Argos jumped out of his bed in a fluid motion. “I’m on my way to the bridge.”
Finally, he thought as he exited his quarters in a hurry. Finally some good news.
The return of the Fifth Star Alliance Fleet had thwarted the plan he had for Droxia. He knew very well that the Droxians wouldn’t be easy to defeat, but still, had the damn Star Alliance and his brother not intervened, the forces sent could have taken care of the defenses around their main world.
He jumped into the lift the moment its splitting doors opened and said, “Bridge.”
He had analyzed the logs of that battle very carefully and had noticed that the ships from the Fifth Fleet seemed more resilient, with heavier weaponry and some sort of short range cloaked fighters to boot. That would make the next engagements more difficult, but much more interesting at the same time.
The doors opened a second later to reveal the bridge of the Zarlack ship Kollassi, Argos’ newly finished battleship. It was a similar class vessel as the Dragon’s Claw, but now that the emperor was gone, either dead or taken prisoner, he had appointed a new acting emperor whose first order had been to have a new behemoth-class destroyer constructed.
Argos stepped purposefully onto the bridge of his new ship. All the officers rose and saluted him before getting back to their previous activity. He walked towards the communications officer, a rather small lizard man for a Zarlack, but Argos knew better than to judge someone based on their appearance. Commander Tsur’lan was a wizard when it came to digital communications, encryption, and hacking.
“Report,” he demanded.
Tsur’lan turned. “We received a transmission that seemed to last only a few moments. The proximity of the sensor we’ve installed on the subject allowed us to get a very clear signal; she must have been close to him when he received it.”
“Good. As I suspected, she may prove more useful to us this way.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Can you interpret the message?”
“That’s where it gets tricky. It’s clearly a sort of holographic video projection. That much I can figure out. But it’s garbled or, most likely, encrypted with an algorithm I’ve never seen before.”
Argos’ eyes narrowed in an icy glare. “I thought you were the best when it came to deciphering any sort of encryption.”
“I’m flattered, Master, and I am very skilled in such matters, which may not be good news in this case. While it is still early, I am unable to even crack the surface. And from the looks of that data stream, it has a multi-layered, adaptable, and phasing encryption. Cracking it, if even possible in the first place, will be a long and tedious process.”
“What can I do to help you?” Argos asked practically. “Do you require more calculation power? Feel free to network with the entire fleet and use as much CPU as you require.”
“Thank you, Master, surely that will help somehow, but still… I’m afraid a full decode is less than likely, especially in a short time frame.”
“What are we looking at here? A day? A week?”
“While I need to run more tests on the data stream, I’d say unless we find the nature and access codes for these ciphers, more like one or more years.”
Argos made a noise that made everyone on the bridge very uncomfortable. A flash of fear streaked through his communications officer’s eyes, but the man didn’t back down. He was simply telling the truth.
“I... I believe however, Master, that if we could enlist some help, and the more signal we intercept as well, we could, perhaps, at least try and get some of these signals’ properties within a shorter timeframe. Much shorter.”
“You want me to hire Datalight Thieves?”
“It would help.”
Argos thought about it; he didn’t like the idea. DTs were known to be the most skilled hackers of any sort of digital system in the entire universe, but they were also a scum organization—one that couldn’t be trusted. And if there was one thing that Argos didn’t want, it was to be hacked by DTs. He had too many secrets that needed to stay as such.
“I won’t have any of these data junkies onboard any of my ships...”
The communications officer bowed his head. “I understand, Master.”
“However...”— he paused and the lizard looked surprised— “use our base of communications in the Zeta Sector. Invite them there. But before you do, backup all data with quadruple encryption and send it to the fleet. Then wipe the data there except for just the bare minimum you need to work on decoding these transmissions. This is a priority mission. You’re now in charge of it; do not disappoint me.”
“Thank you, Master. Please understand the best I think can be achieved is to either get you the source of the message, or, at the very least, get the encapsulation method and perhaps, if we get lucky, some of the data. I wouldn’t count on full holographic data streams, but perhaps some audio.”
Argos smiled, an incredibly rare event.
“If you manage to get some audio and the encapsulation method for this message, you’ll be promoted on the spot; if you get me the source location of the message, I’ll give you whatever your heart desires. If you fail at both, I will wipe you out of existence, understood?”
“Yes, Master.”
While Argos didn’t need threats or even really like using them, he noticed that with small-minded creatures, it was a very efficient motivator. While he wouldn’t want to lose such a skilled communications officer, he had trust that he would deliver something of use at the very least. And he definitely didn’t trust anyone else to shield him from these damn DTs.
“Keep me informed as soon as you have anything to report.”
“The second I have something, you’ll know.”
Argos nodded in agreement. “Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Once you’re done with the DTs help, make sure none of them survive.”
“Understood.”
Argos then proceeded to leave the bridge of the Kollassi.
It was Chase’s first ever funeral. Well, his first ever Earth funeral. The Alliance didn’t put dead bodies in the ground; they jettisoned them in a militaristic fashion to the nearest star. So to say that it had been an enlightening day—between the ceremony and Ares—was putting it mildly. As he and Sarah walked around the wake that followed, he learned that “funerals” in the human sense were more a celebration of life than anything else. It was actually a rather beautiful way to gain some kind of closure, and as Sarah mingled with family and friends she hadn’t seen in a long time—introducing Chase all the while—he hoped it was working.
Everything was going smoothly until his comm made a noise. He quickly exited the little house and went outside to take the call.
“Lieutenant Commander Athanatos.”
“Lieutenant Commander, I need you on the Destiny,” Commodore Saroudis said with no other preamble.
“Can it wait, Commodore? Kind of in the middle of something at the moment.”
“It would be best if you came onboard ASAP. We had another attempt, this time on the shipyard. Fortunately we diffused the situation, but I thought you’d like to be here for the interrogation of the suspect.”
They’d found a suspect?
Chase bit his lower lip. He indeed wanted to know who was responsible and why these terrorist acts were happening, but he didn’t want to abandon Sarah in a time of need.
“I’ll do my best to get to the Destiny as soon as possible, Commodore.”
“Very well. If you’re not here within the hour, we’ll start the interrogation without you. In the meantime, I’ve sent a team to investigate the nature of the explosive and a sweeping team to make sure there aren’t any other surprises left on our brand new battleship.”
“Thanks, Commodore, see you soon. Chase out.”
The transmission ended, and as if on cue the door opened and Sarah joined him outside.
“Everything okay?” she asked with a touch of concern. “Do
you feel uncomfortable being here?”
“Not at all,” he reassured her quickly. “The commodore called, something happened...”
“Another explosion?”
“Fortunately this time the attempt was thwarted, but Saroudis would like me to be there when we interrogate the perpetrator.”
“You should go, Chase.”
“No, I said I would come and be here with you today. This is more important.”
She cast him a beaming smile. “No it’s not, Chase, and you know it. Besides, you are here. You came, the funeral is almost over, and I have all my family here. So really, I insist, go take care of business.”
He took her in his arms and held her tightly against his chest.
“I love you so much,” she whispered. “Thank you for being here for me.”
Chase’s heart ached at the thought of leaving her.
“I love you too, and I’ll get back to you as soon as humanly possible.”
“I know you will.”
She kissed him softly on the lips and returned inside as he used his comm to call a shuttle.
On board the Destiny, Chase hurried off the shuttle then rushed to meet the commodore on the bridge. Upon arrival, he was surprised to see Tar’Lock and Ryonna were there as well.
“Hey, guys, what are you doing here?”
The commodore answered. “I thought it could be beneficial to have a Droxian at the interrogation. They are imposing by nature, and perhaps she could be of use.”
“I can be very persuasive if need be,” Ryonna said gravely.
“And I had nothing better to do, so I came along,” Tar’Lock added cheerfully.
Chase smiled at the remark. “So tell me more. What happened?”
Captain Saroudis selected a view from the holo-display that showed the new battleship, the EAD Hope. He pointed to a blinking red dot.
“A worker on the new battleship planted a bomb near the quadrinium chamber, here. If it had detonated, not only would that have destroyed the ship, but it might have seriously damaged multiple cities in the once United States of America from the fallout debris.”
“Has he talked?”
Ryonna shook her head. “No. She doesn’t seem like she will be easily intimidated either.”
“She?” Chase was surprised. “Who talked with her until now?”
The commodore passed his hand over his face. “For now, only the security who caught her in the act. Had they arrived a few minutes later, it might have been too late.”
“Do we know anything about her?”
“Yes, we managed to gather some basic information. Nothing special, no history of violence. She really doesn’t fit the profile of a criminal.”
“Should I… Should I go talk to her?”
Commodore Saroudis nodded. “She’s in the brig. We’ll monitor from here.”
When Chase arrived at the brig, he got a quick debrief from the security officer who tried to interrogate the perpetrator after her arrival. She’d barely said a word, not even her name—it was found later by accessing some of Earth’s databases.
Age thirty-seven, Caucasian with brown hair, blue eyes. Named Nina Greenhurst. Widow, mother of one daughter, no previous problems with the law, a real clean slate on paper. Yet, she had tried to blow up a destroyer in orbit. Something didn’t add up.
When Chase arrived at the cell, the security guard lowered the protective force field. It was reactivated the second he stepped inside.
The woman sat with her back to the wall, her arms secured at the wrist, on a standard, sturdy, brushed metal prisoner’s chair. When she saw Chase come in, she held his gaze unapologetically until it was actually him who glanced away.
“What’s your name?” he asked tentatively.
She didn’t even blink, let alone answer.
“So you’re a nameless criminal who finds blowing up people and property fun, is that it?”
Again, no reaction. No answer. No sign she even registered the question.
An image of Sarah’s hand sticking up out of the smoldering rubble flashed through his head and he leaned forward with a glare.
“Do you realize the enormity of the crime you were about to commit?” he thundered, just inches from her face. “The number of people who could have lost their lives? Quadrinium is a very volatile element, but you knew that already since you were near its storage chamber.”
Again, words didn’t seem to impact her at all. Let’s try a threat then.
“I’d be talking to me, if I were you. If you don’t, I’ll send my Droxian friend in here and things might get real ugly real fast.”
For the first time, the words hit home. She looked him right in the eyes and smiled.
She was clearly taunting him. For what reason, Chase simply couldn’t understand. What was the motivation here? Shaking his head in exasperation, he took a step back. Perhaps a show of force was required.
His face hardened as he slowly lifted his hand. A second later, a magnificent blue fireball spun into view. He approached her slowly, letting her view it from every angle.
It clearly got her attention. Her eyes sparkled and flashed as the light streaked across them. But while her expression changed, it wasn’t fear that changed it. It was something else.
“Freak!”
He took a step back as she spat out the word, the fire dissipating in his hand.
“Perhaps I am a freak. But I don’t kill people like a coward.”
What happened next took him by surprise.
“Or so you think.” Her eyes flashed in anger. “I believe a few million souls down there would disagree with that statement.”
The words stung Chase’s heart. It was an affirmation of everything he’d been blaming himself for during the last few weeks. But he brushed the thoughts away. Now was not the time. It looked like they were finally getting somewhere. Grief was where the game would be played.
“And I believe we saved the seven plus billion souls still alive, including you. Or does that count for nothing?” he asked softly.
“I don’t care about them, I…” Her voice trailed off, but the words she wouldn’t let herself say were suddenly clear.
“Who did you lose?”
She looked at Chase defiantly.
“You think your parents would agree with what you tried to do?”
No reaction.
“Do you have children?”
This time the anger was mixed with sheer pain, utter sorrow.
“I see...” he said with soft sympathy. “How old were they?”
Tears started running down her face. She tried to wipe them only to be reminded that she was still in handcuffs. Chase leaned forward to do it for her, but she reeled back.
“Don’t touch me—this is all your fault! You should never have come to our planet!”
The words hit home. It was a touchy subject, one that was often at the center of his thoughts. This time there was no brushing it away. Hearing an Earthling actually say it to his face had more impact than he thought possible.
“Perhaps...” he murmured pensively.
As he debated what to do next, Daniel breezed into the brig. Deciding it was best to give both himself and the prisoner a moment to cool off, Chase slipped back out of the cell.
“Where were you?” he asked Daniel, giving him a playful hit on the shoulder.
“I was making sure there were no other devices on the ship. And I also visited a prisoner of my own today. Chase, you’re not going to believe it…”
“Really? Who?”
“We didn't know it until now, but you know those cells on Earth where we keep the Zarlacks from the Dragon’s Claw locked up? Well, it turns out we have a rather distinctive guest amongst them.”
“You got me curious. Who?”
Daniel raised his eyebrows importantly. “The emperor himself.”
“You’re yanking my chain!”
“No, I’m serious. I went to confirm it myself just now. And let me tell you, Cha
se, he has some pretty interesting things to say…”
Chase considered this before glancing back at his own prisoner. “I’m not getting through to her. I don’t know if she’ll talk without being physically coerced.”
Daniel looked surprised. “Are we even entertaining that?”
“Normally I would say no, but things could get out of control real fast if we don’t try to locate the source of these acts of terror.”
“I don’t know, man.” Daniel shook his head. “That’s a slippery slope.”
“I know...” Chase said with a sigh. He clicked his comm. “Commodore, tell Ryonna she’s up next.”
“What about the emperor, Chase?”
“Let’s go visit him. Now. I’m getting nowhere with this one anyway.”
But deep down, Chase knew that was only partially true. It wasn’t that he was getting nowhere with the prisoner. It was that she was starting to get to him.
As Ryonna entered the brig, she instructed the guard to stop any video recording. She didn’t know if it was her imposing stature or because she had been seen on the ship a few times already with Chase and the commodore, but he immediately complied even though Ryonna knew very well Saroudis wouldn’t sanction what would come next. She then told the officer to release the prisoner’s wristbands and wait outside.
The second they were alone, Ryonna swept into the cell and grabbed the prisoner by her throat, lifting her up and slamming her into the wall. Nina’s eyes flashed with terror as she gasped for air, but Ryonna held strong, intending to keep her there until the fear Nina was so obviously lacking was firmly in place.
When it looked like she was about to pass out, Ryonna suddenly released her just enough so she could get some much needed air. As she gasped and wheezed in pain, Ryonna leaned in with a flat smile.
“I think we started on the wrong foot here. You tried to blow our ship, and now you don’t want to talk. If that’s what you want to keep doing, please tell me now so I can put you out of your misery.”
She let go and Nina collapsed to the ground with a thud. She clutched her throat and looked up in terror as Ryonna towered over her.
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