Energize (From the Logs of Daniel Quinn Book 1)

by Thomas R. Manning

  I trusted that Laraar and Idza would keep the other two busy, but I checked now and again in case they were overpowered. So far the match seemed even. Laraar and Horku were locked in a bear hug and Idza looked to be egging her opponent on. She kept singing flat notes out to him and each one made him hesitate to make a move. I was relieved that Janta wasn’t terribly invested in the fight. Idza wasn’t a fighter and I didn’t want to see her get hurt.

  Chorta, on the other hand, had a fire in his eyes as he rushed at me again. I was sure the worst thing I could do was stand completely still. I imagined him throwing himself at me and tearing the upper half of my body off. My bionic eye analyzed his direction and speed and when he was two feet away from me I quickly sidestepped and threw my right leg backwards in a roundhouse maneuver. The point of my foot smacked right into his chest and he fell to the ground, but he was so quick that he recovered enough to thrust his arm hard into my chin, which hurt like hell. When I brought my foot down I limped and didn’t realize Chorta had already recovered, grabbing both of my legs and heaving upward sending me into the air.

  Luckily I didn’t land on my head, but I couldn’t match Chorta’s agility and land on my feet either. Instead I landed in between, on my belly and face. I felt blood run from my nose, but I didn’t think it was broken. My tongue confirmed that all teeth were still in place. I tried to push up with my arms, but a hand grabbed onto my leg and pulled on me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Laraar losing his battle. His opponent connected with a backhand to his jaw and he fell. The opponent stood over him.

  I dug my fingers into the ground to stop Chorta. When he tried grabbing both legs I pushed my arms straight, digging the bottom of my boots into his midsection. Then I kicked hard forcing him away from me and rolling in a somersault. I stood up and was astounded I could do something so acrobatic, even if it was due to the empyreus. I ran, turning toward Horku as he bent over to attack Laraar. At full steam I jumped up and delivered a surprisingly effective drop kick. He flew sideways, but I lost sight of him as I hit the ground. I looked to see if Laraar was okay. We met eyes for a mere second before he pushed his own feet against me to roll me over as Chorta’s foot landed in the spot my face previously occupied.

  Chorta’s hatred for me was so intense that he completely ignored Laraar and turned for me. Laraar took the moment to sweep his legs out from under him. This was my moment. I got to my feet as Chorta hit the ground, facing upward. My eye scanned over him and told me with a strong kick to his neck I would crush his windpipe and he would suffocate. I actually lifted up my foot over him, ready to strike. One second passed, then another. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to kill him no matter what the rules stated about the blood price.

  “Daniel,” Laraar said pleadingly. He knew it was my one chance as well. The look of despair on his face told me that he didn’t want Chorta dead any more than I did, but if I didn’t do it Chorta would eventually kill me just like Idza warned. Nevertheless I couldn’t bring myself to do it and instead looked around the ring. Idza was still taunting her opponent. Laraar was still on the ground, trying to pin Chorta down with his legs. Horku was a few feet away on his feet but breathing heavily.

  Standing still the adrenaline faded and I felt my own exhaustion take over. My face and right leg were in a lot of pain and sweat was burning my eyes as it fell from my forehead. I wished more than anything I could just wave a white flag and surrender.

  I heard a screeching sound bellow from the ground and Chorta broke through Laraar’s hold and tackled me to the ground. The back of my head slammed against the hard ground and my vision blurred for a moment. All I could see was a large blurry shape standing over me. My bionic eye reset quickly and as if in slow motion, I watched Chorta hammer his hand down onto my face. At the very last second a directional reading from my eye saved my life as it told me to swing my head to the left. Instead of smashing my nose up into my skull he grazed the back of my head, which still hurt, but wasn’t a fatal blow.

  Something had to be done to stop this damn fight, but death wasn’t the answer. Still though, my actions would have to be more drastic. As Chorta retracted his arm from the ground I grabbed his upper arm with my left hand and his forearm with my right. I screamed out loud as I pushed with both sides going in the opposite direction. With all my strength, I snapped whatever he called bones. I don’t care how tough he was or how much empyreus flowed through him, if he didn’t flinch at a broken arm, I would let him kill me and be done with it.

  Today was not my day to die. He screamed out and threw himself off me, cradling his arm with his opposite. I took a couple deep breaths before standing up. A wave of dizziness passed over me and I hoped that I didn’t have a concussion. Laraar was back on his feet. Idza had her hand firmly on Janta’s shoulder. Laraar simply stood in between Horku and me, but Horku didn’t seem interested in fighting me anymore.

  “That’s it!” I screamed out. “This is over! There will be no blood shed.”

  The crowd stood silent, all eyes on me. The Authority wasn’t quite sure what to say either, but the surprised look on their faces told me they understood my tone of voice. I requested Idza translate for me again. I was humbled when Laraar joined her and they both told the people what I said. One Authority member sang out something sharp.

  “No blood price . . . no honor,” Laraar said to me.

  I lowered my voice. Screaming only made my head hurt more. “Is it dishonorable to spare your enemy? I did a great disservice, I admit that, but you need to focus on the true problem and they are on their way here right now! Let me honor you by defending you, by giving your people a chance to survive! Instead of fighting against Chorta, let me fight alongside him!”

  The translation took a while. I had no idea what words I said were compatible. Whatever was said to the Dawnians they, along with the Authority seemed to consider it, but some including Chorta dismissed it.

  “Listen,” I said. At this point I was almost begging. “I know of your empyreus . . . I mean sorania. You use it in your food, for your hygiene, and your technology. I’ve felt the effects of it and I know how it makes you feel. You feel like you can do anything, but at the same time it makes you feel so good, so overpowered that you don’t even care about what’s happening around you. When Cessa, the woman, attacked your village you were ill-prepared to defend it. I saw less than a handful trying to hold the machines off from destroying your buildings and killing your people. Those of you who are fighters, like Chorta, are strengthened by sorania, but most of you just live your lives without considering what’s going on around you. Not a single solitary person amongst you flinched when I told you that there were more of my people coming. They will be here and they will destroy you and your way of life. My people have a saying that is very ancient, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’. Let me be your friend. Let me do what I can and if I can save you then I will leave your planet. If I can’t save you then I will die with you.”

  I had to breathe every few words, my body was so exhausted. I bent over and closed my eyes as I listened to the song Laraar and Idza sang to the people. Based on previous translations I heard they were adding something, their songs taking longer than usual. I waited, closed my eyes and tried my damned hardest not to fall over.

  I felt a hand on me, then two. When the third hand touched my back I straightened up and opened my eyes. The three hands touching me were those of the Authority. Idza and Laraar stood behind them, both of them smiling.

  The Authority sang out to their people and a weight on my shoulders lifted. Their song made me feel better. My fear, frustration, and even some of my fatigue dissipated. They sang in unison then harmonized with each other in a melody that was soothing and soft, like the current of a tranquil river. The song went on for minutes. When they finished, each one looked into my eyes and sang to me personally. Idza translated.

  “Daniel, you have much courage . . . much honor. You show us variety in your people. You . . . unlike the one who cause
d much death and disgrace. Words you speak resound within us. Blood price is made to avenge the lost with the blood of the guilty. Your life force shines brightly . . . you convince us that you are true in your words.”

  The Authority sang out loud once more though it took only seconds. Laraar walked over and clasped his hand on my shoulder. I returned the gesture as he told me, “They speak . . . contest over”.

  At that point my legs gave out and I fell straight to my ass while breathing a huge sigh of relief. I wasn’t going to die today. I wasn’t going to have to kill anyone to save myself. My two friends sat down beside me as the crowd dispersed, most of them in agreement to the terms of the end. I looked past the Authority who stood over me and saw Chorta still on the ground clenching his arm against his chest. A couple of Dawnians were attempting to help him up. I jumped to my feet, which wasn’t a terribly good idea at the time and excused myself from the company around me. I stumbled over to him nearly tripping over my own feet every few steps. My head still pounded.

  Chorta looked up as I approached him, and I think I a saw an expression of shock on his face as I extended my hand to help him. He stared at my hand for a moment. Was he hesitant to take it or tempted to bite at it? Either way I kept it extended. Just before lowering it he reached out and grabbed it. I clasped my other hand on his wrist and pulled him to his feet. I hoped he would see this as a truce between us. As my grandfather would say, ‘let bygones be bygones’.

  The two of us let go of each other and he turned to leave, though he turned and said something to me, the notes low and progression quick. I turned around and found Laraar behind me smiling.

  “What did he say?” I asked. I figured he was smiling at whatever Chorta said.

  “Still dislikes you.”

  I laughed and though there was some discomfort, just the action of laughing felt good. Idza and the Authority joined us as we laughed together. Laraar’s version of a laugh was very quick high notes one after the other. Hearing this made me laugh harder.

  “Daniel,” Idza said. “Authority asks your plans.”

  That was a damn good question. I stood there wiping the tears off my eyes trying to think of what our next move should be.

  “Right. I need to get this headache under control.” The throbbing and dizziness was starting to piss me off. One would assume vomiting wasn’t far behind. “I need to get to my ship. The first thing we need to do is analyze the signal that Cessa sent back home. We should be able to determine a timeframe for when her reinforcements will get here.”

  “We?” Idza sang. I smiled at her.

  “I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine. Come with me.”

  SIXTEEN

  During my recovery a number of Dawnians were placed around the Belle, ordered to stand guard in case I tried to escape or Cessa returned. She hadn’t, and with the trust of the people I was let back onto my ship. I took Laraar and Idza with me to the bridge.

  “Al, you there buddy?”

  “Yes Captain. I am . . . relieved to know you are unharmed.”

  I might have mentioned earlier that Al wasn’t a sentient being, but sometimes he spoke humanly enough. I smiled.

  “Daniel,” Laraar said. “I meant to ask . . . how this average vessel comes with . . . advanced computer system?”

  I figured that question was coming. Al had been in full vocal mode when the two of us flew my ship to the outskirts of the village, but at the time Laraar had been too preoccupied by the death of his friends to ask.

  “Al was a prototype computer that had been installed on my old ship. Sarah King, my commander at the time, was willing to do anything to obtain it, even murder.”

  Laraar nodded. He understood, but Idza was the one who could sympathize. She placed her hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze. For once I focused on the throbbing pain in my head to distract me from thinking anymore about it.

  “Al, Cessa adapted her technology to merge with the Dawnian computer. She sent a message back to our section of space. I believe the message was a beacon of some kind and her people are on her way here. I need your assistance in analyzing it so we can come up with a timeframe.”

  “Query sir: Dawnian?” Oh right, I never really got a chance to talk to him about them.

  “Add new submission to alien database, codename: Dawnian. Two of them stand with me now on the bridge. You may scan them for a biological image.” I looked at them to make sure they were okay with the scan. Neither of them seemed opposed. The scan took less than a minute.

  “Submission complete sir. I am currently unable to analyze the signal remotely. I will need you to attempt a connection between the console and my mainframe.”

  That shouldn’t be hard, I thought. Cessa managed to install her components to their technology. Theoretically it should work in a similar way. There was just one problem. The size of their communications device was massive. There was no way in hell I could fit it onboard the Belle. I’d be shocked if a hundred of us could even lift the damn thing. I told Al about this, leaving out the curse words. He tends to get distracted when I use them and then inquires about human emotion.

  “Wait!” I said, a light in my aching head going off. “What if I use the portable module you gave me? The same one I used on the Echelon?”

  “Yes sir, that will work. However, your speech patterns suggest that you need this information quickly. Is that correct?”

  “I need it like yesterday, Al.” Oh flux, shouldn’t have said that.

  “Captain, I must remind you that there is no current technology within my database that suggests time travel is possible. Would you like to read the information I have stored?”

  “No! No, no! That’s okay Al, sorry. What I meant to say is, yes, I need this very quickly. As soon as possible would be great.”

  “In that case Captain, I would not attempt a module connection. The upload would not take long, but processing that much information from such a device would take at least thirty hours. If you want results, what is the expression, sooner rather than later then I require instant access. If you cannot bring the device here, then I suggest you detach my mainframe and take me to it.”

  I blinked, then again, once for his superb phrasing and again for the thought of removing him from the Belle’s main computer core. I wasn’t the one who installed him into the Belle and as such I had little knowledge of how to do it. After telling him this, he assured me that with his instructions and the help of an engineer or two from this planet we should be able to take him off the ship and install him into the communications device without any problems.

  “If you say so Al, but I’m telling you now if I lose you I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  “I will take your word for it sir.”

  The next couple of hours really flew by. Laraar summoned two engineers, Jortu and Ponta to assist us. Al walked us through everything step by step. He requested Idza use her translator to study the patterns and intonations of everything she said and from that was able to give commands that were most likely compatible with her translator.

  Before removing his mainframe, Al had to set the computer to run solely on manual command. The autopilot among other things had been integrated into Al himself and it wasn’t possible to remove them without doing damage to Al.

  “Captain, I am certain this will work, but in the unlikely probability that something goes wrong with the merger I want to inform you that I have succeeded in breaking through whatever sensor barrier Cessa had on the remaining cargo boxes.”

  I was literally holding his mainframe in my hands at the time, the only thing connecting him to my computer core were a few wires.

  “Uh, I dunno Al, more doggies to play fetch with?”

  “Negative sir. Each box contains highly concentrated explosives.”

  Flux me.

  “Wow. Okay, good to know!”

  “It would only take one box to destroy the entire ship. You may want to do something about that.”

 
No kidding. I put that on my to-do list and continued to work with Jortu to disconnect Al. When the wires were pulled from the core, his system went offline and I found my eyes misty. Advanced computer or not, for years he was often the only voice I heard and the only . . . thing I could confide in. I don’t know what I would do if this didn’t work. I tried to tell myself the worst case scenario would just be plugging him back into the Belle, but there was always the chance that something could go wrong. I wasn’t exactly feeling like a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy at the moment.

  Jortu and I carried his mainframe down the ship’s corridor and into the bay where Laraar had his curricle ready to transport the equipment from my ship to their communication station. We walked down the ramp and a couple dozen feet to the perimeter of the village. Once we reached the middle of town where the station was I noticed that seven out of the twelve houses that surrounded it were missing walls or knocked down entirely. The spot where Cessa stabbed her victim still had a blood stain and it made me shudder.

  I mostly stood back and watched over Jortu and Ponta as they connected Al’s mainframe. They took a good deal of time studying the circuitry and components on the Belle, and Idza told me they were confident the installation would go well. That still didn’t stop me from pacing back and forth like a man waiting to hear if his friend survived a dangerous procedure. While I did, I tried to think of ways to protect the people and village as well as stop Raymond Erebos from getting his hands on the empyreus. My options were few to none.

  Cessa. I had immediately written her off assuming that she would lay low until her people arrived. For this reason I didn’t encourage anyone to search for her, but if anyone would know how to handle Erebos it would be her. I didn’t like the thought of seeing her again, nor did I know how I would react.