Orta

by Frank Carey

  As he sat sipping his smoking beverage, Gabe stared at the plasma streamers passing by the observation windows and wondered how he, of all people, could be blessed with a life such as his. His thoughts were interrupted by a female voice. "Is this seat taken?"

  Gabe looked up and was startled by the woman standing next to the seat in front of him. Something about her was disturbingly familiar. "No, please," he replied as he stood up.

  "Thank you. My name is Athea Minos," she said as she extended her hand. "I'm with the New Olympia trade delegation."

  "DCI Gabriel Adon, Earth Security. Nice to meet you. Have you been to one of these shindigs before?"

  "This is my second. What about you?"

  "My first," he said as he ran a background check on the lovely Ms. Minos. Shindig was a term that fell out of use over a hundred years ago and only an immortal or a member of his family would know what it referred to. "My family is very excited to be able to attend." He scanned the data as it flashed by, but found nothing useful. He looked at her, trying to discern what was so damn familiar about her. "Tell me, Ms. Minos, have we met before?"

  She looked down at the floor, obviously nervous. "Yes, once."

  "And when was this?"

  "When you were born."

  Parts of his HUD went red as he stopped breathing. Slowly, carefully, he transformed his right hand into its stryker version. As she sat transfixed, he took her hand in his gauntlet and quickly scanned it. Finished, he set it to normal while sitting back in his chair to look at her.

  "How did you do that?" she whispered.

  "If you must know, I'm a cyborg, have been since they revived me some twenty years ago. It's a simple matter for me to will my nanorobots to any form I desire. It could be anything from a pen to a DNA scanner. So, Mom, how've you been? Sorry you missed the wedding. Stenosh Kitra throws one helluva party."

  "Gabe..."

  He leaned over the table and looked her in the eyes. "I have only one question: Why did you abandon me?"

  She saw the pain in his eyes, pain that the intervening centuries did nothing to quell. "I panicked. I did something stupid, real stupid, which got me a price on my head for my troubles."

  Gabe raised an eyebrow.

  "Dammit, Gabe, I was being hunted, and you were slowing me down, so I found a place where you'd be safe. The nurses took you there as soon as you could travel."

  "Who was hunting you?"

  "It doesn't matter. They're all dead. Eventually, I tried to find you, but by then you were already dead..." She stopped as tears poured forth in torrents.

  Gabe stared at her.

  "Gabe! What the hell is going on?" Priscilla asked as she walked up to where he and Athea sat. Behind her stood his daughters, their faces full of disbelief.

  Gabe stood up and straightened his jacket. "Priscilla Kitra-Adon, Rista Adon, and Saffron Adon, I would like you to meet my birth-mother, Ms. Athea Minos," he said, walking out of room before his tears joined hers.

  The three Adons watched him leave before turning to the crying woman.

  "Grandma?" Rista and Saffron asked.

  "M...mom?" Pris stammered as she and Saffron sat across and next to the distraught woman while Rista ran off after Gabe.

  ## #

  Rista found Gabe at the bar with a half-drained bottle of Scotch whiskey in front of him. "Your nanobots must love you," she said as she sat down in the seat next to him.

  "There is one thing, and only one thing, I hate about having nanobots coursing through my bloodstream.

  "What's that, Dad?"

  "They won't let me get drunk."

  She put her hand on his arm, not sure how to proceed. "You remember nothing about her, do you?"

  He shook his head. "For years I thought I was the product of human experimentation by the gray aliens."

  She put her head on his shoulder. "What are you going to do?"

  "What can I do. In my mind, she's been dead for over 200 years. Now, she's suddenly alive. I don't have a freakin clue what to do. Do you?"

  "I'm Katalan; she's family; life is simple."

  ###

  "He hates me," Athea said as she downed another tumbler of wine.

  Pris handed her a tissue while Saffron put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Gabe doesn't hate anyone," Pris explained. "He's just confused."

  "Confused?" I thought he died two-hundred years ago, but come to find out, he's an Earth Security Officer."

  "Yes, I am, and damn proud of it. May I join you?" Gabe asked as he walked up to the table while Rista joined Saffron.

  "Sure. Take a load off," Athea said. Gabe's family marveled at how similar her and Gabe's senses of humor were.

  He sat down next to Pris. "First, I am sorry for my behavior. It was disrespectful and undeserved. Second, it has been brought to my attention that I, and by extension, you are members of a Katalan family, which means you and I must, and I say must, put away our differences. Do you think us two old geezers can perform such a feat of magic?"

  Athea knocked back another tumbler of wine. "Pris tells me you can't get drunk. Is that true?"

  "Yeah. The nanorobots use it to refuel. How about you, being immortal and all."

  "Nope. Tried and failed several times. Too bad, I hear getting drunk with your kid is an odd experience."

  "Never tried it. So, are we OK?"

  She looked at the ceiling, something Pris and her daughters had seen Gabe do many times. "Yeah, I think we can do it."

  He smiled and took her hand, only this time he kept his human. "Good."

  CHAPTER FOUR

  After the girls left, Gabe wandered around the museum to see the rest of the exhibits, many of which dealt with cultures on other worlds. He found himself in a room labeled "Demons of the League." Upon reading the word "Demon," his Knowledge on Demand system displayed League database entries about demons as overlays on his visual picture. It was like walking with a heads-up display built into his eyes.

  "So, DCI Adon, what do you think?"

  Standing next to Gabe was a Tyen. She looked familiar. "You have me at a disadvantage, Ms...?"

  "Dr. Nebulon Blyst..."

  "Now I remember! You're the Tyen the Tralaskan Supreme Council elected as Chancellor! It is an honor to meet you, and congratulations! What brings you to Earth?"

  "I'm tying things up before beginning my duties. I'm also meeting a friend. Her name is Natalie Markle..."

  Gabe palmed his forehead. "The Martok Incident. You and Natalie were part of the team that helped stop a war. I read Royce Aymar's book about what happened."

  "Wait, you know Natalie?"

  "We first met on Tralaska during the philogistan incident. She's invited me and my family to a party on Primus station."

  "That's why I came over to talk with you. I wanted to thank you for saving my planet. Clarita told me about what happened. She was especially impressed with what you said to Klanner about Tralaskans having to pull their heads from their asses."

  "I don't remember saying it quite that way. "

  "You were being nice. Tyens aren't known for being nice, especially when it concerns our planet and our people. You did good, DCI Adon, and I just wanted you to know that."

  "Thanks. And thank you for saving the League. If you hadn't, I would have never met my wife or my daughters."

  She leaned over and hugged him. "I've got to go and find Nat. Enjoy the museum."

  "I will. One thing before you go."

  "Anything?"

  "Did these demon things actually live around here?" he asked as he pointed to something about seven-feet tall with claws and fire-like hair.

  "Yes, there are demons that live far away from this part of the galaxy. These fire demons, though, lived in the area around Orta. They disappeared before our peoples emerged from caves. They were said to be fierce, perhaps vicious is a better word, warriors."

  "What happened to them?"

  "No one knows, not even the Orta, at least that's what they tell us. There
are three planetary systems surrounding Orta, each has extensive legends about the fire demons. They all mention something about a war. It's possible the demons were killed off, or they just left the area. No one knows."

  "Well, I hope I never meet one, even in stryker form. That thing looks like it could kick my keister without any effort. Thanks, Chancellor. Good luck with your people."

  She nodded, then walked off into the crowds, leaving Gabe to wonder at what it would be like to meet a fire demon in person.

  ###

  Gabe stared into the cabin's full-length mirror and adjusted his tie for the umpteenth time. Taking pity on him, Pris walked over and took over. "There! You're as pretty as you were the first day you became a DCI."

  "And you look radiant, my dear. As for my children, I'm going to have to bring a big stick to beat the boys off."

  "Yes, we do make fine children, don't we?"

  "None finer in the League. You never told me what your boss said when you told him you were invited to this soiree."

  "Ever seen a grown man drool?"

  "Yeah, when I first saw you in that dress."

  "You are just too sweet. After wiping his mouth, Jacob proclaimed he loved you and wanted to have your children."

  "I only have eyes for you."

  "Good answer."

  The door chimed. Rista, in her form-fitted dress blues, ran and opened it while a gowned Saffron followed. "Dad! Our escort is here!"

  Gabe looked out the bedroom door and saw two OffSec Security Force members standing outside the door. "Be right there, Gentlemen." He turned to Pris. "How do I look?"

  "Ravishing."

  "We'll discuss that later. Shall we go and mingle?"

  "Why yes, we shall," she replied. He took her by the arm and led her out to the waiting escort.

  ###

  Gabe walked around the periphery of the room, scoping it out for exits and threats as he has done since early in his career as a cop. He looked over and saw both Pris and Rista doing the same. His pride knew no bounds.

  "Casing the joint, Gabe?" a familiar voice asked.

  "Stenosh!" he said as he gripped the elder Katalan ambassador's large hand (paw?) "I didn't know you were here. Where's Rista? "

  "My wife is across the room mingling with our granddaughters. As for us being here, the Ortas are in trade talks for more neltorite crystals. The Orta entourage decided to take a break and head down to the planet to 'recharge' as they say, leaving us corporeal folk to fend for ourselves."

  "What's neltorite?"

  "A material found only on Katala, and the Orta are the only race in the League that uses it."

  "Use it for what?"

  "Power flow control. They process the crystals using a proprietary process, then use the modified form to channel power for purposes unknown. We're just happy they have an appetite for the raw material."

  "Speaking of the Orta, has anyone seen any of them since we arrived?"

  Stenosh looked around the room, then his wrist chronometer. "Odd, they're never this late for a function."

  "Don't they have staff that works up here in the station?"

  "No, not that I know of. They leave the station to the corporeal League citizenry. At best, you'll see one in an environmental suit passing through on its way to or from some destination in the League. By the way, how did you get invited to this soiree?"

  "Ambassador Markle invited us during the opening of the 'Old New York' wing of the Museum of League History."

  "You know Nat?"

  "We met on Tralaska during an operation. Plus, I read Royce Aymar's 'History of the Martok Incident' in which she has a big part."

  "I still find it amazing that your granddaughter is married to Prince Lucien, Royce's adopted cousin. The League gets smaller every day."

  "Tell me about it. I remember when there was no League, just New York and the rest of Earth. "

  An Erdexi member of the station's senior staff joined them. "Ambassador Stenosh, I was wondering if I could borrow DCI Adon for a moment?"

  "Of course, Commander Ryyst. Gabe, I'm going to find my daughter. Excuse me." Stenosh walked off, leaving Ryyst and Gabe alone."

  "DCI Adon, my name is Ryyst, Commander of this station. We've just received a garbled transmission from the surface."

  "Garbled?"

  "Yes. We think it was from Ambassador Markle, but we can only make out three words: 'Gabe,' 'Adon,' and 'help.'"

  "That's not good. Not good at all," Gabe replied.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "You've tried calling them?" Gabe asked

  "Yes, there's no answer, which is impossible," Ryyst replied.

  "Are we getting data from the surface?"

  "Not allowed by treaty."

  Gabe thought for a moment, then looked around for Rista. Finding her, he waved for her to join them."

  "Dad, what's up?" she asked as she hurried over.

  "Ryyst, this is my daughter, Officer Rista Adon. Rista, this is Commander Ryyst. Is Gamma with you?"

  She looked chagrined. "Yeah. I know, I should have..."

  He smiled. "It's fine. Gamma, are you on-line?"

  "Yes, sir, and ready to go!" Gamma replied from his stylish bracelet on Rista's arm."

  "Cmdr. Ryyst, do we have access to the Orta database?"

  "Yes, sort of. An updated copy of the database resides in our computer memory banks, but treaty forbids..."

  "Gamma, can you crack into the Orta database? Keeping covert, of course."

  "Of course, sir. I just need to be near a terminal."

  Gabe looked up at Ryyst. "Commander, when was the last update?"

  Ryyst checked a console. "Odd, we're indicating an emergency update came up just when the ambassador made her cryptic call. Sir, this is highly irregular..."

  "I'll take full responsibility," Gabe said "Something is wrong down there, I can feel it. Commander, is there a terminal we can use?"

  "This way," Ryyst said before leading them out the door .

  Once in the control room, Ryyst led them over to a terminal and logged in. "You're all set."

  Rista put her bracelet near the terminal's wireless node where Gamma did the rest. In seconds, he had transferred himself into the station's system.

  "I'm in," he said. "Tying into Orta database via emergency communications channel. Accessing. Accessing. Commander, please clear the room of all non-essential personnel with clearance level five or lower."

  "You heard the AI, all personnel with less than level five clearance must vacate!"

  "Dad, I don't have a level five," Rista reminded him.

  "You do now. We'll run the paperwork later, but for now, I need you here."

  Several people left. "Seal the room!" Ryyst ordered. One of the remaining techs flipped a switch causing the doors to lock with an audible click. "We're secure."

  "The Orta have a planet-wide energy field which is generated by hundreds of neltorite-modulated solar converts. There has been a disruption in the field causing all generators to go offline. The entire planet is in emergency standby mode which has sent the Orta into a coma. Sirs, based on the data we have absconded with, the entire on-planet population of Orta have less than a day to live based on current power consumption. The disruption has also activated the planetary defense system. I have initiated a level-7 diagnostic, but it ends in twenty minutes."

  "Then what, Gamma," Gabe asked, fearing the worst.

  "The system has already targeted this station, and I can't release the lock from here. Someone must go down there and perform a manual reset. They will then have one hour to reset the power grid from the point of disruption."

  "That's not possible, no corporeal can survive down there."

  "I guess you haven't been watching the news," Rista said .

  Ryyst looked at Gabe, then watched as he transformed into Styker-1 while his crew stared in shock. "Back to your stations," he barked. "You're a stryker?"

  "Yeah. It's a long story. Gamma! Transfer into my network an
d standby."

  "Yes, sir, DCI Adon! It is an honor to work with you."

  "Keep that thought until we get back. Rista, I need you to brief your mom. Commander, do we have any military or science types aboard?"

  The Erdexi commander shook his head. "Only diplomats."

  "Great. Can you launch lifeboats?"

  "Not if we don't want to risk lighting off the planetary defense systems. If their systems work like ours, they will think the life boats are orbital weapons launching."

  "Great... Commander, we can unlock the control room."

  "Aye, DCI Adon, I agree." He waved to one of the Bridge staff who typed a code into their console.

  Pris and Saffron ran in just as the doors unlocked. "Gabe, what the hell's going on?" she demanded.

  "Just the usual: unknown planetary disaster and an out-of-control defense system. I'll take care of it," he said while retracting his helmet so he could kiss his wife goodbye. "Need anything at the store?"

  "You're insane. We have people trained to do this sort of thing."

  "Commissioner, we don't," Ryyst explained.

  Gabe kissed his daughters, then reformed his helmet. "I'll be back in a jiffy," he said while walking over to an airlock. He cycled it and stepped inside. "Be calm. Remember, Stryker-1 is on duty!" he said as he cycled the lock once more.

  "Where the hell does he think he's going?" Pris asked.

  "Mom, I think he's flying down to the planet," Rista said as she stared at her father's telemetry readouts.

  "Since when can Dad fly?" Saffron asked .

  No one in the room had an answer.

  ###

  Gabe landed near the coordinates Gamma had given him during their flight through the planet's atmosphere. "Which way, Gamma?"

  "Through that doorway up ahead. It should lead to a utility stairwell."

  Gabe looked around while they headed to the entrance. "Lots of ruins. It looks like no one has lived up here for a long time."

  "I read vacuum around us, sir, yet those ruins suggest that people lived on the surface at one time. I wonder what happened."

  "I'd guess war of some kind, though who or what would go toe-to-toe with the Orta is beyond me." They reached the entrance and found a locked door. "I'd hate to use a laser..."