“That is excellent news, Hesset, but there is something else?”
“Onallin was gravely injured by hidden explosive devices placed by the Kez’Erel soldiers.”
Qural felt the color drain from her face.
“Go on.”
“The blast did not cause serious damage, but instead sent tiny projectiles, like needles, into her face and neck. These projectiles have delivered Velasphere devices Banen believes are designed to attack Onallin genetically; we cannot find a way to combat this condition with our ship’s limited medical research facilities.”
Tindas leaned close and said, “What is the nature of this weapon, Hesset?”
“The Velaspheres carry organic molecules suspended in a fluid. Banen says they are similar in composition to ordinary nucleotides. A purpose remains unclear, but he believes their introduction into Onallin’s body chemistry might disrupt normal functions at the sub-cellular level, perhaps even targeting her DNA. The Velaspheres are dormant, at least for the moment, but soon these machines will begin to release the foreign nucleotides as Onallin’s body temperature continues to rise. Banen has knowledge of such weapons, Professor; if we do not stop the process, the resulting condition will almost certainly kill her.”
“Can you transmit the results of Banen’s investigations?”
“Yes,” Hesset answered. “I am sending them now.”
In seconds, a flood of data poured into the comm unit and Professor Tindas leaned close to the console.
“It will be very interesting to hear how you managed to contact us from within a Hyperthread, but that will have to wait until you return. How long before you reach us?”
“Almost three days,” Hesset replied, “but Onallin’s condition will certainly degrade when the Velaspheres begin to move.”
“Has Banen identified when these machines will activate?” Qural asked.
“He believes the process will begin in less than twenty hours, Ambassador; we must find a solution quickly if it is determined she will not survive long enough for us to get her home.”
“Ommit will review Banen’s analysis results, but send me the codes and transmission protocols so we can contact you as soon as we find answers.”
Another burst settled itself in the comm unit’s access files, giving them two-way audio transmission ability between the ship and Fells Moll.
“Please hurry, Ambassador; Onallin does not have much time.”
“We will do everything possible, Hesset. Stay close to your comm station and I will contact you soon.”
Though he was determined to find a way to save Rantara, Banen knew better than anyone the stark truth that hid inside her body, waiting for the tiny machines to wake and begin their deadly mission. If help from Fells Moll accomplished nothing, he would face the horrible, inevitable task of telling the others Onallin would not survive. Norris sat close, holding Rantara’s hand gently in his. He looked at her and tried to smile, but the deep and unavoidable ache had begun. Outside the medical bay, Banen’s personal communicator allowed him to hear the words as they passed in a whisper.
“The Doc’s working hard to figure this out; he’s not giving up without a fight. I know you can’t hear me, but I need you to fight, too—fight with everything you have because…”
He stopped and choked back the emotions pushing their way out. Never in his life had Norris felt so desperate and helpless. Even as he surveyed the desolation and certain death that waited for him on Karroba in those first hours of loneliness, and later still in the hands of interrogators at Voralem who brutalized him by the hour, he had not experienced such despair.
They met as opposites in a dangerous game of survival under conditions few could understand—adversaries in the sweltering misery of a prison for months, only to ally themselves to each other in a sudden, unexpected flight to freedom. But in those moments, Rantara had changed. So had Norris, perhaps, but as he grew to know her, the former Sergeant of the Guard in control of the tiers became so much more. He watched her.
Hesset and Theriani listened, too. From their station on the bridge, they waited in silence as Norris’ words came through the ship’s internal comm system. He wanted her to hear courage and hope, but instead, his tone was one only of desperation. Hesset swallowed hard and brushed away a tear as Theriani took her arm. Norris whispered to Rantara, but the words were easy to hear.
“I promised him I would protect you; I told Arros I would always look after you, but now, I…”
He struggled to finish, looking upward as if speaking directly to God for intervention and a miracle, perhaps—anything to bring her back to him.
“You have to hold on while we figure this out, okay? Banen is sharp as they come and he’ll find a way; you just have to…”
In his silence, Norris understood the darkness was closing on Rantara quickly. He cradled her head and held it close to his.
“Don’t leave me here, Onallin,” he said softly. “We still have a lot do, and…just hold on a while longer.”
Alone on the bridge, Hesset turned to Theriani as they sat near the navigation array’s console. In their eyes, each saw only desperation mirrored in the other as Banen crept quietly from the med bay to join them.
“Have you found anything?” Hesset asked, but Banen looked away. On his face was resignation and sadness.
“The Velaspheres are moving,” he said softly. “The full activation rate is not as fast as I once feared, but her fever has worsened and the process will begin soon.”
“How long until they target her cells?” Hesset asked.
“I do not know at this point; the first movement from a static test sample was found by the analyzer only moments ago. Once I have seen the measurement data in the next hour, I will know more.”
Hesset moved Banen forward to the command station, simply to ensure Norris wouldn’t overhear.
“If she dies…Darrien may not be able to go on if we lose her.”
Banen looked at them and shook his head slowly.
“I have not said it to him directly, but the time is approaching when he must accept it and prepare. I cannot stop this, Hesset. She is carrying many thousands of microscopic time bombs and there is nothing I can do for her. I do not even understand the nature of this mechanism and what it may cause!”
None of them needed to be told the weapon had been designed to kill; with or without their understanding of its specific nature, the unseen, deadly payload inside each tiny Velasphere would soon be released and revealed.
“We are still days away from Fells Moll,” whispered Hesset. “Are you certain there is no way to slow or prevent the Velaspheres from activating?”
“Quite certain. With the limited resources onboard, I have run simulations using temperature and pressure changes to identify a way, but each method would produce conditions lethal to Onallin long before they would affect the Velaspheres.”
Hesset paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. At last, she went quickly to her console.
“Do you at least understand their structure? The Professor wondered about that as well, but I suspect he was merely thinking aloud.”
Banen shook his head in frustration.
“If what I suspect is true, it may not matter. If the molecules are indeed impostor nucleotides, the Velaspheres will not need much time to deliver them. Once they do, it will cause significant and irreversible damage to her cellular structure.”
Hesset stood and faced him directly.
“Banen, you are not merely a healer; you are a scientist! We have to find a way!”
“I am not certain there is a way, Hesset, do you not understand? This vessel’s medical archives are not configured for the theoretical analysis needed to combat a bio-weapon so complex and advanced. I am not skilled enough to…”
She pulled his hands tightly into hers.
“Yes you are! I have seen you work in conditions a thousand times worse than this. I watched others pulled back from death by only your intuition and s
kill; by your hands. There is an answer for this and you must find it!”
Banen looked away, but soon, Hesset’s powerful resolve became his. He took in a deep breath and nodded toward her console.
“Call them,” he said. “Open the link to Qural’s laboratory, please.”
A GRIMY LAND taxi, well-used and showing its age, clattered to a halt near the shops district on the south side. A typical mining outpost, Girngall was remote, even by Porseth standards. A town of nearly twelve thousand, it had been a hub of activity for generations and a home to gas drillers who worked the fields and their seemingly inexhaustible deposits. The winds had slowed since sunset, but the cold they brought each evening sent most scurrying for their huts, or the warmth of crowded bars and noisy clubs.
The taxi idled while its lone occupant pulled himself from the cramped passenger compartment, stretching with relief and grateful the confinement he’d endured was at an end as he handed over twenty Porseth credit tokens to the driver with instructions to return later. He waited while the filthy machine rumbled off, disappearing in a swirl of dust around a deserted warehouse. He stood in the road, half-way between two pale streetlights, pulling the thick collar of his great coat tight around his neck. The noise from busier streets a few blocks away was deadened by the wind moving swiftly toward the east and he heard her approach, stepping carefully from the shadows.
“You read the intercepted message?” he asked before turning.
“Yes,” she replied.
“It is a welcome surprise they dealt with Toa so easily,” he said, turning to meet her.
“Perhaps not so surprising after all,” she replied; “Rantara and the little Revallan are as deadly as any we’ve ever known, and Norris was no stranger to battle, either. Even your linguist has taken lives quite efficiently, as I recall.”
“That is true, but it is also clear Toa overestimated his chances; the Kez’Erel creatures seemed quite imposing, but they were obviously no match.”
“It must’ve been quite a shock for him to learn it was his expensive mercenaries who had the most to fear after all.”
He moved close.
“I do not believe the galaxy will be a poorer place from his absence, but your Lieutenant’s condition has become the immediate concern. You should understand, if their doctor fails, I intend to enlist Temor Shillik’s help.”
“I know.”
“You are comfortable with this approach?”
“I won’t go so far as to say I’m comfortable, but I understand the gravity of the problem. Finding a solution is far more important than our mutual dislike of Shillik and his past transgressions. Norris’ mission to bring his leaders for Embree’s summit must go on as-planned; there can be no delays. I hope it won’t be necessary, but if Rantara does not survive her injuries, we can instead urge them through our channels to send the Ambassador’s military envoy, Alar. It would be a regrettable alternative, but Norris knows and trusts her.”
“Shillik has not changed his position, you know; he still regards your organization as his most hated enemy.”
“Shillik can regard us any way he likes so long as he sees to it Norris and Alar reach Earth, if and when that option is needed.”
“As Tindas noted to Qural, Norris may not be willing to continue if she dies; I am sure you are also aware the two have declared and confirmed the Life Choice?”
“He’ll do his part,” she said firmly. “Norris understands as well as anyone what is at stake.”
“I hope we are not underestimating Lieutenant Rantara’s importance to him.”
“I don’t pretend it wouldn’t cause him considerable grief and sadness, but he would not abandon this mission.”
He looked away.
“There is a better than even chance your people could discover Shillik’s location, provided he agrees to this. I will need something to assure him your assassination squads will not use the information to find and eliminate him.”
“I’ll send the appropriate orders that he is to be left alone.”
“Not an easy thing for you to do.”
“It would be tempting to expose him and do nothing to stop the assassins, but our purpose demands otherwise.”
“And after?”
“Let’s give them a chance to save Rantara’s life before worrying about Shillik. Have you spoken to him?”
“Not openly, but Shillik knows enough to remain available should the need to engage his particular services arises.”
“Do you believe he would decline, simply to avoid the risk of exposure?”
“My operative inside the university will ease his fears; he is unaware of her relationship to us.”
“How will she convince him, if not on your direct authority?”
“Shillik is ruthlessly effective, but he is also arrogant and self-important to a fault. She will convince him the way she always has.”
“I must admit, sex remains an effective method for manipulating others.”
“Exactly—he will help because she will ask it of him.”
“His hatred of the Khorra Nu could still prove difficult.”
“Perhaps, but the problem is certainly not insurmountable, particularly when he is given an opportunity to feed his ego.”
“That’s true, but your operative has a plan?
“If it becomes necessary, she will present to him a problem like no other, with his skills as the only apparent way to save the Anashi people. She will fabricate a suitable lure, suggesting the Khorrans are not up to the task, and insist dramatically that your people have turned their backs on one of their own and the Anash must step in to save the day. Shillik would not be able to resist.”
“His vanity has always been reliable. In any case, it was most gratifying to learn the information from Esharam is now in their hands.”
He looked up at the cold night sky, awash in brilliant, glittering stars.
“Still, I am concerned for Norris’ participation. If she dies…”
“We don’t have the luxury of assured success; they will have to send the human to Earth whether Rantara survives or not.”
“You make it seem as though we expect her to die.”
“It is quite the reverse, actually. The Searchers who live with the Ambassador—Kol and Haleth—are quite capable. Tindas will make them available to help that doctor of yours find a solution. We already know of his reputation as a healer and his skill in xenobiology is obvious; I am confident they may yet succeed.”
“Keep in mind, Rantara’s condition has worsened. The last communication from Alar indicated the Velaspheres inside the Lieutenant’s body are now activating.”
“I noticed, but their chances are very much improved, now that intra-tunnel communications are available to them.”
“A fortunate turn of events, I must admit.”
“Which reminds me,” she said with a coy smile, “how did Alar figure out how to open comm links from within a Hyperthread? That research was tightly restricted and known only to a few on Belex.”
“Rantara seems to have planted that seed; her sister is one of your best researchers in the field, is she not?”
“Yes, but I am now forced to wonder if Aniesse Rantara’s appreciation for security protocols needs to be reinforced in the near future.”
“That is your business; the immediate problem must be met and solved before we worry about the future. I will continue to monitor their progress and alert you if a solution is found.”
“Until next time…”
She moved quickly along the alley until an air car slid neatly between the single-level buildings, hovering only centimeters from the ground as she climbed aboard. When it lifted quickly into the night air, he waited in a vacant doorway until the taxi returned. Squeezing himself into the tiny seat, a simple gesture told the driver to make for the landing port north of the city and moments later, a deserted Porseth alley fell silent once more.
NORRIS FELT BETTER after a shower and a brave attempt to ea
t Khorran Navy rations, but mostly, his spirits were lifted knowing others worked to defeat the evil lodged inside Rantara’s body. Banen busied himself with measurements of the test Velasphere’s rate of decay, but the inescapable truth hadn’t changed; the first devices would begin their search for target cells in less than twenty hours if Rantara’s fever worsened. He knew, as they all did, her body’s natural resistance to intruding matter may yet prove her most lethal enemy.
When Hesset’s comm display blinked to life again, she hurried to accept the query and establish a link. With Theriani’s help, they had made two successive refinements to the navigation array to reveal a fuzzy, sketching image when Tindas appeared on the screen. The audio signal remained strong and he went straight to business.
“We understand time is short, so I will dispense with the usual greetings, Hesset.”
“I understand, Professor.”
“Haleth has some questions for Banen.”
“Go ahead, Haleth,” he said.
“Doctor, your analysis of the Velaspheres suggests their construction is likely a complex silicon, but I noticed your focus has shifted to the purpose of these organic molecules.”
“That is correct,” Banen said. “We now know temperature is the release stimulus, but without a reliable method of degrading Onallin’s fever, I have shifted my investigations to the molecules themselves.”
Haleth nodded and said, “I can see also your from your notes the molecules may have been engineered to a specific chemical behavior, targeting perhaps the base pairs in the Lieutenant’s DNA?”
“We think the purpose of this weapon may be the relationship between the molecules as nucleotides and their associated partners in a targeted DNA base pair. What we do not yet understand is the nature of this process.”
“You have reached a conclusion?”
“A preliminary hypothesis only, but I now suspect the point of this weapon was introducing a substitute molecule—an impostor nucleotide—to take the place of an original and possibly disrupt the normal processes of replication.”
“We have considered this possibility as well,” said Haleth. “If your suspicions are proven accurate, it is likely the goal of these impostor molecules is to halt cell replication by preventing messenger RNA from completing its task.”
Echoes of Esharam Page 22
