Phoenix Rising: The Covenant (Phoenix Rising Infinitology Book 1)

by Angela Timms

  Zack put his knuckles on the table and stood up. “That is not the situation. I have discussed this with Kyla and she is prepared to go with you. She appreciates that we want to get Shantara back and is happy to help us retrieve our team member. We have the knowledge of where Shantara may be. We must do all in our power to get our team member back. I hope that you are not letting personal issues cloud your judgment here Kel. What happened between the two of you is personal and should not colour your future decisions.”

  Kel stood up to face him. “How do you know?”

  The Commander cleared his throat. “As you quite clearly forgot we do have cameras in the communal rooms.”

  Kel took a deep breath. “So you’d send one of my people who is still recovering from her injuries into danger? We can find another way. Surely she doesn’t need to go?” His hand was hanging over his blaster and his face had flushed slightly red.

  Commander Zack was beginning to flush a little red in the face himself. “Now I think you need to calm down son and look at this logically. Kyra is due to be signed out of the Infirmary any day now and I have already spoken to Dr Samson about her medical fitness. I think you will confirm what I am saying Dr Samson?”

  Dr Samson nodded as Kel glared at him.

  The Commander shuffled his papers about the table. “He has given her the go ahead to leave the Infirmary and to take on missions. I am counting on you to help her and to look after her. This is not negotiable, we need Shantara back. Her knowledge of this base puts every man, woman and child here in danger. You have twenty four hours to prepare. Dr Samson you will return to the Infirmary to get Kyla on her feet and ready for the go. Rennon I have information set up for you that will help you to know your way around. Our information is limited. If there are no more questions you have your orders.”

  He slipped his papers into the folder and ignored Kel’s stony stare. He got up and walked calmly out of the briefing room, leaving Kel, Rennon and Dr Samson to talk.

  Kel turned to Dr Samson. “Surely she’s not…”

  Dr Samson cut him off. “Kel, you can’t keep her safe in the Infirmary forever. I know you have been there every step of the way and your daily help with her has been invaluable. I have appreciated it and you have given her a lot of strength. But, you know she’s walking now, she’s involved in research and artefact investigation and she was instrumental in finding the location. You have to let go and let her get on with her job here. In my medical opinion she is well enough to undertake the mission.”

  Kel stood up.

  Rennon grabbed his arm and got glared at. “Where are you going?”

  Kel pulled his arm free. “I’m going to speak with Kyla and to try to talk her out of this.”

  He strode out and his fixed stare reflected that his mind was racing as he strode down the corridors. People got out of his way without being asked, the dark menacing look on his face was enough. He reached the Infirmary and the doors just about managed to swish open as he strode through, down the ward and to the private room at the end which Kyla now pretty much called home.

  Kyla was sitting on the bed watching something on the screen. She looked up when he came in and smiled. “Kel, good to see you. I thought you were in the meeting?”

  “Kyla, you can’t come with us.” He sat down on the bed beside her and took her hand. “You have to see reason, you aren’t well enough yet. Who knows what we will meet on that planet.”

  Her voice was calm, gentle and hardly more than a whisper. “Shantara was and is a member of your crew. You have said that you cannot leave anyone behind. Also, I have heard that she trusts and cares for you. That makes it all the more important to find her and bring her back.”

  Kel turned his stony glare on her. “I never said I wanted to leave her behind. We are going. What I said was that you aren’t coming with me. I mean us.”

  Kyla stood up and faced him. Her hazel eyes flashed bright green. “Who are you to stop me? You may have helped me but you do not own me.” She pulled her hand out of his but he reached and caught it back, pulling her down to sit on the bed. She glared at him. “Is this what you are really like?

  Am I truly seeing the real Kel now rather than the kind soul who has helped me all these months? I don’t think so.”

  Kel let her hand fall to the bed and looked down at the floor. “No.”

  Kyla took a deep breath. “I am glad that you are worried about me but I do know a fair bit about that planet. It is highly civilized and its people are devoted to knowledge, art and wisdom. It is not a war zone. On the practical side I may stand a better chance of getting in there than any of you because I can operate the artefacts. I also have experience dealing with people and negotiating trade agreements. By what I’ve heard that may just be the way to get her back. If she is a slave she is a commodity and commodities can be dealt in. This may be the only chance that Shantara has. It has been more than three months now. I have traded with these people before many years ago and others who have traded with them recently have said that they are hospitable and more than friendly. I’m worried enough about this as the subterfuge that is necessary may well be our undoing. Kel, please don’t make it any worse.

  I had a long talk with the Commander today and he has asked me to stay. When we get back I’ll make my decision. He has also given me the opportunity to use your library and to work with various artefacts. If I stay I’d be working mostly in the laboratory with Rennon.” She stood up and took a step away and almost lost her balance. “Is that quiet enough for you?”

  Kel stepped in and caught her, lifted her effortlessly back onto the bed. “This is exactly what I mean. You are not ready.”

  Kyla smiled. “I lost my balance.” Her voice was firm and commanding.

  Kel turned to go. “If you won’t listen to me there is no point in me staying here is there. I’ll see you at the mission briefing tomorrow. Have a good night.”

  Kyla reached out and caught his arm as he was almost out of reach. “Don’t go, not like this.”

  Kel turned back like a rag doll and sat on the bed with her. They sat in silence, the film on the television screen playing to itself as they both looked at the screen but neither saw it. After about half an hour Kel turned and put his arms around her. “I’m sorry, I was just worried. When you have so little left, what there is becomes so much more important.”

  Kyla brushed a stray hair away from his face as he sat back. “And if you worry too much about something you make the very thing you are afraid of happen. I know you will be there to look after me and I’m not planning on doing anything too stupid. It’s a recon mission and if we are lucky a trading mission where we’ll come back with her.”

  After he left the Infirmary Kel went to the gymnasium and knocked the hell out of a punch bag. He then felt a lot better, showered, returned to his room and rolled onto his bed.

  Rennon had spent most of the evening in his laboratory with the information he had been given. At around midnight he closed down the laptop and headed to the Infirmary with a small wooden box that had sat on the table in front of him all afternoon.

  Kyla was still awake, watching something on the television and trying to make sense of it. “Rennon, good to see you. What do you have there?” Rennon sat on the chair beside her. “Sorry to disturb you but I wondered if you knew what this is? I can’t see any notes on it.” He opened the box and Kyla took a look at the block inside. “I think it is a puzzle box. We couldn’t get it open earlier but it buzzes when I touch it. Why?” Rennon took the block out and handed it to her. “It comes from the planet we’re going to and I wondered what it was. I thought it was a good time to try to find out in case it is valuable.”

  Kyla turned it over. “Where did you get it?”

  Rennon thought a while. “I’m not totally sure and the notes with it are very sketchy. Someone wasn’t doing their paperwork properly. We’re assuming that it originated from there as those markings are typical of the scholar’s writing from scrolls
we have from the place.”

  Kyla turned it over in her hand. “I wonder.” She held it in her hand and concentrated and the box began to hum.

  Rennon looked surprised. “Now that’s new.” It vibrated and opened up, leaves of it unfolding like an onion skin. “Wow. Now what do you do?” It vibrated and almost jumped in her hand. Where before it had looked like a large dice now it was opened other bits opened out until it laid out flat. There were markings on it and as Kyla turned it over it became obvious, it was a map.

  Kyla turned it over and over in her hands. “Well, that makes it a bit clearer. A map of what? That is what we should be asking?” As she asked a hologram appeared above the map and technical data began falling as if running down a screen.

  Rennon grabbed a camera from his pocket and began to film it. “Wow, this is going to be interesting. So much for sleeping tonight, this may well be important.”

  Kyla tried to keep her hand as still as possible. “I guess so.”

  The text fell for nearly an hour until it started to repeat. When Rennon had a full copy they took the camera and they walked to Rennon’s laboratory where he plugged in the camera and the symbols turned up on the screen. He looked at Kyla. “So, how is your Alexandrosian?”

  Kyla smiled. “Lousy. You haven’t had a chance to read the reports of the artefacts we looked at this afternoon have you?”

  Rennon was watching the images on the screen. “No, I haven’t had a chance yet.”

  Kyla took a seat as her leg collapsed but Rennon wasn’t looking so he didn’t see. “We found a translation device which has been docked into that laptop over there. It’s a stand-alone terminal so if you put a copy of that program into there you might be able to read it. Hopefully that is some serious information we may be able to trade or use.”

  Rennon downloaded the information onto a disc and carried it to the other laptop and plugged it in. Immediately the symbols turned into words they could understand. Rennon ran through the text. “Wow, you are right, this seems to be some sort of ancient poem, just the sort of thing that may be currency to get us in there. Did Kel speak to you?”

  Kyra sighed. “Yes, he seems very concerned. I’m still going with you tomorrow though.”

  Rennon pressed a button and made copies of the poem. “He sees things very black and white sometimes. I would not let that worry you. He’ll get over it and once you are doing regular missions you’ll prove to him that you are ok. If you are. How are you feeling? Be honest.”

  Kyla smiled. “In truth a little shaky, a little apprehensive and a little worried about all this. When I was in the Infirmary that was one thing, now everything is real.”

  Rennon put his arm around her. “Don’t worry, you’ll settle in.”

  Kyla looked up into his gentle grey eyes. “I think so. Let us get this first one out of the way and we will then see how things go. What needs to be done here?”

  Rennon looked down at the keyboard. He was typing furiously. “Not much more. I’ve done a report, filed copies and sent a copy of my report to the Commander.” He smiled and hit send and the information flashed as message sent. “Now I’m going to hit my bed and get some sleep before tomorrow. I would suggest that you do the same.”

  Kyla headed for the door. “You are right, see you tomorrow.”

  The morning dawned like any other in space. With no weather and no sun to rise or set everyone filed about according to MC Time and often to the rhythm of their shifts so the base was manned all the time. One by one they filtered out to breakfast until the four of them were sitting by the window, the vastness of space their backdrop occasionally disturbed by a passing shuttle or transporter.

  Kel sat directly next to the window, deep in thought so that a piece of toast suspended between his fingers were already going cold and the butter solidifying. Rennon dug into his breakfast with his usual gusto and Samson was reading some notes while thoughtfully munching on a piece of bacon impaled on his fork. Kyla sat there watching them. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again.

  Rennon looked up for a moment. “Look I know it’s a different team but nothing has changed really. We’re going off base to achieve a goal. This one might not involve getting ourselves shot and knocked about though.”

  Kel smiled and took a bite from his toast then looked a little upset when he realized it was cold. “Sure, just another mission.” He gave Kyla a meaningful glance and smiled at her.

  Rennon pulled a small notebook out of his pocket. “They are basically a peaceful race until they need to fight. Their advancement in science and technology is quite spectacular and their army organized and disciplined. Although they are technologically advanced they have chosen to live a life that is gentle on the planet. They use candlelight at night of choice though they do have the option of other light sources and heat their houses with vast under floor heating systems powered by sustainable fuel. Of course all this is maintained by their vast number of slaves. I wouldn’t worry too much about the slaves. They are given comfortable board and lodgings and by all accounts they are looked after far better than most of the poor on other planets. They are bought and sold but within their structure, the slaves that is, not their masters, they gain status by what they have raised in the open market and what they are worth. In truth by what I can see it is no different to wages other than they don’t have the money themselves and everything is provided for them.

  I took a look at their original Bill of Rights which set up the slavery and its intention was to ensure that the consumption of goods was regulated. They literally have all they need and an allowance which their “owner” can spend on them at their request. Their owner is not allowed to spend any more or any less. What is spent on them depends on their value on the open market which is decided by their skills and physical value. They live in enclaves where they have their own homes and entertainment. They go to work like anyone else and are only allowed to work a certain number of hours a day. Any excess hours can only be by their request and it has to be logged with the Central Board of Slave Control. Anyone can apply for slave status and if this application is approved they can put themselves up for public auction or private tender.

  In general their architecture is magnificent and their statues and art unrivalled in any galaxy. These are scholars and teachers with a standing army of thousands of well skilled fighting men and many slaves choose to be part of trained groups to add to this if their master gives permission.” Kyla looked up. “Indeed, in my experience they are very polite, very civilized and have not allowed their advancement to spoil them. They delight in luxury and hospitality and their alcoholic beverages are also unrivalled.”

  Kel spoke with his mouth full, his words muffled. “I don’t care, we get her, and we get out, end of story.”

  Their breakfast done they put the trays on the trolley and went to the crew room to get ready for the mission. There were rails there and on those rails the costumes that would help them to fit in with the locals.

  Kyla lifted her dress on its hanger. “Where did they get this from? It’s beautiful.” The dress was loose fitting, tied in under the bust with a gold thread to form a high waist and a loose skirt. The material was floating and colourful, a vibrant gold.

  Kel smiled. “There is a department on base here that makes whatever is needed from information they have on a database.” His outfit was more martial. His waist length breastplate of shining metal armour had been emblazoned with a rearing goat. The leather paneled skirt that protected his lower regions was metal shod and almost met his long metal faced boots. To finish that outfit off he had what looked like a complete wolf pelt to throw around his shoulders. “Lord’s Robes” it said on the label.

  Rennon’s outfit said “Merchant” and consisted of long purple robes with a cloak suspended over one shoulder. As a physician Dr Samson was presented with long blue robes with a belt of pouches which buckled around it. Kyla smiled and disappeared into the changing room.

  The m
en changed in the communal room, throwing the robes on and flouncing about in front of the mirror. The jokes done they settled down to concealing an inappropriate amount of weapons and getting themselves mentally ready.

  Kyla stepped out of the changing room and all three of them stopped in their tracks, Kel’s mouth fell open and none of them could take their eyes off of her. She seemed to glide into the room, her slim waist, ample figure and muscular shoulders were complemented beautifully by the elegance of the dress. It was such a contrast to the plain blue boiler suit she had been issued with that they couldn’t help but stand and stare. The dress was draped over one shoulder only, leaving most of her neck and one arm bare. There were no signs of the black welts now and her skin was pale white. Her dark brown wavy hair was now tamed and held back from her face with a circlet of braid. She grabbed the shawl that was still hanging on the rail and hung it around her shoulders. “Well, will I do?”

  Kel opened and closed his mouth but no words came out. Rennon stepped forwards put a hand on her arm and faced her. “My dear you look delightful. You will charm them I am sure.”