"Do we really have to get our feet wet?" she asked, half in jest, half not.
The others didn’t answer.
They'd all made sure they'd called up extra grip boots from their belts, anticipating slippery stones, and were hoping no-one would fall in. If need be though, Jamie, who'd learned to swim at the beaches of New Glasgow, could act as rescuer.
They debated how the combat droids might manage the pond, but given how they'd managed the stairs, the stones would only prove a problem for them if they couldn’t take much weight. Hearing the discussion, Seasprite sent a droid onto the first stone, stepped it over to the second, and returned it, having had no trouble at all.
Snark returned with the shuttle. It hovered briefly at the top of the cliff as ten shapes dropped to the ground, before it flew over the pond, and came down at the base of the cliff, in a space only just large enough for it. Its presence so close reassured them. Snark’s call was heard as he made his way down the ramp, and waited while he joined them again. They discussed the plan to cross over to the Waterfall. Snark was keen to leave combat droids surrounding the pond, and have them behind the waterfall, once they knew what was there, and it was safe. The danger was their sensors couldn’t penetrate into what they thought was a cave behind the waterfall. Was there a nasty surprise waiting for them?
They settled on four droids to follow Jamie and Anna, and provide back up for anything they found behind the waterfall. The rest would spread out into a perimeter.
Jamie and Anna turned to each other, smiled, and Jamie caught Anna’s hand and squeezed it. They started off across the pool.
The stepping stones were just below the surface of the pool, and easy to see, but they were all different shapes, and slippery from slime, and other things growing on their surface. Some were closer together than others, and Anna and Jamie needed to concentrate to make sure they didn’t lose their balance. Anna tried not to think about her dream, as she crossed. Jamie was more confident, and sure-footed. He was thinking the stones were spaced for tall humans, as he was finding it fine, but Anna was having to stretch to reach some of them. He wondered how the cats would go. They would need to jump, which put them at risk of falling in. As he went, he tried to scuff off any slime or weeds growing on the surface, so they might get a better purchase.
Anna and Jamie looked back over their shoulders as they went, to check the others, and how far they’d gone. Anna glimpsed a shadow, or some movement, something which caught her eye up by the stone archway. She stopped and looked. Nothing. But she felt a presence. She called across to Snark, and he sent one of the combat droids to investigate. Anna shivered. What had she seen? The Grand Mother? Maraid? Were they watching over her now? Or, was it something more sinister?
She kept going.
The stepping stones led directly to the sheet of water cascading down forcefully into the pool. It was hard going as they neared the waterfall, as the spray got into their eyes, and they were soon soaked. The mist rising up obscured their vision, and they had to shift their suits into protection mode, seeing using suit sensors and their PC's saving them having to keep wiping their eyes and foreheads so they could see. The water was freezing cold, and the suits stopped them from feeling it.
Jamie came to the end of the stepping stones, and tried to peer through the sheet of water. There was no easy way to do this. He thought he could see a stone shelf beyond the waterfall, and blackness beyond there. He looked briefly at Anna behind him, smiled, turned, and jumped.
He was through. It was slippery, and slick on the other side of the waterfall, but he managed to keep his balance as he walked out of the spray zone, where he shifted back to normal suit. A dark entrance to what he thought must be a cave stretched out in front of him. He took off his backpack, slicking back his wet curls, as he rummaged inside, and brought out a torch. He flicked it on, and saw there was indeed a cave entrance. He quickly scanned for life-signs using his PC. Nothing. At least, nothing which he could read.
He shifted back into protection mode, walked back to the waterfall, and stuck his head and upper body through. He reached a hand for Anna, she grasped it, and he pulled her through as she jumped.
They slipped and slid on the surface of the shelf, as the force of Anna’s jump carried them backwards into the entrance of the cave, but stayed upright. Jamie hugged Anna close for a moment, and they both shifted back to normal suits.
Anna slicked the water off from her head, and smoothed out her hair, which was tied back in a long ponytail. She shook off the water from her tight-fitting jump suit. Jamie grinned appreciatively, and Anna raised her eyes to heaven. They both laughed.
Jamie started a vid to Snark, which he knew would also be sent to Seasprite, and the beetles’ and bears’ command ships. He looked around the entire area of the waterfall and cave entrance, before speaking.
"We’re here. There’s a cave as we thought, and I can’t pick up any life-signs. I’m not sure if the rock will mask readings or not. I’ll recce the cave beyond as far as I can, but start coming over now."
He stopped the vid, and pulsed it to Snark's pad.
"Acknowledged," pinged back the reply.
Jamie switched the torch on again, and he and Anna moved forward into the cave. It was smaller than they thought, with the torches quickly reaching to the back wall, where they could see the mouths of what looked like three tunnels.
"Wait," said Anna. "Turn off the torch."
Jamie looked at her, and did as she asked.
Their eyes started to adjust, and immediately the light shut off, twinkles of light appeared on the rock walls of the cave, and into the mouths of the tunnels. Small dots of light like a mass of stars glimmering in space illuminated the walls, like a fairyland, also lighting the cave itself. Anna and Jamie looked at the pinpoints of light in wonder.
"It must be some kind of glow-worm," said Jamie.
Anna was amazed, as she’d never seen anything like it. Jamie explained.
"There are tiny larvae of flies which glow in the dark, to attract food, which they catch in tiny webs. We had them on the Scots World."
"They’re beautiful,’ said Anna simply.
"Yes," agreed Jamie. He soon got back to business and walked over to the tunnels. "How do we know which one to follow?" he asked.
Anna reluctantly switched on her torch, and the glow-worms’ light dimmed. She walked over to where Jamie was standing, and shone the torch all around the entrance to the tunnel.
"There!" she exclaimed, as the torch picked out symbols seemingly carved into the rock. They examined it closely. "We need to translate it, but it looks like the same writing. The ‘gods’ writing. Sissness will know, but I’ll get onto it now."
Jamie walked across to the other tunnels. He could now see writing at the same place at each of the entrances. He shone his torch down the tunnel, but could only see rock walls stretching out as far as the torchlight went.
He turned to Anna, and moved back to the waterfall, as he heard from Snark the cats were crossing. He informed Anna, shifted his suit again, and moved through the curtain to stand on the last stepping stone, to be there in case any of the cats got into trouble, and to help them through the waterfall.
Anna worked on the translation. What they knew of the language was programmed into her pad and Sissness's tablet, however, they only had pieces of the language to work from. She was already translating the first one.
"Destiny is the way to truth."
She moved over to the next tunnel.
"Power is the way to truth."
And the next.
"Righteousness is the way to truth."
She pondered this, as she heard a whoosh, and Sissness emerged into the cave, helped by Jamie on the other side. She slipped and slid, but maintained her balance. She shook herself vigorously, saw Anna, and made her way across to her.
Two droids suddenly flew in through the curtain. They immediately raised their weapons, and started scanning for any life-signs or threat
s.
The droids relaxed into alert mode, as another whoosh came, and Brindle appeared. She slid on the shelf, and fell, sliding further in on her side. Anna ran over to help her up. She was winded, but not hurt, as her suit had cushioned her fall, but she knew she would have some bruising on her side. She too shook the water off, and embarked on a frenzy of scratching under her chin.
Snark was last, keeping his balance and his dignity, and he also shook himself energetically. His large ears rapidly flapped from side to side as he did. He always thought it helped clear his mind. Jamie followed him, and his suit shifted again.
Snark spoke into his tablet coms.
"We’re in the cave behind the waterfall. No sign of nasties. We’ll keep you updated."
"Acknowledged," came the reply from Patters on Seasprite. "No sign of any nasties up here either," she added.
"Acknowledged," confirmed Snark.
Sissness joined Anna at the tunnels. She'd pointed out the glow-worms, but they were now studying the translations Anna had completed. Sissness was also checking the wording, and confirmed they were accurate as far as she was concerned.
Brindle was licking her paws, even though she knew there was just suit there. It was reflex. When she stopped, she un-holstered a weapon. She liked to be ready.
Anna and Sissness conferred with the others.
"What does it mean?" asked Snark.
Anna shrugged.
"There are obviously three choices, depending on what you believe the most, I’m guessing. Or what you believe the ‘gods’ thought was the ‘right’ answer."
"Well it's called the Destiny Stone," said Brindle. "Maybe that’s the right tunnel."
"The Stone also gives the owner great power," added Snark.
Anna shook her head.
"In one of my visions, the ‘gods’ mentioned ‘the righteous’ as being the ones to follow them. And only the ‘righteous’ could enter the ark."
Jamie nodded.
"Then we try ‘righteousness’ first," he said.
They discussed it a bit more, but all agreed. According to the plan, Anna, Jamie, and Sissness would go further on through the tunnel, reporting back to the others as they went. Brindle would remain in the cave, and act as back up. Snark would go outside to coordinate if they needed to repel any beings coming up on the pool.
The three going in turned from the others, Jamie shone his torch forward, and they disappeared into the mouth of the tunnel. The others could see them in the torchlight, becoming fainter and fainter, until the tunnel must have curved away, and they disappeared from sight.
Seventy Four
Brother Paulus sat at the vidcom, and waited for Brother Prime. He was fairly confident Brother Prime would be satisfied with his progress. They had news of the Seasprite, particularly from the operatives he'd recruited at the bear and beetle home worlds.
Paulus smiled to himself. While he knew all about the Seasprite, they knew nothing of the welcome he'd prepared for them at Scylla. This is where the showdown would be. He was sure with the forces he'd amassed, they would be able to capture the Seasprite, get possession of the Stone, and the human technology. He was sure he could find all sorts of ways to amuse himself with the prisoners as well.
He smiled, but realised he was getting ahead of himself.
Yes, the Seasprite had been able to recruit forces of their own, which was disappointing, as it meant he had to spend more gals on more forces. The Valderians didn’t come cheap.
He was also aware at the battle of Bhatet, there had been additional human ships which had come to the Seasprite’s rescue. If they showed up, this might even up things a little too much for his liking. There was no way he was mentioning this to Brother Prime. Or should he? Brother Prime knew everything, and might think he was not planning effectively. Perhaps he should buy more mercenary power, even at this late stage. No. He shouldn’t be second guessing his strategy now. In any case, his vid report had gone off already, and with his report made, sending extra information only made him look ineffective.
The vidcom came to life in front of him. There was some static, and the picture cleared. He could see the shape of Brother Prime, seated as usual in silhouette, features unseeable, indistinct to the point where even his species was hidden. Petty really. He saw the need to rely on such fear mongering tactics, even when they weren't needed.
"So Brother Paulus, you have made progress."
Paulus had updated him with only a short summary of action and planning so far. He hoped it was enough. Apparently it was.
"I see you have thought of every contingency."
Brother Paulus preened to himself.
"Never forget I want a result. I want the Stone. And don’t think for a moment I don’t know you’re planning to steal it for yourself to use. I wouldn’t do that. I already have plans in place if you think it’s worth sacrificing your life."
Brother Paulus swallowed.
Brother Prime leaned forward. Still nothing showed of his features.
"I punish disloyalty with a long and painful death, as you know."
Paulus’ tongue felt thick and dry in his mouth behind his beak. He knew.
Brother Prime leaned back.
"I’m satisfied for now you seem to know what you’re doing," he sneered. "Failure is not an option. Remember that."
The vid cut off.
Paulus sat back, shivering. Of course, Brother Prime would have guessed his plans. He wondered who in his entourage the spy was. It could be any or all of them.
He knew he had to win. He had the forces.
It was time.
He left the vidcom room, with a new sense of purpose.
Seventy Five
Patters was scanning for any ships anywhere in the system they could see. She didn’t trust they may have picked up everything already present. Despite Seasprite’s advanced scanning technology, she had the feeling something wasn’t right. There were the planets in the system, as well as moons, which a force could be hiding behind. If so, it wouldn’t take as long to get here, as jumping through the jump point at the edge of this system.
Neep had been watching Patters and Mouse. Patters was obviously on edge, the way her tail twitched, moved back and forth, and twitched again. She never stopped scanning.
Mouse was interesting. He was perched on the weapons console, having a conversation with Seasprite about how to calibrate the weapons systems even more, so it would be more efficient, and quicker in responding. Seasprite was agreeing, but Neep had his doubts as to if agreement meant change. He suspected not. They didn’t want to touch anything now, in case they needed to spring into action, however Mouse was excited about what he’d come up with.
On the scanner, at the same time as an alert sounded, Patters suddenly saw the ships appear at the jump point. They emerged four at a time in a continuous flow. It was quickly apparent they were coming in full force. She waited until they stopped jumping in, and opened a channel to the fleet.
"Enemy fleet inbound," she said quickly. "I count ninety six ships, including six Battleships, and more than two thirds are Cruisers. Three Battleships are leading, with one on each side and one bringing up the rear."
"This is Gruff. Time to get here?"
"At their speed, assuming we stay here and wait for them, twelve hours and change. Six if we leave now and meet them half way. They might out mass us by a lot, but they did us a favour by coming in the jump point, instead of being here already, and jumping us unexpectedly."
"I expect they think by coming in after us," said Hover, "we have nowhere to go. If I was them, I’d have left a small force on the other side of the jump point to ambush any of us who escaped, especially your ship. We might try to hide, but they have the numbers to flush us out of anywhere."
"Agreed," said Gruff. "We'll wait here for now, in case the ground team finish their business before we need to fight. But we'll move out to meet them three hours before hand, so we don’t get pinned against the planet. Seaspri
te, you will join us in the formation before then."
Patters acknowledged, and closed the channel. The nav feeds were sent to all the fleet ships.
Snark and Brindle received Patters’ coms, and Snark cursed to himself. The Brotherhood were here. He called through on a private channel to Patters.
"Let me know the details," he said, and Patters gave him a rundown of the number of ships, types, and estimated arrival time.
Snark knew this size force was a stretch for Seasprite and its allied fleet. He worried though there would be more ships coming through the jump point at any minute.
"Keep an eye on the jump point. If I was Paulus, I’d wait until our forces are engaged, and then jump in some reinforcements. Or jump in a second fleet anyway, timed to fall on us as we lick any wounds from the first battle."
"Acknowledged," said Patters. She was thinking the same thing. "How’re things down there?"
"No coms from the others in the tunnel. I think the rock is interfering, as usual."
"Keep us posted," said Patters, and Snark closed the channel.
He turned to Brindle.
"Stay here. I’m going to go and check the defensive perimeter I’ve set up."
"We have plenty of time you know."
"I know, but I wouldn't be surprised if a ground team is already here, and set to hit us well before their fleet arrives. Their timing could be just to lull us into a false sense of security."
"You're getting paranoid."
"Maybe, but better to be wrong my way than the other."
"Stay in coms."
Brindle didn’t want to be left alone, but knew she needed to be here, if the others should come back.
Snark climbed up the stones at the side of the waterfall, to see if there was an easier way to get out of the cave. Instead, he found an alternative, but steep and slippery way up to the plateau. He disappeared from Brindle’s sight.
Patters had been debating sending off a 'we need help' message. She gave in to the impulse, and addressed the message to Jane herself, including the nav feeds. If there was any help available, Jane would know it, and send it.
A.I. Destiny 4 Destiny Stone Page 29
