“They grow bolder the closer we get.”
“Exactly,” she said. “It’s a good, yet worrying, sign. To think they have access to the equivalent of angel-class technology. Someone powerful must be backing them. I’ve sent an agent to question our armor and weapons manufacturer on Shantalla, but the tribal standoff on my home-world will make things difficult on that front.”
Grimshaw let her words hang in the air for a moment. “Speaking of angel-class tech—”
“The Aegi Order won’t like it, but I’ve already ordered upgraded exoframes and weapons for you and Ensign Evans.”
“For Evans?”
Straiya looked him straight in the eyes. “I invited her to join the Aegi ranks, and she accepted.”
Grimshaw gawked at her and clutched the bed-sheet as he tried to sit up. “She’s still just a kid.”
“Which means she has her whole life to perfect her skills, but I’m glad you’re concerned. They good news is she’ll have you to help her along the way.”
He sank back into his pillow, the pain flaring in his side and shoulder. “She’s not ready for that kind of responsibility.”
“Nonsense,” the Shanti hissed. “If anything, she’s too old. Most Aegi spend their entire youth training in the hopes that they’ll one day reach the mark. The only reason you were made an Aegis was—”
“Because you needed a tool with which to wrestle power from Foster.”
“I resent that,” she spat with disgust. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. I extended you the offer because you’re one of the few Terrans I trust.”
“Then why not consult me about Ensign Evans first.”
“The same way you had me consult with your Confederation Fleet superiors before they made you a Captain?” Straiya said pointedly.
“They’re on the other side of the galaxy,” he countered, pounding the bed. “I’m right here on the same bloody station as you.”
“This isn’t all about me and you or our grievances, Grimshaw,” she said, coming closer to the bed, looming over him. “Galactic peace is at stake here. My people are on the brink of war, partially because of Project Zero. The demonstrations grow daily, and the Sentinel is on the brink of crisis. On top of it all, we have a well-connected terrorist organization running amok. Given what we’re up against, you should be grateful for Clio’s inauguration.”
Evans having access to Aegi resources was helpful, but that wasn’t the point. Even still, Grimshaw decided to drop it. “What do you want us to do?”
“I want you to keep looking for Chimera. I’ve cleared Clio for access to an Aegi server cluster. It’ll speed up her work. Will you continue to support her in her efforts to track them?”
“Of course I will, I’m her Captain.”
Minister Straiya shot him a fanged grin. “And now you’re also her mentor.”
Grimshaw wasn’t sure whether to be more unsettled by her smile or her words. “Mentor? Where am I supposed to find the time?”
“We’ll work something out.”
Grimshaw had been unconscious for two days, and everything had already changed so drastically. “I need to get out of here.” He made to swing his legs over the bed, but another searing pain shot through his side, and he slumped into the sheets, breathing heavily.
“Don’t be stupid, Aegis,” Straiya said, swooping down on him. She helped him back onto the bed, her grip surprisingly strong. “Doctor Roshi said it’s a miracle you’ve recovered at all, let alone so quickly. However, you’re still in no state to be on duty.”
“What the hell did that assassin do to me?”
“He severed your subclavian artery and almost ruined your arm in the process.” Her ears flicked back and forth. “If the medical staff hadn’t gotten to you when they did, even the recovery chamber wouldn’t have helped.”
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have some steel installed,” he joked while slowly opening and closing his hand.
“Did Doctor Roshi tell you about the virus?”
Grimshaw vaguely remembered the doctor talking about it. “He may have said something. I can’t recall the details.”
“The medical team ran a scan and noticed unusual brain activity. We still aren’t sure, but the good doctor suspects that your fury implant purged the virus from your system.”
“Is it meant to do that?”
“No one knows. The Confederation kept the fury program top-secret. After they shut the operation down, they destroyed all their research and retired their personnel.”
“You know a lot about something that was supposed to be top-secret,” he pointed out.
“Long before becoming a Minister, I headed the tribunal looking into the issue after your people warred with the Kragak. What I just told you is about all we learned. The Rivarians and Yalore had hoped to use it to stop you Terrans from gaining your chair on the Galactic Council, but the investigation’s results were non-conclusive.” Straiya checked her SIG. “I’m afraid I must leave, but I will send Talori to check on you later.”
You mean you’ll send Talori to make sure I’m still here. “There’s no need.”
“On the contrary, there is a need,” she insisted. “You may be a Confederation Captain, but you’re also an Aegis, and we take care of our own.”
“Thank you,” he muttered.
“Before I leave, are you sure you can’t remember anything that might help us?”
“All I remember was how big and unbelievably strong the assassin was. I thought he was down for good at one point…” Grimshaw remembered how the assassin had jumped up from under him when he looked under his gauze. “Wait…I removed his face-plate after Bernice blasted him. His face was covered with a black gauze. When I peeled it back, I found dark-green skin and a black slitted eye.”
Straiya all but jumped “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Grimshaw rubbed the increasing pain in his temple. “That’s what a Thandrall looks like, right?”
“I’m afraid so. And it means we’re in even more trouble than I thought.”
“Why is that?”
“It explains some of the readings that came back from your brain scans. It wasn’t just any Thandrall. It was a Psi Commando.”
“Why does that sound so bad?”
“Not many people know this, but a small team of Thandrall tried to overthrow the Sentinel at the turn of the century. It’s why they were ousted from the Galactic Alliance, much like the Kragak.” Her eyes lit up. “But it could also help us track down the contractor.”
“Really?”
“Given their history, very few Thandrall reside on the Sentinel, and most of them work at an establishment called Dreamz on Goldhall Street. It’s run by a Thandrall who goes by the name of Marchioness Lerosse. It’s best you send someone who won’t link back to me. As you know, the Shanti and Thandrall fought a short but bloody war, but Lerosse and I also share…some unsavory history.”
Grimshaw thought it best not to pry into that one. “It’s worth a shot. I’ve got someone in mind.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Straiya produced a hand-sized, red square from her robes. “Someone left this at your office on Andromeda Avenue.” She set it on the small table next to his bed.
“What is it?”
“It appears to be a hand-written card,” she said with a half-smile.
“A card from who?” Grimshaw had a sneaking suspicion he already knew the answer.
“It doesn’t say. It’s simply addressed to you. We had it scanned, of course, and I can tell you that it’s safe. Anyway, I’ve delayed long enough. I must get back to the meeting,” she said, walking to the door before turning back to Grimshaw. “And Grimshaw, rest your body while you have the chance. There’s no telling when you’ll get such an opportunity again.”
He nodded and Straiya exited, leaving him in silence. He lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes, ignoring the red card on the table.
Those black slit eyes appeared in the
darkness and stared into the depths of his soul.
11
New Aegis
The guard inside the barracks entrance confirmed Clio’s ID and waved her through the barrier that had been erected there since the assassin’s attack on the Foster residence. She had her SIG scanned three more times since entering the building.
This increase in security is ridiculous.
After being elected as Minister Foster’s ambassador, Assad had been kind enough to find officer’s quarters for the Bakura crash survivors until Gate Alpha had been restored, but she longed for her quiet cabin back at Fleet Academy Four. At least she didn’t have security breathing down her neck back there.
Clio read a message from Captain Grimshaw as she walked through the busy corridors on her way to her room and was relieved to learn that he was making a good recovery. From what little she managed to squeeze out of Taza, it sounded like things were touch and go for a while, and Clio was surprised by how worried she was for the Captain.
She reread her message from Straiya. It informed her that a package had been delivered to her room and that she must go there at once. Taza hadn’t been happy about cutting training short, but he relented in the end. He’d been working her hard on and off the Chimera Project. Clio suspected he was keeping her busy to stop her from becoming a bother. She wasn’t sure why because she hardly had time to eat let alone get into trouble.
She squeezed past an officer pushing a trolley stacked with equipment and sent the Captain a brief update on Chimera. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much to tell him. Despite spending most of her time scanning the Sentinel’s many communication lines and relays, Clio couldn’t find their signal a second time, and she was beginning to doubt she ever would. Straiya providing access to the Aegi servers made the job easier, but Clio still couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
Clio reached her room at the end of the slightly quieter hallway and found her door ajar. She reached for her blaster when a white-uniformed delivery guy exited the room with a trolley in tow.
The delivery man noticed her confusion. “Excuse me ma’am, but I was given explicit instructions to leave this delivery inside. It was quite the heavy one too. Your little friend let me in.”
“No worries.” She offered as friendly a smile as she could while wondering who her little friend could be. “Thanks for going to the trouble.”
He tipped his cap and went on his way, the electric trolley whirring behind him.
Clio cautiously approached the room and poked her head through the doorway. The already tiny living area was made even smaller by the giant metal crate bearing her name and the yellow Aegi seal. She shimmied past and made her way to the bedroom door.
“Hello?” she inquired, her hand hovering over her weapon again.
Damn, even I’m on edge after the attack on the Captain.
A familiar squeak answered, and Clio hurried into the bedroom to find Booster, sitting on her bed, dressed in a dark green uniform. Booster’s fluffy white face beamed up at her as he reclined, propped up on her pillows.
Clio smiled uncontrollably. “I see you’ve made yourself at home.”
“I like this bed,” he said, taking Clio by surprise. “Where do I sign up?”
“You can talk? I mean I know you can talk, but…” She fumbled with her words.
“I’ve always talked,” he said displaying his sharp canines. “You just didn’t understand me.”
Clio felt like she had stepped into an alternate reality. “But you’re speaking perfect Galactic.”
“The doctors fixed the L-virus in my brain. The original strain wasn’t entirely compatible with my genes.”
His voice and words were much more profound than Clio had expected. “You sound so...different.”
“It’ll take our viruses time to adjust to each other, but we should understand each other better now.”
Clio shrugged. “It’s good to see you again, Booster.” She sat on the bed and scratched his head.
He leaned into her hand and purred. “It’s good to be here. I didn’t get to thank you for taking me off that planet. After the aliens killed my people, I didn’t know what to do.”
“Don’t sweat it. You would have done the same for me.” She looked down at his chrome prosthetic. “How’s your arm?”
“Check it out.” He flexed the robotic limb, and it moved almost naturally. “Three hundred pounds of gripping pressure in this baby. I’ll never have to bite nuts open again.”
“The engineering is impressive,” she said, feeling the metal. “I know it’s not your old arm, but I’m glad they could give you a new one.”
“Screw the old arm. Look at what this thing can do!” Booster climbed to his feet, bringing himself to Clio’s eye level. He pointed a long finger at her, and a hole appeared on the tip.
A bright spark exploded from the hole, and Clio all but jumped off the bed.
“Sorry about that,” he said, pulling the arm back. “I didn’t mean to set it off. It’s not fully charged anyway.”
“Is that a weapon?”
“I prefer to think of it as a defense mechanism,” he said philosophically. “It fires fifty-thousand volts in short-range bursts between charges. It’s enough to stun most people, but not hurt them permanently. I can bypass the limiters, but I would like to get used to it first. It’s state-of-the-art, or so the Monkey Man says.”
“Who?”
“The man in the labs who gave me the arm. He kept calling me Monkey. I named him Monkey Man. I think it suits him.”
Clio was overjoyed to see Booster, but the changes were a bit overwhelming when stacked on top of everything else. “You can talk, you’ve got a blaster attached to your arm, and you have a friend called Monkey Man. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Relax,” Booster said. He rested his prosthetic hand on her shoulder then swapped it with his real hand after realizing what he’d done. “A lot has happened since we arrived here. You’ve no idea how much I missed you.”
Booster looked at Clio with his disk-like eyes and her heart melted. “Come here.” She put her arm around Booster and drew him into a hug. “I tried to come to see you, but they wouldn’t let me.”
“I know.” He sighed. “They’ve got some crazy security in that Bionama place. I couldn’t go anywhere without a guard accompanying me. It feels like I’ve been gone for years.”
“Tell me about it,” she said, letting him go.
He returned to his place on the pillows. “Tell you all of it? I can squeeze six months into a conversation, but we’ll be here for a while.”
Clio laughed. “No…It’s a turn of phrase.”
“A turn of what?”
“Never mind. I’ll explain another time.”
“How have things been up here?” he asked, his wagging tail tapping the bed.
“Crazy busy. Between training and a mission Captain Grimshaw is leading, I’ve barely had a chance to breathe.”
“That could kill you, you know.”
Clio chuckled again. “We’ll have to work on this communication thing.”
“Evidently,” he said, annoyed. “You Terrans are almost as bad as the Shanti. You say such unusual things.”
“I’m not making fun of you,” she gestured at the room. “This is all just…so strange.”
Booster folded his arms. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Not you. You know what? Forget about it.” She smiled. “Where will you be staying?”
“Here,” he said, looking a little confused.
“You’ve been assigned to the barracks? What room?”
“Here,” he said again, looking even more confused.
It dawned on Clio. “Here, in my room?”
Booster nodded.
Clio thought about it for a minute. She had gotten used to sharing her space with Booster while on 115, but a lot had changed since then. She had grown accustomed to what little privacy her barracks quarters offered. And Booste
r being able to talk made him seem more of a…person. Then again, she spent most nights sleeping in her bedroom at Zora’s workshop or the quiet area in headquarters. “I guess that’ll make things easier. Where’s your stuff?”
“Stuff?”
“You know. Your belongings.”
“I don’t have any belongings. Monkey Man gave me this.” He pulled at the breast of his uniform.
“You look very smart, but you’ll need more than one set of clothes. We’ll have to find someone who can make you more. Maybe we can even find someone to make you a TEK.”
Booster nodded with excitement then looked over Clio’s shoulder, pointing at the crate. “What’s that?”
Clio looked back through the bedroom door. “I almost forgot. I’m an Aegis now.”
“Ah, like Aegis Nakamura.” Booster smirked.
“Exactly.” Clio suppressed the pain as she fingered the crystal attached to the cord around her neck. “I think my new armor is inside those crates.”
“Oh, can I see?”
Clio walked to the tall crate and held her thumb against the print scanner. A light blinked on the crate’s control panel and a thumb-sized holoform of Minister Straiya appeared.
“This delivery may have taken you by surprise, but I had a feeling you would accept my offer and already had a unit prepared. Let me formally welcome you to the Aegi Order. I appreciate your understanding regarding the lack of ceremony. We’ll organize a trip to Shantalla once things have calmed down. Since the attempt on your Captain’s life, the Order has decided to promote you with angel-class tactical exoframes. This armor is normally reserved for anointed Aegi after many years of service. It was best to send it directly to your accommodation, so as not to ruffle too many feathers, so to speak. Tradition would have you spend three rotations as an acolyte on Kastara before even being considered for anointment. However, we will have to delay official training until you finish your tasks here on the Sentinel.
“I trust you will find the armor suitable. If you experience any issues, contact my offices and they will direct you to the Aegi workshop here on the station. Someone will be by this evening to collect the containers. May the light shine ever brighter upon you.”
The Galactic Sentinel: Ultimate Edition: 4 Books with 2000+ Pages of Highly Entertaining Sci-Fi Space Adventure Page 45