Dragon Wave

by Valerie Emerson

  This time it wasn’t so dire. Jack had messaged them with a link to a news site and “WATCH THIS” written in all caps. She hesitated to follow the link. It looked a little too much like spam, and she didn’t want to interrupt her lunch with Coraolis.

  Cor clicked the link.

  “I hope your security’s up to date,” she told him, half-scolding, half-joking. She messaged Jack, asking him to confirm he was the one to send it.

  “Why is that?” He turned the screen so that she could see as well.

  “It looked like phishing to me.” She leaned in so she could watch his screen as well. It might be entertaining, at least.

  It wasn’t. Maria Wey, the anchor for the local news station, sat with her hands clasped on her desk. Her expression was sober. A picture of an E.F. vessel was on the right half of the screen. A ticker ran across the bottom. It was mid-sentence, but the word “Pirr” put Julia on instant alert.

  “In galactic news, the Earth Fleet science vessel Gaiman was found in the Hawkeye System after a brutal attack by the Pirr. According to survivors, the Pirr crippled their vessel in an unprovoked attack. After boarding, they executed the Mystics on board, then left Gaiman adrift.”

  The screen was taken over by a video of hollow-eyed E.F. crewmen coming on board another vessel. Julia felt Coraolis gripping her shoulder, but she was so intent on the screen she hardly felt it. She wondered if she was going to be sick.

  “Who were the Mystics?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ll find out.”

  The image transitioned to an E.F. crewman. “They said, ‘this far, and no further.’ They said to repeat that. ‘This far, and no further.’” He crossed his arms over his chest, withdrawing into himself. “They left the life support on, but without the engines, it couldn’t last. We were lucky the Hornblower heard our distress call.”

  The image returned to Maria. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. Julia could relate. The newscaster cleared her throat. “I think we can all be grateful for Hornblower’s timely rescue. But the information we have presents more questions than answers. Why have the Pirr appeared out of nowhere to attack humanity? Why did they target the Mystics on board Gaiman?”

  The image changed to a familiar-looking admiral. The ticker at the bottom of the screen named him Admiral Fischer. The years had carved a multitude of lines into his face, which became more pronounced when he spoke. “The Pirr’s governing body disavowed any knowledge of this attack. They are claiming this is the work of pirates, using the current tension between our people as an excuse to profit through chaos.” He grimaced. “We are looking into the matter.”

  The screen returned to Maria. She was sitting up straighter, her expression harder than when they had started playing the footage. Her hands still clutched each other until her knuckles had turned white. “We are calling for a public investigation. What have the Mystics done to antagonize this alien race? What other trouble have they brought to our door? It hasn’t been that long since the events at Ian’s World. Perhaps it’s time for stronger oversight.”

  The video ended. Coraolis and Julia looked at each other, wordlessly gathered their things, and hurried to the Academy.

  ***

  Dante once thought he’d be Earthbound for the rest of his life. He didn’t expect the clean slate to do anything about that, but when the Pirr scuttled Gaiman, Earth Fleet had requested the most powerful Mystics to help with their response. That was how he found himself on the Ulysses with Jack, heading to a new world the E.F. hoped to claim.

  Opal was as lovely as its name implied. The planet would ordinarily be as blue as Earth, but particles in its atmosphere gave it streaks of pink and violet. With the white from its clouds, it truly resembled its namesake.

  He stood on the bridge with Jack, watching the viewscreen. It had been years since he’d been on an expedition like this. He’d been on the run with his fellow Evolved or Earthbound for so long that he’d forgotten how it felt to be the first sentient to touch a planet. He loved that, despite the dangers involved.

  Captain Asant whistled at the sight, stroking his neatly trimmed beard. He’d been a good partner to the Mystics so far. He’d made them feel welcome on his bridge. He’d even sought their advice on the Pirr. Neither of them had much in the way of advice. Still, it was nice to be asked.

  All they could do was follow the one order they’d been given as if it were engraved in stone. If there was fighting, it had to be started by the Pirr. Earth couldn’t be the aggressor.

  That sounded like bunk to Dante, but orders were orders, and he wanted to get through this mission without another mutiny. Despite himself, his hopes had risen with every passing day. The longer they went without combat, the better their odds felt. It was far from logical, but sometimes it was comforting to go with his gut.

  Then the alien ship came out from the cover of the system’s gas giant. The ship resembled a serrated blade, poised to saw Ulysses in half.

  “Shields up. Hail the alien ship,” Asant ordered. “Mikes, I’m told these ships have Mystic support?”

  “So they do. We’re on it,” Dante affirmed. “Jack?”

  “Coming.”

  He ran to the commune chamber with Jack close behind. It was a short run, but he still felt too slow. He was halfway there when Asant’s voice filled his ears. He’d been patched into the call to the other ship. Too bad there was only one side to it so far.

  “I repeat, this is Captain David Asant of the Earth Fleet vessel Ulysses. We are here on a peaceful survey mission. Please respond.”

  After a long, empty pause, the captain ordered someone to change the frequency, then repeated himself.

  Dante and Jack reached the commune chamber and hurried inside. In moments, they were in the Astral Plane, facing down a squad of twenty aliens in ornate silver armor. Each of them was armed with a cannon mounted on their left arm. Half aimed at Dante, the other half at Jack.

  They were armed with actual weapons in the Astral Plane. They weren’t mere constructs. They’d been projected into this plane by their wielders, and Dante’s senses told him they were functional. If the Pirr struck first, it would hurt.

  Something buzzed in his ear. He put a hand to it and had the disjointed feeling of touching his ear in the Astral Plane yet feeling his earpiece in the physical. That was why Mystics didn’t wear earpieces normally—they could be distracting.

  “I’ll be back. Yell if you need me.”

  Jack nodded, and Dante dropped into his body. As soon as he reconnected, he heard Asant’s voice in his ear: “…I understand that, but we started this mission weeks ago. If you’re going to talk in terms of who saw what first, it’s us.”

  “We came upon this planet before you did. We have possession, Captain Asant. The system is ours. Do you mean to take it from us by force?”

  The captain muttered something colorful about the Pirr’s breeding habits under his breath. Dante tensed for the Pirr’s reaction, expecting something explosive in return for the insult.

  “I do not,” Asant growled. “End transmission. Brenner, bring us about. Someone go tell the Mikes their services aren’t needed.”

  “I heard you, Captain,” Dante said. “I’ll bring Jack back in.”

  A pall fell over the boat as they left the system. It wasn’t a retreat but it felt like one. A diplomatic loss was just as hard on the pride as losing in combat. The difference was that everyone was still alive to feel their wounds.

  ***

  The Ulysses’ encounter with the Pirr was the first of many. One by one, each of Earth Fleet’s missions was cut short. Every system they entered was already occupied. The Pirr were everywhere. Humanity was boxed in.

  Coraolis and Julia were deployed on E.F.S. MacLeod. Earth Fleet was determined to claim one more planet in the face of the Pirr’s threats. They’d even settle for a rock like Radar. The planet was on the cold end of the habitable zone. It might have value for whatever minerals it held, but it would never be a popular p
lace to settle.

  None of that mattered. They were trying to make a point.

  Julia floated in the void of the Astral Plane, reaching out to the planet with all her senses. Coraolis was at her side, giving her strength and keeping watch. Her first impression of the planet was that it was worse than the original data. The air was too thin. Settlers would need respirators to go outside.

  On the plus side, it was rich with easily accessible ore deposits. It might just be worth the trouble to settle. She was delving deeper when she noticed Cor trying to get her attention.

  “Pull back,” he was saying. “Julia. Look.”

  Julia drew away from the planet. A Pirr vessel was in high orbit.

  They returned to their bodies and hurried to the bridge. Julia gulping down electrolytes on the way. The bridge crew turned as one when they walked in.

  Captain Demir stood to meet them. “What is it, Mike? You haven’t been gone an hour.”

  “We detected a Pirr vessel in orbit around Radar. They beat us here.” Again. Julia struggled to sound professional, but her frustration was too much to hide. “I’m sorry, captain.”

  “I can’t see how it’s your fault.” Demir squared her shoulders and returned to her seat. “Let’s try hailing them, Yves.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  Julia glanced at Cor, who stood close enough for their arms to brush. That was probably a breach of conduct. They’d agreed to keep things completely professional when they were outside their cabin.

  Maybe it was a toe over the line, but she was fine with it. She was convinced that every encounter with the Pirr was on a hair trigger. Anything could set off a battle, meaning any moment could be their last.

  “They’re responding, Captain,” Yves reported.

  Julia let out a breath.

  “On screen,” Demir ordered.

  A hard-faced Pirr replaced the viewscreen’s curtain of stars. Her eyes moved to survey the bridge crew. She lingered over the Mystics with a sneer before she moved on to Captain Demir.

  “I am Khiann Xoa. What do you want, humans? You are outside your territory.”

  “Are you in charge here?” Demir spoke lazily, projecting a calm she likely didn’t feel. Julia approved. They didn’t need to admit they were intimidated.

  “I am. Shall I repeat my question?”

  “We are here to scout a new planet and claim it for settlement.” Demir stood up and put herself front and center.

  “This planet has been claimed.”

  “I see that. Perhaps we could negotiate.” Demir began to pace. Julia was feeling a little restless herself.

  “There will be no negotiation. This system belongs to the Pirr.” Khiann Xoa drew herself up. “You will leave. Now.”

  “Are you sure? This is a prime opportunity to make an alliance.” Demir’s tone was determinedly friendly, but Julia heard the dismissal in the Pirr’s voice. This was another dead end.

  “Your presence is an infection on this arm of the galaxy. You are a disease, human. We will not allow you to spread.”

  “All we are doing is working to support our people. We reach out to our galactic neighbors in peace. All we ask is that you do the same.” Demir’s expression didn’t change, but she all but vibrated with tension.

  Julia clenched her teeth but managed to keep her thoughts to herself.

  “You should have thought of that before you became graverobbers. It does not matter if you were not the human who did it.” The Pirr’s glare settled on Coraolis. “Some things cannot be balanced out, no matter the penance. Once you desecrate a holy place, that guilt will follow your race for the rest of your days.”

  The captain lifted her chin, her jaw tightening. “Listen here. Humanity hasn’t robbed anyone. We explore, we settle, that’s it.”

  Khiann Xoa made a sound that could have been a laugh, too heavy with contempt to really take off. “Then you lie to yourselves as well. What will you do, human? We are in your way.”

  The alien spread her hands, inviting an attack.

  “Take your time deciding. We will be here.”

  The call ended. Demir trudged to the captain’s chair and dropped into it. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I suppose that’s it,” she murmured. “Bring us about, Holland. We won’t let them bait us.”

  ***

  “That was her. That was the Pirr I fought on Amadeus.” Coraolis followed Julia into their cabin and shut the door, only to lean against it.

  “She wanted us to fight her. This can’t go on. Either we keep backing down and look like an easy target to everyone else, or we start a fight and lose our allies.” Julia leaned against the wall next to him and stared at the ceiling.

  “Maybe if I challenged her again, I could make the terms go our way. If I win, we get this planet,” Coraolis moved.

  That was possibly the worst idea she’d ever heard. She turned to face him, letting the horror she felt at the idea show on her face. “Don’t you even dare. You saw her expression. She looked at us like we were rabid animals, Cor. You don’t do pistols at dawn with animals.”

  “She did before,” he protested.

  “No. Even if she went for it, you’d have to put something that equals a planet on the line. You don’t have the authority to do that. I doubt a field leader like her has that either.”

  “Okay, okay.” He walked to the bed and sat on the lower bunk. “It was just an idea.”

  “I know. I’m sorry if I was harsh.”

  “You were fine. It just stings a little more when you’re right.” He looked up with a self-deprecating smile. “You should let me have a turn at that.”

  “Any time you’re ready,” she teased.

  She tried to shake off her nerves as she moved to sit beside him. They linked their fingers and leaned into each other. Even if they were far from home and on the edge of war, at least she had Coraolis to rely on.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The Nexus System was opposite Earth’s branch of the Milky Way, far from any other inhabited systems. Its citizens lived on Yuna Station, working at the ore refineries or monitoring the robot-run mines on the rocky planets. Yuna Corp answered to no government. Its laws governed its commerce, and the only way to get ejected from the station was to break the peace.

  Dante was familiar with it. He’d been to Yuna a few times as a fugitive, looking for work or fuel for their ship. The Docks had a carnival atmosphere, with beings of every description selling food and entertainment. If it could be sold, it would be found at Yuna.

  He’d never heard that you could find peace there, yet that was what the Earth delegation was after. Yuna Corp had invited leaders from all over the galaxy to their anniversary celebration. Earth Fleet was there to talk business, but if the Pirr was there, they were going to try and negotiate a truce. If that failed, the humans would seek other allies.

  Once they landed, he discovered the other side of Yuna. Their shuttle had a private dock with a well-appointed lounge where they could keep an eye on their ship. A wall panel offered environmental controls so any species could adjust the air mixture, temperature, light, or even the humidity to meet their biological needs.

  The default setting for this lounge was fit for humans, as was the furniture. Dante was examining the control panel when the door opened and a human-looking robot entered.

  If it hadn’t been made of metal, Dante might have mistaken it for a man. Every detail was true to life, down to the robot’s eyelashes and fingernails.

  “Greetings and welcome to Yuna. Has the lounge met your comfort needs?” The robot smiled, revealing a row of perfect silver teeth.

  “We’re just fine.” Ambassador Gilchrist walked over to shake the robot’s hand. “I’m Ambassador Thomas Gilchrist. My companion is Admiral Nanami. Thanks for having us.”

  The robot looked at the admiral, no doubt taking in the entourage behind him as well.

  “The invitation was for three.”

  Its tone was as polite as before, but there
was a finality to its words. There would be no negotiating for more companions. Gilchrist was already nodding. He’d likely hoped to bring more, but even Dante knew they shouldn’t test their host.

  “Yes, they’ll be waiting here. The attendees are me, Admiral Nanami, and Mystic First Class Dante over there.”

  Dante knew the summons when he heard it. He walked over and nodded to the robot, reluctant to put his hand in the robot’s.

  “I am not familiar with that honorific. I will add it to my database,” the robot answered. “Greetings, MFC Dante. Humans call me Steven. If you are lost or need assistance, you may request me by using that name.”

  “Good to meet you, Steve.” Dante grinned at the robot.

  “I am designated Steven.” The robot’s eyebrows drew down in imitation of a frown.

  Gilchrist’s hand clamped down on Dante’s shoulder, cutting off his response.

  “MFC Dante will keep that in mind. Can I assume that your presence means it’s time to join the gathering?” Gilchrist glanced at Dante, his face an amiable mask.

  The ambassador was too diplomatic to say he didn’t trust Dante, but it was easy enough to tell. Dante had one job and that was to watch for trouble from the Astral Plane. The wrong word could set the whole mission askew—and he now knew that included the robots. Dante nodded stiffly. He wouldn’t talk to the tin can if that was off limits.

  “That is correct, the event is about to begin. Please accompany me to the ballroom.”

  Steven led them into a corridor as wide as a city street. Dante’s feet sank into the rich carpet with each step, and he had the powerful urge to take his shoes off. He walked a little behind Nanami and Gilchrist, listening to the robot chatter about Yuna Station’s history, the pride it took in its neutrality.

  Dante listened with one ear while he opened his senses. He might not catch much with his attention split, but it was better than not watching at all. He spared only a scrap of his attention to making sure he didn’t walk into the others while he stretched out with his mind.