by DJ Morand
And I don't trust you Aurora, so deal with it, Abel wanted to say.
Instead he said, “I do. The EFNF has been divided too long. If we're going to win against the EXOs we need to remain united. We meet up with the Rear Admiral near Quintar V. Ree where the hell is my warp vector!?” Abel said.
Aurora nodded again, subtle and barely perceptible, but noticeable enough that it set Abel's teeth on edge.
Am I or aren’t I the Captain? He thought.
Abel ignored her gesture, but he filed it away. Aurora had been lying to him all along, about her lineage, about the Vald, all of it. Twice the Quintarrans stared at the Vald like they were beasts. Rear Admiral Zed’s reaction sealed his suspicions.
Adam, Abel sent. Prep the system containments.
Confirmation: Affirmative, ADM sent back.
When it came down to it, he knew that Aurora would betray him, but he'd rather be prepared when it happened. He had already maneuvered three of the crew she planned off the ship. He had also done it under false pretense. The schematic he had bartered would fail, sure they might manage to find the problem, but he figured ADM had done a decent job of hiding the code.
Abel angled the ship and found the exit vector through the asteroid belt. Ree fed the navigation data to Abel. The Atlas traveled through the belt without incident. Shortly after the ATLAS-V class vessel soared through warp and headed for Quintar V.
* * * *
Statement: I have located the encryption key for Aurora Rigel's external communication. It is a quantum space transmission coming from Quintar V. I have unlocked the encryption. ADM said.
What!? Display message immediately, Abel sent back.
Confirmation: Affirmative, displaying unencrypted message, ADM replied.
Communication quantum space relay established. Atlas en route, EFNF cruisers, total four, en route. Echo Shade alive? Aurora's message read.
The reply showed below Aurora's message, Echo Shade alive. Accelerated nanite repair. Six Remington alive. Accelerated nanite repair. All other crew of the TP-D Justice eliminated. Exit vector Atlas and EFNF?
Alpha Niner Tango Foxtrot eight seven point Zulu Tango one one zero. ETA three hours. Send Breaker Jones and Mirage. Aurora replied.
Flakking shit, Abel replied to ADM. Lock out the Vald station and the crew stations for her lackeys. Shut down Aurora Rigel's signal.
Confirmation: Affirmative. Lockout initiated. Defensive, warp, and navigation consoles rerouted to AI control, ADM replied.
Aurora turned and looked at Abel. Shock was evident on her face. From her expression Abel assumed she realized that ADM had blocked her external communication. She moved faster than he anticipated and lashed out with her fist. Abel felt the impact on his face before he could react to Aurora's movement. However, he was quick as well. He rolled with the impact and came up wielding both his plasma pistols.
“ADM cease silent operations, take full control of navigation and drop us out of warp.” Abel said.
“Confirmation: Affirmative. Full navigational control has been passed to AI, dropping from Warp in three … two … one,” ADM replied.
The Atlas dropped from warp in a sudden motion. The Vald was thrown forward into his console where he leapt up and tried to blend into the shadows. Abel aimed his right pistol at Ree and shook his head. The Vald sat down slowly. The other members of Aurora’s party sat back as well.
“Alright, now we're going to figure this out and then I will decide if we're going to shoot you or shoot you and space you,” Abel said. Aurora did not move, but the Vald did.
All three of Aurora’s crew began to move. Abel opened fire. Three plasma bolts from his pistols connected with the Vald. For all of his stealth and ability to attack in secret, he was not a match for Abel's nanites or his reflexes. His shots were true, the Vald did not get up. The other two stopped in their tracks and shifted uncomfortably.
“I assume you had planned this all along, why?” Abel said.
Aurora stood calmly and spoke slowly, “The Vald ordered it. You are becoming a threat, you humans. The freed Quintarran are also a threat, although we know how to curb them again. You, Abel Cain, are too innovative. The EXO Shield, the escape from Quintar VII, your defeat of Mercury Frinz, these were all unforeseen events.”
“Who are the Vald?”
“The Vald are the supreme leaders of the universe. They control all from the shado--”
Abel cut her off, “Flak, I don’t want your wet-dream. I want to know who they are and what their plan is!”
Aurora stared. She looked confused for a moment, then she spoke calmly, “The Vald designed the first Intellis, the Auron Intellis. The one the Quintarrans simply called AI. There was a time when the Vald and the Quintarrans worked together, but the Vald turned on them and enslaved them with their own technology. The Remnant fought back and drove the Vald out, but their resources were sorely limited and they could not defeat the Auron Intellis.”
Aurora cracked her neck and flexed her muscles. Abel aimed his pistol at her and threatened to pull the trigger. She calmed and continued.
“In their exile the Vald created the Aurora Intellis to infiltrate the Quintarran ves--”
“How did you get on their ships? When?” Abel interrupted.
“We've been with the Remnant for some time,” Aurora's features changed and her skin turned blue. “I am a Thrallush, a construct that can take on the characteristics of other species. The Vald use us to infiltrate and to sabotage.”
AaBee, Artemis, and Tee all gasped. Abel stared hard. He had known she was not human. He tried not to show too much surprise when she changed form. Abel kept his pistols aimed at her chest and her head. He didn't know if she could change her anatomy too, he suspected so, but he wasn't taking chances.
“Observation: Aurora Rigel is not human. She is not fully organic.” ADM said.
“Clever AI,” Aurora said. “Your design I assume Abel? Silent operations, that is certainly useful. Once I've killed you that will come in handy. The Vald will be happy to have technology like that.”
“Not so fast Aurora,” Abel said. “What do the Vald have to do with the EFNF?”
“They control the Fleet Admiral,” Aurora stated. “The EXOs are their creation in a sense. The EXO Prime is a corruption of the Auron Intellis, they mean to use the EFNF to purge it. However, they want the technology. We are finished speaking. I intend to kill you Abel Cain, we have all we need from you.”
Abel wanted to say, over my dead body, but he figured that would be redundant at this point. Instead he steadied himself and aimed at Aurora, "Alright, you want me? Come and get me bitch."
Abel pulled the triggers on his pistols. The plasma tore down the barrels and sizzled as they flared towards Aurora. The woman dodged the first bolt aimed for her head, but the second connected solidly with her shoulder. AaBee rushed forward and tried to grab her, but she pivoted and punched him solidly in the chest. Abel was certain he heard a crack before AaBee fell to the floor.
Artemis stood and drew a pistol, but Aurora leapt at him and crushed his hand with a downward chop. The older man cried out and stepped back. The construct followed up with a kick to his neck. Unsure if he could hit her and not one of his crew, Abel held his fire. He rushed towards her and punched her hard in the middle of her spine. The force of the punch made his hand ache, but it had the desired effect. Aurora pitched forward and she cried out.
At least she is not invincible, Abel thought.
She turned and reached for Abel, he narrowly avoided her grasp as he stepped back. Tee fired Artemis' plasma pistol. It grazed the side of Aurora's face and Abel had to bend back further, falling to the floor, to avoid the follow through.
“Careful kid!” Abel yelled. Maybe we shouldn't get him worked up, he thought.
Aurora turned towards Tee when Abel kicked with his mechanical leg. He connected solidly with Aurora's thigh and the audible snap sent the woman to the floor. Dropping to one knee Aurora looked at Abel. He cou
ld see the mark where Tee had shot her, her face contorted and electrical shocks sprouted from her torn face. Abel raised his plasma pistol.
“Sorry, I don't have time for this,” he said.
The plasma pistol whirred as it fired the bolt into Aurora's face. The construct went rigid as the bolt impacted and threw her back. Abel rose to his feet to stand over her and marveled that she still seemed to be alive.
“The Vald are not for…fo…forgiving, A…A……Abel Cain,” she said. She spat blood and bluish fluids. “They already have the E…E……EXO Prime’s location. The Vald do not lose. We will conquer the humans, we will conquer the Quintarrans, then we will find Sol and d…de…destroy it,” she said grinning. Blood and fluid continued to bubble up in her mouth.
Abel watched. His horror kept him from pulling the trigger again. He hoped she would say more, reveal more about the Vald's connection with the EXOs. He was concerned about what she had said about the Vald wanting the EXO technology. Aurora did not say anything else, about the EXOs, about the virus, about Echo, none of it. She just gurgled and died.
27: QUINTAR V
Quintar V - Surface Wreckage: TP-D Justice
2973 ESD - Wednesday, June 16th 15:30 hours
Echo woke. She didn't know how long she had been unconscious. The TP-D entered the atmosphere and sparks from the console must have shocked her. She couldn't remember the ship crashing, but from the state around her, it certainly had. No debris appeared to be holding her down, but she felt itchy all over. She sat up and looked down at her torn and bloodied clothes. She could find no wounds to speak of.
It took her several minutes of trepid confusion before she understood the nanites had repaired her body. Her stomach growled and her mouth felt parched. She recalled that the nanites fed on caloric intake, much like the body itself did. In the absence of food nanites could shut down or start in on the natural fat stores in her body. Depending on how long she had been out she might be emaciated.
Echo knew it was a vain thought, all things considered, but it was there nonetheless. She also feared she was going to die. The realization hit her full force. She had told no one to come for her and had specifically forbade Abel from rescuing her. She couldn't remember why she had sent the message, but she knew the EFNF would oblige. Abel may not, but that would mean his death as well. Echo wasn't sure if he would take the risk or not, but she wasn't going to wait around to find out.
She started to help herself up and a stabbing pain raked through her left leg. She looked down to see that a rod of some sort had been driven through it. The rod was about a meter long and extended just a few centimeters above her calf. She figured she could pull it out, but the skin around it had already began to heal due to the nanites. She looked around for any other survivors. Andrew Boulson's body lie mangled a few meters away. The Transteel canopy was completely shattered and the flowing grasslands of Quintar V waved in the light breeze.
Got to get moving E, you are completely exposed here, she thought.
Echo wasn't sure, but she thought she heard a voice. There was a light whispering call. She remained silent and tried not to draw attention to herself. Someone was calling her name.
It is delirium E, she remained silent.
The voice grew louder and she thought she recognized it. She was still afraid though. She felt at her waist and winced when she shifted too much. The rod clicked hard against the base of the console and rang out. The pain was secondary to her horror that she just gave her position away. She groped at her waist and found the plasma pistol still there. She drew the pistol causing another ping from the rod and another shot of pain up her leg.
“Echo!?” the voice said. It came from the front of the shattered Transteel canopy.
Echo was sure it was Six Remington, the voice was too familiar not to be his. However, they were on Quintar V. It was a miracle she survived, but for Six to have survived as well seemed uncanny.
Wasn’t he in the medical bay? Her caution felt justified.
Echo stayed silent, but prepared to switch on the plasma pistol. She unhinged the safety and pointed it at the open Transteel canopy. She continued to hear rustling and eventually Six. He looked nearly as haggard as herself. Six stepped through the opening at the front of the ship.
Echo switched on the pistol. The micro-turbine whirred to life indicating the weapon was charging. The light whine of the plasma pistol alerted him. Six looked over immediately. Instinctively he drew his sword. When he saw it was Echo he started towards her.
“Echo!” he called.
“Stay right there!” Echo gritted her teeth to keep from crying out as she forced her pistol hand forward. “Are you infected!?””
Echo knew the question was silly, she had only seen a handful of people aside from Alek Vale who retained their thoughts and memories after being exed, but she was taking no chances.
“No, god no,” Six said. He looked shocked and a bit hurt, like a puppy. “I've been searching for you all morning. The shields seem to have held the ship together right up until impact. With time and resources she could fly again.”
Echo listened to his voice. She searched for some hint he was infected; a slight reverberation or a mechanical whir. She heard nothing besides her pistol, which she still aimed at him. Six looked at her leg and frowned. Then he looked back at the pistol and his frown deepened.
Echo felt a bit sheepish and she switched off the pistol, “Hello Six.”
“Hello Echo,” he replied. “We need to get that out of your leg,” Six pointed to the rod that kept her from being able to move.
“I was about to do that when I heard your voice. I was afraid you were exed,” she said.
Damnit E, don't show weakness. You don't need anyone, you can survive and fight on your own! She scolded herself. Don't you? She added.
“Well, it looks like the flesh is healed but the rod isn't fused to the bone,” he said as he tested the rod. Echo bit her lip hard enough to draw a small trickle of blood.
“Just pull it out,” Echo said gasping.
“On the count of three. One … two,” Six said as he yanked the rod from her leg.
Echo did her best not to scream and it came out as a muffled cry. She could taste the coppery blood in her mouth. She pushed her tongue against the inside of her lip and tested her leg. The pain shot up into her hip, but she was able to put pressure on it.
“Give me a shoulder,” she said. Six obliged quickly. “We need to get moving. The EXOs are sure to know we're here. I'm surprised none have shown up yet. What day is it?””
“Wednesday, I think. Based on your injuries and mine, I'd say we needed a full day of rest and then some to heal up. The nanites work pretty well, but neither of us had much in the way of fat stores. Our first order is finding water I think,” Six said.
“Avoiding EXOs and finding water,” she said. “Why didn't that URSA class shoot us down or follow us?” She thought that this might have been a trap from the start. Considering the actions of First Fleet and the URSA, she was starting to think that it was.
“I managed to salvage some data from the crew hub, everything I could find on Quintar V. There is a considerable amount from Abel himself, but little else. Sadly, it is mostly about the indigenous people rather than the landscape. I was able to-” Six said before Echo interrupted.
“The crew hub? We still had power?” Echo asked.
“Just enough. I had to transfer it to a Writcom.”
“What about the rest of the crew?” Echo asked.
Six bowed his head. That was enough for Echo, she knew that there was little chance they had all survived. However, Six decided to say it anyway, “Kay was in engineering when the secondary power coupling failed, that caused the engine to burst on the starboard side, that is what caused us to drift into the planet instead of the moon. You saw Boulson on the command deck. Martinez made it to an escape pod, but the EXOs targeted pods first,” Six bowed his head.
“I think that the EXOs targe
ting the pods is what allowed us to rest and heal. They wanted to get any survivors from the pods before combing the TP-D for tech and usable parts,” Six finished.
“I see. What were you able to do?” Echo asked. Six looked confused. “With the data on Quintar V?”
“Oh, yeah. I was able to decipher where to find water based on Abel's observation of the Quintarran habits. We're a couple of cliqs away from a hill stream,” Six explained.
“That's the way we're going then. Did you find any other weapons?”
“I didn't check Captain,” It was the first time Six had called her captain since he found her.
Echo appreciated the respect, “I'm not much of a Captain without a ship,” she echoed Abel's sentiment regarding the loss of the Kodiak and his commission for the TP-D.
He should have been commanding this mission, she thought.
“Come on,” Echo said. “If we're going to survive long enough to kick the EXOs in the teeth we're going to need water and food.””
“There is supposed to be some sort of species of fish in the stream too,” Six offered.
“Good, I need something to eat sooner rather than later,” Echo sighed. “I'm glad you're alive Master Chief, otherwise I'd be stuck with a rod through my leg.””
The two of them hobbled out of the wreckage and started towards the destination on Six's Writcom. Echo could feel the nanites pumping through her system itching at every pore repairing the damage in her leg. Only three hours later she was walking on her own again. Although she was extremely tired and her body was rebelling against the lack of food. More than once the two of them had to stop and catch their breath before moving on again.
“There it is,” Echo said. She could see the stream. It was larger than she had expected, but then again Quintar V was at least three times the size of Quintar IV, which her histories showed was one and a quarter the size of Earth. A stream on Quintar V was a wide river on Earth.
Echo and Six rushed forward and threw their faces into the water. Echo gulped and drank as much as she could. Six drank a bit, but then began poking his sword into the water. Echo, startled, jumped back and saw a wriggling form at the end of his blade. He grinned as he flung the fish at her. Echo squealed and leapt back. For a moment he had helped her forget the horrors of the EXOs and their predicament. Sadly, it made her think of Zee and Abel. She had traveled with them for a short period of time, but in that time she had grown to love Zee like family. She had grown to love Abel as something more. She wished she had not told him to leave her here. Six seemed to recognize the somber mood and continued gathering more fish. They used the grass and several twigs to make a small fire.
