Equilibrium of Terror: Part 2

by Eddie R. Hicks

  “This is Captain Xavier,” he transmitted over the intercom. “The bridge is secure.”

  Di’aria, Onatiasha and Zhinbryo followed the lead of their group’s commander through the halls of the habitat ring stopping in front of the sealed shut door leading into the labs. She heard what sounded like a struggle going on inside, like two people fighting, one of them with plasma weaponry daggers maybe? The two warriors with them lunged their blades into the door, moving it in a circular motion to cut a hole through it. Zhinbryo stood and watched, refusing to help them.

  A four-way intersection further up provided cover for several marines, their projectile weapons discharged their magnetically accelerated rounds loudly. The shield Onatiasha and the lead guardian had deflected the projectiles coming toward them as they stood side by side. Confused, the lead guardian addressed Di’aria who did nothing but keep her psionic barrier up to protect herself.

  “This is a battle! The order demands that these ships be taken care of.” Di’aria smiled and shrugged. “Kill these humans, that’s an order.”

  Onatiasha looked at both Di’aria and Zhinbryo, they were ready to reveal who they really supported and hoped the humans attacking would get the message. The two warriors cut through the door, kicking it in, entering with Zhinbryo behind. His sword secretly rose toward them.

  Di’aria used her mind to push the guardian toward the marines. His body rolled on the floor while his blade felt out from his hands. Neither Onatiasha nor Di’aria stuck around to see how many bullets the humans put into him as they ran into the labs to help Zhinbryo deal with the rest.

  “You!” A Hashmedai called out to them.

  Onatiasha looked and saw who it was Iekia and Gorar. She heard about the infamous trio of brothers who walked away from all battles raking up the most kills in their group. She was surprised to see them here, not surprised however that they were upset at the display of betrayal before them.

  “Help Zhinbryo,” she said to Di’aria as she stepped toward the two brothers. “I’ll deal with them.”

  Iekia and Gorar drew their weapons as Onatiasha ran toward them and made the first swing with her plasma blade. The marines remained in cover in the hallways behind them had no idea what to make of the situation.

  EVE’s shipwide diagnostic was completed. The device EDF brought aboard was contaminated with malware designed to search and corrupt the computers responsible for operation of the mind shields. Additional scans showed it was programmed to search for all network ports and transmit a copy of the malware to nearby ships to perform the same act.

  EVE requested a status report of the Wilfrid Laurier, the EVE AI aboard it reported it detected the malware being uploaded point twenty-five seconds ago. EVE informed the Wilfrid Laurier’s EVE AI to shut down all network functions and lock out all long and short-range transmission devices until further notice as new scans revealed the malware could be transmitted via communication. The Wilfrid Laurier’s EVE AI agreed and informed its crew of the virus and the situation aboard the Winston Churchill.

  With both ship’s networks and communications disabled, neither could spread the malware further which would have allowed similar boarding parties to occur amongst the fleet. An incident log was compiled and saved as EVE’s physical body battled the hostile target within the lab. The target was a Hashmedai assassin which had somehow gained the power to morph into Lex Terry. Its actions became predictable after data regarding Hashmedai assassin tactics and training were accessed within EVE’s databanks and loaded into her physical form. That data was also cross referenced with data obtained from the conflict with an assassin on the Trans-Canada highway near Vancouver two months ago.

  Body scans showed the assassin’s body temperature rise to levels Hashmedai were not comfortable with. This no doubt was hindering its performance by twenty-four percent and rising with every two minutes of combat. Alert: Hashmedai from outside of the lab were attempting to cut through the door which was sealed and locked shut, estimated time for breach was two point eight six seconds. Heat was being generated from the plasma swords, they were raising the temperature of the labs by three degrees, this in turn might reduce the effectiveness of the Hashmedai assassin further.

  The assassin made a sound from its mouth before activating its personal cloaking device. It was enhanced by its psionic powers and therefore impossible to detect with infrared and thermal imaging, sensor scans are also ineffective. New combat data regarding psionic cloaking abilities was saved into her database as a result.

  Several objects were detected being placed on EVE’s back. A body scan on EVE's exterior revealed disk-shaped devices. Inquiry: What are these? EVE searched through data provided by the Radiance Union. Results found: Assassin stun disks, devices activated by the psionic mind of an assassin to render its target unconscious, duration dependent on the number of disks used. EVE did not have a nervous system however the assassin was likely aware he was fighting an android. The stun disks should be ineffective.

  EVE’s calculations were correct, other than an unexpected energy spike, the disks detonated and did nothing. Warning: Lab has been breached. EVE faced the location where the door was, two, correction three Hashmedai male warriors approached. The eyes of the two that entered first showed signs that they were focused on EVE as they moved closer with Hashmedai plasma great swords, standard weapons for all Hashmedai warriors. Puzzling, the third one behind was not focused on EVE; it was on the two in front. It lifted its two-handed plasma sword up and swung, decapitating the two warriors with two vertical cleaves and one horizontal slash.

  The remaining warrior had blue skin, white hair, and facial hair. It was accompanied by a Hashmedai female with cybernetics that did not match the design configuration of known Hashmedai cybernetics. Body scans of the female psionic were saved, EISS would want a review a copy of this. Alert: Psionic detected, arming brainjack probe.

  The female Hashmedai psionic used telekinesis to pull the assassin that was attempting to damage EVE’s physical form. Its body was pulled across the labs then the female later burned a hole through its chest with a fireball. Temperature of the ball of fire was scanned to be at 1,308 degrees Celsius. Residual heat from the fireball diminished rapidly, Cause: Unknown. New data regarding psionic powers was recorded and saved. The body of the assassin fell to the floor once the female Hashmedai psionic released it from her telekinetic grip. Scanning body: confirmed target is deceased. Alert: Unknown anomaly detected.

  The assassin’s body began to change it underwent the same process it did earlier. Its body morphed into a human. Scanning body: bio signs confirm, body was that of a human male. New data recorded and saved. EVE scanned the Hashmedai in front of her, none of them showed signs of aggression, they lowered their arms while one faced the door, likely in anticipation for the marines whose presence was coming closer to the door.

  “Di’aria,” a male warrior said. “Leave us, tell the Leviathan team we were killed and only you survived. Make them think they don’t have enough to take the ship.”

  The female psionic nodded and initialized a teleportation. Her body dematerialized, and left behind her accomplice. Alert: Psionic presence no longer detected, disarming brainjack probe. Puzzling, why would they do this? Incident report updated, scanning for additional Hashmedai contacts. Three targets remaining, location habitat ring near the recreation room. Alert: One of the Hashmedai targets have engaged the two Hashmedai targets in combat.

  Onatiasha’s duel with Iekia and Gorar continued as the two ganged up on her. They all swung their plasma blades, plasma blades that deflected and parried each other’s attacks as the arm mounted plasma shields of Iekia and Onatiasha protected them like two medieval knights. All fighters were equally matched and skilled, they could have fought for hours and made little progress other than making Onatiasha tired, tired fighters tended to die on their feet. What Onatiasha needed was another party to intervene and turn the tide. But who? The humans saw all Hashmedai as enemies, she couldn�
��t rely on one of them shooting at Iekia and Gorar as they might just shoot her too. Di’aria and Zhinbryo were busy with their battles, besides the bout she was in forced her to slowly backtrack through the hallways, past the bodies of fallen human soldiers and crew personnel. Whatever advantage she hoped to gain it had to be something she set up. And she saw it, as their sword play moved closer toward the rec. room lounge.

  Inside she quickly turned her head and saw windows at the far end of the rec. room as the sliding doors opened. They were large observation windows, windows that separated the room from space. She dove inside and positioned herself to stand before the window, as she looked up and saw what appeared to be shutters and hoped that they were there for what she suspected. An emergency cover in case the windows became damaged.

  Onatiasha took on a defensive stance, she raised her shield and goaded the two brothers to run in and charge at her for another attack. They hissed at her, she hissed back and proudly displayed her fangs convinced that her fangs were longer and sharper. They never gave her the chance to see how their fangs looked as they hid behind the walls in the hallways next to the door leading into the rec. room.

  “The empress will have your head for this traitor!” Iekia yelled to her.

  “You two and the rest of the imperial fleet are the ones betraying the empire,” Onatiasha said to them.

  “Lies!”

  “Your actions help support the Celestial Order,” Onatiasha said.

  “She’ll say anything to justify her actions,” Iekia said to Gorar.

  “The empress should have collected your head when you failed to protect the prince,” Gorar said. “And now you stand here defending the people that brought this conflict upon themselves.”

  They weren’t moving from their spots, had she carried out her plans, they would have plenty of time to run as the doors shut. They needed to be inside with her, and far enough away from the door to prevent a quick escape.

  “There used to be three of you, what happened to the other?” she asked, taunting them. “Ah, he must be enjoying the same fate your father did.”

  That did it.

  The two brothers roared like wild animals and ran inside with hatred powering their footsteps. As they entered and the sliding doors to the rec. room slid shut she quickly spun around and made a four-fold strike against the window. The plasma in her blade combined with the force of her swings caused the window to shatter while the unforgiving vacuum of space began to howl and pluck everyone, everything out starting with her.

  Onatiasha’s Hashmedai speed and reflexes caused her body to rapidly spin back toward the door separating rec. room from the rest of the ship as her tractor beam engaged shot between the two brothers and clung onto the side of the wall. She reversed the polarity of the beam and as a result Onatiasha remained inside as her tractor latched the door, it was like holding onto a strong rope tied to the wall. She remained horizontal during the decompression but unmoving from her spot. She shifted her body from left to right to avoid the incoming tables, chairs, bottles, and pieces of debris that found themselves outside in space, along with the two brothers who didn’t see her cunning action coming. An alarm sounded and seconds later the shutter from up top slammed shut and sealed off the breach into space.

  Onatiasha deactivated her tractor beam and took several deep breaths of air that had been denied to her during the ordeal. She shook off the lingering disorientating feeling that was rattling her thoughts then ran back into the fray, Di’aria and Zhinbryo’s fates were unknown. She was not in the clear, not by a long short.

  Leviathan, Titan orbit, Sol system

  Yominv was surprised to see Di’aria appear on the bridge from her teleport, alone and limping. “What happened?” he asked her.

  “They were expecting us . . .” she said. “Everyone is dead or captured.”

  Yominv frowned. Losing the boarding party was one thing, losing a psionic, that would have negative repercussions.

  “The mind shield is still down we can send in more,” Ratix said.

  “No, let’s not lose any more psionics than we already have. We still need them to power this ship to its full potential,” Yominv said. “On that note, how are they?”

  “Noylarlie and Gayir have recovered.”

  “And we have Di’aria this should be enough for now,” Yominv said, then addressed the helmsman. “Engage the drive; take us to Uranus with the rest of the fleet.”

  UNE Black Site, Titan, Sol system

  Michei sat on a table as a robotic hand from the ceiling lowered to perform a detailed scan of his cybernetic implants and lengthy scan of his head. Once the scans were finished, a holo screen next to a human manufactured device appeared with data regarding his cybernetics. The workers next to the computer smiled at the results as did Miriam König who in turn updated her holo pad with the results.

  The machine began to activate, emitting a loud roaring noise. Something called a 3D printer was a key part of the manufacturing process as it made an exact copy of the foundation of Michei’s implants and the chip inside his brain. The whole process had him worried, worried that humans might be meddling with something they did not fully understand, especially since most of the tech in the facility came from the notes of a heretic scholar.

  Gavin’s body was wheeled into the room they all were in via a stretcher. Michei watched as the two workers pushed it toward one of the pods Sarah had climbed into earlier.

  “What’s his status now?” König asked.

  “Stable,” one of the workers said.

  “Good call on injecting him with the sedative,” König said as she looked down at Gavin’s body.

  He was still breathing. But why?

  “We just got lucky the Hashmedai showed up when they did, I’m sure the Winston Churchill would have wanted his body for a memorial service.”

  König returned to her holo pad typing in several notes. “Get him into the pod.”

  The two workers proceeded to lift Gavin’s body and place him inside the pod. “Exactly how many laws are we breaking?” one of them asked as the lid began to slam shut.

  “None as long as long as President gives this project her blessing.”

  Michei stepped forward. Their conversation wasn’t something he could ignore any longer. “You lied about his death?”

  “Our species is close to its doom,” König said. “We need to take every risk to keep on thriving. Sarah was a failure as I figured, but Chambers.” König showed Michei the contents on the display of her pad. He saw an image of the red gem the heretics were obsessed with along with an image of Gavin’s dead wife, Anna Chambers. “If Telinei’s data is correct, that gem should have already increased his psionic potential by ten percent.”

  Michei winced. “Gods, please forgive me.”

  “Now rest up, I’d like you to come up with a quick psionic training plan should we succeed.”

  “I can’t participate in this any longer.”

  “If Chambers doesn’t walk away from this a fully fledged psionic I’ll be forced to safe face and have him killed, so I don’t look like a liar.” König flicked her hair back and returned to making notes on her pad. “You help us turn him into the weapon we need, and he gets to live. Nobody will give a shit that we lied about his death to make this happen. And don’t forget who’s keeping your presence here a secret from your superiors in Radiance.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Abyssal Sword, Lejorania Sanctum orbit, Alpha Centauri system

  Eight years ago . . .

  The Abyssal Sword was a newly built Radiance Union heavy cruiser. It was larger than ships such as the Abyssal Explorer, as it was built for combat and deep space recon. The bridge sported a layout similar to most Radiance cruisers, in which the floor was transparent allowing one to look down and see inside the captain’s office located below.

  Lejorania Sanctum could be seen through the forward windshield, a blue Earthlike planet drenched in light from the twin stars of Alpha Cen
tauri. It wasn’t often Rana and the members of EDF-2 got the chance to be in space, let alone see Lejorania Sanctum. She stood on the bridge, indulging in the gravity created by the three-psionic team at their stations. She watched the world turn slowly while Gengei finished speaking with a few of his bridge officers.

  “This is quite the view,” Rana said to Gomez. He too was overwhelmed by the sight of the planet they’d called home for nearly five years.

  “This is one of the newer layouts for our ships,” Gengei said when he finished speaking to his crew. “I admit I missed the bridge of the Abyssal Explorer.”

  “So, about this assassin?” Gomez asked him.

  “Yes, Nodevar. He attacked us during a speech one of your leaders was giving for the UN.”

  “I remember hearing about that on the news back in the good old days,” Gomez said.

  “Good old days, Jefe?” Rana said. As far as she was concerned they were in the good old days now. World peace, living on a beautiful planet, space ships and the promising future of a galactic nation with the UNE flag on it. How was life before the invasion? Good?

  “Yeah, the good old days, when humans killed humans, and there was only one planet we needed to be concerned about,” Gomez said. “Now shit’s just complicated.”

  Gengei walked toward spiral staircases that led him and the four EDF members down into his office where he took a seat at his triangular shaped desk. “As you know Nodevar slew general Hilemei after we arrived here from Earth. The mystery to many was how was he able to sneak into this system without us knowing.”

  “Please tell me you know as this would make our job a lot easier,” Gomez said.

  “A lot of the crew of the Abyssal Explorer turned out to be heretics, keeping their motives silent. We unknowingly dropped them off at Earth and had been doing so for several years. It was suspected at first that only three or four people aboard were heretics and those people were dealt with.”