UNKNOWN.
You don’t know?
NO. PORTALS DO NOT NEED ME TO OPERATE.
Ah. Do you know when they’re using them?
NO.
Why aren’t the portals wider? Why only big enough for two people?
BIGGER PORTALS WEAKER.
And weaker meant a chance the shadow-blobs might cross into our dimension.
CORRECT.
Just what we don’t need, more shadow-blobs. I return my focus to the portals. Why did fourth nation build the portals on these planets?
PORTS BUILT AT ENTANGLED LOCATIONS BETWEEN DIMENSIONS.
Entangled locations? Like places where they’re connected somehow? Where it’s easier to cross from one to another?
YES.
Hmmm. I mull it over. Fourth nation wanted to protect our dimension from the shadow-blobs, so they built a network of Warriors at these entangled spots to keep the enemy out.
CORRECT.
That supports Lan’s translations, which suggest the Warrior planets were chosen very carefully. She called the locations “entanglement points.” Which aren’t the same thing as Einstein’s quantum entangled particles.
CORRECT. EINSTEIN’S PARTICLES ENABLE GALAXY-WIDE COMMUNICATIONS.
That’s why messages aren’t influenced by the time dilation?
YES.
That’s super cool. Too bad Einstein never knew it.
EINSTEIN KNEW. GOOD FRIEND.
Stars! There’s so much in that response that I’d like to explore. But I need to focus on the problem at hand, learning about the portals. Why would fourth nation use these portals to travel? Wouldn’t that endanger them?
NOT IF PROPERLY PROTECTED. NEED PORTALS TO MAINTAIN THE NETWORK.
Oh! If used correctly, the portals keep the shadow-blobs out. And fourth nation needed to be able to check the Warriors and make sure the pits hadn’t collapsed. They used the portals to access the Warrior network.
CORRECT.
When not using the portals, how did Fourth Nation travel?
HUMANS NOT READY.
Argh. Can you at least tell me if their form of transportation invokes the time dilation?
IT DOES NOT.
Sweet. Something to look forward to. That is, if I’m alive and it’s not a thousand years in our future. I wait, but there’s no comment from Q. I think of another question. Why did Fourth Nation leave? They knew we needed to be protected, but they didn’t stay to maintain the network. A few of the Warrior pits had collapsed before we discovered them.
I AM HERE.
They assumed we would eventually tap into you, learn how to travel, find the Warriors, figure out why they’re here, and then maintain them.
CORRECT.
And they were right, except for one thing. They didn’t think humans would try to exploit the portals before learning their true purpose.
CORRECT. ALSO DEVELOPMENT OF FIFTH NATION SLOWER THAN EXPECTED.
I refrain from snarking on that last comment. Going back to the portals, I consider all the new information about them. The receiving pit is for incoming. Does that mean the portals only go one way?
YES.
Once I thought about it, that made sense. I think of another wrinkle. Can you open a portal from either side?
NO.
Which side?
OUTGOING.
Which means the planet on the incoming side can’t stop anyone from arriving, but can prevent people from leaving.
CORRECT.
Which pit is Yulin’s incoming portal?
PIT 54.
We haven’t opened that one yet. It might have collapsed—oh my stars! Jarren used that portal to get here! He must have relocated the Warriors from Pit 54 to his base. Why didn’t you tell me he moved them?
YOU DID NOT ASK.
I didn’t know to ask. But how else would Jarren travel here and move all those supplies to his forest base? In fact, I should be yelling at myself for not thinking of it either. Does this mean there’s a shadow-blob rift in Pit 54?
NO.
Why not?
WARRIORS ARE STILL ON YULIN.
I don’t understand. Can you please explain further?
EACH PLANET HAS NINETY-TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-TWO TOTAL WARRIORS. WHEN WARRIORS ARE DESTROYED OR REMOVED, THE BARRIER IS WEAKENED UNTIL A TEAR FORMS. THE TEAR GROWS BIGGER AS MORE WARRIORS ARE BROKEN OR REMOVED FROM THE PLANET.
And let me guess, the bigger the rift, the more shadow-blobs can come into our dimension.
CORRECT.
Just great. Jarren’s been destroying Warriors left and right. He’s going to kill us all. And in order to stop the looters, we’ll probably have to use the portals. You mentioned removing the Warriors from the planet. Will they protect against the shadow-blobs if they’re still on the planet? In other words, are the ones that were moved to Jarren’s base on Yulin still protecting us?
YES. ONCE REMOVED FROM THE PLANET, THE PROTECTION CEASES.
That’s good to know. What about the portals? Do they still work if the eight key Warriors are on a non-Warrior planet or a space ship?
NO.
Do you have a list of which pit goes to each planet on all sixty-four Warrior Planets?
YES.
How? We haven’t been to all the planets.
FOURTH NATION LEFT INFORMATION BEHIND IN ORDER TO HELP YOU WHEN THE TIME CAME.
Except when the time came and Lan deciphered the symbols, Jarren had already figured it out and was causing havoc.
CORRECT.
There’s a tap on my shoulder and I just about hit the ceiling.
“I’ve been calling you for ten minutes,” Dad says. “What are you working on that’s so engrossing?”
I glance at the screen. “Physics.”
“Trying to prove other dimensions exist?” His tone is teasing.
But I can’t tease back. “Did you want something?” My words are harsh. A twinge of guilt gnaws on my stomach.
His smile fades. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
As he leaves, I try to blame being overwhelmed with all the information from Q for my bad behavior. It’s a weak excuse. And what if the looters attack again, and I’m separated from my parents or they die? I don’t want this strained relationship to be my last memory of them.
My mother has made a pasta dish—I think. It’s noodles in a yellow sauce, so I’m not sure. During dinner, I’m not as surly and answer questions with more than one word. It’s hard. I’m still angry. But it’s a start.
That night my father knocks on my door. He has a plate of warm cookies. We declare another temporary truce and play Sevens. Our conversation is about minor things. It’s nice.
After I get in bed, I connect with Q and do more research. Jarren said they were targeting the other active Warrior planets. I pull up the timeline of their previous attacks. Starting with Yulin, the time between the dates the planets went silent is an average of…twenty-nine days. So if I add that to day two hundred and twenty-seven, when Ulanqab stopped communicating with DES, that means the next attack would be around day two hundred and fifty-six! Has DES reported another Warrior planet going silent? I ask Q.
NO.
Whew. Perhaps Jarren’s arrest has changed their plans. A girl can hope. But as a security officer, I don’t think so. There’s been too much money, time, and lives spent for them to stop now. Which planet would they target next? Distance doesn’t matter. I consider what they’ve done so far. Once they attack, they then block off all contact with DES. I sit up in bed. It would take lots of time to build that blockade. It’s probably already in place and would just need the last few commands to seal it shut. Is there a blockade in progress? I ask Q.
YES.
Where?
PINGLIANG.
Oh my stars! We need to warn them. Or rather, Officer Radcliff needs to warn them. How much time until the blockade is finished?
THREE DAYS.
Are
there any others in construction?
NO.
Can you let me know as soon as another starts?
YES.
I wish I’d thought of this sooner. Composing a message to Radcliff, I come clean about the portals. And I make a few suggestions on what we need to do. No surprise a response comes back soon after. I don’t think the man ever sleeps.
2522:264: Miss Lawrence, thank you for the warning. I sent it to my colleague on Planet Pingliang. I was under the impression that you are not allowed to access the Q-net while grounded, but instead you’ve been very busy. Is this going to cause problems with your parents?
* * *
2522:264: Officer Radcliff, I might not be allowed, but I never promised not to access the Q-net while grounded, however, I’m sure the dragon is not going to be happy. But I really don’t care as lives are at stake.
* * *
—>I agree that this situation warrants a bit of rebellion. And your suggestions are worth consideration. I’m going to schedule an early morning meeting with your parents.
* * *
<—How early?
* * *
—>Oh-six-hundred.
I imagine Radcliff enjoyed that last bit.
<—I’ll be there.
* * *
—>Until then. Radcliff out.
I’m tempted to check out the blockade-in-progress around Pingliang and probe it for weaknesses that we can exploit, but I do the sensible thing and, after asking Q for a wake-up call—I know Q is this vast wonder and I’m asking it for a wake-up call, but I don’t want to miss that meeting—I lay down. After hiding my pulse gun under my pillow, I try to sleep.
Oh-five-thirty arrives faster than expected. Groggy and leaden, I struggle to untangle my covers and get a quick shower. I turn the water as cold as I can stand. By the time I’m dressed, I’m wide awake. Too bad I’m not wearing my security uniform. I think it would help my parents not to see me as their little girl with the pigtails and chubby cheeks. Instead, I put on my nicest shirt and jeans, tucking the gun once again behind my back. The bruises on my throat have darkened to the color of storm clouds. I can’t hide them forever.
When there’s a knock on the unit’s door and voices sound, that’s my cue. I leave my room and join Radcliff, Morgan, and Beau. Morgan isn’t a surprise, but Beau is. He grins at me. His hair is spiked and he appears relaxed. But I know him and I spot the lines of strain around his amber eyes.
My mother spots the marks on my neck and gazes at me with fire in her eyes, but doesn’t say anything as I follow the group to the conference room. Dad is already seated at the table, sipping a cup of coffee. There’s a large carafe, several empty cups, milk, and sugar. Radcliff pours cups for me, Beau, and himself. Morgan apparently doesn’t drink coffee. Or she’s taking a hit for the team. I bring the cup up to my lips and breathe in the heavenly scent before gulping the hot liquid.
Mom sits next to Dad and the four of us settle in the chairs opposite of them—a united front.
“What’s going on?” Mom asks.
Radcliff sets his cup down. “I’ve recently learned that the looters plan to attack Planet Pingliang next. The research base has been warned and DES is aware of the situation, but I need Ara’s assistance to sabotage their blockade.”
Nice of Radcliff not to rat me out. Of course my mother is not an idiot and I’m the subject of her intense scrutiny. I try for innocent. She is not fooled.
“What about Officer Dorey and DES? Surely they have the expertise to deal with this situation.”
Beau glances at Radcliff, who nods slightly. My partner says, “We have the knowledge and the skills, but we don’t have a direct connection to the Q-net. Ara can get things done much faster and we fear time is an issue.”
“And just what will she do?” Dad asks.
Morgan nudges me with her elbow. Oh. “We’ll find a way to ensure their blockade will have plenty of holes.” I might also be able to trace them back to where they’re creating it, but I’m smart enough to omit that bit.
“Won’t that cause them to come after you?” Mom asks.
A valid question. I turn to Radcliff. “Do the looters know we’ve reestablished a connection to DES?”
“Yes. They closed two of our tunnels and we’ve restricted outgoing messages for emergencies only.”
That’s alarming. “Are you sure Pingliang received your warning?”
“Do you think the looters have found our other escape tunnels and are blocking our messages again?” Beau asks.
“It’s always possible.”
“A response arrived soon after I sent the message,” Radcliff says.
It could be coming from one of the looters. “Can I check it?”
“No,” Mom says.
The desire to snap that I wasn’t asking her burns the back of my throat. I keep my gaze on Radcliff.
“Yes,” Radcliff says.
“Ara—”
“Do you want everyone on Pingliang to die?” I ask her in a soft voice.
“Of course not. Officer Dorey is perfectly capable of—”
“Ara’s faster,” Beau says.
“Do it now,” Radcliff orders.
I reach for Q. Show me the escape tunnels, please. The web of programs that surrounds us becomes visible to my mind’s eye. There are four red tubes that snake through the complex threads. Not two, but three are now collapsed as if the weight of the commands around them have squished them flat. Only one remains. I fly with Q through the tunnel. We head toward Pingliang.
The blockade looms large. It’s as dark as a void, surrounding the planet. There’s only a narrow gap remaining.
A TUMOR.
The disgust from Q is clear. Can you get rid of it?
NO.
Can we sabotage the construction?
YOU CAN.
Ah, I’d have to figure it out first. In the meantime, I need to check if our message reached the planet. “Who is the Security Chief on Pingliang?” I ask Radcliff.
“Officer Kingston.”
We swoop in and Q pulls up Kingston’s messages. Radcliff’s is flagged and after scanning the security’s records, I learn they’re mobilizing for a potential attack. Relief washes through me. We return to Yulin, and Q builds a few more escape tunnels for us. Please make them really hard to find.
WILL DO.
Everyone is staring at me when I blink and focus on the people in the conference room.
“The message reached Kingston,” I say.
Radcliff, Beau, and Morgan relax. I update them on the status of our blockade.
“How many more tunnels?” Beau asks.
SEVEN.
“Seven.”
“Just like that?” Beau asks. “It took us hours before.”
“I told you before, once we do something like make an escape tunnel, I can ask Q to build us more.” I turn to my mom. “That’s why I’m faster than Beau.”
The silence lengthens.
“How long will it take to sabotage Pingliang’s blockade?” Radcliff asks.
“That’ll be harder since we haven’t done it before. I’ll need Beau’s help to find the right places. Unless you don’t want them to be hidden?”
“Hidden is good,” Radcliff says. “Anything that we can do to surprise the looters is always good. Can you work on it right away?”
Beau and I exchange a look. “I’m free this morning,” he says. “Where do you want to do it?”
“Your office would be best, so we’re not interrupted.”
Everyone focuses on my parents. Mom has her arms crossed, but no signs of fire. Instead, she says to me, “You haven’t answered my question.”
I think back. Oh. “Our alterations will be very hard to find. They won’t be able to trace it back to me.”
Mom relaxes her arms. “You can help them, Ara. We’ll talk later.”
“All right. Thanks.”
If she’s surprised by my quick agreement, she hides it well. It is time we talk
. Beau and I head out, leaving Radcliff and Morgan behind.
When we’re out in the base, Beau asks, “Do you really need me? Or was that just a ploy to leave your unit?” His tone is neutral.
Men. “I need you. This is more complex than making escape tunnels. I’ve no idea what we’re going to encounter.”
Beau grunts. I’m not sure if he’s satisfied with the answer. I peek at him to gauge his mood. He’s frowning.
“Has Q spoken to you since yesterday?” I ask, matching his careful tone.
“A couple times.” He doesn’t sound happy about it. “When I was working on something, the solution would light up with a ‘here.’ Almost fell off my chair the first time it happened.”
I try to hide my smile. “But you heard Q before.”
“With you!”
Ah. “Were you entangled?”
“Yes. I can’t access the Q-net unless I’m entangled. Thank the universe. I like my privacy.” He glances at me. “How can you stand it?”
“I don’t feel like Q’s invading my privacy. It feels more like when we’re working together in the Q-net and can communicate. I have to actively think at Q to get a response.” Except when I’m trying to puzzle something out and Q supplies an answer or comment. That used to scare me, but now it seems normal. Plus I could argue that Q and I were interacting at those times. Ah, there’s that denial I know and love.
“Do you believe the Q-net is a divine being?” Beau asks.
“No.”
“How do you know it’s not?”
“Because if Q was a divine all powerful being, it wouldn’t need us to help it. Q is an alien being—different than us, but not superior. More technologically advanced, but not divine. If Jarren hadn’t put the Milky Way Galaxy in danger, I think Q would have waited for us to make contact.”
“Humans are always looking for a shortcut,” Beau says.
TRUE.
“Have you told anyone Q helps you? That you heard it?”
This time he scowls. “No.” Then he stops and touches my arm. “I’m not that brave.”
I meet his gaze. “It’s not about being brave. It’s about acceptance. If you tell someone, then that means you’ve accepted this crazy impossibility that Q is sentient.”
Defending the Galaxy: The Sentinels of the Galaxy Page 13
