“How close to Earth did you reach?”
Grigon cawed. “Close enough to pick up your race’s radio and television signals. That’s the only reason I wasn’t surprised by your appearance. Although I only got within fifty light years, I studied much of your people’s ways and history. I know why the older races fear yours so much. The technological leaps your people have made are incredible.” The old Malcovin noticed a keen interest from Brian. “I heard news stories about the first Russian and American humans to reach space. I also heard the declaration by the president of the United States that his people would reach the moon by the end of the decade. Did it happen?”
“Yes,” Brian answered. “We landed on the moon eight years later.”
“That’s incredible!” Grigon shouted excitedly. “Your people achieved powered fight less than a century before and managed to land on the moon circling your planet! No other race can claim such speed as far as technological advances. No wonder you managed to put the Mjolnir together. By the way, what does the name of this thing mean?”
“It was a tribute to you actually, though in an indirect way,” Brian answered. “Mjolnir was the hammer the Norse god Thor wielded. Thor is the god of thunder and storms.”
“I see, a bit of a Terran tribute to my nickname. Well, I suppose I should show you around a bit more, shouldn’t I?”
* * *
Celi focused all over her energy on her research, still stumped on how to help Brian. Everything that worked for her race wasn’t working for him. Another simulation she attempted showed he would still die in six months.
“This is really frustrating,” she said before sitting down to take a breather and drink some water. She watched as her assistants outside treated the injured pilots. After a moment of silence passed Zae entered and headed to the lab Celi was in. After she closed the doors and made sure no one could hear them she turned to Celi.
“So how bad is it?” Zae asked.
“The same as before,” Celi answered. She played through the simulation. “No matter what I try it still ends with his death.”
“The good news is you still have time Celi,” Zae said. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“I wish it were that simple,” Celi said with frustration in her voice. “Whatever evolution that’s taken place in the disease’s jump to Brian has improved the illness greatly. It’s amazingly efficient at killing.”
Zae looked her in the eye. “He’s going to survive. Just like the rest of us. That’s all you have to think about. To despair is to give in and that means death. I know one thing; I won’t leave the stage of existence without a fight.”
“You’re strong,” Celi said.
“No, I’m just as weak as you are,” Zae said. “We need to believe in his will to live. That’s what’s going to carry him. And with Grigon our chances of reaching home have gone up a lot. If you can’t find a cure then find a way to extend his life so we can get back home and search for help there.”
“I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Trying is all you can do,” Zae said.
“So how’s your music coming along?” Celi asked before starting the next simulation.
“Better than I thought,” Zae answered. “Five years ago Mira defeated me with ease. This time around I’ll be giving her the challenge of her life.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
* * *
After a tour of the ship Grigon led Brian back to the hanger bay.
“You’ve been rather quiet the last few minutes, what’s wrong?” Grigon asked.
“I need to ask you for a favor,” Brian said. “I know you’ve been waiting for a long time to meet me, but the truth is I’ve contracted the Grey plague responsible for wiping out the Kalaidian men.”
“So what you’re saying is I should prepare for the worst case scenario?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll humor you. What is it you wish to have me do?” Grigon asked.
“Build a series of mobile suits for the five Maidens,” Brian said. “Not just a Phase Rakna, but something capable of surpassing them. In the battles we fought recently I realized our current technology isn’t enough for victory.”
“I’m more than willing to help you on this,” the old birdman said with another slap on Brian’s back. “I happen to have one more light class drive sitting around with nothing to use it with so I’ll start designing a new model right now.”
“Start with the one Celi will fly,” Brian said. “I’m sure offense isn’t in her nature, so build a defensive mobile suit with shields able to block anything.”
“I don’t suppose that would be part of the plan?”
“What plan?”
“Did Myden ever tell you about the plan the Teacher left behind?” Grigon asked. “With your appearance the sixth stage was cleared. Upon the creation of these weapons the seventh stage had been achieved. Beyond that Myden wouldn’t say any more about it.”
“No,” Brian answered. “I’ll ask him about it if I survive this journey. By the way, when did you meet Myden?”
“A little over twenty five years ago, just after I’d finished drawing up the specs for these.” Grigon patted a Talon on the leg. “I was shocked a Grey like himself even existed. After a several visits I finally agreed to help him. Myden is driven to free his people from the Machine God that’s taken them over. That‘s all I know about him. My people are much the same, held back by their archaic beliefs on males and females, as well as the acquisition of wealth. The primary reason I was ostracized is because I believe in equality. Not just financially, but sex wise. My wife was the most accomplished engineer I ever knew. It was when they discovered her doing forbidden work they had her executed.”
“I didn’t know females were treated so harshly amongst your people,” Brian said.
“It’s all history now,” Grigon cawed. “Moving on, what will I call the new mobile suit for Celi?”
“The Aegis,” Brian said after thinking on it for a moment. “It was the shield used by the Greek goddess Athena. If she’s going to fly a mobile suit whose sole purpose is defense I can think of no better a name.”
“Then the Aegis it is,” Grigon said. “I promise you I’ll complete this mobile suit.”
Chapter 18 - Sins Against Nature
“It’s been nearly a month since we saw anything,” Baed said.
Zae sat at her console with Brian in the captain’s chair. Jesela attended to her duties at the console at the top of the bridge.
“We’ve seen plenty of things, just not Greys,” Zae said. “I think the calm has been welcoming after the hectic first few weeks out here.”
Brian stared at the small computer screen on the captain’s chair and struggled reading the device. His vision began blurring. He shook his head. The meds Celi gives every day are fucking with my vision. Or is it the plague? Doesn’t matter which it is, it’s frustrating. He thought before turning the computer off and leaning back for a break.
“You look tired,” Baed said after turning to face Brian. Zae did likewise a moment later.
“I am,” he said. “I’ve adjusted everything to match the new systems in place. Not to mention update our battle formations for combat against the Greys. Thankfully we weren’t attack in this last month. It’s given us time to prepare and heal.”
“The crew’s looking better,” Zae said. “The only thing bothering us is the fact we’re running low on fresh produce.”
Jesela looked up. “It can’t be helped. We can only grow a little on the Avoni. To be honest, I’m not looking forward to four months on emergency rations.”
“They are a bit dry,” Brian said. “When I first was taken in by your ship I had the opportunity to try them.”
“Was that when you and Seles were stranded on the frozen moon?” Zae asked.
“Yeah, that was the place,” he answered. “Rations aren’t the most enjoyable food but they’re filling and nutriti
ous.”
“Done,” Jesela said before sighing and closing her eyes. “I’ve been at this for two weeks and it’s finally done.”
“Is it the new shielding system?” Baed asked.
“Not just shields, but our weapons as well,” Jesela explained with excitement in her voice. “This will free up the Raknas during combat.”
“Now we can go on the offensive,” Brian said.
“True,” Zae said. She noticed something strange on the edge of their scanning systems. “We’re picking something up.”
“Is it the Greys?” Brian asked.
“Not exactly,” she answered. Zae called up the image on the monitor. In the orbit of a nearby rocky planet was a large metallic object, ten ketres in length and a third of that in width and depth. “It looks like a large colony.”
“Not like any I’ve ever seen,” Baed said.
“Jesela, what’s it look like on your end?” Brian asked.
“I’m detecting Grey technology,” Jesela reported.
“Grigon’s calling,” Zae said.
“Put him through,” Brian ordered. A moment later Grigon appeared on the screen.
“I see it,” the old Malcovin cawed. “Looks like one of their colonies. But according to the scanners the place is abandoned.”
“I’m not picking up anything alive in the entire colony,” Zae reported.
“Not just that,” Jesela said. “The atmosphere of the place has been vacated. All electrical systems are dead and no power source is currently functioning.”
“Why would they have a colony this far away from their main territory?” Brian asked.
“I have no idea,” Grigon answered.
“Should we investigate further?” Zae asked.
Brian thought for a moment. “Grigon, are the stealth cloaks working on both ships?”
“They should be working right now,” Grigon answered. “We can approach unnoticed.”
“Let’s do that,” Brian said. He stood up and looked at the image of the dead colony. “Zae, I want you to take a boarding party over on the Mjolnir.”
“Me?” Zae asked.
“Yes, I can’t leave the ship,” he said. “I want one of us to be over there. I have no idea what lies inside but my instincts tell me something strange is in there. It makes no sense to build a colony this far away unless it was built for a specific purpose.”
“Could it be research?” Jesela asked. “One wouldn’t conduct dangerous experiments near their home, but on a far away and preferably isolated solar system.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Brian confirmed.
“I’d like to bring Celi with,” Zae requested.
“Take whomever you need,” Brian said.
“Good, I’ll start preparing immediately,” Zae said before calling up the list of security personal onboard.
* * *
Meldi landed the Mjolnir on a docking hatch. “I’ll wait in here,” she said.
The other six, including Zae and Celi checked their space suits once more.
“Is everyone ready?” Zae asked.
“Yes,” the others said.
Zae looked at the rakna Brian recommended she bring along. “If you see a living Grey, blasters won’t work. You need to kill them up close, that’s the only way to take them down.” She echoed his words in her mind.
“Let’s go,” Zae ordered.
The four ensigns took point ahead of the senior officers. Finding the hatch was sealed shut; Zae drew the rakna blade and activated it. Slowly, she cut around the circumference of the hatch. She then deactivated the blade’s heat. Using the sword, she pried the hatch away to reveal a hallway leading inside. She pulled out her light.
“I’ll go in first,” Zae said.
“Are you sure commander?” ensign Aela asked.
“I can take care of myself in a fight,” Zae said before winking.
She pushed into the hallway and saw the outside appearance translated to the interior. Dull black and grey with a metallic sheen. Covering the walls and consoles were strange hieroglyphs none of them could decipher.
“Looks oddly similar a colony back home,” Celi remarked as the group slowly made their way down the dark hallway.
“Not surprising to me,” Zae said. “But then again nothing can surprise me anymore in this region of space.”
Zae stopped and used the rakna blade once more to cut through a door. As the smoke cleared the six Kalaidians saw a massive room filled with shattered glass tubes. Upon shining her light onto the first one, Zae saw the skeleton of some type of creature.
“By the goddess,” ensign Hela said.
“What is this place?” Zae asked. She shined her light on numerous shattered tubes. Each had a different skeleton from the others.
Celi started scanning immediately. “Reiki, Minan, Odaren, Malcovin, Kalaidian, Shandi,” she looked at the others. “I’m detecting almost every race that lives within Confederation territory, along with nearly a dozen unknown species.” Celi shined her light and started checking each one carefully. “According to the data there’s a male and female of each species that have two sexes.” Celi went to the powerless monitors and switches. “If these still had power we could see exactly what they were up to.”
“Maybe if we go down further we’ll find something else,” Zae suggested.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Aela said.
“Yeah, it feels a lot like that Mardok lunar base,” Seli added.
“I know it’s not pleasant but we need to see what else is in here,” Zae said before cutting open the next door.
The next hallway led into an open area of the colony. Around them floated various dead plants along with a lot of droplets of water and other liquids. Zae shined her light high into the air and noticed objects floating aimlessly about. Celi came in last before scanning the area. She looked up at the objects just floating at the edge of Zae’s light.
“What is it?” Zae asked.
“Bodies, a lot of them,” Celi said. She shined a light up as well to reveal scores of other bodies. “It’s like they had a zoo for all the species they had obtained samples from.”
Zae turned to her. “Can you tell what killed them?” she asked.
“Exposure,” Celi said. “When the Greys left they powered the colony’s systems down and left them.”
“But they didn’t kill each other, right?” Zae asked.
“No,” Celi answered. “The Greys probably spaced them.”
“Spaced?” Seli asked. “Would they really do that?”
“Remember what they did to the Mardok,” Zae said. “If they really consider other creatures nothing more than objects to use this result shouldn’t be surprising.” Zae sighed. “Although I have to admit I agree with the rest of you. This place is making me sick.”
“Why do you suppose they didn’t destroy the colony?” asked Hela.
“They want to use it again someday,” Celi answered. “Only the power systems are missing. Return them and this place will work just like it had never been turned off.”
Zae stopped the group and had to use the rakna blade to cut another door. As she put the blade to the door frame, something pushed her back and knocked over a few of the others in the process. Zae collected herself before turning off the blade.
“What was that?” she asked angrily. “I thought all of the power sources were down.”
“They are,” Celi said before scanning the room once more. “This door is giving off a strange magnetic force. It’s completely independent of the power this place would’ve had running.”
“Could it be a magnetic locking system?” Zae asked. “How do we get through?”
“Look at these,” Celi pointed to a number pad with hieroglyphs instead of numbers. “We can get through if we press the right combination.”
* * *
“Are you alright?” Baed asked. She put Brian back into an upright position in the chair. “Brian!”
He shook his head. “What happened?” he asked as he opened his eyes.
“You passed out. Are you alright?”
Brian focused his blurred vision before clearly seeing Baed. She really does look like Seles’s twin. He thought.
“It’s the plague, isn’t it?” she asked.
“How did you learn about it?” he asked as he shook his head. “I haven’t told anyone other than Zae and Grigon.”
“Zae told me,” she replied.
“I should be mad at her, but I’m not.” Brian took a deep breath. “Celi has me on powerful medications at the moment. It keeps me moving but the side effects are terrible. My vision’s blurry, my attention is lacking, and I’m always tired.” He stood up to stretch. “Thanks for waking me up. I guess I can’t be left alone on the bridge anymore.”
“It’s alright, I don’t mind keeping an eye on you,” Baed said.
“So what’s going on between you two?” he asked. “Rumors abound but facts are sorely lacking.”
Baed blushed. “We’re still figuring it out.”
“Is the friendship going in a different direction?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Like I said, neither of us is sure about what to do now.”
“If there’s love then there’s passion,” he said. “I don’t think I need to tell you what to do next. One piece of advice I can give is you shouldn’t wait any longer. Tomorrow we could be stardust. Live without regret, that’s what I believe.”
“I’m glad to talk with somebody about this,” she said. “It’s emotionally draining to deal with alone.”
“Relationships are like that Baed,” he said. “Just be glad you’re not dancing around with multiple lovers.”
“Seles and Mira must have been running you ragged,” Baed said.
“Don’t forget Valis.”
“What is the deal with the captain?” Baed asked.
Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair Page 11