“Yeah. But there's still torpedoes heading for us.”
Still tapping away, Jard replied, “You don't even sound concerned.”
“I'm not going to tell you how to do your job, buddy. Hell, I wouldn't even know where to begin.” Frank paused for a moment. “So, what are you going to do? Are you going to go all evasive and shit? Blow those torpedoes up or something?”
“We're going to hold position.” Jard smiled as he fed the numbers into the computational system. “I've always wanted to try this.”
* * *
“Report!” Grame was winded from rushing to the bridge.
“An unknown ship emerged from a rift,” a bridge officer reported. “The other warship has fired on it.”
“Any idea who it is?” Grame asked.
“Negative, Admiral.”
Grame settled into his chair and looked at his view-screen. “Why aren't they moving?”
“No idea, sir.”
“I wonder if they even know they are about to blown into oblivion.” He watched as the torpedoes grew nearer to their target.
“Two more rifts opening, sir.”
Grame sat up straighter in his chair. “Where?”
“One is near the unknown vessel.” The officer looked more closely to the reading. “The other is dangerously close to our other warship.”
Grame put the pieces together in his head. He looked out the port in time to see the torpedoes impact against the hull of the other warship. “Brace for shock wave!” Debris rattled against the hull as the ensuing blast caused them to roll away from their fixed position in orbit. “All guns, prepare to fire!”
“What just happened?” the bridge officer asked.
“The torpedoes were redirected. That warship just destroyed itself. Status on those guns?”
“We're hot.”
“Fire at will.”
* * *
“I am so beyond impressed,” Frank said as he watched the debris field expand.
Jard let out a chuckle. “I merely returned their lost torpedoes.”
“So you opened a rift that led right behind them. Holy shit, that's smart.”
Jard laughed out loud. “They set it up so perfectly!” He glanced at a view-screen. “I bet that other ship is right where we need to be.”
“I can't wait to see what you do next,” Frank replied.
“They didn't so much as say hello before firing,” Jard joked. “I feel offended. I'm going to take a direct approach with the other one.”
“I hear those ships are big pieces of shit. We should heckle them.”
“That is diabolical. Would you like to do the talking?”
Frank allowed himself to smile. “Sure.”
“I know their frequency.” Jard pressed a spot before charging forward. “You're on. Better make it quick because we're going fast.”
Frank cleared his throat. “I need to speak with the dumbass in charge.” Jard's flying reminded him of looking into a kaleidoscope.
A voice filled the cabin. “This is Admiral Grame. Identify yourself.”
“Admiral Dumbass,” Frank said. “It was nice knowing you. I am Frank Ford.” He pointed and smiled as he noticed a blind spot the guns of the warship were unable to cover.
Jard had already seen it and was almost unable to contain his laughter.
“I do not know that name,” Grame replied.
“I'm the Monster, of Earth. Say hello to Korick for us.”
Jard muted the transmission before stating, “I'm hitting the bridge first. I didn't like his tone.”
“It looks like they're turning themselves.”
“Yes.” Jard carefully lined up his target. “This works out nicely. I didn't want the bolt to hit the planet.”
“Bolt?” Frank asked.
“Yes. Watch.”
Frank leaned forward to gain a better view as a long metallic rod shot from underneath the ship at a high velocity. He followed it as it crashed into the Gote warship. There was no explosion and the bolt seemed to reemerge on the far side, continuing on, off into space.
“Wow.” Frank didn't know what else to say.
“I may or may not be showing off,” Jard joked. “Let us hail them again.” He pressed a button.
“Admiral Dumbass? You ready to surrender yet?” The shooting had stopped and Frank looked out as they flew closer. “Hello?”
Jard killed the transmission. “I think they're done. But they're still in our way and I don't want that junk to fall out of orbit.”
“How do we move them?” Frank asked.
“I'll detonate a torpedo near the hull. Hopefully the shock wave will push them away. And then we'll demolish it in case it gets pulled back.”
* * *
Gladys entered the garden to find Cindy waiting for her. “Hello. Is something troubling you?”
“I would like to help with the human.”
“I admit I have had that same thought. But our appearance might trigger something in her. Her only experience with non-Terran beings was when she witnessed her husband and daughter being abducted by Gurdiks.”
“May I?” Cindy extended her hand.
“Certainly.” Gladys accepted and watched as Cindy looked into that faraway place.
“He never stops, does he?” She said as she released Gladys.
Gladys smiled at the thought of her husband. “I suppose not.”
Cindy looked toward the lab. “I would recommend Damon. She should have someone from her own world present when you awaken her.”
“I will get right on it. Our next stop is your home.”
* * *
Jard successfully nudged the warship away from the planet. “There are undoubtedly survivors on board,” he said.
Frank didn't hesitate. “Fuck 'em.”
Jard nodded and fired several torpedoes. Upon impact, the warship broke into several pieces. “That was unexpected.”
“Yup. That's how the Li designed them. Total crap.”
“I'm confident those pieces will burn up if they fall into the atmosphere. Let's get into position.” Jard moved the ship and activated a capture device. “What the hell is that?”
Frank looked at the view-screen. “That's a Li fog dome. I wonder what they got in there. Jack said something about their defenses.” Frank looked out the window at the planet. “This is eerily similar to Earth.”
“The measurements are pretty close. You should feel right at home.” Jard checked some other instruments. “We are in position.” He accepted the data card from Frank. “Let's see if this works.”
“How will we even know?” Frank asked.
“I'll try to scan for power signatures.” Jard began once again fiddling with his instruments when a light came on from the left end of his console. “We're being hailed.” He pressed a button.
“Please state your identity,” a male voice said. He was speaking Unified Taltosh.
Jard flashed a smile as he said, “This is a private vessel transporting the Custodian of Earth. He would like to offer assistance.”
“Gelan would like a conference. There is a landing platform near the tip of the western continent.”
The light went off before Jard could reply. “They ended the transmission. At least they speak Taltosh.”
Frank shook his head.
“Ah, I see the problem.” Jard rolled the ship over. “We were looking at it the wrong way. There's the tip over there.”
“We're on a timer. How do you want to play this?”
“You're supposed to get permission from this guy, right?” Jard asked.
“Yes. And then I'll need to get over to that fog dome.”
Jard took his hands off the controls and turned in his seat to face a different panel. “She's taking us in. I'm taking a full spread on the way down.”
“Huh?”
“I'm taking pictures, Frank.”
“Cool. Let me know if you see anything interesting.”
“Here is something,” Ja
rd replied. “I'll send it over to the main screen.”
“Well, shit,” Frank said as he looked at the image of a grounded Gote warship.
“It's very near the fog dome,” Jard replied.
“That's going to add some time. Maybe you can drop me off. I don't want you to be stranded here if something goes wrong.”
“You're not doubting yourself, are you, Frank?”
“I mean if I am unable to get their power back on. I'm not too worried about a few Gotes.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. We'll meet with this Gelan and then I will drop you off near the warship. I'll wait up top for the power to come on.” He once again looked at his controls. “That will be cutting it close. It looks like the pulse only lasts a short time and will take a couple of days, local, to reset.”
* * *
“I don't see a way to make this stay,” Cindy said as she was trying to hang a makeshift curtain in front of Brogue's partition.
“I'll just have a couple of automechs hold it up,” Gladys replied.
The door of the lab slid open and Constanthos and Damon entered. “I'm afraid I didn't know how to explain this to Nera,” Constanthos said. She was wearing her halo, testing its range.
“I expected as much,” Gladys replied. “What's our status?”
“I am measuring. We've never been this far out into the Reaches before and I didn't want to put faith in the Gurdiks' data.”
Gladys nodded before turning toward Damon. “What are your thoughts, Damon?”
“This is all new to me,” he replied. “No offense, but I would probably freak out if I were in her position.” He looked at Dorothy Stewart where she slumbered upon the table.
“I've read her. She accepts the existence of non-Terrans unconditionally.”
Damon smiled at Cindy. “I suppose that will make this easier.”
“Connie?” Gladys started. “Do you have a strong link here?”
“Yes.”
“I thought we should cover Brogue for now. Perhaps we could get a couple of automechs to hold the fabric up.”
“Of course, sister.”
Gladys continued, “Since Damon and Connie are the only ones that will look familiar, as far as species is concerned, I thought the rest of us should wait in the garden. When she is ready, bring her out to meet us.”
“What if she loses her shit?” Damon asked.
“I can put her back into stasis,” Constanthos replied as two automechs hovered in to take hold of the curtain. “This system is clear. No habitable planets.” She removed the halo and the color returned to her eyes.
Gladys turned her attention to Dorothy. “I vowed to never interfere with the lives of humans,” she said. “I've broken that vow on several occasions and I am happy to break it once again.”
* * *
“Give me a second to talk to these guys,” Frank said as they approached the ramp.
“I'm hurt,” Jard joked.
“An awesome space-assassin might be too much for them,” Frank countered.
“Space-assassin?”
“Pretty cool, huh?”
“I don't know,” Jard replied, clearly confused.
“Trust me, it's cool on Earth.”
“Oh, I trust you. But this isn't Earth.” He activated the control that lowered the ramp.
“It's all good, buddy.” Frank slapped Jard on his shoulder as he turned to descend the ramp. He knew it was a gesture that Jard would appreciate immensely but he didn't have time to dwell on it as he soon found himself staring down the barrels of several raised rifles.
“Sleeve.”
Frank shifted into Unified Taltosh to reply to the command that had been issued by the soldier in charge. “Excuse me?”
“Pull up your sleeve.” The soldier's tone was direct and unyielding.
Frank shrugged. He pulled up the sleeve of his hoodie and then gestured for the varitherm to retract on up his right forearm. “Now what?” he asked as he presented his arm.
The officer, a tall, lean man of an indistinguishable ethnicity came forward and grasped Frank's forearm. He squeezed and pinched for a few moments before calling out, “He is human.”
“Is this a surprise?” Frank asked.
“Aliens like to pose as human,” the officer replied. “They look the part but a close inspection will reveal them.” He waved his free hand around. “Keep that one covered.”
Frank realized he was referring to Jard. He looked over to see his friend standing at the top of the ramp. “He is good. He is with me.”
The officer disregarded Frank's words. “Gelan wants to speak to you and only you. I need your weapon.”
“Just hang out here,” Frank called out to Jard in English. He handed his sword over to the officer. He noticed the man subduing a chuckle as he regarded Frank's choice in weapons.
“Follow me.” The tone was very direct and Frank knew this man was used to having people respect his orders.
The officer walked quickly and quietly which suited Frank just fine. He wasn't there to make friends. The lack of conversation gave Frank a chance to look around. The landing platform was merely a huge slab of some type of concrete. The yellow sun was low in the sky and Frank found himself wondering if it was morning or evening. He could hear the waves of the ocean as they were then marching across an area where the vegetation was giving way to sand. The few buildings with roofs as flat as the surrounding landscape were behind them. A solitary outcropping of rocks stood before them like a miniature mountain range.
“They will know if you are lying,” the officer stated as they grew closer to the rocks.
“I did not travel all this way to be dishonest.”
Five men stood waiting and Frank noticed an opening in the rocks. It wasn't quite a cave as much as it was a passage between the massive stones. Four of the men were soldiers and the fifth wore some type of robes.
“Mondor, I have the visitor.”
The man in robes looked in the direction but not at Frank. He was clearly sightless.
“What species?” Mondor asked. His tone was almost jovial. He was also tall and lean and the robes seemed to be too large for him.
“He seems to be human,” the officer replied. “I am going to follow you part way in. I will remain in earshot.”
“Suit yourself,” Mondor replied with a smile. Without turning his head, he asked, “Visitor, do you have a name?”
“Frank.”
“Right this way, Frank.” Mondor felt around the rock face until he found a stick that had been leaning up. He turned and made his way into the entrance. “I am Mondor. My title is Steward.”
“Steward?” Frank asked. “What are your duties?”
“I mainly just talk to Gelan.” He tapped the wall where part of the rock hung out. “Watch yourself. This one gets me all the time. It is traditional for Stewards to be blind. It is my understanding that people tend to stare in a strange way that upsets Gelan.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
The passageway widened as it opened into a natural chamber. It was surprisingly large and a large pool of water stood at the far end. Frank realized the ocean must meet the rocks there. It was dimly lit with sunlight creeping through the cracks between the rocks.
Mondor led with his stick until he felt it tap against a large flat rock near to the water. He stepped up and gestured for Frank to follow him.
“Gelan, the visitor is here.”
There was an odd sloshing sound coming from the shadows of the pool. The sound was repeated in a few locations around that end of the chamber. Frank could make out shadowy forms rising up from the water.
“Who are you?” The voice was low. Frank initially thought it sounded like someone taught a frog how to speak.
“I am Frank Ford, of Earth.”
“Do you have a title?” Gelan asked.
“My official title is Custodian of Earth.”
“You read like a human, but there is something different. Why are you
here, Frank Ford, of Earth?”
“I learned of Mertia and the troubles here and I came to offer my assistance.”
“What exactly do you know of our troubles?”
“I know the Li harvested the nuclear weapons. I know they set one off and made it so the galaxy thinks the whole planet is radioactive. And I know they left behind devices that keep the power off. And now Gotes are invading.”
“Something about you feels very ominous,” Gelan said. “But we believe your intentions are pure. What can one human do to assist us? The Li left a terrible structure. All who get near meet their end.”
“You will find I am uniquely qualified to help. I carry what is commonly known as the Curse of the Sessik.”
“The Sessik.” Gelan said the word and then paused as if searching their memories. “How did you come by this curse?”
“I was chosen by Gladosanthos.”
“Gladosanthos.” Gelan paused again. “She still lives?”
“Yes.”
“Did she send you?”
Frank thought over his response. “Yes and no. We were together when we learned of your plight. I wanted to come and she did not stop me. She only said that she could not accompany me in accordance with your agreement.”
“Your answers do not match your mood. Yet you do not lie. We are confused.”
“I lost someone recently.”
“That is it then.”
“Huh?” Frank looked around. Mondor stood there looking placid.
Gelan continued. “Your mood now makes sense. We are sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“What are your intentions after you liberate Mertia?”
“I will go home and rebuild. I am a builder by nature.”
Gelan paused once again. “You have no intention to rule here?”
“None. The Li tried the same thing on my planet and I was able to stop it. I only wish to turn back the invaders and disable whatever the Li left behind.”
“Charity often goes unappreciated, Custodian.”
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