, in case things go south.”
“Got it, compact weapons and shields it is.”
Fain hurried to get the spacesuit on and left the small closet, where he saw Kya already waiting for him with her own suit on. A few moments later, Pycca exited the mobile closet carrying her helmet by her side.
The group of six hurried into the shuttle, with Fain and Kya sitting upfront, Pycca sitting right behind Fain, and Eora and her group in the back of the shuttle, arming their weapons and checking their shields.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll be taking the stick,” Fain said as he adjusted the controls to him. “I need you to concentrate on scanning the area as far as our sensors can read. If this is a trap, I’d like to know before walking into it. And has Ktwo scanned the device they brought on board the ISCO?”
“The lack of movement in the Acram subspecies’ ships,” Kya said as she put away her side of the controls, “suggests that this is in fact not a trap, though an entire fleet just to deliver a message doesn’t seem right either. I’ll try to see if there’s something else I can find out. Ktwo scanned the device before she cleared it to be hauled on board the ISCO; she couldn’t find any chemical or harmful composition on it. The device appears to be solely a communications device.”
“Helmets on,” Fain said.
An audible groan was heard from the back of the shuttle as they all put their helmets on. Fain wanted them to at least have a fighting chance in the vacuum of space in case something were to happen.
He took the shuttle out of Sodenia’s dock with ease and began navigating towards the ISCO.
“ISCO,” Fain said as he pressed the coms button on the shuttle’s console, “this is Captain Fain Jegga, shuttle sierra zero two. Requesting a clear dock for landing in t-minus five minutes.”
“Fain? It’s me, Mikey.” His voice was heard throughout the shuttle. “About time you got here; the Kaneans are starting to get impatient. They have been asking when you will get here repeatedly. Go ahead and use dock two.”
“Kaneans?” Fain asked. “Is that the Acram subspecies’ name?”
“Oh yeah, that’s them, I forgot to mention it. Or at least that’s what we think they called themselves. We’ve made little progress with communication; they aren’t really cooperating.”
“OK, see you when I get there, over.”
Fain docked the small space shuttle in dock two, where Mikey and a few ambassadors were already waiting for them behind the airlock. As the shuttle locked on to the dock, the door behind it closed.
Without wasting any time, the group of six deboarded and went through the space station’s airlock system. As soon as the airlock’s lights turned green, Eora and her group were the first to remove their helmets, then Pycca and Kya and lastly Fain.
There was a group of people already waiting for them at the edge of the dock; amongst them was Mikey.
“Captain Fain Jegga,” one of the ambassadors said. “And Sodenia’s crew. Welcome to the ISCO, and thank you for coming at such short notice.”
Fain hadn’t forgotten how the ambassadors on board the ISCO had treated his friend. It wasn’t until Fain slightly intervened that the prejudiced environment had eased for Mikey.
“Director Harmon,” Fain said, referring to Mikey, though the greeting seemed to fly over Mikey’s head, as he didn’t react to his formal title. He cleared his throat as he watched Mikey narrow his eyes. “Director Harmon.”
“Oh right,” Mikey finally said, stepping forward. “Captain Jegga, Pycca, Kya, Eora and crew, thanks for coming. But I think we should hurry to the Kaneans; they are growing more impatient by the minute. I’ll take you there.”
Fain nodded.
They began to move through the station, and it wasn’t long before they saw a group of aliens Fain had never seen before. The Kaneans were just a bit taller than the average human, but nothing impressive. Their bodies were skinny, and their skin was several shades of green. They were covered in armor from head to toe; Fain wasn’t sure if they had feet. But what set them apart from any other alien species Fain had seen was the number of limbs that acted like their hands: five in total. There were three on one side of their body and two on the other, and it varied which side had the dominant amount.
The Anean with the most elaborate armor approached Fain a little faster than a friendly alien would, but it stopped just a few feet away from him. Fain didn’t flinch, despite the not-so-pleasant odor of putrid grass coming from the alien. Weapons began to hum behind Fain; he didn’t have to turn around and look to know that it was Eora and her team. Fain made a gesture with his right hand to put the weapons down or to stop what they were doing.
“Asherala manfasha sa chereoca Fain Jeeggaa,” the Anean said.
Fain looked towards Mikey and Kya, who were standing on either side of him. Mikey opened a screen on his task manager and began reading, mumbling the words. Kya shrugged slightly.
“I mean, they haven’t given us their language codex,” Mikey said hurriedly, looking at his note. “Communication with them has been slow.”
“Do you mind if I look at that?” Kya asked, turning towards Mikey.
“Yeah, here, sure,” Mikey said as he offered the task manager to Kya.
“No, you can keep it,” Kya said as she waved her hand in a dismissive way. “I can pull it up from the server; it will only take a second.”
“Oh right,” Mikey said. “I sort of knew that.”
“From what I can gather from Ktwo’s observations and Mikey’s notes,” Kya said, half-turning to Fain, “he is asking if you’re the eminent Fain Jegga.”
Fain didn’t know how to take the adjective given to him, but he knew that this wasn’t the time to figure it out either.
“Echelafala sheo barachala sa sha ma,” the Anean said as he gestured back towards his group. “Feshana.” Then his voice got louder as he banged on his chest with both his left hands. “Anean Fesheron Chapal.”
Even though Fain didn’t understand a word other than “Anean,” it was clear what the alien was doing: he was introducing himself to Fain. Though Fain didn’t know what his name was, because it could easily be either Fesheron or Chapal or both.
“Fain Jegga,” Fain said, moving his hand towards his chest.
Fesheron Chapal bowed and stood silent for a moment. Fain didn’t know what to do then, but it wasn’t long before Fesheron Chapal stood up straight and began walking towards the group of Kaneans, gesturing at Fain to follow.
“Well, that went remarkably well,” Pycca said as they began to follow. “Considering what could have happened.”
“I agree,” Fai
n said. “But it only means that we’re on the same page.”
When Fesheron Chapal got within a few feet of the Kaneans, the group made way, revealing a rather large floating alien artifact. The artifact was an oval cylinder with an array of attached antenna-like rods sticking out from its top and bottom.
“Nocher fancor,” Fesheron Chapal said, gesturing towards the artifact.
“Oh, I know that one,” Mikey said enthusiastically. “That translates to ‘node anchor.’ They drew out what it means.” Mikey turned his task manager towards Fain. It showed small circles connected by straight lines.
“Noble Saavan,” Fesheron said as he began to activate the artifact. “Aheado sea sha he.”
Saavan’s name reverberated through Fain’s head; the name carried real weight in his mind. Fain nodded, starting directly at the artifact.
“Kya,” Fain said without looking away from the machine. “Get a video feed going to Sodenia’s bridge, then relay one to Green and Truman if possible; whatever we know, they should know. Mikey, I think I’m going to need a translator earpiece; set it to Acram.”
Kya and Mikey began moving behind Fain.
“Pycca, I hope you’re seeing this,” Fain said as the machine began to pulse.
“Every second of it,” Pycca said.
Fain got the earpiece from Mikey and threw it on his right ear.
Moments later, as the artifact began to emit light, the image of Saavan appeared before them like a hologram. But the hologram was far different from the ones he was used to seeing in advertisements on the streets back on Earth. This hologram was more rudimentary, less clean and barely visible at times. The Kaneans moved away from the node anchor; some went as far as to put their backs against the nearby walls.
“Captain Fain Jegga,” Saavan said in plain English, but with a heavy Acram accent.
“Noble Saavan,” Fain said, nodding once.
“I’m grateful to speak with you directly,” Saavan said, switching to Acram. Fain’s earpiece translated instantly. “Though I regret that I must speak with you at all under these circumstances. The time for us all has come once again.”
“Thanks for reaching out. What is all of this about?”
“The Immortals are back, though they appear to have receded into the shadows, but make no mistake, they will be back. We fought with them using the entire force of our Golden Armada and were easily and overwhelmingly defeated. The vastness of my Armada did not stand a chance against a small group of them. We did not eliminate a single one of them, while they destroyed a good portion of my kin. We are outmatched in every way.”
Fain had a hard time believing what Saavan was telling him. He remembered the Golden Armada being a vast and overwhelming force. The claims Saavan was making were jaw-dropping, to say the least. But then Fain remembered his own experience against a single Immortal, and he could picture Saavan easily losing to them. So, here was probably one of the greatest military minds in the galaxy, defeated.
“Using all of our recourses, we’ve formed a perimeter just beyond Acrania. We asked all of our subspecies that can jump here to come to our home planet. Those who are too far away I’ve instructed to defend their planets. Here we will make our last stand when the enemy comes knocking at our door. No matter what happens, they will not get through. If we’re breathing, we will fight.” Saavan said the last part with force. “But that is far from defeating them. I believe the rest of the galaxy will perish, and we eventually will too. Unless we cut off the machine’s head.”
“The machine’s head?”
“Yes,” Saavan said. “Based on their behavior, we believe they have a collective consciousness. What we’ve fought are simply the creature’s limbs.”
“So, going after their head will defeat all of them?”
“That’s our theory. If it does not defeat them entirely, perhaps it will disable them sufficiently that we will be able to defeat them.”
“We defeated one,” Fain said.
Saavan stood quiet, with an incredulous look.
“Back on Doka,” Fain continued. “We encountered a single Immortal that came after me. It disabled all our weapons, all our shields. But my team managed to take it down. It took everything we had. Though as much as I’ve thought about it, I don’t know how we will deal with a group of them. They are beyond powerful.”
“I’m impressed, Fain Jegga. Your ancestors would be proud. They couldn’t have sent their champion to a better place. But I’m afraid that we must not allow ourselves to feel comfort in victory. Never underestimate the opponent. The real war is about to begin.”
My ancestors would be proud? Fain wondered. They couldn’t have sent their champion to a better place? What the heck is going on? Is he talking about Sodenia? But he brushed aside the questions for now; he wanted to focus on Saavan.
“We must, I say this again, cut off the machine’s head,” Saavan continued.
“How do you propose we do that?” Fain asked.
“There is only one other overwhelming power I’ve seen thus far in the galaxy.”
“Which is?”
“The main weapon on your ship. I don’t see anyone or anything standing in its path, no matter how powerful they think they are.”
“Are you suggesting that we go after the creature’s head?”
“Exactly. If we can somehow track the machine creature’s point of origin, your ship might be able to destroy it. I, for the most part, have mapped out the place in the galaxy where I believe they reside. I’ll send you the map now. All we have to do is find a way to pin it down.”
“So, it’s a one-way mission, one that you aren’t going to partake in? That’s one way to get rid of us.” Fain was beginning to feel anger at the things that Saavan was saying.
“If you choose to think of it that way, you may, but the alternative is just as dim. If we wait for them to come, we will surely be annihilated. If we attack them in force, the same will happen. If it makes you feel any better, I can take that trip with you. Nothing would be more honorable than to save this galaxy from its imminent doom.”
“That’s if we can find them and their exact point of origin. Then what?”
“Then you choose the biggest target, unleash everything that Herrion ship has and hope for the best. At the same time, if you let us, we can also flank the enemy and do our best to distract it while you and your ship cut off the head. This is, unfortunately, the only thing we can do against this power.”
Fain felt the weight of the world drop onto his shoulders. He thought about Pycca, Larissa, Kya, August, Eora, Mikey and everyone else that might be joining him on the mission. He couldn’t do that to them. He couldn’t expect that much from them, he shouldn’t. They would have their entire lives ahead of them if there was no more immortal menace. In that instant, Fain had made up his mind. He knew what he needed to do, he just didn’t know how.
Fain glanced at Kya, and she nodded. Had she been thinking the same thing?
“The decision is yours, Captain Fain Jegga. It is the only tactic I can offer, the only thing that might work. For now, while there is silence in the galaxy, you may rejoice within the time we still have, but make no mistake, they will come again. Have your allies protect their planets, and have your fleet protect yours. Protect them with everything you’ve got. Perhaps fate is on your side. I’ll look forward to hearing from you, and if I don’t, may you have a peaceful farewell. It was my honor having such a prominent adversary as yourself. I will do whatever is in my power to defend this galaxy. I hope you do the same. Take the node anchor as a gift. Until I hear from you.”
“You will hear from me. We aren’t giving up that easy. We will always fight, and we will win, make no mistake.”
Saavan’s image disappeared as he nodded, and the node anchor fell silent.
Fain didn’t know what to feel or what he should be feeling after speaking with Saavan. His worst fears about life as he knew it ending this way were materializing before his eyes. There just w
asn’t much they could do against such an overwhelming force.
“Oh, come on,” Mikey said, exasperated. “That cannot be the only way that we can win. There has to be another way.”
“I agree with Mikey,” Pycca said. “That is just beyond ridiculous. How can he ask that of us? Yeah, go into the unknown, risk your life, die a few times and see if it works. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“If anyone else has a better idea,” Fain said as he looked around the room, “I’m all ears.”
“Eshafalda, shafan shen,” one of the Kaneans said as he began walking towards the hallway that led to the docks. The rest of its group began to follow.
“I guess they are leaving,” Mikey said. “I’ll escort them out, but we aren’t done yet. We aren’t done by a long shot.” He began walking with the group of Kaneans.
“Fain, don’t tell me you’re actually considering it,” Pycca asked. “And if you are, we’re coming with you. There is absolutely no way around that.”
“Yeah, Fain, this is crazy,” August chimed in through the open channel Kya had created. “And that guy is crazier for suggesting it. It’s so easy for him to go and die. But if he doesn’t appreciate his life, then let him be the only one. We need to figure out something else. I’ll put up the battle boards again. Something has got to give.”
“What else can we do, if not that?” Fain said. “I’m open to any and every suggestion. But I’m afraid all roads will lead to the same place. Think about it: the Golden Armada was defeated.”
“What if it’s a trap?” Eora asked in a soft voice. “You said it yourself, that’s one way to get rid of us.”
“He offered to come with us,” Fain said. “I don’t think this is a trap. It’s more along the lines of a desperate attempt.”
“Why doesn’t he go and try it out then let us know if there’s a chance?” Pycca said with clear distaste. But the comment sparked something in Fain’s mind.
“What did you say?” Fain asked, fully turned towards Pycca.
“That he should freaking go,” Pycca said with a bit more distaste than last time. “And let us know if it’s something we can do or not.”
