“What?” asked Manning, wondering why Devon was asking him that.
“Biosphere, Door One, and bring some Brigantia Guards with you.”
Wide eyed, Devon almost tipped over while hopping, but instead grabbed at Manning's shirt for balance as he shouted, “I know who it is!”
“Who is it?!” Manning clutched Devon by the shoulders. “You're freaking out, man...calm down!”
Devon frantically shook his head, then pointed at his forehead. “No – you don't understand...her voice is in my head! A woman I know can do things like that—and she has the antidote! We have to get to her and we need some guards to come with us! Trust me!”
∞
Naveya had successfully located Devon and smiled, relieved that he'd finally heard her calls. He was safe and inside of the biosphere, hopefully healthy and fully intact.
She was in an alleyway, huddled low against the side of a building, right across the street from Door One, holding MiMi tightly under her robe. She pulled her hood down to conceal her face. With Savanna's ID card safely tucked away in her pocket, she had seen a glimpse of an antidote in her mind. But, just a glimpse didn't always make things clear and, much to her dismay, a dozen Matrona Guards were blocking access to the biosphere by standing in front of the access door.
Naveya looked down the length of wall separating the biosphere from the rest of Starbase. The next one could be miles away and it would certainly be guarded. Door One was her only available option, but how was she going to get the guards to leave?
Elders make the best outlaws, she remembered Thomas Berard once saying. They've learned the rules and know how to find the loopholes. But, during the process, harm no others—that's Universal Law.
Naveya lowered her chin and kissed the velvety soft fur on top of MiMi's head sticking out of the neckline of her robe. “I'm a systems buster,” Naveya whispered.
MiMi responded by raising her head completely out of the robe to give Naveya a quick lick, then one more just in case it was needed, and then a few more just for the heck of it, until Naveya placed her hand over her muzzle and softly chided, “That's enough, my little darling.”
Then Naveya looked to the left and to the right and said, “We're in God's hands now, and aren't we all...,” but stopped mid-sentence when MiMi suddenly emitted a low growl. It was a warning that she had seen something before Naveya did. Following the direction of MiMi's intense stare, Naveya saw what seemed like a small army starting to gather half a mile or so down the street. She assumed they were citizens and there'd be many more watching through their windows, fearing more phaser fire and wanting to keep their families safe.
Naveya let her hood fall loosely down her back as she pulled MiMi out of her robe, giving her another kiss on top of the head before setting her on the ground. Then boldly, she walked into the middle of the street, openly exposing herself, with MiMi trotting alongside of her as she approached the biosphere door, whereupon the guards immediately became alert. One of them took a last bite out of a half eaten apple before he threw it over his shoulder and pointed his phaser at her. “Stop!” he shouted through a mouthful of apple.
Naveya ignored his command by walking straight past the group of guards, which dumbfounded them all. They exchanged looks as they wondered how a homeless woman would have the nerve to ignore a direct order coming from an armed guard pointing a phaser at her. Plus, she had an innocent little dog, soft and cute, radiating sheer beauty as it happily trotted alongside of her. It was doggie-smiling at them, with its little pink tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth. And that, above all else, was disarming.
Naveya projected her voice over her shoulder as she continued toward the door. “I'm a biosphere design tech sent by Prime Director Zim Nocki to shut down all water being pumped to the Political Infirmary. I was instructed to wear an appropriate disguise so as not to pose a threat if seen by traitors in the biosphere.” She waved the ID card above her head to demonstrate her legitimacy just before she reached the door, then swiped it through a wall pad and the door clicked. All she had to do was say “open”.
“You better stop what you're doing, lady, until I can get the Prime Director's office on the com link. I'll give you the go ahead when I get the go ahead—understand?”
Naveya nodded. “I understand, and thank you for being so on top of things, young man.”
The guard grumbled, “Just doing my job,” and pressed a button on the com link. He was about to speak when Naveya suddenly pointed beyond them, declaring, “Oh my Guild!” as she swung her hand over her mouth and questioned with feigned worry, “Isn't that the Brigantia Guard out in the OPEN?”
The hiss of the door opening was drowned out by the guards collectively saying, “Huh?” and “What?” as they turned around to see where Naveya was pointing. Some moved forward to gain a better view while others pointed their phasers, scanning the area. But, more importantly, their eyes were not on Naveya as she slipped through with the door closing behind her.
Well....that worked by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin.
She hurried, knowing that her ruse wouldn't work for long. The roar of a nearby waterfall was almost deafening as she ran through it's mist and veered, running alongside tons of water plummeting onto massive boulders before it splashed into a pool of water emptying into a river. She was wishing she had a boat when she heard shouts behind her, so she moved away from the water, into the forest. When she realized she wasn't going to be able to outrun the soldiers, she whispered to MiMi, “Go find Devon!”
MiMi ran as fast as she could, disappearing into the underbrush. Naveya dodged right, around a huge tree, as the sound of running footsteps came nearer. She ducked under a dead log and laid down, concealed by the log's undergrowth, imagining herself camouflaged within the ground cover, then pulled down her hood and covered the rest of her body with her robe. She laid as still as stone, envisioning herself invisible to the Matrona Guards, then closed her eyes and projected her sight into the shades of gray of MiMi's vision.
MiMi was passing giant ferns and dodging rocks. Naveya felt large roots skimming under MiMi's little paws as she ran down a dirt game trail. Follow the trail, MiMi.
From where she lay, Naveya could hear the Matrona Guards sneaking past her, cautiously searching as quietly as possible, being sure not to alert the Taranis or Brigantia Guards of their presence.
“I saw her come through here,” whispered a guard.
“Well, you wouldn't expect her to stop here to dilly dally, would you?” another replied.
“I suppose not.”
“We must be just an ear shot away from enemy guards. We should turn back and I'm not too thrilled by our odds—only 12 of us versus a whole platoon of them.”
“Aye, let's get back and tell no one about this—none of you,” grumbled another guard. As they backed away, Naveya's full attention returned to the gray view of MiMi's vision to see that she was sniffing at something.
Back up, girl. Let me take a look.
MiMi backed up and Naveya recognized the plant from her dream of the previous night. That's it! You found it—the antidote!
∞
I'm going to Forever Mountain now, typed Crystal.
Some of my race are still out there. Please wait until I give you the ready, replied S.
Crystal looked around Tech Quarters and, just like the night before, saw a light in the corner of the room and heard a couple of Techies talking. She didn't want them to notice her, especially since she was typing to an anonymous person named 'S', so she acted like she was watching Hank's vid screen monitoring the ship's exterior for enemy movement and fortunately there was none.
She looked back at her HDC screen and continued to type. Going to Forever Mountain was a good idea, even though it was a huge risk, and Crystal had no way of knowing who she was communicating with on the screen, bargaining her life on the words of a stranger. But, the feeling was inescapable—it felt right.
Crystal typed, What is the name of yo
ur race?
We are the Nankuani from the planet Iburun, a race much older than yours. We've come from a planet that orbits a solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy every 3600 years.
What do you look like?
Imagine the most beautiful women and men of your race. We're very similar to them—to you. Your race would consider our features as being very favorable, as none of us have flaws or asymmetrical features, nor do we age like your race. The biggest difference, however, is that we range from 8 to 12 feet in height and the oldest of the Nankuani are even taller.
Crystal nodded her head. That explained the large humanoids that had nearly killed her several days ago.
Then I've seen your race, Crystal replied.
Yes, I watched you survive and scrambled their weapons so they would have a difficult time killing you. However, that didn't hinder the stress I experienced as I watched. If I hadn't interfered when you were first fired upon, crippling your Mech, you would have been killed, just like the Mech before you.
Crystal knew that S was referring to Hendricks' death just before Crystal's Mech got the beating of it's life and she knew she was lucky to have survived the ordeal.
Crystal continued typing. Then, can you do that tonight? Scramble their weapons?
There was a pause from the other end of the screen as if S was considering her question. Yes, I can. I am very far from you right now, so there may be some interference and lag time, but it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Thank you. Where are you?
I'm a hyper jump away from Lumus, orbiting a green planet.
Doing what? asked Crystal.
To tell you now is a distraction from the task at hand. Please convince those in authority to leave their starship to escape to Forever Mountain. All Nankuani patrols will cease after tonight for other training purposes, giving you ample time to safely travel. If you must make a trip tonight by yourself to prove your case—then I understand.
My mom thinks you're sending us into a trap. That's why I need to leave now. I'll record my mission on my trek vid and show it to her when I return.
The HDC screen remained quiet for a moment, then letters started forming. There is one more thing, Crystal. Forever Mountain has tunnel systems. You must follow the narrowest one until it leads you to your destiny.
Crystal jerked back at what she read. Destiny? Crystal had a destiny? She'd never heard anyone say such a thing, but just as she was going to ask S what she meant by that she remembered the bright blue lights she and Daf had seen shining out of Forever Mountain. At the time, Crystal had been convinced that the enemy was occupying the tunnels and searching for human survivors with lights.
She typed, What are the blue lights we saw coming out of Forever Mountain's tunnel system?
Those aren't from Nankuani. They're for you. Your destiny is calling.
Crystal rubbed her pants with sweaty hands, then touched the holographic console. My destiny is calling to me?
I can't tell you too much, but I can say that your race needs you more than you know. Many talismanic energies are tied to your bloodline. They flow through your veins, Crystal. And, my veins as well.
Talismanic?
It's something you'll learn about in time.
Sure, typed Crystal. And how does our blood have anything to do with this talismanic thing?
You and your mother are the last of your race with my blood inside of you. That is why you are so important. It is the blood running through your veins that can save the entire crew on the Starship Sirona.
I don't understand. How can I be of your blood?
I am the one who birthed your blood line. Your line is one of the first of your race to orbit Lumus.
Crystal typed, What does that mean?
Your race was genetically created for the benefit of my race and I assisted in your creation, to my own fault and great error. We created you to be a slave race. However, I now see that a divine intervention transpired during the process of your race's creation that I have yet to completely understand. I have come to the realization that the idea of creating you and your race was planted in my mind by a divine being.
You expect me to believe that you created us?
We genetically spliced my race's DNA with that of twenty two other species, then implanted it into an egg that was placed into my womb. The first of your line grew inside of me, and was birthed by me and you were an experimental slave species brought to Lumus. It was just a short time after that when I was visited by an energy I had never before encountered. It claimed to have worked through me to create all of you. At first, I thought I was imagining it. This energy, however, has visited the other creator of your race, Ki-En, several times. He has also come to realize that we were merely pawns for the divine energy's creative pursuits. We are discovering that your race has a destiny much greater than any race in the multi-verses and you play a large part in that destiny, perhaps the greatest.
Stressed by what she was reading, Crystal made a fist that she anxiously rubbed against her teeth. She felt like biting her knuckles, but instead returned to typing fervently. If you created me and my race, then how old does that make you?
I told you that the age of my race would be beyond your understanding and belief system.
I can take it. Just tell me the truth.
There was a brief pause, and then a reply.
I am 418,032 years old.
Crystal slammed her hand on the HDC's power button, accidentally shutting down the HDC. She leaned back in her chair and ran her hands through her red hair, frustrated. She was nervous, not because of the age span of the Nankuani that Crystal figured was a lie, but because she was getting sucked into S's delusion. Her heart was beating so hard that it felt as if it could push its way up her throat, so she took a moment to calm herself down, then stood and moved quickly through Tech Quarters and down the hall to Thunderbird Launch Bay. There, Wrench was sitting on his stool and leaning forward with his head resting on the workbench. He was snoring softly and Crystal noticed that her Mech, in addition to Daf's, was standing against a wall.
Loudly, she whispered, “Wrench!”
He didn't respond, so she jostled him. Wrench jumped to attention, his eyes still mostly closed. “Yeah, boss? Get you some brew?” Then he nodded and smiled, fixed his crotch and sat back down, laying his head on the workbench to continue his sleep.
“No, Wrench...it's me, Crystal.” This time her voice was louder than a whisper, but low enough so it wouldn't echo in the bay.
“Hmm?” he replied as he smacked his lips. Groggily, he asked, “Crystal?” He lifted his head and gazed up at her and said, “Egad, woman. You're so beau—” But he caught himself once he realized that he wasn't dreaming. He cleared his throat and stood. “Aye, Chief Petty Officer Cystal McCoy! Wrench at your service!” His wrinkled eyelids were wide open, his eyes staring straight ahead.
Crystal knew his comment was just a slip. Wrench was a dedicated old soul with a kind disposition, a smile, and gray hair. He reminded her of a nice old grandfather—the type she'd always wished for.
Gently, she asked, “Are the Mechs ready?”
“As ready as ever,” he replied.
“And, Wrench? Why are you still standing at attention? You know I hate that crap.”
He relaxed, then looked at her. “Forgot, ma'am.” He smirked. “I hate that crap, too.”
She rubbed her hands together and said, “I'm taking my Mech out for a spin tonight.”
His mouth formed a straight line as he grabbed a tool hanging on the wall. “Please don't, Crystal.” His voice was gruff, but stern. “I still have some fixin' to do and it's not safe out there. You know that.”
“I know what I'm doing.”
“So, you know when luck arrives or leaves, do ya? Luck doesn't always swing to your favor—such as it was when you got here.”
“It's not luck, Wrench.” Crystal pointed to her Mech. “I'm very skilled in one of those things.” Plus, I have S disabling wea
pons and scrambling targets for me.
“You and Daf are the luckiest people I've ever seen. With what you went through out there...no one shoulda' survived that trip alive, so don't test your luck twice, Crystal.” He walked over to the Mech, climbed up a couple of foot holds and checked the gyro shocks in the Mech's hip. “We're lucky any of us on this starship's still alive.”
Crystal folded her arms and planted her feet. “Trust me, Wrench.”
Wrench looked up at the ion blasters mounted on the Mech's. “We haven't tested the lasers or ion blasters yet.”
“Then I won't use them.”
Wrench glanced down at his stubborn friend. “That's another risk, Crystal. What if you encounter something out there and you need them? You set your target, aim, fire, but nothing happens, makin' you an easy target?” He snatched a rag out of his hip pocket and wiped his instrument, then examined something else in the Mech's hip.
“How is Daf's Mech?”
He dropped his head in defeat. “What do you mean, Crystal...Daf ain't jumpin' outa this ship, either.”
“How is her Mech, Wrench?”
Air blew through his lips in resignation. “Both Mechs are done.”
Crystal wanted to jump with excitement, but instead said, “Good. I'm getting Daf and we're moving out tonight.” She turned on her heel and headed toward Daf's sleeping quarters. Everything was going to be fine. That S person, whoever she was, had most assuredly lied about her age—418,000 some odd years old? You've got to be kidding me! Nonetheless, there was something pulling her to Forever Mountain and she somehow knew that S had her back.
Just as Crystal was exiting the bay, she overheard Wrench grumbling, “Just as stubborn as her mother!”
∞
Overseer Chase Byrd was feeling much better—according to him. His doctors, however, demanded that he stay in bed and when he wasn't in bed they demanded that he use the Suficell Pods. That's all they know. They couldn't fix anything without the pods!
The Veil Rising Page 27
