Remember the Starfighter
Page 36
“That ID you wear belonged to him. I guess the Sovereign had it saved.”
“Really?” Julian said, glancing down at his comm-band to check. “I thought it was just a codename.”
“Well, after the battle of Pacifica, as you know—”
“Yeah, I do. Kinnison. The name. It’s synonymous with guardian.”
Richard nodded again, gazing up at the monument.
“It’s hard to believe. But for four days, he and a small fleet defended Pacifica from over a hundred Endervar ships. He held them off. At every turn. His efforts saved millions of lives.”
Julian knew the history as well. He vaguely remembered that the battle was required reading during his academy days, the tactics still brilliant by today’s standards.
“Your age... We’re you there?” Julian asked.
Richard shook his head, a sad smile lingering on the edge of his lips.
“No. But I wish. Kinnison...He was my dear friend.”
He then walked past the monument, and looked out to the ocean, watching the crashing waves in the dim light of the stars. “You know, I used to live here. In New Manarola. That town up north, the red and blue buildings.” He thought back to the settlement, and how it had since become a historical relic of sorts.
“Yeah?”Julian asked. “I’ve been there. It’s nice.”
“It’s also occupied by a lot of robots now, isn’t it?”
Julian grinned. “The local barber. He’s quite charming to say the least.”
Richard belted a hearty laugh, slapping his knee.
“The barber. Nubin. That guy... ” he said chuckling. “In fact, all those robots. Built from the minds of occupants long gone. I knew them. I still know them.”
“What do you mean? Where are they now?”
“Some left for the stars, although many share the same fate as I. They converted. They joined the Union.”
“Union.” Richard said it with a grim finality. Like there was nothing more.
“We were among the first humans to join. It was a decision I now regret, although I like to think I’ve helped to do some good in my role.”
He cast a tired glance, and was quick to realize that Julian was oblivious to what he meant.
“It’s complicated,” Richard said, brushing back the curl of his hair with his virtual hand. “But even though I’m an Ouryan. I still live on the edges of society, and I do my utmost to try to avoid any influence from the Unity. More of a renegade I suppose.”
“I’ve never heard of that before,” Julian said. “I thought Ouryans usually operated as a collective.”
“Well, I’m a special case. My official role is to convert. To convince other humans to join the collective. But I much rather secretly do the opposite, and provide whatever inside information I can. It’s the least I can do.”
Julian paused, thinking over the remark.
“You sound like a spy.”
“Keen,” Richard replied. “But let’s just keep that between you and me,” he added with a laugh.
Julian didn’t even as much smile. Instead, he recalled the corpse lying silent back at the shelter. “That man just now. Has he converted?”
“Well, the memory of him anyways. It was his dying wish. Physically, he was fine, but as you know, in some cases, the genetic defects can destroy one’s mind. He refused advanced treatment. Said his time had come.”
“But I thought conversion was outlawed on Carigon?” Julian asked, confused. “You’re not even supposed to be here. Aren’t Ouryans banned from this system?”
“True and true. But as you can see, that may change. More and more humans are flirting with the idea, especially those in pain. Not just colonists here, but humans everywhere. What with the Endervars invading everything in sight.”
The Ouryan gave a long sigh, his black eyes looking down at the gravel ground.
“But I come here not to convert,”he said, raising his head once more. “I was invited by Sovereign. Coincidently, she knew this man, and I wanted to help.”
Julian nodded. He felt little doubt about Richard’s motivations. Even if he was intent on converting the colonists, Julian had no reason to stop him. It was plainly evident how harsh life had become for refugees of the war.
“You’re right,” Julian said. “More people do want to convert. Maybe it’s inevitable.”
“No, no. Nothing is inevitable my friend. That’s what Kinnison would say,” he replied in a confident rebuttal. “That’s why he was there at Pacifica. Against all odds, he still chose to fight.”
“I just wished he hadn’t died,” Richard continued. “Then maybe things would be different.”
“Different?”
“Indeed. He would have been a great leader. He was expected to succeed Sovereign and lead the Hegemony.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Nor would I expect you to. It’s all ancient history. Almost forgotten. But still, whenever I see her. I can still see the sadness.”
Julian heard the words and gradually came to understand. He was about to say her name, Alysdeon, when he saw Richard’s pained glance.
“Kinnison. He was her son. When he died, she was devastated. I wish I could have done more.”
The virtual man breathed in, and let the misgivings fall to the wind. He was quick to rebound.
“But she’s back,” Richard said. “Taken a new name. The Ula word for sword. Kinnison would be proud.”
He cocked his head into another disarming smile. It was evident he knew more than Julian could possibly ever know. The man from another era, another history.
“Anyways. I’m an Ouryan now, although perhaps I’m the most human Ouryan.”
He looked at the sky above, the darkness and the sparkling stars in full view.
“I guess it’s not bad being an Ouryan,” Julian said, staring at the ageless man.
Richard scoffed.
“Years ago, I would have agreed. But now...”
He was tempted to reminisce again, and think back to his decision to join. The stories he could recite, the people he could remember. However, Richard stood there, focusing, and realizing that this was a chance to pass something on, the information critical.
“The Ouryans. They may be part of the Alliance, but that doesn’t mean you should trust them. They’re more sinister than most know.”
Julian slowly nodded, clearly aware of the dangers. However, he had no idea about their true motivations. Or the secrets they closely held.
“This was before your time. But the Ouryans were once isolationists,” Richard explained. “They were very selective to who could join them. They even thought humanity was too inferior. Too crude to comprehend the Union.”
“But that all changed two centuries ago, when they began inviting all to convert. Officially, they said they wished to preserve all sentient life. I remember when I joined. I naively believed them. I thought I was ascending into the next state of existence.”
“Yet it was all a sham, a lie,” he said. “No, I don’t believe them. They want to subjugate intelligent life, just as the Endervars have done over and over again.”
It was a strong accusation, among many others that had been leveled at the Ouryans. Another conspiracy theory no doubt. But it got Julian thinking. The pattern was there.
“Sadly, I only have scraps of evidence. I’ve tried for decades to find more. But only those privy to the secrets of the Ouryans are those that have been directly assimilated into the high Unity. Even I can’t approach, not unless I want to lose what free will I have.”
“But if you’re right...” Julian said. “That would mean that maybe the Ouryans know why the Endervar are here.”
“Exactly. I strongly suspect that’s the case,” he added. “Sentient life has some important value. We just don’t know what that is. Not unless the Ouryans suddenly become willing to share.”
Julian was quiet. For a moment, he thought that maybe it was all too far-fetched. Even ludicrous. The ra
nting of a stranger. But the confident stare in the man’s eyes convinced him otherwise. As virtual as it was, to Julian it seemed real.
“Humanity,” he replied. “It sounds like we’re being assaulted on both sides. Whether it be the Endervars or the Ouryans. All trying to claim a piece of us.”
“It’s no different for all the other sentient races,” Richard said. “We’re all striving to survive.”
Julian wanted to know more, the questions coming to his mind, when Richard pushed out his hand, stopping him in mid-sentence.
“Speak of the devil,” he said. “I apologize. I’ve just received some distressing information. Very distressing.”
“What is it?”
“The Endervars. They’re on the move again.”
***
Alysdeon summoned her ship the moment she heard the news. In minutes, the craft arrived, zeroing in on their location at the shelter. They now walked inside the hallways of the vessel and entered the bridge, Alysdeon anxious. She needed to see the evidence for herself.
The room immediately became immersed in the light from the data, the star charts and scans emanating from the bridge’s central view screen. Connected to both the Alliance and Ula surveillance networks, the bio-ship displayed the latest intelligence, isolating the view on an anomaly over 200 light-years away. The energy pattern was old, and fading, but an unmanned Alliance probe had managed to record it and beam it back to the central analytical networks for processing. The Ula’s own surveillance drones had just been dispatched to verify the scans. But as she read over the preliminary analysis, Alysdeon could feel her worst fears coming true.
“Yes,” Richard said. “That warp signature is probably only over two days old. But others will appear. They always do”
More time would be needed to trace the direction of the emerging Endervar presence. But it was unmistakably a disturbing development. All this time, Julian had worried about the Ouryans, only to realize that it was the Endervars who were closing in.
“Containment,” he said. “It’s over, isn’t it?”
Richard nodded. “The Alliance won’t publicly say it, but they’ve pulled back most of the defending machine fleets. It’s all to reorganize them into new offensive operations. The Ouryan collapser is now the priority.”
Richard then accessed his own systems, and displayed the latest data on Endervar movements, sending them to the view screen. It was all classified information, imprinted with confidential markings. Julian could tell why; the holographic images were rife with maps that showed new sectors currently under threat. The projections showed enemy ships doubling in numbers.
“With the recent loss of the Arcenian homeworld and the Swardigan cluster, the timetable for the collapser is accelerating,” Richard said. “The Alliance could choose to deploy it on a full-scale bombardment in four or five months. Maybe even sooner.”
He then displayed other maps, showing hundreds of systems at risk of invasion. It was all bathed in pools of red, the enemy movements expanding into the different habitable zones.
“In the meantime, it’s best to talk with the Ula over evacuation procedures,” he added. “For all we know, the Endervars could arrive in weeks or even days.”
Richard stared at Alysdeon, as he expressed the warning. He was grave, and empty of his once charming smile.
Alysdeon was even more so, staring down at her clenched fist.
“I know. But the galaxy still needs them. I urge you to try to change their minds.”
Her anger was quiet, but the hatred was there, contained behind her almost stoic gaze. She had, in fact, made the same promises before, only to fail time and time again. It was a futile pledge, one that added to her regrets.
“Davinity, I’m sorry, but you know that’s not prudent,” Richard replied. “The galaxy still needs you as well. You can do much more alive than dead.”
She was silent for a moment. Out of her own error and emotion, Alysdeon then tapped into the anger and said it.
Alysdeon shook her head, and cast a look of apology to Julian. She hesitated in a sigh, her anger doubling back and into her control.
The specialist and Richard left the bridge in haste, but Julian and Arendi stayed behind.
He refused to look at the data anymore, the information echoing what Julian had already largely known. The war was going badly. Far worse than what most of the public knew. For so many, including the people of Carigon, time was running out.
As for Arendi, she could only look on, and find herself drawn into the data. She stepped closer to the view screen, and stared at all the virtual dots, each one a system facing potential invasion. Billions more were at risk, the enemy almost too vast to stop.
“The collapser,” she said. “I understand now.”
It was the solution the people of the galaxy had been desperate for. The last resort to prevent total subjugation. The more she thought of it, the more it made sense. Even Arendi could no longer blame them. They had no other choice. No choice but to take the fight to the next extreme, even if it meant the death of so many others. It was the instinct to survive, an emotion she felt now.
She closed her eyes, and thought back. Her own mission at the forefront. Unbeknownst to the rest of the galaxy, there was another way. Arendi wasn’t sure where it might lead or if it was too late. But she knew she had to try. Everything would depend on it.
Chapter 49
PROCEEDING WITH TEST A-37. PARAMETERS READJUSTED AND OPTIMIZED.
The words cut through the underwater lab, the telepathic thoughts distilled into a bellowing translation. The Ula known as “Faraday” made the statement, as his marine body hugged the crystalline structure of the facility. He looked down into the room with his gem-like eye. With another telepathic thought, he then ordered the lab to proceed with the next test.
SHALL WE RESUME?
Arendi nodded, ready for it to begin.
She was inside the oxygenated lab room, staring at the would-be target of the experiment. It was a piece of energized Phidinium armor, the very material used in the bulkhead of warships. Outside of the Endervar’s own technology, it was one of the most durable substances in the known galaxy, and also perhaps one of the heaviest. A slab of the shaded metal now sat on the floor, the armor close to a meter thick, and about twice as tall. The gray wall of matter was so dense that it seemed almost unbreakable. But nonetheless, Arendi had found a way. She approached the block of metal and gazed at the small, but noticeable dimples in its polished surface. Each of those dents represented a test, the individual pock-marks slightly larger than the last. Now she wanted to make another attempt, this time with even more power.
COMMENCING. 3, 2, 1.
The impact was apparent at the moment the experiment went off. The invisible force, the size of a fist, imprinted against the superdense metal, and carved in, opening not just a dent, but a winding hole into the armor. For a whole three seconds, the matter slackened, turning into gunk against the warping energies of space. Then it stopped, the imprint becoming scar.
Arendi walked up to the wall of metal, and studied the effect. She was not surprised. The armor was simply no match for the exotic particle that she and Faraday had been trying to control. Arendi looked off at the crystal pillar on the other side of the room, the containment pod flashing its darkness. She was fully aware of its power, and its ability to manipulate the fabric of the univ
erse. But what concerned her more was the costs, and if it those alien energies could be tamed.
“Status?” she asked, running her hand across the beaten armor.
RESULT: DEGRADATION TO PARTICLE AT 0.02 percent
She shook her head. “That’s a little higher than I thought it would be,” Arendi said, not fully satisfied by the results. “We may just need to wait for Julian.”
AGREED.
She went back to work, determined to stabilize the enemy particle as much as possible. Next to the containment pod, Faraday had set up a console station designed for human interface. It was embedded inside its own elevated pillar, and displayed the data in the air, through a thin layer of yellow holographic light.
For three days, Arendi had been at the underwater lab, thinking over the possibilities, and testing her theories. At her disposal, was not just the Endervar particle, but the advanced technology of the Alliance and the Ula. She could see it now, the knowledge of hundreds of alien races, condensed into data, and ready to be utilized. It was leagues ahead of almost anything her creator possessed on Earth, the breadth of research so vast she felt overwhelmed.
Faraday, however, had been her steady guide. The Ula was, indeed, a genius, processing the near endless calculations with a computer-like ease. He had formulated his own theories, from which Arendi had studied and reworked with her knowledge of the particle. Together, they had begun making sense of the patterns. Perhaps the life of the particle could be prolonged, she thought. Stabilized to the point that its degradation was not inevitable.
Arendi considered the prospect. They were inching closer. So close that she felt the excitement. With any luck, maybe they could safely wield the power driving the Endervars.
“Hey, I got what you wanted.”
She noticed the footsteps as the door to the lab room opened. Julian had arrived from the lab’s elevator, carrying the object in his hand. He now raised it up in the air, holding the binding with his two fingers.