The damage was worse than Julian had expected and proved the theory he had been hoping was wrong. The damage to the ship stemmed from the spatial displacement core and appeared to be deliberate, but the motive was unclear. If she’d only meant to slow the ship, it was overkill.
“El’iadrylline!”
Ellie turned to see her father skidding to a halt as he rounded the corner.
“Thank the stars I found you. We have to get you and everyone we can off this ship. The environmental is failing. We need a plan to… Oh dear. It’s worse than I thought.” He trailed off with a horrified look at the infected displacement core. “How?” he muttered as he walked over to one of the crystals and felt its rough edge.
“El’iadryov.” Julian acknowledged his former master with a bow. “Dryova is here. When I last saw her she showed signs of infection. I believe she has infected the ship and I now believe it was a deliberate move to slow us down.”
El’iadryov looked up from the crystal, forehead creased in confusion. “My mother is dead, Julian. I do not know what ruse Andressa is using, but I can assure you. Isaverlline and I were the ones who found my parents’ bodies.”
“I understand, and Isaverlline said as much, but Andressa, for all her attempts, never mastered the Kyroibi. The woman who is aboard this ship bears the signature of a former Kyroibi master. At least, the woman who found us on Earth bore the signature,” he explained. “I had not been able to find her anywhere in the ship’s info matrix, but I now suspect the degeneration is the reason she is invisible.”
“Of course,” El’iadryov said with a distracted nod. “The silicate clustering in such profusion would read as the infection.”
“Okay, not to panic or anything, but could you two maybe tell the rest of us what you’re talking about because all I’m processing is blocked exits and failing environmental controls.”
El’iadryov turned to his daughter with a tight smile. “These crystals are the same as the manifestations of the disease that would have killed me.”
“The ship is dying?” Ellie asked with a sinking pit of dread. “H-how long do we have?”
“At best, a day, at worst, a couple of hours. The environmental engineering deck hasn’t been destroyed, but the crystallization has begun to weaken a key element required for proper air filtration.”
“Is there any other way to get back down to the lower cargo hold?”
El’iadryov shook his head. “There may be an emergency docking port near the helm, but we can’t get back down there.”
“Okay, hang on a moment,” Ellie said and pressed the communicator in her ear. “Commander Vonsse?”
“I’m here, Eidyn Master.”
“The way back down to the cargo hold is blocked. Find anyone you can on the lower levels and get them out of there as soon as possible. The ship is in worse shape than we thought.”
“Already on it, Eidyn Master. My first officer found the cargo engineers and we’re working to get them out now.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
“But if you are unable to get back down, what is your plan for evacuating the rest of the ship?”
“We’ll know when we have one,” she admitted with a grimace. “Can you scan the ship again and see if you are able to find an unobstructed airlock?”
“I can and will,” Commander Vonsse relayed. She could practically hear the salute in his words. “Commander Vonsse out.”
Ellie hit the button on her earpiece again and turned back to her companions.
“We need to get to Mom. Svoryk has her on the bridge and last I saw, our little deception was wearing thin.”
“The path to the bridge should be clear,” El’iadryov noted, pointing to the outcropping of crystal. “It’s growing in the opposite direction of the helm, but I am worried about the reliability of the lifts.”
“The central transport hub is mostly clear, but we’ll have to climb through the maintenance tubes. The lifts are likely triggered to alert the Emperor of arrivals. It’s not easy, but Bethany and I got down here using the repair ladders.”
Ellie threw a worried glance at her friend. “I wish there was a place you could hide out until this was over.”
“Are you kidding me?” Bethany scoffed. “That little shit drugged and kidnapped me, so I got just as much reason to see him punished as you guys.”
“Yeah, but Bethany, this guy is dangerous. For all we know, we could be walking into a trap,” Ellie began, but again, she was interrupted.
“Ellie, I live and work in New York. I am open about my identity. I know danger. But I’m also Vito’s bouncer for a reason. Trap or no trap, letting me crash his little tea party will definitely throw off his game.”
“Bethany, he’s got an army of guards,” Ellie reasoned. “Guards who would shoot you or worse if Svoryk—”
“Ellie,” Julian cut in, laying a hand on her shoulder. “She’s more than capable and I don’t see any way that is less dangerous. Let’s worry about getting everyone off this ship before it kills us all.”
“Fair enough,” Ellie said with a sigh. “Lead the way.”
“I got this,” Bethany said, jutting her chin back in the direction she and Julian had just come from, adding with a wink, “I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”
“Why do I get the impression that wasn’t a joke?” Ellie muttered, following as Bethany turned into a passage so narrow they had to walk single file. After a few turns, they came out onto a wide platform that overlooked the circular, open center of the ship. “Definitely not a joke,” Ellie added, taking a step back away from the edge. The low railing that ran around the platform didn’t look like it would do much to keep her from falling to her death.
“Where to?” Bethany asked
“The bridge is all the way up,” Julian noted. “But if I am to uphold my promise, I need to return to my cell.”
“Why?” Ellie asked.
“To move about undetected, I created an illusion using a grounding stone.”
El’iadryov’s eyes lit up. “It worked then? My theory was correct?”
“It was,” Julian nodded, “but the longer I hold the illusion, the weaker I get.”
“But the stone shouldn’t have anything to do with that. Have you tried severing your conscious connection?” El’iadryov asked. “I suspect there is no longer any reason to monitor the activity in the cell.”
Julian stood unmoving, his eyes unfocused, and for a moment, Ellie worried that something had happened. But a minute later he blinked, turned to El’iadryov, and smiled.
“You were correct,” he said with a hint of amazement. “I am ready.”
“About time,” Bethany said, punching a fist into her open palm. “Let’s go kick some toad ass.”
“I think I’ll lead the way this time.”
Julian swung himself off the platform and onto the rungs welded into the wall, pulling himself up as if he was simply climbing a stepladder. El’iadryov followed, climbing with the precision afforded by his artificial body. Ellie glanced over her shoulder at Bethany, who gave her a small nudge.
“Go on. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Yeah, easy peasy,” Ellie muttered, barely able to hear her voice over the sound of her heart hammering. She reached out and grabbed the first rung, sliding her whole body to the side and off the platform. For one agonizing moment, her legs flailed, but as they found a hold, she relaxed and began to climb, keeping her eyes on the blank wall in front of her. As much as she wanted to know how much farther it was, she didn’t dare look up or down.
At last, the wall before her opened up to a floor and her father pulled her the rest of the way out. He moved to give Bethany the same boost, but the Earthling simply vaulted her legs up over the side as if she was lighter than air.
“Showoff,” Ellie whispered as Julian put a finger to his lips, calling for silence. The sound of footsteps echoed in the wide expanse beyond the transportation hub. After a long moment, they faded into the dist
ance and he motioned for the others to follow.
“The bridge is one level up,” he said, pointing across the wide hallway to a set of closed doors. “The stairs are beyond those doors, but the problem is going to be getting in. I have no access to the ship’s information matrix.”
“We’ll just have to force them open,” Bethany growled.
“That’s not necessary.” Ellie placed her hand on the nearest transfer panel, again feeling the sickly slow feed of the ship’s damaged brain. But before she could connect to the sluggish network, the door opened on its own, revealing two faceless guards who rushed into the hall.
“Well there goes the element of surprise,” Bethany quipped, adjusting to a fighting stance as the guards rushed the group.
But just as quickly, they came to a halt and both retracted their faceless helmets, revealing two men of Eidyssic heritage who stared openly at the group.
“El’iadryov? But that’s impossible. But then…” The guard trailed off with a gasp as his eyes fell on Ellie and he broke off with a salute. “True Master, it is an honor.”
“Um…” Ellie looked around for a clue as to what was going on, but her father was staring at the man with the same open curiosity.
“Re’geya? Illonio? T’al Kyri?”
“Is safe,” Re’geya assured. “When we heard you’d been captured, we set off for Huptsov, but we were too late.” He gave a nervous glance at Julian.
“Forgive me then,” El’iadryov said in a voice heavy with regret. “It was not my intention to bring turmoil to our people.”
“We were doing only what our station demanded of us. That we’ve been under the enslavement of the Empire has been unfortunate, but not an entire loss.”
“We’ve gathered quite a bit of intelligence that will go a long way towards bringing peace back to our worlds,” the other guard added.
“Which is exactly what we’re here to do,” Ellie said with confidence she didn’t quite feel. “Is… is my mother still safe?”
“For now,” Re’geya answered, but kept his eyes lowered as discomfort unsettled him. “The charade performed by the Earthling and Sintarian had the Emperor fooled, but he is not the one who is now in control.”
“We know. We have every intention of ending the tyranny of the Empire, but right now we have bigger worries. This ship is badly damaged and every moment wasted puts more lives in danger. Is there a docking port on this level?”
“There is, directly under the bridge.”
“And is there a secondary communication channel?”
Both men nodded.
“Good,” El’iadryov said with a smile. “The damage has not yet extended to this area. Re’geya, if you’ll come with me, I’ll guide the ship into dock. Illonio, would you please find a way to spread the word of the damage to the ship? It is especially imperative that anyone in the lower levels get up here as soon as possible.”
“Um…” Bethany glanced nervously at Julian.
“The crystalline profusion has already taken the lives of many on the residential deck,” Julian explained.
“I understand,” Illonio said with a somber nod. “I’ll make certain all survivors are gathered.”
“Thank you,” El’iadryov said and turned to his daughter. “Are you ready?”
“I think so,” Ellie replied with a nervous smile. “Um... be careful, Dad.”
“You too, Ellie,” he said and placed a kiss on the top of her head before nodding to the others and following Re’geya down to the airlock. Ellie stood for a moment and watched them recede into the darkness before turning to Julian and Bethany.
“Okay then. Everyone ready to take down an empire?”
Chapter 23
Even before heading up the stairs, Ellie could hear the commotion on the bridge. She turned to her companions with raised eyebrows.
“Sounds like we don’t need much of a distraction. Are there any other exits?”
“None that I am aware of,” Julian replied. “But we need a plan that doesn’t involve just barging in there. Svoryk is still protected by a personal shield. I may be able to disrupt it if I can get close enough without alerting him, but Dryova is still a wildcard.”
“I think I have that taken care of,” she said, hoping she interpreted her father’s meaning correctly. “Keep an eye on the exits.”
A cluster of brightly lit pillars, varying in colors, cast odd shadows everywhere, creating a makeshift wall that separated the entry from the bridge. Ellie pressed herself up against a particularly garish pillar and cautiously peeked out at the scene unfolding on the bridge. Her mother stood between two guards, arms pinned awkwardly in front of her by a pair of magnetic cuffs. Despite the fact that her shoulders had to be straining from the unnatural pose, Isaverlline stood tall and silent, her facial expression giving away no discomfort.
Just behind her, Svoryk stood, anger and humiliation etched deep creases into his expansive forehead. At the helm, Dryova was the one who traded barbs with Richard and Vito. Ellie listened, keeping an eye on the woman as she did. Clearly, she had revealed herself to be the one in control. What was not as clear was her motive. The more they argued, the more it sounded like stalling, until finally, Dryova interrupted a particularly long-winded insult from Vito.
“Enough of this. I am growing tired of your games. I know El’iadrylline is here, so where is she?” Dryova asked, making an exaggerated show of turning in all directions. “Where is El’iadrylline?”
Ellie motioned for Julian and Bethany to stay hidden and stepped out from behind the garish pillar. “I’m right here,” she said, drawing all eyes onto her. “But I think you already knew that, didn’t you?”
The woman smiled, but her expression gave nothing away.
“Indeed I did,” she said in an equally neutral tone. “The illusion was good. Certainly more than adequate to befuddle a fool like Svoryk, but I suspect you were speaking not of the quality of the projection, rather, the draw of the Kyroibi. Yes, I know that the knowledge of the ancients has fully awakened. I will not pretend the draw does not affect me.”
Ellie was taken aback by the honest confession.
“Do not look so surprised. After all, you have witnessed firsthand what just a taste of power will turn someone into.” She slid a knowing look over at Isaverlline, who glared at the woman before turning to meet her daughter’s eye.
Ellie saw a myriad of emotions, the dominant one shame, in her mother’s expression.
“Indeed I have,” she noted, sliding an equally accusing glance at Svoryk, whose face twisted into an ugly sneer. “But what I’d like to know is what the point of bringing me here has been? Clearly, Svoryk’s role as Puppet Emperor has come to an end. I want to know exactly who I’m dealing with.”
Dryova regarded Ellie coolly, but before she had begun to answer, Svoryk stalked forward.
“Puppet?” he barked, all but spitting in Ellie’s face. “Puppet? You are the one who has fallen into my trap. I am the one in control. I am the one who rules The Empire and now, I shall take what is rightfully mine and expand our borders to rule the galaxy.”
It was all Ellie could do not to laugh at Svoryk, who reminded her of a cranky toddler whose favorite toy had been taken away.
Ellie looked past the Emperor and into the face of Dryova. “This is your endgame? I’m still to turn over the most powerful relic known in the universe to a man who is so scared of technology that he relies on gadgetry that would be laughed at even on my primitive Earth?”
“No, this is a distraction allowed to play out for too long.”
Svoryk spun, turning his anger to the tall Eidyn woman behind him. “You told me I would rule the galaxy!”
“Technically, no.” Her boredom was punctuated by an exaggerated yawn. “Admittedly, I said a good many things I never intended to uphold, but I’m afraid I never once told you that.”
“Didn’t you?” Svoryk’s already high pitched and maniacal voice grew increasingly unhinged. “We had a deal,
Andressa!”
“Ah. Well, there is your mistake,” she taunted. “You struck a bargain with the wrong sister, Svoryk. I never promised you anything.”
“Enough of this!” Svoryk shouted and groped frantically at the belt on his waist and froze as his hand landed on the empty expanse where his gadget had been.
“Looking for this?”
The Emperor’s eyes widened as Dryova held up the device he’d been searching for. The one that controlled everything from his interrupter to his personal force field shield generator.
“Give me that.”
“Gladly.” The word was like a shard of ice as she calmly pressed a button on the device. Svoryk twitched for a moment before collapsing in a crumpled heap at her feet while Ellie looked on in horror.
“He is merely stunned,” Dryova said in answer to her unspoken question. “But I will not deny that the thought to end him crossed my mind.”
For a long moment, the only sound on the bridge was the loud hum of the ship’s strained engines. No one noticed that the view screen had gone blank and none of the soldiers or crew dared move a muscle.
“Well then,” Ellie said at last, breaking the silence as she took a step back toward the exit. “Now that Svoryk’s been sorted, that just leaves the matter of your true intention.”
“I’d like to know that as well.”
Ellie relaxed slightly at the sound of her father’s voice, but didn’t turn her eyes away from the woman in front of her, who merely raised her eyebrows at the sight of her supposedly dead son.
“I must admit, mother, you were not the family I expected to encounter on this mission, but I suspect you could say the same of me.”
Dryova smiled, allowing herself a small chuckle before turning to her son with a sad smile. “You always were too good at keeping things to yourself, Drov. I hope this clears up some of the confusion.” She turned and pointed Svoryk’s weapon at Isaverlline. Ellie drew a sharp breath, but calmed as the wrist manacles holding her mother fell to the floor with a loud metallic clang.
A Space Girl from Earth (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 1) Page 22