by Jenn Nixon
Guiding Aliri through the crowd of feelings, she located the one that gave her pause. Tiva pushed forward, trembled as her vulnerability was very high, but kept herself together.
Do you notice it? Tiva’s thoughts asked.
I do, but it’s not clear. It could be a dream from one of the crew.
No, it is much more than that. I am picking up deception and planning.
Tiva forced the last shield of her mind down and found the culprit. She felt a powerful pull. It was as if her mind was moving beyond the room and ship. Her body shook harder, Aliri’s grip on her hands tightened.
Raise your shield. Aliri said.
I cannot, the draw is too strong.
You must!
Aliri released Tiva’s hands and gasped for breath.
“Ri!” Gigs rushed to her side. “Are you okay?”
Tiva’s head throbbed despite the soft carpeting she was resting upon. Everything within her view was fuzzy. She’d allowed her mind to open fully, had Aliri been a man who was courting her, they would have broken her emotional barrier and bonded their minds just by the strength of the connection they held. It was powerful and unexpected. Tiva had no idea the effect sharing the ability would have, and from the scream of Gigs, Aliri was not prepared either.
“I’m okay, I think,” Aliri said pulling herself up. “Tiva, are you hurt?”
Unsure what to say, Tiva remained silent and shook her head. Slowly she pushed off the ground and clawed her way back onto the bed.
“I suggest you two don’t ever do that again. You don’t want me telling the captain do you?” Gigs huffed, annoyed.
“Yes, actually I do.” Aliri smirked. “Tiva and I have touched upon another ship. I think it is traveling with the mercenary salvagers…but I’m not certain. They are ahead of us, but near enough for us to be aware of them. If the captain or Hill is awake, relay the message.”
“Okay, I’ll go check,” the AI said and departed.
“Tiva, are you shielded again?”
“It is coming slowly. I have not opened my mind like that since I was a child.”
“I know,” she said. “Tiva, I’ve seen some of your memories. You really have had it tough haven’t you?”
She nodded and pulled her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Resting her head on her knees, she glanced over at Aliri. “I could have chosen another path on my seventeenth remembrance, but I thought I knew my fate, my destiny. I was mistaken, for I have neither now.”
“Nonsense, just because your life is different from what you thought it would be, doesn’t mean you don’t have a purpose. But what you did was very dangerous, Tiva, you could have damaged yourself beyond repair.”
“Yet, it was worth it.”
“The end does not justify the means, Tiva. It’s an old Earth expression.”
“A wise one, as well.”
“You need to rest, I mean it. Don’t make me have the captain confine you to bed or the infirmary. Get some sleep.”
“I promise.”
*
Tiva did as her friend told her and rested that evening, and the next few nights thereafter. She needed to recharge. The night turned into day and day into night, never a change in the scenery, never a flicker of light in the darkness of space. Far from any planetary system, the long black trail of space held few stars. The Tolox altered course based on Aliri and Tiva’s conversation with the captain. He was adamant about finding the salvage ship. He was impressed with his staff, but ordered them not to try such an act again unless he specifically asked.
Her flight trainings with Raife and weapons security training went well, but she knew her heart was not fully in it. Her mind was still reeling from everything that happened, and the fact that Aliri confessed she’d seen some of Tiva’s memories worried her. Jimmi kept his distance, for that she was grateful, but Emerala spent less time with the crew recently. Tiva had an idea of what was going on, but she was not one to gossip.
The fourth day after the episode with Aliri and Gigs, Tiva stood at the command center monitoring incoming reports and once again changing the security codes around the ship. Hill and Maar entered with Raife. The three held serious expressions and each went to their seats in silence.
“Sectors report,” Hill said.
“We’re closing in on something, sir. I have it on the adapted sensors. I don’t get the same reading without using the security network, so I still have them joined,” Aliri said as her fingers worked the controls.
“The power is evenly distributed, sir, no issues here. Communications haven’t picked up anything in the area, no residual signatures or waves, and nothing from command,” Emerala said.
“I have both from my team patrolling levels, sir. If we head into a fight, they will be ready to assist,” Tiva said.
“Good, good. Jimmi, what’s the status of our weapons?”
“I have all laser cannons ready, and the shadow missiles are fully stocked. Our shieldin’ is in perfect condition, I’d say bring it on.”
“Don’t be hasty. We just want to find out what their intentions are, Mr. B’abot,” Captain Maar said. “Of course if they aren’t reasonable and force our hand…”
“I’ll be ready, sir.”
“Captain!” Aliri and Tiva shouted, sensing the presence at the same time.
“Ship just appeared on my sensors.” Aliri turned to Hill.
“Maintain maximum speed, Nassut, program in some shifty flight patterns in case we need to evade an attack,” Hill said.
“Aye,” Raife said.
“Tactical alert, B’abot, full power to our primary shielding, load all shadow missiles on my command. Teer, attempt to contact the ship, and Caedm find out how they just appeared here.”
“Yes, sir,” all three said.
Tiva contacted Ranndom and Hemko and relayed the current situation to them. With the call for tactical alert, she initialized secure charge-fields around the most important parts of the ship. Engineering, infirmary, manual weapons control override station, and various other areas. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but Hill and Maar were both deep in thought when the main displayer flickered and went dead.
“What’s our status?” Maar growled.
“Interference from the vessel, sir. They won’t respond to communications and now…” Emerala said from operations.
“They’re gone,” Raife said.
“What’n the hell?” Jimmi said, glancing back to Aliri.
“I don’t have anything, sir…and I don’t sense their presence close by anymore.”
“Ms. Boon?” Hill turned to her and said.
“No, sir, nothing.”
“I think it might have been a wormhole, sir,” Raife said.
Captain Maar stood. “Remain on tactical alert until we clear this sector. I want all of your teams working on the logs and readings. I want to know exactly how that ship just appeared and vanished without a trace. Hill, you have command.”
“Aye, sir.” Hill rose and when the captain entered the lift, he sat down and let out a deep breath. He glanced at Tiva and Aliri. “Keep whatever you’re using open; if you sense anything at all, I want to know about it.”
They both responded with a nod, and met eyes before returning to their work. It wouldn’t be hard to divide her attention, but she didn’t enjoy it. Tiva lowered her strongest guard then returned to work. The tension in the air ran deep. Everyone was nervous. No one said anything for a while, but the command center continued to beep and whirl with noise as programs and sweeps completed.
“I have something here, sir,” Emerala said before looking up. “That ship is equipped with a device that seems to create a type of stable wormhole.”
“I was double checking those readings too, I thought it was odd for a wormhole to just appear and vanish, makes sense now,” Aliri said. “I didn’t even think it was man-made, all the readings here show it as natural.”
“Cross referencing all logs have been complet
ed, sir.” Gigs appeared next to the captain’s chair. “I confirmed the ship emitted a subspace frequency that caused a fissure to open in the fabric of space. They used a type of ionic pulse to stabilize the wormhole for travel. I need the device or a reading from inside to give you a better understanding.”
“I’d like to get my hands on it too,” Raife said and Jimmi chuckled.
“Well done,” Hill said. “Program the sensor to detect the anomaly again should it happen. We need to be…”
“Sir!” Jimmi said.
The main displayer’s usual blank view suddenly held a vicious looking vessel. Twice the size of the Tolox’s fighters, but thin and sleek, obviously a ship of stealth, traveled directly toward them. On the underside of the ship were two devices. One glowed red.
“They are charging weapons!”
“Teer, full power to forward shields,” Hill ordered, gripping the arms of his chair and leaning forward. “Nassut, hard to starboard thirty degrees and take us out of warp.”
The ship slowed and turned as the other vessel closed in. It fired directly at them and hit the side, rocking the entire ship. Everyone held their position, either by holding onto their console or chair. Tiva kept her attention on the screen, this was her first altercation on the Tolox and she needed to be prepared for anything.
Again, the ship jerked hard as another volley of weapons fire collided with the hull.
“Return fire, all laser cannons. Aim for their weapons and propulsion systems.” Hill stood up as the captain reentered.
“You betcha,” Jimmi said and pressed several times on his console.
The rumble of the cannon was somewhat comforting. It was more powerful than anything on the king’s ship. Connecting with the enemy vessel, the glowing red device exploded into hundreds of pieces then fell from the oddly shaped craft. The Tolox circled around and Jimmi fired again, this time the target was the back of the ship where the engines most likely were. She ran scans of the ship for anything helpful, as her mind reached out to gather a sense of the enemy.
Hill and the captain spoke quietly. Maar crunched his fingers into a fist and took his chair.
“Damage on the two lower levels, medical team has been dispatched,” Emerala said.
Jimmi turned to Hill. “Shields holdin’, they lost a cannon, but engines are still online.”
“Captain, they’ve initiated warp,” Raife said.
“Follow them!”
“Sirs, I’m picking up…”
A bright flash of light blinded her then the main displayer flickered again. When the view cleared, the enemy ship was gone.
Chapter Twenty Seven
“Damn it!” Raife said.
“Sensors aren’t detecting the ship, sir,” Aliri said.
“All sectors are reporting in. Minimal damage, a few injuries,” Emerala said and glanced over at Tiva, offering a comforting smile then yelped as Gigs surfaced next to her. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
“Sorry, I had a lock on that ship and have more information about that device. I thought you’d want to look at it.”
“I do, thanks.”
“Send all reports to me, and maintain present course.” Captain Maar tapped on his side console.
“It is a scout ship, sir,” Tiva said suddenly.
Everyone turned to her, including Gigs. She felt her markings lighten. Tapping quickly on her panel, she sent each station the read out from her scan.
“I did a sweep on their internal defense system. It was not complete because of the shielding, but the ship has hundreds of scanning devices and minimal weapons. I sensed only a couple dozen or so people on board, and with their ability to appear and disappear, the only logical conclusion is they are a scouting vessel.”
“Can anyone verify if it is from the same group as the salvage ship?” Captain Maar said.
“I can try to track their engine output readings,” Raife said.
“I never saw a cannon weapon like that before.” Jimmi rubbed his head.
“We’ll have to search more, sir, and double check readings from both ships,” Emerala said. “Aliri and I will have to streamline our data.”
“Do it, Hill come with me. Jimmi you have command. Maintain high alert, and keep weapons online.”
“You betcha, Capt’n.”
Jay Hill and Captain Trevo Maar were sitting across from one another when she entered the room. Surprised they called her into the office, Tiva tensed as she stood before them.
“Relax and take a seat, Boon.” Maar motioned to a chair.
“Thank you,” she said, nodded, and sat down.
“Jay and I have come up with a rather risky plan, but one that might allow us to get the information we need to find the salvage ship.” He turned to Hill who continued.
“This scout ship is obviously watching or tailing us, and we’ve devised a way to get onto it so we can access their computer database and find any information on the ship.”
“The plan is to lure them out, damage their engines and board the vessel via the docking port. You and Hill will fly one of the cargo ships, Jimmi and Emerala will fly the other. Hill will access the computer while you give him cover. We’ll have several fighters rotate as escorts during this mission so both ships will be heavily guarded.”
“I understand.”
“Good, good,” Hill said. “We don’t know how long until the ship visits again, so we’ll have to shadow the Tolox for a while. Bring provisions for a few days.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How is your security team working out?” Maar said.
“Very well, captain. Both seem to acclimate themselves quickly. I recommend Ranndom for my post while away.”
Maar smiled. “Reading my mind?”
“No, sir,” Tiva said, her eyes going wide. “I would never violate someone—”
“Easy, Boon, I was only joking,” he interrupted. She looked down at her lap. “I’ll send the details to your personal computer; ask Gigs for help if you need any. Prepare to board by shift end.”
Tiva rose from her seat. “Yes, sir.”
*
The second day on the cargo ship began with Tiva sitting at the flight controls. Nothing had happened, yet. The Tolox was closing in on the salvage ships’ readings, but they kept a steady pace to wherever they were heading. Hill stayed in constant communication with Maar, Raife, and Jimmi, coordinating strategies with the fighters, and working through ideas. She and Hill took shifts when they needed sleep, but Tiva always found herself back in the cockpit after a few restless hours.
Hill yawned and stretched behind her. He moved to the two front seats and put his hand on the back of her chair.
“Everything all right?” he said.
“Yes, sir. Nothing on sensors, power is within limits and we are keeping pace with the others.”
“Good, good.” He took the seat next to her and grinned. “You seem to be excelling in your duties, Ms. Boon.”
“I am trying my best, it has not been easy, but I enjoy a challenge.”
He bobbed his head, as if letting her words sink in. She dared not lower her shield to sense him; it was not worth the risk. Instead, she remained silent, watching the displayer.
“You know, Ms. Boon…”
The beeping console cut him off quickly. He glanced at her, then the station, and brought the communications online.
“We’re getting a reading on a fissure, twenty-two degrees port side,” Aliri’s voice echoed in the cabin.
“Locked on and tracking,” Tiva said, as her hands glided over the controls.
“Good luck,” she said, and the comm went dead.
Hill said, “Bring weapons online, and make sure our shielding is at full power. We don’t need warp power, so I will route that power to you for the shield.”
“Yes, sir.”
Everything happened so quickly. The scout ship appeared behind the Tolox and fired immediately. The two cargo ships and fighters broke from the ship�
�s side and returned fire. Tiva watched the displayer relaying everyone’s location off screen via the sensors. The Tolox dipped below and shot at the scout ship’s underbelly. The program she entered automatically swept the ship as the weapons pattern came to life. The read out would be helpful, for the moment she needed to concentrate on the fight.
The scout struck the Tolox; the damage seemed minimal. Captain Maar was not one to take things lightly and they watched the volley of the missile blast the bottom of the craft. Several fighters whipped around, following the ship’s lead.
Hill swung the cargo ship to the port side of the scout and released a barrage against its hull. Jimmi followed suit and ripples of mini explosions lit up the displayer. The Tolox moved in between the two cargo ships for another assault. Hill waited for this opening; he maneuvered to the starboard side of the scout. The other crafts and Tolox continued to beat down the enemy. A few more hits and they would be ready to lock onto the scout, they just needed it to stop moving.
Jimmi’s craft flew out of view then zipped across the displayer. It circled the scout ship with a fighter in tow and another blast of weapons fire shot out. The ships continued their assault as Tiva watched. She gathered her focus and jolted slightly in her seat when Maar’s voice broke through the silence of the cabin.
“They don’t have engines, go now!”
Without responding, Hill flew toward the docking hatch of the scout ship. His precision flying is a gift from the spirits, she thought, as they were but inches from the other ship.
“Activate the clamps,” he said.
She nodded and tapped on the panel. The two ships merged with a jolt and she deactivated the hatch lock, a small smile formed on her lips.
“Ready your weapon to heavy stun, we won’t have much time to do this.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Follow my lead, I haven’t a clue what the ship's layout is, but we’re not going to be welcome.”
Hill jumped from his seat and pulled his plasma gun from his belt. Tiva followed closely behind, attached her Timbur, and gripped her gun tight. They moved to the back of the craft and neared the exit. She lowered her shield and grabbed Hill’s shoulder as he went to open the scout ship’s door.
