by Reiter
“I suppose a better question would be: would I ever push her to such a position?” Dungias thought. “I have seen to her training and it is through those eyes she sees me. I have not yet recovered my full strength or range of motion; that will take several days of concentrated effort. Something is amiss with Satithe, and I can only imagine what that might be. And, worst of all, we are holding on to one of the most prestigious collections of majikul power and knowledge in the Rims. It needs to be away from this ship as soon as possible.” Dungias stood up from his chair and turned to leave the room. He stopped and turned back to face Jocasta.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to thank me?” Jocasta asked, and from her tone, quite rhetorically. “Situations reversed, you wouldn’t want me to thank you for doing the only logical thing left to you. Would you, Z? I mean, I’ve got hips that don’t quit, you can ask any of the guys and the more honest of the girls.” Jocasta leaned forward on her desk and glared up at Dungias. “… but you take my arms and legs… what do I have? What am I?”
“Apparently enough to affect a rescue and recover those missing limbs, Jocasta,” he replied. “Very well, Captain,” he said, allowing a smile to show on his face. Jocasta stopped in mid-drinking and gazed up at the Star Chaser. “I will simply say, job well done! Classes will resume when I return.”
“Aye-aye, First Mate,” Jocasta smiled, lifting her glass. “I am looking forward to it. When will you leave?”
“As soon as I have finished the construct of the new Icarus,” he answered. “Unless of course–”
“You got a lab waitin’ on ya, Z,” Jocasta interrupted. “Whether you’re finished or not, if you’re still on this boat after we’ve made our cargo run for Governor Gundryss… well, let’s just say you won’t be for long.”
“Understood, Captain.” Dungias quickly took his leave. He was not three strides outside her Ready Room when he received a notice on his brace-com that drones had been dispatched to begin work on the new Icarus sky-bike. Estimated time of construction, given that the vehicle had been made once already and the schematics were fresh in the database, was seventeen hours and most of that time would be making the parts from the raw materials. A few keyed commands and Dungias read that the Sapphire Barony, at their current speed, was seven days off. That number started to change as Dungias could hear the drives calling for more power and the stealth field engaged. He smirked as he walked. By the time he reached the lift-pole, the acceleration of the ship had stabilized. The next destination of the Xara-Mansura was now forty-six hours away. Dungias took the pole down to the deck of the Fabrications Lab and keyed in commands to have several crew members meet him there.
The door slid into the wall and Ephaliun walked into the lab, immediately taking the opportunity to look around the room. The Fabrications Laboratory had been No Man’s Land as far as he was concerned. One of the few things he still agreed with Nulaki about: stay out of Z’s way! The powerful robotic arms that were anchored to the walls, as well as the drones that seemed to fly about chaotically… all of it seemed destructive, but nothing collided, there were no accidents… and at the center of the pandemonium stood Dungias as he applied his tools to a construct. Ephaliun wondered what he was working on; he could see the sky-bike nearing completion in the far corner, some twenty meters away from where the First Mate was standing. The young man moved forward, but tried his best not make a sound.
“I wanted to talk to you about a very important matter, Ephaliun,” Dungias said in a very loud voice without looking up from his work. “And you would be right to think that with all of this machinery that it would be quite difficult for me to have heard your entry. Satithe does not currently have surveillance in this room, and the ventilation sweeps around the yellow-taped area in which you are now standing.
“Run silent,” Dungias commanded as he stepped away from his work. The robot arms and drones continued their work, actually picking up in speed. An energy field formed around where the machines were working. The hydraulic presses of the arms and the engines of the drones could still be heard, until they too entered the field. Dungias removed his working goggles and then the gloves that fit well past his elbow.
“Uh, you can call me Dugger,” the young man said as he moved to keep Dungias from having to traverse the entire floor.
“I do not think I can,” Dungias replied. “… not if you are up to the challenge.”
“Challenge?” Ephaliun said, nearly drooling over himself as he spoke.
“It was suggested that you take the place of Nulaki in our ranks,” Dungias noted. “We are indeed a weaker crew without someone who can… access the inaccessible. This last Away Mission demonstrated as much.
“I cannot make you Fazerian, Ephaliun, but I can craft a suit that will allow you to enjoy some of their more obvious advantages. And with a little good fortune, I can even show you how my people embrace agility.”
“Are we going to be gone that long?” the young man asked.
“We will be gone for a time,” Dungias answered. “How long, I cannot say. We must see to ship business, and then I must see to a few personal affairs. I should have opportunity to provide you with the necessary instruction during that time. If you are up to the–”
“Challenge accepted,” Ephaliun interrupted, stepping forward to shake Dungias’ hand. The First Mate was familiar with the gesture, but thought it was a bit out of place, though easily understood as he could see excitement in the young man’s eyes.
“You will need to pack your things and be sure to bring something along that is very comfortable to sleep in,” Dungias directed. “We will be aboard ship in significantly more cramped spaces for a prolonged period of time.”
“Will do, sir!” Ephaliun said as he finally released Dungias’ hand and skipped toward the door. Halfway to the exit, his skip became an all-out sprint. Nearly knocking Amosse over as he took his leave, Ephaliun offered an apology, but did not stop to see if he had done any real harm.
“What an asshole!” Amosse said as he brushed himself off.
“Indeed,” Dungias replied. “It’s almost as if he is on his way to the holding chamber to discuss the latest discovery in the researching of the wands.”
Amosse chuckled, realizing the point that had just been made. “Well, what can I say; you got me on that one.”
“Do I now? Have you, that is.” Bantar and Teela walked into the lab, but both of them stopped while they were still in the area of the floor marked by the yellow paint. “Come ahead,” Dungias said, waving them to draw closer.
“You wanted to speak with us, Z?” Bantar asked.
“I did and do, young master InvokeR. Let us rid my assistants of our presence,” Dungias said, ushering everyone out of the lab. “It is with great regret that I inform you that while your research on the artifacts will be encouraged to continue, all artifacts and tomes will be removed from the ship and stored in a secret location.”
“No!” Amosse cried as he stopped walking. “You can’t do that!”
“Get a hold of yourself, Amosse,” Dungias warned, putting his eyes to the shocked young man.
“The hell with you!”
“Amosse!” Teela snapped.
“I want to speak to the Captain,” Amosse insisted.
“I will urge you a second time, young man,” Dungias said softly. “You are letting your emotions–”
“What did you tell her, huh?” Amosse spat. “What’d you say to the Captain? That your precious gadgets couldn’t keep up with real power?!”
“Amosse, there’s no high ground to gain here,” Bantar warned. “We’re all on the same side, and Z is–”
“That’s a good point, Bantar” Amosse said stepping up to Dungias. “What is it, Z?! I think you’ve got the Captain befuddled; risking everything to come after you. All the while losing sight of the things we did without you… but that’s it, isn’t it? The Captain gets a glimpse of real power and you can’t handle it! MajiK will always top Mechanix!
”
“How unfortunate you are not versed well enough in either to make an argument,” Dungias thought. “It is time to make a few changes. I have seen this trek and where it can potentially lead. Annsura has reminded me that decisions must be made, no matter how bitter and costly they may be to make.
“I cannot stress enough how I am grateful for the work you have done,” Dungias advised. “The tomes and the speaking wand will be coming with me. Teela–”
“I will go and get my wand for you,” Teela sighed as she nodded.
“Did you say ‘my wand’?” Dungias asked.
Amosse saw the need to jump into the conversation and did not hesitate to do so. “Of course she said ‘my–” Dungias’ hand moved faster than a blinking eyelid and his fingers closed around Amosse’s neck.
“I misspoke!” Teela said excitedly as she held up her hands, stopping just shy of touching Dungias’ arm. “I didn’t mean to say ‘my wand’!”
“I believe you did,” Dungias replied. “You will be accompanying me on this mission, Teela.” Dungias turned to look at Amosse and glared for a moment before releasing the young man. “… and so will you, Amosse. Bantar, if it is your wish to maintain your position here, you will remain with the Captain and the ship. I trust that is acceptable?”
“Acceptable? Yes, sir, it is,” Bantar said quickly. “I’d prefer to remain, sir. I’ve learned more about me… about life… about the Energies… I’ve learned so much more than the classrooms could have taught me.”
“Do not make the mistake of thinking the classroom is beneath you, Bantar,” Dungias warned. “Without attending those classes, you and I would have never met. And where would I be then?
“Make your preparations quickly,” Dungias said softly. “We will be departing in two hours.” All three young people quickly turned and ran down the corridor. Dungias allowed himself a smile as he looked at Bantar. He was not going on the journey, but he would make himself available to the two that were. “If Fate allows, young man, your current classroom will deliver to you the lessons of a lifetime!”
Standing in the center of the Fabrications Lab, Dungias turned to look at the progress of the projects in final assembly and took in a deep breath. The Malgovi man could build forever! Locked away in a glass-ceiling forge with only food stuffs and building stuffs in unending supply… it would not be too poor a fate for the Traveler. He would toil during the day and gaze upon the Stars at night.
“How can I be of service, Princess?” Dungias asked before turning around to face the young woman.
“You can start with telling me what I did wrong,” Pristacia replied.
“For those that can only see, hear, and smell, your approach was excellent,” Dungias informed her. “What little noise you did make was covered by the room and nearly indistinguishable. I only sought the difference in the sound after I felt you. That is a veil I have yet to teach you to don.”
“You’ll find that I’m still a very willing student,” Pristacia stated, rubbing her hands together. “I am also a very mobile student.”
“Message received and understood,” Dungias replied with a slight bow. “I am already depriving the Captain of her First Mate, her main operating system, her most agile crewman, her chief medical officer, and two of her ever-growing Brain Trust.”
“That means I’m not going,” Pristacia concluded, looking down for a moment. “I understand.”
“See that you do,” Dungias urged. “In the meantime, recall the fact that while you were able to talk your way into an enemy’s area, you were not able to procure a means out. Perhaps it is time for you to develop a fighting style with which you are comfortable instead of dealing with the fact that you are not as good as some of the others. There is more to self-defense than Karate and Kung-Fu, Princess. Think of range, speed, and the ease of both concealment and application.”
“And with every choice, endeavor to be the advocate of its undoing,” Pristacia said, repeating a philosophy of the training Dungias had already delivered.
“And she thinks she will not be going with me,” Dungias said softly as he walked out of the room. The exchange left a smile on the woman’s face. She turned to follow and ran into his chest. “Also, if you are going to evade perception, you will first need to increase the depth of that which you can perceive. It is time to move forward with your meditations. I will make the necessary arrangements with your simulator programs before I depart.”
“Thank you, Teacher,” she said softly, the fire in her eyes remaining steady.
“Thank you, Student.” The two shared a silent moment before Pristacia turned and walked away. Dungias allowed himself a moment of selfish pride but quickly set his mind to other matters. He turned and started walking, phasing and ascending as he continued to walk. He passed through the deck above him, coming to a stop in the Computer Room.
“Satithe,” he said as he approached his chair.
“Systems are functional,” she replied.
“That response is no longer acceptable,” Dungias said as he sat down.
“Do I have your permission to engage the secondary operating system?” Satithe inquired.
“We will be doing that soon enough, cherished one,” Dungias said softly as he took out Alpha and placed it in the port in the console. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. “Alpha, if you please.”
“By your command, Master,” Alpha replied as panels appeared in the form of the construct. Doors opened before shifting and Alpha altered its format while locking on to the mind of its maker and the processing core that was Satithe. The consciousness of Alpha withdrew to a secondary position, allowing its primary intelligence capacities to serve as a bridge between Dungias and Satithe.
The Star Chaser opened his eyes and smiled at Alpha’s choice of meeting places: Saru’s dream haven. He lifted his head and looked around the virtual arboretum until he saw a yellow-skinned female standing near the columns where he had planted several types of vines.
“Is this of your making?” Dungias asked, gazing upon the form of the young female. To say that the female was comely would have been accurate, but only at the coldest denotative level. Divine was a better word, but it was clear the young woman was distraught and had been crying.
“It is mine,” Satithe admitted. “I had hoped you would find it pleasing.”
“Pleased is the least I find myself feeling at the moment,” Dungias admitted. “You look so much like your ishah.”
“What?” Satithe said, surprised at what Dungias had said.
“You consider me to be your father,” Dungias reminded her. “How can Saru not be your mother? She is the first living soul you came into contact with, you know.”
The words of ‘living’ and ‘soul’ cut into her and Satithe was reminded of a pain she had not ever expected to feel. Her face twisted and she fell to her knees, ugly and enraged. She pounded her fists into the floor and the strength her form possessed was nothing short of shocking. Dungias stumbled back three steps in an effort to keep his footing, and his eyes flared as he saw a crack form in the flooring.
“Master, if the room is destroyed while you are in it–”
“I am aware of the dangers to my psyche, Alpha,” Dungias quickly said as he approached Satithe.
“No holding back,” Dungias reminded himself.
“Would you ask a father to abandon his child?” Dungias questioned.
“I will do what I can to mend the floor,” Alpha replied.
“As I will do what I can to assist Satithe.”
“Can you fix this, Father?!” Satithe shouted as she looked up at Dungias. He could see where her tears were beginning to burn into her skin, eroding the flesh, leaving cold metal in its wake.
“Those were not the words I chose because that is not the issue,” Dungias said. “You are not broken, Satithe.”
“Then what am I, Father?!” she screamed. “What am I?!”
“You miss your friend, Satithe; your saytr
ah, Annsura.” Satithe had started the effort to argue but she looked up into Dungias’ eyes and nearly froze.
“I killed her, Father!” Satithe declared. “I chose to send Persephone to reclaim you, knowing she was more aggressive; but the matter called for a more delicate approach, a cooler head. The sort that Jocasta excels–”
“Give it a rest!” CK shouted as he appeared beside Dungias who slowly closed his eyes. There was a sweet, heartfelt sting in seeing a younger version of Laejem come walking through the foliage. “Do you really think that cool head would have been there the moment she laid eyes on Z?! Have you bothered to run those computations, saytrah?” he asked as he walked slowly over to his sister. “I did! You want to know the best-case scenario that I came to? In the fifty-five scenarios I ran, no less than three crewmen died in fifty of them! And here’s the real bad news, Satithe: in over half of those, our Master was one of the casualties. You sent the right JoJo… the stakes were just that high, and her opponent was that good.”
“He was?” Satithe sobbed.
“You know he was,” CK said as held out his hand toward Satithe. She lifted her hands to take his and was knocked unconscious the moment they made contact. “I trust you have a mobile storage unit ready for her?”
“I do,” Dungias said as he stood there with his eyes still closed. He knew the moment CK had arrived that he was doing what he had been built to do: protect Satithe… even if that meant protecting her from herself. “Was there any truth to what you said?”
“I don’t run scenarios, Master,” CK quickly answered. “Not my department, and I’m not looking to expand. I love Annsura and I miss her, but it pretty much stops there for me. She died doing what I do, protecting the ones she loved. It’s hard for me to see it any other way. Satithe just feels that if anyone dies, it should be her.”
“No, she feels that she has killed in the way that Kiaplyx killed,” Dungias said as he started for the door. He opened his eyes only when he knew Satithe was behind him. “And she knows that is one of my greatest fears. She feels that she has failed me and destroyed a life she had come to have more than passive feelings for. She is struggling with accountability, responsibility, and not being the child her father envisioned.”
