by G. P. Hudson
When Jon was in place, Vrakos pulled down a device that was attached to a much larger piece of machinery. From what Kevin could tell it was some sort of medical scanner. The doctor placed the device against Jon’s belly and focused on the information being displayed.
“Interesting,” said Vrakos. “You’re diagnosis is correct, Doctor. The symbiont has been poisoned with a very powerful toxin. It is a wonder that symbiont and host still live. A true wonder.”
“Can you heal him?” said Breeah, her face lined with worry.
“I do not know,” said Vrakos, without turning from his display. “But I am hopeful. It is truly remarkable that they are still alive.”
“You said that already,” said Kevin. “What can you do for him?”
Vrakos looked up from his display to study Kevin only briefly. “The symbiont must expel the toxin from the body. It is trying, but failing. I can assist.”
“How?” said Kevin, after Vrakos went silent for a few moments.
“The symbiont is in a weakened state. I can attempt to strengthen it, which will allow it to expel the remaining toxin.”
“And if it can’t get rid of the toxin?”
“Then we have only one option. Remove the symbiont.”
“But won’t that kill the Admiral?”
“Yes. It was an unforeseen complication with this union. Diakans can remove their symbionts without problem, you see, but in your Admiral’s case, things have not been so simple. This toxin has changed things. The symbiont’s hold has been weakened, there could be a chance that the Admiral will survive.”
“How much of a chance?”
“Oh, I would say a little better than sixty percent.”
“Those aren’t good odds, Doctor.”
“They are better than the odds the Admiral faced before. If you’ll excuse me for a moment, the medication should be ready now.”
Vrakos walked to another machine, opened a compartment, and pulled out a tiny sphere. He placed the sphere into a handheld medical device akin to a syringe, but without the needle. He returned and pressed the device against Jon’s carotid artery. There was a distinct popping sound, and Vrakos removed the device.
“The biobots I have administered are programmed to travel directly to the symbiont. They will administer the necessary medication, which should revitalize it.”
“How long will it take to work?”
“Oh it should work quickly. The biobots will reach the symbiont in a matter of seconds. I anticipate that we will start seeing results within minutes.”
The group waited in silence as the minutes ticked away. But there was no visible change.
“It’s not working,” said Kevin.
The doctor had returned to his display and remained focused on the vital statistics. “Actually, it is. The symbiont is gaining strength by the second.” On the gurney, Jon began to stir, and Breeah reached for his hand. “Your Admiral is regaining consciousness.”
Jon’s eyes remained closed and he mumbled something.
“What is he saying?” said Kevin.
The Diakan lowered his head to listen. “He seems to be calling for someone. Tess? Who is Tess?”
Kevin’s eyes momentarily caught Breeah’s. “His dead wife.”
Chapter 20
Jon felt the creature stir, regain its strength, and awaken. He was groggy. His head felt like it had an anvil strapped to it. His eyelids were glued shut. He heard voices, but didn’t know who they belonged to, or where he was.
As the creature stirred it flooded Jon with adrenalin. He slowly reasserted control over his body, and, with great effort, opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a Diakan, and for a moment he thought he might be on a Diakan battleship, except that there were human faces around him as well.
He studied the faces, attaching names, history, and emotions to each. Kevin, Seiben, Colonel Bast, Jonas, Doctor Ellerbeck. Finally, his eyes rested on Breeah.
“What happened? Where are we?” said Jon.
“We are on Diakus,” said Breeah. “You were poisoned.”
“Technically, your symbiont was poisoned,” said the Diakan, who leaned in a little too close for Jon’s liking.
“What?” Jon looked to Doctor Ellerbeck, waiting for an explanation.
“I couldn’t treat you back on Earth,” said Ellerbeck. “So we brought you to Diakus, to the Symbiont Medical Center. This is Doctor Vrakos, one of Diakus’s foremost experts on symbiont medicine.”
“I see. I can feel the symbiont regaining its strength. Does that mean you have healed it?”
“I have helped it, so that it can treat itself,” said Vrakos. “The symbiont must find a way to cleanse itself of the toxins.”
“What do you mean, ‘find a way’? Can it heal itself, or not?”
“That remains to be seen,” said Vrakos. “For the short term, my treatment will strengthen it, and you. The longer term is dependent on the Symbiont.”
With each moment Jon felt the symbiont gain strength, and as it did, Jon’s abilities returned. He felt stronger by the second, and his enhanced senses came back.
Something was off.
It was difficult to pinpoint at first, because he was far from one hundred percent. But as lucidity returned, the symbiont noticed it too, and he felt it growl inside him, sounding its silent alarm. There was a threat. It was close. Inside the room.
The scent tipped Jon off. It reeked of aggression, and ill will. Jon scanned the room, trying to identify its source. He spotted a Diakan standing behind the group, near the back wall. An armed Diakan, wearing a Diakan Security uniform.
Their eyes met. Jon saw understanding in those unblinking eyes. He had discovered its secret, and it knew it.
In a flash, the Diakan raised its weapon and fired. Multiple blasts hit the gurney, but Jon had already moved, lunging for cover. The Diakan let loose a couple more shots, but missed. Enough of Jon’s speed had returned, making him a difficult target to hit.
Chaos ensued.
Colonel Bast and his Chaanisar were on the Diakan first, their aim precise, their strikes unforgiving. The edge of Bast’s hand found the Diakan’s throat. Jon heard the unmistakable sound of a windpipe snapping, and watched Bast wrench the weapon from the Diakan’s hands, before it crumpled to the floor.
“Behind you,” Jon shouted, as the door to the room slid open.
When the two armed Diakans saw their superior on the floor, and Bast with its weapon, they opened fire.
Bast dove for cover, while shooting back. As he hit one, the Diakan let loose a wild volley as he fell. A stray shot hit a Marine and the man spun like a top before hitting the floor. The remaining Diakans fired indiscriminately into the group, and Jon winced as the smell of seared flesh filled his nostrils. He looked for Breeah, relieved to see she had taken cover behind some medical equipment, pulling Seiben down with her.
The Diakan moved sideways, denying Bast a clear shot. It had adapted quickly and largely ignored Colonel Bast, instead trying to get a bead on Jon. The Diakans were trying to kill him. There was little doubt. But why? And how many more would die trying to protect him?
As if in answer to his question, three blades hit the Diakan, one piercing its left eye, the others his neck and chest. The Diakan flew backward, dropping its weapon as it hit the floor. Jon instantly recognized the knives’ hilts. They were Reiver blades.
“Admiral, are you harmed?” said Colonel Bast, turning toward Jon.
“No. I’m fine,” said Jon. “How are our people?”
“Reynolds is dead,” said Kevin, crouching over the body of the fallen Marine.
“I am injured,” said one of the Chaanisar, his uniform covered in blood from a shoulder wound.
“Are your implants still functioning?” said Bast.
“Yes, they have stopped the bleeding and have numbed the wound. I remain combat ready.”
Jonas and the two other Reivers pulled their bloodied blades out of the dead Diakan.
“How th
e hell did you get those knives past Diakan security?” said Kevin.
“We are Reivers,” said Jonas, brushing his long gray hair out of his face.
“That’s it?” said Kevin, incredulously. “That’s your answer?”
“It explains all,” said Jonas.
“Admiral, Doctor Vrakos has been hit,” said Ellerbeck, crouching over the prone Diakan.
“Is he still alive?” said Jon.
“Barely. I need help getting him up onto the bed.”
Bast and his men quickly moved the Diakan doctor up onto Jon’s gurney. Ellerbeck immediately went to work, expertly using the Diakan technology to keep Vrakos alive. Still conscious his eyes found Jon.
“Admiral,” said Vrakos, almost in a whisper.
Jon leaned in closer to Vrakos. “Save your strength. You’re going to need it.”
“Admiral, you must listen. If the symbiont cannot heal itself-”
“I know. I’ll die.”
“No. You do not have to.”
“What? What are you talking about, Doctor?”
“You can remove the symbiont.”
“No. You’re wrong. I was told that removing it would kill me.”
“No.”
Jon glared at Vrakos.
“If the symbiont dies while you are joined, then you too will die. Just as if you die, then it will die. This is true.”
“But I can take it out?”
“Perhaps. It is a difficult procedure. Not many can perform it. But in its weakened state there is a chance it can be removed without killing you.”
“Can you do it?”
“Yes. There is still a risk, as the procedure is highly invasive, but I believe it can be successful. It is worth the risk if the other option is death.”
Jon couldn’t argue with that logic, but he was pissed that he hadn’t been given the option before. Back when he had asked to remove the symbiont, Ambassador Varyos had told him that removing it would kill him. Was that a lie? A way for the Diakans to maintain control over him?
“Admiral, we cannot contact our ships,” said Colonel Bast. “We are being jammed.”
Jon instinctively tapped his comm trying to connect to the Freedom, with no success.
“We must leave,” continued Bast. “We are at risk here.”
“You’re right,” said Jon. “Have you taken the Diakan weapons?”
“Yes, Admiral. Each Diakan was well armed. We are better equipped to handle any new threats.”
“Good. AI, we need your help?”
“I am here, Admiral,” said AI, through Jon’s comm.
“Can you contact our ships?”
“No, Admiral. All communications are being jammed.”
“Do you still have access to the Chaanisar brain chips?”
“Yes.”
“Doctor Vrakos,” said Jon. “I need access to this facility’s computer network.”
“Move me closer to that console,” said Vrakos.
Jon nodded to Bast, who moved the gurney. Vrakos placed his hand on the console, and it came to life. “The system requires my DNA for authentication,” Vrakos explained. “You can access the network now.”
Bast placed his own hand onto the console, allowing AI to establish a connection, and enter the Symbiont Medical Center’s network.
Chapter 21
“The weapon fire has triggered an alarm. Diakan Security will be here momentarily,” said AI.
“Are they hostile?” said Jon.
“Unknown.”
“We need to get out of here.”
“What if these ones were acting alone?” protested Seiben.
“What if they weren’t?” countered Jon. “Do you want to take on a larger force?”
“No,” said Seiben, sheepishly.
“AI, direct Colonel Bast to a safe exit from this facility,” said Jon.
“No exit is currently safe, Admiral.”
“Then make it the least dangerous.”
“Understood.”
“I am receiving AI’s directions,” said Bast.
“Then lead the way, Colonel,” said Jon.
Bast exited the room, jogging down the hallway. The group followed. Breeah kept pace with Jon, all the while stealing glances at him.
“What’s wrong?” Jon said, noticing her behavior.
“You called for her.”
“Who?”
“Tess.”
“I did?”
“Yes.”
“I saw her, while I was unconscious. We were back on Earth. She was still alive. So were my daughters.”
“You did not see me, or Anki?”
“No. I was reliving the past. I was also on assignment with Kevin in another dream. We were attacking- Hang on a second. You’re not jealous, are you?”
“Jealous? Of your dead wife? Clearly your mind has not fully recovered from the toxin.”
“I’ve recovered enough.”
“Do not concern yourself, Jon Pike. I understand. You loved your wife, and your children-”
“And I love you and Anki. You are my family now. Don’t ever forget that.”
Breeah nodded. “I do not begrudge you your mourning. I assumed you came to terms with your grief.”
“My grief governed me for the longest time. All I wanted to do was die, but the symbiont wouldn’t allow it. Then I met you and Anki, and I had a reason to live again. Tess is gone. Nothing can bring her back. There is nothing for you to fear.”
“I am a Reiver, Jon Pike. Fear is foreign to me.”
“That’s my girl,” Jon said with a grin.
“You two are going to make me cry,” said Seiben, running directly behind them.
“Show some class, old man,” said Kevin, who had taken position on their rear flank, with the three Reivers.
“It is not wise to mock my daughter,” said Jonas, menacingly.
“Maybe next time we should have these discussions in private,” said Jon.
“Do your feelings embarrass you?” said Breeah.
“Bah! What makes you think that big gorilla has any feelings?” said Seiben.
“You know, I think leaving you behind for the Diakans would help us get out of this building,” said Jon.
“Good thing you don’t have any feelings clouding your judgment,” said Kevin.
“That’s not funny,” said Seiben.
“What assignment were we on anyway?” Kevin said to Jon.
“Phobos Three.”
“Damn. That was an ugly one.”
“Yeah. Our people were chewed up good on that one,” Jon said with remorse, briefly remembering the horrors of that particular battle.
Up ahead Colonel Bast held up a fist coming to a stop before a bend in the corridor. He turned, giving the group hand signals, to indicate there were two armed guards up ahead.
“They might not be involved,” whispered Jon. “I don’t want to take lives needlessly.”
“What do you want us to do?” whispered Kevin.
“Nothing. Stay here and back me up.” Jon moved to step out from behind the wall, when Breeah grabbed his arm.
“What are you doing? What if they’re hostile?” said Breeah.
Jon smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Just be ready in case they’re bad guys.”
Breeah let go of Jon’s arm and he stepped out into view. “I’m Admiral Jon Pike. I need help.”
The two Diakans stared at Jon for a moment, then raised their weapons.
“Shit,” said Jon, diving for cover behind the wall, just as a flurry of blue energy bolts blazed through his former position. Colonel Bast and the Chaanisar immediately returned fire. The hallway turned into an energy gauntlet.
“I’d say you got your answer,” said Kevin.
The Chaanisar sprang out from behind the wall as Bast laid down suppressive fire. Kevin and the remaining Marine added their firepower to Bast’s.
It couldn’t be a prolonged firefight. The rest of Diakan Security would arrive any mi
nute.
With superior speed the Chaanisar charged the Diakan sentries, bridging the gap between them with unparalleled agility, and lethal accuracy.
In moments the confrontation had ended, and the two Diakans lay dead on the floor. They were stripped of their weapons. Jon, Breeah, and Seiben armed themselves, before the group hastily moved on.
“Who the hell are these people,” said Jon in exasperation.
“I believe I can answer that question,” said AI.
“I’m listening.”
“While I am unable to send any communications, I do have access to a wealth of information, including a database of Diakan current events. There are reports of a secretive group on the planet known simply as The Faction. They are opposed to the alliance Diakus has made with you, Admiral. They believe it weakens Diakus and the Galactic Accord. These beliefs are seen as blasphemous, since the Great See’er has prophesied your rise. To stand against you, is therefore the same as standing against the Great See’er.”
“What are you saying? That killing me is a prelude to revolution?”
“I do not know, Admiral, but it seems logical that this Faction is behind the poisoning, and the attacks. The reports in the database state that there is suspicion that the Faction has members throughout the Diakan government.”
“That means we’re not just dealing with some fringe group. This is a real threat, not just to myself, but to the whole alliance.”
“Yes, Admiral. Your assessment is accurate.”
Chapter 22
First Colonel Brock entered the Operations Room, in the mountain complex. There, General Dathos waited. After centuries of war with the Diakans, it was difficult for the Chaanisar commander to work so closely with them. But his military mind saw the value in the alliance, and knew that much of their success was reliant on the Diakan contribution. That contribution would be indispensable now that the Juttari and Kemmar were allied.
“Greetings, General,” said Brock, maintaining a stern demeanor.
“Greetings, First Colonel,” said Dathos. Like all Diakans, Brock found Dathos difficult to read. They weren’t known for displays of emotion, and Dathos fully lived up to the profile.
