Orion's Gate

by Sabine Priestley

  And still he stared.

  She took longer than necessary to clean the sugar from her fingers, and finished by licking her lips. His gaze lingered a moment before looking away.

  “Ain’t that right?” Mac said.

  “Sorry, what?”

  “I said, he may be powerful-looking, but we don’t know what he’s made of, now do we? Not even from our galaxy. Could be fragile as a flame.”

  “True.” He could be, but she didn’t think so. The man radiated power.

  The music hit a crescendo as Suede Harrington spoke up from the stage. “I need all contestants to come on up!”

  “Looks like we’re on,” Vin said, snatching one last delight.

  “We’ll be seeing you soon, darlin’. And often.” Mac was so ecstatic about the whole thing, it was almost creepy.

  Vin tracked Armond’s path and converged with him before the steps. The teams stood, randomly spaced behind the podium. The press gathered around.

  The orbs above brightened and, as if on cue, a gust of wind whipped over the people, unseating more than a few hats. Squeals of laughter erupted as men and women chased them down.

  Once everyone was settled again, a hush fell over the group.

  Suede stood, chest puffed out like a prize fighter.

  Vin doubted the man could walk a mile, let alone run one.

  The women flanking him each held a jeweled box clutched to their ample chests. On a table behind them were the rest of the boxes, each a unique design.

  Suede lifted his right hand, and the closest woman placed a box gently onto his open palm. Stroking the thing like a lover, he placed it on the podium. “Are we ready to begin?”

  The crowd erupted in cheers and whoops. Their fellow contestants radiated a mix of emotions from elation to fear.

  For her, it was something akin to resigned anticipation. One way or another, this was going to be an adventure.

  “You all know the routine,” Harrington’s voice boomed across the space. “Once each contestant has read their objective aloud, they will return to their ships until I give the clear for departure signal.” He really should stop fondling that damn box.

  Within minutes, the first three contestants were off, each with a cryptic message and destination to be revealed after they left the exosphere.

  They were fourth to get called to the podium. Vin wiped the sweat from her palms and stood next to Armond. A faint hint of something crisp and clean tickled her nose. She shifted her weight slightly and leaned in closer to the man. Trying not to be obvious, she inhaled deeply. She couldn’t help a slight moan as his unique aroma settled over her.

  Harrington continued his box fondling as he lifted the lid and handed her a small scroll from within, only four or five inches long, nodding to the mic for her to read it to the gathering.

  She unfurled the parchment and cleared her throat.

  “Our destination is a planet called Altaria, also known as Farewell. This is our clue:

  Underground and out of place you’ll have to squeeze into this space.

  Retrieve the gem, but do not tarry, when they return it could get scary.

  Beware the things upon the ground,

  the ones you like can take you down.”

  Her stereophonic voice echoed through the night when she finished. The silence was oddly weighted. Heavy with destiny. Or something else.

  She met Armond’s gaze. “Let’s go.”

  Once on board, they made sure everything was secure and ready for flight. They were itching to go, but had to wait for the rest of the contestants to receive their clues and finally for the press and tarmac to clear. It was a comical process once the last task had been read. No doubt the premature departure echoed through their memories, as waitstaff hurriedly cleared the deck, casting furtive glances at the ships powering up.

  They settled into the bridge and strapped in. She leaned over the posh console and pulled up the first-rate nav system. It hadn’t taken her any time to sort through the controls and figure out the interface.

  “Do we have the coordinates yet, Marty?” Vin asked.

  “I will supply that information as soon as it arrives.” Marty had an air of superiority about him. “Assuming we make it that far.”

  “He’s right,” Vin said. “Watch it when we have the clear signal. There’s frequently some idiot disqualified before they even get off the planet.”

  The ships were arranged in a circle, which made for an obvious departure pattern. Up and outward, but someone always mangled it.

  “It is a dangerous way to begin,” Armond said.

  “Not as much as it appears. They have tractor beams to protect the building. It’s just a lousy way to lose.”

  “Once we’re up and you have the coordinates, set our course immediately and jump as soon as possible. I’ll catchup with my calculations.” Vin sat back to watch the proceedings.

  “There’s no need to verify my destination.” Marty said.

  “No offense, but I’m not going to trust you, given the previous season’s AIs.”

  “Fine. It’s your wasted time cycles.”

  Vin grinned at the petulant response. “Time to get this party started.” She checked the air traffic. “All local traffic patterns are on hold for our departure. It’s an eight-mile diameter.”

  Suede Harrington’s voice came over the com. “Tarmac is clear. Good luck, and may the best team win!”

  “We don’t need luck.” Armond lifted off with practiced ease.

  Sure enough, a sleek craft veered off at a bad angle, and forced another to jet out sideways. Something was wrong with the first ship, and it headed back down.

  “Wonder if that’s operator error or mechanical failure?” Vin said.

  With a confidence that only came with experience, Armond located a clear path and they rocketed skyward.

  Three minutes after leaving the planet’s atmosphere, Marty provided the coordinates to Altaria. Once she had it, Vin brought up all known information on their destination. As expected, the intel was sparse, to keep them guessing.

  She scanned the data before re-reading the clue. Pulling up the holo projection, she zeroed in on an area in the south east of the southern hemisphere. “According to this, there’s a large network of subterranean caves here.” She pointed to the lush green region. “And this appears to be to most likely entrance.”

  “Given our lack of more detailed information, that sounds reasonable.”

  As usual, his emotional energies were a void. He was a true enigma. Although he must be shielding his emotions, she could detect no such indicator. And she always found them. She’d never met a sentient being who could truly hide from her, until now. The only crack in his shell, when Candi mentioned his clothing. Or perhaps she’d imagined that?

  Vin bit back a smile. It was a challenge. And more than a little bit of a turn-on. It looked like there was more than one game in play, and she liked winning.

  Chapter 3

  “Aren’t you the least bit curious about the rest of the planet?” A day and a half, and Vin had yet to elicit any emotional frequency from Armond. And she’d come at it from every angle she could think of.

  The surface of Altaria filled the viewscreen of the bridge, growing larger as they descended.

  “I am, of course, curious, but we have a task to complete and a contest to win.”

  Vin sat next to Armond as he eased the ship down with a feather-light touch on a grassy area not far from where she’d located the cave entrance.

  Lush green and orange vegetation filled the dense forest outside. A riot of flowers covered the place in nearly neon colors. Wisps of clouds trailed across the blue sky above.

  Armond shut down the engines, and they peeled themselves out of the cush command chairs.

  “You weren’t kidding when you said you knew how to fly.” She stretched out her back.

  “I’ve been flying since the age of twelve.”

  That was impressive by any standard
. “Did your folks fly?”

  “That is unknown.”

  Interesting. And how does that illicit zero emotion?

  She did a scan of the atmosphere outside the ship. “Readings are all nominal. It’s really humid, but beautiful.”

  “You use that word frequently.” As always, Armond’s posture was military perfect.

  “I find beauty in many places.”

  “Its appearance doesn’t mean it is any less dangerous.”

  “Or deadly. Duh. Did you watch any of the previous seasons like I suggested?”

  “I have not had the time.”

  She gave him a scowl. “Liability.”

  He met her gaze, nothing more.

  Born this cold, or made by circumstance? Strikingly handsome, he had one of those faces that made it impossible to tell his age. Could be thirty, could be sixty. Hell, with today’s tech he could be over a hundred.

  “Marty,” she addressed the ship’s AI, “anything we should know about this world? Dangers, in particular?”

  “There are numerous venomous species on this planet, but there are no aggressive forms in the immediate area.” The AI’s voice was oddly modulated.

  “Excellent.” Vin activated Marty’s remote interface on her com. “Shall we go?”

  Armond gave her a curt nod. “I suggest we take advantage of the weapons they provided. I assume you know how to handle them?”

  “Honey, I grew up on my uncle’s farm on Trianth. Killing the small predatory animals before they ate our livestock was a full-time job.”

  The weapons locker was off the main entry to the ship. She strapped on a laser, and secured a high-tech breathing apparatus around her neck.

  Armond held another in his hand. “I am unfamiliar with this. What does it do?”

  “Fully loaded, it can provide a couple hours of air. Watch.” Vin activated the collar, and it snicked into place, enveloping her head one horizontal section at a time. Once fully deployed, she wore a snug-fitting helmet with decent visibility.

  Armond tried to activate his without putting it on. Of course, nothing happened.

  “You have to wear it.” Vin pocketed a light and handed one to Armond.

  He took it with a curt nod and he fastened the collar around his neck. But didn’t try it out.

  As if cued by an off-stage director, the reality of it all settled over her once again. She’d known exactly what this was, and the potential for danger, but somehow even signing the contract with all that language about dismemberment and stuff hadn’t seemed real.

  People died in this thing. It was also massively lucrative for survivors. And they’d get to keep this beauty of a ship. Or not. They’d probably have to sell it and divide the credits. Bummer, that.

  They lowered the external stairs and walked into a balmy summer’s afternoon. The damp clung to her skin. She’d pulled her hair into a tight tail, but the humidity would have her looking like a Trinathian bush cat in no time. Wiping her hand across her brow, it came away wet. “We’re going to be soaked by the time we get out of here,” she said.

  “We’re going to be soaked before we begin.” It was an uncharacteristically long reply for the albino. Progress, maybe?

  Their leather boots were nearly silent as they crossed the lush green grassy area. She bent down to get a closer look at the growth. It was blue tinged, fine strands, and resembled hair more than anything.

  Hovering overhead was an Octiron Vidbot. That sucker would probably stick with them like glue now.

  “Say hello to our fans.” Vin smiled and waved enthusiastically.

  Armond did nothing. That was ok. There were always contestants that people loved to hate. He may fall into that category.

  A refreshing breeze darted in from the south, and the entire field ruffled in waves. At the same time a tangy odor reached her. Tangy, with a hint of rot. “You smell that?”

  “Yes. I’d guess organic.”

  “Possibly decomposing, which could draw scavengers.” The intensity of the smell increased as the breeze picked up. “I bet that Yeealla couple is loving this if they’re here now.”

  “Which couple?”

  “The really thin ones, remember? You talked with them before the main course at dinner.”

  “You were occupied with Tygean Jag during that conversation.”

  She grinned. It always took people a while to figure her out, if they ever did. “I heard, all right. They have a highly developed sense of smell. Something about their genetic relation to the Yeeallas, who’s primary sense is olfactory. That’s a weird way to experience life, huh?” And there it was again. A hint, a whiff, a mere suggestion of surprise, or was it something else? Was he impressed?

  Passing under moss-laden trees, they made their way to the cave entrance.

  The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped a good fifteen degrees, sending goosebumps down her damp skin.

  The entrance veered to the right and a faint glow emanated from around the bend. “Only one way to go. Marty, any life forms in here?” Her com emitted a staticky noise. “Marty?”

  There was no further reply, so they made their way in silence. Whatever the light source was, it shone a lovely blue color, and illuminated the walls at the far end.

  She reached out with her senses, and didn’t find anything other than some insect-sized critters. Nothing sentient.

  Armond had his laser in hand as they turned the corner.

  “Nice.” She stepped closer. “Crystalline. I wonder what the light source is.”

  “That’s a question for another time. We have a mission to complete.” He had to be ex-military.

  She caught up to him and they continued deeper into the mountain. They’d been going down since entering the tunnel. Had to be below ground by now. Vin jumped when Marty’s voice boomed from her com. “There appears to be a large number of…”

  Silence followed. She checked the volume, but it was set on low, even though that voice had damn near blown out an eardrum.

  “A large number of what, Marty?” she asked.

  No answer.

  “Are you picking up on anything?” she asked Armond.

  “Nothing unusual.”

  “I wish we had a better idea of exactly what we’re looking for. ‘Underground and out of place you’ll have to squeeze into this space.’ Well, we haven’t squeezed anywhere yet.”

  They’d been going for nearly thirty minutes when they came to a dead end. The light in the rocks had steadily increased, and it was quite luminous now, with an eerie blue hue. Like a clear night and a full blue moon.

  “What do we do now?” Vin asked.

  “My sensors indicate a large cavern directly ahead.”

  Vin reached out and touched the surface of the wall in front of her. “It’s warm. Can you tell how thick it is?”

  “The material is oddly refractive. I get different readings every time.”

  “Try blasting it?”

  “That could bring the ceiling down on us.”

  She backed up a few feet and scanned the edges of the block. Along the right side, rock protruded up to the ceiling, forming something of a natural staircase. “There.” She pointed to the place where the wall met the roof.

  About two feet from the top, there was a slight shift in the light hue. “I think that’s an opening.”

  She pocketed her com and started climbing. Usually, a male would caution her to be careful. Basic human nature stuff. But her albino remained silent. She wasn’t sure how that made her feel. Was he trusting in her abilities, or simply not concerned? She’d go with the former, because why not?

  The climb was easy, but it was twenty feet or so from the cave floor. She pressed her right shoulder against the wall and didn’t look down. As she neared the top, there was indeed a ledge, and the light was brighter beyond. Deep within the walls, or possibly on the other side something moved. Or somethings. It was hard to say, as the shadows scattered in different directions, the light doing weird
things in here. She approached the ledge and peered over. “We’ll have to crawl through this. Probably means we’re on the right track. Come on.”

  Whatever had moved was out of sight, so she pulled her laser from the holster and lay on her stomach to slither across the opening.

  It was only five or six feet, and beyond was a massive subterranean cavern.

  “God’s Balls, come and see this.”

  Armond was behind her a moment later, moving freakishly fast. There was the slightest tinge of an emotional response as he bolted over the edge.

  “Careful,” she said. “Something was moving in here when I approached the ledge.”

  He landed a few feet below, weapon drawn and sweeping.

  Maybe his chivalry had kicked in. Whatever. The place was stunning. And deep. She wasn’t sure she could make out the end. Along the bottom, giant crystals jetted out at crazy angles. She’d never seen any so large. They glowed with the blue light from within. Some appeared to be ten or twelve stories high, with a circumference the size of her grandfather’s house.

  Armond started to make his way down to the cavern floor.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  He raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Yeah, yeah, everything’s beautiful, but just look at that, will you?”

  Deep in the cavern, a massive shadow moved across a grouping of crystals. “You see that?”

  “Yes.”

  The form moved to the left, then slid down to the ground and dissipated. There was nothing solid to be seen, just vague shapes behind the crystals.

  “Keep your laser ready at all times,” Armond said.

  “Of course. I think I saw that same thing as I breached the surface of the ledge. More than one. Maybe.” The descent was far more gradual. She was riding an adrenalin high as she followed Armond down. Who knew imminent danger could be so invigorating?