by Skyler Grant
"What do we do about the Block? They're venting atmosphere," Dela said.
Of course they were, a good quarter of the ship was missing including the bridge.
Quinn wasn't willing to just kill the people aboard before, and he figured he wasn't much willing now either.
Quinn hit the comm. "Kara, I need you to head to the cargo bay. Get the grapples ready."
"We don't have the juice to tow them," Dela said.
"They don't have anything in the way of momentum. We give ‘em a tug in the right direction they'll keep on going," Quinn said.
Dela frowned. "Crash landing will kill a lot of them."
It would. Quinn didn't see an alternative right about now, they could barely help themselves. They were going down too and their mana tanks were depleted to under ten percent. Jinx had drained them almost dry just to do this much. They wouldn't be jumping out.
Quinn drew them close to the remains of the Block.
"Get us a lock with the grapples," Quinn said over the comm.
The indicator for the hatch opening lit up and after a minute Kara's voice crackled, "In place."
"Two minutes burn, nice and slow, like we have a choice," Quinn said, as he powered up the engines.
The Centauri Bliss shook, a few of the previously yellow lights switching over to red.
"Captain. Whatever you're doing, don't do much more of it," Melody said.
Quinn gave it another twenty seconds and disengaged the grapples. That would have to do. It would take a few hours for the Block to hit atmosphere, so hopefully they were doing better on life support and last until then.
Quinn hit ship-wide comm. "Everyone, we made the jump, but we took a lot of damage to the exterior systems. In under two hours we're going to be coming in rough. I'll signal before we hit atmosphere. Strap yourselves down and keep a medpatch nearby just in case."
The planet was growing larger and their sensors were getting a better read. It was habitable, in fact it was in the ideal range for human colonization. No oceans, although there were some massive lakes and rivers. The whole planet was well-forested and humid, one large rainforest biome.
Quimm keyed the comm to the infirmary. "Tamara, you conscious?"
"Conscious but hazy," Tamara's voice came through. The painkillers must be hitting her hard, Quinn figured.
"We wound up at Singara. If we're going to crash anywhere it may as well be near your archive. Are you picking up any sort of signal?" Quinn asked.
A long pause.
"Nothing, but Tourmaline is arrogant, proud. She'll have wanted somewhere she could look down at the world."
There were several mountain ranges on the planet, but the tallest individual peak stood alone in the southern hemisphere. It wasn't much to go on, but it would do.
"Large river near there. We could try to set down in it," Dela said.
"We're never getting airborne again if we're flooded," Quinn said.
"Are we getting airborne anyways? Are we going to find parts down there? Mana?"
"If we can get Jinx the juice, she can fix us herself. If not, this archive of Tamara's will have technology. Maybe a ship, something we can use to get flying again."
That was his hope at least.
Quinn made sure that he was strapped in and Dela finally found time to wipe down her console.
As the atmosphere approached he hit the ship-wide comm again. "Atmosphere in three minutes. Make sure you're down and ready."
The all-clears came in.
The problem was gravity. They were going to pick up a lot of velocity coming down and with the engines at only partial capacity he just wouldn't be able to burn it all off.
"Melody, what is the real limit I have to play with and how long?" Quinn asked.
"Keep it at twenty, Captain, all the way down. Last bit you can maybe go up to forty, but we won't hold it for long. I'll be putting out fires and we'll lose the engines completely," Melody said.
There were two options for landing that Quinn could see. Despite telling Dela he didn't want to land in the river, there was the shore beside it. In several places the forest canopy peeled away where flooding must have dislodged trees.
The alternative to that were the slopes of the mountain. It would mean coming down on stone and at an angle, but at least they'd avoid flammable trees or mud—for all they might trigger a rock slide.
He decided the banks of the river were the better option.
The Centauri Bliss began to rattle ominously as it entered the atmosphere and Quinn held the thrust at a steady twenty percent trip on the way down. At first it made for an agonizingly slow descent, but the closer they got to the ground the more unsteady and rapid their ride became.
Quinn held the target as best he could, making the best use he could of the single thruster as the green below grew to consume the entire view screen.
At ten seconds before impact he kicked the engines up to forty percent. Metal screeched out protest and red lights on the system board flared even brighter before they slammed down with a force that threw Quinn against his straps hard enough to leave bruises.
"Clear," Dela said.
Quinn was too, battered but functional.
He hit the comms. "Everyone alive?"
"Really drugged," Tamara said blearily.
"Clear," Mara said.
"Broken leg. Patch applied," Taki said.
The others called in their status. Taki was their only injury, fortunate.
The Centauri Bliss was at an awkward angle. They'd only partially hit the riverbank and crushed a few trees on the way down. The debris beneath left them at a twenty degree tilt. It could have been far worse.
10
Quinn told everyone to assess the damage they'd taken. The atmosphere outside was breathable, so he opened the hatch and set Kara on guard duty while setting up fans to circulate the air.
They still had reserve power, enough to keep the lights on. Quinn gave everyone a few hours and then called a meeting at the dinner table of everyone but Kara.
Everybody looked exhausted, although Jinx, Tamara, and Taki all looked especially worn down.
"Long day, everyone, and we can get some sleep soon. We'll just be going around and figuring out where we stand. Tamara and Taki are both beat up," Quinn said.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry," Jinx said.
"Wasn't your intent any of this happening," Taki said.
"This whole thing was my plan. If anyone deserves the blame of things it’s me. Melody, what is the status of the ship?" Quinn asked.
"We lost most of our external armor and because of that we lost a lot of systems," Melody said.
"Can we repair?" Taki asked.
"I can get us flying again, but it will be almost a month," Melody asked.
Quinn winced, that was a long time to be grounded. Especially with the attack on the colony expected in two weeks.
"We have the fuel for that?" Taki asked.
"Jinx burned through most of our mana reserves, but we've got fuel for the main engine and the thrusters," Melody said.
"Mana isn't going to help us anyways without Runestones here," Dela said.
"I want to take one of the shuttles and go searching for the archive tomorrow," Tamara said.
"This really seem the time for your personal pursuit?" Taki asked.
Quinn raised a hand. "There might be shuttles there. Maybe a whole ship. Resources we can scavenge. Even outside of Tamara's personal motivations we've got a reason to go for it."
"You'll want me along," Mara said.
"So you can sneak a peek at my ancestral memories? No thank you," Tamara said.
"You're not bad, but I'm better. If there is security you need me, or your ancestors’ paranoia will fry you," Mara said.
"She's right. I'm sure you got your secrets you want to protect, but she's the best we've got when it comes to that sort of thing," Taki said.
"Fine," Tamara said with a frown. "But I'll be watching you."
> "The planet is habitable. A few microbes in the air or water might want to kill us, so make sure to take your purification pills. There are all kinds of fauna out there—you need to be careful outside the ship," Dela said.
"While we have to keep the hatch open, we'll have a guard posted. I have Kara on it now, but we'll need to keep shifts," Quinn said.
"I'm drained. I figure I'll restore my mana eventually, but right now I've barely got anything, not even enough to heal Taki or Tamara," Jinx said.
Tamara said, "Before anyone suggests she drain the tanks I already said no. We might need it and best to hold onto it. We got a pack on my hand fast enough it will heal, eventually."
"Same with my leg," Taki said.
Quinn looked to Mara. "Speaking of mana, what about it? You seem to be our resident magic expert. You know anything about mana refining?"
"If we can find out the local ley lines we can manage a condenser. They're slow, but we've got the time. Jinx will recharge on her own too if we can put her at a juncture," Mara said.
"Good. Unless anyone here knows how to build a skimmer drive we're going to need the sphere to get back to civilized space," Quinn said.
"That’s going to take more mana than we're likely to have. Distance matters. We should probably aim for the closest system with a Runestone."
"That means dealing with whoever, whatever, is in this part of space," Quinn said.
"The other half of the old Imperium. Are they even still alive? They going to shoot us on sight?" Taki asked.
Mara said, "Good questions, I wish I had answers. I described the magic they use as a contagion before, accurately, but the wrathspawn we encountered were a rare manifestation. I have every expectation many still live in this part of space. They may even thrive."
"When you repair the ship, put in a switch so we can toggle off all our Imperium transponders and codes. It’s easier to explain broadcasting no signals than broadcasting the wrong ones," Quinn said.
"What about the Block?" Taki asked.
"And the invasion. We had a two week deadline. We need to be back before it hits," Jinx said.
"We gave the Block a tug and it’s going to crash in about three hours. We don't know where it’s going to come down or if there will be survivors," Quinn said.
"You know we wanted to help those people, but I don't know what more we can do. We've got our own problems," Taki said.
"I agree. We don't know who is going to be in charge. We know we let the prisoners out. We can only hope they remain free."
"The invasion?" Jinx said.
"I don't know how we can rush back for that. It sounds like the best thing we can do is get you on top of a ley line intersection and build the distiller," Quinn said.
"I can send the condenser plans we'll need to Melody. With a bit of Jinx's blood we can build a mana compass to find the lines," Mara said.
"Whatever it takes, I'm there for. Is the orb ... is it going to be safe to use again? After last time?" Jinx asked.
"We're all connected to you. In tune with you. Moving a ship with us aboard is relatively easy for you. So many with a history of so many dark emotions was immeasurably harder. You'll need to learn to get past that, but for now you shouldn't have more problems," Mara said.
"Why didn't you tell me this could happen? I'm having to do all this without any guidance. I hurt Tamara. I could have killed everybody. If you know how this works, you need to teach me," Jinx said.
Mara rubbed at her eyes. "I assure you that if I thought I could, I would. You need a teacher, but I am not her. The ones who might have served are dead."
"Say what you want, but nobody understands what is happening better than you. Every time I have a question everybody is silent but you."
It was rare to see Mara look at a loss, but she did now.
"Truly, I am not the one. When we get back I can send out messages. If anyone remains alive my sisters can find them, but my knowledge is all secondhand. It isn't what you need."
Jinx slumped, looking even more exhausted.
"I'll pilot for Tamara and Mara tomorrow. We'll take the Tango," Quinn said.
"I'll have Melody focus on the schematics Mara sends over and the rest of us will start on tearing down the ship for repairs," Taki said.
"This really isn't your fault," Quinn said to Jinx.
Jinx told him, "You did your job. Mara did her job. You were counting on me and I was the link that failed. I don't care how you try to spin it, it doesn't even matter that you don't blame me for it, it's true."
"She's not wrong, sir," Taki said.
"Taki ..." Quinn said.
"I am assigning no blame. I'm just saying she has a point. We made a plan around this magic stuff and it didn't work. Either we need to get it reliable or we need to not do that again."
"When we get safe I will try to find someone," Mara said.
"I have a lot of contacts. Who do you need? I'm assuming you think the royal family specifically. But they had retainers, there are the great houses," Tamara said.
"The Emperor or one of his children would be ideal. If any were still alive, however, I doubt we'd have this problem at all. Ideally we'd want someone who fought beside him, but he never trusted any of the other immortals in the Imperium," Mara said.
"Might they have answers even if he didn't trust them?"
Mara paused for a moment. "Perhaps. The thing about living for a long time is how very much you see. Vana perhaps, they were lovers for a time and mother to one of his children. Dios and he fought side by side in a few wars, however unhappy each was about it."
Tamara frowned. "Both hate Tourmaline from what I understand."
"A widespread sentiment, I assure you. Tourmaline has never bothered with the niceties when it came to getting what she wanted."
Quinn hoped he'd never have a chance to find out. Tomorrow might be his last chance to talk Tamara out of using the archive if they discovered it. He'd have to make the time count.
11
After a restless night’s sleep for them all—the ship sounded different when it was this badly damaged—Quinn, Mara, and Tamara set off in the Tango to search for the archive.
The jungle loomed beneath them extending in all directions, although it was the towering peak of the mountain that dominated the landscape.
"We should check the peak first," Tamara said.
"Before we do anything we should talk. You know I don't want you using that thing," Quinn said.
"My mind, my history, my choice. This isn't complicated, Quinn."
Mara said, "Except that it is. If you truly aren't Tourmaline and none of your recent line are, then you are part of a grand deception. But those I represent have records of the original, of the things she did and the person she was. I've always distrusted you for a reason."
Tamara gave Mara an exasperated look. "Do you really think I've gone to this extent to perpetrate some grand deception? I am not her, my mother wasn't her."
"Making the case of what incredible liars members of your line are really doesn't give me any reassurance," Mara said.
Quinn angled the Tango towards the peak. The winds were especially dangerous around the mountain and he had to adjust for them, it was making for a bumpy ride.
"I believe her, but that doesn't mean I want you to do it. What is the upside? You can have the name now if you want it, and everything that goes with it. Isn't that what you always wanted?" Quinn asked.
Tamara gave a humorless laugh. "You don't have ambition do you? Not like I do. Not that gnawing emptiness inside needing to be filled. It isn't about the money, or the connections, it’s about being the best."
"Winning the acclaim of a woman you hated and then becoming her. Oh, I get it, far as it goes, it just don't make any sense," Quinn said.
Mara said, "People want to feel a connection with their history, and with where they came from. They seek to transcend history. For all that I disapprove of the antics of the immortal Tourmaline, you don't have to
act like the choice is madness."
"Don't be on my side. I don't like it when you are on my side," Tamara said as she folded her arms. "I don't deserve it. I wasn't the first choice, I'm just the last one standing because I ran fast and far, and wasn't the best at hiding."
"When you're the last one standing at the end of a fight I don't think it matters how you got there," Quinn said.
The top of the mountain was capped in snow and with no signs of any structures.
Quinn hovered the Tango to give the sensors more time to gather data. There might be something beneath the snow that warranted their attention.
"What I find interesting is the behavior of the real Tourmaline. The Divide is breached and the first thing they do is come through to murder off their genetic line? Why?" Mara asked.
"I can take a good guess. Paranoia. Tourmaline is a unique combination of knowledge and a genetic lineage which can be separated from each other. There are likely some resources locked away requiring both attributes to access them," Tamara said.
"So why the killing? Why not abduct one of you to overwrite?" Mara asked.
"Nothing says that weren't the goal. Tamara has never struck me as the sort to just lay down and take whatever is coming at her, can't imagine her sisters or mom were either," Quinn said.
"It is possible. With the knowledge in the minds and the genetic signatures of someone from the true line they might be able to gain full access to whatever Tourmaline had left for herself," Tamara said.
"Well, whatever it is we're looking for. It isn't here. Any other options?" Quinn asked.
"Mountains are all I can think of. We should check another," Tamara said.
Mara let out a low breath. "Lakes. Check lakes, especially one with a view of a mountain nearby. There should be several in the vicinity."
"I hate lakes," Tamara asked.
"Tourmaline didn't, she grew up on the shore of one. Wrote some rather decent poetry about it, long, long ago. I can see her wanting to start her new lives with a view like that which hearkened back to her past."
