New Earth

by Randal Sloan

  Jarra wondered how she could learn all of this in the scant couple of hours she had remaining before their arrival. Nevertheless, she replied with the only acceptable answer.

  “As you say, Master, so will I do.”

  As the Master broke the connection, Jarra immediately went back to her meditation. She wondered at the meaning of all she’d been told, but she trusted the Master’s words. What he was asking her to do definitely was going to require practice. That and a little self-confidence, something she normally did not lack.

  At least it fit right in with her meditation plans. While she had time, best she be about it.

  Gabo had been working nearly as hard as Galen as they were once more doing the impossible. The route given them by Adriel had not only been passable, it had been amazingly clear of true obstacles to their path. Still, his station kept him quite busy, forcing him to continually work the sensors to keep ahead of their path.

  Sara had come on the bridge and she sent him a subroutine that helped to clean up the interference in his signal due to the radiation from the core. He’d been immediately grateful, sending her a quick “Thank you” by implant, but he’d been too busy to give her the full recognition she deserved for a return to the bridge.

  That was the other thing. After her near death thing, the two of them had finally agreed to pursue a possible relationship. Gabo had always been interested in her, her intelligence and beauty a powerful attraction to him, but she’d shied away from it before. Even then he’d thought she felt the attraction too, but he’d never been sure. But something definitely had changed after he visited her in sick bay.

  After awakening from her coma, it was like she had been given a new lease on life. She’d even shared with him her secret, making him promise not to tell their leader before she could. Somehow, Adrihel, the Forerunner AI, had placed a part of himself inside her head, so she now had her very own personal AI. Gabo smiled when he remembered the look of wonder on her face as she described it.

  “She knows,” Sara sent along with the subroutine, so at least he didn’t have to worry about letting it slip accidentally. He had known all along Jarra wouldn’t be angry, but he also understood Sara needed to be the one to break the news.

  Her information about the Forerunner hyperspace “NET” explained where their current course had come from, which was way beyond anything the Empire could have begun to come up with. It looked like they were nearing the end of the part of their trip that went through the core. The rest of their flight wouldn’t exactly be easy, but hopefully they could at least be able to breathe a little easier.

  It was a shame their trip would have to be classified. They had already broken all kinds of records. It wouldn’t be the last, he was sure, but after Galen’s warning of the consequences of bragging too much, he decided to keep his thoughts to himself.

  No, I really don’t want to risk getting on the bad side of Lady Fate myself. Especially not now, not when everything I’ve dreamed of is coming true!

  Jarra had finally finished up her meditation and her homework, at least the part she could do while meditating. She felt she was as prepared as she could be for the upcoming confrontation, although she intended to practice the time slowing part of it in a few minutes as suggested by the Master. It had felt right during her meditation, but that didn’t mean it would work if she had to fight with it. She needed to be sure she was ready. If we can even get there on time! she still worried.

  But she needed more information. She sent an implant call to Kaeden, feeling the surprise in his response. As the first Borjon to receive an implant, he was still learning to adapt to its presence. Obviously, he’d been completely surprised to receive such a call.

  “What can I do to assist you, Your Highness?” he responded after his brief moment of surprise. He was getting better at it, at least.

  “I need you to meet me in my quarters, please. I want to discuss what it means to be trained as one of your Order. In particular, I’m wondering if someone of another race who, while on the surface would seem to be so very different from you and your Master, might have more similarities than we might suspect.”

  “It’s a very intense training at times, and it definitely forces one to consider deep thoughts, if one is to learn all that he must learn to master the Prophecies. Are you thinking that someone within another such Order might also be similarly dedicated to following the credo and words of the Forerunners and their Prophecies, much as I and my brothers have?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I’ll be there momentarily. I’ll be glad to tell you all that I can, although I know we won’t have time to go into as much depth as you may need. Hopefully, it will be enough.”

  “It will have to be. Thank you.”

  One more piece to the puzzle. Would it be enough?

  Kaeden realized the request to speak with him from Jarra was directly related to the Prophecies, so he prepared himself to meet not only with his leader and friend, but also with the One. He politely excused himself from the bridge, knowing Galen had a firm grasp on the rest of their fast course and he didn’t really need him now.

  His thoughts were busy as he made his way to Jarra’s quarters. He wondered if perhaps this had something to do with his last conversation with Master Hadassah just before he left for the shuttle and began this crazy flight across the galaxy. Since then he’d been so busy with the rest of them in their high speed flight that he hadn’t been able to think about the charge the Master had given him.

  “You must find a way to reach beyond your prejudices and become friends with one you have called your enemy,” the Master had told him. The Golden One’s suggestion that an Order that studied and believed in the Prophecies could have much in common with Kaeden and his Order just might be the answer he sought.

  He reached the door to her quarters, so he pressed the panel beside her door to announce his arrival. Of course, he could have done it by implant as well, but he still couldn’t quite get used to that. Perhaps someday.

  “Come,” came the quiet response, the door opening on her implant command, once more reminding him of the differences between his people and the humans. If he could find such common ground with them, might he be also able to do it with another?

  Kaeden stepped into her small but comfortable quarters, the first time he had been given that opportunity. He recognized the tiny elements of the personalization that made it her room, especially the 3D animated pictures of her family, even the one who must have been her mother. She was very beautiful, with golden hair much like her daughter. What would it have been like if she had lived?

  The second thing Kaeden quickly recognized was that Jarra was still sitting in the meditative position and he felt the waves of peace that were emanating from her. Something else was going on with her also, but he couldn’t quite figure it all out.

  He knew time was of the essence, so he launched right into it, a very un-Borjon thing to do. He gave her a smile. “I try to be more like human than Borjon,” he explained, “and give you real answers to your question. You see, what you ask brings much thought to me, and I must explain my last meeting with Master Hadassah. I believe it means my charge from the Master must be much the same as your own charge.”

  “I expect you’re right. We shall soon be in conflict with a group of the original Aerstone, who call themselves the Oidhche, and I believe that at least some of them may be much the same as you and I, which is why I asked you to come here to talk.”

  She rose from her seat on the bed to sit down in the tiny office area afforded her as Captain and pointed to the side chair. “Have a seat and tell me what you can. We have little time, but I believe this is very important.”

  “The Master said I must become friends with one who was my enemy. I now see why you would ask such a question. If we are indeed much alike, must we not find that common ground?”

  Jarra smiled at him. “As you suspected, I have been given much of a similar charge from both the Forerunner AI
Adrihel and from Master Barsyan of the Octarian Order, another group I find very similar to your own. Perhaps that is a discussion for another time, but please, in the time that we have, tell me about your Order.”

  They talked for several minutes, Kaeden explaining as much as he could about how they came into being as the Order of the Most Vigilant, and why they believed the Prophecies were so very important. The more he talked, the more deeply he understood about himself and what he believed. Perhaps what the Master asked was not so impossible, after all.

  Finally, their discussion came to an end. “There’s much more,” he told her, “but I think I’ve covered the most important points.”

  Jarra gave him a smile. “Thank you, dear friend. I just need your help with one more small thing…”

  Jason was technically in charge on the bridge. Everyone was doing so well at their individual tasks, there really wasn’t anything for him to do. Kaeden and Galen had taken to switching each other out every couple of hours, with Galen currently flying the ship. Amy was shadowing and providing minor assistance, but the level the other two were operating was beyond her at this stage in her training at navigation. Still, she watched intently.

  Sara and Gabo were likewise switching out on the sensors, although they spent a bit more time working together at it. It was obvious Sara was still learning and also that the two were enjoying their time working together. Like him, Sasha was not technically involved with the ship’s flight, but she was reviewing data they’d obtained while crossing the areas near the core using the void drive.

  Which left him with not that much to do. He had been taking advantage of a quiet section of hyperspace when he received a VR message from Jarra. He knew she was in her quarters meditating and he understood she was trying to deal with both her stress and the need to prepare herself for their arrival, although he really thought it was primarily to help her settle her nerves.

  “I need you to come to the workout area and spar with me.”

  Apparently she was done with meditation.

  “What did I do,” he replied, “that I deserve punishment?”

  “Very funny. I just need someone to practice a new technique on. You should consider it an honor.”

  “Now I’m really worried. I’ll be there momentarily.”

  Aloud Jason spoke to Sasha. “Sasha, you have the bridge. I’m going to go spar with our illustrious leader.”

  As he rose to leave, he added, “Perhaps I will return.”

  The disadvantage of a small ship like Katarina was that he arrived much too quickly to the area they’d designated as the tiny gym they had available on the ship. He slipped into the small dressing area just outside the gym and changed into his workout clothes.

  Not surprisingly, Jarra was already there and she had a Bo, a weapon similar to a staff but more often used by those training in the martial arts than a traditional staff. What did surprise him was to find Kaeden also there with her, a Bo in his hand too. He more than once had wondered if the Borjon monks practiced the martial arts, so now he had the answer to that. Looking at Kaeden’s easy stance, he suspected he was quite good at it too.

  Picking up his own Bo from the rack on the side, Jason took a resting stance just inside the padded workout area. Jarra moved closer to face the two of them.

  Jason tried to give her a hurt look, but he couldn’t hold it, ending up with a smile. “I again must reiterate that I have done nothing that rates this punishment, so I ask you to go easy on me.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jarra told him. “You won’t know what hit you.” She smiled sweetly at him. “Seriously, I need the two of you to press an attack against me as hard as you can. I will defend myself.”

  Jason nodded. She’d done this kind of thing before and he was still amazed at both her skill and the ability to know where her opponents were at all times, often moving to block an attack she shouldn’t possibly have been able to see.

  At first, it felt like a normal sparring session, although Jason could tell she was handling the two of them with ease. Kaeden was every bit as good as he suspected too. Still, neither could break through her guard and, even though her primary intent was defense, he managed, barely, to hold off her attacks against him. Even so, it was immediately obvious that if she wanted to, she could easily overcome both of them.

  Then something happened. Suddenly, Jarra’s movements became a blur. The next thing Jason knew, he and Kaeden were both on the mat.

  Jarra just gave them a smile. “Do it again.”

  This time it happened more quickly. She had them do it again and again until it was happening so fast neither could even get his Bo up to begin an attack, much less stage a defense.

  “Thank you,” she told them both. She gave them both hugs; Jason even got a kiss, but he could tell she was preoccupied. “I’ll be on the bridge momentarily, if you’ll pass the word on.”

  She walked out, leaving the two just staring at each other.

  “What just happened?” Jason asked Kaeden.

  “I believe your dear fiancée has just become ‘laochra deiridh’ — what you would say, the ultimate warrior.”

  At the question in Jason’s eyes, he went on, “She has learned to slow time so that she moves much faster than those who would oppose her. It has been rumored that in the past a few of our Order were able to obtain such ability. No one is still living among my brethren who can do so.”

  Jason shook his head. “She was already almost invincible. What will she be able to do, now?”

  “What indeed?” Kaeden replied.

  Chapter 11

  So It Begins

  Robert stared in disbelief at the com he held in his hands. “They refuse to speak with me, even though I told them I have the provisional Governor here. They’ve already doubled the guards on the Palace, he says, so they don’t need any help.”

  “That’s the Imperials for you,” Missy told him. “Without your orbitals to give you status, they figure they don’t have to listen to you. You’re lucky they didn’t demand you take orders from them.”

  “Oh, he hinted at it,” Robert told her. “He just wasn’t brave enough to say it straight out.”

  Robert had wanted to declare martial law and go over their heads, but even the green behind the ears Governess had the wherewithal to tell him that wouldn’t work. After all, they were still just the “Provisional” government, and it just wouldn’t do to attempt something that blatant until the planet was fully on board with the Empire.

  He’d finally agreed when she refused to back down, thus attempting to make the just failed call to warn them. Despite the horrible circumstances, he was quite proud of Jenn who’d finally accepted her role. Deep down, he also knew she’d made the right choice.

  He was just tired of having to watch people die because they were too arrogant to listen.

  “It’s begun,” Jackson told him, looking up from his console. He had several drones in place around the palace, so he was keeping a close eye on the situation. He pointed to the 3D VR he had displayed.

  “Those guys look kinda like the Aerstone,” Robert said in confusion. Despite having the data on the aliens, he hadn’t had time to look at it in any detail. What they were seeing was a total surprise to him. “They have the red eye but their bodies look a little different. I wonder if they're a retrograde sect.”

  “You’re right,” Jackson told him. “I’m picking up mixed biometric signals on them. Not near as much metal as the ones we saw the last time. If I had to venture a guess, these guys have their original bodies, just enhanced with tech.”

  “Definitely retrograde. I wonder what’s their story. If they’d been willing to talk, perhaps we could have reached an agreement with them, especially if they’re opposed to the Aerstone Dark Council.”

  As they watched, a group of five alien warriors, dressed like old earth ninjas, approached the palace. They carried no apparent weapons in what was obviously their equivalent of hands, but they moved with the confidence o
f a warrior that intended to win. The group formed a sort of V shape, with the obvious leader out in front.

  They approached the gates to the palace, ignoring the challenge of the guards inside. When he reached the gates, the leader held his hands out in front of him and suddenly the gates exploded. They then casually walked through the void in the palace wall.

  Robert had been so surprised, it took him a moment to speak as the drone followed the warriors in. “What the hell was that?” he demanded.

  Jackson had no answer and Robert’s confused brain had none either as all the warriors were now holding their hands out much like their leader and it was obvious they were projecting some kind of force. Somehow the return fire from the guards wasn’t affecting them either. Even as they watched, one of the warriors noticed the drone. The next second, the drone’s display flickered and went blank.

  Now it was Jackson’s turn to stare in disbelief. “That drone was hardened. It should have been able to take a weapon’s strike and survive.”

  The three girls had been looking at each other and finally Sissy spoke up. “Unfortunately, I think we know what’s happening. You’re just not going to believe it.”

  “There’s a legend, long believed to be true, but not allowed to be openly discussed due to decree by the Imperials. Not that it stopped anyone, but at least they were able to keep it under the rug, so to speak.

  “Centuries ago, when our ancestors crash-landed on this planet, they soon thereafter discovered we were cohabiting the planet with a group of aliens in a similar situation, or so they claimed. Personally, I don’t believe that; I believe they came here to escape from their government and wanted to remain hidden. We managed to coexist with them for some years, but it didn’t last.