The Copernicus Deception (The Human Chronicles Saga Book 15)

by T. R. Harris

I sense humor in your remark. Since you are now conscious, I would like to search your databanks for more information about Humans. It will help me modify my language capabilities.

  “Could I stop you even if I wanted to?”

  Yes.

  “Stop what?” Riyad queried, concerned.

  “It wants more information about Humans. It says that will help it communicate better. Sure, go ahead.”

  Adam felt a growing heat, but not in his side but behind his ear, where the translation bug was located. The orb—Z—was accessing the Library, drawing information about Humans from the galactic internet. Adam grew anxious as the heat continued to build, but then it cooled down abruptly.

  I’m done. That was fascinating. I learned a lot. Thank you.

  “So back to you—”

  I can see now why you’re so curious, Z said. Your civilization is only a few thousand years old. The Aris were around for a million. They evolved beyond the need for vocal communications. Seeing the cumbersome nature of such, I can understand why.

  “So what are you doing here?” Adam asked “What have you been doing for the past three billion years?”

  The orb laughed, which took Adam by surprise.

  Nothing, that’s what I’ve been doing! When Yolis went nova, Oss, the planet of the Aris, was destroyed. Shattered remnants drifted through space. Most were absorbed by newly forming stars. The fragment I was on did not. I remained dormant and inactive for a very long time, until the Incus discovered me.

  “They say you create energy? Is that correct?”

  Of course. How else can I provide service to the Aris?

  “Forgive me, but you’re so small. How do you do that?”

  Without warning, the top of the orb lifted off, gliding to a silent landing on the table next to the main object. Adam and Riyad looked inside.

  There they saw two thin strips of metal, each about the size of a credit card and placed less than a millimeter apart. Z remained silent.

  “Is this supposed to mean something to us?” Riyad asked.

  Yes, Z replied in Adam’s mind. These are my absorption panels.

  “What do they do?” Adam asked.

  They absorb energy. What I don’t use, I give back in service. You must realize, to the Aris, energy was like food. It was all they needed to survive.

  “You do know the Incus want to turn you into a weapon?”

  They removed my top and the panels. I suspected they had such a purpose in mind, once I learned what a weapon is.

  “What did it—Z—say?” Riyad asked. His frustration at being left out of the conversation was obvious.

  “He says he’s aware of that. You are a he, aren’t you?”

  I have taken on the persona most like my host.

  “Your host? Am I your new host?

  You’ll do until someone else comes along.

  Adam laughed. He looked at Riyad. “Meet Z, my new Aris Personal Service Module.”

  Riyad shook his head. “He gets some fantastic, super cool wonder assistant, and all I get is shot. So what happens now?”

  Adam looked back at Z. He still had a million questions. “You can move?”

  Yes. It’s through a form of superconducting, which I understand is in its infancy in this time.

  “And you mentioned the Incus removed your panels. Do they know how to make more of you?”

  They scanned my panels, yet their construction is beyond the technology of the Incus—and the Humans for that matter. They have created a rudimentary panel array, but nothing approaching my capabilities.

  “That’s why everyone wants to find you.”

  The Incus have evil intent in their minds, Z volunteered. So I left. But I would return when I grew…lonely. It had been so long since I had interaction, even with primitive beings such as yourself. But in Humans, I find something different.

  “Good or bad?”

  Hard to tell. It is a sense of destiny and of worth. It feels familiar, and as I have more interaction with you, I may come to identify this feeling in more detail.

  “How did you come to be on this ship?”

  I was taken from the Incus and hidden aboard. Of course, I did not like where they placed me, so I found more comfortable accommodations.

  “In the food processor.”

  Along a feed line. It felt soothing.

  Riyad was fidgeting on the bed. “Look, Adam, I’m glad you have a new friend, but time is wasting. Can Z help us get out of here?”

  I cannot, the orb replied. The top floated up again and rejoined the main structure.

  “He can’t,” Adam answered.

  “Then I come back to my original statement. If Copernicus finds him here, he’ll probably kill us both and put Z under lock and key until the Gradis arrive.”

  Adam agreed. “Z, you’re going to have to go back to Copernicus. Can you move through the air vent?”

  Why should I? I will simply return. Copernicus Smith has a good mind, just like you and Riyad.

  Adam frowned. “Are we talking about the same Copernicus Smith? He’s an asshole, and a traitor.”

  I understand there is much conflict between Humans, and that opinions may differ. Eventually you will evolve beyond such conflicts.

  “If we don’t kill each other off beforehand—or allow aliens to do it for us.”

  I will now return to Copernicus Smith. I would not want you be die, not after having just found you, Adam Cain.

  The orb slowly faded away.

  Besides being in a mild state of shock, Adam felt an incredible sense of loneliness come over him when Z faded away. It was always like this after a mental conversation. The intimacy, the emotions, were that much more intense. It was no different with a three-billion-year-old talking orb.

  “Tell me everything your little friend said,” Riyad demanded. “Including if he sees a way out of this for us. I would be very interested in learning that.”

  Chapter 25

  Morning came too soon for the weary pair of Human heroes. After the late night visit from the talking orb, they both had trouble sleeping. Besides, Adam’s jaw ached from the punch he’d taken and Riyad’s arm kept having spasms as result of being shot with a level-3 plasma bolt.

  And that was yesterday. Who knew what surprises this day held for Adam Cain and Riyad Tarazi.

  ********

  Copernicus was in a better mood when he came into the room.

  “Did you find your missing toy?” Adam asked.

  “Yeah,” he answered. “It was in the last place I looked. Now turn around; you know the routine.”

  Coop placed genuine handcuffs on his prisoners. “Sorry, Cain. I know you preferred the fur-lined ones from Adam and Eve. But these are all I have.”

  “We’re in a comical mood this morning,” Adam commented.

  “I get this way when I’m about to make a boatload of money.”

  Out in the corridor, Copernicus and his two guards stopped at another doorway. This one they simply unlocked to let Kaylor and Jym out.

  “Couldn’t risk their loyalties,” Coop responded to Adam’s unspoken question.

  “Are you guys all right?” he asked the two aliens.

  “We are fine,” Kaylor answered. “But it looks like we are no longer employed by CS Repair and Hauling Services.”

  “They have a terrible benefit program, so no big loss,” Adam offered.

  “Enough of the chit-chat. Move,” Copernicus ordered.

  Outside the ship Adam found that the Liave star was fairly high in the morning sky, and already it was beginning to heat up. He looked around the compound and saw no sign of Ginger, Coop’s pet dinosaur, but he did spot two unfamiliar aliens driving small tractors and moving some of the numerous derelict starships to other parts of the compound, clearing more space near the landing field.

  “Get inside the office building,” Coop said. “The Gradis will be here soon and the blowing sand can be a bitch.”

  ********

  True to
his word, two spaceships dropped into the compound, stirring up loose sand combined with the fire and smoke from the descent jets. One ship was much like the other Gradis cargo hauler, an ugly patchwork of mis-matched panels and nodes. The other, however, was smaller and in pristine condition. This was the ship of an executive, or a leader, the galaxy’s version of a G4 Learjet.

  When the dust had settled, Coop paraded everyone back outside. Five gruff aliens, all of differing species emerged from the larger ship. They set about running fuel lines and taking a visual inspection of their vessel, leaving the business arrangement to the occupant of the executive starship.

  Adam wasn’t surprised to the see a Silean squeeze through the exit hatch. They were the galaxies roaches, tenacious survivors who seemed to turn up in the worst possible situation. Adam’s friend-turned-nemesis Kroekus had been a Silean, so he had a pretty good idea of their motivations and capabilities.

  The obese creature waddled across the sand toward the building, smiling as he did so with a full-toothed grin, even as sweat formed on his brow and his steps labored in the heavy gravity of Liave-3. Silean males were strong beings and purposely grew to such seemingly unhealthy mass because—unlike with Human males—their sexual appendage grew as well with their bulk. Silean females had adapted to this unique feature of the species, so to them size really did matter. The males were happy to oblige.

  The Silean’s eyes sparkled as he approached the group standing outside Coop’s headquarters building. He looked first at Copernicus, then at Adam.

  “Adam Cain and Riyad Tarazi,” he said with panting breath, eyeing the two handcuffed Humans with interest. “I have heard much about you. I am Onix Gru. My very good friend was Kroekus. He spoke often of you both, good and bad.”

  “You do know we killed him, right?”

  “Quite aware, and thank you. His absence allowed me to step into his spot. As a consequence, I now control the Gradis Cartel, along with many others.” Onix turned to Copernicus. “I was relieved to hear the news that the artifact had been recovered. And for that we have Adam Cain to thank. Yet the object has a nasty habit of disappearing. Is it still within your custody?”

  “Safe and secure,” replied Copernicus. “Let’s go inside and make the transfer.” Coop turned to Krons and Flisher. “Take Kaylor and Jym to the ‘475. It’s going to be crowded enough in here without them.”

  Onix laughed heartedly. “He is referring to my size, even if he won’t admit it. Thank you for the compliment. And yes, let us go inside. I must be seated soon.”

  Copernicus was wearing not only an MK-17 flash weapon, but he also had a 9mm Beretta tucked in his belt. His eyes met Adam’s and the message was clear: I don’t need my two alien bodyguards, so don’t try anything.

  Coop led the four of them into a back office Adam hadn’t seen before. It was spacious and modern, with a desk made of an ornate plank of carved wood resting on a pair of equally ornate pedestals. An oversize chair was sitting off to the right, which Onix naturally assumed was for him. Even so, the piece of furniture protested with a series of squeaks and groans as the Silean squeezed in.

  Adam and Riyad sat in the two normal chairs facing the desk, their hands still cuffed behind their backs.

  On the desk was a clear plastic box containing the metal orb.

  Hello, Adam Cain.

  Good morning, Z.

  “You knew it could move?” Coop asked Onix.

  “Yes, the Incus had mentioned that.”

  “It would have been nice if you’d let me know.”

  Onix smiled. “Fortunately, that was probably the reason the Visidorans and Juireans did not find it. Have you looked inside?”

  “Inside? You mean it opens?”

  Again, Onix laughed. “You are truly a loyal contractor, Copernicus Smith. You were tasked with recovering the object and that you have done, devoid of curiosity. Now I expect you want to get paid.”

  “That would be nice. I ended up risking quite a bit to get this thing, including my life on Visidor.”

  “Yes, things did not go as smoothly as planned.”

  The computer on Coop’s desk suddenly sprang to life, displaying the image of the middle-aged woman Adam had seen on his first day on Liave.

  “Forgive me for interrupting, Copernicus, but there is an urgent situation that demands your attention.”

  Adam saw Copernicus flush red and his jaw tighten.

  “What is it, Dora.”

  “A Juirean Class-3 warship is on a landing path for the compound.”

  The statement got the attention of everyone in the room. Onix began to speak into a wristband comm device to his people outside the building, while Copernicus turned his attention to Dora.

  “Have they tried to communicate?”

  “The first links are coming through now. Should I route it to your screen?”

  Coop looked first at Adam and Riyad, and then at Onix. The Silean nodded, his expression clouded with concern.

  “Yes, I’ll take the link. This is Copernicus Smith of CS Repair and Hauling. How can we be of assistance.”

  The image of a Juirean Overlord came on the screen. “We will be landing at your facility in fifteen standards. Monitoring reveals you just received two vessels of unknown origin. Clear additional space for my ship.”

  “May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?”

  “It is Juirean business by order of the Elder.”

  “Then of course. I’ll have the space cleared.”

  The screen went blank; Coop immediately contacted his field crew, telling then to move more derelicts from the landing area. Then he turned to Adam.

  “I just put the ad up this morning.”

  “What advertisement?” Onix asked, concern heavy in his voice.

  “The one about having Cain and Tarazi for sale to the highest bidder.”

  “You should have realized the Juireans would be most interested in your merchandise,” Onix scolded.

  “They haven’t had time to see the ad and get here. They’re coming for something else. What’s the Gradis’ relationship with the Juireans?”

  “It is…as expected. We accommodate each other as the need arises. Currently, there should be no animosity.”

  “What about the artifact? Do they know about it?”

  Onix hesitated before answering. “They should not, yet there is no guarantee.”

  Copernicus took the plastic box from his desk and placed it in a bottom drawer of the credenza behind the desk.

  He looked next to Adam and Riyad, before coming around the desk and removing their handcuffs. “Don’t do anything stupid. Getting in a fight in front of the Juireans wouldn’t work out for any of us. Same goes for you, Onix. Tell your people to stay frosty.” When the Silean’s mouth fell open, Coop amended his statement. “Tell them not to interfere with the Juireans.”

  They moved into the front room.

  “Dora, ETA?”

  “Now—”

  A deep rumbling rattled the wooden planks of the building, as clouds of smoke and blowing sand assaulted the windows facing the landing field. A Juirean Class-3 was the largest vessel that could land safely on a planet, especially one with the gravity of Liave-3. The other ships nearby would be taking a beating from the landing jets. Adam was sure the Juireans didn’t give a damn.

  Krons and Flisher had appeared behind the group. They carried both flash and projectile weapons, as did Copernicus, their eyes focused on Adam and Riyad.

  When the rumbling stopped and the dust settled, Coop led the parade out of the building and into the tropical sunshine.

  The Juirean ship now dominated the compound. It was a no-nonsense warship, lined with panels Adam knew were the flash cannon ports. The craft was fifty meters tall consisting of three separate layers of successively shorter length, topped off by the command level. The ship was two hundred meters long, the tail end of which had crushed a section of the compound’s wall to the north.

  The FS-475 had suffered
the worst during the landing and now sat at a thirty-degree angle, with a sand dune climbing its buckled side. There was evidence of leaking fluid along the hull, and a control jet dangled on exposed wires. Kaylor and Jym were locked inside the listing starship.

  The Gradis cargo ship was still on an even keel, although the landing blast had shoved it twenty meters to the south where it now pressed up against a stack of rusting starship fuselages, with a third of it buried under the wreckage. The Silean’s sleek and shiny-hulled executive vessel was in the best condition, although it would need a new coat of paint and a good buff job after this.

  Onix’s crew were just now venturing out into the clear. They milled around their vessel, checking for any damage. They may have to make a hasty departure.

  Coop spoke into a wrist communicator. “Dora, what’s the status of the other Juirean ships?”

  “There are no other ships, Copernicus.”

  “Only one?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked at Adam. Juireans always traveled in packs, especially when an Overlord was present.

  A double hatch on the side of the Juirean craft slid open and two tall creatures emerged, one with a great mane of white hair rising above his head before cascading halfway down his back. He wore the ceremonial robe of a regional commander. In light of the recent annexation of the Frontier, the Overlord would have tremendous authority and discretion.

  Next to the imposing figure was a green-haired Juirean Guard, more-than-likely the ship’s captain. Only these two Juireans approached, feeling confident in their status.

  The Overlord focused his attention on Onix.

  “A Silean. Who should you be?”

  “I am Onix Gru of the Silean Trade Federation.”

  The Juirean glanced at the ugly Gradis cargo ship to his left. “Among other affiliations, I am sure.” He turned his attention back to the gathering. “I am Overlord Esketon Hann, the senior governing official of the Kidis Frontier, which as you all know is a recent addition to the Expansion. Direct us to a meeting room. There is much to discuss.”

  A stream of Juirean Guards poured from the warship, making a beeline for the Gradis ship. They know about the orb, Adam thought.