by K R Sanford
“And don’t expect her to share when she finds something to kill. You’ll have to wait your turn. She will bit you if she thinks you are trying to steal her kill.”
“I’ll get two sampler plates; one ‘to-go’ for later,” said Marco.
“That’s thinking,” said Ryan. “And, find her a place to relieve herself. They like to sleep and hunt at night.”
“We’ll manage, won’t we Cybil? First, let’s see how she likes riding in a shuttle.”
“What do you make of the people?” asked Ryan. He watched Cybil watch the gullwing doors open and close.
Marco set the controls for the Eagle’s landing bay. The doors locked in place and the shuttle began to speed up. Cybil sat up straight in the back seat. She looked out the windows as if inspecting everything. She gazed out to space studying the position of the stars.
“She’s confused by the position of the stars,” said Ryan.
“Wouldn’t you be?” replied Marco. “This is your new home, Cybil.”
Cybil chuffed.
Marco set the shuttle down on the landing bay. They walked to the magnavator catching the eyes of the crew. They spied the Black Panther slinking along the deck. Marco stopped and turned, “Say hello to Cybil everybody. She’s going to be our guest for a little while.”
“Hello Cybil,” sang the flight crews. They enjoyed their work stations for the shield between them.
Marco waved back at the flight crew then stepped inside the magnavator. The doors closed and Marco pushed the sensor for the cafeteria.
They headed for the kitchen.
Bernie was low keyed for a chef and not one to get rattled. Marco waved him over keeping Cybil from the view of peering eyes.
“Bernie—
“Hello Marco, Congratulations on your promotion. Who’s this you have here?”
“This is Cybil.”
“Hello Cybil. Can I get you something Admiral?
“No, this visit is for Cybil. Can you make up a sampler plate and one extra for later?”
“Of course,” replied Bernie. Give me a moment and I will be right back to see what she likes.”
Bernie spun off grabbing utensils and a tray as he made his way to the frigerator. Thirty second later he returned holding out the tray. Selections of red meat, chicken, fish fillets, eggs and a bowl of clear water laid out a feline feast. He set it on the floor then walked away in one quick motion.
Cybil leaped. She floated in midair. She came down on the platter claiming it her own. She threw her front paws around the platter. She draped her tongue over the red meat. She took it in her mouth and chomped it down. She grazed to the chicken. Wrapping her tongue half way around, she squashed it through her teeth and swallowed. She smelled the fish. Sprawling herself out on the floor, she lay over the fish. She sank her teeth into the then fish fillets then swallowed them in one bite.
Marco looked around to see the spectators gather for the carnage. He spotted Chris and Hector captivated by the feline’s feeding frenzy. “You taking notes?” he said to Chris with a proud smile.
“She’s beautiful. There’s a dynamic between you two.
“We’re on Legion’s temple. It pays to keep our senses in the moment,” said Marco.
“Okay, shows over folks,” said Marco. “Come on, Cybil,” he ordered.
“I’ll be on the bridge,” said Ryan “our bridge.”
Marco nodded, “I’ll be up in a while. I need to take Cybil in the garden and let her rest a while.”
Ryan raised his head in a dignity he did not expect. In his tall lanky way he turned for the magnavator and headed for the bridge.
“Did you take lunch?” asked Ryan.
“Oh, hello,” replied Grantham. “Yes, we couldn’t resist the fish tacos. Listening to you all talking about them so much we had to give them a try.”
Ryan smiled, “Yes, they are good,” he replied with a full row of teeth.
“They were delicious,” said Clorissa. “By the way, we have been watching Marco and a big cat out on the solarium. They are walking around the garden. That’s not something you see every day.”
“No it’s not,” replied Ryan. “That’s Cybil. She is Marco's while the leader of the survivors gets his people settled.”
“Oh,” said Clorissa. “Do we know anything about the new people?”
“Just what we have seen,” said Ryan. “I talked to Thule and his companion, Mariah. They look young, young adults I mean. Have you heard from the Emperor?”
“No not yet. We’ve all been wondering about him,” replied Clorissa. “So far we haven’t needed his help. The Amedans have been buzzing around. They are more interested in keeping the robots and the machines monitored.”
“Well that’s good, said Ryan taking the command chair.
“You know, if you want to take that uncomfortable coat off, I'm sure it's okay. Put your leather jacket back on. I don’t think anyone is going to mind. You might need it later for ceremonies.”
“Good idea, Clorissa, except I left my leather jacket in my quarters.” Ryan reached in the side cupboard and pulled out the jade green flight jacket of the Eagle.
“Oh my god, I remember those jackets," said Grantham. "That’s when you guys first came to Ameda. You were all wearing those. We thought you were some kind of sports team coming for the festival games. But the Bradley Corporation changed things.”
“If it bothers you, I’ll take it off,” said Ryan.
“Oh no, we meant no disrespect,” said Grantham. “Those were another set of events that turned positive because we all decided to make things work.”
“And look how far things have developed.”
“Yes, indeed,” replied Grantham. “That reminds me. I am going to point out some activates we have noticed about Vito. Here he is talking to the refugees. Then we see him again singling out refugees who shepherd the others. He knows who the leader types are and he introduces himself.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” said Ryan. “I would say that is Vito’s nature. Exploit their need and offer them work, housing or anything else before he gets cut out of the market. This is shrewd business practice. We have to applaud his initiative.”
“Interesting,” said Grantham. “How do you think he knew about such a vast market?”
“Now there is an interesting question,” said Ryan scratching his chin. “I would have concerns if he sent his agents to do his bidding. But instead I see him in the trenches by himself making connections. He must have a translator.
“Who is monitoring systems control from the Temple?” asked Clorissa.
“No one,” replied Ryan. “Since the transfer we only need worry about decompression. And that gets handled down at the chamber, it’s pretty much automatic. So, unless we want to send someone somewhere there is nothing to do. The executive files selects the Temple’s reboot protocol for transport in the bridge. This is the process for all life-forms like what has proven for the refugees. Maybe since Vito knows that, he’s trying to get up another high stakes poker game.”
“You’re funny, Ryan,” said Clorissa.
“Funny with the edge of wisdom,” replied Grantham. “Either way, he’s going to engage those people and find out who and what they are.”
“Don’t you think the Emperor knows who and what they are?” said Ryan.
“They are smart enough to enlist the Admiral with the help of Cybil,” said Grantham. “Did you get a good look at her collar?”
“It was sparkly, said Ryan.
“More than sparkly, Ryan; take a look at this close up.” Ryan zoomed up close on Cybil’s collar. “The diamonds are set in a platinum matrix. It is flexible and encased in titanium webbing with electronics that have yet to proof. And, it’s made to look like a chic leather harness.”
“Yeah, okay,” said Ryan. “We’ll have an Amedan check it out.”
“Thank you, Ryan. I do appreciate it.”
“Not a problem.” Ryan reached for the com-link. �
��Lao, come in, Lao.”
“Aaah, go head,” barked Lao.
“Will you send one of your team members up here?” pleaded Ryan. “We need to check out a collar on the Panther.”
“Yaar a rit, ther minute,” said Lao.
“Lao must be tired of speaking English,” said Ryan. “He’s running all his words together.”
“Well, Lao’s a sociopath,” said Grantham. “He doesn’t care, but he is conscientious and insists on doing a good job. The only reason I tell myself this is to remind me his position is a means to an end, and it’s not public service.”
“Yeah he does a fine Hang on. Someone’s at the door. Who’s this? Come closer to the sensor,” said Ryan.
“Hello, I’m Asher. Lao sent me for a security scan on a cat collar.”
“Hi Asher, I’m Ryan. This is Grantham and Clorissa.”
“Everyone knows the Governor and Clorissa, hello folks.”
“Wonderful,” said Ryan. “Have you worked security much?”
Grantham and Clorissa giggled.
“Humm, Did I say something funny?”
“Oh no, Ryan,” replied Grantham. Asher is Lao’s Lieutenant.”
“Oh, I see, just the Vice High Council of the entire Amedan race. Well, they have everybody working today, don’t they Asher?”
“Yes, they do, Captain Ryan. And may I say; your levity is most refreshing. You know, I have admired your work since your arrival on Amedan sixteen years ago.”
“You sit on the Emperor’s urn with the High Council?”
“Yes,” said Asher.
“And, I have walked by you and stood next to you dozens of times.”
“Yes, twenty-eight times, but who’s counting.”
“Okay, well, now I feel silly. So, what do you think about this cat collar?”
“It’s designed to pick up environmental changes in the landscape. It has a thousand miles for short range and the long range circuit is indefinite. It’s a read only tracker and locator specific to the cat. And, interesting enough, the collar can talk to the cat or the handler.”
“What does this mean?”
“It means: the people you are helping are interstellar, and the cat is no ordinary cat. The cat could be interdimensional and or a shape shifter.”
“A shape shifter,” mumbled Ryan, “And what about the diamonds in the collar?”
“A power source like the crystalline power we use in our cores.”
“What could they use that for?”
“Oh, Ryan,” said Asher blushing pink. “Clean energy like that can get used for a factory, a starbase, terraforming a planet or asteroid. It’s also valuable for portable currency. If these folk are walking around with power like that, the advance to your civilization is times ten.”
“That’s a big number isn’t it?”
“I will explain if you like?” said Asher.
“Please,” replied Ryan, “I’d like to hear this.”
“Okay,” continued Asher. “Let’s say your people; on their own, can harness and use the entire energy output of their local sun. That means; all the energy in that star system gets used and controlled by your people. Then, your people have come from an interplanetary civilization to an interstellar civilization. You would be like gods wanting to experience the love and compassion for the simplest things. Also you will have the power to interact with other star systems on your own.”
“That’s the answer to Legion’s Riddle isn’t it?”
“Yes, in time, Ryan,” said Asher in his baritone voice.
“Then, since these people have this type of power then why is their galaxy collapsing?” Ryan asked.
“These people face over whelming external forces. This is pressing on their galaxy,” replied Asher. Their galaxy has lost the inertia of their expansion. The collapse is now proportional to the mass of that galaxy over distance squared.”
“That’s the inverse square rule,” said Ryan. “I know that one. This is the same metric as the force of luminosity, or gravity or an electromagnetic field.”
“They are all field forces that you described,” replied Asher. “Including the collapse of the sister galaxy. And, you are right about the inverse square rule.”
“So, this collapse is perpetual. It picks up speed until—
“Until thermal critical mass, then chain-of-events occur like a supernova. Only in this case, galactic chain reactions will go on to generate a super-mass black hole. This event is powerful enough to jettison interdimensional architectures. These continuums will connect back into every quadrant of the cosmos. Not to worry yourself, Ryan, this all take place over billions of years.”
“What do you mean: connecting back into every quadrant of the cosmos?” ask Ryan.
“Nature’s conservation of energy?” replied Asher.
“Yes,” said Ryan. “And aren’t we a candidate for spikes from the collapsing galaxy even though we are not a sister galaxy. Haven’t we connected the field forces from the dying galaxy through the cosmic bridge?”
“No, I don’t think so, Ryan,” replied Asher. “First, you are comparing the Micro landscape to the Astro landscape. You know; apples with oranges. If it were true, energy spikes would have already made their way through the Amedan wormhole.”
“Maybe the collapse hasn’t generated large enough spikes to threaten this side yet. It sounds to me, like you suggest the threat will occur at some point, but how far that is into the future is not a concern?”
“No, Ryan. We are monitoring all possibilities. I forget Legion’s temple gives you super deductive reasonings. You have experienced this here before, if I recall.”
“Yes, I sense a mental exhilaration and a higher capacity to problem solve. It is a phenomenon I have here that I don’t have in other places. I’m enjoying the challenge and the honor to take part with your process.”
“Glad to have this connection with you Ryan.”
“Do you need to get a closer look at Cybil’s collar?”
Asher chuckled, “I was thinking of that. Can you arrange it with the Admiral?”
Ryan leaned over a sensor on his console and gave it a tap. “Admiral, I would like to send Vice High Council Asher down to scan Cybil’s collar.”
“Okay,” said Marco, “We’ll be here.”
“Just like that,” said Asher.
“Yup, you’re all set. It’s one deck down with a gold eagle above the door.”
Asher’s energy bolts sparked white and his core illuminated two shades brighter. “Bye,” he said in a childlike voice floating out the glass door and into the magnavator.
Marco, sitting on his coach lifted himself up and started for the bathroom. He raised his hand and said, “Be right out Cybil. I need to make myself more comfortable.”
Cybil leaped on the coach where Marco had been sitting. She sprawled herself out on the coach laying her head on the cushion over the side arm.
A few moments later Marco emerged from the bathroom. He stopped in his tracks.
“Well hello there,” he said bringing himself up tall. “Well that’s funny. There was a diamond collar just like the one you have there, only it was wearing a big black cat. You haven’t seen a big black cat around here, have you?”
“The raven haired beauty turned her head back and forth taunting Marco’s curiosity. She pulled her legs up close to her body accentuating her sleek shapely form. She sat back and crossed her legs. The black skin tight dress revealed a creamy porcelain thigh and plunging neckline. She smiled and opened her lips. “Aren’t you going to come over and sit down?”
Marco raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t worry, Admiral,” she said. “I won’t scratch, if that’s what’s on your mind.”
Marco took a step closer. “First, tell me your relationship with Thule and Mariah.”
“They’re friends,” she said, her sleepy blue eyes flashed the pale yellow of the panther.
“Are there many more shape-shifters like you?
“No,” he said surprised. “Are you always a female?”
She smiled sensing Marco’s shadow. “This pleases you,” she said as if stating a fact.
Marco relieved, replied. “Well, I appreciate those close to me to be clear on their commitments and not half man and half woman.”
“We are going to be close then, Admiral; we who are half human and half beast?”
“This might be—
“Something is at your door, not human.”
“I know; it’s Asher, High Council. Will you excuse me a moment? He asked to see us.” Marco started for the door. He touched a sensor making the door hiss open. Asher’s blue orb was at Marco’s shoulders. Asher rose to head height. “Come in, Asher, you are welcome.” Marco stood to one side and let Asher pass. He touched the sensor a second time and as he turned to join Asher, he saw Cybil on the couch in her feline state. She was licking her paws.
“Cybil,” said Asher. “I know you understand me. Do you know why you are here?”
Cybil sat up on the couch and fixed her gaze straight at Asher. Asher’s energy bolts assembled from around his core. They centered like the rings of Saturn spinning around him. Asher’s attitude tilted a target heading aimed at Cybil.
“Alright,” said Marco. “Stand down Asher. And Cybil, I want you to change into human form, Cybil.” Marco put his hands on his hips and placed his feet shoulder width apart.
Cybil immediately complied. Her body morphed into the woman in the tight black dress with her long raven hair and creamy porcelain skin. The diamond collar was on her neck as before. “One can’t be too careful,” she said. “Don’t you agree, Asher?”
“Of course,” said Asher dissolving the defensive rings. He returned to his natural cool blue.
“Well, terrific,” said Marco. “Then would you two mind if I took a seat on the couch?”
“Oh,” said Asher backing out of Marco’s way. “Extra ordinary case of events; we expected to be on edge in the most unexpected times. This to remind us we are in the domain of the Emperor.”
Marco chuckled. “What’s going on is not about us. We are here to rise and rise again from the challenges of our past. We are heading to a new territory where we can thrive as a living force of nature.”
