The Siege of Sirius: A Splintered Galaxy Space Fantasy Novel

by Eddie R. Hicks

  Chevallier was pulled in again as the creature primed itself to smack her again with its tail. She countered with a well-placed elbow to its face as it tried to slap her again. The blow sent the creature to the bottom of the lake, its mind dazed by the sudden blow, rendering its psionic powers ineffective until it came to. It was the break she needed, she faced the opened wormhole wading and splashing through the shallow waters and crossed over onto the new planet beyond.

  She heard the creature from behind rise from the waters she had sent it into. A telekinetic pull would force Chevallier back through the wormhole and into the creature’s grasp again, she had doubts her armor could take a prolong beating without its shields. Looking down she saw cracks form across her chest plate and arms, the tail slaps were doing a lot more damage than she thought. They were quite possibly enhanced by its psionic powers to deliver a robust deadly blow with reduced damage to the sender of said blow. Another new psionic trick.

  Chevallier strafed to the left of the wormhole knowing that whatever psionic powers that came through would miss her as she was out of their line of sight. She quickly splashed her way behind the wormhole, shocked at what she saw next. She saw the landscape that was behind the wormhole on the other world, including her rifle, floating away. The wormhole worked both ways, entering it from behind would place one behind the connecting gate. She leaped back in as her adversary leaped through the gate on the opposite side to chase.

  Chevallier pulled her soaking wet rifle out from the water and aimed it toward the mouth of the wormhole wondering if the creature would follow her behind the gate. She found her answer seconds later as it came into view, her rifle welcomed it back into the fight with a hail of bullets that turned the shallow waters it swam through a murky red.

  Norauk was long gone at that point and given what she had experienced with wormholes thus far, they automatically shut after a while. If it closed on her she might lose her chance to find out what happened to the rest, and if she entered it would probably close, trapping her on the planet beyond. She made her choice and stepped back through, over the body of her now dead adversary. She glanced upward at the unfamiliar skies and the large brown dwarf. The oceanic planet orbited Sirius C. Then she realized she was beyond the domes on the other planet that was blocking all transmissions to, and from, the Carl Sagan.

  She began to quickly send a distress signal and hoped the damage done to her helmet wouldn’t be an issue. Bad enough that a signal sent from her current location would take an hour or longer to reach the Carl Sagan, depending on how far away they were. With the message for help sent she began to follow the source of McDowell’s signal through the shallow waters. She tried to forget about the fact the wormhole had shut behind her, effectively stranding her on another alien world until help arrived, if it did.

  She found the source of McDowell’s signal, his helmet and combat armor along with Kingston’s in the waters below her. She took a few steps back after realizing it was close to a steep decline on the surface where the shallow waters became deep very quick. Whatever story Norauk had told her had some truth to it. If those mermaids . . . those Sirens had taken the three men away, it would have happened right there.

  She circled around the area having discovered that the shallow section of the water didn’t extend far beyond the wormhole, confirming that she was truly trapped on what was really just a tiny isle partly submerged in the ocean’s water. There was nothing left for her to do, she found their signal and she sent a transmission to the Carl Sagan. There was nobody around her that needed to be rescued other than her.

  She began to scan the horizon with her HUD in hopes that there might be a small island she could swim to, the results from the flickering projection came back negative, just the surface of the ocean as far as the eye could see, except for . . . she zoomed in after receiving new critical data transmitted to her HUD. Waters in the distance were raging and quickly began to arch upward blotting out the view of Sirius C.

  A towering tsunami approached, and it was poised to wash her away. She used the max zoom function of her helmet, the imagery, and data she got back wasn’t promising. The tsunami was nearly sixteen stories tall and growing. Eventually the towering, churning waters obscured the visible sky including the huge crimson moon, most likely the source of the gigantic title wave in conjunction with the planet’s proximity to Sirius C, or was it because of the combined gravity from Sirius A and B? Chevallier had no idea exactly, that was Pierce’s job. And boy, did she wish his brains were here to help her survive what was coming.

  Chevallier had no idea how to work the wormhole and swimming at this point wouldn’t do any good as the tsunami would still pick her up and running? Fuck that she was stuck on this partially submerged isle.

  “You got to be fucking kidding me . . .” were her last words before the tsunami hit and dashed her body out into the ocean.

  16 WILLIAMS

  ESRS Carl Sagan, Bridge

  SA-139 orbit, Sirius A system

  May 21, 2050, 09:43 SST (Sol Standard Time)

  Williams started the day by reviewing all newly collected data about the system. As much as he wanted to return to Sirius B with guns blazing, he knew even with the reduced mass of the ship and increased maneuverability they were going to need a better idea of what they were going to be up against in their search and rescue operation. The probes launched in Sirius B were still transmitting their data, a good sign as it meant either the aliens didn’t detect them or didn’t care about them.

  “Commander, please join me on the bridge,” Tolukei’s voice said via Foster’s office intercom.

  Williams traveled one level up onto the bridge and joined Tolukei at his station. “What’s up, Tolukei?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m sending you the location on the planet’s surface, something of importance is there.”

  Williams looked at Tolukei’s screen on which there was a place of interest highlighted within the region where the hurricane was still devastating. The same data populated Chang’s navigational computer screen.

  “Want us to check it out?” Chang asked Williams.

  “Might as well since we’re here.”

  Chang broke the geostationary orbit and had the Carl Sagan travel toward the northeastern ridge of the landmass where the hurricane spun. There was a large tropical rain forest that had just been enveloped by the thick clouds, strong winds, and heavy rainfall covered by the darkness of night.

  “The source of the psionic activity is here,” Tolukei said looking at the windshield of the bridge. “I know it is.”

  “EVE?” Williams said facing her blue and white hologram.

  “The storm over that region is creating moderate interference for sensor scans, Commander.”

  “Probes?”

  “I advise against that due to the severity of the storm, Commander. A transport may be more suitable assuming its shields remain active.”

  “In other words, if the shields fail.”

  “Then the transport may become damaged.”

  “Send me,” Tolukei offered.

  Williams grinned at their four-eyed Javnis crew member. “Ballsy.”

  “I can teleport down and keep a psionic barrier around me to stay safe.”

  “By yourself? Don’t think so.”

  Williams admired Tolukei’s willingness to help, but knew that if something were to happen to him they were out of a psionic, something they were going to need in their search for the Captain. Case in point, Tolukei knew something was up with this particular region of the planet, something that could be related to their search.

  “I can extend the barrier to protect others, if you wish,” Tolukei said.

  “Hmm, that works for me,” Williams said. “Chang, have Rivera meet us in engineering.”

  Chang grimaced and faced Williams as he and Tolukei proceeded to exit the bridge. “With all due respect, Commander, we lost the Captain and our Hammerhead CO and XO already.”

  “I unders
tand, but all of our exploration teams are focused on the colony and other parts of the world. We don’t have any teams available to investigate this. Besides Tolukei is coming along, if we get into trouble he’ll teleport us out.” Williams faced Tolukei. “Right?”

  “If we run into a combat situation I may be forced to use my powers offensively,” Tolukei said.

  “But you can still get us out, right?”

  “If my mind grows tired from heavy psionic use, then no.”

  Everyone on the bridge winced at his words. “But that’s a big if, so . . .”

  TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

  SA-139, Sirius A system

  May 21, 2050, 11:13 SST (Sol Standard Time)

  The darkened forest briefly lit up with the flash of blue light from Tolukei’s teleportation. He used his psionic powers afterward to cast a protective bubble around himself while Williams and Rivera kept close to him and inside of it. The bubble consistently shimmered and flickered purple as the howling winds and torrential rain crashed against it from all angles. Next to Rivera was a probe they brought along with them, it was the only means of getting it to the surface without the winds above damaging it.

  The winds were also the only sounds Williams could hear other than tree branches and leaves flailing about, while the trees that they were a part of struggled to remain in their place. A flashlight attached to Rivera’s and Williams EAD lit a path for them to traverse through the soggy land below them. Rivera input a string of commands onto her holo pad that sent a signal to the probe for it to activate and rise into the skies, not too far up of course, the winds were still rough.

  “EVE, are you receiving us?” Williams transmitted, however there was no reply. His EAD also revealed connection to the EVE and the Carl Sagan had been lost.

  “It’s the storm,” Rivera said as she fingered her pad more. “Give me a sec, I’ll try and reroute our signals through the probe, it should help clear things up.”

  The probe above them flew around searching for a sweet spot it could use to transmit data. After several frustrating minutes, it found one and began to relay data back and forth between EVE and Williams and Rivera below, data regarding the layout of the forest, data the Carl Sagan wasn’t able to accurately get due to the storm’s interference. There was a structure of some unknown design further up.

  A quick trek past upturned trees, and through winds that should have knocked them over, led them to the structure, one that was overrun by the vegetation around it and seemed to have been for thousands of years. Williams couldn’t get a good look at it due to the darkness and rainfall, but according to his EAD and the probe above them, it was massive with towering pillars around its base, and a central spire in the middle.

  “This is it,” Tolukei yelled over the noise of the storm. “This is where the psionic power is coming from.”

  “Any idea where that power’s going?” Williams yelled back.

  “It’s transmitting outward, to an unknown location.”

  17 WILLIAMS

  Ancient construct, Tropical Rain forest

  SA-139, Sirius A system

  May 21, 2050, 11:26 SST (Sol Standard Time)

  “I got a bad feeling about this,” Rivera said.

  Williams too had an uneasy feeling as he, Rivera, and Tolukei walked into the structure. Lights illuminated the darkened hallways as they entered. They shined down from the three or four-story-high ceilings held up by ivory pillars lined with azure-colored orbs. The walls and floors were smooth to the touch, and were made of the same ivory material as the pillars. Strange markings were on the floor below them. They looked like lines and circles that formed a pattern; a welcome mat Williams had hoped.

  Pearlescent white flowers were placed along the sides of the walls, probably as a form of decoration. Williams’ EAD revealed that the flowers were still alive despite the lack of water or light. The petals of the flowers moved in sync with Rivera’s hands as she waved it over them. On closer inspection they found a large cerulean-blue orb within the center of the flower, EAD scans were unable to determine what it was made of, or its purpose.

  “EVE, anything in the Radiance database regarding this?” Williams asked as they walked further in.

  “Please stand by,” EVE said with static interference in her voice. “The composition and designs of this structure are consistent with Lyonria ruins, Commander.”

  “Lyonria?”

  “The Lyonria is an extinct ancient civilization heavily studied by Radiance,” EVE said. “Major ruins of their culture have been found in the Linl home system, the Barnard's Star system, Alpha and Proxima Centauri, and the Morutrin system. Other systems within the Radiance Union have uncovered the presence of smaller though less significant ruins.”

  Williams looked up. “Do they always build their ceilings so high?”

  “Unknown, Commander, this is the first largely intact Lyonria structure found according to the Radiance database.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Please keep in mind, Commander, we have been disconnected from the UNE and Radiance for seventeen years, it is possible more ruins have been uncovered since then. Furthermore, this region of space is considered to be an unknown frontier to both the Hashmedai Empire and Radiance Union. Barnard's Star, Alpha and Proxima Centauri, and Morutrin as well as Earth and the Sol system are all considered to be located at the start of that region of space.”

  “And Sirius?”

  “Sirius too is part of the realm. It is entirely possible that additional traces of the Lyonria civilization exist deeper into this unexplored region of space.”

  The group stopped at the end of the wide hall in front of an alcove that had a blue-colored pad below it and a small holographic screen beside it. Rivera examined it up and down with her EAD. “EVE, what about this?” she inquired.

  “There appears to be traces of—”

  “Psionic energy,” Tolukei interjected.

  “That is correct, Tolukei,” EVE continued. “This device is powered by a low level of psionic power.”

  Tolukei nodded. “I can sense it.”

  Williams looked at the small holographic screen next to it. The screen changed every ten seconds to an image of various rooms, rooms that all had the same or similar design as the structure they were in. He tapped the hologram and it changed, repeated touches forced the image to change again. Every picture that loaded had an alcove that looked exactly like the one they stood before.

  “What kind of psionic energy, Tolukei?” Williams asked.

  “It is consistent with teleportation.”

  “I am detecting several devices like this throughout the fortress, Commander,” EVE said. “It may be a form of transportation the Lyonria used.”

  Williams slipped his EAD into his pocket and cracked his fingers. “Well, only one way to find out.”

  Williams stepped toward the alcove as EVE began to speak again. “I advise against that, Commander, until further testing can be—”

  Williams’ body rematerialized onto an alcove that faced a long rail-less bridge high above a massive drop with strange machines at the bottom churning out radiating bolts of electricity. Further ahead, across the bridge, was a square room which appeared to have been floating as if the bridge itself was holding it up.

  “Advise against what?” he said with a smug grin.

  “Well, that was . . . unexpected,” EVE said.

  The alcove behind him flashed twice, Tolukei and Rivera appeared from it and looked in awe at the large drop below them and the room at the end of the bridge. Williams briefly looked back at the teleportation alcove and the holographic screen next to it.

  “I’m guessing those screens are linked with a camera to let someone know what area they are teleporting to inside this place,” he said. “We are still inside, right, EVE?”

  “That is correct, Commander. The alcove you have passed through has placed you in a location in the top spire of the fortress.”

  The three walked ac
ross the bridge on the way to the room at the end. EAD scans from both Williams and Rivera had a tough time identifying what was going on with the machines below them, and the energy it was releasing as a byproduct. Tolukei looked ill the deeper they moved in, Williams figured he might have had acrophobia. It was a long way down after all should one of them trip and fall off.

  “OK, this is big,” Williams said as they neared the entrance to the square-shaped room. “And I’m not talking about this fortress.”

  “Intact Lyonria ruins, Radiance is going to be so jelly,” Rivera said. “No offense, Tolukei.”

  “Why should I be offended?” Tolukei said, rubbing the side of his forehead.

  The closer they got to the room the more discomfort Williams noticed he was in. “You OK, man?”

  “My head hurts, the pain has gotten stronger since we’ve been here,” Tolukei said. “Not to worry, I’m sure it will pass.”

  They pressed on and entered the room as EVE and their EADs scans did not report anything that could be dangerous. The room was dark at first, until motion sensors detected their presence and activated ceiling lights. The room was empty apart from an oval-shaped device, a holographic interface next to it, a computer terminal before it, and control panels on the walls.

  “EVE, what’s the status of that storm?” Williams said as he lowered his EAD.

  “High winds and rainfall continue to batter the region, Commander.”

  “We need to set up a base camp here ASAP,” Williams said while they began to spread out and observe their new discovery. “The colony is important and all, but this . . .”

  Rivera stopped next to a wall control panel and began to carefully analyze it with her EAD. “The Lyonria were using some high-tech stuff, there’s a lot that could be learned here.”