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Elvians (The Silver Ships Book 18)

Page 25

by S. H. Jucha


  Alarms went off throughout the Freedom. Belowdecks, humans felt the ship shudder. It seemed inconceivable that the city-ship could transmit such motion.

  Panicked male humans in the corridors and offices inundated the controller with requests for information. Unexpectedly, they found their access to the controller blocked, and they stared in shock at one another.

  a senior crew chief sent, relieved to find that her message could reach every available human. She’d refused to join the women and children aboard a traveler. she directed.

  The chief waited a moment to ensure every link was dropped then sent a request. she asked.

  the controller replied.

  the senior chief requested.

  The controller recited a list of the decks and interior spaces that hadn’t responded to integrity checks.

  the chief sent.

  What the chief received stunned her. The city-ship resembled a plump cookie that a child had enjoyed with a big bite.

  the senior chief managed to request.

  the controller replied.

  the chief asked.

  the controller replied.

  the chief sent to the controller.

  Hesitation halted the efforts of the human population. The images of the city-ship with a significant portion of its starboard side missing took some time to absorb.

  The pilots were quicker than most to shake of the shock, access the bays, and signal the travelers’ activation.

  SADEs and humans poured out of the ships. They received the chief’s message and discovered their links to the controller were also blocked.

  One individual was admitted to the controller, and Cordelia strode quickly to the bridge to manage damage control. As she received information, she directed the efforts of SADEs to secure and mark the blast doors that now led to space. Other individuals returned to their workstations to assess the damage.

  In the corridor, Alex, Renée, and Julien silently regarded one another.

  “We’re still alive,” Renée said. “It appears this wasn’t our time either.”

  Alex reached out and hugged his partner and best friend.

  26: Who’s in Charge?

  “That’s it?” the Deloy screamed at the monitor. “We lost both drone waves, and we only damaged that ship.”

  Vyztram argued, the AI’s voice issuing from the monitor.

  “Use the drones at the harvesting locations,” the Deloy ordered. “The ship is damaged. Finish it.”

  Suddenly, the slates in the room tingled.

  Kofroos noticed that the Deloy wasn’t wearing hers. She searched the furniture for the communications device.

  Gedram spotted the slate first and rushed to pick it up. She offered it to the Deloy, who snatched it away.

  “You dare to arrive in my presence without a costume?” the Deloy declared imperiously. “Whoever you are, you’re banished to the core. Get out of my sight.”

  The Deloy turned to regard the monitor and glare at the ship that had eluded her revenge. She chose not to check the message, which had borne the alert signal associated with an urgent AI communication.

  “It’s the result of the count, Deloy,” Kofroos announced softly, when the Deloy’s slate buzzed again.

  “It can’t be,” the Deloy objected. Then she examined her slate. “Vyztram, you were forbidden to release the results of the count.”

  Vyztram replied.

  “Impudent AI,” the Deloy shot back in scathing tones. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

  Vyztram replied.

  Most attendants stared open-mouthed at the Deloy. They’d never heard Vyztram speak this way to her. Kofroos schooled her face, but Gedram chuckled behind her hand.

  Rather than explode in anger, the Deloy’s face hardened. “You’ve gone too far, Vyztram,” she said. “Here’s what you’ll do in recompense.”

  Vyztram returned.

  An evil smile twisted the Deloy’s thin lips.

  Kofroos recognized the signs, and she gripped Gedram’s hand. When Gedram regarded her matriarch, Kofroos cast her eyes toward the sleeping quarters.

  “We’ll see who has sway over what,” the Deloy announced loudly. She regarded her attendants, sneering at the two who were improperly dressed, and said, “I’m retiring.” Then she marched purposefully into the sleeping quarters.

  Passing through the privacy screen, the Deloy touched the icon on her slate to close the doors, but they failed to initiate. Turning around, she found Kofroos and Gedram standing in the doorway. Their presence interrupted the doors’ sensors and prevented them from closing.

  “Kofroos, you’re getting old. Not only have you forgotten how to dress, but I think you’ve become hard of hearing,” the Deloy said coldly. “Get out. I’m retiring.”

  “Vyztram, we’re preventing the Deloy from accessing the hidden panel in her sleeping quarters,” Kofroos sent. “I think it needs to be investigated and disabled.”

  While Vyztram wasn’t aware of the panel’s powers, there were significant concerns. It was the reason that the AI had sent Kofroos access to the concealed vid monitor in the Deloy’s sleeping quarters.

  Vyztram said.

  “Thank you, Vyztram, we’re not sure where to begin, and we’d appreciate your suggestions,” Dafine replied, regarding his companions, Yemerth and Famgore, who nodded vigorously.

  Vyztram replied.