by C. S. Harte
Jonas shook his head and glanced at Nume.
“You OK there, Jonas? You look like you ate something bad.” Alyana smirked.
Jonas narrowed his eyes at Alyana.
“You're probably thinking, what can we do to stop an unstoppable universe-sanctioned force? If we can’t stop them, do we run to a different galaxy?"
Jonas scoffed. “A mass exodus? I suppose some of us could. A tiny fraction of the 200 billion humans in this galaxy could escape via starships and seed a new galaxy.”
“Some species, again according to the Katok history, have already tried this. But space in between galaxies is vast — which is an understatement.” Alyana used her hands to zoom out the projection. “The closest neighboring galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy, is 780 kiloparsecs away. We have no way of communicating across that kind of distance.”
“Thank you, Alyana. I love the attention to detail on the holo-projections.” Nume beamed.
Alyana bowed. “It was my pleasure. I think I missed my calling in marketing.”
“Is that it?” Jonas raised his brow.
Nume changed the hologram to show the Katok home world, Keta Prime, a planet roughly the same size and distance from its sun as Earth. “The Katoks have survived the Mimics once before. In the previous cycle of life before humans, the Milky Way Galaxy was more diverse in sentient life. The Katoks were one of hundreds of species that co-habited and prospered. Together, they called themselves the First League. Their technology was not as advanced as it is now, but they had faster than light capabilities. More than enough for trade and travel. Katoks gifted this technology freely to grow the First League.”
Jonas watched a time lapse of the Katok civilization grow and prosper. Ships traveled in narrow shipping lanes connecting thousands of planets like lines of foraging ants repeating a round of gathering and delivering.
Nume changed the holo-projection again to show clusters of black spheres entering the galaxy. “Then one day, some ten thousand sol-years after the First League, the Mimics came. Historians of the time called them The Culls. Being a peaceful union of alien races, they tried to reach out and foster peace. The Culls killed all their envoys without mercy. When they tried to fight, none of their weaponry had an effect on the sphereships. Whatever they thought they killed, always regenerated shortly after. 90% of the races in the First League were wiped out in the first century. Those that survived ran into the void between galaxies. The Katok Council survived by burying their people deep within the mantle of their planet.”
“But that’s not fighting the Mimics — that’s hiding!” Jonas waved his arms through the hologram. “We can’t possibly hide 200 billion people across 3000 planets!”
Alyana lowered her head. “The invasion is already at our doorsteps. Even if we could hide that many people, we don’t have the time.”
Nume placed a hand on Alyana’s shoulder. “Our plan isn’t to hide. One group of Katoks returned from the void of space. With them, they brought back an ally. A species they referred to as the Guardians. This is a unique alien race. When fully grown, Guardians are the size of moons or large asteroids. Due to their size, they are space-dwelling creatures that move about space as if it was an endless ocean. They are sentient creatures capable of intelligent thought and empathy.”
“What you’re telling me is impossible.” Jonas scoffed. “Physically, nothing like that can live or maintain its biological functions.”
“One of the beauties of the universe is life can exist in an infinite amount of forms.” Nume smiled at Jonas. “It was not long ago when limited human minds could not accept non-carbon based lifeforms.”
Jonas rubbed his chin. “OK, for the sake of argument, say these massive, planet-sized creatures exist. They can defeat the Mimics?”
Nume nodded.
“How?” He raised his eyebrows.
“The exact details are not clear.” Nume sighed. “Keep in mind these events were five billion years ago.”
“Where can we find one? Where can creatures as big as Guardians hide?”
“You already found one.” Nume zoomed into the Delta Quadrant again to show the Telmun System. “Or rather, the Endurance did.”
Jonas’ mouth fell open.
“That is what the conspirators in Fleet wanted to hide.” Nume pointed at a small white dot floating around the sun. “You found a Guardian egg.”
“This is actually starting to make sense…” He exhaled deeply. “Either that or I’m going crazy.”
“You’re not crazy.” Nume held Jonas’ hand. “I was there. I felt its presence. It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I think that’s why I was taken and why your crew was killed — to hide this knowledge.”
“This would imply someone or multiple people within Fleet are actively working with Mimics.” Jonas stared at the egg as he spoke.
“Someone has something to gain with the Mimic invasion. If we can just figure who and what that is…” Alyana’s voice trailed.
Jonas' eyes darted from Alyana to Nume. “You think the egg could still be there?”
23
The Zephyr was on its way to Nergal Prime, one of the first colonies to secede from the Commonwealth during the Colony Wars 70 sol-years ago. The leaders of Nergal Prime were influential members of the Hasha Alliance, a coalition of religious leaders that believed in the purity of humans. Their xenophobic beliefs did not allow for the inclusion of non-humans, the Katoks, to join the Commonwealth. After years of diplomacy failed to appease the Hasha Alliance hardliners, over 200 colonies resolved to exit the union, forming their own government, the Alliance of Faith, and sparking the beginning of the Colony Wars that had yet to reach an end. The two sides remained in an uneasy truce for the past decade.
Before returning to the Telmun System in search of the Guardians, the Zephyr crew needed a means of communication. Guardians are a telepathic species similar to Katoks, but neither Katoks nor Entrents could interact with Guardians directly. The same gap in language constructs between humans and Katoks existed between Guardians and other species. They required a Rosetta Stone-type bridge to close the chasm.
Nume was willing to be that link by incorporating Guardian genetic matter and becoming an Entrent for Guardians. She hoped the Archivist of Forma Prime with his repository of millions of alien creatures possessed the Guardian Essence necessary for her transformation. Instead, she and Kovat were met with anger and vitriol. Fortunately, Nume's diplomacy skills won Genko over who then shared the location of three planets that may contain Guardian Essence.
All four crew members were on the bridge of the Zephyr — Alyana at the helm, Jonas at tactical, Kovat on science, and Nume in the Captain’s chair.
“Are we really going to Nergal Prime? Inside Alliance space?” Alyana said as she shifted in her chair.
“The other two locations are in uncharted systems and much farther away,” Nume replied. “I know you’re a wanted fugitive by the Alliance Militia. Does this mission concern you?”
Alyana shrugged. “I’ll go wherever you need me.”
“Nergal Prime… Why is that name familiar?” Jonas said to himself, but loud enough for Alyana to hear.
“You've probably heard the ghost stories when you were a kid.”
Jonas’ eyes opened wide. “I remember now. The entire colony vanished a few years after the secession.”
“Over one million people, practically overnight. The major cities were completely abandoned. That was about 70 sol-years ago. My great, great grandfather was a colonist there, supposedly, if I can believe my AI teachers.”
“Did anyone figure out what happened?” Jonas asked.
“To this day, no one knows for sure. When scientists came to investigate, many claimed to have heard disembodied voices and seen glimmers of faces in the sky. The explanation that makes the most sense is radiation poisoning from a massive solar flare that distorted the planet’s magnetic fields.” Alyana pulled up a recording of a solar flare caught by a distant out
post and pushed it to the main viewscreen. “This video was recorded about six months before the disappearance.”
“That doesn’t explain the haunting stories,” Jonas said.
“There are other theories of course. The conspiracy nutcases blamed the Commonwealth for using weapons of mass destruction, which if you squint hard enough, could be true. They were one of the first colonies to leave the union. Then some people believed the rapture came for the colonists for doing an impressive job keeping the Colony pure of aliens.”
Jonas rubbed his chin. “When you say, the scientists heard voices, you meant on the radio or in person?”
“In their heads!” Alyana laughed. “The other theories are even crazier.”
“Such as?” Jonas raised his eyebrows. “Alien invasion? Time dilation?”
“Yes and yes. Not one body was found. Everyone sort of went… Poof!” She gestured a cloud of smoke with her hands.
“I don’t think it could have been aliens.”
Alyana bobbed her head. “I don’t think so either. There were no signs of a struggle. Every building was left perfectly intact. The capital city, Antel, showed zero signs of weapons' attack. There were photos uploaded to ColonyGram until the last day, showing people eating food at restaurants and their pets doing silly things. Everything appeared normal, not a million people scared out of their wits. Whatever happened, happened fast.”
The hairs on Jonas’ arms stood. Maybe the other two planets would be better starting options. What if Genko is lying to us?
Nume placed her hand on Jonas’ shoulder. “I don’t believe Genko is lying.”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s hard to lie to a mind reader,” Nume said with a smile. “And also, according to Kovat, Nergal Prime was once a settlement of the Returners, the Katoks that came back from the void with the Guardians in tow.”
“Two hours until we reach Nergal Prime,” Alyana said.
“Thank you for the update, Alyana. Jonas, can you join me in the briefing room?”
Jonas nodded and followed Nume. “Is there something wrong?” He crossed his arms.
“The Entrent transformation process — if successful, there is some chance of failure. It may hollow my mind and wipe my memories.”
He raised his eyebrows. “What does that mean? You won’t remember anything about the process?”
Nume turned away. “There is a cost to fusing with the Guardian Essence. I may lose my memories, my personality, and my identity. My body will be a vessel for a new life.”
Jonas narrowed his eyes. “What happens during a failed attempt?”
“Death,” she said softly.
“No!” He grabbed her shoulders. “Why would you sacrifice yourself?”
Nume pulled away. “It is fine Jonas. I have accepted my role in this struggle. It is a small price to pay for human and Katok survival. The Mimics must be stopped at all costs.”
“NO! You’re…” Jonas bit his lip. … the last trace of Saera I have left. “How can you be OK with this?”
Nume took Jonas’ fingers in hers.
He brought her hands to his face. “Please, don’t do this. Don’t sacrifice yourself.”
“By nature, or I suppose you can say, by design, Entrents are very empathic creatures. You have changed so much from the hero who saved my life on the Endurance. I felt the pain in your heart the moment we found each other again. It carves as deeply into me as it does you.” Nume tugged at her ear. “I can never truly apologize for the wrongs I have caused you…”
“Stop.” A lone tear trickled down his face. “I was angry. But not at you. Never at you. I was angry, for so long… I'd forgotten how to let the anger go.”
Nume’s eyes changed to a light blue mixed with a tinge of gray.
Jonas held his breath. In that moment she had never looked more like Saera than she did now.
“I’m not Saera,” Nume said, shaking her head. “Sometimes, I wish I was. If only for a moment. But I fear it may not give you the peace you seek.”
Alyana skillfully piloted the Zephyr past Alliance patrols. She avoided sensor sweeps by hiding behind asteroids and evaded automated drones by flying between the gaps in their field of coverage.
They landed on Nergal Prime just outside the abandoned capital city of Antel near the equator of the planet. All four crew members disembarked the ship. The humans wore their Obscura combat suits. Kovat had his own custom-made environmental gear.
Joining the team and adding more firepower, were the fifth-gen Centuria combat droids. Four in total, one shadowing each member of the team.
Jonas noticed the pained expression on Nume’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“There is much sadness here.”
“You sense another presence?”
“No. It’s a general feeling coming from everywhere, like a damp blanket wrapped around me.”
Alyana sighed. “Is it too late to turn back? It doesn’t feel right to be here. Like we’re stepping on someone’s grave.”
Jonas held out his palm, allowing a large gray flake to fall into his hand. “Is this ash in the air? Was there an eruption recently?”
“Not ash.” Nume pointed to a large, pale-green, spherical mound about 25 meters in the distance. “It’s spores. Since the humans disappeared, many fungal species have taken over the planet.”
The fungal cluster released streams of white fluff high into the air where it swirled in the sky before gently gliding back to the surface.
Jonas approached the fungal spheres. He noticed a lattice-like structure of veins just below the surface layer. The globules rose and fell as if breathing. “Are the spores dangerous?”
“According to Kovat, these are called Atoomwok. They are only dangerous if you breathe the spores into your lungs. They will take root and grow inside you.”
“Gross!” Alyana yelled. “Don’t forget to decontaminate your suit when you get back on the ship!”
They reached the edge of the capital city from the south. Antel was founded 250 years ago by members of the Hasha religion. The stone architecture of the city’s buildings and roads resembled the antiquated style of European cities on Earth. Giant clusters of Atoomwok have taken over the capital since the vanishing of its residents, creating hazards as their root systems upheaved the stone foundation of the buildings and roads. The mass of spores in the sky covered all of Antel in an eerie green haze.
Jonas received a flash warning on his visor’s HUD from Centuria-4.
Possible unknown threat detected. Extreme caution recommended.
Everyone froze in their tracks.
“Did anyone else…”
“I got it too,” Nume interrupted.
“Look!” Alyana pointed to something in the sky.
Weaving in and out of the cloud of spores was a colossal flying creature.
All four combat droids armed their primary weapons.
A shoot-to-kill request popped up onto Jonas’ HUD.
“Is that a Guardian?” Jonas asked the group.
24
The massive flying creature soaring through the miasma of clouds and spores had four wings patterned like a royal blue butterfly. It appeared as an amalgamation of different insect species — the thorax of a wasp, the wings of a moth, and the head of an ant. Each flap of its wings cleared a trail of spores around its gargantuan body, creating a gust of wind strong enough to be felt on the ground.
“Kovat says it’s not a Guardian.”
Jonas zoomed in on the creature with his HUD. With eye movements, he instructed the onboard suit computer to measure the wingspan. “It looks to be about 25, maybe 30 meters in length.”
“I’ve flown ships smaller than that thing, whatever it is. If that’s not a Guardian, I can’t imagine what an actual Guardian would look like,” Alyana said.
The winged-monster disappeared into the clouds as quietly as it came.
The group waited a moment to see if it returned.
Jonas f
elt the hair rising on his neck. “I don’t want to stay here any longer than I have to. We should get moving.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to see why the one million people before us moved out,” Alyana snickered.
“I agree, Jonas. We should get moving. I am sensing other forms of life that are not human.”
Jonas ordered Centuria-4 to launch a drone into the air. He connected the drone feed into this HUD. “Scanning the terrain for life signs. Do you know what they are? Or how many?”
“No, these are new creatures to me.”
“I’m not seeing anything with the drone.” He picked up his rifle. “OK, let’s not waste time. Let’s get what we need and leave. Where to first?”
They followed a weathered, overgrown road leading into the city. Nume took point position with Jonas covering the rear.
“According to Genko, there was a fierce battle between Guardians and Mimics in the skies above Nergal Prime. During the fight, pieces of Guardian flesh fell on this planet like falling stars. The Returners recovered the fallen pieces, preserved them in stasis units, and placed them in monuments built near the crash sites. Later, when Nergal Prime became a Hasha Alliance settlement, the humans subsequently razed the monuments and constructed the city of Antel over it.”
“How could any genetic material survive over billions of years?” Alyana asked.
“Kovat says if you understood Katok technology, you wouldn’t bother to ask.”