by Isaac Hooke
Tane folded his arms, waiting for her to reveal what she had been holding back from the beginning. His anger was quickly giving way to disappointment however.
Betrayed from the beginning. I should have never trusted a Volur. Never.
“Do you remember the synthetic who took your brain scan for the first time when you went to get chipped?” Lyra said.
Tane frowned. “Headphone Jack. I knew that synthetic bastard was somehow involved in this.”
“The TSN High Command has a special, highly classified message box set aside to receive communiques of the utmost importance,” Lyra continued. “This message box is used by senior command officials, undercover operatives, and in some cases, ordinary synthetics and robots. You see, the military requires that all synthetics and robots throughout the galaxy retain a secretive set of protocols embedded deep in their AI cores. These protocols allow the millions of robots placed throughout the galaxy to act as the eyes and ears of the TSN: when certain conditions are met, the AIs will report back to the High Command via the encrypted message box. You triggered one of those conditions.”
“I did?” Tane said. He remembered the red light flashing on the console after Headphone Jack had given him his first ever brain scan. And the comment it made: “Well that’s interesting…”
“Yes,” Lyra continued. “Your mind was picked apart by one of the most advanced brain scanners in existence. The machine detected your Ability to Siphon, but also something else. Something more. When a synthetic in Kalindor city reported a farm boy had the ability to Siphon both sides of the Essence, a series of events were set in motion. The—“
“Wait a second,” Tane said. “Both sides of the Essence? You’re telling me I can Siphon the Dark Essence, too?”
“You can,” Lyra said. “So far you have only accessed the Esoterum, or White Essence, drawn from the Lumina—a feat restricted to humans with the Ability. But you also can tap into the Arcanum, or Dark Essence, drawn from the Umbra. I wasn’t sure I believed it until I took you to the Umbra and saw the threads connecting you to the Dark Essence with my own eyes.
“The ancient Terael people have a prophecy, foretelling of a man who will bend both worlds. A man who will wield the Whole Essence and access the powers available to both humans and aliens. This man will either tear the universe apart, or bind it, bringing about everlasting peace.”
“Oh,” Tane said.
“The TSN High Command read the message sent by the Kalindor synthetic,” Lyra said, “and dispatched a ship to retrieve you. What they didn’t know was that I intercepted the message as well. I have eyes and ears in place in the TSN High Command, and they informed me of your discovery. I got lucky. You were only two jumps away from my current posting. I sent my own encrypted message to Lumina Aegis, leader of the Volur, telling her I had finally found you, and booked passage on the first ship to your planet.
“I hoped to beat the TSN to you. If they reached you first, they would have locked you away, too afraid of what you’d become. You would have received no training in the Essence. Who knows, maybe they would have even experimented on you, dissecting you alive to see what made you tick.”
“You never told me about any of that before,” Tane said. “It might have made it easier to convince me to come with you.”
“Maybe so,” Lyra said. “In any case, I did in fact beat the TSN to you. But what I didn’t expect was for the dwellers to reach you first. Either the aliens have a mole in the High Command as I do, or they found a way to monitor the encrypted communications to that particular message box. Jed and I narrowly averted catastrophe by arriving when we did. If those aliens snagged you…” She shook her head. “It would have been the end of the galaxy.”
“Why?”
“They have their own prophecy. A dark prophecy. They foretell that when the Bender of Worlds comes, he will be born among humanity, and by taking him the dwellers will finally wipe out our species and eliminate the threat we pose to them. They never did forgive humanity for what the TSN did to their homeworld.
“If the dwellers took you, with your ability to summon both the White and Dark Essences, you would be a warrior like no other, at least once properly trained. They would likely achieve that training through our own nanotech: they’ve stolen our tech, studied it, experimented on captured humans. They would also modify your chip so that they could control you completely, making you their virtual slave. It would be like living out your life from the perspective of an observer, able to watch, but not participate.”
“So I was screwed either way, you’re saying,” Tane told her. “If the TSN got me, I was dissected. If the dwellers got me, I was a prisoner in my own body.”
“Yes.”
“And I’m supposed to trust that the Volur wouldn’t want to use me for their own nefarious ends?” Tane said.
“We exist only to serve humanity’s best interests,” Lyra said.
“And not your own best interests?” Tane pressed.
Lyra sighed. “You’re right. There are some among the Volur who would seek to use your gifts to further their own agenda. Which is why I plan to take you directly to the Lumina Aegis herself on Talendir. We will train you in secret, without knowledge of the other Volur. And only when you are ready will we reveal you. By then, you will be too strong for any to threaten you.”
“So you will train me,” Tane said. “And then ‘reveal’ me, as you call it. I still won’t be allowed to leave, will I?”
“Of course you will,” Lyra said. “We will give you guidance, but we won’t control you.”
“Guidance is a form of control,” Tane said. “What’s on Remus?”
Lyra hesitated.
“What’s on Remus?” Tane pressed.
“There is an artifact,” Lyra said. “Only the Bender of Worlds can use it, according to the prophecy recorded by the Terael. It is immovable, so we Volur built a base around it. The artifact is guarded by a dedicated group of Volur at all times. If the Bender of Worlds ever came, these Volur would be the first to get their hands on him. You.”
“Earlier you seemed troubled that Remus was close by,” Tane said. “Is it because you were worried those Volur would take credit for capturing me or something, rather than you?”
“That’s not it at all,” Lyra said. “I was trying to figure out how to hide you from them once we got there, because as I told you, some Volur have only their own interests in mind: they would intend to use you, if they knew who you were. In fact I’m still not sure what to do when we get there.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t go at all?” Tane said.
“We don’t have much choice, not with the dwellers herding us,” Lyra said. “If you can use this artifact, it might be our only way out of this.”
“What exactly does the artifact do?” Tane asked.
“No one really knows,” Lyra replied. “It is said only the Bender of Worlds would know what to do with it. The Volur guarding it believe it is a reservoir of Dark Essence. But also something more.”
“No one really knows?” Tane said. “That’s the takeaway I got from that. So it might not do anything at all. It might be only a monument, for all you know.” Tane shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t know why should even bother to believe anything you’re saying.”
Lyra hesitated. “Look Tane, I’m sorry. I know you’ll find it hard to ever trust me again, but what I did… I only meant to help you. I wanted to protect you from the dwellers. And yes, I admit it: I wanted to guide you. I wanted to help mold you into the good man you needed to be. That’s all. You have to believe me.”
Tane felt his anger rising again, but in that moment Jed’s words returned to him:
She has made mistakes in this life. And continues to make them. But in the end she tries to do the right thing. Always remember that, no matter what you think of her.
That eased his anger, somewhat.
The Volur tilted her head. “Nebb tells me we’re entering low orbit above the planet. Let’s
see what we’re dealing with.”
Lyra led Tane back to the cockpit.
“So did she tell you everything you wanted to hear?” Nebb said when Tane stepped inside. The smuggler was sneering slightly.
Tane merely scowled at the man as Lyra took her seat.
“Have you located the thermal signature I gave you?” Lyra asked the smuggler.
Nebb shook his head. “No. If there was ever an anomaly down there, it’s not present anymore. I did pick up some ruins though. On the visual band.”
“Ruins?” Lyra said.
“Yeah,” Nebb said. “Outbuildings. A half dome. Looks like it might have been some sort of a base or research station once.”
“That would be what we’re looking for,” Lyra said. “If the base was still intact, you would’ve never picked it up on the visual band.”
“So what, they were essentially invisible?” Nebb said. “Masking their thermal signatures to make the base look like some sort of natural phenomenon, visible only to those who knew what to look for?”
“Something like that,” Lyra said.
“This was no ordinary base was it?” Nebb said.
Lyra didn’t answer.
“Are you sure it’s destroyed?” Tane asked the smuggler.
“Positive,” Nebb answered. “You can’t get any more destroyed than this.”
That was probably somewhat of a relief to Lyra: if the artifact had survived, Lyra wouldn’t have to worry about a competing faction of Volur snatching him up when they went down to check it out. Assuming of course that the Volur at the base were all dead.
“The destruction looks fairly recent, at that,” Nebb added.
Lyra nodded. “The dwellers, no doubt.”
“Maybe there’s no point in going down there…” Tane told her.
“We will go,” Lyra said. “What we’re looking for would have easily survived any sort of physical bombardment in this universe. Nebb, I’d like to borrow Positron, just in case the dwellers left a welcoming committee for us.”
Nebb glanced at Jed. “If your Bander won’t be enough to protect you, Positron won’t be able to offer a whole lot more.”
“Even so,” Lyra said. “I would rest easier knowing there was another experienced gunner watching my back.”
Nebb shrugged. “I’m all-in on this already. As long as Positron doesn’t mind, then go right ahead. Just remember, if we ever pull through this, you owe me.”
“I do,” Lyra said. “And I always repay my debts.” She glanced at Positron.
The combat robot’s digitally animated brows seem to furrow. “I will come, if only to satisfy two burning questions: who creates an invisible base in a backwater system like Iridium III, and why you wish to take the human there…”
Lyra bowed her head. “Thank you.”
“I’ll try to stay in a geostationary orbit for as long as possible,” Nebb said. “As soon as Grizz gets the dragons back online, I’ll provide whatever air support I can.”
“I have a feeling the dwellers won’t let you stay for very long,” Lyra said. “Especially if you can’t hide our departure.”
“Probably not,” Nebb said. “Grizz, how long until you can get those dragons up?”
“Two of the forward facing laser turrets should be functional in about fifteen minutes,” the Red Grizzly’s AI said. “The rest will follow.”
“It will have to do,” Nebb said. He glanced at Lyra. “Good thing you left your suits on. The atmosphere is definitely caustic down there. Your lungs will melt if you inhale it.”
“Understood,” Lyra said.
“On the plus side,” Nebb said. “It’ll be relatively easy to maintain communications, at least while I’m in geostationary orbit. The postal node aboard Grizzly Cub has enough power to readily penetrate the atmosphere. Just make sure you don’t get too far from the shuttle.”
“I don’t suppose you have any repeater drones aboard to remedy that?” Lyra asked.
“Ha!” Nebb said. “This is a transport, not a military ship! I do have a couple of ship-side drones, but nothing atmosphere capable.”
“Too bad.” Lyra glanced at Tane. “Let’s get to the shuttle bay. It’s time to meet your destiny.”
I’m not sure I want to. But Tane followed her out nonetheless.
Jed and Positron brought up the rear. Jed’s placement felt purposeful, just behind him—as if the Bander was there to ensure Tane didn’t try to run away. Not that there was anywhere he could run away to on a ship that size...
Tane was feeling rested enough to touch the Essence again, and he reached out experimentally. He Siphoned the raging river and quickly released it, satisfied that he could indeed wield the power inside himself if necessary. The “White Essence.” He had no idea how to Siphon the Dark Essence. Assuming it was even possible. He still wasn’t quite sure he really believed he was the “Bender of Worlds,” as the Volur called it.
Lyra claimed she didn’t know the purpose of the artifact. Well, either way, he hoped he would find at least some answers on the surface.
Sinive was waiting inside the shuttle bay. She wore the same spacesuit Tane had left her with in sickbay, the helmet gripped under one arm. She had retrieved one of the S4 plasma rifles from the ship’s armory, which she wore slung over one shoulder. The grip had already enlarged to fit her bulky suit gloves.
Some color had returned to her face, and other than a few weary lines under her eyes, and the strays needling her frazzled braid, she looked her old self for the most part. He caught a hint of that cheap perfume she liked to wear. That was a good sign.
“Grizz told me you were leaving,” Sinive said. She sounded tired. “I’m coming with you.”
“I’m glad you’re awake,” Tane said. “I was worried sick about you. We all were.”
“I told the sickbay robot to alert me if your condition changed,” Lyra said.
“Actually, no,” Sinive said. “The medical robot was very clear on that. It said it was supposed to alert you only if my conditioned worsened.”
“Ah,” Lyra said. “Robots. They always take you so literally.”
“That’s how most of them are programmed,” Sinive said. “Except for those like Grizz, who think they’re human.”
“I am human,” the ship’s AI said from an overhead speaker.
“See what I mean?” Sinive returned her attention to Lyra. “Grizz and Cub told me what you all did for me. How you boarded an alien ship to rescue me. And then linked to bring me back from the brink of death. I’m forever in your debt. I’m coming.”
Lyra inclined her head respectfully. “I suspect we’re going to need all the gunners we can get down there.”
“Thank you,” Sinive said.
“Are you sure you’re well enough?” Tane asked her.
“I am,” Lyra said. “I want to do this. I have to. Whatever we find down there, I’ll stand by you, all of you. No one should face death alone.”
“I’m not so sure death is waiting for us down there,” Tane said.
“Isn’t it?” Sinive said.
Tane glanced at Lyra, but the Volur said nothing.
Tane returned the personal storage device he had taken into safekeeping for Sinive earlier, and she accepted it gratefully.
She let her helmet hang from her belt as she retrieved her pistol and holster combination from the pouch and attached it to her utility belt. Sinive clipped the shield generator over the buckle. Finally she fetched the Essence enhancing Chrysalium armband from the pouch, and Tane helped her remove her arm assembly to put it on. She was still wearing her white dress underneath, he noted.
The armband detached into two pieces for spacesuit wear: the outer piece fit to the suit’s upper arm area, the inner attached to her bicep. It was a rather strange design.
“You’re really going to trust this thing?” Tane nodded at the armband.
“Why not?” Sinive said.
“The price you paid still seems a little too good to be true�
��” Tane said.
Sinive shrugged. “Sometimes people are nice. I have a rule: when you’re offered a bargain, take it.”
He thought of the personal storage device Roadroller had given him. That was something he had gotten for a “bargain” as well, what with Roadroller giving it up out of guilt for cheating him. So far the pouch had held up, though Tane still expected it would begin eating up his inventory items at some point.
“All right,” Tane said. “Just be careful using it.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Sinive quipped.
“Best daughter I’ve ever had,” Tane retorted.
“I wouldn’t joke about it,” Sinive said. “I know girls who are actually older than their fathers. That’s what happens when you decide to forgo jump drives and travel between systems at close to the speed of light: the relativistic effects are killer.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Tane smiled. “It really is good to have you back.” He helped her replace her arm assembly, now replete with Chrysalium armband, and then they all donned their helmets and entered the shuttle.
Since there was no spare seat for Positron, the combat robot stood standing in the center of the cabin between the four chairs. The robot wasn’t wearing a spacesuit, and was equipped with a pistol at its belt, an S4 plasma rifle, and a shield generator.
“Welcome back,” the shuttle’s AI said. “It seems you only just left. Oh wait, you did. So then, where to?”
“Take us down to the surface, Cub,” Lyra said. “Park us about fifty meters from the outskirts of the ruins Grizz detected.”
“Will do,” Cub replied. The deck vibrated as the hangar bay vented.
Jed was seated across from Tane, and the faceplate of the Bander’s helmet abruptly slammed shut. The movement made Tane double check his own suit integrity. The pressure read: 100%.
“Be ready to turn back if you detect any hostiles in the area,” Lyra said.
“Oh you can bet I’ll be ready,” Cub said. “Considering I’m unarmed and defenseless.”
Tane heard a humming as the shuttle engines activated.
“Engaging artificial gravity,” Cub said. The deck shook and Tane felt the momentary Gs before the inertial dampeners kicked in. “Grizzly Cub is away.”