Realms Of The Gods

by C. M. Kane

  Until she had studied Tae’s memories and feelings she hadn’t seen killing them as any worse than getting rid of the rock that surrounded her once her nanites had extracted all she needed from them. They had simply been another commodity. All she had cared about was that Tae would soon come, and that when she did there must be no others to try to keep her away.

  Tae felt the ships worry that she might be angered by her treatment of them. As if to distract her she shifted scenes abruptly, Tae now felt her loss when Cassandra had passed on, and her panic when Tae had nearly died after she was injected with more of her nanites. She felt the ship’s intense fear at being alone again.

  ‘I’m here though,’ Tae said softly. The residual panic receded as a sense of wellbeing came over her.

  This is wonderful, she thought happily, and was straight away rewarded with a sense of contentment from the ship. As the memories slowly came to a halt Tae knew it was time to get to some more serious work.

  Okay, it’s time to get down to a bit more business. I can’t stay up here by myself forever, no matter what you may think. It’s time to let Adam and those he has chosen onto the bridge. They will be of great help to us, they will also need access to the pulse cannons and other weapons controls, as well as the controls to the force field and communications, so they can familiarize themselves with everything while I get to know your systems better.

  She placed a mixture of pictures and words within her mind.

  Nothing. The Ouranos was silent.

  Well, apparently you don’t like that order, but it’s what must happen. You must trust me on this, that’s why I am your captain. She placed the same mixture of words and pictures in her mind again, but this time she was far more forceful in her thoughts.

  Still nothing, the Ouranos was ignoring her demands totally.

  She’s like a dog, Tae thought.

  If she didn’t win this test of wills now, then she would be making one hell of a rod for not only her back, but for that of the entire crew.

  The bigger the dog the bigger the bite, flashed through her mind. Well the Ouranos sure as hell was one bloody big dog.

  I’ve got to be firm or she will never obey me. Tae thought determinedly.

  ‘Now,’ said Tae, aloud this time.

  Still no response, she knew then that this was getting very serious. Tae forced her eyes to open a little. She was surprised at how hard it was to even open them such a small amount.

  Starting to feel a little panicky she then tried to get off the chair, but her body felt leaden, she could barely move. She could actually feel the ship’s satisfaction when it thought it had her trapped where it wanted her. That was its mistake.

  ‘Damn you!’ Tae yelled, letting her own temper come to the fore.

  Her eyes snapped wide open. With a supreme effort she threw herself sideways and managed to roll halfway off the chair. She could feel the ship’s panic, its sudden desperation as it started to bombard Tae’s mind with images of happy times she had shared with her brother and friends.

  It was too much. Tae’s mind reeled in pain at the onslaught; it felt like her head was going to explode from the sheer amount of imagery the Ouranos was trying to cram into her. It was the ships desperate attempt to make her happy so she would stay where she was. Tae realized vaguely she was now not only fighting for dominance in their relationship, but for her very survival.

  She continued straining to be free with every ounce of willpower she had. Finally, with a loud grunt, she rolled from the chair to the floor, falling face forward onto the hard metal surface and cracking her nose. Finally the feeling of lethargy left her, she continued to roll herself away from the chair until she thought she was at a safe.

  Tae lay on her back breathing deeply through her mouth and clasping her head in pain.

  Well, that could have gone a tad better. She thought with an inner laugh.

  Blood still flowed freely down her face from her sore nose. She touched her face gingerly, wondering if she’d broken anything with her face plant into the floor.

  Still, she had managed to get away from the chair, so chalk one up for the plucky Terran. More importantly she knew she had won this first test of wills. She just hoped it would be enough, she didn’t think she’d survive too many more times like this. When the pounding in her head receded a little she got to her feet and staggered over to the turbo lift.

  ‘Med bay,’ she said loudly.

  She wiped the blood from under her nose on her sleeve, managing to smear it over her face even more in the process. She felt the ship hesitate, she knew it didn’t want to let her go again.

  ‘Now!’ she ordered. This time she offered no promises that she would return. The doors to the turbo lift slid shut and she felt the lift move downward. When they opened again she walked straight down the corridor to the main med bay, smiling in satisfaction. The Ouranos had just obeyed a direct command without a promise of anything in return.

  Tae had just had two major victories.

  Chapter 26

  Tae had somehow got herself over the first hurdle. She had survived, barely. Only a few hundred more battles to go, she thought with a laugh.

  She was still grinning when she entered the med bay where she was greeted by two very surprised tuvarnan med techs. Her head was still pounding so she asked for something for her migraine. She knew her nose had finally stopped bleeding, but she could tell by the med techs’ faces that she must look a sight. They had rushed over to her in surprise as soon as she had entered, and she’d had to forcefully shoo them both away. They retreated, but only after she agreed to go to her room and rest for a while. One of them, a tall thin male with large black and gold feathers over his head handed her a small vial of something brown. He called it Ti-Ti and swore it would do wonders to help her with her migraine. To Tae’s wary eyes it looked suspiciously liked congealed shit. It slid down the inside of the vial like a large moist brown slug. She thanked them anyway, knowing exactly what she was going to do with the Ti-Ti once she reached her quarters.

  She took the vial and returned to her room to take their second suggestion, rest. There was no way she was ever going to be able to consume the vial’s contents so she threw it into a trash receptacle on the wall at the back of her room. Once she’d turfed the “medicine” she went to her mirror to have a look at what had upset the med techs so much.

  Her eyes widened in surprise, no wonder they had been so concerned, it certainly looked dramatic. Her lower face and lips were covered in dried blood and both her eyes were already turning black. She looked like she’d just been in a brawl with Jaden and Jalek, at the same time. Even more disturbing was that she seemed to have lost some weight. Her clothes seemed to be a lot looser on her. She started to wonder exactly how long she had been in the star chair. She jumped into the chem shower fully clothed and allowed herself to get clean, then walked over to the com-panel and called up the mess hall to order a meal for herself. Always a good eater she was now absolutely starved.

  Xirra hurried in a little later following a service bot that carried a large bowl of creamy pasta. Tae was sitting at her table, she was thinking over everything that had happened, along with everything she had shared with the ship. It knew her more intimately than even Jason now. She blushed as she remembered the secret fantasies it had unearthed about Vesh and Loki. Well, no-one had ever accused her of having no imagination.

  ‘You are alright,’ Xirra said in obvious relief as the small bot slid Tae’s meal onto the table and departed.

  Well, news certainly travels fast, thought Tae, I better nip this in the bud right now, or there was no telling how much it will be exaggerated.

  Tae looked up at Xirra, smiling unconcernedly.

  ‘I had a blood nose is all, when I got out of the chair I tripped over and fell flat on my face,’ she lied.

  She held up her feet in front of her, then started laughing. ‘Sorry, Xirra, but if you knew me you’d know I’ve never been known for my grace, that was a
lways Jason, my brother.’

  Xirra smiled at her. ‘I am glad. I had thought after being gone for so long, and then the reports of you being badly battered, that things may have gone … badly.’

  Tae frowned. ‘Battered? Well, as you can see, I’m still very much alive and kicking. But what do you mean by so long? Exactly how long have I been gone anyway?’

  Xirra’s brow feathers rose in surprise. ‘You don’t know? Tae, you have been on the bridge for exactly seven months and three and a half days.’

  Tae stopped mid bite. What in Hades’ name? ‘You can’t be serious?’ she said, shocked to her core. Surely she hadn’t been gone that long.

  ‘I assure you, Tae, it has been just over seven months. I have been coming to your room every day just to check that you have not returned unannounced. Adam has assured everyone that this was to be expected, so no-one has been particularly worried at your prolonged absence. As you ordered, Adam has selected a bridge crew for your approval and has started to train them personally, while we awaited your return.’

  Tae finished chewing and swallowed her pasta, wondering idly what would have happened if she hadn’t escaped the star chair. Would Adam and the others have made it onto the bridge eventually, only to find a skeleton sitting in the chair?

  She giggled aloud at the pictures that brought to her mind. Okay, so she’d been gone a lot longer than she thought. But, she and the Ouranos had gone through a lot in that time. They had both shared things that no-one else knew about themselves. Seven months wasn’t so bad when you considered she had been made to relive her entire life for the ship. A lot of progress had been made in that first bonding session. Best of all, she had made it over the first critical hurdle, thanks to their little squabble. It was time to see if the ship would obey her other commands. Tae took a deep breath and up looked at Xirra.

  ‘Could you ask Adam to begin training directly on the bridge and in the restricted sections please? I’ll be back up as soon as I’ve finished eating and have had some rest. I’m feeling a bit worn out at the moment, besides, that will give him some time to familiarize himself and those he has chosen with the controls.’

  Xirra nodded. ‘As you wish, Captain.’

  She grinned, saluted, then turned and walked from the room.

  Wow. She called me Captain, and she saluted. Although Tae didn’t think she was quite there yet, she was definitely on her way. Either way getting that salute, deserved or not, was just so damn cool.

  After Xirra left her Tae informed the Ouranos that people would soon be moving onto her bridge and into other area’s she had so far kept closed off. She then told her she wanted those people to be granted full access while she rested. She took another bite of her food and hoped the ship would comply with her orders, if it did it would free Tae up for other duties.

  Then I’ll just have to learn how to fly the ship, learn about the sensors and weaponry, as well as let the crew learn all its different controls. Then we start the reactors, and after that the fun is really going to begin. We’ll be going straight into battle, with no engineers, or anyone else who has a clue how to fix anything I screw up and break … wonderful. She thought as her mood sobered immediately.

  She finished her pasta with gusto and had another long drink of rafa juice, then lay back on her sleeping pallet.

  ‘How about some music, your choice’ she said aloud.

  A song called ‘Try’ by Pink started to softly play. Tae grinned at the choice. ‘You’re forgiven, this time,’ she said. ‘But don’t ever do that to me again. You hurt me.’

  The song started to play a little louder. It took Tae a moment to realize she wasn’t touching the companel, apparently the Ouranos didn’t need her to do that any longer. Smiling in satisfaction that at least she must be doing something right, she lay back and fell into a contended sleep.

  When she awoke next she was thanking her vampire sire, Tamuer, and the Ouranos profusely for their healing blood and nanites. She had very little bruising left from the two black eyes she had developed yesterday afternoon, and all signs of the headache were gone.

  She had another quick chem shower and changed then headed to the mess hall where she ate a hearty breakfast. She was fully aware that she was being looked over for injuries by the crew. Everyone who saw her eating here unconcerned would now be reassured, and the message would spread. At least that was the theory she was working from.

  She liked to think that she was good with tactics, mainly because Brohan had always told her it was her strong suite. He’d said her biggest gift was that she could use her mind to think her way out of a bad situation, without having to resort to predictable lines of battle like many others. Right now her every instinct told her the crew needed to be reassured of her health and vitality. She finished her breakfast and headed for the bridge, smiling and nodding at different people as she passed.

  By the time she reached the bridge Adam and his people were already there. He seemed to be busy going from one control station to the next, inspecting each one. The crew he had selected stood against the wall watching him silently; they turned their heads as the turbo lifts doors whooshed open.

  ‘Good morning, everyone.’ Tae smiled as she entered the room.

  ‘Welcome to the bridge, Captain Rames.’ Adam turned and saluted. ‘I am just inspecting the control stations to familiarize myself with any differences from those we have trained on. At the moment I will be acting as your first officer until you decide on someone more appropriate to the command.’

  Tae’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘Well I never thought about it, but I couldn’t think of anyone better suited to the job, if you’ll have it.’

  Adam looked at Tae thoughtfully for a moment.

  ‘I think it’s best if you just pencil me in as temporary for the time being. I’ve decided that as soon as the Tuvarnan are able to resettle their world, I would like to leave the ship. I want to help them with their rebuilding efforts, but until such a time, I am all yours.’

  ‘I understand completely’ said Tae. ‘And I agree to your terms, but until that time you’re in charge of us all.’

  Adam smiled as people started to congratulate him. ‘Thank you all, I think.’

  ‘Excellent.’ Tae said moving into the room and to her chair. She ran her hand softly over it in greeting. A sense of welcome mixed with mild concern washed over her.

  ‘All I ask is that no-one touches the star chair, you could be seriously injured.’ Everyone’s gazes focused on the chair Tae was stroking, and then back to Tae.

  ‘The chair is what helps to link me more closely with the Ouranos, if any of you should accidently touch it without her permission I’m not sure what would happen, perhaps nothing, or perhaps the ship may try to link its mind with yours. Trust me when I say, this is something you won’t live long enough to regret.’

  The crew, who had all been listening to her with rapt attention all nodded in what she hoped was understanding. ‘Please,’ said Adam cutting in to the ensuing silence, ‘allow me to introduce your first shift bridge crew.’

  He took Tae over to the twentyseven assembled men and woman and made introductions. As the Tuvarnan race didn’t shake hands Tae decided to just smile as she greeted each person, offering her personal welcome, to her surprise each one of them saluted her.

  ‘Alright.’ Tae looked at the man that was to be her communications officer. ‘Dolath, please go to communications and make this a ship wide broadcast.’

  Dolath hurried to the communications display, studied it for a minute then moved several controls.

  ‘It is done, Captain.’

  Tae nodded and turned to the assembled bridge crew as if she were addressing them personally.

  ‘Attention all crew members, this is your captain speaking. I am about to start another bonding session with the Ouranos. When these sessions have finished to my satisfaction I will try to start the reactors for the first time. I want you to be aware that once the reactors start, the time bub
ble surrounding the ship will collapse, we will be back in normal space and time again with absolutely no protection bar our force field. Once the reactors start and we are finally able to navigate, I will be taking the Ouranos into direct confrontation with Hera and her fleet.’ Tae waited to let the information sink in before she continued.

  ‘My friends, you need to know that we will be going into this confrontation heavily outnumbered.’ She looked at the crew, they stared at her with both surprise and fear at the mention of fighting their arch nemeses, Hera.

  ‘I tell you this now as I am giving you the opportunity to leave if you wish. No-one will say anything to you, or think any less of you; this will be your personal choice. But make no mistake; I fully intend to confront Hera for her crimes. Not only for the atrocities she committed against your race and all the creatures that perished when she attacked your planet, but also for her betrayal of the gods. Even more importantly, we must stop her for what might happen in the future if she were to gain complete dominion over them. Either she is going to die, or we will,’ Tae said fiercely. ‘I would rather die in pursuit of what is right, than live knowing I let her roam the realms without punishment for the evil she has done, and all that she will do, given the chance.’

  Tae took a deep breath then continued.

  ‘Having said that, I don’t know how long before the reactors come online. If you are thinking of leaving, then for your own sake I suggest you make the decision sooner rather than later. I know your race is still recovering from the near genocide of your people, so please think carefully about the choice you make. Thank you for your attention.’ She looked up and down her assembled crew, her eyes questioning.

  Adam smiled proudly as they crew stared back at Tae, their chins raised, some with their crests partially erect.

  ‘It will be an honor to serve with you.’ Tae said, regarding them seriously. She saw them raise their chins a touch more. She nodded at Dolath and he pressed some more controls, turning off the communications.