Shadows of Arcturus (Syrax Wars Book 1)

by Tom Chattle

  Moreau chewed on her lip for a moment, her eyes flicking over to meet Chen's. "Okay, I'll try and keep an open mind about this stuff."

  "Go on, Auri, give it a go." Wilde prompted, nodding toward the device.

  Eyes focused on the console, Chen moved toward it with caution.

  "Did my opinion suddenly cease to matter?" Bauer snapped, and Chen's attention jerked away from the device before her.

  "Alex, we're still stuck in the middle of a hostile alien stronghold and don't know how to get out." Chen pulled her aside, away from the other two. "If Wilde is right, I may be able to find us a way out of here."

  "Look, I believe you may have gained some sort of...ability to affect this technology," Bauer spoke calmly, "I just don't think you can go poking around inside it with no idea how it works. You could bring down a horde of aliens on us all or..." Bauer paused, her fingers tapping anxiously on the grip of her rifle. "Or you could hurt yourself. We don't understand what that thing did to your mind, and I don't want you to make it worse."

  A pang of guilt speared through Chen at her obvious concern. Outside McCann, it had felt like a long time since someone had continually shown genuine worry over her wellbeing. She understood Bauer's reluctance, but how could things get much worse at this point? "I need to try this, Alex, and I need you to trust me on it." Chen tried to put on a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine."

  The Marine's gray eyes bored into Chen's for a long moment before she nodded. Then she broke eye contact and turned away to study the rest of the room. "Okay, see what you can get."

  Taking a deep breath, Chen nodded. Even the thought that it could damage her mind more was troublesome, but something within her was drawn to the technology, almost eager to use it. Chen turned back to the others, bracing herself for what might come. "Let's do this."

  - 31 -

  2208.02.20 // 05:38

  Alien control chamber, Arcturus b

  Wilde watched eagerly while Chen placed one palm on the wide, flat area at the front of the closest console. Based on the diameter, she guessed it might be a control interface for an alien-sized hand. She spread her fingers wide and waited for something to happen, but the console remained dormant. "Why's it not doing anything?"

  "Try and focus on activating it," Wilde suggested.

  Chen frowned. "The last one turned on as soon as you touched it."

  "Maybe I'm just that good," she teased, before shrugging. "Honestly? I have no idea why that one activated. Nothing else I've touched has done anything."

  "That was before everything really started coming to life in the city." Moreau scratched her chin, forehead creased in thought. "Perhaps they activated more security features after they realized what was going on?"

  It made as much sense as any other explanation, but it didn't explain why this one wasn't working for Chen now. Closing her eyes, she tried to do as Wilde suggested and focus on the device. Several long seconds of trying different thoughts left her full of frustration.

  "Why won't the damn thing turn on?" she snapped, smacking the dark surface with the palm of her hand. As soon as she said the words, a swell of power rose within her and the alien technology lit up in an eruption of light.

  "There you go!" Wilde exclaimed, a wide grin splashed across her face.

  Excitement surged through Chen at her accomplishment. She wasn't sure what she had done, but it had definitely responded to her thoughts. She brushed her fingers over the smooth surface and different feelings flashed through her head, each speaking to her in some distinct way. Chen closed her eyes and skimmed the options the device presented to her mind, trying to determine what each might mean. When her thoughts passed over one, something snagged. Whatever it was, it called for her attention. Redirecting her focus, she delved into it and followed the shimmering trail of information back to its source. A warm sensation passed through Chen, and she reacted with a sharp intake of breath as she reached what she was looking for.

  "Wow!"

  Wilde's breathless exclamation brought Chen back into the room, and she opened her eyes. Like before, shimmering maps danced through the air around the console's pillars, each with intricate combinations of runes and symbols.

  Moreau moved in to examine the displays, frowning. "I think this is where we are. If we could magnify it would be better."

  Chen chewed on her lip and tried to focus the image. After a moment of stubborn refusal, the floating map zoomed in to show nothing but the room they were in, four blurry smudges scattered around the center.

  "Oh, maybe a bit close." Moreau raised her eyebrows and glanced over at Chen. "Did you do that?"

  Chen nodded, unable to help a cocky grin from spreading across her face. "Not bad, huh?"

  "Those blobs must be us." Moreau leaned in. "Does this mean they have been tracking us this whole time?"

  Wilde frowned. "If so, why haven't we been killed or captured yet?"

  Bauer shifted against the wall. "Well, it's not like they weren't trying. How about we focus on the route out of here, rather than getting ahead of ourselves?"

  Chen's felt a hot flush of irritation creep up her neck before she quashed it, surprised at herself for the level of anger she felt at that moment. Frowning, she turned back to the display. With a few more thoughts, she zoomed back out to see the mountain as a whole. She gestured across the map. "This group looks like it might be Haynes and the rest of the Marines."

  That got Bauer's attention. "Are they okay?"

  "I can't exactly tell how they're feeling from weird alien blob markers, but there's the right amount to suggest they're doing all right," Chen replied.

  "Well, it's better than nothing."

  While the others studied the maps to try and determine the best route to join up with their comrades, Chen let her mind drift back to scanning the intricate, tangled web of information that swam around inside the alien computer. One grabbed her attention and she focused on it, the data within filling her head. "The Syrax empire used to control huge areas of the galaxy."

  "Hmm? What was that?" Bauer asked, turning away from the floating images.

  "These aliens—the Syrax—they once occupied half our galaxy. This was one of their furthest outposts."

  "How could you possibly know that?" Moreau asked, folding her arms.

  Chen waved a hand toward the shimmering screens. "They have their entire history in this thing."

  "In one console?" Bauer asked.

  "They might have some sort of hive network, all their information in one shared repository," Moreau suggested.

  Bauer circled the device, watching the glowing maps. "If they ruled so many star systems, what happened to them?"

  Chen dove deeper into the Syrax files and searched for answers. "They were in a war of annihilation with another species."

  Wilde's chin snapped up. "The skeletons?"

  "Yes." Chen nodded, skimming through more data. "This was once one of their worlds before the Syrax occupied it and slaughtered the inhabitants." Her mind drifted further through the archives. "They destroyed the other race, but at great cost. The Syrax empire was in tatters, and they fell to infighting and civil wars."

  "Must have been a pretty powerful race to cause the Syrax such damage. These things seem pretty serious," Bauer said, eyebrows raised.

  More information flooded through Chen, the gentle warmth she felt sifting through the data turning to a chill. "The Syrax created a biological weapon. It obliterated their enemy."

  "Not a fun way to go." Wilde twisted her lips. "Do they still have that capability?"

  Bauer cleared her throat. "I think we need to focus on getting out of here rather than developing a detailed analysis of their history."

  "Well, then figure it out," Chen snapped, annoyed at the distraction from the wealth of information around her. The steely look she received from Bauer instantly made her regret the reply. "I'm sorry. There's so much running through my head right now, it's hard to focus."

  Bauer's expression soften
ed a little, but her eyes remained wary. "I know this is difficult for you, but we can't stay here forever."

  The group turned back to examining the maps that still floated around them.

  Moreau traced a line down the spire and across the city. "This is a different route out than we came in, but it's less distance to the shield, and once we get out, we can call the shuttle to pick us up."

  Bauer nodded approvingly. "Good plan, Ensign."

  A flicker of a smile tweaked at the corners of Moreau's lips. "Thank you, ma'am."

  Chen let their chatter drift into the background as a strange sensation tugged at the edges of her consciousness. Following the feeling, a stream of glyphs surrounded her, streaming through the air in an ethereal waterfall.

  "What the hell's that?" Bauer asked.

  "I don't know," Chen replied, spinning slowly to take it all in. "It felt important."

  - 32 -

  2208.02.20 // 05:52

  Syrax control chamber, Arcturus b

  "Important, how?" Wilde asked, moving over to Chen and stepping into the stream of light with her.

  Chen ran a hand through her matted hair. "It's like they're waiting for something to finish with some urgency."

  "To finish?" Bauer frowned. "As though they're preparing something to attack us with?"

  "No..." Chen squeezed her eyes shut, trying to probe the information stream further. "As though they are waiting for it to send."

  Bauer's face went rigid. "A message?"

  Chen nodded. "I think so. It's feeding into what must be the main communications array at the top of the mountain."

  Stepping forward, Bauer peered at the streaming icons. "Can you tell what the message is?"

  Every time Chen tried to decipher the information, she hit blocks that turned her stomach and added another spike of pain to her mind. Frustrated, she shook her head. "No, it won't translate to our language for some reason."

  "How come you could understand other information?" Wilde asked.

  "I'm not sure, but this one feels...different." Chen frowned. "More important somehow."

  "Well, think about the difference between a historical article and an encrypted intelligence report in our systems," Moreau stated. "It makes sense that you wouldn't just be able to read it without the proper authorization if it's that important."

  Bauer sighed. "So, we know they're preparing a major transmission, but we don't know what it is. Drawing logical conclusions, it would be about us. Probably being sent back to wherever they came from." She stared at the holographic information, eyes unfocused. "Do we know how long until they send it?"

  "It feels like their technology is taking a lot longer to come back online than they thought." Chen rubbed her temple, which ached again. "Maybe a couple of hours? It's hard to say."

  Bauer raised her head so her gaze could meet Chen's. She pursed her lips. "We have to stop it."

  "Just how are we supposed to do that, exactly?" Wilde's eyebrows shot up.

  "Auri, can you stop it from here?" the Marine asked.

  "No." Chen had already tried, and the attempt had only increased the throbbing pain in her head that the encrypted message had started back up. "It won't let me. I think it's tied to that communications equipment. Maybe we could stop it from there."

  Moreau's face tightened. "But you said that was at the top of the mountain."

  "Maybe your ship can help us?" Wilde asked, straightening from her slumped stance against the console.

  "We don't have a way to communicate with the Valiant," Bauer replied.

  If only there were some way they could get a message to McCann. Chen closed her eyes and tilted her head back. "It would be nice to hear McCann's voice right now."

  "Lieutenant? Is that you?" McCann's voice echoed around the room, crystal clear.

  Everyone's heads snapped to look at Chen. Confused, she cleared her throat. "McCann?"

  "Oh, thank goodness," his voice replied. "The place has been lighting up down there, and we hadn't heard from you for a while. How's everything going?"

  "It could be better," Chen admitted. Just hearing her friend's voice filled her with relief. "There are a lot of really pissed off aliens down here, and we've taken major casualties."

  "Shit," McCann muttered, "how can we help?"

  Bauer tilted her chin up, speaking into the air. "You said the place was lighting up. What did you mean by that?"

  "New energy readings have been steadily increasing over the past few hours, lots of activity as far as we can tell. The top of the mountain seems to be particularly active."

  "That matches up with the communications array you talked about," Bauer said to Chen. She raised her voice. "McCann, we have reason to believe the aliens are preparing a message to be sent. I need you to attempt to destroy the activity at the top of the mountain. It's far above us, we shouldn't be in any danger."

  There was a long pause as McCann digested the information. "Lieutenant Chen?"

  "Do as Lieutenant Bauer says, Wally," Chen replied. "Full cannon and torpedo bombardment on that location immediately."

  "Aye, aye, ma'am," McCann responded and then repeated the order in the background.

  Alert tones sounded across the comm, and Chen wished she was there on the bridge, in command while the Valiant readied itself for war. She regretted ever overruling Bauer and coming down to the planet, given everything that had happened. Her place was in the command chair of her starship, no matter how old and outdated it was.

  "Firing now," McCann called, the bass rumble of the rail-cannons audible behind him.

  The Valiant commenced its bombardment, and keening warning tones wailed. Wincing at both the aural assault and the painful sensation that blossomed through her mind, Chen clenched her fists. Reflexively, a tactical map of the mountain appeared in the air before them. The blue dome of the shield flashed angrily red above the mountain's peak as rail-rounds imparted their massive kinetic energy into the ethereal barrier. After a few moments, the barrage ceased.

  "It's no good. The barrier isn't weakening at all." McCann's voice sounded disappointed.

  "Try a salvo of torpedoes," Chen ordered.

  Moments later, blinking icons showed up, inbound to the shield. The tactical map flared bright red as they impacted, their nuclear warheads detonating with a rumble that Chen could feel deep inside the mountain. But once the blaze had cleared, there appeared to be no difference.

  "Nothing," McCann said, subdued.

  "Shit," Bauer muttered. "There goes that idea."

  A flash of pain and anger hit Chen, doubling her over. "Oh, no."

  "Auri, what is it?" Bauer asked, grabbing her shoulder.

  "McCann, shields to full and evasive action, now!" Chen cried, holding her head.

  Two energy blooms appeared from the top flanks of the mountain, growing rapidly in intensity before lancing up through the shield. The Valiant was not indicated on the holographic map, but Chen knew that's where they were aimed.

  "McCann?" No answer came back from above. "McCann?" She tried again. "Valiant, come in."

  A few moments later, a wailing siren cut through the silence. "Lieutenant, we've been hit pretty badly," McCann coughed. "Shields caught most of it but knocked a bunch of systems offline. I don't think we're going to be of much help."

  "Damnit," Chen spat. "McCann, pull back and start repairs. We'll have to deal with this from down here."

  "Aye, good luck."

  As the reassuring voice of her best friend cut off, Chen stared at the others, gathered in the gloom. "Now what?"

  "We have to stop that transmission from being sent," Bauer said, gray eyes weary and resigned to the task ahead.

  "Can we get a message to Haynes, get him and the others back here?" It would probably take too long, but Chen had to ask.

  Bauer shook her head. "I've already tried, the comm system in my suit isn't reaching that far with all this rock around us."

  Wilde's mouth dropped open, brow creasing with anxiety
. "Without support, we won't stand a chance."

  "We'll have surprise, at least." Chen chuckled darkly. "What alien would expect four humans to assault their mountain stronghold?"

  Bauer straightened, jaw set firm. "Okay, let's find a route."

  A wave of tiredness hit Chen. She tuned the others out and wiggled her bare toes, trying to warm them. Whatever material this mountain was made from was icy cold, and her soles were in as much pain as her head. Closing her eyes, she tried to gather her strength for the new mission that now lay before them.

  ~I have you~

  Chen's breath caught in her throat, and her eyes snapped open at the invasive voice in her head.

  Bauer glanced at her quizzically. "Auri, what's wrong? You're as white as a sheet."

  "The matriarch, she's found us."

  "What do you mean, found us? What's a matriarch?" Bauer asked, warily.

  "The transmission to the Valiant, perhaps?" Chen's head felt foggy, and the room spun around her. "I don't think she could tell where we were before that."

  Bauer grimaced. "Okay, we have to leave now, then." She checked Chen over. "Are you able to move?"

  Chen nodded silently. It wasn't like she had much of a choice. "Let's go."

  - 33 -

  2208.02.20 // 06:05

  Syrax control chamber, Arcturus b

  The group raced out the only other door in the room and entered a tunnel system that branched off in several directions

  "Auri, can you guide us in some way? Do whatever you did before?" Bauer asked.

  "It's not like I can punch in coordinates and hit start, you know," Chen replied, brow furrowed.

  "Can you at least try?"

  Chen nodded. "Yes, of course." She closed her eyes and focused on the images in her mind. The feelings were still bizarre, but she was almost starting to get used to them. She wasn't sure if that was good or not. At least the urge to vomit was lessening.