The Entean Saga - The Complete Saga

by C B Williams

  "Going to keep surveillance on you like I did Wren until you're safe in your room."

  "Not necessary. Going to be bunking close to the med lab where everyone else is."

  "It's necessary. Caution First." He paused, watching Aiko staring out the view panel as she swayed. "You're asleep on your feet. Go, Kitten. You know I've got this."

  She pinched the bridge of her nose again. "Yeah, yeah. I think you might be right. I've really smacked into a wall. Must have been the relief at hearing Eloch's okay." She turned and left without a backward glance.

  Grale watched her make her way down to the med lab. "No one should ever feel as alone as you do," he said softly. "Especially you, Kitten. Especially you."

  Chapter 12

  On the Offensive

  Eloch winced as he shifted positions.

  He was still in the med lab, but they moved him to a more private room once Genji confirmed the spike embedded in his shoulder was no longer sending and receiving. He lay propped up in a bed that adjusted and contoured to his every move. Little Wonder was nestled on one side of him, Wren on the other. He looked down at where she lay with one arm across his middle and the other cradling her head. He reached over and fingered one of her coilmats.

  Wren sighed and slowly opened her eyes. “Hi,” she said with a smile.

  “I heard you,” he said.

  She sleepily threaded her fingers with Eloch’s. “Was I snoring? Did I wake you?”

  He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “Little Wonder sleeps louder than you. No, when I was unconscious. I heard you talking to me, telling me to come back to you. It...helped.”

  “Thank you for telling me. I felt pretty useless, Eloch.” Wren sat up, and Eloch winced again at the sudden movement. “Oh, Eloch, I’m sorry. It still hurts, doesn’t it? That invisible thing.”

  “Yes, but not a physical pain. Hard to explain.”

  “We’ve got to get it out of you.”

  “Nothing I’d like better. But as long as it’s not affecting me and I don’t move, I can learn about it.”

  “We do, in fact, already know quite a lot about it.” Wren yawned. “Think I need to get some tea. Brace yourself. I’m going to move again.” She eased out of the bed and quickly redressed. “Do you need anything?”

  “Just you, here, with me.”

  She smiled down at him. “Then I’ll be back as soon as I can. We’ve all basically moved over to this side of the ship, galley and all, so I won’t go far.”

  Wren took the time to relieve herself and wash her face and hands before collecting her tea in the makeshift galley. There she found Spider and Genji in deep conversation with Perin.

  “Hello,” Wren said. “What’s happening?” she asked, helping herself to a steaming mug of tea.

  All three looked up.

  “Perin had another vision last night, and we’re trying to decipher its meaning,” Genji replied.

  Wren lifted her brows. “Interesting.” She looked at Perin, who seemed a bit pale. “I want to hear about it, but first, bring me up to speed.”

  “How’s Eloch?” Spider asked.

  “He’s awake. Aware. I don’t think the experience has affected him permanently, but it’s a little soon to tell that. He’s uncomfortable with that spike still in him. He seems to be coping, though, and is curious about how it works.”

  “May we go see him?” Genji asked. “Spider and I made a new gamma-ray readout device that should give us a better visual. We want to try it out.”

  Wren nodded. “Let me go check on him first, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She touched Perin’s shoulder. “I want to hear what your True Dream was about. Why don’t you come with us to see Eloch, and then you and I can find a private spot?”

  “Of course,” Perin answered. “Spider will you guide me, please? Who knows where my tapping stick is anymore?” she said mournfully.

  “I’ll make you another if it’s lost,” Spider said, helping her up and following behind Wren and Genji.

  “What’s up with the others?” Wren asked Genji, eyes on her mug. She’d filled it rather full.

  “Wade, Kalea, and Mink are checking the Cryo beds and continuing with the cleanup,” he said. “Aiko is sleeping a couple of rooms down. Grale is still on the Bridge, monitoring systems both inside and outside the ship. There is quite a bit of external damage. The robotics are analyzing and repairing what they can, but Grale said he may need to take a space walk. Take a look for himself.”

  “If he’s up to it, I’m sure Eloch can take care of the ship’s skin,” Wren said, pausing at the entrance to Eloch’s area.

  Genji nodded, “But we don’t want to tire him out so soon after his ordeal. He needs to take care of his own skin right now.”

  “You’ve got a point,” she said and tapped on the doorframe before peeking in. “Up for some visitors, Eloch?”

  “Yes,” Eloch said, smiling.

  Wren smiled. “You look like you knew I was returning with guests.”

  “I’m reconnected to the ship, so, yes, I knew.” He smiled at them. “It’s good to see you all.”

  Wren looked at the others. “Grab a couple more chairs and come on in,” she told them. “Perin, take my arm and I’ll guide you to a chair already here. Wait, my other arm. The mug’s pretty full. Here, I’m going to take a couple of sips first.” She blew on her tea, then sipped enough to keep it from spilling when she helped Perin.

  Mug in one hand, Perin’s hand in her other, Wren settled the Seer near Eloch’s bedside.

  Perin’s face lit up. “You’re much brighter,” she told him, “And the metal flower is not flashing.” She cupped her hands, mimicking what she saw.

  “‘Metal flower’ is a good description for it,” Genji said, setting down his chair and taking a seat. “It looks like a small sending-and-receiving disk. Which, I might add, we can now see quite clearly, using this.” He held up the handheld unit he and Spider created.

  Eloch reached for the device to examine the screen as Wren settled down beside him. She took a sip from her mug, then set it down to help hold the device so Eloch could angle his head in order to see the image as it scanned his shoulder. “I think I could replicate this so you can actually see and hold it. Will that help?” he asked.

  “You can do that?” Genji asked, glancing at Spider.

  Both Spider and Genji leaned forward.

  “I believe so.”

  “It was a spike before it flowered,” Perin said.

  “I see where it unfolded,” Eloch said. He studied the device’s screen for a few moments longer, then handed it back to Genji and focused on his outstretched hand. A spike materialized in Eloch’s hand.

  Wren sucked in a breath.

  “You should be used to this by now,” Eloch told her with a grin.

  She shook her head. “Never. It’s always magic.”

  Genji and Spider held out their hands, but Eloch turned toward the Seer. “Perin, what do you think?” he asked. “Here, hold out your hand.” He winced as he placed it gently into her upturned palm.

  Perin’s fingers danced lightly over the device. “It’s longer than this,” she said. “The tip more pointed.”

  “Other than that?” Eloch asked.

  Her fingers tripped the catch near the spike’s tip and the small dish unfolded from its housing. “Other than that, it’s the same,” she said.

  “Good. Thank you.”

  She smiled and held out the device toward the colors that were Spider and Genji.

  Genji took it. “I’d like to analyze the device.” He looked at Spider.

  “And I’ll finish upgrading the ship’s scanners so they can literally see the ship next time it returns. No more ghost ships.”

  “The anomaly. Is that what you ended up calling it, a ghost ship?” Eloch asked.

  Wren nodded. “How you managed to get that device into you was the vision Perin kept seeing. She described a ghost ship that occupied the same space that the Valiant occupied
,” Wren said.

  “Can you tell me what happened? I remember Perin telling me to duck, you pushing me, Wren. I stumbled back with a sudden pain in my shoulder. Where I was shot, I presume. After that, it’s all very confusing.”

  “Well, you acted like you’d been drinking too much Entean Ale and started to collapse. I called to Genji, and he helped me get you down here to the med lab. Then somehow that stake was activated and the ship started falling apart. I had to use the fail-safe so Grale could put a field around the ship to keep it together. Then Genji and Spider stopped the stake from sending out its signal, and here we are, with a little time to figure things out.”

  She looked up at Genji. “Want to add anything, Genj?”

  “We believe the ship and crew are real, but are living in a different vibrational dimension from where we are,” Genji explained. “To them, we are the ghosts. Spider knows more about this than I do.”

  “There is one on the other ship who can see us,” Perin said. “Jon. I spoke with him.”

  Eloch cocked his head at her. “These people. What do they look like?”

  “Like us, only very pale, with slanting dark eyes. They are very beautiful, and all looked the same to me, although I’m sure they are all very different from one another.”

  “And you said one could see you?” Eloch asked.

  Perin nodded. “Yes. Jon.”

  “She had a True Dream about Jon last night,” Spider announced.

  “Is that what you three were talking about earlier?” Wren asked.

  “Yes,” Genji said. “We were trying to understand what she saw.” He shrugged. “We didn’t get very far.”

  Wren considered Perin while the Seer twisted her fingers together. “Let me help you, Perin. Would it be okay with you?” The relief she saw on Perin’s face provided the answer even before Perin nodded.

  “Thank you,” Wren said to her. “As soon as we figure out how we’re going to know when the ghost ship returns, you and I will go someplace private and discuss your True Dream.”

  “I will sense when it’s returning,” Eloch said. “We won’t have too much time and must make the most of it. I want to remove this spike and then find a way to deflect the one they will most likely try to shoot at me again, although I still don’t understand why I’m the target. How can they even know we’re here if they’re living in a different vibrational dimension?”

  “They think you’re a planet, Eloch,” Genji said. “We believe this device and the people on the ghost ship are what the Sisters have been so afraid of. We think they’re what has been attacking the planets in Vela Kentaurus. If we can stop them, we can keep our planets safe.”

  “I think it’s more than they’re attacking Sisters, Genji,” Eloch said. “I felt my power draining from me. It was being used for something. If we can find out why they are draining the Sisters’ power, then we can stop them. It’s important to understand why they need all that power.”

  Wren put a hand on his arm. “Speaking of power, is yours back? Can we return the Valiant back to your care?”

  Eloch covered Wren’s hand. “Thanks to you, there still is a Valiant.”

  She smiled softly. “Caution First. Always. Thanks for trusting me.”

  He returned her smile. “I will always trust you, Wren. And yes, I’ve already taken my ship back into my care.” His eyes grew distant, “We are both healing.” He glanced around the room. “I promise you this will never happen again, and I thank you for your care.”

  “We all love you, Eloch,” Wren said. “Of course we will take care of you.”

  “And it’s not over until we get that spike out,” Genji said, standing. “I’m going to excuse myself and get to my analysis.”

  “We’ve all got things to do,” Wren said. She drained the last of her tea and slid off the bed, leaning over to kiss Eloch. “I’m going to discuss Perin’s True Dreams with her. Little Wonder can keep you company.”

  Eloch smiled. “It’s good to be awake,” he said, sliding his hand down Wren’s arm. It came to rest on Little Wonder’s head.

  The sniffer lifted her head with a churrup.

  Wren smiled. “It is good to be awake. Stay with Eloch, LW. Let’s go, Perin. Let me guide you back.”

  Before she left, Wren glanced one more time at Eloch. He wore the distant, inward expression he got when he was reaching beyond what she understood. She bet he was already learning how to remove the device the ghost ship had implanted in his shoulder region.

  Chapter 13

  Perin's True Dream

  “You must be relieved,” Perin said as Wren lead her down toward their makeshift galley.

  “Beyond,” Wren said. “I’m not going to lie, Perin. I was terrified. I have never seen Eloch out of control—out of his mind—like that. I hope to never witness it again. No wonder the Sisters are so frightened. Look what happened to our ship. Can you imagine what would happen to a planet?”

  Perin shuddered. “I don’t want to imagine that.”

  “We’ve reached the galley. There’s no one here, but is this private enough for you? Would you prefer somewhere else?” Wren asked.

  Perin hesitated. “The stateroom where I slept last night is close by. I would rather go there.”

  “Not a problem. Let me refill my tea mug and we’ll head over there. Would you like some tea as well?”

  “That sounds nice. Thank you.”

  Wren left Perin standing near a table and filled two mugs before returning to the Seer. “If you hold onto my arm, I can guide you and carry our tea,” she said.

  Perin nodded. “It’s only two rooms down on the left. I counted forty steps.”

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  “I miss my stick,” Perin said.

  “We’ll have to find you a replacement.”

  “That would be nice.”

  When the two women reached the stateroom, Perin felt for the panel and it opened at her touch.

  Wren giggled. “You’ve made your bed! You’re a much tidier person than I will ever be,” she said. “There are two chairs over in the sitting area, let me guide you there,” she said.

  “Not necessary,” Perin said. “You bring the tea.” She gracefully crossed and sat, relaxing into her chair as it formed itself around her contours.

  Wren handed Perin her tea and settled into the other chair. They briefly talked about music and sipped their tea before Wren changed the subject.

  “So, you had a True Dream last night, did you?”

  Perin nodded. “I should have known better than to mention it to Spider and Genji. They wanted to know all about it and,” she blushed, “parts of it were personal. I tried to stop before that point, but I’m not good at lying. I think they sensed I hadn’t told them everything that happened and were starting to insist that I tell them the dream again.” She took a sip of her tea. “I was so relieved that you came in right then.”

  Wren smiled and shook her head. “Those two...they really aren’t good at reading signals are they? Like sniffers chewing bones. Not going to let go until the final morsel is gnawed off and the marrow sucked out.”

  Perin laughed. “That’s it exactly.”

  “Are you comfortable telling me about your vision?”

  “Of course. It was personal, but not something I wouldn’t share with a woman friend.”

  “Then please share whenever you’re ready,” Wren said.

  “The True Dream did not last long. They never do, really, usually just a series of images. It’s the details that are so important,” Perin explained.

  Wren nodded. “Go on.”

  “I was on a ship, and it didn’t feel familiar. I don’t believe it was this one.”

  “I see.”

  “I believe I was on the ghost ship. That’s the important part, you see, and that is all that I wanted to tell Genji and Spider, but they wanted more details.”

  “Such as?”

  “What did it look like, who was I with, were we conversing, what
about, and so forth. Details.”

  “And?”

  Perin blushed. “Well, I was with Jon, and we were in an embrace, and he was kissing me. He asked me not to go, told me to stay with him, be with him always.” She smiled softly at the memory.

  “That’s very romantic.”

  “Yes, it was,” Perin agreed, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “But don’t you see what this means?” She reached out and grabbed Wren’s hand. “It means we somehow connected with the ghost ship. I actually traveled to the ghost ship. I was actually standing on the ghost ship. And I could see! The way I used to. Somehow, it is all going to happen.”

  “Forgive me for asking, but I must, Perin,” Wren said, squeezing her hand. “Could this dream of yours just be that? A dream?”

  “No, Wren. I swear by The Lady, it was a True Dream.”

  “By the gods, Perin,” Wren breathed. “And you only saw Jon, nobody else?”

  Perin shook her head. “No, no one. But surely I didn’t get there on my own.”

  Wren tucked a leg underneath her and took another sip of tea. “What I find so interesting is you could understand each other, and you could breathe the same air. That’s correct, isn’t it? I didn’t overlook anything?”

  Perin nodded. “I’ve learned there are translation devices, so perhaps we were communicating through one of those. But I was not wearing any breathing apparatus. In fact, I was wearing what I usually wear.” She chewed her lip. “It’s important information, but I really don’t want to tell anybody I was kissing Jon.”

  “Totally understandable. And it isn’t really necessary. We just have to figure out a way to tell the facts while keeping the personal stuff out of the telling.” She set down her mug. “Let’s imagine you are back on Talamh. What parts of the dream would you tell your High Priest?”

  Perin pursed her lips, then began to describe what happened, gathering momentum as she continued. “I would tell him I was on board the ghost ship. I could breathe without any apparatus, and I could easily communicate with the people. I only saw one person, Jon, the individual from the prior True Dream. I knew he was my friend. To me, the dream means we will be able to establish a relationship with the ghost ship and that Jon is the key.”