by Frank Carey
"Hundreds of miles from where?"
Kel stared at the journal for a moment before answering. "Nest, the last of the Basili cities. He put the volume back, before searching for something in particular. "The century ship's data banks were programmed with the home world's master data base containing all the knowledge of the Sokuhl. The ship also had hard copies of the database--sort of a printed encyclopedia. Lucky for us, whoever stocked this library included copies. Ah, here it is," he said while taking down a large tome. Thumbing through it, he found what he was looking for. "As I thought, parts of the home world’s history have been excised."
"Excised? As in removed?"
"Yes, removed. I'm a historian, a historian of the Sokuhl. The Basili and their part of history was removed from the home world database, but it still exists in this book. According to this entry, Nest was the last of several large cities inhabited by mostly Basili."
"Segregation?"
"Practicality. Like me, the Basili flew, but unlike me, they did it as their primary form of travel. The cities had buildings over two thousand feet tall with huge balconies and landing areas. Sokuhl lived in these cities, but preferred more normal homes."
"Oh."
Kel replaced the volume, then made his way down the shelf, stopping near the end. "Launch day," he murmured while removing a journal.
"How could you possibly know that?" Jorgan asked.
"Because it says 'Launch Day' on the spine," Kel said as he opened it and sped through the pages.
"What did it say?" Jorgan asked.
Kel looked at him with tears in his eyes. "They watched Nest die in a ball of light as the ship took off."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know," he said while wiping his eyes. "These are journals written by the Basili and Sokuhl who escaped. The SIS called Red and told her to get the hell out of there, abandoning the people testing the cells. She refused, instead ordering the flight crew at gunpoint to take off. There is no mention of what actually happened..."
"Fate happened, Dr. Hardy."
Kel and Jorgan spun around to find six Sokuhl in battle suits, each pointing a gun at the hapless pair. "Agent Sage, I presume," Kel said while returning the log to shelf. "What took you so long to get here?"
CHAPTER TWENTY
"Cross-town traffic is a nightmare this time of day," the agent said while disarming the historian. "I see you've been working out," he commented while pointing at what was left of the door.
"Let Jorgan go. I'm the one you want."
One of the agent’s companions--the one wearing captain's stripes--pointed to the hallway. "Lieutenant, take your team and set up a defense perimeter just in case we have visitors. Set your weapons to stun."
"Yes, sir!" the LT said as he waved his team through the opening.
"As for you, young man, get out. The doctor is correct; you are not part of this."
Jorgan looked at Kel. "Go. Kenta and Furia would have my head if you got hurt," Kel reminded him
The young Malroth nodded, then ran out of the room, leaving Kel alone with the two SIS personnel.
"You are a historian, are you not, Doctor?" Sage asked.
"How did Nest die, agent?"
Sage walked over to the obelisk and ran his fingertips over it. “Doctor, isn't it true that you could kill me and my team with your bare hands?"
"I have no idea. I'm a historian, remember?"
"Oh, I remember. I also see how you got into this building and into this room. You are the biological version of both a Minotaur and a dragon, yet you spend your days writing papers about the past and baking scones. You are an enigma."
"Are we going to get to my question before I die from old age? What happened to Nest?"
"The Basili and the Sokuhl ruled the home world for centuries. The Basili were the intellectuals built like warriors while the Sokuhl were the physically weak barbarians bent on conquest. This was a problem for the Sokuhl."
"Go on."
"One day, a being showed up on the home world. She was unlike anything we had ever seen before. Not Sokuhl, yet close. What really interested us..."
"You mean the SIS, don't you?"
"What really interested us was her mind. Dr. Scarlett Rufous was a brilliant biologist who claimed she could reverse the decline the Basili were experiencing. You see, your people were dying."
"My people are the Sokuhl. The Basili died, remember?"
Sage grabbed one of the guards and turned her around. "She is Sokuhl! No wings! No tail! No breath that can burn through concrete. You are Basili, Dr. Hardy. The first to walk the home world in thousands of years. You are also the first person in that span of time to ask the question, 'What happened to the Basili!'"
"You're frothing at the mouth, Agent Sage."
Sage whipped out his pistol and set it to its highest power level as he aimed it at Kel’s chest. "Do not bait me, Doctor. I have a very short fuse."
"Fine. What happened to Nest?"
Sage lowered his weapon. "Where was I? Oh yes, Dr. Rufous. Intrigued, the SIS funded her research. In short order, she came up with a mutagenic substance that would return the Basili to full vigor. She had just started clinical trials when she was called away to help with the century ship project. It was at that moment we had an accident."
Kel leaned over to look the diminutive agent in his eyes. "What did they do?"
“The SIS had been working on a formula to give Sokuhl Basili characteristics, but the research met with failure, so we used Dr. Rufous' formula to enhance ours, though ours was nowhere near clinical trials. Unfortunately, several vials were switched. Instead of her formula, a vial of ours was placed aboard the century ship while another was used on an actual patient. People started dying."
"Go on."
"We were looking at an extinction level event, so the Patriarch ordered a protocol nine."
Kel sat down on the floor, hard. "He nuked the city?"
"Two thirty-megaton orbit-launched missiles incinerated the city in an instant. They all died painlessly... Grmph" Sage's reply was choked off by Kel's hand crushing his windpipe. The agent dropped his weapon as he tried in vain to pry the angry Basili's fingers from around his throat.
"You killed twelve million people because of a mistake? How about I mistake your throat for a dishrag?"
A blaster was brought to bear on the enraged historian. "Dr. Hardy, my name is Nesta and I'm the Captain of the SIS Tracker. Please put the agent down. Though I sympathize with your anger, I would have a mountain of paperwork to fill out if I let you kill him," the captain said as he retrieved the agent's weapon from the floor and slowly placed it in his belt.
Kel dropped the agent. "Captain, I am amazed at your self-control."
"As am I, Doctor. As am I."
"Sage, Why tell me all this other than to make me angry?"
Rubbing his throat, Sage walked closer and looked the angry Basili in the eye. "I plan to take you and the realmoria back to the SIS lab complex. Once there, we will use you to test the tweaks we make in the formula. Think of the army we can build using you as the template. Sokuhl will once more rise to greatness."
Kel leaned down. "Foolish, impudent creature. The Sokuhl are already great. They created the League. They have ushered in an era of learning never seen before. The Sokuhl don't need an army of mutants, though you need serious help."
With a grin bordering on a rictus of avarice, Sage slapped his hand down on the center of the obelisk.
Nothing happened.
He slapped it again, then again, but nothing happened. He pulled out his weapon and fired at the object before anyone could stop him.
The black stone ignored him.
"This is a bother," Nesta said.
"You think?" Sage reached down and tried to pick it up, but found it immovable.
Kel scanned it. "Good luck with that. It's fused into the framework of the castle. You'll need a Martok battlewagon to move it. So what now? Perhaps harsh language?"
Sage spun around, pushing his weapon's muzzle against Kel's chest. "Laugh it up, Dragon Boy. How about I bore a hole through that impressive chest of yours."
"Please! I only have eyes for Sheila. It seems you’ve reached an impasse," Kel said as he slapped the obelisk. He jumped back when the top flared with white light. As they watched, a cylindrical object emerged from the obelisk to float above it.
"Yes!" Sage yelled as he grabbed for it, only his hand never made it to the device. It was stopped by a force field. The shock of touching it threw the agent into a wall. He crumpled to the floor in a stunned heap.
"Force field," Kel said while examining his scanner. "Real nasty one. I suggest you don't try to touch the object."
Sage slowly got to his feet while shaking his head. "Thanks for the warning. The records don't mention a force field."
"Nega stal shoopna."
"Did you say something, Dr. Hardy?" the captain asked as he kept his gun trained on the historian while helping the Agent to remain standing.
"Nope. Wasn't me."
"Nega stal shoopna."
Kel's mind raced as he translated the ancient Basili. Disposition of object? the voice asked. It must be the obelisk, Kel thought. It's asking me what the hell to do with it. What do I tell it? He stood there, frozen as his mind raced.
"Go with your heart."
Startled, Kel looked up and saw an Olympian male standing behind the seemingly unaware Captain and Agent. He was wearing jeans, and a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words "Olympus U." He leaned against a lightning-bolt-shaped staff. Kel realized he resembled Clio when she was in Olympian-form. "Just follow your heart, Dragon Boy," he said before winking out.
"Nega stal shoopna."
"Tegla," Kel said. "Destruct."
The realmoria flared, engulfed in a small sun, then disappeared without even a puff of smoke to signal its departure.
"What did you do?" Sage screamed as he grabbed Nesta's weapon before pushing the captain to the floor. The enraged Sokuhl placed the weapon against Kel's head while thumbing it to full power. "What did you do?"
"I destroyed it. I destroyed the realmoria."
"Why?" Sage screamed as his hand shook. "We could have brought back the Basili race!"
"The Basili race is already here," Kel said as he swept his hand around the room, meaning the planet and its people. Then he tapped his chest. "And they’re here inside every Sokuhl walking the planets of the League. They never left, Sage, and now they are safe. You and I got it so wrong. The Basili never left; they just changed a little."
"I am going to kill you for your impudence. You have no right to make such a decision."
Kel pushed his forehead against the weapon's emitter. "Arctillus is safe. The Sokuhl are safe. The League is safe. Most importantly, my Sheila is safe. Do what you want for I am a happy dragon."
Sage pulled the trigger, then screamed when nothing happened. He stopped when he heard laughter. Turning, he looked down at Nesta who sat on the floor, chuckling while waving the weapon's power pack in the air. "Ooops. I guess I forgot to put it back."
Kel backhanded the agent into a wall, knocking him unconscious. It was at this moment that Red rushed in carrying a League blaster that she aimed at the captain. "Dr. Hardy, have they harmed you?"
"No. I'm fine. Where are my companions?"
"They are down the hall helping deal with the guards. Dr. Minty and my sister are both formidable warriors. The guards outside put up a stout defense of this position. I am sorry for my lateness."
"Did Jorgan make it out safely?"
"He's fine. His mother showed up when you didn't report in. There are two flyers guarding Sage's vehicle."
"How did you know..."
She pointed to the ceiling corners where Kel could see lenses. "Though sealed, we continue to monitor this room."
"So you heard that you had nothing to do with the death of Nest. That you saved the Basili race from extinction."
She holstered her gun before walking over and giving the historian a hug and peck on the cheek. "I heard. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now what? The realmoria is gone and I've put a few holes in your building."
She looked at the remains of the door. "We'll talk. First though, you have two people who want to see you." She took out a radio and thumbed the transmit button. "Let them in."
Kel could hear someone running down the hall followed by Sheila and Clio bursting in. In moments, he was holding one lady in each arm.
It was a good day to be alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Kel sat and fidgeted while Sheila checked her sohush for the umpteenth time. "Will you calm down? Everything is going to be fine."
"I know. Zor probably just wants to have tea; maybe I should have baked scones."
She cuffed him for good measure.
The door opened followed by Zor walking in. Kel and Sheila both stood to welcome him. "Patriarch, it is good to see you," Sheila said as she hugged him.
"Sheila, or should I say Granddaughter? May I see it?"
She held out her wrist and showed the Patriarch her prize. "Kel knitted it himself."
"As tradition dictates," he said as he examined the bracelet. "Beautiful work, Grandson. I wish you both long lives and many children."
"Thank you, Patriarch," they said as he sat down behind the desk.
"Where is this Clio? I would like to meet her," Zor said.
"Clio will be back later," Sheila explained. "She wanted to spend some time with her new-found sister and the rest of her family."
"Our AIs are immortal Olympian gods. The mind boggles," Zor mused. "I'm surprised you two weren't arrested by the Arctillians. Hell, I’m surprised we're not at war with them."
"Red was in a forgiving mood after Kel cleared her of twelve million counts of murder," Sheila replied. "Sage, though is another story."
"Yes, Sage. Though Red's returned Captain Nesta and his team to our custody, she has elected to keep Sage as a guest."
"Has she said anything about diplomatic relations between Arctillus and the home world?" Kel asked.
"You're hoping for a reunion, aren't you, Grandson? Well, she has mentioned it, but it would be difficult if the only way to get there was the Dawn Gate."
"Hard to get a transport through a hole that small," Sheila noted.
"This is why Alex contracted with the Erdexi for a specially designed orb generator which can be broken down into small pieces and transported through the existing gate. The Erdexi are positive their gates can span a distance of a mere 150,000 light-years."
"You mean we can move large ships from Alyson to Arctillus?" Kel asked.
"Up to and including Martok battle wagon size. Every university in the League is setting up an expedition to the LMC while Arctillus is already contracting for three space stations. This deal could be worth trillions of credits for both sides. Oh, and you get your reunion. Ambassador Irithyl is already on his way here. He will be acting as liaison between the League and the Arctillians." Zor stopped and stared at Kel and Sheila for a moment before walking around the desk to sit next to them. "I don't know where to begin. Kel, you were right about the Basili and you risked your life to prove it. Sheila, you risked everything to protect Kel. You are both models for the Sokuhl youth to follow."
"Thank you sir," they replied as Kel visibly blushed.
"So, what are your plans now that you two are bonded?"
"Kel has a posting on Ventos Prime. As for me, I am currently between jobs," Sheila said.
"But first, we are taking a side-trip to the home world and the forbidden zone," Kel said. "Someone needs to say goodbye to the twelve million dead Basili. Since I’m the last surviving, old-style Basili, I feel it is my duty to perform the proper rites."
"Let me know when you have arrived on the home world, and I will arrange for clearances and a ship and pilot..."
"No need, I have a captain's license," Sheila said.
"You do?" Kel asked. "Since w
hen?"
"We'll talk," Sheila replied while patting her mate's arm.
"Good, then I shall not keep you. I have a meeting with Alex where I will apologize profusely for the events of the past few days. I understand he is an understanding elf."
"Very," Sheila said as everyone got up and headed to the door. Once in the hallway, they parted ways; Kel and Sheila headed toward the Public House for a belated dinner, and Zor to his meeting with Alex.
###
Several hours later, Kel and Sheila sat in the Public House's main dining room and sipped their drinks while they waited for their meals to arrive. The patrons around them gave the occasional glance as if they were celebrities, which they rather were. On the table was a pile of business cards from attendees of the conference. Kel already had offers from a dozen people interested in co-writing articles with him.
"Well, Dr. Hardy,": Sheila said between sips, "it looks like the university is getting their money's worth from you. You're famous."
"Don't be silly. Nobody is interested in Kel Hardy," he said.
She took his chin in her hand and directed his yes to the monitor above the bar. There was Madge, the Alturan newscaster, reporting on the latest news. Hovering next to her pink-bowed eyestalks was Kel's mugshot from the university's staff directory. Beside it was an illustration from one of the history books Kel had borrowed from Arctillus and had given to Tannith for study.
"Oh, my," he said as the illustration was replaced by an interview with Tannith standing next to a University banner.
"Those Aymars," Sheila said as she kissed her mate.
A waiter brought over a house comm. "Doctor, you have a call."
"I'm busy, tell them..."
"It's ambassador Irithyl,"
"Oh dear," Kel said as he took the comm. "This is Kel... Yes, sir... Thank you, sir... I look forward to it... Goodbye." He handed the comm back to the waiting server and gave him a tip. "Thanks."
