by Adair Hart
Silva stood at the guardrail, looking out at Kreagus with eyes widened and lips agape.
Dr. Snowden approached him. “Look, I know we have had our differences, and I apologize if I offended you, but we should put that to the side for the rest of this mission.” He studied Silva as Silva continued to stare over the guardrail in silence. “You okay?”
Silva licked his lips and faced Dr. Snowden. “How … how’s this possible?”
“From everything you’ve seen, this surprises you?”
Silva exhaled through his nose. “It shouldn’t, but it does.”
Dr. Snowden smirked. “Trust me, I know that feeling.”
“Matter mages defer to Evaran. The great selector, of which I now know there are many, want to talk to him. He can go through time and travel great distances in a short amount of time. I’m having trouble believing my own reports. You’re traveling with someone who those with godlike powers defer to. What does that make him?”
Dr. Snowden paused as he stared at Silva. He looked at the ground and exhaled sharply, and then looked back up at Silva. “That’s easy. He’s my friend.” He turned and walked toward the elevator.
Silva caught up to Dr. Snowden, and they entered the elevator.
While in the elevator, Silva glanced at Dr. Snowden. “You have one hell of a friend. I’m struggling to keep this all in perspective.”
Dr. Snowden nodded. He understood that Silva’s foundation and belief system based on the great selector had been shattered, and here he was now, traveling with someone who he believes is on an equal or higher level. It was interesting to Dr. Snowden to observe since he also went through something similar in seeing all the scientific and technological wonders from the first time he met Evaran. Things that he thought were impossible occurred right before his eyes.
They exited the elevator and headed to their respective seats in the command center.
“V, stealth mode,” said Evaran.
“Acknowledged. Torvatta stealth mode engaged.”
The Torvatta broke cloud cover and descended toward Kreagus. The right front screen had a map overlay with a red dot indicating where they needed to go. The Torvatta flew over to the dot and hovered above it. The right front screen showed the colony ship on the ground in various stages of dismantlement. Kreagans could be seen moving around it near a makeshift camp nearby.
“V, take us to just outside the camp,” said Evaran.
“Acknowledged.”
The Torvatta landed on an open patch where the jungle met blue grass.
Evaran pressed a few buttons on his chair arm. “I have changed the external appearance to that of a Kreagan ship of this era.” He pointed back toward the living quarter. “Silva, Rakar, you two can change clothing now.”
Silva and Rakar stood up and headed to the living quarters. After ten minutes, they returned. Rakar had on a dark-blue military outfit with a black belt and unusual-looking boots. Silva had on a white robe with exotic designs across the shoulders and chest. It had several pockets scattered throughout.
“I am wearing a diplomat-of-the-first-order robe, and Rakar has on a military intelligence outfit. That should give us some clout to work with,” said Silva.
“I have some things that might help as well. Come,” said Evaran. He stood up and walked to the research lab with everyone in tow. In the research lab, he walked toward a replicator on the side of the room. After a few moments, two cards materialized. He grabbed them and handed one each to Silva and Rakar. “Identification cards.”
Rakar looked the card over. “These should come in handy. I’m impressed at the detail on it.”
“I have had time to peruse Kreagan systems, including the historical archives.”
Silva and Rakar put the identification badges into their side pockets.
Evaran walked over to a table and grabbed a small tablet device and then handed it to Silva. “This device is similar to the devices used in this era and would be expected for someone of your rank, at least according to the archives. It is somewhat primitive relative to what you are used to, but it has the basics of communication, mapping, and storage, each mapped to buttons on the bottom of the device in that order. If you press the communication button, it will contact me, and I can send you any information you might need. The device does not have any future data on it, just so you know.”
Silva tilted the device around in his hands and nodded. He then placed it in a side pocket.
Evaran walked over to a cabinet and opened it, pulling out two necklaces with a small device on the end of them. “Almost forgot these. They are panic devices. Just flip them on, and they will emit a loud wailing noise.” He handed them to Silva and Rakar. “Anything else you might need?”
Silva glanced at Rakar, then shook his head. “You did your research, but we should be okay. They will have synthesized a cure by now and should be distributing it to the rest of the ship’s crew.”
“As advanced as the Kreagans are, even in this era, that’s not too surprising they could come up with a cure for an unknown disease this quickly,” said Dr. Snowden.
“Kreagans of this time period are not as advanced as your planet in the present.”
Dr. Snowden shook his head. “I don’t think so. These Kreagans traveled through space on a colony ship. We can barely send out probes across our solar system.”
Silva tilted his head. “Although your planet has more advanced technology and knowledge than the Kreagans of this time period, I have read it is not shared with the general population.”
Dr. Snowden snorted. “Let me guess, the Helians.”
Silva paused for a moment, then nodded. “That’s correct. They have ships that can travel to other solar systems and very advanced technology for a protected planet.”
Dr. Snowden exhaled sharply through his mouth. “Figures. One day there will be a reckoning for them.”
“For what reason?” asked Silva.
“Allowing humans to go into slavery for other alien races.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“From someone that I believe would know about it,” said Dr. Snowden. He thought back to his conversation with Szaris.
“If you discover anything of it, let me know. It’s illegal.”
Dr. Snowden glanced at Evaran, then at Silva. “All right.” Although Silva had been rough around the edges initially, he was beginning to see another side of him. One where adherence to the law was not superficial, but a way of life.
Evaran rubbed his chin. “We will be here should you need us. Rakar, your communications system is still tied into the ship’s. You can access it as you would any other communication channel. Good luck.”
“Sounds good,” said Rakar.
Rakar nodded at Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Andia and then headed to the Torvatta entrance, with Silva in tow.
Silva and Rakar paused outside the Torvatta after exiting it.
Silva turned toward the Torvatta and soaked in the view. “Impressive. It really does look like an ancient Kreagan ship now.”
Rakar scrutinized the Torvatta. This ship was powerful. It was beyond anything he could have ever imagined. The first trip to Coris was unbelievable, but he got used to it. Then they traveled in time, and now, it had the appearance of an ancient Kreagan ship. It even had rooms that extended out past what should be possible in such a small ship. He nodded. “Definitely unique.”
Silva paused as he tilted his head at Rakar. “I agree.”
They turned and walked along the edge of the jungle toward the camp. Rakar studied the surrounding environment as they walked. He had learned growing up that Kreagus had been a jungle planet. He found it hard to believe at the time, since it was either desert, maintained grasslands, or infrastructure. He sniffed and inhaled the smells blaring around him. He noticed Silva was taking it in too. “So what do you think of this mission now?”
“I am finding it difficult to believe any of it, yet it’s happening right in front of me.”
&n
bsp; “Yeah. I also like these humans. Never really interacted with them before, but they have heart.”
Silva looked down at the ground. “I may have been hasty in my judgement of them.”
“We all may have been.”
After a few more minutes of walking, they paused at the crest of a hill.
Silva pulled out his tablet and pressed the map button. After scrutinizing it, he pointed off into the distance. “That’s where the administrative building would be. Or will be.” He placed the tablet back into his pocket.
Rakar followed Silva’s pointing and saw the large hill.
Silva froze as the sound of a pack of animals cried out in the distance. “I don’t recognize that sound.”
Rakar tilted his head. “I don’t either. We are five thousand years in the past and will need to be careful. I’ve seen some of the bones of the predators in this era.” He fingered his sidearm.
They continued along the natural path until they reached the first signs of the camp. Standing on a hill, they could see the encampment was a hodgepodge of structures in various degrees of construction. The colony ship, in its various stages of dismantlement, loomed in the distance. Smoke billowed out of some of the completed structures. They were arranged in a circular fashion, with the largest completed structure in the center. The completed structures were rectangular with sharply angled low-cut roofs. They were all metallic silver, the color of the ship.
“How do you want to proceed?” asked Rakar.
“Let’s head to the center. If this is anything like our architecture, the center will house the main administrative building and gathering area.”
Rakar nodded.
They walked into the camp. Rakar noticed the structures that were half built looked like they had not been worked on in a while. It did not surprise him, given the disease he knew to be around.
They passed several structures with benches on the outside. Kreagans sat on them, slouched over, with dulled eyes. From what Rakar remembered, the disease made them lethargic until they died.
As they approached the center of the encampment, two soldiers approached them. Silva and Rakar stopped walking and waited for the soldiers to come closer. Rakar noticed the dull-blue outfit that would be typical of Kreagan military in this era. He half grinned as he noticed the projectile weaponry the soldiers were using. They also had on a gadget belt, and he recognized some of the older devices. They still used shrapnel-filled grenades instead of gravity and plasma grenades. He had studied them as a kid and had traced their architecture from this period to the current. He wondered if he could get one to take back with him.
The first soldier trained his weapon on them as he approached. “State your purpose.”
“I am Silva Ga Hujorn, a diplomat-of-the-first-order. With me is my bodyguard and military intelligence specialist Rakar Ho Jador. We wish to speak with Captain Mrakus.”
The first soldier scrutinized them, glanced at the second solder, then trained his gaze back on Silva and Rakar. “Do you have any identification?”
“We have identification badges in our side pockets,” said Rakar.
The first soldier gestured with his weapon for them to get them.
Silva and Rakar got their badges out and held them at arm’s length facing the soldiers.
The second soldier pulled a device out from his belt and scanned the badges. “They’re good.”
The soldiers lowered their weapons.
The first solider sighed. “It’s good to see fresh faces. Captain Mrakus will want to talk to you. C’mon.” He turned and waved for them to follow.
Silva and Rakar followed the soldiers through the winding paths that the structures provided. Kreagans in distress sat around outside the structures they passed. Some were sleeping or unconscious. As they approached the large central structure, Rakar noticed a large building behind it. It stuck out to him because it disrupted the circular architectural layout pattern typical of Kreagan design.
They came up on the entrance to the central structure. The first soldier waved at them to hold while the second soldier went inside. After a few moments, the second soldier peeked out the steel-like door and waved them in. The first soldier stepped to the side and gestured them in. Silva and Rakar followed the second soldier, with the first soldier walking behind them. They weaved through various hallways until they came to a large office.
Inside sat Captain Mrakus. He was large, by Kreagan standards, and his dark-purple skin had the splotches associated with the disease. His streamlined outfit was instantly recognizable to Rakar as that of a captain. Captain Mrakus waved them in.
Silva and Rakar walked into the office while the two soldiers docked themselves at the entrance. One inside the room, the other out.
“So you came all the way from Kreagus, I hear,” said Captain Mrakus. He gestured for them to take a seat.
“This is Kreagus,” said Rakar.
Captain Mrakus eyed Rakar. “What do you mean? No name has been assigned to this planet yet, other than the military’s designation. Be nice to reuse our home world’s name, but the other colony ships might disagree.”
Silva cleared his throat and shot Rakar a sideling glance. “Yes, the military gave this planet a cryptic designation, but I suspect in time a better name will surface. Nonetheless, we are here on important business.” He sat down.
Captain Mrakus stared at Silva for a moment, then eased back into his chair. “So, what is this important business about?”
“We are charged with collecting the Arkaron crystals. We decided to come here first,” said Silva.
Captain Mrakus smirked as he looked at Rakar. “Military intelligence. I don’t suppose you knew about this planet’s conditions before selecting it?”
Rakar paused as he looked at the table. He had not planned on this line of questioning but knew the disease originated in a pollen cloud that burst forth every five years. The analysis probes sent to analyze the planet for five years did not catch it. “The probes noted nothing out of the ordinary.”
Captain Mrakus eyed Rakar, then smiled. “I read those same reports too. Nothing on them indicated this.”
“If you can get us the crystal, we can be on our way. We don’t want to hold up your cure distribution efforts,” said Silva, clearing his throat.
Captain Mrakus narrowed his eyes. “What cure distribution efforts are you referring to?”
Rakar leaned forward. “You … don’t have a cure?”
Captain Mrakus leaned forward in his chair. “Of course not. If I did, we wouldn’t be getting splotches on our skin, coughing up blood, and lying around. Since you two are here now, you both are infected as well. I’m afraid I can’t allow you to spread this to the other colony ships.”
Rakar and Silva looked at each other.
Silva put his hand out toward Rakar, then faced Captain Mrakus. “If we were to find a cure that you could synthesize, would you allow us to leave with the Arkaron crystal?”
Captain Mrakus eased back into his chair and laced his hands. He ran his tongue around his mouth as he stared at Silva. After a moment, he cocked his head at Silva. “How do you propose to do that, exactly?”
“There was another planet that was researched that had an airborne virus. After it was studied, it was determined the effect on a Kreagan would be a slowdown of all internal systems until death. A cure was synthesized. Based on the scans from the analysis probes, there is a cave nearby that has an algae growing on the walls with a similar composition to that cure. With a bit of tweaking, it could be the base for a cure for this disease.”
Rakar half grinned. Silva was lying through his teeth but did it without any hesitation. Silva must be adept at interrogations.
Captain Mrakus leaned forward and laced his hands while putting his elbows on the table. “You get me that algae and help synthesize a cure, you can do whatever you want with that crystal. I don’t necessarily believe the Arkaron does what everyone says it does. Supposedly told us to prepare for
an invasion, and you saw how well that went. Bunch of foolishness to me.”
Rakar studied Captain Mrakus. Although there was a general belief in the great selector among all Kreagans, not everyone believed that the Arkaron allowed for communication. He always believed it to be a tool used to control the masses. It was apparent Captain Mrakus was of the same mind.
“We are in agreement, then. Rakar and I will head out immediately,” said Silva.
Captain Mrakus pointed at the first soldier posted just inside the room’s entrance. “Duras, go with them to this cave. Their survival is of the utmost importance. I can’t spare anyone else right now.”
Duras saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Rakar extended his hand out. “We will be fine, we don’t need an escort.”
Captain Mrakus. “Perhaps. But this is also to make sure you don’t jump the planet and take this infection elsewhere.”
“That is acceptable. We are ready to go,” said Silva.
Captain Mrakus eased back into his chair. “Make sure to stop by the medical ward before heading out. Medical technician Zeebros Go Nudd should have a container for your specimens. Good luck.”
Silva and Rakar exited the room, with Duras in tow. They exited the structure and stood just outside the entrance. “Do you have transportation?” asked Silva.
“Just a small transport vehicle. All the heavy machinery is still packed on the colony ship, along with most of the passengers,” said Duras.
“How many passengers?” asked Rakar.
“Out of the two thousand, there are only a hundred of us out of our cryopods. Protocol is to establish an encampment, then slowly release the passengers in manageable chunks. This disease, however, has slowed the setup, and we can’t release anyone until this is resolved, one way or another,” said Duras.
“I see. Where is this medical ward?” asked Silva.
Duras walked toward a large structure adjacent to the building they had just exited. “Follow me.”