Omnia (The Silver Ships Book 9)

by S. H. Jucha

  “And the Freedom will arrive here the following morning,” Simone replied nonchalantly. “I received a message from Cordelia six days ago. She’d analyzed our production trends and anticipated you would need her to offload our accumulated materials.”

  Ben grinned and picked up his partner, hoisting her high in the air. When he lowered Simone, he kissed her, and she threw her arms tightly around his neck. Ben played some music over their implants, swaying them gently to the music, while Simone’s toes dangled 40 centimeters above the ground.

  Despite Ben’s formidable skills as a mining engineer, he had been an abominable adopter of his implant. It was the singular reason that he encountered his partner, the diminutive Simone. He blocked her exit from a meal room, because he couldn’t use his implant’s location app to determine that someone was about to pass through the doorway from the other side. Simone had taken the soft-spoken New Terran aside and helped him employ his implant’s basic apps.

  One day, two decades ago, in celebration of his newly acquired proficiency, Ben connected privately to Simone in his cabin and held his first complete implant conversation. Simone applauded his efforts and then heard music playing in her mind. Ben held up his arms to Simone in a dancer’s invitation, but she was unsure what the gesture meant. Recognizing Simone’s confusion, Ben swept her into his arms and danced her around the small cabin. That was the day Simone knew that she would never leave her gentle giant’s side.

  * * *

  Fifty-six days after Ben established his mining sites near Celus-6, the Freedom, loaded with the miners’ cumulative output, was headed back to Omnia’s orbit. The processing plants had poured the refined metal-alloy into girders for the orbital platform, as specified by the engineers. Small construction boats, piloted by humans, offloaded the girders and hauled them into position. SADEs, ensconced in extravehicular activity (EVA) suits to protect them from the cold vacuum of space, used their strength and visual acuity to align the girders and pin them in place.

  That the SADEs required a minimum of air, except to flush the heat from their suits, meant they could work much longer than humans before requiring new tanks. Not to mention, the SADEs simply changed their tanks and hurried back to work, while after a single shift, humans returned to the Freedom to change pilots in the boats.

  The Freedom had offloaded the full tanks from Ben’s mining barges and left his crew empty ones. The full tanks were anchored to the orbital’s skeleton of girders for eventual processing or consumption.

  * * *

  Emile and Jodlyne’s first order of business with the samples they collected was to identify every compound. Interestingly, the warrior’s samples were nearly identical, enough so, that Emile considered the differences insignificant. Not so, in comparison to the queen’s samples. Close to 90 percent of the compounds were similar to the warriors’, but the remainder were unique and to each queen too. Their focus for the next days was identifying the right mixture of those unique compounds, which told the soma their queen was present.

  Unfortunately, Emile’s elementary mistake was in assuming that the compounds he identified as unique to the queens were all that he had to reproduce to elicit the proper response from the warriors. His first test, after duplicating Nyslara’s compounds, drew distasteful snorts from Simlan and Hessan, and Emile didn’t bother processing the other queens’ samples and testing their warriors.

  At morning meal, Emile and Jodlyne sat eating and discussing the previous days’ abysmal failure.

  “Detecting the scent triggers of a queen should be a simple thing to resolve,” Emile complained. “We’ve isolated the queens’ special compounds and combined them in several ways, but the response is always the same.”

  “Not always, Emile. Sometimes they sneeze and sometimes they snort,” Jodlyne replied, trying to tease Emile and cheer him up, but her efforts fell on deaf ears. Jodlyne decided a direct approach was necessary. “Aren’t you always saying, Emile, that trying to match the outcome to your assumptions leads to failure. What if we’re looking at this whole thing the wrong way?” Jodlyne replied.

  “Obviously, we are, Jodlyne, but then I’m left with no idea how to proceed,” Emile grumped.

  “Well, I was thinking that the problem might lie with the samples we collected.” When the biochemist started to object, Jodlyne raised her hand to finish. “Emile, hear me out. The final arbiter of our manufactured scent is the Dischnya’s sensitive nose, correct?”

  “True,” Emile agreed.

  “So, we’re supposed to believe that every individual in that warren of tunnels is supposed to pass by the queen every few days and take a whiff of her?”

  “I would presume that isn’t possible.” Emile replied, frowning.

  “Now, add to that another consideration. Nyslara spent a considerable number of days aboard the Freedom then returned planetside with no ill effects on her people.”

  Emile placed his utensil down and leaned on his forearms. He was intrigued by Jodlyne’s line of reasoning. “What’s your idea, Jodlyne?” he asked.

  “I think the queen gives off a scent that impregnates everything around her, including her people, and it’s taken up by her soma, which eases some sort of primordial need. But, the effect fades over time, and a fresh dose from the queen must be inhaled. This leads me to believe that the scent isn’t created by the unique compounds she possesses, which we’ve isolated and have been working to reproduce. And my final point, Emile, is that we need the specialized compounds and the base ones to create a queen’s specific scent.”

  “We tried that sequence, early in the testing, Jodlyne. Remember, it had no effect on the warriors,” Emile replied.

  “I remember, but I think the critical element we’ve been missing is timing. It’s the simplest explanation. We created Nyslara’s compound for Simlan and Hessan, but Glenn was touring them for his schooling and afterwards they went to evening meal. We didn’t test them until late the following day.”

  “Ah … I see what you’re driving at, my young associate,” Emile replied, his eyes lighting up. “We’re thinking there is at least some amount of shelf life to our mixtures. But, it might be the queen’s immediate release of her scent that’s the key and calms some aspect of the Dischnya physiology until their bodies need another dose.”

  “Precisely, as Julien loves to say,” Jodlyne enthused. “This means we’ll need to prepare our solutions from the full list of compounds we’ve isolated from the queens, seal them, and present them to the warriors, as soon as possible,” Jodlyne said, summarizing their next steps. Suddenly hungry, she dug into her food, anxious to finish and get to the lab.

  “Agreed,” Emile replied, almost absentmindedly. But rather than finish his food, he sat quietly, his mind already at work in the lab.

  It took a few tries before Emile and Jodlyne hit on a successful test. The trick was to form the base compounds that were shared by the queen and the soma, allow a short period of maturation time, and then add the queen’s unique ingredients. The final concoction was capped and presented to the warriors within hours afterwards.

  Emile still wasn’t sure which compound or compounds the warriors were reacting to, but, on the successful test, Emile released the stopper on a vial behind Simlan and Hessan, who sat patiently waiting for the experiment to begin. Jodlyne wafted the air over the vial toward the warriors, who, in response, jumped up, spun around, and came to attention, their eyes scanning the lab for Nyslara’s location.

  Jodlyne giggled and when the two warriors focused on her, she pointed to the small container in her hand.

  Simlan reached out a dark-nailed, furred hand for the small glass tube, which Jodlyne gave him. He sniffed it, and said, “Nyslara.”

  Hessan leaned and stuck his muzzle over the vial. “Nyslara with pups,” he added.

  * * *

  The proof of Emile’s work was too critical for Alex not to personally witness. He couldn’t afford to endanger an entire nest if the compounds Emile created wer
en’t absolutely reliable. When Emile finished describing how they had discovered the answer, Alex asked, “Do you have fresh samples for each queen?”

  “Yes,” Jodlyne replied, hurrying over to a small rack with labeled vials in it.

  “Excellent,” Alex replied, “and, please, provide me with some sort of dummy sample.”

  “We have some of the base mixture, which is common to every individual in a nest,” Emile suggested.

  “That’ll do nicely,” Alex replied. “Add it to a vial, just like the ones in this rack.”

  Alex turned to leave the lab with the samples, and Emile and Jodlyne followed, but Alex halted them. “Stay here, please. This won’t take long.”

  At Alex’s request, Miriam and Glenn returned the warriors to their cabins, and Alex visited each pair, guided by a link with Miriam, identifying which cabins held which nest’s warriors. First, Alex held out the base sample, which elicited shrugs or some other simple reactions from the warriors. Then he held out the vial corresponding to the warriors’ queen, and the result was always the same — a snap to attention and eyes searching for a queen.

  Alex returned to the lab, smiling. “It was a successful confirmation of your results, Emile and Jodlyne. Please, forgive me for needing to prove the quality of your work, but the peace would be at risk if nests were endangered, because I took their queens with me and the compounds failed.

  “Understood, Alex,” Emile replied.

  “So, here are your marching orders, people,” Alex announced. “Number one, I need you to relocate your lab to the Freedom. Number two, I need you to produce a large quantity of these mixtures.”

  “That won’t work, Alex,” Jodlyne interrupted. “The compounds have to be released soon after they’re made. We’ve discovered the key is to ensure the scent is fresh.”

  “Interesting,” Alex replied thoughtfully. “Okay, after your lab is relocated, we’ll need to perform site tests for three queens. Exclude Nyslara. How do you intend to distribute the scents?”

  “I’m not sure of that, yet,” Emile replied. “Not having detailed knowledge of the tunnels … the extent of their reach, air circulation, et cetera. I would welcome your advice on this matter.”

  “Don’t look to me, Emile,” Alex said laughing. “I’ve never been belowground, but it looks like Jodlyne and you are about to be. Visit Nyslara’s tunnels first to study the tunnel system in detail and figure out your dispersal system. Then visit the tunnel systems of our young queens to ensure there’s nothing unusual about them. When you’re ready to deploy your tests, I’ll invite Posnossa, Sissya, and Homsaff aboard. We’re aware the queens stayed at the first Fissla for seventeen days before they became anxious. So, to be safe, you’ll have to run the test for twenty-four days to ensure the efficacy of your substance and the efficiency of your dispersal mechanisms.

  When Alex left, Emile stared at Jodlyne. “I thought traveling with Alex would be an adventure,” Emile said. “I have to admit that my imagination pales when compared to our reality. The idea of investigating these tunnels leaves me with the feeling that I should have stayed on Haraken.”

  “Relax, Emile. You’ll be with an expert. On the space station, tunnel rats had to crawl the entire time through the ventilation system. It’ll be a joy to explore these tunnels standing up.”

  -13-

  Young Queens

  Emile, Jodlyne, Julien, and the twins exited their traveler and met Nyslara and Pussiro at the tunnel entrance to the Tawas Soma nest. The eight warriors, who had been the test subjects aboard the Rêveur, had been returned to their nests days earlier.

  After Julien explained their purpose, the Dischnya quickly disappeared down the tunnel hatch. Étienne and Alain followed and then Julien. But Emile froze at the entrance, his hand on the hatch.

  Realizing Emile had understated his concerns about descending underground, Jodlyne sought to encourage him with a tart remark, “You can hold my hand if you wish, Emile.”

  Emile glared at his young assistant, but her comment achieved its purpose. Goaded into action, Emile hesitantly climbed down into the lookout’s small room, but his claustrophobia worsened as he exited the lookout room, illuminated by the shaft of Celus’ light, and stepped into the darker, main tunnel.

  Jodlyne recognized the phobia. Many orphans aboard Sol’s orbital station, where she grew up, wanted to join the tunnel rats, who crawled through the vent shafts to attack the station’s militia. But a significant number of teens were rejected when they froze mere meters into the station’s dark, close air vents where only glow strips marked the way.

  Sympathy overwhelmed Jodlyne, and she slipped an arm through Emile’s, whispering, “You and I are taking a late-night stroll. The stars are occluded by rain clouds, but it’s a beautiful evening.” She sent some of her favorite images of storms in the night, stealing silently over the ocean toward Espero and lit by Haraken’s moons.

  Emile gave Jodlyne a shaky smile and concentrated on her images. He let her guide him while he concentrated on controlling his fear. He was failing to do so, when he recalled a different image — that of Alex lying on a medical table, the side of his head swathed in a gel to allow drainage from his injured skull. If you can’t support Alex, maybe you should go home, Emile thought and anger flooded through him, sweeping away the fear, for now.

  The group toured the tunnel, and Emile, Jodlyne, and Julien collected data on the tunnel layout and airflow. They walked the tunnels for two hours, and Emile and Jodlyne were flabbergasted by the extent of their convolution and complexity.

  The tour completed, Jodlyne signaled Julien to lead them directly to an exit, and Emile brushed past everyone, including a surprised lookout, to gain the bright daylight.

  “Not like the dark,” Jodlyne explained to Nyslara in her abbreviated command of the Dischnya language.

  “We not like the dark either,” Nyslara replied, imitating Jodlyne, which caused Julien to smile to himself.

  Up top, Emile made some calculations with Julien’s help, and he updated an app on a device attached to a small container, which he showed to Nyslara. Without a proficient command of the Dischnya language, Emile spoke through Julien, who explained to Nyslara that the soma of the young queens, while they were gone, would be responsible for turning the device on and walking through the central corridors at a pace Emile demonstrated. Julien explained that the individual carrying the device need not enter the rooms. The doorways’ curtains wouldn’t prevent the scent from penetrating. The SADE added that the procedure should be carried out during the night, while the soma slept, and the device would be replenished every sixth day by Dassata’s soma.

  When Julien finished the translation, Emile asked in his poor Dischnya, “Wasats can do … no mistakes?” The biochemist was forced to pull back from Pussiro’s snarl.

  Despite Emile and Jodlyne’s shock at the wasat’s aggressive gesture, Julien and Nyslara exchanged amused expressions, and the queen’s tail touched her mate on the hindquarters to indicate he should control his temper.

  “A little knowledge seems dangerous, no matter whose hands carry it,” Nyslara said, her lips rippling in amusement.

  “I believe, Ser Billings, you owe Pussiro an apology,” Julien said.

  Nyslara noticed the wrinkling of the scientist’s forehead and said, “Emile, do you do as Dassata directs?”

  “Yes, Nyslara,” Emile replied, when he heard the translation.

  “Do you perform these actions true to his requests?” Nyslara continued.

  When Julien helped with Nyslara’s words, Emile replied, “Yes.”

  “And so it’s the same for a nest’s soma on hearing their queen’s commands,” Nyslara replied. “You will explain your requirements to the young queens. She’ll direct a sub-commander to carry out your instructions, which he will do without fail.”

  Nyslara’s explanation, which Julien provided, made Emile realize the depth of his insult. He turned to Pussiro and offered a leader’s salute, as he’d been
taught by the Méridiens, touching his hand to heart and dipping his head.

  Pussiro was mollified by Emile’s gesture, but he stood proud, accepting the apology as his due.

  Nyslara noted Emile’s head stayed bowed, and she glanced at Julien, who tipped his head down and directed his eyes toward Pussiro. Once again, the queen’s long whiplike tail was put to use when she tapped the back of Pussiro’s head with its tip.

  Pussiro stared quizzically at his queen, who nodded toward Emile. With a huff, Pussiro acquiesced to Nyslara’s request, although he still considered himself the injured party and, therefore, wasn’t required to display any deference. Nonetheless, he nodded, which brought the scientist’s head upright.

  “I think each of our soma will require more time to become familiar with the other’s ways, Julien,” Nyslara said, chortling.

  * * *

  Nyslara’s pregnancy prevented her from going to Alex, so he dropped planetside to visit her, with Emile and Jodlyne in tow. It was a sign of quieter times that Alex exited the traveler by himself and met Nyslara and Pussiro at the tunnel entrance. The threesome spoke for almost two hours about Sawa. The Dischnya knew much of their home world’s history, but nearly nothing of its present circumstances.

  When Alex thanked the pair for their assistance, Nyslara asked, “Do you leave for Sawa soon, Dassata?”

  “Yes, once Emile’s tests prove successful,” Alex replied.

  “Take your metal soma and the pair who guard you, Dassata. I don’t think you will find Sawa hospitable, even walking in the company of queens.”

  After the shuttle lifted, Nyslara continued to stare into the bright sky.

  “What worries you, my queen?” Pussiro asked.

  “The Dischnya’s future depends on Dassata. Yet, he hungers to find the sphere, a source of great danger. Finding it might mean his life, and that could end the Dischnya’s future.”