The Key

by Brian Fisher

  Chapter 8

  The shop was clean and nearly empty. A few old fashioned paintings of various landscapes hung on the otherwise unadorned white walls. Most of the paintings were pastels in broad, impressionist strokes. A few of the pieces were different. The scenes of the Caldon Lava Fields radiated a powerful, darker energy that was captured by the highly detailed brush strokes of the Caldonian renaissance. The lava seemed to radiate heat as it cooled and was formed into homes for the Caldonians.

  Old style lights, decorated with multi-colored glass panels, hung from the ceiling giving ample light for the customers that frequented the quaint restaurant. Booths with simple rectangular tables and red padded benches ran the length of the walls. In the center of the cafe sat a round table with a dour looking Olcai as its only occupant.

  "Thank you for coming. Please join me for a drink." the Olcai casually motioned for them to sit. "I am Commissioner Valche."

  "To what do we owe the honor Commissioner?" T'Sula asked as she pulled out a chair. Kamira quietly sat beside her, watching the door.

  "What would you like to drink?" The diminutive alien looked at them, ignoring the question. Valche's uniform was a dull gray, with a simple gold braid around the right wrist. There were no visible pockets or fastening devices of any kind on the uniform.

  "Water will be fine." Kamira said without taking her eyes from the door.

  "Water please." T'Sula echoed before she glanced at her cousin. Kamira shook her head slightly and then glanced around the room.

  The Commissioner motioned for a server to bring the water, and looked at T'Sula. "What do you know about what happened here today, Commander Mir?" the small alien sighed.

  "I can only guess at this point." T'Sula sipped her water. "Unless there's something that I don't know, I would say it was a threat of some sort."

  "Commander Nor, what do you think?" the Olcai asked before looking at her.

  "I don't know anything about these things. I'm an engineer, not a police officer." she shook her head. "What I do know is that my ship is in orbit, and in need of repair. A lot of innocent people were hurt today, and someone needs to pay it. Redemption can help, but we need access to the raw materials in the debris field."

  "Commander Nor, I am a peace officer, not a diplomat. Therefore I am not authorized to grant that request. However, I will do what I can to get the authorization that you need for your ship." Commissioner Valche sighed. "Ladies, what I am about to show you is sensitive information. Please do not discuss this with anyone." a dark shroud dropped from the ceiling, closing the table off from all outside sources. A hologram came up from the center of the small table, casting an ethereal glow on their faces.

  T'Sula saw herself sitting at a small table in the food court. People milled about, without any discernable destination. She watched as Kamira walked up to her table, and spoke to her for the first time in years. They waited for their food, and she watched the server as it touched her hand. Everything seemed normal, until the explosion ripped the peaceful atmosphere apart.

  Immediately after the explosion, the hologram stopped. A voice cut into the silence. It was altered, probably from some form of electronic device covering the actual voice. "This is a warning. You have until noon tomorrow to return that which was stolen from us. No one will enter or leave Olcai. Any deviance will result in death. Submit now and bow before your Ta'Reeth masters." the voice echoed in T'Sula's mind, moving her at her core.

  "So, the Ta'Reeth are taking responsibility for the bombing?" T'Sula asked.

  "No." Commissioner Valche moved in its seat. "Whoever is responsible for the bombing has some sort of ties to them, but they have not taken responsibility for it."

  "They said that something was stolen from them, and they want it back. Obviously it's important, otherwise, why resort to bombing?" Kamira interrupted.

  "Are you sure you aren't a police officer, Commander?" Valche asked. "You are correct. Something was taken, and they want it back. The problem is that we have no idea what it is."

  "All right Commissioner." T'Sula placed her hands on the table and rubbing the red spot on her hand. "What do you want from us? You command the police, so I don't see what you could need from me or Kamira." her voice grew a little cold. "You obviously did a background check on us before you had us brought here, and I don't particularly appreciate that. If you want something from me, ask me for it. Otherwise, I'm leaving."

  "Very well then Commander Mir. I would like for both of you to assist in the investigation." Commissioner Valche matched T'Sula's tone. "Both you and Commander Nor are veterans. You have both survived conflicts with the Ta'Reeth, which as you know, is a rare thing. I need you to help Olcai to survive this. My officers are little more than hotel security guards, and are not equipped to deal with this situation."

  "O.K." Kamira sighed. "I need to contact my ship. After that I'll be free to do as I need to. Besides, whoever did this needs to pay. I'm in."

  "Commander, I do not believe that will be possible for some time. Communication channels have been severed and we have not been able to reestablish them." Valche blinked rapidly in frustration.

  "Fine. I'm in. I just have one question." T'Sula glanced at her cousin.

  "And what would that be?" Commissioner Valche cocked one bulbous eye at her.

  "Are you a man or a woman?" T'Sula asked with a cold smile as Kamira almost fell out her chair.

  "I am neither." Commissioner Valche looked slightly angry. "I believe that we have work to do."

  Kamira picked herself up off the floor, and quickly ran her hands over her robes to smooth them out. She glanced at T'Sula and quietly shook her head. T'Sula shrugged, as a slight smile crept across her lips.

  "If the two of you are through joking at my expense, I suggest that we begin our investigation." Commissioner Valche walked towards the rear of the small eatery.

  "Of course Sir, ah, Ma'am, um, I mean, Commissioner." T'Sula stammered, trying to keep a straight face before Kamira punched her in the shoulder. "Ow." T'Sula whispered, rubbing her shoulder.

  Commissioner Valche disappeared through a set of white double doors at the rear of the restaurant.