“From the sky came three who moved between worlds.
“From between worlds, three brought harmony for the bold.
“From the harmony, three fed the people and made them whole.
“From the whole, three found their freedom.
“From the freedom, three rested well.
“It is an old story which has many meanings to many people. To me … to me, it is a story of overcoming the struggle. Everyone, every day, struggles with something. When the struggles are pulling at your soul, the story of the Three Messengers will remind you … remind you there is always hope.”
Unsure and slightly confused, Cass engaged. “Jirmina, do you think this fable is coming to life? Do you think the Triad are the Three Messengers from the fable?”
“Cass, many did not understand why the Jaguar came to Plentari for modifications. When the Jaguar was modified, when the Ch’en demanded the modifications, many did not understand. When the triangle with high seats was installed, many Plentari understood the meaning.
“The symbols have meaning to the Plentari. What you call Odin, or Leader, is the Plentari image for harmony. What you call Strength, or Power, to us is a symbol for Wholeness. Of course, the symbol for Freedom is universal.
“The small circles outside the triangle represent the Three Messengers.”
Gobsmacked, the Coterie stared at the symbols. Cass’s intellectual curiosity bubbled to the surface.
“Do you have more stories about the Three Messengers? Is there documented history or legends, lore, children’s stories, and fairy tales?”
“Cass, there is much of all that you name. You have the information in the data pods you received from the Ch’en and the Xjaal.”
“Oh, I must have missed the references in the index to the Three Messengers.”
“No, Cass, you did not miss it. You read most of it but did not know the Plentari history.”
“I see. What did I miss, Jirmina?”
“Cass, the Three Messengers are known by another name. The Three Messengers are the Overlords.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
ᚳᚻᚪᛈᛏᛖᚱ ᛏᚹᛖᚾᛏᚣ-ᚠᛁvᛖ
“You’re always one decision away from a totally different life.”
anonymous
“I have made up my mind. I am going to do it.”
After three additional portal jumps, the crew was ordered to stand down. Lucinda extended the mandatory rest period from eight to ten hours. In hour nine of the enforced rest period, the crew was meandering into the galley, looking for a breakfast and conversations.
“What, Janish? Hey, pass the biscuits. I miss Michelle’s cooking. These things are like rocks. Damn. Sorry, Corb.”
“It is okay, NT, I miss her cooking too. I am going to request Lucinda take Nick out of the KP rotation. Janish, what were you saying?”
“KP?”
“Janish, KP is American military slang for kitchen patrol. Nick’s cooking is so bad, we need a pause from breaking rocks. What were you saying?”
“I have made up my mind. I am going to do it.”
Lucinda and NT were the last to join the breakfast. Lucinda heard Janish’s comment.
“Do what?”
“Ingest the nanobots.”
“Oh? What was the trigger?”
“Lucinda, it is really simple. Why we did not think of this sooner is … well, we missed the obvious. The nanobots are not going to kill me. Right, Landry?”
“That is correct. Human anatomy is compatible with the nanobot construction.”
“I am not going to die if I ingest the little buggers. The worst that can happen is they will not be helpful to the Triad.”
“You are sounding more and more like Nick. I am starting to worry for you.”
Nick ignored Ragnar’s gentle barb. This was Janish’s time to shine.
“That is really good thinking. Why didn’t we suss it sooner, damn. We were so focused on the volume of data and making of plans we missed the obvious. They won’t kill us, so why not?”
“Exactly, Lucinda. Landry, what is the process for assimilating the nanobots?”
“Janish, the process is simple. Sprinkle half a gram on something you will consume. That yogurt you are eating would be ideal.”
“Hold up, just like that?”
Janish responded plainly. “Yes, Nick, just like that. Corb, will you get the coffee can?”
Corb left the galley at Janish’s request and returned with the chrome-looking canister, the coffee can that contained the supply of advanced nanobots. Nick darted off and returned with a micro-scale from the infirmary. After unscrewing the coffee can, Corb pulled out the correct inner container and smoothly poured nanobots onto the scale until the gauge read point-five grams.
Everything stopped, no movement in the galley. Unsure, everyone waited. In a deft move, Janish lifted the micro-scale and tilted the tray into her yogurt. Before anyone could object, she stirred and pulled a spoonful of the strawberry-flavored goodness to her mouth.
Her eyes glimmered with smiling lips closed around the spoon. The crew erupted in cheers for their friend’s newfound bravado. Cheers not for ingesting nanobots but for the leap in the personal growth of their friend.
“NT, pass me one of those yogurts, please. Corb, pour me some machines too.”
NT handed Lucinda a yogurt while Corb doled out another point-five-gram batch of nanobots.
Taking the yogurt and nanobots, Lucinda sardonically commented, “You know, they are correctly titled nanorobotics. But nanobots is just cooler to say.”
Like Janish, Lucinda stirred the machines into her yogurt, pulled out a spoonful, and smiled with lips closed around the spoon.
“It is like they are boosting my subconscious. No, it is like they are increasing my processing ability. I do not feel different, but my mind is different.”
“Janish, for me it is like I have expanded my mind. I feel … bigger. We should get underway. Corb, what do you do with the nanobots to protect your eyes?”
Two hours after ingesting the nanobots, the crew observed while Lucinda and Janish traded information and commentary. Landry intercepted Lucinda’s question.
“Lucinda, Janish, Corb’s nanobots are effectively Gen-1. The nanobots you ingested are Gen-2. Consequently, their function will differ slightly from Corb’s. I recommend experimenting with the light emitters above your heads.”
At the same time, Lucinda and Janish looked up to a light source. Several seconds passed before Janish spoke.
“They adjusted. It is like I am looking outward from the inside of a monitor. There are little graphs morphing and adjusting to the light.”
“I see the same. Is this how it is for you, Corb?”
“Yes, similar. However, I instructed the machines to smooth the image. For me, now, it looks more like I am looking through sunglasses that change with the intensity of the light source.”
“I see what you mean. When I thought about what you said, the image changed to a smooth gradient, like sunglasses.”
“Janish, how did … wait … I see it now. It is like they are reading my thoughts.”
“That is not quite accurate, Lucinda. The nanorobotics, or nanobots, do not read your thoughts. They read the synaptic pathways and react to the synaptic requests. Your brains were telling your eyes to squint, to allow less light into your eyes. The nanobots reacted to augment the process of limiting the incoming light source.”
“Thank you, Professor Landry.
“You are welcome, Lucinda.”
“Enough. Let’s light this candle.”
“There is something else.”
The crew was seated on the bridge, strapped in, about to push the Jaguar into the slipstream and the star-portal conduit. Jirmina’s statement spun heads.
“Bloody hell … sweetheart, you need to work on your timing.”
Jirmina’s translator needed a few extra seconds to interpret the context of Nick’s comment.
“I
am sorry, Nick. Lucinda. I just realized there may be another meaning in the symbols.”
Visibly relaxing, the crew waited as Lucinda gently eased the information from the nervous Plentari.
“Jirmina, it is okay. Nick is an ass.”
Turning her head several times between Lucinda and Nick, Jirmina spoke after Nick’s beaming smile confirmed he was not upset.
“The three circles. Three circles on the outside of the ring. They point to the chairs. You are sitting in the wrong seats.”
Confused, the Triad waited for Jirmina to explain.
“Corb, that circle, between Leader and Strength, should point to you. The circle between Strength and Freedom should point to Lucinda. Janish, Freedom and Leader.”
Cass understood the implications. “I think you may be correct, Jirmina. However, for humans, Lucinda is our Leader and our Strength. Corb will deliver Freedom through his Strength.”
“No, Cass, this is not about the humans. This is about all people.”
Corb settled the budding argument. “This is simple. We change seats and see what happens. If Jirmina is correct, fine. If nothing happens, we will change again.”
Without acknowledging Corb’s statement, each member of the Triad unbuckled, moved to the seat described by Jirmina, and buckled up.
“Landry, put up a clock.”
Time in SP Conduit: 00:54:27.
Without Ragnar issuing the halt order, the Jaguar dropped into normal space.
“Ragnar?”
“Lucinda, no bogies.”
“NT?”
“Five-by-five, Captain.”
“Nick, where are we?”
“Captain, we are located two light-years from Caracol Seven with negative declination. We traveled twenty-two hundred light-years in fifty-four minutes. The computer is still trying to calculate the increase in FTL velocity.”
“Fifty-four minutes? Nick, we were in the star-portal conduit for fifty-four minutes?”
“Yes, Janish. Captain, the computer says we traveled thirty-eight-point-four light-years per minute.”
Landry interrupted.
“Captain, permission to reset the ship’s chronometers.”
“Landry, why the formal address and what is wrong with the ship’s chronometers?”
“Captain, the chronometers are misaligned to the celestial regulator.”
“How far off are the chronometers?”
“Doctor Brady, the chronometers are offset by seven hours and twelve minutes.”
“Landry, I am ordering you to tell me what is wrong and why are the clocks offset. Did we gain time or lose time?”
“Lucinda, everyone, the Jaguar was in the star-portal conduit for fifty-four minutes. However, in normal space, eight hours and six minutes have … elapsed.”
“Hold up, you said seven hours and twelve minutes?”
“Ragnar, seven hours and twelve minutes plus the fifty-four minutes while in the conduit.”
“Why is this a concern to you, Landry?”
“Captain, the quantum calculations are incorrect and require adjustment.”
“Hold up. Landry, first, it is not your fault the calculations failed. We learn, we adjust, we move on. If I did not know you were not capable of frustration, I would guess you were upset with the failed calculations. Forget it. Adjust based on the new data and move on. Please confirm we were in the conduit for fifty-four minutes.”
“That is correct, Lucinda. The Jaguar experienced a fifty-four-minute interval in the star-portal conduit.”
“Landry, while the Jaguar was in the star-portal conduit, how much time elapsed in normal space?”
“Lucinda, eight hours and six minutes elapsed in normal space.”
“Hoooooly shit.” Cass’s exclamation was not loud but was effective. The Plentari looked as confused as the stoic race was capable of looking. Cass explained her comment.
“Jirxena, Jirmina, Landry is working to adjust the quantum calculations. If the chronometers are correct, and they probably are … everyone not on the Jaguar aged eight hours while we aged one hour.”
“That is a good thing?”
“Jirxena, it is a good thing for us but not for everyone else.”
Hesitating, Cass realized the Plentari were not grasping the issue.
“Jirxena, Jirmina, this new knowledge has positive and negative implications. For every hour we are in the star-portal conduit, we will extend our lifespan by eight hours. We will not actually live longer, but it will appear to everyone else as if we found the fountain of youth.”
“Or that we are immortal.”
“Yes, Lucinda, there is that possibility.”
“Hoooooly shit.”
“Yes, NT, holy shit.”
Corb began to unbuckle while speaking to no one and to everyone.
“I guess aligning the circles to the correct Triad member was correct. Fifty-four minutes that felt like an instant with almost no physical burden. Lucinda, did you see the links to the small circles?”
“Yes, Corb, I saw the links. What do they mean? Janish, did you see them?”
“Yes, I saw them …”
“What bloody links?”
Janish restarted.
“Sorry, Nick. Yes, I saw them. While the Triad was metering the dark energy wave … there was a line … three lines … more like narrow beams of energy. The narrow beam sourced from our eyes, or our foreheads maybe, to our small circles on the riser.
“The small circles are the throttle mechanism we needed. Corb kept our attention while in the conduit so that we would not overshoot the destination. Corb, how did you know we were traveling so fast?”
“I didn’t know. Landry reached out to me when he saw the quantum calculations were failing. Landry and the computer try to estimate where we are, and our velocity, while in the conduit. This time, they were unable to estimate. Landry got worried and requested we drop into normal space.”
“I was not worried. I am incapable of worry. I assessed the safety protocols and, prudently, requested we drop into normal space.”
“If it was an emergency stop, how did we drop so close to our target destination?”
“Nick, it was probably dumb luck. However, there may be more to these new connections than we understand. I wonder if I should upgrade my nanobots …”
Voice fading, Corb exited the bridge for the galley and something to eat. The crew secured the bridge to follow Corb.
“Yep, yogurt is the food of choice when swallowing nanorobotic machines.”
Fully engrossed in listening to the Enlightened One, the crew was snacking, pondering what new wonder and awe was going to be next. He pressed the conversation.
“Jirxena, Jirmina, the ability to traverse the star-portal conduit is confidential. On your oath, you may not discuss this with anyone. Do you understand?”
“For the record, I am Commander Jirxena of the space vessel Jaguar, and I will not disclose classified information without the approval of Captain Raitt or the Enlightened One.”
“Wow, very formal. You have been reading the briefs Cass prepared.”
“Yes, Corb, I have been reading.”
“What about you, Jirmina?”
“Of course, I vow loyalty and security. For me, it will not be a problem.”
“Oh, why not?”
“Enlightened One … Corb, I plan to remain with the Jaguar to serve you until you no longer require me, or until I am too old to serve properly.”
Janish was sure she heard something between the lines but remained quiet.
“Lucinda, any reason for Jirmina not to stay with the Jaguar?”
“No, Corb, but we all know things change, and time alters one’s desires. Landry, anything on the long-range scans?”
“Lucinda, no, we are too far away for the scanners to pick up any meaningful data. Recommend we move to a position twenty light-minutes from Caracol Seven. It is unlikely we will be noticed at twenty light-minutes.”
“Plot the course
. We will be on the bridge in a moment.”
“Will do.”
“Let’s get ready, people. This might become unpleasant.”
“Ragnar?”
“Lucinda, scans report numerous ships. Stand by.”
“NT?”
“Five-by-five, Captain.”
“Nick, where are we?”
“We are twenty light-minutes under the elliptical plane. There is a lot of debris between us and Caracol Seven. Navigational computers are struggling to find a direct path in system.”
“Ragnar?”
“The debris Nick mentioned is remnants from ship’s hulls. There are at least fifteen long-range ships in system. We are too far out to get an exact number of short-range vessels, but it is well over sixty.”
“What the hell is going on here? Nick, move us to five light-minutes. Don’t run into anything. Pick one of those large chunks and put us next to it. Maybe we will blend into the debris. Continue the passive scans.”
“Landry, does this course work?”
“Nick, this adjustment is required to miss two large masses.”
“Thanks. Ready, Captain.”
“Move us.”
“What am I looking at?”
“Lucinda, there are anomalous readings coming from the space near Caracol Seven’s current orbital location.”
“Landry, explain.”
“The data we are receiving is five minutes old. Scanners are being flooded with objects. Accessing the Caracoli grid now. Stand by.”
Unsure what to do or think, the crew waited for Landry.
“Recommend full shields.”
“Shields up! Why, Landry?”
Ragnar looked over his shoulder, confirming the shields were online.
“Lucinda, check the monitor.”
A closer image of Caracol Seven appeared. The orbital debris was extensive.
“What is that?”
“Lucinda, that is the Defender of Lak’tsil.”
“What is it doing? What is that on the front? It looks like a mushroom cap … Are those transport and maintenance ships I see coming and going?”
BairnGefa- The Akashic Expedition Page 19