by C H Gideon
He’d redirected a number of the bots to the med-bay, as well as several of his split personalities, in order to help where they could. Any extra hands—or brains—he could provide would make things easier for everyone involved.
He still didn’t have a clue as to who the aliens who had attacked them were. Reynolds had scoured the databases for ships that were close to matching the description of the one they’d faced, but he’d found nothing.
It was as if the beings didn’t exist before today, and their technology was far more powerful than the Reynolds’. More powerful than anything in the universe, even the Kurtherians, and that scared the AI.
He slammed a fist on the console. “Damn it! There has to be something.”
Proximity alarms sounded then, and Reynolds spun, wide-eyed.
Ria bolted upright in her seat. “A Gate’s opening ahead of us,” she announced, her voice trembling.
“Adjust shields,” Reynolds ordered. “Fire at the first opportunity, Tactical.”
“Another gate is opening to our stern,” Ria reported. “It’s the enemy superdreadnoughts.”
The words sank into Reynolds’ ears and made his AI brain churn inside his android skull.
Caught between two of the ships, which had proven to be both more powerful and quicker, there was nowhere to go.
Even if he could open a Gate in time, the ships would destroy them before they slipped through.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered. “I hate these guys.”
Reynolds straightened and glared at the alien ship hovering on the screen in front of him.
“You ever get a chance to send that ‘fuck you’ message to the ship we blasted, Comm?” he asked.
“Think now’s a good time?” Comm asked back.
“Might be the only way we go out on our own terms,” Reynolds said, hating to admit it. “Give me the comm. I want to send this shit myself.”
“Might want to hold off on that,” Comm told him. “We’re being hailed.”
Reynolds stiffened at hearing that. Although he understood what Comm had said, for some reason it didn’t seem to make sense to him.
“What?”
“The alien ships are hailing us,” Comm repeated.
“Put it on the screen,” the captain finally ordered.
A moment later, an image of a strange alien appeared, and Reynolds heard Maddox gasp behind him.
On the screen was a blob of pulsing energy that floated in the air like a gooey storm cloud engulfed in blue lightning.
It had no face, although Reynolds could tell the thing was looking at him, even if he wasn’t sure how.
A high-pitched whine came through the screen, reminding Reynolds of the recording he’d heard of the first computer modems on Earth.
It was harsh and discordant, and Reynolds couldn’t make out a damn bit of it.
“Is that the sound you heard before they attacked?” he whispered to Comm over his shoulder. “It sounds like the 90s. Do these pricks work for AOL?”
“It sounds similar,” Comm confirmed.
Reynolds turned back to the creature and raised his hands in a gesture he hoped conveyed that he had no fucking clue what the thing was trying to say.
“Trying to clean it up, but I’m not having much success,” Comm told him.
The creature seemed to understand that the crew were struggling to understand it, and it drifted sideways and motioned as if it were looking behind itself. Then the creature turned back, and a strong, clear voice rang out across the speakers.
“I am Xyxl, captain of the Gulg superdreadnought Qqhrt,” the alien said, or actually some automated voice the creature was using. “Mimicking approximate language, so forgive errors in communicate.”
Reynolds sighed in relief, even though he wanted to tear into the aliens for attacking them, but he knew now wasn’t the time to stand on principle and put all their lives at risk.
He’d return their faux-politeness as best he could and wait for the right opportunity to pay them back for the souls they’d taken.
He took a moment to muster his restraint and nodded to the creature, introducing himself.
“I am Reynolds, captain of the Federation superdreadnought Reynolds.” Reynolds kept it short without threat or explanation.
The creature went on as if Reynolds hadn’t spoken.
“You provide access to databases immediately,” the creature demanded.
Reynolds scoffed. “That’s not going to happen, phlegm-boy.” The words were out before he could rein them in.
He wasn’t used to dealing with beings who could destroy him.
The aliens didn’t appear offended.
“Open databases to review,” it repeated.
“I can’t allow you access to my information, regardless of how powerful or entitled you think you are,” Reynolds responded. “I will scuttle the ship before I let you scrape my databases or hurt my crew again.”
The alien floated on the screen a moment without saying anything, appearing to contemplate the ultimatum Reynolds had given it.
“You must open databases,” the alien pressed. “We cannot proceed. Imperative.”
Reynolds snarled and shook his head.
“What we’re having here is a failure to communicate,” Tactical growled. “What part of ‘Fuck off and die horribly’ do you not understand?”
Flickers of energy ran through the alien’s form, making it appear agitated, but the calm, smooth voice that rang out over the speakers betrayed none of its apparent frustration.
“You will open your databases,” it said.
“That was pretty clear,” Comm whispered.
Reynolds cut the sound on the channel and glanced over his shoulder at Comm. “Which one of these fucking ships is this asshole on?”
Comm examined the signal, and Reynolds could sense the uncertainty in his split personality’s pause.
“Uh…neither?”
“What do you mean?” Reynolds snarled. “How can he be speaking to us if he’s not on one of them?”
“The signal is coming from the Quadrain system,” Comm told him. “Ostensibly this guy is still on the planet.
“How is that possible?” Reynolds asked.
“Fuck if I know,” Comm responded, “but that’s where I’m tracing it to, although they’re trying to obscure it. It’s the same shit Jora’nal pulled on Gorad’s ships…only different.”
“Way to clarify,” Tactical told him.
“There’s a similarity in the coding, but it’s not the same,” Comm went on.
Reynolds turned around and looked back at the screen, splitting his focus between the strange creature and the nearby console that scrolled with intel. He tapped a few keys on the console, expanding the SD Reynolds’ scanner range.
What he saw made his AI mind whirl.
He turned back to the alien and unmuted the channel.
“How is it you can speak to us from so far away?” he asked.
“Expose databases,” the creature repeated.
Reynolds snarled.
“I’ll open a single file to you before we go further, but nothing else,” Reynolds told the creature, glancing back at Comm’s station. “Give them access to our translator data. I’m tired of talking to a petulant five-year-old.”
Comm opened access to the file, acknowledging that they’d collected it from the system right away, and Reynolds watched as the alien seemed to process it. A second later, another demand came over the comm.
“We must examine your databases to assure that you are not a threat to us,” the creature said, speaking more clearly this time “You have destroyed one of our ships, and we must understand your systems before we determine your fate.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s better.” Tactical groaned. “These guys want to be the judge, jury, and assacutioner all in one.”
“Yeah, you’re worried we’re a threat to you, huh?” Reynolds grumbled.
Then he thought about it for a moment.
/> Maybe we are.
Given that the enemy wanted their databases so badly, it was clear that they didn’t understand the type of weapon that had been used on them. They didn’t know how much energy it took for the superdreadnought to activate it, and they didn’t know how much it took out of the Reynolds to fire it.
They could use that to their advantage, Reynolds realized.
But before he could think of how, alarms flashed across the bridge.
“Uh oh, it looks like we have a problem,” Comm mumbled. “They’re riding in on that file transmission and trying to hack into the system.”
“Well, fucking stop them,” Reynolds demanded.
“Easier said than done,” Comm complained.
“What do you mean?” Reynolds asked.
“These guys are good,” Comm replied. “Reeeeal good.”
“Then you better damn well bring your A-game, Comm,” Reynolds snarled. “If these motherfuckers get into the system, we’re screwed. Keep them out.”
“Working on it,” Comm mumbled, uncertainty in his computer voice. “They’re coming at us in that weird-ass language of theirs, and it’s obfuscating some of their efforts. This shit is strange.”
“Well, unweird it, damn it,” Reynolds growled.
The power flickered on the bridge as an unseen battle was waged.
“It’s a good thing we bumped up our security since the Gorad confrontation,” Maddox said. Sweat beaded his forehead. “They’re hitting the system hard. My console is glitching.”
“Keep on knocking, but you can’t come in,” Tactical sang.
“That might not be the case, Tactical. They’re cracking through and scraping the surface of our databases,” Comm complained, sounding desperate. “I can’t keep them out of the rest of the systems for long. These guys are just too good.”
And that was when it clicked.
“The fog of my mind has cleared!” Reynolds realized something he should have known earlier.
He triggered the comm, his voice echoing throughout the ship. “All of me, I need you to fucking pay attention,” he called. “We have an intruder trying to hack our systems. I need each and every one of you to dial in and work together to repel them, and I need you to do it right fucking now!”
Reynolds jumped on his console and got to work. He knew immediately that his other personalities had joined him as he reconnected his higher processes in the harrowing fight to hold off the strange aliens.
Comm sighed. “That’s working.”
Reynolds growled in reply, “We’ve been working below our normal operational level with the split,” he explained. “It doesn’t affect our general function when it comes to day-to-day tasks, but by doing everything individually, it’s like we’re doing things with some of our senses muffled.”
“I thought you had your head up your ass,” Tactical told him.
“And it smelled like you,” Reynolds fired back. “Organize the process as if we’re a single unit because, well, we are, assholes.”
And they did.
With all the computing power of the AI personalities focused on a single task, the alien hacker soon retreated, its efforts to crack Reynolds’ databases repelled.
“We’re locking them out,” Comm announced, relief in his voice. “They’re back behind the firewall now. Additional security protocols are in place to keep them there.”
“Take that, squealy,” Tactical shouted.
The alien on the screen looked at something behind it, then turned back to Reynolds.
“You have repelled us from your systems,” it said, a hint of surprise coming through even the automated computer voice it used.
“Damn straight we did,” Tactical told the alien.
“Since we are unable to confirm what is necessary, prepare to be boarded,” Xyxl stated.
“I don’t fucking think so,” Reynolds snarled. “Any ship you send our direction will be blasted to dust,” the AI warned. “Keep your distance.”
The viewscreen went black as the connection was severed.
“Chattus interruptus is so disappointing,” Tactical said.
“You don’t think they’ll actually try to board us, do you?” Maddox asked.
Reynolds shrugged. “I don’t think so, but it’s not like they can line their superdreadnoughts up beside us to do it,” he answered. “That means they have to use smaller, more vulnerable craft to accomplish it. Craft we can blow the fuck out of. Ready weapons, Tactical.”
“Ready and waiting,” Tactical replied. “Anyone who gets near us is going to eat a big-ass heaping mouthful of scorching death.”
“Greetings, Federation,” a strange voice said, the sound coming across the SD Reynolds’ speaker system. A flicker of energy sounded at their backs.
Everyone on the bridge spun about and stared.
“Uh…sir?” Ria mumbled, her trembling hand in the air, pointing. “We’ve got company.” Her voice wavered.
Three of the aliens floated in the open area in front of the large viewscreen on the bridge.
“What the fuck?” Maddox cursed, eyes wide. “How did…”
The general went for his gun, but Reynolds held up a hand to stop him when he saw the energy forms of the creatures. Maddox reluctantly resisted the urge to defy the order.
There was a piercing squee through the speakers, then the alien’s voice seemed to resonate from the being, Reynolds translator systems parsing what was being said directly.
“Be aware that we mean you no harm,” the alien Reynolds assumed was Xyxl said.
“Except, you did cause harm,” he fired back. “A number of our crew are dead, thanks to you and your actions.”
“We assessed you as a threat when you arrived so suddenly and acted accordingly,” Xyxl replied, his voice even more casual directly, although it carried a staticky undertone that grated on Reynolds’ ears.
“How about we blow your alien asses off our bridge?” Tactical shouted.
Reynolds felt a wave of pressure wash over him as if the aliens were examining him. Then the feeling disappeared.
“Your weapons are incapable of harming us,” Xyxl stated matter-of-factly, confirming what Reynolds had already determined. The alien drifted closer to the captain without apparent fear, leaving its two companions behind. “I extend our apologies for your losses. Our scans defined you as an enemy.”
“And your firing on us defined you as an enemy of ours,” Reynolds said coldly.
The alien drifted even closer, and Reynolds felt the wave of energy pass over him again.
They’re scanning me.
“You appear human, yet you are not,” Xyxl mused. “You are a construct.”
“What do you know about humans?” Reynolds asked, ignoring the part about him being an android.
The alien appeared to stare at Reynolds for a quiet moment before finally speaking. “We know much about you, of your Federation and Queen, about your mission,” Xyxl answered. “It required us to examine your databases to be sure, however.”
“You didn’t get shit, though,” Tactical sniped. “You know nothing.”
“On the contrary, we learned all we needed before you managed to lock us out,” Xyxl countered. “That is why we determined it would be best for us to conduct our discussions face to face.”
“So, what do you have to say?” Reynolds asked, holding his position against the ball of energy.
“We apologize, and have come to repair the damage we have caused.”
“We appreciate the assistance, but you won’t have access to our systems for anything you’ll do,” Reynolds stated. “And what makes you think we want anything from you?”
“Because we can bring your crew back from the brink if you allow us to,” the alien told him.
“Wait, you can bring them back to life?” Maddox asked to clarify.
“Indeed,” Xyxl answered. “If done soon enough. Time is of the essence, however. It must be done quickly.”
Reynolds stiffen
ed. He hadn’t expected that. Now he was stuck in a situation where he had to decide whether to play nice with the weird aliens in the hopes that they could actually bring his people back to life, or reject them and accept the consequences of having lost crew.
Time was running out. He had to decide, but one question nagged him, caused him to hesitate.
“This enemy you believed us to be,” Reynolds asked. “Who are they?”
“Why, the Kurtherians, of course.”
Chapter Eleven
Geroux followed the emperor’s sister through Ulf, her thoughts whirling.
Never before had she contemplated doing what she imagined, but she’d never been in such a situation before.
Her stomach was a clenched knot of anticipation and rage and uncertainty, but she was committed. Geroux had to do something to ensure that Asya and Ka’nak were safe, and there was only one thing she could think of to make that happen.
Geroux eased closer to Aht Gow as she strode on, oblivious that Geroux was following her. She did her best to avoid contact with passersby.
Aht Gow twisted and turned and wound her way through the city, each successive direction change moving her farther from the busy streets into the quiet, nearly abandoned alleyways that ran behind the buildings and homes.
Geroux had a moment of doubt as she pictured the emperor’s sister leading her into a trap, but she extended the scanners of her suit and confirmed that she was alone with the Muultu. The alley they were in, and those nearby, were empty of people.
If she was going to do what she planned, it needed to be now.
Geroux swallowed hard and darted forward, doing her best to muffle the sound of her approach. Breath held in check, lungs throbbing, she closed the distance.
Even then she wondered if she could do what was necessary, but a cold, rational voice inside her pushed her on.
It was this or risk her friends being killed.
She couldn’t let that happen.
Geroux came up behind Aht Gow before the emperor’s sister realized she was there.
A scuff of a boot at the last second alerted Aht Gow and she spun, eyes wide, although Geroux knew she couldn’t see anything thanks to the armor’s cloaking. She raised her hands out of instinct at the same time Geroux closed, but there was nothing the female could do to stop her.
