The Empress stood on the far side of the foyer, speaking quietly with another Bhlat female, the other woman with red eyes much like the Empress’. The powerful woman wore a colorful robe, her braids thick and lengthy.
“Mary Parker.” The Empress remained standing where she was, commanding the three of them move to her. Her mother did so hesitantly.
“Hello, Empress. We do have pressing business, so we’d appreciate…”
“I hear the Arnap have returned,” the Empress said quickly, cutting off Jules’ mother.
“When did you find out?” Jules asked, and the woman’s eyes snapped to meet her stare.
“Jules Parker. It is nice to see you.” The Empress moved her hand toward Jules, softly running a long finger over her cheek. Papa had admitted he didn’t like Jules being near the dangerous woman, even if they did have an understanding. She emanated strength unlike anyone Jules had met.
“How did you know about the Arnap?” Dean asked, and she only smiled at him like he was an insolent child.
“Come with me. We have a lot to discuss.” The Empress peered at the soldiers milling about, and smiled again. “In private.”
Her office was comfortable and large, red crystals glowing from the far wall. Jules took an offered seat on a deep plush couch, Dean sitting beside her. Mary took a harder chair opposite the Empress, and no one spoke for a moment, until the Empress finally broke the silence.
“I have my fingers on the pulse… always. I know about the Collector” – she glanced at Jules – “and about the Academy.” It was Dean’s turn for her hard red-eyed stare. “And I am aware of most Alliance council decisions before they happen.”
“Is that so?” Jules’ mom asked. “Then fill us in with your infinite wisdom.”
“The Arnap have indeed returned, but not in such a common sense of the word. They have been in hiding this entire time, recovering from their losses. The Bhlat and this particular enemy have a long-standing feud. As you can understand, we were both strong, attempting to expand our reaches. Of course, we were younger and more ambitious a long time ago, and they were the predecessor. The race that parents told their children about to manipulate them to behave. ‘If you don’t complete your studies, the Arnap will come and hurt our people’.” The Empress flashed a smile.
“Then why have we never heard of them?” Mary asked.
“Because humans are but infants in space,” she said.
“And the Alliance? None of them know of this old enemy of the Bhlat?” Dean asked.
“Some might, but many fear speaking their name will make them return. Either way, they’ve been active, a few on Udoon Station, some at the Tri-System Station, even. They’ve kept their ears open and their eyes peeled, recovering from their losses and attempting to recoup a place in the universe. Now they’ve began their attacks, and from our experience, they won’t stop until they dominate once again.”
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Mary asked. “I thought we were allies.”
“We are, my dear, but we had no substantiated reason to consider them a threat. If they’ve committed genocide against someone, we will join you in the battle. Send me the coordinates,” the Empress said.
This eased Jules’ mind slightly. They had someone to rely on if they needed it, beyond the usual Alliance fleet. The Bhlat had donated a few warships to the Alliance, as they held the largest and most terrifying force of all their partners.
“I’ll send them as soon as I can. I didn’t bring the location with me. Come to think of it, no one has shared it with us.” Her mom frowned, fidgeting with her hands.
“We’ll join you in battle.”
“My parents might have been attacked,” Dean told her.
This grabbed the Empress’ attention. “Is that so?”
“The portal… it’s not working,” Dean said quietly.
Jules saw it then, the flash of recognition, the comprehension of a fate that might have befallen Dean’s parents, and it was clear the Empress attempted to slough it off. “They’re probably fine. The portals are fickle.”
Only Jules didn’t agree. She was connected with them, and that portal stone no longer existed. She was sure of it. “Can you send us anything you have on the Arnap?” Jules asked. “Their anatomy and weaknesses? What are their ships capable of? Where do they hail from? Patterns in planets they ambushed… any details would be a lot of help.”
“I can do that. Look at you, Jules Parker. All grown up.”
Jules averted her eyes from the hard stare and rose when her mother did. “Thank you for the warning and offer for assistance. I hope to not have to call on you, but I’ll send the location regardless.”
“Allow me to see you out.” The Empress stood, guiding them to the exit.
____________
The trip in the shuttle took too long, and Jules’ nerves were fried by the time they landed near their farmhouse. She’d forgotten it was winter here, even though her dad had warned them about it. Her mom parked them on the grass, not bothering with the landing pad, and Jules climbed from the ship. It was dark out, and the air had a strong bite to it as they entered their house.
Her mom disarmed the alarm, and Jules peeked around, feeling instant comfort at seeing their home. This was her real house, the one she thought of whenever someone mentioned the word home. It was the same place her father had grown up, and this was where most of her happiest memories were. Riding horses, learning to read on the porch, celebrating her young birthdays. There were a lot of times when she missed their place on New Spero, the one where they’d lived beside Magnus and Natalia, with little Dean and his sister playing in the yard with the dogs chasing after them.
Suddenly, a wave of sadness poured over her as the memories flipped through her mind. Dean stood still, unmoving in the kitchen, and Jules tried to picture him as the quiet and fun little kid he’d been. Patty used to be so loving, such a great friend. She’d been a year older than Jules, but it hadn’t stopped her from treating the other like they were best friends, even from such a young age.
To her, Jules was normal, a great person and a sister, not a freak with glowing eyes. Things would never be the same. Jules thought about Fontem’s explanation of the time travel Delineator, and understood it better now than before. They could go back, even in their minds, but nothing about it would ever change their present. It was better to not even think about the way things were, because that time no longer existed.
“Mom...”
“Yes?” Her mom wrapped an arm over her shoulder, pulling her in.
“I’m scared.”
“I know. So am I.”
“Where is the communicator?” Dean asked firmly.
“I have to go outside first. Only I can go through,” Jules said, and Dean nodded as if this made complete sense. “Stay here, and I’ll be right back.”
She left them in the kitchen and threw a sphere around herself the moment she returned to the cold porch. The energy barrier kept her warm, and she floated around the house, finding the padlock where her dad had left it. She unzipped the jumpsuit and tugged out a chain that hung around her neck. On the end was a locket, and she opened it, gripping the tiny padlock key inside. She used it to open the old-world metal lock and lifted the wooden cellar door.
She floated through it, feeling the barrier as she passed through. Her biometrics were programmed to gain access, and she lowered to the ground, boots settling on the dirt floor under the back of their house. The cellar was musty, and there was water damage near the door. She’d have to tell her dad about that. He’d want to fix the leak.
The portal doors were placed along the wall, and she took a deep breath, walking through it. And just like that, she found herself in the secret hold on the old ship where Papa had fought Lom of Pleva. Jules crawled through the opening in the side, and into the cargo room. She found the crates as her dad had left them, and tried to imagine some clone of her father here. The idea made her nervous, and she hurried to the bins,
eager to leave and return to her mom in their house.
She listened for sounds of anyone inside the ship, but unless the clone had returned, that would be impossible. Jules found the right cargo bin and punched in the code her father had made her commit to memory. The lock snapped open, and she sorted through the box, finding the clamshell-shaped communicator. Instead of testing it, she shoved it into her pocket, and she spotted the other device she’d been asked to retrieve. It was wrapped in a cloth, and her hand rested on the tool.
“Ja’ri.” The voice startled her, and she spun, searching for the source.
“Who’s there?” Her sphere reappeared, and she sent a surge of energy into her fingertips, waiting to use the immense force if necessary.
“Ja’ri, it really is you.” Her voice was gentle, like a babbling brook, and Jules stepped toward the small shadow.
“Who… are you?” Jules walked around the stacked crates and saw the orange eyes, the short legs, the stocky arms. The girl was only four feet tall, and her face was young, round, and kind.
“You don’t remember me?” she asked. Her voice held an unfamiliar accent.
“I don’t. I’m not sure I’m the same Ja’ri you think I am.” Jules moved back a few steps, letting her walk into the light. Her eyes were bright orange, like two burning suns.
“You are Ja’ri, or I wouldn’t have found you. And I am Dal’i. We’ve been reawakened,” she told Jules, who realized this girl wasn’t really there. She was transparent, a faded image rather than solid and concrete.
The others were waiting for her, and Jules needed to get Dean the communicator so he could attempt to reach his father, but this…
“Where are you located?” Jules asked her. The girl’s hair was cut short, dark spikes stood to the side, and she smiled at the question.
“Far away.”
“How did you project yourself?”
“We don’t have much time, I’m afraid.”
Jules shook her head. Dal’i was fading faster now, and Jules stepped closer. “What are we?”
The voice was soft, distant. “We are all that remains… stop O’ri… all costs.” Then she was gone, vanished from the room.
Jules grabbed the cloth-wrapped device with shaking hands and opened it up, finding the five crystal shards connected by thin wires. Professor Thompson had used this to stop her, stealing her powers a few years ago, and Jules folded it up again, tucking it beside the communicator.
At least she had a weapon to fight this Lan’i with, should it come to that.
Twenty
“You waited until now?” I asked, and Dean nodded, pressing the communicator into my palm. They looked exhausted, especially Jules, who’d shocked us by recalling a story of one of the Zan’ra visiting her on the distant ship. I felt uneasy about the fact that Jules could somehow project herself in the same fashion, and wondered how many other things she was capable of.
“I couldn’t use the communicator. It should be you, Captain,” Dean said. We were in the meeting room on Light, which Slate fondly referred to as the War Room, and we piled in now: Suma, Slate, Loweck, and myself with Dean, Mary, and Jules. It had been far too long since any of us had slept, but we had to attempt contact with Magnus.
“Then let’s make this quick.” I gripped the communicator, activating it. Magnus had the other end, and I hoped like hell he was going to reply. I turned it on, facing the others as I spoke into it. “Magnus, this is Dean… Parker.” I cleared my throat, feeling more nervous than I expected. “Are you there? We have reason to believe you’re in danger, and I need to speak with you.” We waited, but there wasn’t always an immediate response.
“I’ll stay for a while, see if he hears it. I think the rest of you should get some sleep. Slate, what’s our status?” I asked my commander.
“We’re still tracking the stolen freighter using the diagnostic tablet from Fontem, and he does seem to be taking her toward the Ginda system. Other than that, the crew is prepared for battle. Sarlun has relayed the coordinates of Horizon’s destination through to the Empress, and sent a copy here.” Slate stood with arms crossed over his chest, and I nodded.
“Good work. Can you send my personal line the details as well? I’d like to have them at my disposal.”
“You bet, boss.”
Everyone started to leave, and I locked gazes with Dean. “Do you want to stay with me for a while?”
Magnus’ son said he would, and I caught him glancing at Jules. She gave him a worried nod, and he returned it before she left with the others. Once the door was shut, I pointed to a chair around the large boardroom table, indicating he should sit. He did.
“You want something to drink? A beer?” I asked, and he looked surprised. Tired, but astonished.
“Uhmmm… sure.”
I set the communicator on the table and walked to the fridge, finding a few cold ones stacked among the water bottles and other various beverages. I took out two of my favorites and popped the tops, passing one to Dean.
“Are you sure? I’m only eighteen.”
I laughed, sitting down beside him. “I had my first beer with my dad when I was seventeen. There was a crazy storm, and half of the farm was flooded. We spent eight hours pumping pools of gathering storm water away from the house into the garden and the trees beyond our property line, and by the end of it, we were soaked to the bone, my teeth chattering nonstop.
“When we made it inside, I noticed there was a leak in the ceiling, and my mother set a pot to catch the dripping water. Back outside we went, and an hour later, we had a tarp secured to the seeping shingles.
“My dad didn’t even ask; he just wrung himself out on the porch, walked inside, and grabbed us two silver cans, passing me one without comment. He clinked my can with his and went upstairs. My mother scowled for a moment and handed me a towel, kissing me on the cheek.
“We worked hard that day, and I’ll never forget it.” I tapped my bottle to Dean’s, and he took a sip.
“You miss him?”
“My old man? Sure. All the time. It’s been so long, but I do think about him a lot.”
“I don’t want to lose my parents,” Dean said, suddenly looking five years younger.
“You won’t, son. We’re going to find them. The Bhlat are here for us, and Jules will be around to assist whenever necessary.” I put the bottle down and glanced at the communicator, silently urging Magnus to reply.
“Thanks. I really do like being here with you guys.” Dean took another sip, his expression showing he was slightly less disgusted with the beverage than the first time.
“That’s great. We love having you here. I’d say you’re Jules’ best friend, and she’s lucky to have you.” I watched him fiddle with the label on the bottle.
“Why did all of this have to happen?”
I considered my answer carefully. It was obvious Dean was distressed, and why wouldn’t he be? He had to stay strong, to believe we could find his missing sister, and learn what had transpired with his parents.
“From my experience, bad things always happen. Even before the Event, I had my share of them with my father dying. Then I got married and was the happiest man on Earth, without realizing I’d wed a hybrid, and not even the same one I’d initially fallen in love with.” I leaned back in my chair, taking another sip. I hadn’t thought of Janine and Mae in some time, at least not in a melancholic way.
Dean’s expression was soft, his eyebrows upturned. “How did you deal with the losses?”
“It’s not an easy process,” I said truthfully. “You find the strength within. You dig deep and tap into all of those traits your mother and father engrained into you from a young age. You do the right thing, even when you struggle with it. Even when you’re so angry at the world that you don’t think there’s any way you can open your eyes the next day.”
“Does it ever go away?” Dean asked.
“Not entirely, but you move on, and your memories change as you age. Every morning, it’s
easier to rise from bed; every night, sleep finds you a little sooner. But, Dean, you don’t have to dwell on that, because we’re going to find everyone, and your family will be reunited. Okay?”
Dean nodded and took another drink before setting it down. “I don’t think beer is for me.”
My gaze locked on to the communicator, and I willed it to beep, to hear Magnus’ voice over the device. But it stayed silent, and my mind began going over every possible obstacle my friends might have encountered.
Dean and I stayed chatting for another hour before calling it a night. By the time I made it back to the suite, Mary was sleeping. I checked on Jules and she was in bed, Maggie lying beside her, nuzzled up close. I shut her door and went to my room.
For the most part, I’d been truthful with Dean, but as I thought about Horizon and the Arnap, sleep continued to elude me.
____________
Light was scheduled to arrive at the Ginda system the very next day. Jules checked the countdown on the console, and it read twenty-three hours and twelve minutes, ticking away slowly. Fontem had done well to remember the tracking of the ship Patty was on, but why were they heading to the wormhole? It was a mystery beyond Jules at this time. Maybe her friend had heard Light’s destination and had convinced the Zan’ra boy to fly there ahead of them.
There were too many unknowns, and what of this Dal’i, the one who’d projected to her? How was that possible? Jules sat in the office, her star maps pinned to the walls, the texts from Regnig’s books stored on her encrypted tablet. She was growing obsessed with these people – the Four, as she’d started to refer to them. Was she really one of the Four? They each seemed to be in control of themselves, their memories and lives after being created by the Deities, but Jules… she had none of that. She only had tidbits of recollections since the day she’d fixed the portals at such a young age.
There was nothing stored inside her mind about being from the ancient powerful race of Zan’ra. There was no hidden compartment stockpiling information about the Deities, nor were there any memories of this O’ri, or Dal’i, or Lan’i. They were nothing but old drawings to her, with crystal fragments for eyes.
The Survivors (Book 12): New Discovery Page 18