Heart Of The Machine (Soulmates Book 2)

by Don DeBon

"Take a look. It is rare, but possible especially since I had to adjust the other engines to compensate. The imbalance might be in a location the diagnostics don't check by default."

  Leon and Galina heard equipment being moved around. "We'll I'll be. You're right. It's another phase imbalance between two and three."

  Leon smiled. "I thought so. Adjust engine two like we did before, that should cancel it out for now. I will work on them later."

  "I've got this. Galina give me five and we should have overdrive back." The intercom clicked off.

  "Leon, it will be good when you are back aboard," Miles said.

  "Miles! Where have you been?" Galina asked.

  "First, you tell me to be quiet unless spoken to, now you wonder where I have been." His camera lowered. "I wish you would make up your mind."

  Leon smiled. "She's a woman Miles, they never do." His face disappeared before Galina could say anything.

  High above the Pacific ocean the Defiant and Phoenix hovered. Most of the damage occurred during the distraction at the UN had been repaired, or at least patched until a permanent fix with replacement parts could be done.

  Leon worked under the augmented chair attached to the Phoenix's bridge. He hated leaving all the repair work to Gregory and the Mechands, but his job was here. While Gregory had become very capable—even if he didn't think so—he was not yet up to this challenge.

  The apparatus looked like a cross between a captain's chair and a torture device, but it was the best he could come up with on such short notice. The back went up far behind the head and a harness above held several electrode contacts extending down and attached to Aleshia's forehead. It had taken several days of tests, but he managed to find a certain power frequency that forced the crystal to give regulated waves. Instead of the random ones that caused headaches. He still worried about the safety of the device and he added several more sensitive relays that would blow rather than harm Aleshia.

  Minerva frowned. Her screen flickered as Leon connected another data line to her core. "Could you be more careful? That gave me quite the jolt."

  Leon looked up. "Sorry Minerva. I'm rushing a bit I know, but we don't have any idea how long before the Lytherians attack."

  "I realize this, but blowing out my core won't help matters."

  Leon cocked his head. "That is a data cable not a main power line, it shouldn't fry your core."

  "True, but my core is a delicate system. Any damage is unacceptable."

  "I know." Leon paused to look at the cable and the connections to the chair. "Is there a way I could have connected it better?"

  "No. Other than powering down my core."

  Leon laughed. "And I suspect you wouldn't have wanted me to do that either."

  "That is correct."

  Leon laughed again. "You have been talking with Galina too much."

  Minerva blinked. "But I have not—"

  Leon raised a hand. "Never mind. Test the connection. Do you have control?"

  Minerva nodded. "I do. The chair, power output, and crystal harmonics are all under my direct control."

  An image of a camera eye appeared on the screen opposite of Leon and a voice came through the speaker. "Leon, I do not think this is wise. Why could the chair not be deployed on the Defiant?"

  "Miles, we went over this before. The Defiant suffered more damage to the bridge which had to be repaired first. This was the fastest method."

  "I disagree. If you and Gregory worked on the Defiant's damaged systems, the time differential would have been marginal."

  Leon folded his arms. "That is your opinion. It is not mine, nor was it Deven's. Do you want me to tell him of this conversation?"

  The camera's iris on the screen contracted then expanded. "No. I am sorry if I overstepped. My concern is for Aleshia. And I would feel better if I had control of the device."

  "Miles, would you feel better if I gave you remote access to the chair and its systems?" Minerva asked. Her gaze had softened from before when he first called. She understood his feelings, even if he wasn't suppose to have them. His continued evolution had surprised even her.

  The iris on the screen shifted again. "That would be acceptable. Thank you."

  Minerva nodded as her eyes shifted back and forth. "You should now have access to it."

  The lights on the back of the chair glowed and dimmed a second later. "I do. Thank you." The screen with Miles' camera eye shrank to a point and disappeared.

  Leon smiled. "You seem to be dealing with him better than before."

  Minerva's image gave a shrug. "He is my child. I realized I needed to treat him as such, but balance it with the understanding his experiences give him a unique insight I lack. Not to mention respect his opinions even if we do not agree."

  Leon's smiled broadened. "You do sound like a mother."

  "But I am."

  "Of course." Leon walked over to the communications console and tapped a button. A second later Devon's face appeared. "How are the repairs?"

  "Gregory has made good progress. We are still a little rough over here, but everything is functional again." Deven pointed to a console that was burned except for the new interface. "How is the project going?"

  "It is online. You can send Aleshia over."

  Deven's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure you have the crystal under control? The first time you tried to power it, she screamed and went unconscious."

  Leon didn't need the reminder. He shifted his stance as he remembered the scream. A scream he had caused. She had grabbed her head in pain and slumped to the floor and remained motionless for hours after the crystal had been powered for a second. He shuddered as his eyes closed with the image replaying again. He opened them and licked his lips. "I told you it was due to the inaccuracy of Minerva's data. The harmonics were way off. But I have since found a way to keep them stable."

  "You're sure?"

  Leon's eyes narrowed and he jabbed a finger towards the screen. "Deven, how long have we known each other? Have I ever tried to mislead you?"

  Deven held up his hand. "I know. But this is Aleshia's life we are talking about."

  Leon shot forward insulted. "I have put enough protection relays into this, it will fall to pieces if she sneezes rather than harm her! But I will stay here to monitor it."

  Deven shook his head. "You are needed here more. We need the Defiant at 100% as soon as possible. She took more hits running interference for the Phoenix."

  "But—"

  "Otis will be coming over with Aleshia. He can pull the plug if need be. Understood?"

  Leon felt a weight in his stomach but forced it back. Otis could watch over and unplug it just as well. But still, he wanted to be here. His eyes shifted to Deven who was waiting for an answer. "Yes." It was all he could say.

  "Good. They will be over in a minute. Come back in the same truck."

  "Acknowledged," Leon said as he killed the connection. He turned. "Minerva? Take good care of Aleshia. If anything happens to her, I will be coming for you. And you do not want that."

  Minerva's image shuddered. "I wouldn't dream of letting anything happen to Aleshia. She will be safe. Trust me."

  "She had better be."

  A cold wind blew through the Phoenix's hanger bay. Leon shivered even though the winds did not reach him inside the control room. He watched as the doors continued to grind open. While the repairs were completed and they were functional, the doors still complained when used. Leon saw the old truck slide into the bay. Distracted for a few moments by the Mechand he wasn't expecting in the back of the truck, Minerva started closing the doors before he could press the button. "I could have done that," he muttered.

  The screen nearest him lit up with Minerva's face. "I didn't say you couldn't. But time—."

  "I'm well aware—"

  "I am sure you are, however there is a new development. The Lytherian Command carrier has arrived."

  "What? That arrived several days ago."

  "No, what we assumed was the Lyther
ian Command carrier arrived several days ago. It would seem the assumption was incorrect." Minerva showed the most recent images from the probe on the screen on the opposite side of Leon's control panel. "As you can see."

  Leon examined the gigantic vessel. It was by far the largest, including the previous ship they assumed was the Command carrier. "Yes that has to be it. Wow, look at the size. But why did it arrive now? There hasn't been any new ships in days. It does not make any sense."

  Minerva shrugged. "I do not know. If I were to speculate, I would suggest they were waiting to see if anything else arrived to challenge them before bringing in the Command carrier."

  Leon's eyebrow went up. "Waiting to see if anything else arrived? But they know we lack the technology to reach them."

  "That is correct. However, I cannot see any other reason for this delay."

  Leon rubbed his chin. "Unless they're being very cautious. And the last ship did look similar. But such a deception seems like overkill for us."

  "Indeed. It is a mystery." Several indicators turned green on the panel. "Bay is pressurized."

  "Thanks Minerva. I had better give them the bad news. I assume you have briefed Deven?"

  "I have contacted the Defiant yes, but Miles beat me to it." Her image flickered and disappeared.

  Leon ran out of the control room to find Otis and Aleshia climbing out of the truck. "Better get up to the bridge," he said moving past Otis and into the truck.

  Otis turned. "Hey, what's the hurry?"

  Leon slammed the door shut and opened the window. "The Lytherian Command carrier has arrived. Minerva can fill you in. Deven wants me back aboard the Defiant."

  "Wait, I thought it arrived a few days back?"

  The Mechand in the back of the truck waved his arms with his beep getting louder and more shrill. He tried to move but only succeeded in screeching his rubber tires on the truck's metal cargo bed.

  "It would seem Minerva was in error. That other carrier is only a support ship based on the size of this one. Perhaps to confuse us. Either way it explains why they haven't attacked yet. They were waiting for this ship." He jerked a thumb towards the back of the truck. "And get him out of there. I need to go." Leon began closing the window and activated the truck's engine.

  Aleshia nodded and raised her hands. The Mechand levitated out of the truck and on to the deck plates a few meters away. It beeped as his wheels touched and rolled over to Otis. "I think he likes you."

  "Great, just what I always wanted, a pet Mechand."

  The Mechand's shoulders slumped.

  Otis bent down and put his arm on the Mechand's metal shoulder joint. "You misunderstood, you're a great bot. We couldn't have done this without you. Now go and clean Minerva's ship. She needs you more right now."

  The Mechand's optics came up and he beeped in a different tone.

  "Yes she does. But don't worry, I'll be around."

  The Mechand gave a happy beep as he rolled out of the landing bay. Leon sat for a moment dumbfounded by what he saw. He never thought he would see Otis showing kindness to a Mechand. "First time for everything I guess," he muttered as the truck began to levitate off of the pad.

  Aleshia's hand shot forward. "Wait! I don't know how to use the device you have been building!"

  The window moved back down a crack. "Sit in the chair and attach the dangling trodes to your forehead. Minerva can do the rest."

  "But—"

  "Don't worry I put in enough safety systems, it can't harm you," Leon said as the window closed. He gunned the truck's engine and they ran to the bay entrance. The doors closed behind them as the bay depressurized and front doors opened. Leon guided the truck out and less than a minute later, the doors closed again.

  Otis jerked a thumb towards the hatch at the end of the hallway. "To the bridge, I guess?"

  Aleshia nodded. "To the bridge. And if you want I can bring your little buddy up with us."

  Otis turned and saw the Mechand enter a room further down the hallway, cleaning attachment in hand. "He is not my little buddy. I let him come because of you."

  "Uh-huh."

  "I will admit, he is different from any other Mechand I have encountered but that's all. He is still a tin can."

  "Uh-huh."

  Otis rolled his eyes as they started towards the hatch. "Will you cut it out with the uh-huhs."

  Aleshia smiled. "You forget, I'm the one that can read minds."

  Otis said nothing as started to climb the ladder to the bridge. When they arrived, Minerva's image nodded towards the large front screen mounted between two windows. "Deven is calling."

  A second later Deven's face appeared. "Good. You are there. I assume Minerva has briefed you on the situation?"

  "If you mean the Command carrier arriving, yes, Leon did," Aleshia replied.

  Deven nodded. "Yes that's the one. There is no doubt the first large carrier was to throw us off, but for what reason I have no idea. And I don't like it one bit."

  Otis tilted his head. "Because it doesn't make sense?"

  Deven nodded. "You got it. We don't have the technology to reach them, and for all they know, we have no idea they are even there."

  "It does seem odd." Aleshia said taking a step towards the screen containing Deven's face.

  "You bet it does. Have you tried the chair yet?"

  Aleshia shook her head. "No, I just got here."

  "We need you in it as soon as possible. You may be our only hope of stopping them."

  Aleshia's eyes narrowed. "I'm well aware of that."

  Deven's face softened. "Sorry love, I know you are, but this new situation makes me feel we are missing something. Something big, and it has me worried."

  "I know. But I am still expecting candy when I get back to the Defiant," she said with a lopsided grin.

  Deven laughed. "You got it." His image flickered and disappeared.

  Aleshia sat forward in the chair, the spider-shaped top area dangled several cranial contacts touching her forehead. Her eyes closed in concentration as her brow furrowed. "Minerva, I am getting something. But it is faint. Increase the power."

  Minerva blinked. "While I can, I don't know what it will do. The current level is higher than any previous test. I think we should proceed with caution. It may cause adverse effects."

  Aleshia sighed. "I doubt that. Leon put too many safeties in the connections. They will blow long before I feel anything."

  "I am not so sure. I have run several simulations—"

  "Minerva! Just do it! They could attack at any time."

  Minerva's eyes dropped. "Very well. But understand I am doing this under protest. Increasing power."

  "Hmm I am getting a little more. But not enough I still can't focus in on the Lytherians."

  A black shadowy figure began to appear on the far side of the bridge. Otis blinked several times. He walked over and reached out. His hand melded into the shadow and he jerked it back. The shadow was real. "Aleshia?"

  "Not now Otis! I need to concentrate. Minerva, give me more."

  Minerva's head cocked to one side of her screen. "Are you sure?"

  "Yes I am! Now quit acting like my Mother and do it!"

  "Very well. Power increased."

  The shadowy form increased in definition becoming darker, less transparent. Otis' mouth moved several times before words came out. "Aleshia. I really really think you need to see this."

  "Not now Otis! Minerva, dial it up to maximum."

  "But—"

  "Minerva!"

  Minerva sighed as the lights above dimmed. "All power transferred to the communications array. We can keep this up for two minutes until the drain will exceed our ability to maintain altitude."

  Aleshia's eyes went wide. "I am getting something now. I feel their ships." Her brow furrowed more cutting a deep line across her forehead. "I can see their largest one now. Wow, this thing is big."

  The shadowy form solidified into the shape of a large man. Only it wasn't a man. Two seconds late
r the large eyes opened revealing vertical slits as they glared at Otis. "Aleshia!"

  Aleshia grunted. "What is the big prob—" She opened her eyes and turned in the chair to see a large Lytherian in a blue-green uniform with several insignias standing on the Phoenix's bridge. An energy weapon sat, holstered, on his side. Dead eyes glared at her as a three-toed boot twitched.

  Minerva blinked. "Intruder alert! All Mechands en route to the bridge!"