“Slowly. I can absorb energy and rechannel it.”
Allia nodded and closed her eyes, magnifying her golden aura. Osuto did the same. Cerna placed her glaive against the rocky wall, then reached out her hands and sighed. She paused, then said, “Now focus your energies.”
Pulsing spheres of light appeared in Allia and Osuto’s hands. Gentle wisps of energy drew off them and drifted toward Cerna. The power touched her body and melded with it, became one with her. Her golden glow, which already flared with tiny sparks, intensified as ribbons of blue energy began to crackle across her body. Osuto cringed, trying to maintain against the bleed of his power.
As more energy was drawn, small orbs of white energy appeared and danced around the ribbons. She floated upward as the spheres of light ruptured in Allia and Osuto’s hands.
Ichini howled and drew attention to a beast that rapidly approached. Cerna fixed her gaze on the creature.
Osuto watched in awe as her body shuddered and lost its shape to reveal a vortex of power that swirled within. As her body reformed, a beam of light blazed from her hand. It happened fast, but Osuto swore it was a stream of tiny, translucent creatures of yellow-and-white energy.
The growling creature yelped as it was thrown against the far wall and knocked unconscious. Thick rivulets of sweat poured down Cerna’s face as her radiance dimmed to normal.
“Good!” Osuto said, out of breath.
“It’s been a while. I guess I’m not used to it like I once was.”
“If that’s you rusty, I can only imagine what you’re capable of.…” His communicator glowed. He tapped it and Mencari’s voice crackled through.
“Osuto, Eyani needs us at Eden.”
CHAPTER 15:
The Wanderers
“I’m glad you’re seated for this.” Eyani looked about the table in Eden’s glass-walled war room. Mencari’s entire team was assembled, including their newest member, Cerna. They all watched Eyani, waiting for her news. Well, everyone except Naijen, who kept flexing his forearm to look at a new tattoo that looked like the double-crescent emblem Toriko had mentioned a while ago, except this one had a ring of lightning around it. As with all of his tattoos, there was some story there. But for now Eyani’s curiosity had to wait.
She huffed uncomfortably and looked to Tenrl, hesitating a final moment before saying, “Our mysterious alien friends, the Nurealians, aren’t an unknown alien species at all. In fact, we know quite a bit about them.”
“What do you mean?” Mencari said. “Last time you mentioned them, everything you had on them was falsified.”
“That’s true. Do you remember the scar on the Nurealian we saved?”
“It was pink. What about it?”
“It’s the being’s natural skin color.”
“Their skin is green,” he said, confused.
“It’s not. Their subdermal pigmentation is actually pink. Rhysus, they’re Human. They’re from the Coalition, just like you.”
“What?” He laughed, feeling punked. Then he noticed her expression. “You’re not kidding?”
“I’m not kidding.”
“But their abilities … normal Humans can’t do what they can.”
“That’s where it gets more interesting.” Her discomfort grew, and she waved in a furry mop of an alien. Covered in long swaths of hair from head to feet, Mencari couldn’t even guess what the creature looked like underneath it all. He wasn’t even sure where its eyes and mouth were, assuming it had them.
“Doctor Xbtoth, please meet the D’mok Warriors.”
“Pleased to meet you,” squeaked a high-pitched and very translated voice.
Mencari stared fascinated by the creature. All he saw move was a small patch of hair toward the top part of the mop.
“After an analysis of Rhysus Mencari’s DNA,” Doctor Xbtoth said, “and the sample from the Nurealian, I’ve determined that not only is there a direct correlation of species, but evidence exists of genetic cloning.”
“What type of cloning?” Mencari asked with concern.
“We found a great deal of Rhysus Mencari’s genetic materials replicated in the Nurealian, er, other Human.”
“My DNA?”
“You’re Rhysus Mencari?”
“He is,” Eyani said.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. But, yes, your DNA. Segments that grant your own abilities, in fact. Most fascinating to be honest.”
A flood of memories drowned Mencari. Flashbacks and still images of doctors working on him just after his abilities manifested. He recalled the countless machines hooked up to his body, and the endless tests run by scientists. The military brass held their own sessions where they forced him to demonstrate his newfound abilities.
Suddenly everything made sense. They discarded him to the fringes of Coalition space because they were done with him. It had nothing to do with connecting him with Osuto, or belief in a grand campaign to stop the Nukari. They had what they wanted, and found an easy way to dispose of him. But if they ever needed him, they’d know where to find him.
That must be why the Coalition went silent! It would explain why all of his latest communications had been unheeded. But to not even tell him about the Nurealians, when he was already working with Eden, seemed crazy.
And why, when the Nurealians were in direct engagement with the Nukari, was he not informed? He was already fighting them!
Suddenly he felt betrayed, and Admiral Asten was the first on his list to see. He trusted Asten, grounded his own sense of purpose in the confidence Asten said he had for Mencari. The assurance was the only thing that kept him going after losing his family. Now, it was all a lie?
It was time to return home, and sort out what was going on. He had a right to be a part of it—especially if the Coalition’s super-soldiers were manifestations of him.
“There’s more.” The doctor cleared this throat. “A recovered finger fragment from Jadrell, allegedly from one of the Nukari beasts, has also been examined.”
He pulled up a display, which showed the digit Allia recovered. The image exploded into tiny particles that zoomed into ribbons of DNA strands.
“From other samples we’ve discovered, the beasts are comprised of Nukari Humanoid DNA, that you can see here….” The doctor reached out and touched sections that illuminated. A comparison strand appeared next to it, with similar sections illuminating.
“And here we find a pattern very similar to Rhysus Mencari’s, yet not the same as the cloned versions used by the Nurealians, er, Humans. It also resembles DNA taken from Allia Ta’chi. This leads us to believe—”
“Wait, you have Allia’s DNA?” Mencari said. “Why?”
“It was available in our databases,” Xbtoth said, confused. “I have full access to all Eden information.”
Mencari looked to Eyani, who looked away as she said, “The medics must have taken samples when they were healing her from the radiation sickness. I didn’t know,” her eyes met his again, “but it makes sense, Rhysus.”
Seigie interrupted the stare-down. “Continue, Doctor.”
Xbtoth fumbled pointing back to the projections. “I … I believe these areas are D’mar in origin. The beast version closely resembles sections of markers found in both Allia and Rhysus’ samples.”
The Nukari and D’mar strand segments darkened; other areas illuminated. “Here we see interesting markers, which resemble animal DNA. In short, the beasts appear to be hybrids of Nukari, D’mar, and animal genetic material.”
“Where would they get D’mar genetic material?” Allia asked.
“Given how long we’ve been gone,” Seigie said, “my guess—the final invasion.”
“But that was so long ago—”
“Unless …” Seigie expression soured. “Unless they found where the D’mar fled.”
The mere idea knotted Mencari’s stomach. If the Nukari had found and conquered the D’mar that fled, their best ally against the invaders might already be gone. With access to a large
genetic pool, what kind of other abilities could the Nukari have harvested?
“Rhysus.” Eyani’s call jogged him from his spiraling thoughts. “I’m sorry, but I thought you had a right to know all of this.”
He waved, dismissive. “We need to know what we’re up against.” He turned to Seigie. “And we can’t just assume the worst. If the Nukari had found the ancient D’mar—where they fled—we would have seen more diversity across the beast abilities. That’s an assumption, but that’s what I’m going to hold on to.”
“So both the Humans and the Nukari have been subject to genetic splicing?” Seigie said.
“We need more answers.” Mencari looked at Xbtoth. “Is the man awake yet?”
“The Human? No. I’m afraid he’s still in critical condition. But I’ll make sure Eyani knows when that changes.”
“We actually have more news,” Eyani said.
“More like that?” Mencari pointed to the doctor’s displays.
“No,” she called up a new display. “I’d like you to meet Admiral Ghn’en, of the Be’Inaxi Fleet.”
Ghn’en’s bony, light-blue exoskeleton, both aspects more prominent on his face, gave him a more alien look than the others Mencari had met. Instead of eyes, pupil-less, jelly-like patches of red gazed across the group. He wondered if Ghn’en was an actual Be’Inaxi. Come to think of it, I’ve yet to see the race that created the Trading Post and Eden.
The alien’s decorated uniform supported not only two powerful arms, but also two more-diminutive ones directly underneath. In place of a mouth, two vertical slits ran along an elongated nasal cavity, which moved as he talked in two tones at the same time.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said. “Eyani has spoken highly of your accomplishments.”
“Thank you, Ghn’en,” Mencari said.
“We’ve been tracking the Nukari ship using that tech girl’s data.”
“That’s me!” Toriko waved. “I’m Toriko!”
He paused. “Ah, Toriko. Well … the ship has continued an erratic course, with no clear destination, certainly not to any known areas. Post departure, we’ve checked a few of its stopping points, and found nothing of significance.”
Toriko waved again. “What about Nukari phasing technology? Could there be stations phased now, that weren’t when they stopped?”
“Perhaps, but there’s been no evidence of other facilities, nor has the ship ever phased out,” Tenrl added.
A star chart projected before them with a marker of the Nukari ship, along with colored streaks.
“You can see we’ve found a few smaller ion trails that skirt the big one,” Ghn’en explained as the streaks illuminated. “We thought perhaps it was an escort. But they appear intermittent, almost random in encounters, and cluster around the ship for a short time before departing again.” Ghn’en snorted. “We’re done observing from a distance. We need to get up close, see what’s really going on. Understand their patterns, see what those smaller ships are doing.”
Tenrl said, “In the end we either take the ship down, or cripple then invade it.”
“I’ve assembled a small fleet to take on the Nukari vessel,” Ghn’en explained. “I’ll arrive soon to collect you and your team, Mencari. I’ll join you in our lead scout ship. With it, we’ll close in and collect information about the targeted ship. Based on what we find, we’ll determine the best way to take it.”
“Oh yeah!” Naijen blurted, his body shaking with adrenaline, eyes filled with a manic anticipation.
Tenrl held up his hand as if any action would stifle the anxious warrior. “If we can get in the ship, we can take prisoners, interrogate, and access their computer systems. Who knows what we could learn about the Nukari. This could be a big break for us.”
Mencari looked back at the display, suspicious. “Such a prize … why would they leave it all alone out there like that?”
“Tactical error? Arrogance? Who knows,” Ghn’en said. “It’s part of what we need to find out—”
“Before we go,” Eyani cut in, “There’s one stop to make. Follow me.”
They followed her down a hall, through another bulkhead and into a corridor with various weapons, armor, and other, unidentifiable devices displayed on the walls. As they approached a desk, a happy chime rang out. A tall, slender, minx-like woman glided into the room.
* * * * *
“Seren,” Eyani’s voice drifted to her.
She stowed her latest work, then continued to her visitors. “Welcome, and hello Eyani.”
“I have a few challenges for you.”
Seren smiled a toothy grin. “How can I be of service?”
Allia said, “What is this place?”
“Welcome to my workshop,” Seren replied. “I’m Seren, one of Eden’s devisers.”
“Deviser?”
“We reengineer items to make them better. Sometimes we add to them, other times we refine what’s already there.”
“Oh!” Allia pulled the Flower Blade from her side, and squeezed, opening up the blades. “You mean like what Ujaku did?”
Seren’s eyes betrayed her surprise at the name.
Allia said, “You know Ujaku?”
“Yes, how do you?”
Eyani answered. “Actually, they rescued Ujaku from a group of mercenaries.”
Seren’s gaze shifted to Eyani. “Oh? Is he okay?”
Allia nodded with enthusiasm. “Yep. He’s back at our base.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“How do you know him?” Toriko asked.
Seren paused. “We trained together. He mastered out of the program before I did though.”
Eyani made a motion that caused Seren to look her way. “Seren, let’s see what you can do for our friends here.”
Seren bowed. “Of course. I’ll do my best, but keep in mind I’m only a temporary here. We’re waiting for the lead deviser to return.”
Eyani motioned to the group. “Please show her your weapons and devices.”
The group came forward, showing their wares. Seren asked a few questions about their use and needs. Nikko and Cogeni stayed to the back of the group, lacking traditional weapons to discuss with Seren.
In the end she collected Allia’s arm-shield, Mencari’s blaster, Cerna’s glaive and, with hesitant moves, Naijen’s Skar. She disappeared into her back workspace in the other room. Instruments began to buzz and grind to life as multiple voices filled the air.
While they waited, the group examined the various items on the walls. Naijen waited, pacing, suffering separation anxiety from his beloved weapon.
Soon the noise died down, and Seren emerged with a helper who carried the upgraded tools. She reviewed the enhancements with each member.
For Mencari, his blaster’s energy transducer was improved to safely harness more powerful crystal sources. Not only would blasts charge faster, but they’d be deadlier.
Eyes curious, Allia looked at the ornamental flair added to the fan-shield, then her eyes grew wide at the realization of the added reinforced plating.
The crystal of Cerna’s glaive now sported two blades of razor-sharp metal, along with better handgrips along the shaft.
Naijen looked over his Skar, confused. “Don’ see nothin’ new.” Allia took her eyes away from her weapon long enough to point to indentions in the Skar’s side. Seren explained, “The weapon now has fitted receptacles that can hold various types of fluids. They would flow through the blade and be pumped into wounds inflicted.” Naijen smiled cruelly at the idea.
Seren then handed a small device to Seigie.
“What’s this?” Seigie rotated it around.
“A launcher for your crystals,” Seren said. “It works like a mini-crossbow.” She demonstrated how to load and fire the device. “It will strap to your forearm if you don’t want to carry it, and you’ll able to launch a good-sized crystal much farther.”
“Thank you for the fast work,” Mencari said.
Again she b
owed as Eyani waved, indicating that Mencari’s group follow her back to the command center. As the group complied, Allia waved back. “Thanks, Seren!”
Allia waited until the others had exited into the hallway and had a good lead. She turned back to Seren and said in a hushed tone, “We’ll have Ujaku back as soon as we can.”
Seren’s expression froze as Allia waved again, and dashed ahead to the others.
* * * * *
“This is a scout ship?” Toriko’s question held unintended disappointment.
Ghn’en patted the wall next to him. “She’s not one of our biggest, but she can sure move.”
Toriko cringed inwardly. Do men always have to call things they own ‘she’?
Ghn’en motioned and escorted them through a narrow corridor to the bridge. Toriko counted a crew of five. Like the proverbial moth to a flame, she was drawn to the tactical displays that streamed information. Familiar star charts updated before her eyes. A particularly bright indicator caught her attention.
“The Nukari ship?”
Ghn’en nodded and, with a motion, projected the display to the main viewing screen. His brow furrowed, and he turned toward a woman with lavender scales similar to Eyani’s. “No subtrails?”
“Not even one, sir. Not for a while now.”
He stared at the display. “Maybe the big ship refuels the smaller ones, or perhaps get escorted by them from time to time?”
Toriko attempted to open her own holographic display. She whined in frustration. Despite her best efforts she couldn’t access her scanning systems. Not now! I don’t want to look like an idiot!
Ghn’en watched her frustration. “Something wrong?”
“Um, well,” she stammered, and felt her cheeks blaze. “I can’t seem to access my scanning data.”
His toothy sneer widened, and eerily reminded her of Naijen.
She raced through some diagnostics, and pinged her cloud servers. Everything was coming back dead. “Wait … my entire network isn’t responding.”
“None of your gadgets will penetrate this hull.” With a proud expression, Ghn’en rapped on the metal wall.
D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology Page 58
