by Reiter
“Quordion,” she called to him, placing her hand on the side of her face. “Hear me, my brother. This is idiocy to me, but I know it is important to you.”
“Making you one of my most loyal subjects,” Quordion said as he opened brown eyes that sparkled with slivers of gold. “One who can put aside their personal beliefs in service to their Baron.”
“I learned from the best,” Thandace said, recovering from the surprise of seeing him so strong. She quickly deduced that what Teo had read was a false image intended to be seen by those eyes that could pierce the veils of the chamber; another example of the mastery of the shadows the Onyx Baron had attained. “But we don’t have much time. A pirate has reportedly stolen the Prism Passion from Almandior, and she’s on her way to us.” A beeping sound came from the adjacent room and Thandace looked up. “And she’s being a bit of an ass about it. We’ve got fifteen seconds to get back on her channel.”
“Lend me your strength, Thandace,” he requested, lifting his hand from the bed. The two worked together to get him to sit on the side of the bed as Teo opened the door of the bed chamber, rushing into the general room where he hopped up on the control console, opening the transmission channel.
“Time, your high-ass,” the blonde-haired woman said, looking at her brace-com.
“At the very least, you are punctual, Captain,” Quordion spoke and the richness of his voice filled the room. “We can build on that.”
“You assume I want to build anything with you other than a cred exchange,” the woman replied.
“Yes, it is an assumption,” he agreed as an image of the Baron stepped outside of his body. It stood up and walked into the general room, stopping in front of the camera. Thandace could see the monitor and took note of the woman’s reaction had in seeing her brother’s projection. She herself had seen it many times, but this woman was quick to take hold of her facial expressions and return to her cool demeanor. “… though I would prefer to call it an obvious conclusion.
“You are a gifted individual,” the Quordion projection explained. “… be it by skill or luck that you came to collect a very special spacecraft. The Prism Passion is worth more than credits. In the proper hands it can be so much more!”
“I love it when a man can talk with so many pretty words,” Jocasta commented. “Especially when he’s a pretty man… and it’d be different if you were wrong. Let’s talk price.”
“We will do that the moment you arrive at my estate,” the image replied, “… and I know what you’ll say next, so let me save you a step. Anyone who went through the trouble to relieve the Garnet Barony of its bragging rights did their homework, and they know the value of that ship. That same person may have also found, in their tireless research, that the Onyx Barony would be able to deliver the highest price for the trade. So let us eliminate the foolish price-point fussing and recognize that the ship is already mine. The moment we meet and discuss terms that will make you happy – without making me look like a fool – you will deliver the ship to me. From that exchange we will see what Fate brings us. I’ll expect you to signal the moment you are inside our boundary-markers. Thank you for calling, Captain.” Teo closed the channel and looked back at the brother and sister.
To the untrained and unengaged eye, Teo looked like a common tree monkey of the region. With hair of black, white, and slight streaks of silver; a long, slender, black tail; and a pair of charcoal gray eyes, Teo did indeed look at home in the trees. But Thandace could read his shadow-aura and it stood nearly six feet tall, taking the form of a muscular and hairless man with a single eye in the middle of his head. The slit of the eyelids traveled up and down, not left to right. He had very little in the way of facial expression in his simian form, save for when he cried or, in this case, batted his eyes quickly showing his pride in the two for whom he had come to harbor a definitive compassion. His eyes gleamed with that pride as he jumped to the floor and walked over to Thandace, placing his hand on her leg. Thandace turned and easily lifted Quordion’s body from the side of the bed, placing him in the center.
“Thank you, Teo,” Thandace said as laid her brother down. “How far is this pirate out?”
“I do not know,” Teo replied, rubbing his chin. “Whatever surrounds her ship prevents me from reading the shadows there. At least at this range.”
“Whatever that may be.”
“Then it wasn’t luck,” Quordion observed. “Even if it was by chance that she came across the ship, it wasn’t through luck that she stole it, thwarting the IBC and the Garnet Militia. Ready my Battle Group, but do not give the order for them to launch. We will be ready to provide an escort should the woman request one.”
“And your gut says…”
“She will not,” Quordion replied as he slowly returned to his pillows. Thandace said nothing as she and Teo took their leave.
“What are you thinking, Sister?” Teo asked as he jumped up to her shoulder. Thandace reached up and scratched the top of his head as she walked and pondered.
“I am thinking I am not used to your vision being blocked,” she admitted. “Things are already in enough of a frenzy without this being added to the list.”
“You speak of the Songstress,” Teo stated.
“When last she danced, she sang of things changing… severely… and not harmoniously,” Thandace admitted, sounding quite worried.
“Have a care, little Sister,” Teo said, leaning over to her head. “The harmony of The Territories is not something we can judge simply because it does not pass in accordance to our perspectives. It is true that the occupants of Cloud Keep will be taken to task, but we do not yet know to what degree, and we cannot say if the Pearl Barony will be able to weather the storm.
“But I have felt this sense about you before,” Teo declared. “It is quite possible we have time to approach the Songstress once more and see if her song will reveal more than general possibilities.”
“Thank you, Teo,” Thandace said, bringing her companion down from her shoulder to carry him in her arms. “I know I’m more than trouble than I’m worth.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he argued. “As your blood brother said, you have the gift of disposition, allowing you to be of service to many, including the Baron. It is my singular honor to be your guide through the sceadu, Sister. Now, let us be about the business of getting to your chambers and arranging for a measure of privacy.” Thandace smiled as she started to run, being careful to carry Teo gently. She knew he needed to focus and gather his energy. It was not an easy conversion, turning the citizen of the Onyx Barony into the Songstress of the Shade, but she wondered if the sense of urgency building within her would give her an edge on this occasion.
** b *** t *** o *** r **
“And this is the current floor plan?” Jocasta asked, leaning over the console.
“Checked it three times now,” Deolun answered, looking at the estimated distance from the Communications Room to the chambers of the Onyx Baron. “Maybe she had a jet pack waiting… or a flying carpet. We do show signs of a MannA aura around her body.”
“Either way, she can move damn fast, and that’s always good to know,” Jocasta said softly.
“And a pair of eyes like that should be able to move when she wants,” she thought.
“Who was that hunk of nougat that was on the screen?!” Marlene asked as she walked onto the Bridge.
“Can I help you, Mayhem?” Jocasta asked.
“Just reporting for my shift at the helm, Captain,” the woman replied and Jocasta quickly gestured for her to take her place at the controls.
“Goodnight, Centerpointe,” Jocasta said as she looked over the data.
“Uh, if it’s all the same to you, Captain, I’d–”
“It’s not all the same, Centerpointe,” Jocasta interrupted. “Goodnight, crewman!” She glanced up at the man who looked genuinely disappointed but was not about to argue with her. “Look, we don’t always have a call on when we go hard and l
ong at something. I’m flying blind into the barony and I need all of us rested up and ready to go should I need to give the order. That includes the Trident’s pilot and engineer.”
“Good point,” Deolun agreed.
“Don’t worry, I’m right behind you,” Jocasta said, deactivating the monitor. “We don’t need me yawning in the man’s face while I’m trying to work a deal.”
“I gotcha,” Deolun smiled. “Well, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
“But that’s when things start getting interesting,” Jocasta argued. Deolun’s face twisted in confusion, briefly. He smiled and departed from the Bridge.
“Do you want me to route the database to your room?” Marlene asked as she checked the course the ship was taking.
“Yes, smart ass,” Jocasta huffed. “Could’ve waited for me to give the order.”
Marlene snorted a short laugh. “I get the same thing from Murder,” she smiled. “No one argues with the drop count though.”
“Damn gunners,” Jocasta complained. “About as much of a pain in the ass as know-it-all engineers!”
“Thank you, Captain!” Marlene said, genuinely complimented by the comparison. Jocasta muttered as she exited the Bridge.
I wouldn’t suggest that being resourceful has anything to do with doing something illegal or unethical, but I’ve definitely noticed a pattern of being ‘creative’.
Scott Weiss
(VII)
(Rims Time: XII-4203.20)
It was a reluctant hand which moved to the console to close the channel. There was no response to the hailing pulse she had sent, and her operative was very late with her update. Taas did not know what to think of the matter, but she knew better than to think the delay might have been circumstantial.
“You can’t be too surprised,” MeJeal said, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. “Of course, Rahneece has taken the better offer!”
The female rolled to the right, out of the chair and across the floor, stopping in a low stance with her gun drawn. She fired and the black sliver of energized metal streaked across the floor.
MeJeal moved just as quickly, coming away from the wall, his hand making a quick circle in front of his face. He squatted, glaring into the eyes of the female with the projectile floating over his right hand. His long, unbound black hair swept over half of his face. “Interesting ammunition,” he remarked. “I suppose if I had let this touch me we would not still be having this conversation.”
“Not sure what good it would do to load a gun with flowers,” the woman replied, maintaining her aim as she moved her finger to the trigger-guard. She stood up slowly; her bronze skin glimmered in the low light of the computer room, and her eye squinted. “Not many could make their way aboard this ship undetected. Those two moves buy you talk time, but not much of it.”
“Hmmm,” MeJeal said, crushing the shell in his hand. “It would seem that I will have to add another accolade to the man. His ability to thoroughly describe someone in just a few words… astounding! Good evening, I am MeJeal, son of Dungias.” The ruby eye of the woman flared wide in wonder. “Do you prefer Taas, or Form Number Seven?” Sparks flew from her back and then her stomach as a black-steel spear was thrust through her body.
“And that is Uras, a Traveler, another student of Nugar. You cannot really see from your perspective; he is not only Tohgrunn, but he used to be a crewman on this very ship. That’s how I knew how to find you and make entry without your knowledge.” The spear was removed from her back and became a blade as it was swung to remove the chest and upper body from the hips. “Sure hope you’re in a seated position in there.”
“She is,” Uras confirmed as the blade returned to its normal two-handed pole formation. “But we don’t have too long before that material is reanimated.”
“Understood,” MeJeal said as he approached the decapitated torso. “That means I’m pressed for time, Taas. You can come out of your own free will, or by the will of my friend’s blade. Perhaps this is a good time to stress that since I know your realm-link is with my father, I know you cannot die. But I can place most of your body in stasis and make you live out your days as a statue!”
“Apparently manners was not something you learned from your father,” Taas said as she climbed out of the opening chest.
“No, you’re just spoiled by my father’s level of tolerance,” MeJeal argued, reaching into a small pocket on his belt. “I can assure you that his quality for understanding and forgiveness is unique!”
“Alright! Alright!” Taas barked, looking back at the young Traveler. She pondered whether she could look up this Nugar and inquire if he wanted to take on any more students. The Tohgrunn had done more than changed his name. “What do you want, boy?”
“Too many things to list here and now,” MeJeal said, producing a small power crystal. “But for now, I will settle for deliverance. I do not know what your intentions are with regards to my father, but you will no longer be allowed to pester the man!”
The power gem flared to life, directing a powerful beam of ThoughtWill to Taas’ head. An image of BJ’s head nearly filled the chamber as it glared down on the Kwilek female. Taas stammered as the control of her mind was wrestled away from her consciousness. Uras turned toward the heart of the machine and leveled his Osamu at the input console. With his back to the exchange of energy, the gem flashed even brighter, and Taas disconnected herself from Dungias, rendering herself very much mortal.
“Thank you, BJ,” MeJeal said, returning the gem to the holding pouch on his belt.
“It was literally my pleasure,” BJ replied. “Dungias is still the Master of The Campus. He never mentioned an invited life-lock to me. So, technically, I’m acting to protect him.”
“I thought you would take particular delight in that,” MeJeal said as Uras finished his work and signaled that it was time for them to take their leave of the ship. “Well, we only have one more stop to make before returning to The Campus.” The young graduate allowed EnerJa to envelope both his and Uras’ bodies. He shuddered slightly and the two were teleported out of the computer room just as the doors were opening. Three pod-bots flew in, led by Char-Chang.
“Mistress, are you alright?!”
“What?” Taas asked as she wiped saliva from the sides of her mouth. “Where am I?”
“The Computer and Communications Main Console Chamber,” Char-Chang replied.
“Kia-sia,” Taas called out. “Reboot and reform!”
“Command acknowledged,” the computer replied. Taas stood up, once again inside the bio-form machine, and she adjusted the patch over her right eye. No memory had been taken from her; MeJeal wanted to her know what she had lost. She knew her predicament, and she was too focused on remedying the situation to be enraged.
“Ready the drives,” Taas commanded as she started for the doors. “Set a course for Samjhanna. It looks like the replacement anchor I had in mind is going to receive my visit a few years ahead of schedule. Engage engines at full acceleration once the ship is ready!
“Another time, Malgovi,” she vowed. “Send your kid and a fellow alumnus after me?! And then you have them raid my ship?! If that’s the way you want things, I’m happy to oblige!”
** b *** t *** o *** r **
Gantee had not been conscious long and feeling had only just returned to his extremities, but that did not keep him from being enraged. He knew he was no longer on his ship. The newly promoted Osur had seen to his capture and probably the delivery to this chamber… a place that reminded him of a similar room where it was someone else who had been restrained and stood alone in the presence of his captors.
“Are you going to burn a hole into me too, Vi-Prin?” Gantee asked, glaring at Danatra as her hands came down from the hood she had just pulled back from her face.
“Yes, I can see where you might recall that instance after the Iro-Games, given our current surroundings,” the Mistress of The Campus said as she directed the guards to depart from the cell. �
�I think you have never quite put together why I acted the way I did. It hurt me to cause Dungias such pain. He is as much my blood as you are, Gantee.”
“And you plan to use me the same way you used him, I suppose,” Gantee asserted. Danatra started to speak, but found she did not have the words. She looked down at the stone floor and Gantee snorted a laugh of disgust. “Anything to further your agenda then, my blood. Do what you must.”
“It is not up to her, Champion,” Vriena said as she walked into the cell ahead of her Malgovi entourage. In the wake of her meeting with Dungias, the orbi-terms had been trying. She could no longer generate iro and for that loss of light she, as did so many others, blamed the so-called Savior. “While she may be the voice of The Campus, you are a citizen of the Deku System. I have been dispatched here by Duke MarrZo who suspects this man is being held unjustly.”
“He attacked the Osur Nugar!” Danatra stated.
“Only after the Osur boarded the ship of the Iro-Gellvu,” Vriena pointed out. “Surely a Traveler knows what a breach of protocol it is to board a ship without invitation!” Danatra closed her eyes, already seeing where this line of argumentation was going, and she smiled at the painful irony. The Duke had managed to remain a problem for certain members of the Z’Gunok House. This was yet another occasion.
“Yes, that is indeed the truth of the matter,” Danatra admitted. “But just as you are an emissary of Duke MarrZo, I am the Queen’s liaison. An Osur has issued a proclamation that has been ratified by the Throne. Does the Iro-Gellvu acknowledge this proclamation?”
“The Iro–”
“My Vu-Prin is capable of speaking for himself,” Danatra interrupted. “Or do you wish to challenge me on this matter, Lady Forlen? If that is the case, consider me a most willing representative of the will of our Queen!”
