Intrinsic: Book One of the Terran Cycle

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  Another arm descended and rotated around the fracture site, spraying what looked like water.

  “I can’t feel my arm.” Li’ara looked distressed for a moment as the same mechanical arm produced a scalpel. Ilyseal stepped in to reassure her.

  “The Medder will first mend the broken bone before relocating the joint. But do not fear, you will not feel anything.” When Li’ara looked back the Medder had already cut into the arm and inserted several fine extensions. Another arm wiped away the trickle of blood. The monitor showed the fine extensions rapidly moving across the fracture, filling in the gaps as they did.

  “We have been studying your kind for a long time,” Telarrek interrupted. “We can easily replicate the bone and surrounding tissue.” As rapidly as the extensions moved they extracted themselves slotting back into the arm. A small green laser moved over the incision closing the gap which was then covered by a similar red patch to the one on her deltoid.

  “Leave this on for the next day and there will be no scar.” Ilyseal said. Another analgesic patch was applied over the scapula and clavicle. Kalian turned away from this part as the Medder formed two arms that lifted Li’ara’s and held onto her shoulder. In one swift motion it rotated the arm, relocating the joint back into position. Astonishingly Li’ara felt nothing as she started flexing her arm and rotating the joint. The Medder retreated back into its housing, becoming an inverted dome again. Li’ara nodded and gave the Novaarians a small smile of gratitude.

  Kalian walked over and gave her mended shoulder a squeeze. They shared a smile and he was elated to see her well again. Their lives had become so intertwined he couldn’t imagine losing her now.

  “Your hand!” Li’ara gripped his hand in her own and turned it palm up. It took Kalian a moment to remember the condition his hand had been in.

  “I don’t understand...” He examined it himself in disbelief. The burn was completely gone without as much as a scar. How was this possible? They must have all seen his display with the strange ball of light he expelled, not to mention the stranger seeing him push the attacker off without touching him. But this rapid healing was new to him as well.

  “I suppose I have some explaining to do.” Kalian said. To his confusion, neither Telarrek nor Ilyseal looked shocked.

  “Later.” Telarrek looked to the stranger in the corner.

  The entrance to the med bay opened as a Novaarian guard entered. He presented a small disc-shaped box to Telarrek who took it and dismissed him. Kalian recognised the container; he was wearing one of its contents behind his ear.

  “I think this might be easier if it came from you.” Telarrek handed the disc to Kalian. He looked at the stranger and then back to Telarrek with a puzzled expression. “Our scans indicate he is human,” Telarrek hesitated before looking at Li’ara, “Human like you.” Having seen Savrick and his kind there was now a genetic split. Kalian understood what he meant but didn’t know where this human had come from.

  “You’re going to need one of these if you’re going to understand anything.” Kalian extended his arm, the disc splitting apart to reveal the small circular dot inside. The stranger looked from the Novaarians to the contents of the disc. He was obviously suspicious. “Don’t worry; we’ve got one as well.” Kalian tilted his head to show his own implant. His human hands slipped out of his pockets as he lifted the helmet from his head. Neither of them knew what to expect but Kalian felt some elation in seeing another human being, even if he did look a bit rough. His dark hair was cropped short with no sign of any grey. He looked to be somewhere in his early forties but human ageing made it impossible to tell. He had an unkempt appearance with at least a week’s worth of stubble. His hazel eyes moved across the room taking everything in with a quick glance; it almost reminded him of Li’ara.

  “So you’re saying if I put this thing on, I’ll understand what fang boy over there is saying?” His voice was gruff like he hadn’t spoken in a while. Kalian gave him an affirming nod while picking up the translator with his finger and thumb. The stranger took it and placed in the same place as Kalian’s. After a few seconds he looked around as if hearing something distant before moving his tongue around.

  “Its metallic I know, it goes away after a while.” Kalian moved aside as Telarrek came over.

  “Wait...” Li’ara hopped off the gurney and stood before the stranger. “I’d recognise that gear anywhere, you’re UDC...”

  “Commander Roland North, at your service.” He didn’t look too happy with his own name and Kalian didn’t like the way he looked at Li’ara. Telarrek bowed his head with the usual greeting.

  “Greetings of peace, Commander North.” Roland looked dumb struck for a moment as he took in the alien words. “I am Charge Telarrek; you are aboard my ship, the Valoran.”

  “I think I’ve been aboard enough alien ships to last a lifetime.” Roland moved away as he felt the edges of his translator behind his ear.

  “How did you get here?” Li’ara looked almost hungry for answers. “Were you on Alpha NL-2204?” Kalian could see her train of thought. There was only one way another human could get this far into the Conclave, the Laronians. Roland looked suspicious of how they might know about the classified terraforming project.

  “Yeah I was there, until some scaly blue aliens showed up and destroyed everything. They held us in their ship for about a week until I escaped.” He was startled as a floating hologram appeared in front of him due to his proximity to a console. He tried to carry on as if he was taking it all in his stride.

  “Find the Laronian ship.” At his command Ilyseal left the med bay to go about her duty. Kalian was impressed that Roland had managed to escape a Laronian vessel and make his way to Clave Tower.

  Li’ara faced him again, “I am Lieuten-” She stopped and glanced at Kalian. “I’m Li’ara Ducarté and this is, Kalian Gaines.” They could both see the giant elephant in the room. If the Commander had been on Alpha NL-2204 then it stood to reason that he wouldn’t know about the attack on Earth. He remembered back on the Icarus station, when Commander Hawkins had told them communications were down as the giant ship appeared. Chances are those same communications were being used to keep the terraforming group in contact. But how do you tell someone their entire civilisation has been destroyed and their species is now endangered? Telarrek understood what they were both contemplating.

  “I will give you the time you need, when you are finished meet me in the Observatory.” With that he left the med bay.

  “What’s he talking about?” Roland stopped examining a strange surgical implement that looked like a gun. Kalian looked to Li’ara; he had no idea where to begin.

  “There’s something you need to know about Earth...” She began.

  They spent the next two hours going through the chain of events that lead them to this very spot. Kalian chose to divulge his secret as Roland wanted to know why a history lecturer was so important, not to mention him already witnessing it firsthand. After hearing this, Kalian felt a tactical mind examining him for threats and weaknesses. At the news of Earth’s destruction he sat back on the gurney as if he couldn’t take his own weight any more. They tried to answer his questions about this new enemy that looked like humans but even their knowledge was patchy at best. He found it hard to believe that there was a weapon capable of destroying a star, having been in the weapons business himself.

  He was left to swearing after hearing Century had been attacked as well. It didn’t need explaining that there were very few humans left, and that a large portion of them were now in Laronian custody. He didn’t have as many questions as Kalian thought he would, but it was possible he was in shock. They offered information regarding some of the things and species he had encountered since his capture, which he quickly absorbed as well as what had been said between them and the Highclave. His silence prompted Kalian to ask some of his own questions.

  “Did you,” he hesitated looking at Li’ara, “Did you have any family?” This broke Roland’s r
everie as he looked to be remembering something distant.

  “I’ve never really had time for family; think I had a dad in Australia, a cousin on Mars...” His attention returned fully to the two looking at him. “So it’s all gone, Earth, Century, hell the UDC?” Li’ara gave a slow nod as it was hard for her to say as well. “Well shit...” was all he could say. He stood up and started pacing the med bay. Kalian assumed pacing was something they taught at the academy.

  “So between our extinction, these armoured bastards and whatever the hell you are in all this,” Roland pointed at Kalian, “What are we supposed to do now?”

  “Without the UDC we have to come up with our own objectives.” Li’ara stood as well now.

  “Really? Because it looks to me as if... whatever its name is, is the one giving the orders on this boat.” Roland countered.

  “We can trust, Telarrek.” Kalian felt quite defensive about him. Roland sat back down and rolled his eyes.

  “Hell, I never took orders from the UDC when they were around.” He said it more to himself as he inspected the sleeve of his hide coat. Li’ara looked puzzled at his comment.

  “What do you mean, you’re a Commander.” She said. Roland’s head fell back as he laughed.

  “Six months ago I didn’t even have a rank.” Kalian didn’t really know what was being said between the two soldiers, but he was amazed at how well Roland was taking everything in. Seeing Li’ara’s confusion Roland elaborated, if a little cryptic. “Since the term classified no longer applies let’s just say I was more of a free agent than a windup toy for Central Parliament.” Kalian still didn’t understand the reference, but Li’ara’s face dropped.

  “You’re an agent aren’t you?” She let off a small laugh. “You must have screwed up pretty bad to get put in line with us grunts.”

  “What are you talking about?” Kalian was in the wrong profession to understand all the terms they were using.

  “He’s an agent for Central Parliament, trained by some black ops branch of the UDC and given free rein in the name of progression.” Roland had a smug face after her description. “He’s just a killer.” Li’ara clearly didn’t approve of his line of work.

  “I did the things you couldn’t, sweetheart. Someone had to look pretty for the civvies,” He flicked his finger at Li’ara, “I worked in the dark so you could keep marching in your parades and wearing your shiny armour. If you ever got in deep they’d send the fleet in after you, me they just disavow like I never existed.”

  “Or send you to the ass-end of the galaxy.” Her reply made Roland laugh again.

  “Well that’s another story, sweetheart.” Li’ara’s eyes rolled, Kalian didn’t think he was brave enough to call her sweetheart. Whatever the reason for his exile, he wasn’t ready to share it yet.

  “Well now you know about us and we sort of know about you.” Kalian was trying to see the bigger picture. They now had to find a way to save the people on the Laronian ship as well as prepare for any survivors that might respond to the Conclave’s beacon. As far as Savrick was concerned, he had a feeling Telarrek had a plan. “I suggest we go meet Telarrek in the Observatory and plan our next move.” Li’ara looked at him in slight surprise but he could tell she was a little impressed with his take-charge attitude. In truth he surprised himself at the authority he intoned.

  A quick introspection showed he had changed quite a bit in the last week. He felt that if ever the circumstances required a change, it was certainly these. Since taking the time to focus he had found new control as well as abilities he never thought he would have. Though he felt running for his life had a hand in things. He had gone from being an obscure lecturer to the centre of a galactic size question mark. As they left the med bay for the bridge, he couldn’t help but ponder his part in everything. Why was he so significant? Was he like Savrick, whatever that was? It was hard to deny the fact that they had similar abilities. He looked at his healed hand again and suddenly felt very alien in his own skin.

  After reaching the bridge Kalian was annoyed at how easily Roland had taken to the vertical walkway. It wasn’t that he was jealous of the agent, but he knew Roland’s past would make relating to Li’ara easier than his own. The thought made him stop and think about his own feelings towards her. It felt stupid to even consider the thought of having feelings for her. They had only known each other for a week in a set of circumstances that was less than ideal. The only reason they were getting on was because they had been forced together in a bad situation. Not to mention the crisis their species was now in. He forced himself to be realistic as they were met by Ilyseal; there were actual lives depending on their next course of action, Kalian’s world had just become a lot bigger with his decisions forming its shape. Guilt began to creep in as he considered this new exciting pace to life, he could never return to the classroom after this. For the first time in his life he felt a measure of control that gave him meaning and purpose. How could he give that up?

  Ilyseal escorted them into the Observatory after Roland had soaked up every detail the eyes and ears could get from the bridge. He kept the hide coat on that he had apparently taken from a corpse after he escaped the Laronians. From the way he had described his escape, Kalian got the impression he enjoyed that particular part of his job. Li’ara looked better now that she wore a long grey shawl, left for her in the med bay, over the top half of her torn undersuit. She had said there were more undersuits in the Fathom but she was eager to know why they were heading for Corvus.

  Telarrek was busy manipulating many holograms with all four of his hands. They all moved in around the central column with the holographic display console wrapped around it. At first glance Kalian guessed he was looking at trajectories on a star map with different systems and planets labelled throughout. He was quietly impressed with his ability to read most of the information laid out, as well as the orange console.

  “Now we know the face of our enemy.” Telarrek looked at Kalian but he couldn’t read the Novaarian face. “Of course this only begs more questions.” He altered the image to show a recording from the hover-cameras that floated over the fight. The picture froze on a clear image of Savrick after his helmet disappeared.

  “Did any of the others survive?” Kalian asked. He suddenly felt very guilty for leaving Uthor and even the Nix to possibly suffer the wrath of Savrick. Telarrek cupped his long jaw.

  “We do not know, I only pray that Councillor Elondrasa is alive with the rest of the Highclave.” Upon hearing the words, Kalian realised he had never considered the Novaarian culture to have a religion. He reminded himself to look it up on the data-module later.

  “Well he might look human, but he ain’t like any human I’ve ever seen.” Roland was leaning against the wall, half in shadow. “Except maybe you.” With his last words everyone turned to Kalian. He looked around but didn’t know what to say.

  “Without complete concealment we were able to scan this, Savrick.” Telarrek brought up a smaller hologram alongside his image. Kalian now recognised the sight of the karyogram. “His DNA is identical to yours, Kalian.” Another karyogram appeared with his name below it. The two strands of DNA merged together perfectly.

  “Their technology is advanced,” Li’ara said, “more so than your own, and especially ours. How is it even possible they could be human?”

  “I was hoping you might be able to shed some light on the situation.” Telarrek looked down at Kalian. The connections were easy for them all to make. He had demonstrated the unusual abilities that Savrick and his kind had shown. Even his DNA was the same.

  “You’ve been watching me my whole life, since I was born.” Kalian had his own suspicions about what he might be, but the facts were there, he had been born on Earth. “Everything I know, you know.”

  “We were monitoring you and the surrounding communications to ensure your safety. We never saw you until we met on the Icarus station. And I think there are a few things you are not telling me.” Telarrek’s head slowly ducked
closer to Kalian’s. The comment was fair, he had been keeping secrets. But he had been keeping that one his whole life.

  “I don’t know how I’m able to do the things I do, I really don’t.” He gave them a quick account of the strange things that had occurred throughout his life, as well as the new developments. “I’ve been emotionally numb my entire life trying to prevent it from getting worse. That’s been a little harder this last week, what with all the near-death experiences and...” He realised he was midway through pointing at Li’ara and couldn’t find the words. She gave him a curious look but remained silent.

  “You’re a freak; kid, we get it.” Roland looked bored. “Can we get on with it?” He looked to Telarrek hoping he would move things on. Telarrek took a moment to absorb everything Kalian had said while sharing some silent conversation with Ilyseal.

  “I believe there may be answers on, Naveen.” Telarrek altered the hologram again to return to the galaxy map.

  “Is that the place with the...” Roland displayed his open palm.

  “The Wall, yes. We are currently heading for the Trillik home world, Corvus.” The hologram clearly showed Corvus at the end of a highlighted line, with the Conclave at the other end and the Valoran near the middle.

  “But Naveen is in orbit around Nova Prime, why are we going to Corvus?” Li’ara raised the question before Kalian could. It was Ilyseal that replied.

  “The Valoran will leave a trail carrying the unique signature of Intrinium. Savrick and his ship will be able to track us wherever we go.” The holographic lighting made her red tendrils appear black like dreadlocks. Telarrek attempted to elaborate for the confused looks before Roland interjected.

  “Decoy, very nice.” Roland strolled over to the central column. Telarrek bowed and continued.

  “The Valoran will continue its journey to Corvus while a smaller ship departs here.” He pointed at a section of the highlighted line. “We will enter real space for a moment before continuing on.”