Borne On Wings of Steel

by Tony Chandler

  She returned the robot's gaze, biting her lower lip nervously. But the small green robot remained stoically silent.

  Elise took a deep breath for courage and approached.

  “I want to go into the engine room,” Elise explained as she squatted down beside Fixer3. The robot's optics retracted to adjust for her closeness. Elise smiled at the robot. “I have never been inside it yet, and well, I'd like to see it. Unless you have some work to do and now is not a good time."

  The diminutive robot turned and continued toward the engine room as it motioned with one of its four extensible arms for her to follow.

  Elise smiled, a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes.

  “Okay, Fixer3. Maybe you can be my guide then? That would be super-cool."

  The slender green robot called Fixer3 rolled up to the door as it extended an upper arm to trigger the sensor. Without slowing down, Fixer3 entered the opened door.

  But as Elise drew near, her steps slowed.

  Pangs of doubt swept through her as her heart beat rapid-fire again. She wondered if this was a good idea after all. After all, Jaric and Kyle had warned her, no, ordered her, not to enter the engine room.

  And Mother backed them up.

  She had accepted that limitation over her freedom before today. And yet, something seemed to draw her now. And there could be no better time to solve this mystery.

  She stepped through the doorway.

  And stopped immediately.

  Looking cautiously around, she noticed the outlines of the mighty engines. Elise felt as well as heard the deep throbbing sounds as the twin engines powered them through hyperspace. But she also knew that a separate section of these power plants also drove the sub-light engines, although these were no longer used when landing on a world.

  Now, the environmentally clean anti-gravity engines installed by the Kraaqi were used when entering any world's bio-system.

  She took another tentative step inside.

  At the far end of the port engine she saw Fixer3 using three of its arms to make adjustments while the fourth arm motioned for her to come closer.

  “Well, if you insist,” she said with a determined tone. Boldly, her heart now pounding wildly, Elise stepped completely inside.

  She walked slowly between the mighty engines, feeling their power that seemed to permeate everything here. The engines emitted a glowing outline even though they were both encased inside solid tritanium shells. Each rose three meters tall and was over ten meters wide; their length encompassed the entire engine room from end to end—Elise guessed thirty meters long. Numerous consoles and dials that monitored and configured the mighty power plants graced the shiny metal casing of each engine.

  Fixer3, satisfied with its latest tweaks on the port engine, rolled to the starboard engine to check its status.

  The fluttering inside her chest seemed to dissipate as nothing terrible occurred. She walked slowly down the length of the engine room between the throbbing engines. As she reached the door at the back of the room she stopped dead in her tracks.

  There was somebody else in here with her.

  She saw him, someone ahead in the shadows—his muscular arms braced against the engine as he strained with all his might against the huge, throbbing engine.

  Or was he?

  He was so still. And yet...

  “Why are you here, Elise?"

  Mother's voice sent a shock through her body. Elise looked quickly around until she found the optic watching her carefully.

  “I ... I wanted to come here. I've never been here before."

  “I've been observing you the entire time. In a way, I have allowed you to enter."

  “That's not fair, you spying like that.” Elise pouted. “I mean, I only wanted to look inside.” She glanced quickly around. “There's nothing here to keep this all so hush-hush. At least nothing I can see."

  “What about the figure in the shadows? The one that just startled you."

  Elise's eyes opened wide with innocence. “Why, I hadn't really noticed him. Er, it.” She coughed nervously as she glanced back at the form partially engulfed in shadow.

  “Take a closer look,” Mother urged.

  Elise's eyes now reflected surprise. “Well, I'm sure whoever it is...” She stopped in mid-sentence.

  Was it a robot?

  Elise knew there were only six Fixer robots. And besides, this shape was over twice their size. She also realized that she knew everyone by sight who lived within Mother's hull. This form was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

  That could only mean that this person, or this robot, never left the engine room. A chill suddenly went through her body as Elise felt an overpowering urge to leave.

  “Do not be afraid. The robot is no longer functioning."

  Mother's words calmed her. But something still felt wrong.

  “Go closer."

  Elise took a tentative step forward.

  Suddenly a light burst forth and the figure before her became fully illuminated.

  Elise gasped.

  “This was Guardian,” Mother said simply.

  She stared in awe at the robot before her. The steel body was magnificent. And yet, it was horribly misshapen somehow.

  As Elise studied the white figure, she realized what was wrong. The outer skin of its white, metallic body was rippled and formed frozen waves all down its outstretched arms and legs. Even its torso was covered in smaller versions of these ripple waves, although not as pronounced as what covered its arms and legs.

  It stood frozen as if eternally pushing against the engine—its two hands melted...

  Melted.

  Yes! The entire robot had melted from some great heat while it pressed with its strength against the huge engine.

  The white robot now stood frozen in place, its final, mighty effort forever captured before its internal systems died.

  “I have heard of this Guardian.” Elise slowly reached out to touch its darkened eyes, but stopped short. Instead her hands gently caressed the metallic face. “I remember Jaric and Kyle talking about him from their youth. But I thought he had left long ago."

  “He was destroyed during the last, great battle with the T'kaan. He gave his life so that others would live. So that I would live."

  Elise looked up at Mother's optic. “I am so glad he did that."

  “Jaric and Kyle do not come here anymore—there is too much pain here. Guardian's feet and hands have permanently melted. I would have to order the Fixers to dismember him and then melt away what remained in order to completely remove him."

  Elise shook her head slowly, realizing the dishonor that action would bring to this being's sacrifice.

  “It is better that he remain so."

  “I agree, it would be a desecration to his memory to dismantle him. Jaric and Kyle also agree. But because Guardian's shell remains here, it keeps them away from this room. And because this is such a personal trauma for them, they have not wanted any other living being back here—not even you. They do not want to remember this pain right now, and they don't want others looking or talking about it."

  “I ... I understand. But why did you allow me here now?"

  “From what I have discerned about emotions and pain, their intensity lessens with time. But primarily, I felt that this dead robot is part of your history. That it is time you saw and learned of Guardian. He was my friend too. And the boys will not be hurt; they are not here. I will eventually have to explain to them that I allowed you here, but I will determine an appropriate situation."

  Elise nodded. “No one has ever told me about that last battle. And I only know about Guardian from Kyle and Jaric's childhood. I've only heard bits and pieces about both.” Tears suddenly welled in her eyes. “I do know that many died that day. And that Becky died too.” She sniffed.

  Mother observed Elise's tears as her sensors registered the rise in her body temperature and the uneven breathing pattern she developed.

  “Perhaps it is time I
told you about that solemn day."

  Elise wiped her eyes quickly. “Yes, I would like that.” She looked at the lifeless white robot beside her. “And I want to hear it all right here, beside this noble robot."

  And so Mother told Elise of the final battle with the T'kaan. She told her of the great courage and the great sorrow that still burned within her memory systems. There were so many who died that fateful day, and Mother remembered and honored the memory of each of them in her telling the story—their story.

  Of course, there were too many to list by name—still, she highlighted those who had been her closest friends—Rawlon, Curja and Saris foremost.

  Yes, Mother told Elise of the allied beings who died destroying the evil T'kaan once and for all—beings who had been her friends, and the friends of her children.

  And she told Elise of Becky—and how she died that day.

  Without warning, red lights flashed and alarms sounded.

  Elise looked around fearfully. This was the first time she had heard Mother's major alarms going off in earnest.

  “W-what is that?"

  “My sensors have just picked up an alien warship. It is on an intercept course for us."

  Elise's eyes opened wide with shock.

  “Elise, please go to the bridge. I do not recognize this ship's configuration nor has it communicated its intentions. Still, if it is hostile, engines are normally a primary target in order to disable a ship, so it would not be wise for you to stay here."

  Elise jumped up and ran ahead of Fixer3 down the corridor toward the lift and the bridge three levels up. She arrived panting and out of breath from her exertions. Jysar, Krinia and the glowing form of Minstrel stood before the huge view-screen.

  “What is it?” Elise stared at the view-screen and the strange alien ship that was still bearing down at them at full speed.

  The starship was painted a solid red. A large superstructure dominated its forward section while its sleek sides bristled with weapons. At its rear, four massive engines formed a diamond shape.

  The alien ship looked imposing.

  “Has it returned our hails?” Jysar asked.

  “No,” Mother replied. “I have tried every known frequency and every known greeting from alien races in this sector. I am now trying languages from the adjoining sectors."

  “Look out!” Krinia shouted.

  The alien ship on the view-screen surged forward.

  “Brace yourselves,” Mother warned.

  The strange red ship drew ominously closer with each passing second. Collision alarms now vied with Mother's general alert alarms in a cacophony of sound.

  “Preparing for evasive maneuvers,” Mother's voice chimed.

  The red ship drew within five hundred meters and settled into formation as Mother continued her own course. It was easily within weapons’ reach, but Mother's sensors showed the strange ship's shields still down. And there was no sign of its weapons being primed for attack.

  “I'm dropping out of hyperspace."

  Within seconds the alien ship followed suit. Both ships soared on an exactly parallel course, silently watching the other.

  Mother reached out with her sensors and touched the surface of the alien craft. She felt the familiar signs of biological life inside the steel hull. But more, she felt the intense electronic activity that permeated the entire ship.

  A very powerful computer existed within the strange ship.

  In the next instant, Mother's sensors could no longer scan inside the ship. The craft now effectively blocked her.

  Mother turned to the right and increased speed.

  The alien ship matched her.

  Suddenly, Mother felt the other ship reach out with its own sensors and begin to touch her—detecting the life-signs of the beings on her bridge. She felt the sensors brush her internal systems—searching deeper.

  But Mother immediately and effectively blocked them.

  Mother smiled inside—two could play at this game.

  Elise and the others watched the view-screen as the ship surged forward, now so close that it looked as if they would surely collide.

  “Hang on!” Mother shouted.

  The manta-ray silhouette suddenly banked hard left as Mother pushed her sub-light engines to full speed.

  The alien ship increased speed and turned in close pursuit.

  Mother had anticipated this tactic—it seemed the ship and its crew were content to keep pace with her. They seemed more intent on scanning her than on attacking.

  But Mother was not in the mood for either.

  She timed her next maneuver precisely—to the very millisecond.

  Just as the red ship drew close again, Mother dove, then put full power to her starboard engine while she threw the port into full reverse—turning exactly one hundred and eighty degrees.

  Mother shot under the alien ship just as it began to react to her sudden about-face maneuver.

  Mother's engines roared their fury as she pushed them to the red line.

  But instead of turning sharply in pursuit, the red ship made a slow, deliberate turn and then came for them—inexorably gaining on them.

  “Here it comes again,” Elise shouted.

  Mother threw herself into a series of twists and turns as the alien ship gained ground. Mother's processors worked furiously as she calculated her moves and tried to get away. But every time she succeeded in putting some distance between herself and her pursuer, the alien ship made an adjustment and once again closed.

  “They are able to match your every move!” Jysar shouted in disbelief.

  Mother's processors peaked with activity as she calculated millions of different moves in this high-speed game of cat-and-mouse. But one stood out distinctly from the others.

  The red ship began to close once again.

  Mother made another split-second, one-hundred-eighty-degree turn. But instead of plotting a course around the ship, Mother increased to full speed—flying dead-on toward her adversary.

  The red ship did not waver; it came on at full speed.

  “What are you doing?” Elise shouted.

  “Patience.” Krinia smiled knowingly. “The MotherShip knows what she's doing."

  The alien ship continued without wavering, its forward hull filling the view-screen as Elise and the others stared with growing tension.

  Collision alarms wailed throughout Mother's hull.

  Elise realized she was holding her breath. In just a few seconds it would be all over—both ships would slam head-on into the other.

  And no one would survive.

  Mother waited, her mighty engines primed. Both ships roared on at full speed. But one ship would have to react in the next few moments—or all would be lost.

  And at the last moment—almost the last millisecond—the red ship banked hard, upward and over to port with its engines still wide open.

  Mother banked in the opposite direction and downward as her ThunderStar engines screamed. Now, she pushed them beyond the red line.

  The red ship continued past her manta-ray-shaped hull. But even as the distance opened up between them the red ship slowed and turned to begin the chase again.

  Elise and the others stared at each other with open mouths.

  “I've never seen two warships come that close together at full speed without ramming!” Krinia shouted with amazement.

  “It seems my message did not get through to them,” Mother said as she watched them approach one more time.

  “What kind of idiots are flying that thing!” Jysar's face was full of indignation.

  “Ever since this strange chase began, these aliens have tried to break through my jamming of their sensors. Even during that last maneuver,” Mother said. “I am able to block every attempt. But they are very good. It is taking up a lot of my processor utilization simply blocking their sensor attempts!"

  “They must have a powerful navigation computer. I don't believe biological beings with their own skill could have timed some of
those split-second maneuvers,” Minstrel commented. “Have you identified the markings on the ship yet?"

  “Still researching."

  “Look out!” Elise screamed as the ship suddenly shot towards them again with a burst of speed.

  “Take battle stations,” Mother's voice said calmly. “They have just raised shields and are powering their weapons systems."

  Mother's own shields came online a split second later.

  Once more she felt the other ship's sensors attempt to see inside her hull. Mother jammed them again, but each time she blocked them, the alien ship almost instantaneously reacted and tried another tactic. For the first time in a very long time, Mother felt her internal systems being tasked to the limit.

  And then Mother felt something touch her mind.

  The red ship finally succeeded in making a connection and was quickly prowling through her short-term memories. Mother began to break the contact point—but paused. There was something different about the way this ship's computer searched and made its way through her systems. This was something more than simply the cold, calculated probing by a mere ship's computer.

  Mother began to feel disoriented, even strange, as the sensors felt their way deeper inside her systems.

  She quickly broke the connection.

  The red ship banked hard, and Mother sensed the targeting system aim for her ThunderStar engines. The alien ship now fully primed its weapons and prepared to disable her.

  Mother waited a fraction of a second longer, trying to estimate the exact moment the ship would fire as its targeting systems locked.

  In another instant, Mother dove hard down as laser blasts leapt out. The red lances grazed her shields as she shot away at a dizzying speed.

  She fired four of her main guns as she retreated.

  Even as she fired them, the alien ship maneuvered—hard to starboard and upward.

  Her lasers missed—barely.

  But Mother anticipated such a move. Instantly, she retargeted and fired the rest of her main battery.

  The red ship shuddered under the direct hits.

  The aliens’ shields dropped to one-third strength.

  “Now, let's see...” Mother began.

  But the alien ship fired again.