Ilox Saga 1: Eris Monroe: More Than Human

by Bruce Adams

  Dr. Xinhao paused for a moment and looked at Eris with pride shining in her eyes. She clearly was impressed that her patient had recovered and was almost back to normal.

  Eris was slightly bewildered. “Why am I not in a Republic Fleet hospital? DSD…Dynamic Space Development, don’t they just manufacture starships? Why am I here?”

  “Commander Monroe, this facility is one of the most advanced in the galaxy. Our CEO has spared no expense to see to your recovery, and in all seriousness, if you had been flown to the nearest Republic hospital or Fleet medical station, you would have died in route. You never would have made it there alive. Our lab was much closer to Domovik than any other facility that could have adequately treated your injuries. All details of the operation on Domovik were highly classified - as a security measure; no one was told you were being treated here except of course Dominic Gray, our CEO.”

  “What about my commanding officer, Admiral Hargrove? Was he told I was taken here?” Eris was suspicious. She felt out of place.

  “Admiral Hargrove has been relieved of his command. As far as I know he doesn’t know that you’re alive. All of your questions will be answered soon. But for now you should rest.”

  Eris tilted her head quizzically as if to ask a question, but the doctor continued speaking.

  Dr. Xinhao talked to Eris as a teacher would lecture a student, “Perhaps you don’t fully grasp the severity of your injuries - we had to re-grow eighty-seven percent of your skin from your own stem cells, and several internal organs were reconstituted and transplanted – all of which took time of course. Your liver, for example, was mostly destroyed and had to be replaced. Frankly, your DNA is remarkable. I’ve never met an individual quite like you before Ms. Monroe.” As she talked, Dr. Xinhao became quite animated as she gestured with her hands pointing out each positive result. “Ah, the first visitor has come to visit,” said Lia.

  One of the doors to the room opened and a man encased in black armor tinted with gray approached and saluted her. He appeared to be in his thirties with closely cut black hair. As he came close he acknowledged Kyle Arneson and Doctor Xinhao. He was extremely good looking.

  “Lieutenant Arneson…Doctor…good to see you both again.” He then turned to look directly at Eris lying in her bed. He noted the puppy nearby and smiled at her.

  “Commander…I’m Lieutenant Commander Arnav Malik, your executive officer. I command the squad of nine marines on board the Sparta. I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance. It’s an honor to serve in your command.” He was a handsome man and stood just a little taller than Eris. I should get to know him better, she thought. He seemed fit and well muscled.

  “We’ll be ready whenever you need us, Captain. Every member of my strike team has combat experience in battle - we’re looking forward to the upcoming missions.”

  “Sorry…I don’t really understand what’s happening right now…” Eris seemed to be in a dream where nothing made sense. Sif whined and she scratched behind her ears.

  “Is she still doped up?” Arnav asked Lia quizzically.

  “She’s just a little fuzzy Lt. Commander,” said Lia as she adjusted the bed bringing Eris to a higher sitting position. “I’ve given her a mild sedative.”

  “Commander Monroe, we’ve awakened you from the artificial coma I placed you in. Your major injuries have been fully healed. Now all you need is several weeks of rehabilitation therapy… That should get you up and about and back to your old self.”

  Doctor Xinhao put her right forefinger to her temple. “Oh, I almost forgot…someone else wanted to say hello.” She touched a series of keys on the datapad and after a minute passed a holographic image of a well dressed man in an expensive tailored suit appeared. His hair was silver though his face was unlined by wrinkles or any hint of a beard.

  “Commander Monroe, it’s good to see you finally up and awake. Allow me to introduce myself - my name is Dominic Gray. My orders brought you here…I hope you don’t mind.” The holographic image smiled contritely. “I must apologize for not being there in person…a necessary security precaution for a man in my position - as I’m sure you understand.”

  Eris was at a loss and didn’t know how to respond. She had heard rumors that Dominic Gray was a trillionaire recluse. He had founded Dynamic Space Development over one hundred and twenty years before, but no one had heard anything about him for at least a decade or more. There were few humans alive from the era he had been born in.

  “I admire you Eris; you are a tough woman to kill. Your will to live is second to none - without that instinct to survive I doubt you’d be here talking to me. However, I must commend the doctors and nurses at the Gaea Project. They told me they could keep you alive and now they’ve proven it.” He did not smile and allowed his words to have their intended effect. Eris broke the silence.

  “Grateful as I am to be alive, Mr. Gray, I want very much to find the bastards that killed my team!”

  “Yes, of course. But first, you must fully regain your strength. Clearly there was a serious breach of security in the joint Fleet-TEC operation to salvage Valdren artifacts. Several of my assets are currently attempting to discover the identity of the traitor…or traitors.”

  “What do you mean?” Eris found it hard to believe the Republic could be betrayed, but she was struggling to stay awake and the words came slowly.

  “There is a traitor in either the TEC or the Fleet - someone passed on operational details of our highest level plans to find and excavate the Valdren base on Domovik. The traitor would be someone with high level access to the most sensitive knowledge - someone who stood to profit tremendously by acting through intermediaries before we could find and extract any technology of value. I have agents sifting and following the available evidence. I am sure the time will come…very soon…when we will know more. We must be prepared to act swiftly.” Dominic Gray never took his gaze from Eris while he continued his conversation.

  “The Majestic came under attack by a large number of mercenary forces soon after a tactical nuclear weapon was detonated. Lieutenant Arneson managed to fly to a jump-point while being pursued…” Dominic Gray paused and glanced at Kyle Arneson. “Under fire, I might add…with you on board he managed to evade pursuit and safely jumped to another star system. One of my agents contacted him and led him to this facility to begin your medical treatment. I believe he saved your life twice…”

  Kyle blushed and grinned at the same time. “I was just doing my job. Eris is my commanding officer - I mean Commander Monroe. I would have done the same for anyone in my squad.” Arneson had been silently taking in everything Dominic Gray had said...and all of it confirmed suspicions he’d held for months about the disaster on Domovik. The CEO of Dynamic Space Development would have access to the most up to date and reliable information available. Of course Kyle believed what he said was absolutely true – he stroked the fur on Sif’s back to keep her docile. Dominic Gray turned his gaze back to Eris.

  “Unfortunately, the Majestic was completely obliterated with loss of all life aboard. She did manage to destroy five of the attacking mercenary vessels but they were thoroughly overwhelmed and out-numbered. Lieutenant Arneson…and you…were the only survivors of the Domovik mission. What became of the Valdren technology is merely conjectured, but probable that the Alliance has it.” Dominic Gray looked as if he had further topics to discuss when Lia Xinhao interrupted him.

  Eris struggled to get out of bed. “We have to get going then…where are my clothes?” Lia Xinhao put a hand on her and made a soft whispering sound.

  “Mr. Gray, we must let Commander Monroe rest,” Dr. Xinhao spoke gently but firmly. If she held any fear of giving orders to her chief executive officer, she showed no signs. She silently ordered a sedative be given to her patient to let her sleep; she was clearly becoming agitated. “You can continue your discussions with her tomorrow.”

  Dominic Gray nodded his head in assent as he finished. “Of course doctor, I wouldn’t want to unnecess
arily tax your patient. Just one more thing I must say to you Commander Monroe. I want you to command a team of unique and highly talented individuals. Missions of the utmost importance must be completed if the Republic is to withstand what I believe is coming. I’m giving you command of a ship, the Sparta, so that you will be able to accomplish these missions.”

  Eris was fading fast but managed to utter a few more words.

  “A team? What…is coming?” Words came slowly and she slurred them as her eyelids fluttered and she struggled to stay conscious.

  “War.” Dominic Gray’s face faded out as he discontinued the holographic transmission. Silence permeated the room like a fog that hung heavy in the air. For a full ten seconds no one said a word. Sif barked – a small little yip. Kyle tried to calm her down “Shh, bad Sif, no barking…”

  Arnav Malik spread his hands as if to apologize. “Doctor, I believe my duties lie elsewhere. I appreciate you letting me talk with Commander Monroe. It was very illuminating…thank you.” He turned around and left the room followed by his two soldiers.

  “Well, that’s depressing,” said Doctor Xinhao, “it’s time for you to leave as well Lieutenant Arneson. You can come back tomorrow to check up on her, but therapy will begin in earnest at 0800. She really is an amazing human being. I was allowed access to all of her files, including every one of her medical records, so as to fully repair all of her organs.”

  “Yes, she is amazing…but you saved her life doctor. I know I’ve told you this before but you astonish me as well. I didn’t think it would have been possible to bring her back from the burns and radiation she suffered, but you did it.” Kyle looked at Eris wistfully and moved out of the way for Doctor Xinhao to examine her patient closely.

  Lia checked the medical devices attached to Eris to make sure they were functioning correctly and offered a sardonic smile. “Oh, believe me, I’d love to take full credit, but her body did most of the work. Her healing rate is at least five times that of a normal human. Everyone today gets some form of transgenic work done, but did you know she is one hundred percent genetically engineered? Her sequencing is ninety-nine point nine seven eight percent pure. She can bench-press four hundred kilograms, run twice as fast as an average human and her reflexes are simply amazing. And that’s just what’s stated in her files… When I reconstructed her skin and internal organs I had to run genetic tests to get a baseline to begin the regenerative processes. I found there are no genetic anomalies or deviations, her telomeres show no sign of deterioration - she is perfect…absolutely perfect. No, Lieutenant Arneson…Eris Monroe is a work of art; the pinnacle of what humanity can achieve. And all of it accomplished without any implant technology whatsoever…”

  “I’ll check in with you later, Doctor. Be sure to keep me in the loop if anything else happens,” said Kyle as he left the recovery room. He made up his mind immediately - he would try to win Eris. At first he had been intimidated by her beauty…by her overwhelming strength of presence, but over the long months of caring for her he realized how ephemeral life truly was. She had come as close to death as any person ever could and been brought back. He regretted that he’d never told her his true feelings. He walked back to his quarters carrying the puppy that Eris had not held.

  CHAPTER 13

  For seven days Eris had been poring over intelligence reports concerning the Vortex mercenary group – absorbing as much information as she could. She had learned a name. The leader of the group was an Orvod named Chol Cuxa – a name she had learned to hate. Chol Cuxa…you will die by my hands, she thought. The intelligence reports were surprisingly detailed and quite lengthy. Mr. Gray had granted her unprecedented access; he clearly had a vast information network and agents feeding him timely reports. A few of the reports shocked her to her very core; there were fleeting hints that a coup was being planned in the Republic. People with high political positions throughout the Republic Fleet were implicated in the dispatches she was reading. The information, if true, was why Dominic Gray had ordered her to be taken to this facility in secret. It all seemed to fit. Once she began feeling more like her old self, she declared she wished to talk again with Mr. Gray. Her wish had been granted after a delay of two days. She was alone in the recovery room when his holographic image came sharply into focus from her datapad.

  “Captain Monroe…how good to see you again. The reports being sent by Doctor Xinhao note your remarkable progress. I’m incredibly pleased that you’ll soon be fully recovered.”

  “Actually, it’s Commander…I’m not a Captain, Mr. Gray.” She was slightly impatient; she had more questions for the enigmatic CEO of Dynamic Space Development.

  “You were drugged and barely conscious the last time we spoke…perhaps you don’t remember. I have given you command of a ship, along with a dedicated crew. I know I’m not officially part of the Republic Fleet, but isn’t it customary to give such a person the title ‘Captain’?” He had no hint of sarcasm in his voice and was relaxed.

  “Let’s say I agree to what you want. I take command of this ship…the Sparta…and do your missions for you. I would have to resign my commission from the Fleet. Hell…I don’t think the Republic knows that I’m alive.”

  “For now that’s a good thing. The fewer people that know you made it off Domovik in one piece, the better. The Republic is swarming with Alliance spies and the Fleet has been infiltrated by their agents. They probably assume you are alive as they’re not stupid. The image of Dominic Gray paused as if momentarily lost in thought.

  “If I were them, I’d have biometric scanners monitoring every starport in the Verge watching for your unique bio-signature to pop up. The Vortex ships that chased Kyle Arneson, along with your unconscious body, reported back that a dropship shuttle fled the Shaedra system. The Alliance, through their proxies, tried once to kill you…don’t you think they’d consider it an unfulfilled mission parameter? They’re not going to stop until they have you locked up or in a grave. If you accept my offer, you’ll have much more leeway to do things your way. I know how dissatisfied at the joint command structure you had to work under. I’m giving you a chance. I suggest you take it.” The image flickered out and Eris was left alone with her thoughts.

  Another three days passed and Eris told herself she was ready. Half of her day she spent reading intelligence reports trying to piece together all of the information on Vortex and the Alliance into a coherent picture…the other half she vigorously exercised her body for hours on end to hone her reflexes and rebuild muscle tone. Her mobility had returned to normal and she was moving essentially as well as she had been before Domovik, perhaps even better. A long rehabilitation was not going to be needed so she had set out to learn everything she could about the enemies that had killed her team and destroyed the Majestic. She had also learned she was on a space station in the Hyperion system of the Rigel quadrant – still inside the Verge at a secure DSD facility she had never heard of. Dominic Gray had informed her yesterday that in two days she would meet her crew and take command of the ship. She decided she would set up a secure encrypted quantum relay to contact her old boss – Admiral Hargrove. Eris initiated the link at what she supposed would be early in the morning for the Admiral, assuming he was still stationed at Fleet Headquarters on the planet Terra Nova in the Vega system. The call shouldn’t be traceable if she kept the conversation shorter than sixty seconds…in theory at least. Eris enabled the comm link.

  The worn and lined face of John Hargrove filled her view screen. His initial reaction was one of shock as he saw her for the first time in over fifteen weeks.

  “Eris…my God, the rumors are true – you’re alive!”

  “John, I don’t have much time to speak. I’m sending you encrypted files…now…Look them over – and use them! They concern a possible coup attempt using the Fleet. Do what you can with this information.”

  “Wait! Haven’t you heard? The TEC branded you as a traitor…and are claiming it was you that blew the Domovik base to hell and then fle
d with Valdren tech. They said you betrayed the Republic...” He had a pained expression on his weathered face. “I never believed that! But if what you say is true, you should come in and together we can prove your innocence!”

  Eris smiled grimly, “John, I know you, old friend. Hell, you’re the reason I joined the Fleet. Trust me when I say that I am doing what I have to do but I’m no traitor! The Alliance and the Vortex mercenary group were behind the destruction at Domovik!” She looked at John Hargrove with a bittersweet smile. “I’ll talk to you again when I have the chance. Be safe, old friend…” She cut off the link and the screen went black. She had made up her mind before talking to her gruff minded mentor – she would do what she had to do. She would take up Mr. Gray’s offer and take command of the Sparta. Using her talents on the battlefield was the best remedy for the injustices the Alliance was perpetrating. I hope to hell John can do something concrete with the specific Intel I just gave him...

  Kyle arrived at 0600 early in the morning of the next day to find her performing pushups. He knocked on her open door and waited inside the threshold. He came with Sif on a leash and a serving MEK walked behind him carrying a small crate. The puppy happily wagged her tail when she saw Eris.

  “Have a minute?” He wanted to talk to her. There was to be a meeting at 0830 that morning with Mr. Gray. Eris stopped, got up off the floor in a fluid motion and reached for a towel hanging on the wall. She began to dry herself; soaking up the perspiration all over her body.

  “Sif! You brought her back,” said Eris with a broad smile on her face. “Give me just a moment.” She dried off and hung the towel over her neck. Kyle reached down and unhooked the leash from Sif’s collar. The dog began exploring the room, sniffing everything she came in contact with. Eris made a small motion with her hand and called out to the dog.