The Sol 3 Agenda

by Brian Kitchen

  JT had been led to believe that a copy of the map of where the Nemhain was imprisoned was in the safe at Trevaskis House and though he’d tried to open the safe himself, he’d been unable to do so. He suspected that his Andromedan genes had corrupted the Aos Si genes of John Trevaskis Senior and thus made it impossible for himself to open it. Suddenly JT heard a knock on the door.

  “Enter,” JT called out and Terry rushed in alone and looking very concerned.

  “There’s no sign of John Trevaskis or the android. They’ve disappeared!”

  Chapter 11

  Earth Orbit, April 1973

  Whilst teleporting back to their Deltoid from the walled garden at Trevaskis House, Morann explained to John that they would now need to travel forward through time to 1975.

  “We need to contact Padraig,” Morann told John.

  “Who is Padraig?”

  “He’s someone who can help us, and he may even know what this map is that is so important to the man posing as your grandfather.”

  “You said the man posing as my grandfather, Morann. Do you know something I don’t?”

  “Not yet John, but I do think that we have to accept the possibility that the man you thought was your grandfather, is in fact an impostor, even though he looks like the man in the photo you have.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right, Morann,” John said and then asked. “So how do we contact this Padraig?”

  “Padraig travels through time a lot on various missions and so it will be a matter of tracking him down. Fortunately, he has a place he calls in to at set times and I can find out from the Sol 6 Base database when they are. Then it’s a matter of finding a date which is compatible with both of our timelines.”

  John knew that the cardinal rule of time travel was that a living being, and this included androids, couldn’t travel backward or forward in time, to a time that they’d previously visited or lived in. The only exception to this, was if the time to be travelled to had previously been experienced whilst the living being was in stasis, which usually occurred during interstellar travel.

  “You said Padraig travels through time a lot on various missions. What is he? A secret agent?” John asked.

  “I suppose you could describe him as such,” Morann replied, but did not elaborate further. Then John noticed that she was blinking rapidly and thought she must be accessing the Sol 6 Base database. “It would appear that we can contact Padraig in Cambridge, England in the month of May, in the year 1975. Shall I initiate travel to that time location, John?”

  “Sounds good to me Morann. Were parkas, jeans and T-shirts still fashionable at that time?” John really didn’t want to have to wear a business suit again.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Cambridge, England, May 1975

  Anyone who had been visiting Cambridge City Cemetery would have been very shocked to see John and Morann suddenly materialise, but then luckily it being 5.00am, no one else appeared to be around. John was now wearing the T-shirt, jeans and parka that he’d been wearing when he had first left Earth and Morann had completely changed her appearance too. Her hair was now ginger, a similar shade to John’s and cut in a page boy style. Looking at her face, John noticed probably for the first time how attractive she was and saw that her eyes were now blue and that she appeared younger that the thirty or so years he’d originally thought she looked. Morann was wearing a long-sleeved top, or it could have been a mini-dress, John supposed, with what he could only describe as a floral design on it. This was worn over purple, wide bell-bottomed trousers. To complete her outfit, Morann was wearing a sleeveless fake fur jacket and knee-high leather boots.

  “That’s er rather a fetching outfit, Morann,” John had said diplomatically on seeing the outfit for the first time.

  “It’s called hippie fashion, John, and is quite popular with some of the less stuffy students at Cambridge. Also, it’s the time of the year when the colleges hold their May Balls.”

  “Yes, but won’t the women be wearing ball gowns or posh frocks?”

  “Not at Penrose College, John.”

  “Why’s that then, Morann?”

  “Well it’s the newest of Cambridge University’s colleges and its most modern and forward thinking one. It was only founded in 1970 by Catherine Penrose under the auspices of the Penrose Foundation.”

  “What? The Catherine Penrose I met founded it?” Morann nodded. “Blimey, why did she do that?”

  “Catherine believes in making higher education available to all and has also provided scholarships for all the places at the college. Students first must apply for a scholarship. Then they must sit an examination and if they pass it, they’re interviewed and if successful in the interview, they’re offered a place at the college. So, even the poorest students if they are clever enough can gain a place there.”

  “Sounds a wonderful idea. What courses are offered?”

  “Why, are you thinking of applying, John?”

  “Just curious Morann, though I have to say that it would be the kind of college that would have appealed to me if I’d gone to University. I don’t expect they get a lot of rich, dim witted, hooray Henrys applying there.”

  “Or Henriettas, John. It’s open to both sexes. As for the courses, well it offers computing, biomedical engineering, astrophysics, aerodynamics, genetics, robotics, cybernetics to name but a few. All the new sciences in fact, well they’re new to the people of Earth.”

  By now John and Morann had left the cemetery and were walking along the Newmarket Road into Cambridge.

  “You said the college would have appealed to you, John,” Morann said, giving him a sideways glance. “Doesn’t the idea of studying for a degree appeal to you?”

  “Moran, I left school without taking my A levels. I don’t think I have the qualifications to enter university. Besides, I’m probably too old.”

  “As I said, John. You must sit an examination and pass that and an interview to gain admission. As for being too old John, you’re only 18 years old.”

  “Not chronologically. If this is 1975, then officially I’m 24 years old.”

  Morann shook her head.

  “It doesn’t work like that John. Your biological age is monitored by one of your implants and your real age is recorded. Besides which, there is no upper age limit for applicants. You could be 88 years old and still apply.”

  “Ok, I’m not too old, but at present I’m on a mission, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”

  “The mission will eventually end John and then will be the time to think of what you want to do in the future.”

  “Morann, you’re nagging, I’m getting hungry and it’d be nice to find somewhere I can get breakfast and 5.20am is far too early to talk about my future.”

  “I’m getting hungry too John and I know a great café in Cambridge, that serves a fantastic breakfast. We’ll go there.”

  “What do you mean Morann? ‘I’m getting hungry’, androids don’t eat, so they can’t get hungry.”

  “I’ve a confession to make John.” John stopped walking and turned to Morann who’d stopped walking too. “John, I’m not an android.”

  “What do you mean, you’re not an android? Is this another of your jokes Morann?”

  “No John. I’m being serious.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ll explain John. The Sol 6 base was set up by the Aos Si Confederation to monitor Earth and see that the quarantine remained in force and that no one with the Infertility Plague visited the planet,” Morann explained. “The base also monitors Earth to ensure that no one attempts to set free the Triumvirate. It is run entirely by androids, who all needed to think that I was one too. I therefore had to act as an android, which was difficult at times, but not impossible. Using make-up and hair colourants helped.”

  “Ok, I get that, but how did you manage to infiltrate the base in the first place and where did you come from?” John questioned, as they started walking again.

  “Some years ago,
a massive solar flare knocked out all the androids on the base. It can sometimes happen with solar flares; just as electronic pulses can disable androids too. Communications with the Aos Si Confederation were also broken off for a time. This gave me with the help of Padraig, time to reprogram the androids so that they accepted me as one of them. As to where I came from, well, I’d been based on Earth along with Padraig and so we travelled from there by Deltoid.”

  “What about Medb? Wouldn’t she have known that you weren’t an android.”

  “No John. Medb doesn’t know all the androids individually and as I got Áine to introduce me to her, I was accepted for who I said I was. It was explained that I was usually based on Earth.”

  So, if you’re not an android, what exactly are you then?” John asked her.

  “I’m an Aos Si and I’m a Baobhan Sidhe and honoured to be a member of the Fianna.”

  “Well, funnily enough I’ve heard of the Fianna, but I always thought that they were a myth as I’d said earlier. In the stories they were the guardians of the High Kings of Ireland, a sort of bodyguard to him.”

  “That was later, John. Originally the were the bodyguard of the Triumvirate.”

  “So, you’re an Imperial then.”

  “I was, but as you know there’s no Empire any longer My loyalties are to the Fianna now and them alone.”

  “So, what exactly is a Baobhan Sidhe?”

  “You’ve not heard of them then?” Morann said very surprised. “Not even in the Irish myths that you said your mother used to tell you?”

  “No.”

  “That’s perhaps as well, as Baobhan Sidhe had a bad reputation in the myths. They were thought to be blood drinking vampires, but this was of course a myth instigated and perpetuated by the Aos Si. One made to cause fear amongst the aboriginal population of Eire where the Imperial survivors of the Aos Si had eventually made their home. Then later when some of the Imperials had gone with the Scotti, to what became known as Scotland, the stories of the blood thirsty Baobhan Sidhe travelled with them. The Baobhan Sidhe however are not vampires, we’re just Aos Si who have been genetically engineered and have enhanced strength and other abilities, including heightened awareness of their surroundings. We were the Empires elite warriors, quite often used as shock troops.”

  “So how did you end up in the Fianna?”

  “At the end of the civil war I was recruited by Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the Ceannaire of the Fianna for a special mission which brought me to Earth. Padraig is Fianna too and came with me and after our mission was completed, we remained on Earth.”

  “What was your mission, Morann?”

  “Sorry John, but I’m not at liberty to tell you, but someone will tell you one day, I’m sure of that. We’re nearly there, John.”

  John saw that they were entering the Market Square in Cambridge, where stalls for the Saturday Market were being set up. He’d been so engrossed in what Morann had been telling him that he’d not realised they’d come into the centre of the city. To his surprise the café that Morann took him to in the Market Square was already open and serving breakfast even at that early hour. It obviously catered for the market traders.

  Morann ordered the same breakfast as John, a large one and they both had large mugs of coffee.

  “I thought the Aos Si were vegetarians,” John told Morann.

  “Oh, vegetarianism became more popular under the Confederation, but then I’m an Imperial girl,” she answered smiling. “And I do like the food on Earth.”

  “So, this Padraig we’re going to meet, how is he going to help us?”

  “Padraig may know more about your grandfather than we do and John,” Morann paused and then said seriously, “You really must be prepared to learn that your grandfather is not who you think he is, and you could also find that the truth is very shocking.”

  John looked at Morann more intently now.

  “Morann, that’s the second time that you’ve told me that and you’re looking more serious than you’ve ever looked before,” John eventually told her. “I think you’re holding something back from me. What is it?”

  “John I really can’t tell you. We must wait for Padraig, he should be here anytime now,” Morann replied, looking up at a clock on the wall above the serving counter of the café.

  Just then the door of the café opened and a man with unruly dark auburn hair walked in. He was wearing a brown tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows and dark brown corduroy trousers and had a long college scarf wrapped twice around his neck. He was a couple of inches shorter than John and of medium build. The man looked all around the café and then spotting Morann, he beamed and walked over to their table.

  “Morann, my precious,” he boomed as Morann stood up and the man gave her a big hug. “Looking as beautiful as ever and you must be John,” he said turning to John and grabbing his hand, shook it vigorously. “I’m Padraig.”

  “The usual, professor,” the man who had taken their order, called out.

  “Yes, Tom and don’t forget it’s Saturday, so extra sausages please,” Padraig called back.

  “As if I would, professor.”

  “You’re a professor?” John enquired.

  “Yes, but I don’t stand on ceremony John,” Padraig answered. “Only my first-year students call me that.”

  “Padraig is Professor of cybernetics and robotics at Penrose College,” Morann explained.

  “It’s a good cover, John, and I’m still able to engage in my Fianna activities,” Padraig added.

  “So, Padraig, have you been able to find anything out about John’s grandfather?” Morann asked.

  “I have and I’m afraid it’s bad news,” Padraig replied seriously. “Your grandfather’s body was found on a beach on the south west coast of Ireland two years ago, about a week after you and Morann had left Trevaskis House. There was a huge explosion at Trevaskis House the night after you’d left, and it was thought that John Trevaskis Senior had perished in that, although it was impossible to establish, as there was nothing left of the house or outbuildings except for a huge deep crater.”

  “What caused the explosion, Padraig?” Morann questioned.

  “I think it could have been powerful explosives of some kind judging by the crater, although I’ve been unable to confirm it.”

  “So how did John Trevaskis Senior’s body end up in the Irish Sea?” Morann then asked.

  “That too is a mystery and I can only surmise that the Andromedan had a shuttle craft somewhere near there and having taken a new host, ditched John Trevaskis’ body.”

  “I don’t understand, what’s this about an Andromedan?” John questioned, but before Padraig could answer, their breakfasts were brought over.

  “Lincolnshire sausages?” Padraig questioned, pleased to see he had four sausages on his plate.

  “Do I serve anything else, professor?”

  “Just checking Tom.”

  When Tom had returned to the counter and was taking an order from two newly arrived customers, Padraig continued.

  “We can’t really talk here and so we’ll go back to my rooms at college after we’ve eaten.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After they’d all eaten, Padraig took Morann and John to where his car, an old sports car was parked.

  “Nice car,” John told Padraig, admiring the car which was a British Racing green Jaguar SS100. “How old is it?”

  “It’s the 1937 model, John. Could you oblige and scramble in the back.”

  John clambered into the small back seat and Morann joined Padraig in the front of the car. As soon as they were all seated, Padraig drove off out of the city. Penrose College was situated just off the Newmarket Road, near to the airport and the journey didn’t take them too long. Arriving at the college, Padraig parked up and then took them straight to his rooms, which were actually a small, self-contained flat, in a modern accommodation block.

  “There’s no easy way to tell you this John,” Padraig told him in a serious
voice as soon as both he and Morann were seated. “But when you met with your grandfather, his body was under the control of a parasitic lifeform, an Andromedan, who was using him as its host. Your grandfather in effect died in 1960 when the Andromedan took possession of him.”

  “Are you sure, Padraig?” Morann questioned looking as shocked as John did.

  “Yes,” he replied. “Oisin was able to have the body examined before it was cremated, and the post-mortem confirmed it. The body had been in the sea, but fortunately not too long for there to have been too much damage. Examination of John Senior’s brain showed all the signs of Andromedan parasitic infestation and Oisin was also able to recover a few nanobots that hadn’t been recovered before the body was discarded. There was also damage to the brain where a microchip had been extracted, which obviously hadn’t been of Aos Si manufacture. The nanobots too were Andromedan. Sounds to me like things were done in a great hurry and as we know that JT was responsible for the Morrigan’s death and for what happened to the Badhbh, I believe that he was responsible.”

  “Why did the Andromedan, JT as you called him, do all this to my grandfather?” John wanted to know.

  “It was all about vengeance, John. The Andromedans blame the Aos Si for what happened to their race. They suffered greatly during the Aos Si Civil War and then the Infertility Plague nearly wiped out all of their species. I think now however that it’s gone beyond vengeance and has become something far more sinister. I think JT now intends to exploit Earth’s resources and particularly its human population.”

  “In what way, Padraig?” Morann asked.