by Jeff Walsh
“Good luck Kora,” Marcus said. “I'm confident Volja will find a way home.”
“Speaking of home,” Kora said. “Volja wishes to impart it's thanks to your entire group. It wishes to give tokens of gratitude for your risk and your help.”
Kora waved her hand and a section of ground began to split open in the distance. From below the surface rose a silver and red spacecraft.
“I know your ship, the Platnium IV, was destroyed in your attempt to save Volja,” Kora said. “And in no way do I believe such a vessel can be fully replaced. However, if you give it a chance, I believe you will find this vessel most accommodating. The ancient people called it the Shyia. It means 'Life giver.'”
Kora turned to Marcus, Genny and Anthony. “As for you three,” Kora said. “The sacrifice you each gave is more than anyone would dare ask. The two of you,” Kora said to Anthony and Genny. “You sacrificed yourselves, your lives, in coming here. You had that which was most precious taken from you. While Volja cannot restore what was taken, what will be given is an expression of Volja's deepest gratitude.”
Kora now turned to Marcus. “And to you,” she said. “While your friends had their lives taken from them, you willingly offered yours to save Volja. You gave everything; therefore, Volja will give no less for you.”
҉
“Well,” Taam said. “Volja is safe, the Attillians are gone, and Prime Command is attempting to smooth everything over across the Core. Sure, there was no actual treasure for us to excavate, which means no big pay off, but I don't think we made out too badly.”
Bartl rose a glass in the air as he sat slouched in a chair; a red liquid jostled within.
“We did just fine,” Bartl said. “Volja re-phased Earth and set everything spinning again. Not to mention, we were given this new spiffy ship, although I still say it's no Platnium IV.”
“Don't forget, Volja wiped your bounties from the Core,” Genny said. “Now you two are free and clear to pursue honest business.”
“Blah, honest business, more like boring business,” Bartl replied. “Plus, you got some pretty interesting toys yourself.”
Genny glanced to the ground where her and Marcus' bags sat. They were packed and ready for their return to Earth. The two silvery, metal batons Korra had given her stuck out from behind a flap.
“Sure we don't have bounty hunter's chasing us anymore,” Taam said. “But, honestly, where's the fun in honest work?”
Marcus chuckled, glanced around and noticed Anthony hadn't joined the rest of them on the bridge yet. “Is he in the training simulator, again?” He asked Genny.
“He is,” Genny said as she rolled her eyes.
“He just wants to make sure he can properly use the tech before he shows it off,” Taam replied with a smirk.
“He's still being secretive?” Bartl asked and took a deep swig of his drink. “Any guesses as to what exactly Volja gave him?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Marcus replied.
Bartl rose his glass once again and took a another drink.
“Slow down,” Taam said to Bartl. “It'd be nice if you weren't completely smashed while saying goodbye.”
“I won't smash anything,” Bartl replied as he took another drink.
“That's not,” Taam started to say. “Nevermind.”
Genny smirked and looked to Taam. “Not that I don't trust Volja's ability,” she said. “But we're sure no one on Earth is going to figure out that they lost two weeks?”
“I'm sure,” Marcus said. “It's part of the repo procedure on a Class A planet. Everything has been adjusted to fit within the two weeks. A scattered few might think something happened, but conspiracy theories run wild on Class A planets.”
“How's it feel to have a bunch of space knowledge in your head now?” Taam asked Marcus.
“You know,” Marcus responded. “It's not so bad. My interaction with Volja was terrifying, sure, but the gift of knowledge has it's perks. All this new stuff rattling around in my head should give me plenty to do for a while.”
A door whooshed open and Anthony walked in.
“There he is,” Bartl said. “Are we finally going to get to see what Volja gave you?”
“Just a little bit longer,” Anthony replied. “I'm able to do some pretty cool stuff. I just want to be absolutely sure I can--” Anthony paused as the ship's main display lit up.
The group turned and saw Earth, spinning as it should, displayed on the view screen.
After a moment of silence Taam spoke up. “Looks, like we're here.”
The trio stood quietly and stared at their home.
“Can we really be sure the Core won't come after us?” Anthony asked breaking the awkward silence. “Genny did blow up one of their ships by punching it.”
Bartl hoisted his glass once more and gulped the remaining liquid down.
“Well,” Taam said. “They've covered up the Imperium's destruction by pinning it on Halen. The official report states that he went rogue and used Core resources to pursue personal gain. They're saying the Imperium's destruction was caused by Halen's own hand as a means to escape capture from Prime Command. Since they said he committed treason, and given the Core's reputation for punishment, it's a believable story. In a rare move of generous public relations, the families of the crew have all been gifted grievance packages. They've denied any and all involvement with the Attillians, or their interest in Volja.”
Taam paused and smirked.
“It does appear however, that entire event, since the Imperium's destruction, was documented and posted on freenet by an unknown author. The entire account of all events has been verrified by numerous reliable sources, one of which calls themselves B.H.”
“Whoever this B.H. is, he's a farukin' hero.” Bartl said as he kicked his feet up on the table and relaxed back; he tucked his hands behind his head, while his empty glass rolled around on his lap.
“It's a real mystery,” Anthony said sarcastically. “The universe may never know the true author.”
Bartl chuckled.
“Well,” Taam said. “What the universe does know for sure is that Volja was never a planet. It's been officially been classified as an Infinity Class Species. The Core would never risk a political war by hunting it down, or destroying the Class A planet from which the saviors of Volja hail. You three made Earth famous and in the process ensured your home's safety. Which, thanks to Kora, Marcus now officially owns, thus removing Earth from the Core alliance. Any act of aggression from the Core would expose them to a political nightmare. Every enemy they have would call for their dismantling as a galactic government. Earth is safe, and it owes its thanks to you three.”
Silence lingered in the air for a moment. The group looked around at each other and eventually turned their gaze back to the ship's display of Earth.
“I want you all to know,” Taam said. He paused chocking back his words. “You did great out here. Bartl and I are going to miss you.”
“We'll miss you too,” Genny said. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
Another moment of silence hung awkwardly in the air.
“I guess this is it,” Taam said. “Computer, activate cloak and prep for undetected entry please.”
“Of course captain,” a computerized female voice responded.
Just then a series of beeps came from one of the terminals.
Taam and Bartl both turned to see where the sound came from.
“Everything okay?” Anthony asked.
“I think so,” Taam said. “It's just, the ship's hasn't made those sounds yet.”
Bartl snatched up his glass, stood and strode over to the terminal. He plopped down into the chair and worked a few screens.
“What is it?” Taam asked.
“I have no idea,” Bartl said. He swiped at the terminal and sent the information to the main screen.
“It's a bunch of messages,” Genny said.
“Sure,” Bartl said. “But, does any of that make sens
e to you?”
The messages read, “Happy. Fun. Great. Joyous. Delighted. Serene. Jubilant.”
“Who sends messages like that?” Genny asked. “Especially one word at a time.”
Marcus stood there quiet. A puzzled look washed over his face.
Anthony turned and looked to Taam. “Is it just me or is that kind of creepy?”
“Yes,” Taam answered. “That is a little creepy.”
“Well, who sent them?” Genny asked.
“I have no idea,” Bartl answered. “They're all sent from different places. There are no sigs or digital marks on any of them.”
“Computer,” Marcus blurted out. “Search for reports using the messages as a key code.”
“What are you doing?” Bartl asked.
“Look at it,” Marcus said. “That isn't seven messages. It's just the same thing, repeating itself over and over. A singular concept expressed seven different ways.
“Happy. Fun. Great. Joyous. Delighted. Serene. Jubilant, they all have the same basic meaning,” Marcus finished.
“Search complete,” the computer said. “I've found eighty-six reports relating to these messages. Each instance states that these same words are appearing in randomly various operation systems.”
“And these reports,” Marcus said. “They're isolated aren't they? All of them are coming from one location.”
Everyone looked at Marcus.
“Correct,” the computer said. “All reports are coming from Qynn-9.”
“Qynn-9 uses thousands of proxy servers to send out messages,” Taam said. “That's why it looks like they're coming from different places.”
Bartl stood slowly. “Qynn-9?” He said quietly.
“Correct,” the computer responded.
“Alvin?” Bartl whispered. “He's...”
Just then another message appeared on the main display. “I have your AI. --Elendra.”
Marcus looked to Anthony then Genny.
“Who's Elendra?” Anthony asked.
Taam and Bartl said nothing but stared at the display.
“Doesn't matter,” Marcus said.
The three turned and sat. Straps and buckles shot out and strapped them in.
“What are you waiting for?” Genny turned and said to Taam and Bartl.
“Let's go get Alvin.”
END
