* * *
Brian watched while the three officers in the sickbay spoke in high spirits from the lab room. Celi was busy checking him over again.
“It certainly looks like our meeting earlier helped,” Brian said.
“Morale is important right now,” Celi said. “If we keep our wits about us we should be able to survive. It really is a good thing most of us trained in the military.”
“You have to admit the Avoni’s feel is much more casual,” he said.
“That’s because of Valis,” Celi said. “She’s always been laid back. Too many rules and regulations will ruin a crew. That’s what she’d say.” She checked her scans three times. “Damn, I was right.”
“What’s done is done,” Brian said before putting the exoskeleton back on.
“Are you sure about keeping this secret?”
“For now, it’s important for the crew to see me walking about,” he answered. “I’ll tell Zae soon. If the worst happens I’ll inform the crew.” He looked at the diseased nanomachines in his blood. “If the worst does happen promise me you’ll make it back alive.”
“That’s something you’d say to Seles.”
“She’s not here right now,” he said. “I meant you Celi. Promise that even if I don’t make it you will.”
“I’ll try, that’s all I can promise,” she said.
“That’s all I wanted to hear.”
* * *
Ensign Vae stood in front of her Rakna while checking its systems over once more. Looking around she noticed the others talking and laughing, but the images she recalled from her visit to the lunar base spoiled her thoughts. She took the elevator cord up to the cockpit and began adjusting everything on the inside of the mobile suit. After a few minutes she turned and saw Brian at the hatch.
“Ensign, can we speak?” he asked.
She looked surprised. “Of course commander,” she said with a nod.
“Looks like you’re acclimated to this machine,” he said as he stepped inside.
“I’m sorry I broke down before,” Vae said. “It won’t happen again.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Brian said. “Your training as a soldier prepares you for many things. What you and the others witnessed was something else.”
“Cannibalism is one of the greatest taboos amongst all of the races of space,” she said. “But the savagery in which it appeared on that base…it was unreal. I still get the shakes thinking about it.”
He put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. “I was the one who ordered you into that place so I’m the one at fault.”
“Many of us are horrified by the images we recovered.” She looked at Brian. “My question is why you seem so calm about it.”
“I’m just as horrified, it just doesn’t show,” he answered. “Your people warred little amongst themselves for the last thousand years. With that as your reality the images of brutality once common were never recorded. But for humans like me, we still live in that world. If I showed you some of the images of the recent history amongst my people Vae, you’d be just as horrified. Kalaidians are a peaceful people at heart. To you death in battle usually consists of being vaporized rather than maimed.”
“Thank you,” Vae said. “I’m glad we could talk about this.”
“I’m doing this with everyone on the ship,” he said. “Valis interviews each of you thoroughly and gets to know you individually. I’m just doing the same thing.”
“I saw one of them,” she said as he was about to leave. “It was right before the attack on the Avoni. I turned around in this cockpit and saw a Grey standing there looking at me.”
“You’re the third one today who’s said that,” Brian said, sighing afterwards.
“I’m the third? Who were the others?”
“One of them was a member of the medical staff, another was one of our engineers, and the ship’s cook of all things,” he answered. “Of course I’m not counting myself or Daes.”
“Were they even real?” she asked.
“I’m not sure myself,” Brian said. “Piece of advice, turn on the exterior cameras so it doesn’t feel so cramped in here.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks.”
* * *
Baed stood up from her console on the bridge and stretched, sighing. Zae entered with a pair of water bottles. Baed turned back and smiled.
“That’s just what I needed,” she said.
Zae handed the bottle to her. “We’ve been working nearly nonstop for days now. We should get someone to relieve us once in a while.”
“You know that won’t work,” Baed said. She drank some water. “Anyways, I don’t do anything but this on the Avoni. And with all the responsibilities of Valis and Kivi delegated to you and Brian my responsibilities have gone up with it.” She sighed. “I must have gotten lazy over the years.”
“I remember the first day Valis brought you in,” Zae said. “I thought as I watched you train you’d never make it as a navigator.”
“Well excuse my lack of knowledge at that time,” Baed said with sarcasm. “I was originally trained as a politician and ambassador.”
“Can you actually speak Ick-Tckt?” Zae asked.
Baed cupped her hands around her lips to form a small cone. A moment later she started to click and whistle a lot like an insect.
“What did you say?”
Baed buzzed her lips. “I always have to do that afterwards. Their language is quite complex considering they’re insects.”
“What did you say?” Zae asked. She stepped closer.
Baed grinned. “Guess.”
Zae stood face to face while narrowing her eyes. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
Baed continued grinning. “You could always order me to do so.”
“I’d rather not resort to that,” Zae said while staring Baed down.
The elevator door opened and Jesela emerged. She went over to her station and continued her work. “Would you two just do something already?” she asked. The two began blushing. “It’s really driving me crazy.”
Zae gathered herself. “Are you implying something Jesela?”
Baed took Zae’s hand. “There’s no point in hiding it from them any longer.”
Zae sighed. “You’re right.”
“What did you say Baed?” Jesela asked before looking up from her work.
“I told her she was acting like a stuffy old mother hen,” Baed said with another grin.
“What?” Zae asked.
Jesela laughed. “You two were made for each other.”
Chapter 11 - Are They Still Alive?
The Daevoni, Reinkar, along with the fleet of Reiki ships had returned to the moon where the Avoni had held off the Grey forces. The main ships stayed close together while the mobile suits flew around outside and scanned the area. After a while of this, Seles and the other Raknas assembled at the agreed meeting point.
“We’ve found nothing lieutenant,” one of the other pilots reported.
Seles sighed with relief. “We’ve found no evidence that the Avoni was destroyed,” she said while looking at the moon nearby. “Let’s return to the Daevoni.”
“Yes lieutenant,” the other pilots answered. Mira stepped forward from the back of the cockpit.
“I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t find anything,” she said.
“If we’d found the remains of the Avoni I don’t know what I would do,” Seles said. “At least they weren’t destroyed here.”
“Where do you suppose they are?” Mira asked.
“I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling about this,” Seles said. “Valis mentioned the possibility that their gravity drive was damaged and it may take them awhile to repair it. I hope everyone’s still alive.”
She started flying back to the Daevoni.
“Have faith,” Mira said. “If they were going to die this would have been the place. We’ve searched the area for days and found nothing. They must have left this
solar system.”
“They’re alive,” Seles said. “You’re right; I have to keep faith in them.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“By the way, what’s this I’ve been hearing about Baed and Zae lately?” Seles asked.
“You never were one for the rumors,” Mira said. “Hasn’t Baed told you herself?”
“She’s said nothing about it,” Seles answered. “I always assumed both of them had eyes for Brian.”
“There’s only one man to pass around,” Mira remarked. “He already has the two of us, not to mention Valis whenever she wants a night with him. What surprises me is that we don’t have more relationships between crew members on the Avoni.”
“That’s true,” Seles said. “I don’t know of one actual couple onboard the whole ship. Though when I think about it, I can’t fault Baed’s choice, Zae is quite attractive.”
“I wonder which one initiated it.”
“Neither, that’s what I would bet on,” Seles said. “It just happened and then things started getting emotional. They do spend most of their time together on the bridge.”
“If that logic held, then you’d think Celi and I would have something going on,” Mira said.
“Or me and one of the girls piloting alongside me,” Seles added. “How long has this been going on?”
“For the last few months,” Mira answered. “People can tell by the way they look at one another. The glances and blushes are a dead giveaway something’s there.”
“So neither will say anything about it?”
“Nope, not one bit. That’s the funny thing; they don’t even know for sure what’s going on. Love works in mysterious ways after all.”
“Baed still gets embarrassed when I bring up Brian,” Seles said. “I wonder if she’s attracted to both sexes.”
“It was a common thing back in the day,” Mira explained. “Many of the nobles had male and female lovers. I can’t say for a fact, but I’d assume it was the same for the serfs and military class.”
“Interesting,” Seles said as she landed the mobile suit in the launching bay of the Daevoni. “We’ll have to continue this conversation at a later date.”
“That we definitely will,” Mira said before leaving the mobile suit first.
Daes was waiting below. “Did you find anything?” she asked.
“No,” Seles answered. “Since we found no wreckage I’d say it’s a good thing.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Daes said. “By the way, the captain’s waiting for you in sickbay.”
“I’ll head right over, thanks Daes,” Seles said before leaving.
* * *
Valis read a report. She sat alone in the Daevoni’s sickbay room. I’m sorry you had to go it alone Brian. I would’ve liked it if I had trained you more than I did for this. She thought to herself. The door opened to reveal Esra. She walked over to Valis and took a seat next to her bed.
“Is everything alright?” Esra asked.
“I’m feeling much better now,” Valis said. “I wish I knew where the Avoni was.”
“We’re going back,” Esra said. “El Kar and I have decided it’s time to leave.”
“That’s the logical thing to do,” Valis said. “We must regroup and hope they can make it back on their own.”
“And if they don’t?”
Valis looked her friend in the eyes. “Then I’ll stow away on Kivi’s new ship and search for them myself. I can’t let it end like this.”
“It’s not your fault Valis.”
“I’m know that Esra, but still,” Valis paused as frustration appeared on her face.
“You’re not Kali,” Esra said. “You’re tactical abilities are limited to the mortal world. There’s no way you could have anticipated this.”
“If this scan is right then the Avoni’s not here,” Valis said. “Nor is there enough wreckage to show that the ship exploded. That leaves only three possibilities. The first is they escaped without a hitch, which I very much doubt. The second is they were captured. The third is they escaped, but not without damage.”
“Even if they’re slowed down it won’t take them more than an extra month to reach Dega Jul,” Esra said. “You should worry about getting healthy.”
“I can’t do that friend, and you know it,” Valis said before smiling. “It’s not in my nature to take it easy and relax. I can only hope the battle simulations I left behind are found by Brian.”
“Is there any special reason?”
“I have a feeling the target of the Greys wasn’t the Avoni but Brian himself. Remember Esra, he was recovered from a Grey ship five years ago. It’s likely there’s something about him they need to know more about.”
“If your theory is correct, then the Avoni is in much more danger than originally thought.”
“Even so, we must go back,” Valis said. “The Daevoni has suffered severe damage. And our mobile suit numbers have been reduced to fifty percent. Tell El Kar I concur with your decision. We should head back immediately.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, let’s go Esra. If Brian and the Avoni aren’t spotted within Confederation territory in the next month we’ll start preparations for a rescue mission.”
Esra stood up. “I’ll inform the rest of the fleet. Take care Valis and know that if the need should arise my ship will fly alongside you.”
“Thank,” Valis said. When Esra left Seles and Mira entered the room.
“You’re looking a lot better,” Seles said. Mira checked about the medical scanners. “Is there any news?”
“None you haven’t already had delivered to me,” Valis answered.
“You’ve already finished looking it over?” Seles asked.
“I’m a quick reader, especially when it comes to knowing what my ship is made out of. Thankfully none of the debris in this area matches our home.”
“What are we going to do next?” Mira asked.
“We’ll be setting out for Dega Jul,” Valis said.
“But we haven’t found them yet!” Seles shouted. “We can’t just leave them!”
“I know Seles,” Valis said. “I know how you feel but this is the right decision. We don’t know where the Avoni is and we know it hasn’t been destroyed. If the ship was damaged they could use the other gravity drives to get home. It’ll just take them a little longer.” She sat in thought for a moment as Seles and Mira paced about the room. “Why don’t we leave behind some guide beacons just in case?”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Seles said. “If they’re navigation systems are damaged they’ll need them.”
“I’ll contact El Kar later to discuss it,” Valis said.
She noticed relief appear on their faces.
“I’m sorry I reacted like that Valis,” Seles said. “I’m upset with the whole situation.”
“All of us are feeling the same,” Mira said.
“That’s true Seles; even I’m flustered by this mess,” Valis said. “But I have to believe in my ship. I have to believe in him. They’ll return to us, no matter the odds against them.”
“You’re right,” Mira said. “Nothing can keep them from getting home.”
“I hope the two of you are right,” Seles said.
Chapter 12 - The Barren Planet
Brian and Celi opened the door to different lunar base. This one was the base on the dark side of the moon of the suspected Mardok homeworld. As they went inside the images of the first two locations were repeated, bullet marks and blood stains everywhere. The two came into the main hallway and found skeletons everywhere. Celi knelt down to check them over.
“The same as the other bases,” Celi said. “All five of them along the way, this makes number six.”
“Hell doesn’t describe this,” Brian said solemnly. He opened the door on the other end of the hallway. Inside the room was a Mardok with flesh on it. There was blood around its mouth. “This one tried to eat itself.” He pointed at its hand.
“This is terrible,” Celi said as she recorded everything. “The last moments these creatures must have experienced. I can’t imagine this kind of horror.”
“That’s why I’ve chosen to do this myself with you,” he said. “After the reactions by the crew at the first two bases I couldn’t bring myself to order them to search anymore. By the way, have you determined how long ago this happened?”
She stood up from the corpse. “After all the scans I’ve run through I’d say less than twenty years. It explains why all their power systems still function.”
He looked around at the gore once more. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw something standing in the shadows. Shining a light in that direction, Brian saw a Grey standing there. Celi looked up with the light glinting on the silent creature. Brian activated his com.
“Zae, scramble the mobile suits and bring the ship to high alert.”
“Is something going on?” Zae asked.
“We don’t have time for questions Zae, just do as I say.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Zae said before ending transmission.
Celi flashed her light on the Grey. “Brian.”
He drew his rakna before advancing on the creature. “Is this what you wanted?” he asked coldly as he approached the tiny creature. When he got close enough to take a swing with his sword the creature faded from view. He sheathed the sword. “We need to get out of here immediately.”
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