by Thomas Fay
I coughed slightly to hide my embarrassment.
‘Observed?’
‘Yes,’ Commander Alyssia said. ‘Selize, come in here.’
Selize entered through a side door. She took one look at me and rushed over. I held her close.
‘Thank you,’ I whispered.
‘I’m so glad you’re alright,’ she replied, hugging me tightly. I experienced an overwhelming sense of relief wash over me. It was amplified by the other Centaurians in the control room, feeding back along the shared telepathic link.
Selize let go of me. She walked over to Dayna and held her hands out, palms facing upwards. Dayna placed her hands on top of Selize’s. Both Centaurians closed their eyes. I experienced a dizzying sensation at the back of my head. Then it was gone.
Dayna opened her eyes.
‘Thank you,’ she breathed. ‘The last of the neural inhibitor is gone.’
Selize smiled and embraced her.
‘Now that’s out of the way, are we going to go after Marvik?’ Jeni asked.
‘Damn right we are,’ Roger D replied. ‘You with us, John?’
I cast a quick glance at Selize. Her crystalline eyes stared back at me. Finally, she smiled.
‘You’re going to go anyway so I might as well come with you.’
‘I love you; you know that, right?’ I said, pulling her close and kissing her.
‘Yes, John. I know and I do too.’
She pulled away from me.
‘Mother,’ Selize said.
‘Yes, Selize?’ Commander Alyssia asked.
‘Can we borrow your spaceship?’
Her mother looked about to say something. Instead, she rolled her eyes and laughed.
‘Oh, Selize. Will you ever grow up?’
PART III: SIRENS FALL
23.
The distant light from Alpha Centauri’s stars shone through the starboard viewport as I looked at Selize.
‘What is it, John?’ she asked.
We were lying on the bed in our cabin aboard the Helios Ark. The free-merchant ship was travelling through the Dragon Nebula on the edge of the Alpha Centauri system. It was the dominant feature in this region of space, its ethereal tendrils permeating everything around us. The Centaurian Banshee-class light fighters were flying in a loose V formation alongside, their sleek shapes gliding effortlessly through the multicoloured particles.
‘Something about this whole thing just doesn’t seem quite right,’ I said, sitting up. It was over ten standard hours since we’d freed Dayna from the UEP prison ship and I was getting restless.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Lars Marvik had access to some very powerful and very illegal weaponry. He claimed it came from his contacts in the Kadmian Raiders.’
‘That makes sense.’
I shook my head.
‘No, it doesn’t. The Kadmian Raiders may have been third on the Space Navy’s most-wanted list but they simply wouldn’t have had access to weaponry like that neutronium disintegrator Marvik was using.’
Selize sat up. The sheets fell away from her body and I was momentarily awestruck by her beauty as the distant light of Alpha Centauri bathed her in its soft light. Despite the seriousness of our situation, I wasn’t surprised we’d somehow ended up in bed.
‘You’re thinking someone else gave it to him,’ Selize said.
‘Yes. The only question is why?’
‘Someone must have hired him.’
‘Exactly,’ I said, managing to finally tear my eyes away from Selize. I stared out at the vastness of space through the viewport. Star-ship engineers had always been reluctant to cut holes in ship hulls. It wasn’t until the use of graviton flux generators for shields became widespread that passengers were finally afforded a direct view of space. I watched as a minute space molecule impacted the shield. It flared up for the briefest instant before disintegrating to nothing.
‘But who could Marvik be working for?’ Selize asked.
‘That’s what I can’t figure out. Marvik seemed to be acting of his own accord or, at worst, he had allied himself with the Kadmian Raiders. So why did he come back and try to finish us off after he got what he wanted?’
‘He wanted you out of the way?’
‘Possibly,’ I said. ‘Roger D did ask me about ship weapon systems when he hired me. Clearly, he’d encountered Marvik before and it hadn’t gone well. But Marvik’s response was still extreme, to say the least. On top of that, he must have known the Centaurians would be after him for what he did at the Dyson Alpha star port. You can’t just kill four guards and break into the command deck without bringing down the full wrath of the station. He took a serious and seemingly unnecessary risk to free Roger D. He could have just held him on his own ship until he got what he wanted from us. There’s more to this, something that we’re missing.’
‘Which worries you.’
I nodded.
‘Marvik’s well equipped and clearly well connected given he managed to get Dayna onto that prison ship. I’m not even sure we should be following him.’
‘We’ve got a wing of fighters with orders from the commander to apprehend Marvik.’
I shifted slightly on the bed.
‘So the commander is your mother,’ I said.
‘Yes.’
‘The commander of the Dyson Alpha star port.’
‘Yes.’
‘Explains a lot.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, your quarters in the star port, for one. Not many people could afford to live like that.’
‘What are you trying to say?’
‘That I don’t really know much about you.’
‘What do you want to know?’ she asked.
‘Well … you know that I used to work for the Space Navy and now I’m a freelance space mechanic. Do Centaurians have jobs? I mean, I know Dayna’s a free-merchant pilot and I assume other Centaurians are gainfully employed. Ummm … you know what I’m trying to say.’
‘You’re asking what I do all day.’
‘Yes.’
‘Nothing exciting, I’m afraid. Most of my time is spent with various tutors. Well, sharing their experiences and day-to-day activities, to be exact.’
‘Tutors?’
‘Yes. They teach me about various aspects of life in Alpha Centauri, from managing food and water supplies, to interstellar travel and relations with other species. It’s intended to prepare me for my future role.’
‘Which is …?’
‘To be a member of the Centaurian High Council.’
‘So … you’re a politician in training?’
‘I guess.’
‘Wow. I never thought I’d fall in love with a politician.’
Selize smiled as she placed her arms around my neck. Leaning forwards, she kissed me. I experienced that incredible sense of weightlessness when we made physical contact, a direct result of the telepathic bond. I was, in effect, feeling what she was feeling at the same time. There was something else there too. A sense of being watched. A shiver ran through me as I experienced the Centaurian shared consciousness for the first time. I broke away from Selize.
‘Are you alright?’ she asked.
I stared into her crystalline cat’s eyes, imagining the entire race of Centaurians looking back at me. For someone who had spent a large part of their life trying to avoid being seen, this was definitely going to take some getting used to.
‘It’s a lot to take in,’ I said.
‘I know and I’m sorry it’s like this. The bond is intended to bring us closer together, to allow us to share everything and to help each other, to support one another in times of need.’
‘I guess it’s like becoming part of a very large extended family. I just wish they weren’t watching us all the time. Especially your mother.’
Selize laughed.
‘Our shared consciousness means we’re not really burdened by a lot of issues you humans are. Like modesty, for one. I’ll never get used
to the way humans react to being seen naked but I guess it must be strange not being able to share everything. Don’t worry. My mother thinks very highly of you.’
‘Right. Thanks, I guess.’
‘What about your family, John?’
I took a deep breath. Now that was a question.
‘My father is in the Space Navy. He wasn’t around much when I was growing up. My mother raised me. She was a holo-artist based on the Aurora station in high Earth orbit. I spent my earliest years travelling between our home on Earth and the Aurora station. My mother always joked that I’d end up travelling the known universe. I guess she was right.’
I stopped, staring at the viewport but not really seeing anything beyond it. After a moment, I felt Selize’s hand on mine.
‘What happened, John?’
‘The station was attacked by mercenary ships. An entire habitat module was destroyed before the Space Navy intervened. Over a hundred thousand people died that day.’
‘Your mother?’
I nodded, slowly.
‘My mother and I were in that module when the attack began. She managed to get me into an escape pod and jettison it before the module’s hull was breached. My last memory of her was when she closed the hatch to the escape pod. She told me she loved me and that everything would be alright. I was only eight at the time but I knew I’d never see her again.’
I felt the moisture welling up in my eyes. Even after all these years and all the things I’d experienced, that was the single most powerful memory I carried with me. It was also something I had never shared with anyone. Until now. Selize hugged me, her arms going around my neck. I pulled her close.
‘What about your father?’
‘He took my mother’s death very hard. I don’t think he ever forgave himself for the attack on the station. Afterwards, he threw himself into his work. Which left little time for me. I guess that’s why I joined the Space Navy. I thought it would bring me closer to him.’
‘And did it?’
‘Yes and no. We didn’t agree on a number of the Space Navy’s policies.’
Selize pulled back, her eyes looking at me intently.
‘What is it?’ I asked.
‘What exactly did you do for the Space Navy?’
And here was the hardest part of the conversation.
‘Before I answer your question I need to know something.’
‘What is it, John?’
‘This is important, Selize. I need you to tell me the truth.’
‘Of course.’
‘Are the other Centaurians always aware of what you’re experiencing?’
Selize shook her head.
‘No. We choose what to share and when to experience what others are sharing, although we’re always aware of our connection to each other on a basic level. It’s impossible for us to be completely separated from each other but when we’re not consciously sharing, then others will only be vaguely aware of our presence—not what we’re doing and with whom.’
‘That explains why Dayna didn’t recognise me when I joined the crew of the Helios Ark.’
Seize nodded.
‘Are you sharing our conversation right now?’
‘Not any more. I felt your discomfort before.’
I looked deep into her eyes, trying to picture what lay beneath their luminous surface. I had to trust her. I had no reason not to, but what I was about to say could get me into serious trouble. Or worse.
‘Trust me, John.’
‘Alright,’ I said. ‘While I originally qualified as a star-ship engineer, I was later recruited by a very specialised division within the Space Navy. I underwent intensive training and neural augmentation. This allowed me to undertake … clandestine operations. It’s not really something I can talk about. Not without endangering myself and everyone around me. The Space Navy guards its secrets zealously.’
‘Is that why …’
I looked at her closely.
‘Why you can’t access my memories?’
‘Yes.’ Her voice was very quiet. I guess I finally knew the truth. The Centaurians had true mind-reading abilities. Dangerous. Very dangerous. Once again my Lazarus implant had proven invaluable, even if the dull throbbing at the base of my skull was getting steadily worse.
‘Not that I would ever violate your privacy. It’s just … there’s a part of you that’s closed to me. It’s strange. I’ve never experienced it before. It’s like … a part of you is missing.’
‘Believe me, this is strange for me too.’
‘I know. It will get better with—’
Selize stopped in mid-sentence. I felt her reaching out with her mind. The sense of being watched returned.
‘What is it?’ I asked, trying not to think about all the Centaurians watching us and listening to our conversation. I was suddenly very aware of the fact that I wasn’t wearing any clothes.
‘The fighters my mother sent after Marvik are dropping back.’
‘Why?’
‘We’ve reached the edge of the Alpha Centauri system. They can’t get too close to the border with Proxima Centauri or it may provoke an interstellar incident.’
I reached over and grabbed my grey one-piece from the floor.
‘I guess it’s time to go, then.’
Selize moved to stand up. I held her back with my hand.
‘Before we go, there’s something I need to ask you.’
‘What is it, John?’
‘What exactly is the Centaurian bond doing to me? I’ve been experiencing headaches, dizziness and visions.’
‘The visions are normal, as you begin to share things with me and ultimately, with other Centaurians. Although, as you’re human, your ability to perceive what other Centaurians do will always flow through me. But the headaches and dizziness are a worry. I’ve never done this before but from what I’ve shared with others, this should be a painless process. I’m worried, John. You should see someone if the headaches continue.’
I nodded.
‘I think I might know someone who can help me.’
24.
The Helios Ark’s reverse thrusters fired a continuous burst, causing our forward momentum to fall away as Dayna guided us carefully into an asteroid field. After a tense hour spent dodging around sizeable pieces of rock, we reached a large, elongated asteroid. Numerous docking ports and communication arrays betrayed its true nature as a space port. Several smaller asteroids floated around it, blocking the faint light from Alpha Centauri’s distant stars. It was a world of barren rock and shadows.
‘You sure this is it?’ I asked, staring at the view screen.
‘Yes,’ Roger D replied. ‘It’s the only base around here that the Centaurians have no authority over.’
‘What is this place?’
‘Proxima III. It’s an independent merchant port on the border of Alpha and Proxima Centauri.’
‘And by independent, you mean …?’
‘Rogue, pirate, black market—take your pick. It’s a dangerous place full of shady characters with less-than-honourable intentions. A perfect place for someone like Marvik to hide.’
‘So how do we get to him?’
‘I’ve got a contact in the port. It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to him but he should be able to help us.’
Dayna looked up from her instrument panel. Her crystalline eyes narrowed dangerously.
‘Please tell me you’re not talking about Horris?’ she said.
Roger D held his hands up in a defensive gesture.
‘Hey, he’s not that bad.’
‘You’re joking, right? That idiot almost got us killed the last time we were here.’
‘Mason, back me up here,’ Roger D said.
The android, his translucent skin barely covering the dark-blue conduits underneath, turned around in his acceleration couch.
‘Sir, I’m afraid I must side with Dayna. Based on past experiences, it would not be a wise action to contact Horris.’
‘Not you too,’ Roger D said. ‘Jeni?’
Jeni shook her head from side to side.
‘Sorry, Rodge. I’m with Mason and Dayna on this one. Horris is bad news.’
Roger D threw his hands up in the air.
‘Such disloyalty from my own crew,’ he complained, with mock sincerity. The others looked at him. Then they all burst out laughing.
‘Alright, make the call. But if Horris tries anything again, I’ll shoot him myself,’ Dayna said.
‘I never realised you Centaurians had such a fierce streak,’ I whispered in Selize’s shapely ear. She smiled, her eyes lighting up.
‘I heard that,’ Dayna said.
‘Ah, sorry about that,’ I said.
‘Never mind.’
‘If you three are finished, I’m going to contact Horris,’ Roger D said. He turned towards his instrument panel. Just before he pressed the coms button, he said, ‘You might want to arm yourselves. Just in case Horris is up to his old tricks.’
25.
The Helios Ark docked with the Proxima III asteroid base, sliding into an available docking cradle. It locked into place with a solid thud and the airlock cycled open. Roger D stood up.
‘Alright, John and I are going to meet with Horris,’ Roger D said.
Dayna looked up. Before she could say anything, Roger D cut her off.
‘I know you want to hurt Marvik for what he did to you. Believe me, so do I, but before we get to Marvik we’ve got to deal with Horris and, after what happened last time, I don’t think I trust you around him.’
Dayna smiled.
‘If that fatso tries anything I’ll …’
‘I know. Which is why you’re staying here. Besides, I need you and Mason to check out the ship. Make sure those hull plates are still holding and see if you can finish patching up the consoles. I’d rather not get electrocuted.’
‘Fine. C’mon, Mason.’
‘I am ready to assist, ma’am.’
Dayna and the android left the main deck and moved aft. Jeni stood up.
‘I’ve got to get some supplies while we’re here,’ she said.
