by Randal Sloan
Ariyana laughed along with her mother and uncle at such a preposterous idea, but she recognized the hidden command buried deep within that airy proclamation. She wondered just what this was about, for although she considered her uncle as family, she’d never completely trusted him. Something she sensed rather than saw, hidden deeply within that shiny exterior he’d always shown to her family. Something very dark.
She hadn’t dared say anything and certainly wouldn't now. Especially, not now, not when he apparently was about to make her wildest dreams come true!
Ariyana had been forced to make small talk with her uncle and her mother for several minutes before they finally released her to go to her rooms. She’d been so excited, she could hardly stand the time, for she wanted to tell the only one that she knew would care, her best friend Serena.
Serena had been her bestie before what Ariyana called the “Fall” and unbelievably she had remained so even afterward when so many of the others had abandoned her as not worth their time. That and pity had been the two emotions she had faced. Ariyana couldn’t stand their pity; it was even worse than the rejection.
Serena had just accepted her as she was, and Ariyana had come to treasure her even more. Serena also believed in her and she would rightly see this as the opportunity for her friend to possibly still find a way to make that difference.
Usually, the two girls just hung around in a 3D virtual chat world, but tonight Ariyana made a direct call to Serena.
“I'm going to the Imperial Ball!” she exclaimed to her friend as soon as she answered, clapping her hands in her own excitement. “Somehow, Uncle’s gotten it all arranged and he’s paying for a fancy new gown and makeover. It’s going to be amazing! The Emperor is even supposed to be there!”
It had been a given that Serena was already invited to attend the Ball and would have the support of her family in doing so. Normally she would have remained quiet about it in deference to her friend’s situation. But with this new development, Serena was just as excited as Ariyana.
“That’s so awesome, Ari! Maybe you’ll finally get your chance. I always knew you were destined to be someone special.”
She laughed. “Wouldn’t it be something if you were the one to actually get the Emperor’s attention, after all the rest of us have failed so miserably?”
Ari laughed. “Aw, come on, what are the chances of that?”
Serena just shook her head. “You never know. Stranger things have happened. Besides, if anyone can, you can!”
Serena then changed the topic, eagerly chatting with her friend about the ball and telling her the gossip about all the girls she knew would be attending. In the back of her mind, though, was the thought maybe her special friend would actually be the one.
They talked a little longer, Serena every bit as excited as her friend. Before ending their conversation, the two agreed to meet in the Imperial Palace before the ball.
Ariyana ended the call and went about her preparations to retire for the evening. Even so, she was so excited she was barely able to sleep.
Chapter 7
SafeHold
As the Master Sergeant had indicated, that evening under the cover of the dark night, the Marines and girls relocated to Block 85, making several stops along the way. By the time they were finished, a whole transport vehicle was filled with children and another was nearly full of those they had chosen to save from within the local government.
With no luck in reaching anyone in the Galactic Empire’s Provisional government, Robert had declared them a loss. Assuming the man in the position of Provisional Governor survived the encounter, with the extensive notes Robert had to give to the Princess, he would never have another assignment outside of the Imperial Capital.
Not that it mattered. Somehow, he doubted the man would survive. It seemed extremely unlikely the aliens or the ones working with them would leave them in place. Based on what he’d heard in the audio Krissy provided him, it sounded like they had access to a pirate ship or two. That would be more than enough to take out the temporary Imperial station where the Governor and his staff were residing as they awaited a location on the surface to be negotiated. I bet they don’t even have their basic defenses activated, the idiots!
Robert shook his head. If there was anything I could do to force them to listen, I would do it, but my hands are tied. Luckily, they’re not fully staffed up yet, or it would be even worse. But he had learned years ago that even a Marine could only do what he was allowed to do, and despite the Empire’s best efforts at weeding them out, some people were too stupid to be put in charge. That didn’t mean it didn’t happen occasionally and it had this time.
That left him with the rest of the people the girls had gathered. Luckily, Block 85 had an underground facility that could hold all they had with them, and the children were quickly settled, as well as the adults. Missy and her friends watched in disbelief as a second team of Marines arrived, their transport loaded with food and supplies, more than they’d normally see in an entire month.
Then the Marines with the weapon pods came through, causing an even bigger stir. Even though they didn’t recognize the specific weapons, they knew enough to know what they had was quite impressive, especially for their little world.
They didn’t have long to stare. “Come with me,” Robert told the three girls. “We’ve set up a control room where Corporal Jackson and I will be so we can coordinate everything. I believe you’ll want to join us there.”
He led the three down the hallway until they reached a room at the end of the corridor. It was in a long forgotten underground room that hadn’t seen use in many, many years. The girls only made it part of the way into the room before they stopped to stare in disbelief. Krissy, in particular, was almost beside herself with excitement. So many toys!
Robert laughed. “When Marines do something, we tend to do it right the first time.” He waved at the consoles. “We have our own satellites and ground-based radar, unjammable communication equipment for us and jammers to use on the enemy, even our own ground-to-ground missiles and hypervelocity air-to-space missiles.
“And, of course, drones. Whoever these guys are, they don’t know it yet, but they’re about to kick over an ant hill.”
The little courier ship delivering Jenn to her new assignment was drawing near its destination according to its captain, who apparently would be glad to be rid of her. It wasn’t her fault she was just a little wet behind the ears and maybe a bit too enthusiastic. Everyone had to start somewhere.
She suspected that was why he was still captaining such a small ship. His attitude left a little something to be desired and on such a small ship it was impossible to avoid running into each other. Of course, his sour outlook went with the ship’s name, Flax. A sad captain for a boring and hopeless ship.
Jeffre, the pilot she’d met that first day and the only one that had even cared to spend any time with her, sent her a message by implant. “If you’ll come to the shuttle bay, we’ll get ready to off-board you. The AI can do the rest of the navigating for the ship from our current position and we’ll launch as soon as we draw near to the planet. I know you’re anxious to get to your station.”
Jenn smiled. She was more than a little anxious. She still marveled that she had drawn this assignment, especially as her first one, but she was determined to do it to the best of her ability. She might have mentioned that to Jeff a time or two. Now that young man would be moving on to something better soon, she suspected. He sure didn’t belong on this pathetic ship.
“On my way,” she sent back, unable to hide the grin that covered her face. She tried to smother it, but she knew she wasn’t successful when Jeff met her at the door to the shuttle bay. He managed to smother his own grin, but she could tell he was amused.
Moments later, they received the all clear and the little shuttle launched smoothly at Jeff’s subtle touch, quickly clearing the tiny ship and moving toward the station. To Jenn’s eyes, it gleamed against the starlit ba
ckground and she grew even more excited. It all exceeded even her wildest dreams.
“I’m going to give you a fly around tour,” Jeff told her over the com. “This little station isn’t much to look at, but since the Provisional Governor is aboard, it’s a little bigger than you might find on average this far out on the Rim.”
He swung around the station so she could get a better look. To her it was quite impressive, despite the fact to him apparently it was rather small.
“I guess this will be your home away from home for a few weeks, so I suspect it won’t take long for you to explore the whole station,” he told her as he swung them around to the back side.
“It’s a shame you won’t be able to get down to the surface for a while,” Jeff continued. “I’ve heard it’s a beautiful planet. I would have wished I could visit myself. Perhaps you can send me some VR pics when you do.”
They had reached the back of the station, which to Jenn didn’t look any different from the front. Jeff started to swing them back around so they could enter the ship’s hangar the station boasted for shuttlecraft to land.
Suddenly, and without any warning, the station exploded!
Despite the horrible explosion they’d just witnessed, Jeff reacted quickly, shooting their tiny shuttle away from expanding debris of the station. He used a moon nearby as extra cover, very much aware that whoever had attacked the station might set their sights on their little shuttle. He gave a grim smile as Flax turned to flee whatever had taken out the station, not even pausing to pick them up, not that he could really blame them.
They didn’t get far. His smile turned to a grimace as the little ship exploded from what was obviously a missile. By this time, their shuttle had slipped back around the moon and he quickly began an approach to the planet, trying to keep the moon between them and whoever had launched that attack. That would make targeting them with a missile much more difficult.
“I’m going to try to set us down on the planet,” he told a shocked and stricken Jenn, who was completely frozen in fear. Forensic accountants weren’t supposed to face this kind of thing. The horror of all she'd just seen was reflected on her face and she scarcely could comprehend what had just happened. For her sake, he tried to keep his voice calm, although he didn’t feel very calm himself.
“I need you to strap in,” he told her as she looked back at him in terror. He could tell she was barely hanging on and he gave her a smile, albeit a little forced.
“It looks like you’re going to see the planet after all,” he said in an effort to soothe her. “It’s going to be alright. I’ll get us down safely in just a few moments and someday you’ll be telling your grandkids about your grand adventure.”
His efforts must have worked, because although shaking, she managed to get the straps engaged. Just in time as they reached the edge of the atmosphere and their small shuttle began to suffer the first effects of turbulence. That turbulence was only going to get worse, Jeff knew, especially with the way he was flying. He greatly feared they would soon have company, and their tiny shuttle had absolutely no defenses.
Jeff keyed his com. “Mayday! Mayday! This is the Imperial shuttle Adelaide, formerly of the Imperial courier ship Flax. We’re attempting to make an emergency landing on the planet. The orbital station and our ship have both been destroyed in an attack.”
Jeff really had not expected a response. As far as he knew, they were the last Imperial asset out here.
“Adelaide,” was the answer that came back over the com. “Come to the following course. An escort will be meeting you at the landing site.”
As a blip appeared on his radar, the message continued, “Better make it quick. We’ve got your six if you can get within our airspace.”
Jeff didn’t waste any time, aiming their shuttle toward the course sent along with the message, and moving as fast as their little ship could safely do so. He pushed it close, close to the margin, but he feared even that wouldn’t be enough.
“What does that mean, we need to hurry?” a once again worried Jenn asked.
“Some type of attack craft,” Jeff told her as their shuttle began entry into the full atmosphere and the small wings extruded out for stability. Their pursuer was moving a lot faster than them, so he worried that whoever it was would catch them too soon. He pushed his ship a little harder; he knew now that he was in the atmosphere he could handle it a little over the safety margin and the situation necessitated it.
“Our benefactor, whoever they are, just told us they can protect us if we can get within their airspace, which unfortunately is just on the other side of the planet. Luckily, we’re headed there at a high rate of speed.”
Their pursuer had given up on cutting off their path to the planet, and moving to a course directly behind them, they attempted to close the gap. Jeff knew it was going to be close, very close, and unless they had a high-end AI controlling those defenses awaiting them, it probably wouldn’t be enough.
As they came around the limb of the planet the capital city came into view, and for a moment Jeff felt a spark of hope flare up. But a glance at his scope showed their pursuer was very quickly closing that gap between them. In seconds, whoever it was would be in missile range.
“I’m sorry,” he told Jenn as the missile lock indicator lit on his panel. “I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
He could see the tears in Jenn’s eyes, not that he felt much better about it. They both should have had their entire lives in front of them. Any second now, he knew.
Suddenly, their pursuer exploded!
“I take that back,” he told her with a huge smile as he let out a sigh of relief. “Apparently, we have some very powerful friends. That was a long range hypervelocity missile unless I miss my guess.”
His smile grew bigger as they approached the landing zone and he saw what was waiting for them. “I think things are about to get very interesting!”
Chapter 8
Never Turn Down Help
Still in her little sick bay partition, Sara awaited the arrival of her Princess and friend with more than a little trepidation. She hadn’t told Jarra yet all that had been involved with her awakening from that coma after the battle with the evil First Sentinel. It had been a lot closer than even her friends had known. That coma had almost been the end of her and without help, she wouldn’t have made it.
That help was what she hadn’t been able to talk about, but after all, she’d still been in a rather fragile state when she’d first awakened. She was just not able to explain everything that had happened. Most specifically, she hadn’t told her Princess about Adrihel. Somehow the Forerunner AI left behind by his people to interface with the Golden One and her friends had placed a tiny part of himself in her implants. He had saved her when she was almost past the point of no return, buried so very deeply within herself in that horrible coma. Without Adrihel’s help, she would have retreated within herself so far that not even Master Hadassah would have been able to reach her.
Sara had wanted to tell Jarra immediately after she’d finally awakened, but she just couldn’t formulate the words to try to explain it all to her. Not telling the Princess was about to come back to bite her. Adrihel had just told her something rather urgent, and now she had no choice but to come clean with her friend.
While she waited, Sara thought back over her interaction with Adrihel. She was still surprised whenever he spoke within her head, and this time his gentle voice had carried an air of urgency with it.
“My Dear Sara,” the AI began, waiting until he knew she was listening, not that there was any way that she would not hear him. Still, it was the polite thing to do.
“I have received a message from my larger self on board the Forerunner station, something he is able to do when necessary. He has a message you need to deliver to your Princess, the Golden One.”
“What?” Sara asked quickly. “You know I haven’t told her about you yet…”
“Yes, I know you needed time, but unfort
unately, it appears we’re out of time. Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll understand. I have the memory of when she interacted with my larger self and she appears to be quite reasonable.”
Sara knew he was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. Despite being the leader of their little team and a Crown Princess to the Realm, unbelievably Jarra was her friend. Sara feared the look of disappointment more than any outburst of anger from her.
She shook her head. Best to get it over with. “I guess you’d better tell me the message.”
When Adrihel replied with a quatrain of verse, she listened carefully and activated the record function of her implants. She didn’t understand it, but after all, the message wasn’t for her.
That’s when she sent the request to the Princess, asking for her to come to sick bay. Jarra just replied that she was on her way, which was why she was so very nervous.
Then Adrihel surprised her again with something else to tell the Princess. He appeared reluctant to bring it up, but finally had decided to come clean. Yep, after hearing that one, she definitely was in trouble for holding out on her.
“There’s one more thing you need to know. One of the few assets our people left in place after we left the galaxy is what you would call a ‘Hyperspace NET’ and you are going to need some information from it. We built this over many centuries, seeding the entire galaxy with a series of special sensors that let us build and maintain a real-time reflection of the flows of hyperspace versus the real world. Sort of a mirror world to the real world. It started as a project just to cover the ever-changing core of the galaxy, but in time the Royal Cartographers struck a map that covered the entire galaxy.”
“I'm sending you a copy of the section of the map providing the least time course through the core for you to give to your Princess. It is essential for you to get where you need to be on time or all will be lost.”