“Enter!” she called, the computer program opening her door.
Conner stepped in and smiled at her, and she was relieved he didn’t instantly gawk at the medical machinery across the room. “Thanks for seeing me.”
“I was glad you asked.” The two cruise ships had slowed from hyper a few hours ago, swapping some crew members for cross-training opportunity. With a couple of weeks to kill, the captains thought it was a good idea. Treena had agreed, and she’d continued her training under Baldwin.
“These long hauls are pretty boring. There are only so many scans a man can run before his brain begins to scramble, you know what I mean?” he asked. His smile was infectious. Treena looked at him, the soft beeps of her medical care devices the only noise in her quarters for a moment. She averted her gaze, turning to the tank where her body was submerged inside.
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” she told him, leading him the few yards beside the empty bed.
Conner didn’t say a word; only peered through the clear glass sides of the tube Treena floated in. She was attached to her usual harness, which connected her mind to the android she used, and a respirator clung to her face while sunken. Her short, clipped hair stuck up in every direction, and her eyes were closed.
“It’s hard to believe,” Conner said. She appreciated that he didn’t comment on the fact that her back was a little crooked, or that she was too thin.
“Doctor Gaad claims I’ll be able to walk again,” Treena said.
“That’s astonishing.” Conner’s hand found hers, and he held it, almost subconsciously. She smiled, tensing at the contact. He was only being supportive, and she didn’t let herself break the intimate connection.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. Everyone else knew. Believe me, a secret on a spaceship doesn’t remain one very long,” she said, feeling his fingers let go.
“That’s okay. I mean, it’s your life, and you didn’t owe me anything,” Conner told her.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” he asked, watching her again.
“For that day. Back in the Academy. I sensed you were interested in me, and I kind of strung you along. I didn’t mean to. I liked you too, but…”
“Felix was the love of your life,” Conner said.
She nodded, turning toward the healing tube. “I lost him and myself at the same moment. You have no idea how many days I wished I’d died beside him. We’d be reunited in the Vastness.”
“You don’t mean that,” Conner said quietly.
“I did then. Not anymore,” she admitted.
“You’re an inspiring woman, Treena Starling. You’re going to be a damned good Concord captain. Remember dreaming of that when we were kids?” he asked.
“I do. Never thought I’d be one, not really. You needed lineage to climb the ranks. Lark Keen and Thomas Baldwin were shoo-ins, but you and I… we needed to work harder than the others.”
“And you’ve done that. Now you’re being rewarded,” Conner said.
“Do you think I should accept the role?” Treena met his stare, and he seemed more serious.
“Of course you take the position.”
“But what if Captain Baldwin…”
“His path isn’t yours. You have your own journey. Don’t you see that? Mine is a tough one so far, bouncing from crappy postings, but hey, I’m on a flagship. Your story is one for the legends, and you have your very own legacy, Treena.”
“You think so?” she asked softly. She felt the butterflies, even if she didn’t have a stomach. His gaze wandered to the tank, and she saw a flicker of emotion from him. It was obvious he was uncomfortable.
“Treena…” He seemed conflicted, and she didn’t blame him. What was she thinking, allowing him in here?
She couldn’t look him in the eye. “We can’t do this. Please go.”
He stepped toward her, but she moved away. “Please go,” she repeated, this time more forcefully. Conner only nodded, spinning on his heel; he strode to the door, pausing as it opened.
“You deserve it all, Treena. Don’t forget that.” The door closed, and she fell to the bed, wishing she could cry.
____________
Elder Fayle was surprised at how fast High Elder Wylen had arrived. Their plan had worked out perfectly. They’d wanted the colony ship to remain in hiding for another couple of years, but things changed quickly out here, and the Ugna weren’t ones to cling to status quo.
The Vusuls seemed confused, and their lead ship slowed to sub-system speeds as Wylen arrived.
“What have you done? Who is this?” Ven asked behind her, but she hardly heard him. She pulsed with the Talent, and felt it exuded from the rest of the Vastness’ crew. “Elder Fayle, what is happening?” Ven staggered to her side, his legs weak and unsteady.
“Son, we’re only doing what we need to survive. The Vusuls threaten our way of life, and we will not be as forgiving as the Concord. They were willing to trade with the same race that attacked Talepen, destroying countless Minon along with their space station. No, we will bring the hands of justice down over them.” A smile found her cheeks, the effort making her muscles ache. It was time.
High Elder Wylen was on the fifth Pilia colony ship, the very one they’d discovered over a hundred years ago. It was the perfect place for them to grow more of their people, and she sensed the million minds filled with the Talent aboard Wylen’s ship. A million Ugna, honed to one task. The result would be magnificent.
She turned to the screen, and her leader’s face appeared. The bridge was dim, as he preferred, his eyes burning hot and red. He was so pale, it almost hurt to look at him, his skin nearly translucent. She saw blood flowing through veins in his neck, and a group of Ugna were lined up, eyes closed, a harmonic hum carrying from their pressed lips.
“Who is this?” Ven asked in her ear, but she ignored him. He was young, impetuous; plus, she didn’t want to draw the High Elder’s attention to her student.
“Elder Fayle, are our people prepared?” The man’s voice was the sound of two rocks grating over one another.
“They are.” Fayle pulled a dose of En’or from her pocket, as did the rest of the bridge crew. Ven was the only one, along with the Tekol engineer, to not be in on the plan.
“Very well. Proceed. Keep the ship; it may prove valuable,” Wylen said. She watched as he injected a shot of En’or, as well as the row behind him, never opening their eyes or ceasing their chant.
She pressed the injector to her arm and smiled as she searched out for the enemy’s life force.
____________
Reeve was in shock, unsure how to handle this. She felt like an invader witnessing something far beyond her scope. Ven appeared fearful, his gaze locking on hers, his expression terrified. The Ugna on the bridge began to chant, each of them floating from the ground.
Ven rushed to her side, eyes wide.
“What are they doing?” Reeve asked, her voice timid against the thrumming of the Ugna’s chants.
“I don’t know, but I fear it will destroy the Vusuls,” Ven told her.
The viewscreen still showed the old clear-skinned man and his entourage lined behind him, and Reeve noted they had risen on the video feed, which meant they were all hovering too. She looked to her left at the radar, finding the Vusuls fleet about to be intercepted by the newcomer. Where had they found another colony ship? There was so much going on, her brain hadn’t caught up yet.
The lead enemy vessel fired, a barrage of orange blasts shooting toward the sole Ugna-run ship, but the blasts cut short, dissipating a good ten kilometers from the colony vessel’s shields.
Reeve watched as the entire enemy fleet sprang into action, shooting everything they had with the same muted result. The Ugna stopped them nearly every time, the odd pulse intercepting their Talent-driven defenses, but those beat uselessly against the powerful shield.
“They don’t stand a chance,” Reeve whispered. It was this High Elder’s turn, a
nd he fired at the smaller fleet, leaving the ancient colony vessel alone. The Vusuls weren’t going without a fight. A few of the freighters and cruisers broke to the side, and Vastness followed behind, going into the offensive. Reeve cringed as their ship blasted one of the Vusuls, the craft exploding quickly.
A few errant shots hit their shields, but Reeve checked and saw that the barrier surrounding Vastness was still operating at eighty percent.
The chants continued, growing louder. It was hard to believe they were controlling the ship with their Talent, while their eyes were pressed closed. Ven didn’t join them, and she wondered how much of this plan he’d been privy to. From the look on his face, none of it.
It felt fast, but they’d been in battle for over an hour by the time the last of the smaller ships was incapacitated or destroyed. A couple hung lifeless in space, and Vastness and their ally both turned their attention to the last target: the same colony ship the Vusuls had used to attack the Minon and steal the Pilia girl.
The viewscreen image shifted, showing Grand Warrior Toombs. His face had grown ashen, his hands trembling as he stood in the center of his bridge. Reeve noted how neither he nor his crew members were laughing now.
“What are you?” he asked them.
It was the old man that replied. “We are Ugna, and we’ve been gifted power from the Vastness. It deems you unworthy.” His eyes were open, piercing red like lava. The chanting increased, and the man on the bridge screamed a terrible soul-crushing shout. Reeve plastered her palms over her ears, attempting to block the horrible sound, but it crept through.
The Vusuls clutched their heads and fell to the bridge, out of the camera’s shot.
“Are they...?” Reeve asked, and Ven only nodded.
“I cannot feel any of them… they’re gone,” Ven whispered. The melodious humming ceased, and the Ugna found the floor with their feet once again.
Somehow the Ugna had fended off the attackers, without so much as a scratch on themselves.
Twenty-Three
“How is this possible?” Tom asked Prime Xune. Brax sat beside him, and Constantine remained standing behind his office chair.
“You’ll have to ask them. Elder Fayle only sent a communication that the Vusuls threat has been dealt with, and they no longer require any assistance,” Prime Xune told him.
“Are we certain it was her?” Brax asked. A logical query.
“It was her all right.”
“And when you asked for more details?” Tom asked.
“Nothing. She said it was irrelevant, and that they were busy building their colony.” The Prime acted amused at the interaction.
“What in the Vastness have we been doing?” The trip had been a big waste of time, and Tom said as much.
“That’s not true. We’ve found Eve and the Pilia, and the Seeli and Minon teams are confident that she’ll assist them greatly. They expect to have a solution so their people won’t die out, and that’s about as large a win as you could ask for.
“Not to mention the Ugna somehow took care of our next problem, these Vusuls. We’ve dismantled their satellite disruptors, and they’re no longer a threat.” Prime Xune smiled at them. “What do you think? A good few weeks’ work?”
Tom laughed. “When you put it that way.”
“Get your crew members from Driun F49, and return to Nolix. We expect your decision soon.” And with that, the screen went blank.
“You ready to give them an answer?” Brax asked.
Tom frowned. He still had to think about it. “Nope.”
Brax patted his shoulder and stood. “You’ll know when it’s time.”
“Thanks, Brax. Any more word on this Sol?” Tom asked out of curiosity. It was like the closer he came to sitting at a desk job, the farther he wanted to travel in Constantine.
“Not yet, but I think we’re close,” Brax told him.
“Very well.”
Tom stayed at his desk, wondering what had occurred between the Ugna and the Vusuls. He’d find out when they picked up Reeve and Ven. In the meantime, he had two weeks to decide if he was going to accept the promotion or not.
He received a message, letting him know Brion had been located, and that Aimie would be able to see her brother for the first time since they were children. It was a small step to ease her loss, but it was something.
____________
Elder Fayle had neglected to speak with Ven about anything of importance over the last few days, and every time the ancient Ugna man, High Elder Wylen, was near, she ignored him as if he were a lowly acolyte, not a fully-trained Concord executive lieutenant.
Constantine was due to arrive the following day, and Ven was surprisingly anxious to leave Driun F49. The Ugna no longer felt like his people, and he stuck with Reeve as much as possible.
“Ven, do you have a moment to talk?” someone asked, and he turned from the window on the top floor of the high-rise to see Hanli.
“I suppose,” he said.
“Look, I know you’re put off by what happened the other day, but this was not an easy decision. The High Elder witnessed their souls and knew there was no cleansing them. They had to perish. They threatened everything the Ugna are, and they wanted to steal our home from us.” She pointed out the window, where the distant sun had begun its descent over the ridge at the edge of the valley.
“I understand,” he said. But this wasn’t the same as snuffing the life out of a few critters in the forest… was it?
“You can stay, you know.”
This caught him off guard. “I…”
“I’ve heard High Elder Wylen asking after you. He implied he might attempt to convince you,” she said.
Ven froze. The last thing he wanted was to spend any time around that man. He was frightful, something from Ven’s nightmares. He’d seen the man before; of that he was sure. “I will meditate on it.”
“See that you do.”
“And Vastness. Will you be grounded for the time being?” he asked.
“That’s right. We could… be closer.” Hanli took a step toward him. Ven was up here waiting for Elder Fayle to finish her meeting with the High Elder, and he only smiled at Hanli, his heart detached from this place after the sight of the screaming Vusuls.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do before Captain Baldwin arrives,” he said, and Hanli nodded, clearly upset with him. She walked off, her heels clipping against the floor.
When Ven was alone, he remembered what Reeve had asked him to do. The console was embedded into the large desk at the opposite end of the room, and Ven hurried to it. He found what he was searching for quickly. Their entire system linked together, and he scrolled through the scans of each vessel in their fleet. He came upon the outlier, confident this was the colony ship.
He pulled a tablet from his pocket and placed it beside the console, sending the pertinent data over to his personal device. He saw the star map of its trajectory and closed it, hearing a door opening. A voice echoed through the room, and Ven stood, nearly knocking the chair aside. Elder Fayle emerged with the decrepit old man behind her. They spoke in hushed tones, and Ven stayed away, letting them talk in peace.
High Elder Wylen stopped before entering the elevator, and his red eyes locked gazes with Ven, who broke the contact immediately. His skin crawled as the elevators closed.
Ven slid the compact tablet into his pocket and assured himself he was overreacting.
____________
Treena was as shocked as everyone at the recently-transpired battle outside Driun F49, but she was one of the few that didn’t really care. Their ally had remained unscathed, and that was what mattered. Shu and Constantine were ready to depart the Ugna colony planet, and not a moment too soon. She had the urge to return to Nolix and give Admiral Jalin Benitor her decision.
The captain sat in his seat adjacent to her, his face etched with a permanent scowl since arriving. “I need to know how they have one of the Pilia colony ships,” Tom said.
&n
bsp; Ven turned from his helm position. “Captain, I might be able to assist there. In private.”
Tom grinned, finally cracking his mood open. “That’s what I was hoping. Ven, take us out. Send word to Shu that we’re off.”
“Done, sir,” Ven said.
Treena smiled at Reeve, who stood with her brother, chatting. They’d only just returned, and she and Ven had both seemed anxious to depart Driun.
Constantine flew out of orbit, heading away from the Ugna. Treena hoped it was the last she’d have to see of them for some time. They had the Minon on board, and they would be transferred to another ship once they reached Nolix. Treena would make a point to talk to the Guardians one more time. She felt a type of kinship to them, even after spending only a short period with Dorthan.
They were respectable, and she loved their long tradition. Hearing that Yunrio and Caalizan thought that Eve really was their savior, Treena was confident their side mission was all worth it.
She peered around the bridge, settling in as they kicked the main engines on, sending Constantine into hyper. This was it.
Her last trip as Commander Treena Starling.
____________
A month had passed since arriving at Nolix, and Treena was glad for the break. Ridele was a strange city, so much busier than anything on Earon. Walking through the packed streets, she wished for the quieter sidewalks of the little logging village she’d grown up in.
Now she understood why Baldwin hated the hustle and bustle. It was claustrophobic. The R-emergence office wasn’t too far from the hotel she was staying in, and she elected to walk instead of taking a shuttle bus.
Everywhere she looked, there were people. The city was filled with the locals, the Tekol making up eighty percent of the planet’s population. Here in Ridele, in the business sector, that percentage decreased. Treena spotted groups of Callalay and some Zilph’i, along with humans and countless other Concord partners walking with purpose. Everyone had somewhere to go, and so did she.
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