The first guard stepped aside for them. “I trust you know the way, Ambassador?”
Yoatl said, “Thank you, yes. I promise, next time, I’ll get my office to clear it first.”
“Pleasant day to you,” the guard said, and then took up his position in front of the entrance once again.
The spire itself was far more utilitarian than the others, designed more for efficiency than for esthetics. It was unmistakably a military area. The long canyon-like hallway with the ceiling projection of the other spires was not in evidence. Yoatl led Justine to the automatic transport platform and both stepped on, patiently waiting as the conveyor took them all the way to the top of the spire. Instead of narrow corridors connecting the transport platform to the main body of the spire, there were wide hangar-like bay doors. Many of them were open to allow quick access for the hundreds of Gliesan soldiers, mechanics, engineers, clerks and supervisors as they went about their duties.
“Kulsat gravity is slightly higher than Gliese,” Yoatl explained. “We have the last segment of the spire sectioned off and converted to a self-contained water environment as closely matched to their home world as we could. There’s plenty of space for all of them, though quite of few of the Kulsat have had to double-up until we can install more individual domiciles.”
When they reached the last section, they were stopped again by two more guards who took biosignature readings before allowing Yoatl and Justine in.
A small hallway led to a glass viewing area.
“There’s a visual monitor on the inside and a computer interface for the Kulsat to use. Their interpersonal communication is based entirely on a complex sign language. Their written language is technical in nature, and was developed mostly to forward their industrial advances. Even with our communication computers, things sometimes get lost in translation.”
Though the glass covered the wall in the room, it didn’t show the entire water environment on the other side. There was a rocky wall that obscured the view. Even the Kulsat deserved a little privacy.
As a small Kulsat swam by, oblivious to the two humans standing on the dry side of the glass, Yoatl, raising his voice a notch, spoke in the direction of a receiver jutting out of the floor in front of the glass.
“Hello, my name is Yoatl. I am the Gliesan Ambassador to Sol. I would like to speak to Red Spot, if she is available.”
The small Kulsat turned to them, approached the computer on his side, and tapped on the console.
“I will inform her of your presence. You will wait here.”
He swam off, and Justine shared a look with Yoatl. He said, “They are a very old society. Even though they are in our space, and confined in our facility, Kulsat sensibility still considers all non-Kulsat beings as inferior. Diplomacy is not one of their priorities.”
Soon, a familiar Kulsat approached. Justine recognized her from her unique marking right away, but she saw that one of Red Spot’s tentacles was hanging limp under her as she swam closer.
“Are you injured?” Justine asked, casting a glance at Yoatl to see if he was aware of this development. He looked as concerned and surprised as she was.
Red Spot typed. “We have had a minor conflict between us. Several of the other Potentials were outraged that we surrendered. They launched an attack. There were casualties. Two Deficients and one Potential were killed in the fighting.”
“In the fighting?” Justine said. “When did this happen?”
“We resolved the situation,” Red Spot responded.
At that, Yoatl said in a tight voice, “I’ll alert the guards. There should be safeguards in place to prevent this. I’ll be right back.” With that, he strode out of the room.
Turning back to Red Spot, Justine said, “I’m sorry this happened to your people.”
“It is fortuitous it occurred,” Red Spot typed. “I have established command as senior Potential. The other Kulsat will not rebel again. The Deficients have sworn fealty to me as well. We will continue.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Justine took a step toward the glass and put her hand on the surface. She had no idea if Red Spot could sense her sincerity. “You saved my life; I don’t want to see you—or any of the others—hurt.”
“Gratitude, Justine. The Gliesans have provided the necessities. There is no cause for further concern.”
Just then, Yoatl came back into the viewing room. “It looks like the fight took place out of sight of the security monitors. The guards are sending in medical staff to see what they can do to help, and to retrieve the bodies. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do to prevent the fight.”
Red Spot typed. “It is an internal matter, Ambassador. Interference is not required.”
“Of course,” Yoatl said.
To Justine, it seemed as if Red Spot had not extended her trust to anyone besides her. She asked, “Is it possible for Red Spot and me to speak in private? Do the translators record our conversation?”
Yoatl gave her a considering look. “As refugees, and not prisoners, the Kulsat do have more rights under Gliesan law. Privacy is one of those rights.” He seemed on the verge of asking a question, but then smiled and gave Justine a bow of his head instead. “I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Thank you, Yoatl.”
When he’d gone, Justine spoke to Red Spot. “I don’t want to ask you to do anything to betray your people, but I need to protect my world. I need to warn them that your military will attack them.”
“It is understandable. While I do not agree with our policy to attack un-Emerged systems, I do not know how I may assist you, Justine.”
Taking a deep breath, she said, “I have given the Gliesans my word that I would not seek to learn about their Aether technology, and I don’t believe in breaking my word. Their Galactic Law forbids sharing, but since the Kulsat do not subscribe to that Law…”
“Of course, Justine,” Red Spot typed, catching on to the loophole. “I will be glad to teach you everything I know about the Gift and the path to becoming a Risen being.”
“Thank you,” Justine said, but she was interrupted. Red Spot continued typing.
“However, warning your system of our attack will be futile. Our warships are far too powerful. They outnumber you. They will crush anything your technology can send against them. If you wish to save your home system, there is only one way.”
“What do I have to do?”
“You must stop the Kulsat Risen.”
Justine laughed. “That’s the number-one question on everyone’s mind: how to accomplish that.”
“The answer is obvious, Justine,” Red Spot typed. “Obtain the final component.”
35
Caribbean Coast :
Guatemala :
Over the next few weeks, Michael worked in an underground laboratory on the coastal property.
True to his word, Señor Ruiz provided him with the most up-to-date diagnostic equipment with which to study the alien. Michael’s expertise was more in the fields of planetary geology and astrophysics.
Two lab assistants arrived to assist. When they saw the alien body for the first time, they both stood and stared for several minutes, their mouths open in shock. After recovering, they started to babble uncontrollably, as excited as children in a theme park.
One of the assistants was a biochemist from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. His name was Felipé, an older man who spent a great deal of his time talking about his fishing boat, and where he was going to sail once he retired with the money he was making from this job.
The other was Tristán, a young biologist from La Aurora Zoo who had spent a few years in oceanographic exploration. He was the one who quickly categorized the alien, surmising it had evolved from a creature much like the protostegidae family.”
“A sea turtle?” Felipé asked. “But it has no shell.”
Tristan smiled. “Look at this x-ray.” He pointed. “Obviously, over time, it no longer needed the shell for protection, and i
t gradually shrank. There’s still the remnant of a carapace running along the spine of the creature. It’s sub-dermal, but it’s most definitely a shell under its skin. Very similar to the dermochelys coriacea—the leatherback turtle.”
The two debated and speculated on the origins of the species. What kind of environment did it come from? What level of intelligence had it achieved? What cultural dynamic had it developed? How had it managed to be buried on Earth? The one thing they agreed on was that it had evolved on a different planet, in another solar system.
While Michael listened to their conversations, and sometimes joined in the discussion, he was far more interested in a completely different aspect of the alien’s physiology. Namely, that every cell in its body contained a single molecule of altered Kinemet.
Very quickly, they determined that the element would have to have been introduced some time after physical birth; the Kinemet, while providing a constant source of energy to the cells, also had the effect of halting the aging process.
It took Michael well over a week of inputting and collating data from the thousands of diagnostics they performed to conclude that the infusing of raw Kinemet into these creatures would increase their normal lifespan by a factor of thousands.
Was that the legacy the Kulsat sought? Virtual immortality? If that conclusion was accurate, then where had the Grace gone? Certainly, not all of them had strayed too close to the gravitational well of a planet, where the forces that played on the cells would be too strong for any physical being to endure. That, they decided, had been the cause of death in this case. Kinemet was such a heavy element that the proximity to Earth, and the strain of its geomagnetic force, had caused the cells to overload.
No, there had to be another explanation for the fate of this race, the ancient beings that had explored space and created tens of thousands of star beacons to connect the galaxy.
Michael wrestled with these questions during the day, and they even pervaded his thoughts in the evenings, when he ate dinner with Yaxche and Patli. Michael wasn’t permitted to speak to anyone else. All information about the outside world was restricted from them.
Humberto was secured in another building with his two Cruzado friends—they were all still considered a threat. Humberto had effected Michael’s escape once before. Señor Ruiz would not make that same mistake again.
Every morning, Michael had to give a progress report to Oscar Ruiz, who would then presumably pass it along to Chow Yin.
Michael dreaded the day he made the final connection. His initial exultation at the realization of the relationship between the Xtôti and Kinemet was quickly marred by the fact that he knew he could not keep the information from his captors for long.
He suspected the Kulsat did not want the secret of the Grace merely to extend their lives. They wanted it for something far more powerful. Something that could, and would, change the entire order of the galaxy.
The discovery happened quite unintentionally.
Since Michael did not have access to any Kinemet for experimentation, he extracted a few of the alien’s skin cells—using a high-density laser set a frequency he knew would not cause a reaction with Kinemet.
The problem arose when he tried to separate the Kinemet from the biological cells. The element was bound to the cell at a subatomic level.
For two days, Michael struggled with the problem, but nothing he did could extract the Kinemet. It was as if it had become an integral part of the alien’s physiology.
One of the known reactors to Kinemet was hydrogen photons. Michael decided to see what would happen to the Kinemet-infused cell when bombarded with hydrogen photons.
He set up his experiment on the other side of the lab, away from the alien’s corpse, in a vacuum-sealed container.
Before he initiated the emitter to produce the photons, there was an explosion from outside the lab. For a split-second, Michael thought his experiment might have caused it, but there was no possible way for that to happen.
His alarm turned to fear when he heard the distinct sound of machine-gun fire. The complex was under attack.
He ran to the window and lifted one of the blinds to look outside. It looked like a battlefield in the compound. Dozens of guerrilla soldiers were storming the property. Cruzados? How had they tracked the captives here?
A stray bullet splintered the wall beside Michael, and he jumped back with a start.
Something bright caught his eye, and he realized the bullet had hit the hydrogen emitter. Sparks flew from the unit, and it caught on fire, which spread quickly.
When the fire burned through the container, the Kinemet in the skin cells he’d extracted grew bright.
Instinctively, Michael backed away, remembering Patli’s story. Even though there were only a few molecules of Kinemet on the table, the reaction could be highly energetic.
Then Michael felt a sudden heat from behind him, from the alien body. It was glowing.
He checked the computer display monitoring the cells. Somehow, the Kinemet in the skin cells Michael had removed were entangled with the Kinemet still in the alien’s body. What happened to one cell, happened to all the cells.
That was his last thought before a wave of Kinemetic radiation rapidly filled the room, completely encompassing Michael. He did not even have time to scream before he was entirely consumed.
∞
When Michael woke up, he felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on him. He was being crushed, but when he opened his eyes, he saw that there was nothing on top of him.
A sensation went through him then, and for the first time, he felt a tiny fraction of what Alex felt, of what those soldiers Klaus had experimented on felt, and what the ancient Mayan villagers had felt.
Michael was irradiated. He didn’t have any of the powers of a Kinemat, because he wasn’t converted.
There was a tickle at the edge of his consciousness. But, like a half-formed thought, whatever was there eluded him. He could not fully identify what the connection was.
There came a sober realization, though, when Michael struggled to breathe.
He was going to die.
A stream of light cut through the room, and a shadowy figure entered. Hastily, it approached him.
“Michael?” Humberto asked. “You are alive. The Cruzados have found us. They are liberating us. We will be home soon.”
“How?”
Smiling, Humberto said, “At Alondo’s ranch, Diego and Migel managed to get word to my men in Honduras, who contacted some of our friends in the government here. There’s a revolution going on in the Guatemalan capital—it seems not everyone was on board with the CEO’s policies, nor his involvement in the kidnapping of Honduran and Canadian citizens. Both our governments are sending troops to police the transition. The Guatemalan army got new orders this morning to liberate this complex. They’ve already arrested Oscar. Both Alondo and Nadia have been killed.”
Then he gave Michael a concerned look. “Are you all right?”
Michael was barely able to whisper. “Something’s wrong. I can’t move.”
“Are you paralyzed?”
“No,” Michael said. “I can feel everything, but it feels like I weigh a hundred kilotons.”
Humberto looked down at him with a helpless expression.
“The alien,” Michael said. “Is it still there?”
Standing up, Humberto glanced at the metal table that once held the alien body. “No. Where did it go?”
“It reacted when the emitter caught on fire. Now, I’m irradiated with Kinemet. I won’t survive this.”
“I will get one of the other scientists—”
“No. Listen to me,” Michael said. “Come closer.”
He was finding it more difficult to breathe with every passing moment.
“What is it?” Humberto asked.
“You need to get a message to Alex Manez. I don’t know how. He’s being held on a mining station in the asteroid belt by Emperor Yin.”
&n
bsp; “What do you want me to tell him?”
“Tell him what happened here, that the alien’s DNA was infused with Kinemet.” His lungs felt thick, as if he were drowning. “It’s some kind of entanglement. That’s the secret.”
Humberto grasped Michael’s arm. “What’s happening to you?”
“Promise me,” he said to Humberto. “Only for Alex’s ears. No one else must know.”
“I promise,” Humberto said, but Michael could not hear him.
36
Qin Station :
Sol System :
Over the next two weeks, the guards shadowed Alex’s every move. He was confined to the lab, and Sian was locked in the experiment room with guards of his own. Apparently, Emperor Yin didn’t want the young programmer to do anything foolish, such as harm himself. Sian was no longer trusted to work on the project independently, so the final setup was left to Alex.
Checking Alex’s progress every step of the way, Alice never failed to flash him a condescending smile. The entire time he was setting up the first trial, Alex couldn’t stop remonstrating with himself. If the situation hadn’t been so dire, he could have blamed it on his screwed-up physiology causing him to think with his emotions rather than his logic. A part of him recognized that he might have wanted to believe in Alice’s change of heart despite her history.
The game hadn’t changed, just the players. The Kulsat were still on their way at any moment in the future, and Alex could not hold out hope that anyone on Earth would be able to crack the code and develop an army of Kinemats to stop both Chow Yin and the impending alien invasion. For all he knew, Justine was dead, and no one on the Gliesan home world had any idea what had happened.
At the back of his mind, he still nurtured the possibility that he would be able to find a way out of his predicament. He couldn’t give over to despair.
While he prepared for the first experiment, he kept coming back to the conversation he’d had with Alice. Her theory that the star beacons were inter-dimensional devices had some merit, but there was a nagging thought that it wasn’t exactly the correct answer.
Worlds Away (The Interstellar Age Book 3) Page 25